Disclaimer: This story is pure fiction, and thus is not meant to imply anything about the sexuality of any and all celebrities mentioned. If you are underage, or if you are offended by such stories, leave now!! Also, all Star Wars characters and the trademark of Star Wars itself is the property of George Lucas and Lucasfilms.
Author's Note: Not much to say; this is an updated version of Chosen One's Choice. I already know where and how the story is going to end, and hopefully it won't take me too long to get there. The changes I've made to this and the second and third chapters are partly to make the story better, and also partly to fix any discrepancies in storyline.
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The Chosen One's Choice by Squall Thrawn
Chapter 1
"So, what know you of the separatists, Master Jardian?" asked Master Yoda, the most powerful member of the Jedi Council.
"I have found out that they are being led by Count Dooku, who used to be one of our own," said Jedi Master Sion Jardian, relatively new to the council.
"Count Dooku.. my old apprentice, he is," observed Master Yoda, deep in thought.
"What would have made him join these separatists?" A composed, smooth voice asked. Second only to Yoda himself, Master Mace Windu was the picture of absolute calm. Sion had a lot of admiration for Master Windu, for he had been the Jedi Master who had instructed him. "Have your investigations uncovered that as of yet, Master Jardian?"
"No, his motives remain a complete mystery, even to me," said Sion. "However, I will continue investigating until I have discovered them."
"I have every confidence that you will be successful, Master Jardian," said Jedi Master Ki-Adi-Mundi. The coneheaded Cerean scratched his beard thoughtfully.
"Thank you," replied Sion with a nod. Then, his surroundings became blurry, as if everything had become unfocussed. He lurched to his feet, but nobody seemed to notice his predicament.
With a start, Sion woke up. He sat up and looked around at his surroundings. He was in his quarters, a room set aside for Padawan learners.
"Reality.. what a gyp," Sion said to himself. He wasn't a member of the Jedi Council. He wasn't even a Jedi Knight. Sion Jardian was simply a Padawan learner.
Sion got out of bed, looking himself over. He always slept nude; most of the Padawans in the Jedi Temple did. The Temple was always hot; it could have easily been remodelled so that climate controls could be installed, but the Jedi Council had demurred. They felt that the heat in the Temple was merely a distraction that any true Jedi could ignore. But the numerous Padawans also staying in the temple were not as immune to the heat. His short blonde hair was cut regulation-style, with a single braid running over his right ear; the sign of a Padawan learner. Just then, a gong rang twice.
"Sithspawn!!" cursed Sion, suddenly galvanized into action. That was the second gong. That meant he had approximately 15 minutes to get changed, go eat breakfast in the Meal Hall, and meet his Jedi Master at his quarters.
Sion dressed himself quickly, donning the tan-colored tunic and trousers that were regulation-style as well. He fastened his belt and clipped his lightsaber to it. He hurried out the door, crashing into another Padawan.
"Hey, what are you hurrying for, Sion?" asked Squall Antilles, catching Sion before they both fell. "The food isn't that good."
"Very funny, Squall," said Sion, as he continued to walk towards the Meal Hall, Squall following him. "I'm running late; I need to eat and meet Master Windu."
"Oh yes, gotta get up early for Master Windu," said Squall, smiling. He was wearing the same uniform as Sion, his black hair the same as Sion's as well. "Master Derka isn't nearly as busy as Master Windu, so he doesn't expect me until later."
"Well," retorted Sion, but still grinning, "Master Derka also doesn't serve on the Jedi Council."
The two friends reached the Meal Hall, where they were serving nerf medallions in a lumpy whitish gravy. Sion grabbed a plate and the cafeteria droid put two nerf medallions on it, then spooned a helping of gravy. Sion grimaced as he sat down at a nearby table.
"Aren't you eating this stuff too?" asked Sion, who then took a bite of his food. He grimaced.
"Hey, I don't have a death wish," said Squall, grinning. "Actually, I've already eaten. I was actually coming to look for you. You weren't here at the usual time."
"I had this strange dream," said Sion, reflecting on the previous night's dream. "I was a member of the Jedi Council, and they were asking me about Count Dooku and the separatists."
"Wow," said Squall. "I wonder if it means anything... I mean, I haven't heard of any connection between Count Dooku and Separatists." Then, despite his earlier comments, Squall grabbed a nerf medallion from Sion's plate and started eating it. Sion glared at him. Squall shrugged, grinning.
"I doubt my dream meant anything," Sion replied, drily. "It was just that, a dream. And I don't think I have what it takes to become a member of the Council."
"Well, your Master is Master Windu, right?" asked Squall. "He'll obviously train you right. I mean, look at Master Depa Billaba. She was once his Padawan learner; now she's a member of the Council herself. You just need a little faith in yourself, my friend."
"He's right," said a voice above them. They looked to see Master Windu himself standing over them. The two Padawans started to get up to bow at him, but he waved his hand that they should continue eating. "You need to believe in yourself, Sion Jardian. A true Jedi is confident in his abilities and harbors no doubts about them. Also, you need to learn how to assert yourself more."
"Yes, Master Windu," said Sion.
"To that end, today, and perhaps for a while, you will be training with Anakin Skywalker. He is brash and overconfident. Perhaps you two can learn from each other." Mace Windu spoke precisely and clearly, as if saying that he expected that they would learn from each other. "You know him?"
"Only a little, Master," said Sion. "Master Kenobi travels frequently, and Anakin along with him."
"Fine," said Master Windu. "You will thus also gain the opportunity to get to know him. If Anakin follows the correct path, he will become a great Jedi. As I can foresee you doing. Meet me in the usual training room precisely at the fourth gong. Enjoy your meal." With that, Mace Windu turned and walked out of the room.
"Wow, Sion," said Squall. "Your Master sure gets to the point fast, doesn't he?"
"Yeah, he isn't one to waste words," admitted Sion. Just then, the third gong rang. "It's a good thing I don't have to meet him now, 'cause I would have been late."
The two friends chatted for a while. Finally, Squall stood up. "Well, I have to get going. Master Derka wants me to get something from the archives before meeting him. Something about Jedi Master Sifo-Dyas. Have fun training with Anakin!! I hear he's pretty intense!!"
"Alright," said Sion, as he stood up also. "I'll talk to ya later, Squall. I might as well get going as well." The two friends parted ways, Squall heading towards the Jedi Archives, while Sion was headed to the training room.
"Anakin Skywalker..," said Sion to himself, walking towards the training room. Sion hadn't had much contact with him, but that was mainly by design. Sion had known that he was attracted to guys for quite some time now. But he had chosen not to do anything about it. The Jedi had no rule against being gay; indeed, the Jedi taught that everybody was equal, no matter what their species, gender, sexual orientation, or anything else. However, the Jedi Code also forbid any type of relationship under normal circumstances. And Sion was reluctant to engage in something as intimate as sex with somebody he would never be able to stay with. Anakin Skywalker was a prime example of the very temptation he was trying to avoid. Sion had been attracted to him for a few years, and so he chose to avoid him so that he could could minimize his contact with said temptation.
'We're so different,' reflected Sion, still walking towards the training room. 'Even our backgrounds and personalities couldn't be more dissimilar.' Anakin had been a slave for most of his young life on Tatooine. Master Qui-Gon Jinn had found him there, and had brought him back to Coruscant. During the Battle of Naboo, Anakin had destroyed the Trade Federation Droid Control Ship by himself. Meanwhile, Qui-Gon and his Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi had fought a Sith Lord in Naboo. Master Jinn had been killed, while Obi-Wan struck down the Sith Lord. He had then been made a Jedi Knight, and he took Anakin as his Padawan learner. Because of his accomplishments, far more than any other Padawan currently on the rolls, Anakin had become some overproud of his abilities, and some of his smugness had crept into his contacts with his fellow Padawans.
Sion was a different story. He had been born in Corellia, near Coronet City. When Sion was six, his father, a somewhat prosperous spice merchant, and his mother were both killed in an armed robbery. CorSec never caught the criminal. Sion swore that he would dedicate his life to stopping such acts as these. To him, that meant joining CorSec, the Corellian Security Force. However, Nejaa Halcyon, a Corellian Jedi who worked closely with CorSec, discovered Sion's Force potential and brought him to Coruscant. At first the Jedi Council balked at his age, but Master Windu had offered to train him. Three years later, the Council would later face the question of whether to let a nine year old Anakin start training.
Abruptly, Sion stopped. In his reminiscing, he had almost passed the training room. He pressed the door panel, and the door slid open. Master Windu was already in there, as was Master Kenobi.
"Master Windu, Master Kenobi," said Sion, bowing to each of them in turn.
"Greetings, Sion," said Master Kenobi. "Anakin should be here shortly."
"Sion," said Master Windu. "I've received some disturbing news about the separatists. I need to confer with Master Yoda about this news. I'll leave you in the company of Master Kenobi and his wayward Padawan learner. Come see me after the Council meeting is over."
"Yes, Master Windu," said Sion, nodding. This happened frequently, but Sion didn't mind. His Master was one of the most important Jedi, and Sion was lucky to be his Padawan learner. Mace Windu nodded to Obi-Wan and Sion, then left the training room. Soon after he left, the door opened again, and Anakin burst in.
"I'm sorry I'm late, Master," said Anakin, quickly bowing to Master Kenobi.
"You need to learn to be more punctual, my young Padawan learner," said Obi-Wan disapprovingly.
"Yes, Master. I'm sorry, Master," said Anakin contritely.
"Do you know Sion here?" asked Obi-Wan, turning to Sion.
"Only by sight," said Anakin. He stuck out his hand. "Hi, my name is Anakin Skywalker."
Sion shook his hand a little gingerly, trying to keep the body contact to a minimum. "My name is Sion Jardian. I'm pleased to meet you." Anakin looked even better than Sion had last remembered him. His lanky 6'3" frame was so perfect. Next to Anakin and his beautiful body, Sion felt even smaller than his 5'7" height. How could he ever compete against Anakin?
An awkward silence filled the air, as Sion was too shy to say anything to the Adonis standing beside him.
"Well, I believe it's time you two started your training," said Master Kenobi into the silence. "Why don't you two start by training against these drones? I want you to stand back to back, and defend yourselves against all the energy bolts shot at you. You need to learn how to rely on each other, how to use your Force senses to coordinate your attacks so that you can compliment each other`s abilities."
The two Padawan learners nodded their heads. They unclipped their lightsabers from their belts and ignited them. Anakin swung his brilliant blue lightsaber a few times while Sion merely got into the guard postion with his silvery lightsaber.
"One more thing," said Master Kenobi. He got out two blindfolds. "Your eyes can deceive you, don't trust them. Rely solely on the Force to coordinate your defense. Put your trust in each other." The two Padawans took the blindfolds and put them on. They got into guard position, standing back to back. Obi-Wan threw out four drones. They used their repulsorlifts to reposition themselves. Then they went on the attack. Two of the remotes shot their stun bolts at Sion, while the other two focused on Anakin.
Sion couldn't see anything with his eyes, but his senses told him a different story. By stretching out to the Force, he could sense each move each of the four drones made, as well as where Anakin was. The drone to the left of him shot two bolts at his chest, which he easily deflected. As he did, he could sense the other one, above and to the right, shooting as well, towards his legs. He deflected those as well. Then the drones started coordinating their attacks, shooting more rapidly. Sion could feel, in the back of his mind, the other two drones doing the same with Anakin, but his feelings were not attuned to them as strongly as his two drones.
The two Padawans were a whir of movements as they defended themselves against the many bolts being shot at them from the drones. That was not to say that their blade moves were perfect. Sion missed one bolt, which hit his foot. His foot immediately went numb, the usual damage done by these bolts. He had to swing his lightsaber faster to make up for the fact that his footwork was now suffering.
The drones started a new attack pattern, in which they rotated around the room and attacked the closest target instead of their assigned one. The two Padawans, already fatigued from the furious workout, started missing more bolts. Anakin missed one that narrowly missed Sion's arm. Sensing the battle beginning to pick up instead of ending and that he and Anakin couldn't keep up much longer, Sion resolved to do something about the drones. He deflected one of the bolts, and it hit the drone. The drone shut off, and Sion could only sense three drones attacking now. Two; Anakin had picked up Sion's trick through his own use of the Force, and deactivated another using the same method. Just then, Sion missed another bolt, which struck Anakin from behind, on his rear. Anakin, not expecting that, jumped forward slightly and was nailed in the leg with another bolt. With his movement greatly diminished and his leg throbbing, he could barely defend himself. Sion managed to deactivate another drone with a deflected bolt, but the last drone shot his hand, which could not hold the lightsaber in its numbed state. Defenseless, he could sense the last drone shooting towards an equally defenseless Anakin. Pushing away all rational thought, Sion pushed Anakin out of the way of the bolts, only to be hit himself by a bolt, one to the head. He immediately slipped into unconsciousness. Taking advantage of the small window of opportunity granted by Sion, Anakin used the Force to bring Sion's lightsaber into his left hand and deflected one last bolt to deactivate the last drone. He immediately pulled off the blindfold and knelt down near Sion. Master Kenobi came over to them.
"You two were doing extremely well," said Obi-Wan. "You seemed to have a sense for each other's moves. You did much better than I or Master Windu would have expected, the first day training together."
"Thank you, Master," said Anakin absently. "What effect would a drone bolt have on somebody, if shot in the head?"
"Well, I can't say I've seen that before," said Obi-Wan, frowning, "But I don't think it would do any permanent damage. Just unconsciousness."
Just then, Sion groaned. He slowly opened his green eyes to see Anakin kneeling over him.
"Are you alright, Sion?" said Anakin.
"I.. I guess so..," mumbled Sion groggily. Anakin helped him into a sitting position.
"That was a good job, Sion," said Master Kenobi. "But why did you jump in front of that bolt?"
"Well.. I couldn't defend myself without my lightsaber, and if I hadn't pushed Anakin out of the way, he would have been down on the ground instead of me, while I was a sitting duck with no defenses."
"And did all those thoughts run through your mind at the time, young one?" asked Obi-Wan.
"Not really... Somehow, I just knew that it was the necessary thing to do," said Sion.
"The Force speaks to those who listen," said Master Kenobi. "Anakin, would you please take Sion back to his quarters? I think today's training is over. Sion, take it easy today. Your head will hurt for a while because of that bolt. Afterwards Anakin, please meet me in the Archives precisely at the afternoon gong."
"Yes, Master Kenobi," said Sion. "I have to meet Master Windu after the Council meeting, though."
"I'm sure he will understand this once," said Obi-Wan. "You two have made considerable progress. All the two of you need to work on is your endurance."
"No," said Sion, firmly but respectfully, "Master Kenobi, Master Windu wanted me to meet him after the Council meeting. I'll be fine by then."
"If all the Padawans were that insistent on working more than they had to..," muttered Obi-Wan, glancing at Anakin. Anakin didn't seem to notice.
"May we be excused, Master?" asked Anakin. Master Kenobi nodded. "Can you stand up, Sion?"
Sion tried, but his foot was still numb from before and the room was still spinning.
"That's alright, Sion," said Anakin. Anakin put his arm under Sion's shoulder and guided him up. With his arm still under Sion's shoulder holding him up, Anakin gently led Sion out the door, and towards Sion's room. About half way there, Squall passed by.
"Hey, Anakin, Sion, what happened?" asked Squall, a concerned look on his face.
"We were training with drones, and one of them shot Sion in the head," said Anakin.
"How could you weren't wearing helmets?" asked Squall, now frowning.
"Well," began Anakin, "Master Kenobi was instructed by Master Windu to use blindfolds instead. As the usual helmets are bulky and hard to keep on your head when you're darting about, he said we need to learn to fight so that we don't need helmets; besides, if and when we go into battle, we won't have a chance to find helmets to wear."
"That's true," said Squall. "Do you need help with Sion there?"
"I guess so," said Anakin. "You two know each other fairly well, I take it?"
"Yeah, Sion here's my best bud!" said Squall, grinning. "I'm Squall Antilles, from Alderaan."
"As I'm sure you know," said Anakin that hint of cockiness back in his voice, "I'm Anakin Skywalker, from Tatooine."
"I'm Sion Jardian, from Corellia," said Sion, a wobbly grin in place.
"Yeah, thanks for that," said Squall, drily. "I doubt we`d have known, otherwise." With that, Squall put his arm under Sion's other shoulder, and he and Anakin led Sion to his room. They had just gotten to the door when the midmorning gong sounded.
"Man!" exclaimed Squall. "I'm supposed to be in Master Derka's quarters right now!"
"That's alright, Squall," said Anakin. "I'll help Sion into his room. You just hurry up and meet with Master Derka."
"Thanks, Anakin!!" shouted Squall as he ran down the hallway. "I'll see you later, Sion!!" He then vanished around a corner.
"Thanks for helping me, Anakin," said Sion, keying in his code on the door panel. "I think I can manage it from here."
"Hey, it's no problem, Sion," said Anakin. The door whooshed open, and Anakin helped Sion into the room and onto the bed. "Is there anything else you need?"
"Not really. Maybe a little rest will do me good," said Sion. "Could I ask one favour, though?"
"Anything, Sion," said Anakin.
"Could you make sure I'm awake by the afternoon gong? I need to meet Master Windu after the Council meeting is over. You just need to knock on the door; I should hear that."
"No problem, Sion. You just get plenty of rest. Thanks for taking that bolt for me," said Anakin.
"I'm sure you would have done the same for me," said Sion shyly, not wanting to dwell on his actions. He yawned, and Anakin backed away. Sion finally closed his eyes, and Anakin left the room, glancing back at the peaceful looking Sion.
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Squall Thrawn THRAWN5678@aol.com