One

A certain street in Coruscant's shopping district was the 13-year-old Luke Skywalker's favourite place to slip away to. It was a busy place, which smelled of burnt sugar and plastic, lit with bright neon lights and filled with colorful stalls where merchants sold their products. His favorite one of these stalls was a sweet foods stall run by an aging Tydorian named Thal-Ek, who was always seen sleeping a battered round chair behind the stall whilst his young assistant, the near-human girl, Rhea, kept the customers coming.

Luke leaned against the stall, observing a jar full of Nubian Ferry Berries, the white fruit kept ripe and stable in a strange clear blue liquid. Rhea handed a customer a small bag of sweet Loral Nuts before preparing a pack to fill with cakes. She was young, older then Luke by only a few years, yet her hands were weathered and slightly aged from the constant work. She had beautiful long blond hair, pale skin, a delicate face and curious gray eyes. Luke had watched her work often since he had discovered Thal-Ek's store and had come to know her as mutual friend. Regular customers seemed to expect him to be hanging around, as Rhea had noted once, they often asked where he was during his absence.

"Luke" Rhea spoke with a thick, strange accent though her voice itself was thin and airy, "You shouldn't't be out so late; your parents will worry..."

"I'm sure they'll live if I'm gone for only a while..."

Rhea sighed as she finished neatly packaging the cakes and set them to one side, "Are you nervous about turning thirteen?"

"It's been two days...some of the other kids my age have already been picked by Masters at the temple. My sister Leia was hand selected by Master Windu; he's one the greatest Jedi to ever live. My father isn't allowed to pick me or my sister, but he's taken Carena Eris under his wing. She's one of the best. I'm also sure Master Drallig has been watching my friend Kei with great interest; he'll be next..." Luke explained. He was feeling terrible; it would be shameful if he was not picked and sent to the Corps, his father would never look at him in the same way.

Rhea leaned over to touch his cheek encouragingly, "Someone will pick you. You are the son of 'The Hero Without Fear,' it would be ridiculous for some of the Masters in your temple to not be curious about you..."

They fear me, Luke thought doubtfully, my father's past behavior and scrape with the Dark Side has put them off me. They don't like the idea of going through what Obi-Wan had to...

Rhea continued to smile at him gently before resuming her duty of selling sweet foods. She packed for Luke a cake and some Loral Nuts like she always did before he left at the end of his visits. He returned to his home via the lower-level monorail, using his Jedi boarding pass instead of money. The ride home took some time, calling a air-taxi would have been by far the easiest method of transport but he advised himself against it; they always charged too much.

He arrived at the bottom of his parent's apartment block, it was located in a very upper-class living section conveniently close to the Jedi Temple. He had to endure the slow lift ride up, preparing himself for a scolding from both his parents. As he entered the apartment he heard his mother's desperate voice.

"It was trouble enough to keep the Senate together after the exposure of Palpatine" Padme Amidala-Skywalker was saying, "Everything is still quite fragile. Now you're suggesting we make ammendments to the constitution?"

"Chancellor" said Senator Bana Breemu said, addressing Luke's mother re-approachfully, "These changes are for the best. To maintain peace within the Republic..."

"The last time such significant changes were made was under the influence of Palpatine" Padme pressed, "I do not wished to be viewed as a dictator. I would have left political service years ago if I was not selected as candidate for the election..."

"We understand your concerns Chancellor" Senator Giddean Danu spoke up, "We will have to reassure the people that you have no other motives then to improve the lives of all those part of the Republic. These changes could help with some of issues we're dealing with when talking to former Seperatist worlds..."

Just then Padme noticed Luke by the door, she straightened up and her motherly voice came into play; "Luke, come here sweetheart..."

Luke hesitated before making his way nimbly over to his mother, she took his hand tenderly and gave him a tired but loving look. "Where were you?" she asked gently.

"I went to see Rhea" Luke replied. His mother smiled at him warmly and gave his hand a gentle squeeze, "Best explain yourself to your father later. He was quite worried..."

"I will" Luke promised.

Padme then turned her attention to the group of senators, her closests and most trusted collegues and introduced her son. It was more like a re-introduction, many had already seen him as a baby and one of them Senator Bail Organa came to visit quite often. He was Leia's god-father.

"Luke" Senator Breemu's voice seem to float out, "It's been a long time. You were just a baby last time I saw you..." Then she turned her glance to Padme with a look of admiration in her eyes, "He has grown much like his father..."

"I too see alot of Anakin in you" Senator Organa said directly to Luke, "I see you are training to be Jedi, hopefully great like him one day?" Bail was regarding Luke's Jedi attire and signature padawan braid dangling down from his longish blond hair with much interest. Luke shifted uncomfortably, the thought of being sent to the Corps creeping up into his mind. His stomach sank as he struggled to remain calm. In his attempt his smiled awkwardly at Bail.

"I am trying my best with my training" Luke said. Bail smiled at this.

Padme had released her son's hand and was rubbing his upper arm absently, eyes fixed on Bail in a conversational manner. "He's thirteen now, he'll be picked by a master of individual training..."

"How exciting" Breemu's voice sounded rather patronizing, "You must be nervous..."

"A Jedi learns to control his emotions" Luke responded, almost automatically as if he was being questioned by Master Yoda on the life of a Jedi. Bail and two other senators, both quite aged, laughed at this. Luke felt the heat rise in his cheeks but did not respond to it, he calmed himself and let them have their laugh. Padme patted his arm soothingly, "Go see your father now Luke, he's on the terrace..."

Luke left hearing Senator Danu making a comment on how strictly the Jedi disciplined their pupils and how he wished his own children had the same amount of discipline. If only they knew how much a misbehaved, Luke thought resentfully, making his way down a dark empty corridor out onto the terrace. His father was sitting quietly in the middle of one of the sofas, with the fountain trickling quietly in front of him, his eyes were closed, the hood of his Jedi cloak was up and he was sitting crossed-legged in deep meditation.

Luke though for a moment about making his presence known, but advised himself against disturbing his father. He turned to leave when Anakin Skywalker spoke up; "Where are you going?"

"I don't want to disturb you..." Luke said quickly.

Anakin's eyes remained shut, "Stay. Sit" he said, "Your presence helps me; like your mother's; soothing. You and your sister are both quite similar to her..."

Luke moved quietly to sit on the sofa on the other side of the small fountain, directly opposite his father. Anakin remained silently for quite a few minutes later, meditating deeply, the Force surrounding his being; he became one with it and basked in it's brilliance and power. Then he opened his eyes and moved to unfold his legs and push down his hood.

"Where did you go?" Anakin asked, sorting out his cloak, not looking his son in the eye.

"Out" Luke said carefully, "I went to see Rhea..."

"You should have been studying at the Temple; that should be your only excuse for going out..." Anakin told him sharply, "I understand your desire for freedom but remember that a Jedi does not crave adventure and excitement..."

"Even though you craved these things in your youth?" Luke questioned, feeling rather rebellious and quite stupid at the same time. He expected his father to have a good yell at him then and there. Instead Anakin smiled at him, "Yes" he said, "It is a test we all face when we are young..."

"Did Obi-Wan face that test?" Luke wondered aloud, not really wanting to get an answer. His father responded all the same.

"I'm not sure" Anakin sighed, standing slowly, "You're going to have to ask him..."

Luke nodded absently before asking, "Where's Leia?"

"Staying late at the Temple" Anakin replied, "Master Windu wishes to teach her to supress the rebellious nature he disliked seeing in me when I was a padawan..."

The room was small, silent and simply. Leia sat on a round meditation pod, eyes closed, brown hair tied up neatly in braids, pinned delicately to her head. She let out a steady breath and concentrated.

"Concentration is key" Master Mace Windu circled the young girl, "Do not rush it, you have no need for speed in this...not yet...concentrate on one of the emotions which will lead to your desire to go against authority. Greed is the main one...learn to suppress it...let The Force guide you down the right path..."

Leia could feel a rush through her, the feeling of greed, which was strong within her; as it was in her father and brother, was fighting against her will. It battled for dominance over her actions, but she looked to the Force for strength and used what she found to suppress and fight off these feeling. I must not be selfish, she thought, I must not want things for myself. I must think of others and do as the council instructs. I must know obedience...

"Good" Master Windu sensed the slight change in his new padawan, "That will be enough for today..."

Leia opened her eyes and turned to face her master, "I felt it" she said, "I could feel the Force...it helped me..."

"The Force is there to guide as all young Skywalker," Mace said, "However it is up to us the except this guidance..."

"Yes Master" she gave a slight nod.

"You are dismissed for tonight" Mace said motioning towards the door.

Leia bowed to her Master and left. She took a long walk through the temple down to the hanger bay where she found Riyan Calhuu, a senior padawan of seventeen years, observing the mechanics working on a mass transport ship. "Riyan!" she called out to the older boy as she approached, "I need a favor..."

Riyan was tall, with brown hair cut short and a long padawan braid, he wore a light shade of clothes and was known for his curious fascination with mechanics. He wasn't the best mechanic to have ever lived, so instead he fueled his passion by spending spare time in the hanger bay. He also had an immense fascination with Leia's father, constantly amazed by his mechanical skill and knowledge of all things electronic. For this reason Leia could always look to him for favors.

"I need a ride back to my home" Leia said patiently, "I don't feel like waiting half and hour for the shuttle to return and it usually runs late anyway..."

"Oh" Riyan's eyes lit up at the idea of being able to once again be in the same room with the great Anakin Skywalker, who built a protocol droid and a pod racer when he was only nine. "Of course" he said quickly, "I'll be right with you..."

Leia grinned and watched him look for a free transport. They eventually were able to get a hold of a two seater air speeder, which was a murky red color, with the symbol of the Jedi order printed clearly onto it's side. Leia climbed in and sat down, Riyan seemed quite nervous, she couldn't't imagine him ever becoming a great Jedi warrior like her father. However Riyan was kind and quite attractive; he also made a brilliant friend, so Leia never pushed him away, no matter how much cowardice repulsed her.

The senators had left well past the time Luke and his family usually had dinner, so instead Padme and C-3PO went to the kitchen to prepare a small late meal. Luke sat with a holopad in the living room, with the HoloVision on the news channel, occasionally glancing up from his studies to see what was on. The female near-human news presenter with blue skin, dressed in all dark maroon, was reading out the latest report.

"A female twi'lek dancer named Bruna Koon, was found murdered in a dumpster near the club where she worked" the presenter drawled on in a dry voice, "Bruna was just 24 years of age and it seems not the typical target for murder...the Corsucant Republican Police force investigates this murder..."

The screen flipped over to a man in uniform, talking to another reporter from the scene. "There seems to be no reason why Bruna would be the target for murder; it's more likely the actions of a random, mentally disturbed serial killer. We've looked over the body briefly, forensics have identified a few notable things about her cause of death..."

The presenter came back into view, sitting comfortably in her news studio, looking unshaken by the news of murder. Typical, Luke thought, I bet they get reports like this all the time...

"The friends and family of Bruna mourn her loss with great agony. The 24-year-old Twi'lek dancer was found with stab wounds, strangely cauterized, much like the result of being wounded by a lightsaber. The signature weapon of the Jedi Order. The police do not suspect the Jedi to be behind the murder of Bruna, they will be meeting with the High Council of the Jedi Order tomorrow morning to discuss the possibilities of their involvement. Bruna was also found to have a crushed windpipe, although there was no apparent bruising around her neck..."

Luke was transfixed by the news report feeling quite speechless. It was a while before the report changed to political news.

"The former seperatist system of Neimodia has joined the Republic in hopes of mending the damage past offenses have caused. Under the new leadership of Findos Cha'la, the Neimodians hope to be the role-model for systems which have over the years still rema--"

Luke turned off the HoloVision and put down his holopad. He had caught a familiar looking air speeder slowing to a stop through the window and moved quickly to the terrace. His twin sister Leia was climbing out of the speeder looking rather pleased with her self. Her Jedi attire was similar to Luke's, however it was more effeminate in many ways. Leia studied her twin's expression with a mix of interest and concern.

"What's up?" she asked rather casually.

"A twi'lek girl was found murdered in the downtown entertainment district this afternoon..."

Leia's expression softened, "How sad..." she said slowly, still at odds as to why her brother was so bothered by the news of the death of someone he'd never met.

"The Jedi are the main suspect" Luke told her painfully.

Riyan was still sitting in the air speeder not too far away, he glanced over at them in alarm. "What?" both he and Leia said in unison.

"I was watching the news, she had lightsabre wounds...and a crushed windpipe..."

"That's terrible" Leia looked quite horrified, "Surely it couldn't be anyone within the order..."

"It would be difficult for us to tell..."

Just then, Anakin strode past them looking quite flustered. He spotted Riyan and his twins and frowned in confusion, "What's going on here?" he asked, sounding strangely breathless; as if he has just run a great distance. Luke furrowed his brow slightly.

"Riyan was dropping off Leia"

Leia smiled at her father warmly. He had been so proud when she was selected by Master Windu, so the habit of being a 'daddy's girl' had grown fast on her. She enjoyed being the center of his attention, but at that exact moment she sensed that it wasn't the best moment for the sort of thing. Riyan was smiling nervously at Anakin, who observed the young boy carefully.

"Evenin' Master Skywalker" Riyan said, failing to try and sound casual.

"Good evening padawan..." Anakin searched for a name, but none seem to come to mind.

"Riyan Calhuu; we've met before...briefly...a few months ago..."

"Ah yes..." Anakin said nodding slowly. Luke very much doubted his father actually remembered who Riyan was, he strided smoothly over to the young man. "I assume you're heading back to the temple?" he asked.

"Yes master" Riyan replied, "Straight back...may I ask why?"

"I need a lift"

"You're leaving?" Padme's voice floated in softly from behind the group. They all turned to look at her, standing in the doorway as beautiful as ever. The terrace was darker then room behind her, giving her a bright outline, it almost made her look angelic. Anakin was quite transfixed for a while, before regaining his composure when he noticed his twins were looking at him oddly.

"The council requires my presence..." he informed his wife calmly.

"Oh..." Padme smiled briefly, "Of course your duty to them is important..."

Anakin nodded, he felt a pang of regret for having to leave her, it had been a while since he had laid with her, having returned just from a mission in time for the start of the padawan selection phase which usually lasted one week. He pushed the solemn thoughts aside and climbed in the speeder, "We'll talk later" he told Padme, before Riyan clicked the speeder in drive and pulled away. Luke watched them leave, feeling tired and confused all at the same time.

Padme swayed where she stood, quite lost in thought, then she turned her attention to her son. "Luke, sweetheart, have you finished that study on the Battle of Geonosis?"

"No mom; but I will...soon..."

"Best be before it gets too late. Your father won't be pleased to see you two still up when he gets back" Padme had moved elegantly down to where they stood and had briefly touched Leia's cheek, gently and affectionately. Leia smiled at her mother, she's so beautiful, she thought, I wish I was that pretty...

"I have something for you two to eat if you're hungry" Padme said, observing her skinny daughter.

"I'm not hungry right now mom," Luke said, "I'll eat after I finish studying..." In truth he had no interest in studying. He was too interested in the murder of the twi'lek dancer. Was it possible that someone within the order had for some reason been driven to kill her? His mind swam with questions as he retreated back inside, to sit back down on the sofa, and let out a shaky breath.

tbc.

A/N:

1) Thal-Ek, Rhea, Kei, Carena Eris, Riyan Calhuu and Findos Cha'la are all fan-made characters belonging to me.

2) Padawans do get selected by masters/knights at the age of thirteen, however I'm unsure whether this happens during a certain space of time on just on the day they turn thirteen. In here it happens within one week, just because it's easier on me plotwise.

3) The backstory will explain itself further throughout the course of the story, you'll just have to learn to be patient.

4) Reviews are love! 3 Thankyou for reading.