Jedi Temple, Coruscant, 37 BBY

I had gotten a lot better at controlling my empathic Force powers. Komari would regularly dedicate some training time to having me look as deep into her shielded mind as I could. This let me practice power while also allowing her to practice her mental defenses. At this point, her defenses were some of the strongest among the Jedi in the temple, surpassing even some of the Masters.

On my own, I practiced restraint. I was at the point where I could restrict who I could sense to those within a few meters, and even within that range I wasn’t forced to sense more than their immediate feelings and particularly strong surface thoughts.

I was currently sitting cross-legged a few inches in the air in the Room of a Thousand Fountains; I had gotten pretty good at floating meditation. Most Jedi had a favorite spot in the garden that they would frequent whenever they sought to meditate here. I, however, preferred more variation. Due to my combined terrestrial, avian and aquatic nature I was comfortable in all the biomes the expansive garden had to offer, and I would regularly change locations. For today, I was meditating in a sort of zen garden surrounded by sand and rocks.

Choosing a terrestrial meditation spot meant there was a greater chance of visitors interrupting me, which I didn’t particularly mind. I was still young, inexperienced and relatively ignorant to the workings of the Force, so many Jedi could offer me new insights in the conversations that happened during these interruptions. It seemed today was potentially about to become far more interesting.

I sensed the distinctive mind of Qui-Gon Jinn as he approached me, but he was not alone. As I opened my eyes I saw the recognizable form of Yoda walking next to him. Yoda would often interact with and teach the younglings at the temple, but since I had gained a Master at such a young age, I hadn’t interacted much with the diminutive elder.

“Calm you are, young Padawan.” He spoke when they reached a distance where conversation could be had without raising our voices. “For one so young, impressive, your focus is.”

“Thank you, Grandmaster,” I replied with a smile as they arrived next to me. “But I am afraid it is a talent born of necessity rather than dedication. I would go mad if I hadn’t learned to control my abilities.”

“Dedication born from necessity, still dedication it is.” He tapped his gimer stick on the ground to punctuate his words before asking: “Join you, we may, hmm?”

“Of course, Master Yoda,” I responded and gestured to the ground before me before turning to Qui-Gon and adding, “It’s good to see you again Master Jinn. I trust Padawan Kenobi is doing well?”

“He is.” Qui-Gon replied, taking a seat on the ground next to Yoda.

The conversation flowed and turned into a discussion. Yoda was intrigued by my stance in attachments and relationships. While he did not agree completely with my words, he did compliment the wisdom in them and did not disagree completely either.

I noticed curiosity had been building with Qui-Gon for a while, and eventually decided to address it. “You have a question for me, Master Jinn?”

He raised an eyebrow. “Your senses never cease to amaze me, Anika.” He said, shaking his head lightly before continuing. “Have you heard about the prophecy of the Chosen One?” Yoda shot him a quick look of warning that he seemed to ignore as he studied me intently.

There was a pregnant pause as we looked at each other before I finally blinked.

During the short blink, I hadn’t seen the darkness behind my eyelids. I had seen twin suns setting behind the sandy dunes of Tatooine.

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I hadn’t been sure what to do with Anakin. Should I wait until the Naboo Crisis and let events unfold as they did in the original timeline? Should I try to send a Jedi there earlier? When did the Skywalkers even arrive on Tatooine? I remembered that Anakin wasn’t born there.

This one short vision cleared a lot of my worries though, and the feeling I got along with it made the will of the Force clear.

With a sigh, I responded: “I am familiar with it. And now I know what you believe me to be.” Qui-Gon continued to stare intently at me, and now even Yoda’s eyes turned to me in curiosity. “You are wrong though,” I continued. “I am not the Chosen One.”

I wanted to be as honest as I could with the two Masters before me, but I was unsure what information I could give without causing more harm than good. Trying something new, I closed my eyes and sank into the Force, letting it guide my words. “I am sure the Force has a plan for me, and I am sure I will be important in the coming years, but I do not know what my true purpose is. The one you seek is on Tatooine. Fate has already connected me to him in… interesting ways, but I am not him.”

Opening my eyes, I could feel shock and something akin to awe coming from both of them, and we stared at each other for a full minute before Yoda broke the silence that was starting to turn awkward.

“In your words, sense the Force I could. Trust them I do.” He turned to Qui-Gon who was still refusing to look away from me. “Guided us, the Force has. On Tatooine, a mission, you have. Padawan Skywalker and her Master, bring them you will.”

At those words, my eyes widened. I had never left the Temple, much less the planet. Now I was being sent off to kriffing Tatooine!

Qui-Gon finally looked away from me and nodded at Yoda. “I will start preparations at once, Grandmaster.”

He stood, bowed, and turned around to leave before I shook off my stunned silence and called after him: “Remember to bring money, enough to buy two slaves. Republic credits are no good.”

His look turned dark as he nodded in understanding before hurrying away, leaving me, still somewhat stunned, with Yoda.

“Young and inexperienced you still are. Your wisdom, beyond your years it is.” He spoke, softly as he certainly felt the panic slowly rising within me at what I had just done. “Guided by the Force we have been. Worry, you should not.”

“Master Yoda,” I said, thinking quickly. “You must train him.”

“Oh? Must I?” He raised a curious eyebrow. Not in challenge, he just wanted to hear my reasoning.

“The Jedi have enemies,” I said. “They are hiding in the shadows, looking for opportunities and weaknesses, and they will seek to turn him against us. He may be destined to bring balance to the Force, but despite what some may like to believe, the Jedi are not required for balance. If he is turned against us, he could destroy us.” Some zeal had crept into my voice as I spoke, but Yoda kept looking at me with a calm smile.

“The Jedi Order, so weak do you think us?” He asked. Again, not in challenge, just curious.

“We may not be weak, but we are the weakest we have ever been,” I answered. “And while we have enjoyed our peace and ossified, our enemies have not. They hide before our very eyes, reveling in our blindness.”

“Enemies, you speak of. Who?” There was curiosity in his voice, but I could feel some amusement as well. He was still unable to take everything a child said as truth.

I opened myself to the Force and let all of my mental defenses fall in an attempt to convey the truth and seriousness of my concerns as I looked deep into his eyes.

“You know of whom I speak.”

It seemed to have either worked, or he could sense something else, because all amusement fled his mind, replaced by a serious concern.

“Look into this, I will,” He said, as I could see his age suddenly reflected in his eye.

I knew some had thought Yoda a fool for his blindness, but he was not. This was a man who could go head-to-head against Sidious in the heart of his power. And despite his significant skill, combat wasn’t his greatest strength.