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After their short negotiations with Trade Federation Viceroy Nute Gunray, Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn and his Apprentice, Obi-Wan Kenobi, had rescued Queen Amidala of Naboo, which had been invaded by the Trade Federation.
They then were going to take the Queen to Coruscant so she could plead her case to the Senate, but the trip required a slight stop-over on Tatooine, where they met a nine-year-old boy named Anakin Skywalker.
Qui-Gon saw that the Force was with Anakin. When he had done ‘medical’ testings on Anakin, he had seen that Anakin was more powerful than any Jedi, even the great Jedi Master Yoda.
When Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan continued the trip to Coruscant, they had included Anakin. Qui-Gon wanted him to be trained to be a Jedi; on Coruscant was the Jedi Temple, where he should be tested, and if he was accepted, he would become a Jedi.
And here he was with Obi-Wan in front of twelve great Jedi Masters, a group called the Jedi Council which in one voice made the decisions for the Jedi Order.
“I have encountered… …a boy, and the Force is with him,” Qui-Gon explained. “His cells have the highest concentration of midi-chlorians I have seen in a life form. It is possible he was conceived by the midi-chlorians. I refer to the prophecy of the Chosen One, the one who will bring balance to the Force. I believe it is this boy. I request the boy be tested.”
With astonished glares, the Jedi Council ordered him to bring him before them.
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Young Anakin Skywalker stood before the twleve Jedi, being tested.
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“Good, good young one,” said a small green creature leaning over a gimer stick after Anakin had finished one of the tests. “How feel you?”
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“Cold, sir,” Anakin answered.
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“Afraid, are you?” Yoda asked.
“No, sir.”
“Dwell on your mother, your thoughts do.”
“I miss her…” Anakin had to be split up from his mother, Shmi Skywalker, when taken from Tatooine to Coruscant.
“Afraid to lose her, I think?”
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“What does that got to do with it?”
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“Everything. Fear is the path to the Dark Side. Fear leads to anger… …anger leads to hate… …hate leads to suffering.”
“I am not afraid,” Anakin growled angrily.
“A Jedi must have the deepest commitment,” Yoda said, “the most serious mind. I sense much fear in you.”
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Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan waited outside to hear a result of the test.
“The boy will not pass the Council’s tests, Master, and you know it. He is far too old,” Obi-Wan told him. “And too much hatred and anger will grow in one who has been outside the Jedi Temple for…”
Qui-Gon cut him off. “Anakin will become a Jedi… …I promise you.”
“Don’t defy the Council, Master, not again!”
“I will do what I must, Obi-Wan.”
“Master, you could be sitting on the Council by now if you would just follow the code. They will not go along with you this time.”
“You still have much to learn, my young apprentice.”
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Yoda later appeared, bringing news of the Council’s decision.
“Correct you were, Qui-Gon. The Force is strong in him.”
“He’s to be trained, then?” Qui-Gon asked.
“No. Trained, he will not be.”
“No?!” It was evident in Qui-Gon’s tone that he was either angry or surprised.
“Too old, he is. Already too much anger in him.”
“He is the chosen one; you must see it.”
“Clouded, this boy’s future is. Masked by his youth. But not the time for this it is now. Voting for a new Supreme Chancellor, the Senate is, and returning home, Queen Amidala is. If no negotiations shall be made, attack she will. Put pressure, it will, on the Trade Federation. Go with the Queen to Naboo, you must. And expect a warm welcome, do not.”
Though angry with the Council’s decision about Anakin, Qui-Gon obeyed and left for Naboo. However, he was allowed to bring along Anakin.
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Meanwhile, on the planet Naboo…
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Under control of the Trade Federation, Theed Palace was in chaos.
Nute Gunray had once again contacted the Dark Lord of the Sith with information of Queen Amidala’s planned assault to retake the Palace.
“She’s more foolish than I thought,” a transparent holo-image version of Darth Sidious said. “This is an unexpected move for her. It’s too aggressive.”
“We are sending all available troops to meet this army of hers assembling near the swamp,” said Nute Gunray. “It appears to be made up of primitives. We do not expect much resistance.”
“Wipe them out. All of them.”
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Just outside Theed Palace, an army of native Gungans marched to attack the Federation’s invasion army…
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…but they knew they were impossibly outnumbered as thousands of battle droids poured out from transport ships.
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Meanwhile, back in the palace…
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A great battle erupted when two Jedi Knights arrived escorting the Queen.
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Queen Amidala and several soldiers opened fire on a group of battle droids.
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Qui-Gon Jinn used the Force to push one of the battle droids into the wall of a building…
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…with Obi-Wan Kenobi’s blade coming from straight behind him, crashing down on the droid’s neck joint!
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The group marched toward the door to a shortcut that led to the Throne Room, where Trade Federation Viceroy Nute Gunray was located.
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But blocking the door, a new threat appeared: Darth Maul, Darth Sidious’ Sith apprentice!
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Nodding to the Jedi, Amidala said: “We’ll take the long way.”
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The young Anakin Skywalker went off to pilot a starfighter in the hanger.
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And that left the two Jedi to deal with Darth Maul!
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Obi-Wan went to hide behind a pole, waiting for the right opportunity to attack.
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But instead, Darth Maul went after him right away, and nearly slashed his head off!
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Because of his miss, the Sith had chopped the pole in half…
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…and the broken half was flying straight toward Qui-Gon!
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Fortunately, he just barely was able to cut the already-slashed pole into another half.
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The two Jedi closed in on Maul.
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Taking the advantage of a distraction, Darth Maul picked up a nearby grass-pot with the Force…
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…and hurled it towards Obi-Wan!
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While the pot was still in the air, coming towards him, Obi-Wan sent it back to the Sith.
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A miss!
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Darth Maul leaped on top of a set of stairs…
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…trying to lure the Jedi into a battle which would be their doom.
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