[Junior Jedi Knights] - 01(3)

This is going to take some getting used to, Anakin thought as he scanned the room. But making friends wasn’t Anakin’s biggest concern. He was a loner, and even at home his only close friends were his brother and sister and Threepio. No, he was at the academy to learn how to understand and use the Force-an energy field binding all living things. That was what gave Jedi Knights their power. And more than anything else, Anakin wanted to be a Jedi Knight. Not just because his brother and sister were training to be Jedi, although he had been jealous when they had left to study at the Jedi academy months before.

No, Anakin wanted to be a Jedi Knight. Not just because his brother and sister were training to be Jedi, although he had been jealous when they had left to study at the Jedi academy months before. No, Anakin wanted to be a Jedi Knight because he knew in his heart that he had been born to be a Jedi Knight.

By dinnertime Anakin had met so many new people that his head was spinning. All he wanted was some time for himself. But he could not escape from the rest of the students until after dinner. At one point he tried to sneak out of the dining hall, but Tionne saw him, and just as he was about to slip away, Anakin felt her hand on his shoulder.

“Do not be so shy,” she said gently. Anakin had to bite his lip to keep from telling the silver-haired humanoid the truth. He wasn’t shy; that was a mistake even his mother and father made. He just liked to spend time by himself - time thinking. Anakin made a note that the first thing he would have to do was to learn the best times to sneak away from the group.

Finally dinner ended, and Anakin set off to explore the Temple by himself.

“Bleep, bleep.”

Oh no, Anakin thought, and stopped in his tracks. He turned to see ArtooDetoo scooting up behind him.

“Go back to Uncle Luke,” Anakin commanded the droid. Artoo came to a halt before him, bleeping once. “I don’t know what you’re saying but I want to be alone,” Anakin said. Artoo still did not turn to leave. “Okay, you can come with me, but please don’t make any noise. I want to think,” explained Anakin. Artoo was silent.

At least he understands me, Anakin said to himself as he began to walk down a long stone hall.

“Bink, bleep, bobeep.”

Anakin shook his head, but kept walking.

“Artoo, we have got to learn how to communicate if you are going to follow me around,” he grumbled at the droid. Anakin came to the base of a stone stairway at the end of a long corridor.

“These stairs will be too difficult for you to climb, Artoo-guess this is where we part company,” Anakin said to the droid with a sly smile. Then he turned and began to climb the stairs, gently running his fingertips along walls that narrowed as he moved upward. At the top of the stairway was a large wooden doorway, different from the doors that dotted the halls of the Temple. It was carved with symbols Anakin didn’t recognize-shapes that curved and twirled in a beautiful pattern.

Anakin had reached the Grand Audience Chamber. It was the highest room in the Temple, and unlike the other rooms, it had not been rebuilt for the academy. Gently Anakin pushed open the large doors. He walked into the center of the Grand Audience Chamber. The walls were a deep tan stone, worn smooth over the years. Blueleaf shrubs, the most common shrub on the moon, poked through several cracks in the stones. They attached themselves to the stone with suckers. The shrubs were electric blue, and as Anakin leaned close he could smell a spicy perfume.

He walked slowly toward a large window. The view was breathtaking. Anakin looked down on the jungle. It was carpeted with blueleaf, and filled with Massassi trees whose bark shone purplish brown. Weaving through the trees, he could see sparkling green rivers that rushed along the moon. Beautiful, Anakin thought.

“Who are you?” a voice sang out behind Anakin.

Anakin whirled. A young girl stood before him. Pale yellow hair, green eyes, an orange academy jumpsuit, and bare feet.

“Bantha got your tongue?” she giggled as she moved to Anakin’s side by the window.

She couldn’t have been more than ten years old, Anakin thought.

“My name is Tahiri and I’m nine years old,” the girl sang out in a voice that sounded like a bubbling stream.

Anakin didn’t reply. He was annoyed that she had interrupted his thoughts. Annoyed that she had found the Grand Audience Chamber.

“Where are your shoes?” Anakin finally said to break the silence.

“I don’t wear any-never, not ever,” Tahiri began. “I’m from Tatooine. I’m one of the Sand People.”

Anakin’s jaw dropped down in wonder. He had never seen one of the Sand People without their heavy robes and the strips of cloth, breath masks, and eye protectors they wore over their face, and didn’t know anyone who had. Tatooine was a harsh desert planet, and the people needed all the protection from the sand, sun, and wind they could wear.