Anakin didn't exactly remember how he got into space. He had been sneaking around the dreadnaught because it looked like Gon-Gon and Obi were doing something fun, and best of all, not at the temple. He was just looking for another place to hide when the force told him to jump into the cockpit. He didn't know it was the force per se, but the feeling of his 'friend' never failed him before, even if they got him in trouble.

  Now, here he was in the cockpit of an N1, he clicked a toggle accidentally and it latched onto R2 that had been worrying about him under the N1. He could sneak away from Gon-gon and Obi, but not R2 for some reason. But the annoying little poodoo of an astromech was almost as much trouble as he was. Soon, he was steering the fighter, just hoping to hit anything, but that had simply lead him into open space. Now, he was trying to lose vulture droids and more N1, Z-95, and other craft were circling around while the C-70s and DP-20s where punching into anything vulnerable.

  That was where the N1 and Z-95 came in. These zippy little fighters could move in close, under the shield, and smack a gun or a dish, with a coordinated strike and leave. Meanwhile the corvettes could keep the fighters off of them. Then, once the strike run was over, they would switch back. The Vette would be the heavy, and the fighters would cover.

  Of course, everything was not as it seemed, while the strike group seemed to have the advantage, droids weren't smart. That did not mean that the strike group wasn't losing, everything. It was a slog fest honestly. And a slog fest that the strike group would lose. The truth was the the dreads couldn't keep up with an armed 3km+ lucrehulk. This specific example was the lead ship because it was 3.75km long, the biggest of the group, with most of it's cousins sitting at 2.75km, some and 2.5 but more at 3km.

  If the scrappy group of combat vessels couldn't take the hulk soon, the dreadnaughts would drown under fire. It seemed like the strike craft were winning. But looks were decieving. In a few hours the lucrehulk would win. It just needed to last that long. That meant the fighters and cruisers had to punch the hulk out before then.

  Meanwhile, Anakin was just trying not to die. He dodged, ducked, dived, dipped, and dodged the blaster fire of the vultures. Sometimes the droids would crash into each other just trying to follow him. He was to busy trying to find the blaster controls and get familiar with the flight controls. It was just like pod racing! But in space! With different controls! And 3d! And blasters! And absolutely nothing like pod racing!

  Qui-gon jin and Obi-wan kenobi landed quietly ahead of the other landers after putting their eathersprites down in the forest outside Theed. Their job was to push through, and help the landing party with 'negotiations'. And by that, he meant complete the objectives so that the Trade Federation couldn't object to their hostile negotiations for the planet back.

  So they charged into Theed, while the landers were still dropping , and walkers like the and . But mostly, it was infantry. The support craft had brought in tens of thousands of troops, but they had stayed out of Naboo space. Instead, those troops temporarily stayed on the dreads and other craft until the time for the attack. This stressed the life support systems, and the hallways were clogged, but these 600 meter ships held thousands in crew, so stuffing them full of troops till they drop on planet wasn't a problem.

  Still, it was impressive. Nothing like he had seen in his lifetime, even though he had fought many campaigns, he had never fought a space to ground campaign like this. Though, he dreaded that this was but a sign of things to come.

  He was in the middle of slicing up another droid control node. It was at the temple that he was taught that merely revealing a lightsaber would be enough to end wars. But droids feared no blade. Now, this tool for peace was used for war. What had the galaxy come too? Where will it stop?

  That was when he felt it, something dark, something tainted. Qui-gon looked over at Obi-wan, just then the first blasts from the artillery hit the mobile shield installed into Theed, likely by the Trade Federation. They would not be able to help the troops, but likely with the space battle going on, neither side would be able to attack them either.

  Still, this darkness, they must investigate it. It is more important than retaking Naboo. So they traveled to the main power hub. Obi-wan was tempted to sabotage it, but Qui-gon made him stay one point. They needed to destroy this darkness first. Besides, it would be useful later in taking over the ground to space defenses.

  Soon they came to a corridor with emergency shielding active. It was to prevent people from walking into sections as the conduits jumped across the corridor. An emergency access area. Obi-wan was force pushed into the area, and a red lightsaber light. Qui-gon brought his up, but Darth Mual, who they had met before, had simply jumped passed him. Obi-wan deflected the blade, but he was on the back foot. He had taken to practice after his defeat before, but it simply wasn't enough.

  They clashed blades, striking each other as Obi retreated. Shields went up behind him. The force whispered, and he stepped back just as a shield snapped into place where he was. This blocked Maul's strike from landing. But the shields also blocked Qui-gon from advancing after them.

  Maul struck the shields, a caged beast waiting to be released upon his prey. Every so often he would look back on Qui-gon and sneer. But his true focus was on the padiwan. Take out the padiwan, and the master would be easy prey. It was how he took out a council member before. He was far too weak to do it alone. But destabilize a Jedi's mind? They are nothing, not like a sith, sith would not be so weak.

  It was minutes before the shields safety mechanisms started to shut down. Qui-gon had been meditating, letting the force guide him on what he needed to do next to protect himself, but more importantly his padiwan. Standing up, Qui-gon was ready. But the shields fell in sequence. And first was Obi-wan, but not long after was Maul. Bzzt, bzzt, their blades clashed as Obi-wan was forced to retreat into the main core chamber and way from his master.

  As soon as the shield was down, Qui-gon used force boost to enhance his body and reflexes, moving faster than was possible, but still stopped short by the last shield. So he meditated, using his bond with his padiwan to help him, guide him.

  Obi wasn't sure how he was doing it, but he was pretty sure he was already dead, simply replaying his last moments over and over again. That was what happened when you die right? That's what they all say? He was blocking, Dodging, ducking, diving, dipping, and dodging, but that was all he was doing. There was no way, no way he could fight back against a sith. He was so utterly screwed.

  Maul was just playing with him, he was the morsel dangled in front of the kath hound. Dead, chopped up, and ready to eat. but the force moved, and he moved with it. He could feel the force better, stronger, and more precisely then before. He could feel his master do... something, in the force with the bond. But he couldn't focus on that. He was fighting for his life.

  Only, he lost focus for a second, a second was enough. His right hand was sliced off. His lightsaber hit the floor and rolled away, and Darth Maul was striking him down. Only for a lightsaber to strike his red one. It took a moment to realize his master has stopped battle meditation to join the fight. The shields no longer blocking him.

  But Maul wasn't having it. The apprentice was an appetizer, but the master was a disappointing meal. He could feel the skills that were let rust behind ages of lacking practice. Only slightly better than the last time they dueled. He struck and jabbed at the master. But he was a fool to aid the padiwan. He could have struck down Maul, become more powerful, but he did not.

  So Maul struck, but the padiwan was back on his feet quicker than expected. Lighting both sides of his saber to block both blades, he got semi serious. Two on one might actually make for a warm up. force push, how predictable, Maul dodged and prepared to strike. He struck true, and was about to put a hole through this so called master when he was knocked off balance by a force push. So instead he took the master's right hand.

  Qui-gon jin quickly grabbed his blade with his left hand, and both he and Obi struck Maul in his surprise, slicing him in two halves at the waist... But who used force push, that saved Qui-gon?

  Honestly, why I was here I didn't know. But I knew I couldn't let Qui-gon die for Anakin's dark backstory. I would rescue Shmi too, but I didn't think I would get the chance. So I snuck on board the dreadnaught just like Anakin. Honestly, I had a much easier time. First, nobody cared about me, second, I was not stupid to sneak on board the dreadnaught first. But instead snuck onto the support ship, only at the end did I sneak onto the dreadnaught. Then onto a troop transport.

  While I was living the good life, getting fresh cooked meals from the auto-chef onboard one of the support cruisers. Anakin was eating the rations the soldiers were supposed to default too if they ran out of fresh food. Hint, no soldier would allow that, ever. I was pretty sure he was eating chicken a la king flavor...

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  I had asked R2 to keep an eye on Anakin since I couldn't. For starters, had I been with him, I would have totally gotten busted. Unlike the force's bastard child. I had actually gotten regular reports on him and other things. It was amazing what some basic slicing could do. The Jedi looked down on slicing and the slicing classes, but even these basic ones and a spike were enough to get me a room, meals, and information.

  I was actually shocked when I transferred over to the dreadnaught. I did not think for a second that the battle would go as it did. When I had seen star wars movies, all the battles were line up your ships, good, now shoot randomly. Instead it was all very coordinated, the systems fire control was also highly advanced. It was a very precise... random.

  Ok, they put inputs into the system precise, and it came out random. I actually sliced the controls to see what the kriff was going on, and it's actually on purpose. I don't know why, but I assume it's an attack net thing. When we got close, the random pattern went away, don't need to hit a net when you're in fist fighting range. It then became very precise and coordinated, almost beautiful. But I couldn't stay any longer, the troops were moving planet side, and we had to run from under their guns.

  I asked the force which one, useful ability of the force, better than a falling stick! And it guided me to one of the landers that would land, safely, and securely. This way I would be able to get out and do what I needed to. Or so the force told me. I trusted it, I don't know why I did, but I didn't have much of a choice if I was going to change fate. So I jumped in. The troops thought I was a padiwan, even though I didn't have a padiwan braid. Then again, I doubted they get much jedi, one in like billions and all that.

  I was lucky, I thought Anakin didn't have his lightsaber yet, but I was wrong, both he and I had built our blades already. We even had the whole exciting times and adventures and bantha poodoo because kriffing Anakin, wizard!...

  Now I'm in this swampy nowhere called Naboo. Who's only purpose is to show the hypocrisy of the republic and make trouble for everybody. And Gunguns.

  Hu, Gunguns, and droids. And I don't think that they are fighting or enslaving each other. Oh, oh no, that's Bombas raining down...

  The Gunguns had launched the first attack, their shields were defending the frontline of droids. But the troops weren't having it. These were trained and blooded elites. They had fought and killed pirates, fought off Hutts, eliminated gangs. They weren't going to turn around at some alien scum, Hey! I represent that remark!

  This was not good regardless. I needed to get into the city. I could already feel that Qui-gon and Obi-wan were already in the city, if being a bit slow about things. I decided to retreat from the main field, couldn't do anything here anyway, and I will admit I could feel the sickening darkness of death. It made me want to cry. I didn't, I didn't know these people, and while sad, there were many billions dying all the time. Sad, but just another fact of life.

  Sneaking around the main lines was, honestly fairly easy when you could cheat. That didn't mean I wasn't caught by people far more experienced at sneaking. No, they just didn't like their catch, and I stunned them for it. I know, why didn't I kill them if they were just going to die anyway. Such a loser, right? But I couldn't force myself. Especially not knowing that if I did it would release that darkness... into me.

  Just feeling and seeing that darkness on the battlefield, it was a mess. But taking a life myself? I now know why the council was so up in arms about it. But it was one of those things that just had to be experienced. Like a karen that was being to overprotective of their son and instead isolated them and stunted their growth. It needed to be done, but in a natural setting, with learning and understanding.

  Instead, I knew that in the future barely padiwans turned knights would be thrust into the middle of war and forced to feel... that. And the jedi council would simply say, 'Oh, you survived? Unexpected but, good job I guess. But now that means we need to redraw the battle lines, so hold that line for a little longer yeah?' Stupid, hypocritical, and insane.

  I was heading straight for them when I felt it. Darth Maul. Sickening, disgusting, like sticking your hand in something you know is vile and dirty, but you can't help it. No, like something vile and dirty had been thrown over your head. It was utterly repulsive. And to think, people shipped THAT with Satine Craze over Obi-wan. No, it was vile and twisted. There was no way it could have a healthy relationship. True, she might be able to bring him back, weirder things have happened. But it wouldn't be a relationship. More like a dog and it's master.

  I still had to follow the wonder twins though. I could go straight ahead, but what happened when I was caught off guard and alone with a sith? Death, painful and toyed with to death. Nope, the two actual Jedi could deal with him first. I would inevitably help at an opportune time.

  Following them was easy enough since I wasn't really sneaking anymore. I occasionally scrapped some droids, but B1s weren't even close to sentients, let alone the OOM variety. They did make funny noises as they died, which tended to alert more droids. Probably why they did it. But otherwise, they weren't much when you ambushed them.

  Then the big fight happened. And nobody was paying attention to the little youngling. And let me tell you it was so much more awesome than the movies. I couldn't really see a thing. But it was like superman verses black adam. Bzzt Bzzt Bzzt. Bzzt bzzt bzzt. Vrroom! Vrroom! So awesome. And then the inevitable happened. When Maul was about to strike down Qui-gon I shoved him with all my worth. It barely nudged him. But that was enough, enough to alter history.

  Qui-gon loses a hand, not his life, and Maul is in two pieces again. I quickly try to pull him back. And my force pull works. If I wanted to grab a lightsaber that radiates pure evil and the lower half of a zebrak, ew. The top half still falls down the hole and escapes. Damn, but there is nothing I can do. Oh, and now I have two pissed off jedi that I just saved. And they are pushing major dad/older brother vibes, winding up for a lecture.

  Looking at the two jedi that just lost their two hands, what is it with the force and right hands anyway? "Don't we have something to do. I think Anakin is in danger." I say, before they can start. "Anakin is here?!" They say in unison. Oh, right, they probably didn't know that I wince. Oh well.

  It's two far to get to their eathersprites so we search a hanger nearby the palace for something that might be good. And we have a winner. There's an entire squadron of . We quickly destroy the ones we don't need. No reason to let them follow us up, and pick two. Obviously I hop in one, before Obi can take off without me. He seems pissed, but can't kick me out without losing Qui-gon so he has not time to argue.

  We are up in space in minutes. All that time on earth just trying to get here, and to the people of this universe it's nothing special. But soon I see a lucrehulk with some flies around it, and a couple of small pebbles, and lots of explosions. Can't see the star fighters yet, but I know they are there. Qui-gon and Obi have headsets on to communicate with each other, and receive messages, but I have nothing. I don't know what's going on.

  "Obi-wan to Anakin, Obi-wan to Anakin, do you read, over!" Says, Obi-wan. I'm almost glad, because if it was Qui-gon, I wouldn't know what was going on. "Ahh!" Screams Anakin over the radio. "Obi-wan to Anakin, we will be right there, hold on!" Screams Obi-wan right back. Dude, I'm right next to you, and it's radio, no matter how much you scream, it's not going to make things louder in space. Either he hears you, or he doesn't.

  They gun the engines and approach the battle donut as fast as they can. From the number of vultures, the good news is that destroying this ship will take out all the vulture droids. The bad news is, that that is because all the vulture droids in the fleet is here.

  I quickly spot Anakin, he is the N1 starfighter getting swarmed by droids and NOT instantly dying. It was one thing that I thought was weird in the movies, as droids, shouldn't they have perfect situational awareness in one of those death balls? Apparently, yes, they did. It didn't matter to the force's bastard though.

  But just as we arrived, his luck ran out, or the force gave up on him. Obi fired on a vulture taking it out, but it wasn't the one that was hitting Anakin. I saw one of his engines get takin out. And I could feel it in the force, he would be killed by two more if something didn't happen. Tired from my earlier shenanigans, I grabbed the control stick to Obi's panic, confusion, and indignation. But I swing the ship, firing in a crazed line that takes out both vultures before they can kill Anakin, and pass out.

  Anakin was having a bad day. At first things were going well. The strike group was keeping the hulk and the vultures contained. And everything was going smoothly. That's why Anakin knew everything was going to go wrong. And he was right! More vultures poured in, a lot more. Then everything went to the dragons!

  Anakin was surrounded, his other 'friends' flying the starfighters were picked off. He was able to keep himself alive, but he could barely get his shots off. Mostly, it was just the force telling him a shot would come up beyond what he could see as he dodged, ducked, dived, dipped, and dodged! True, he was whittling down the vultures, and would kill them all eventually, if he could keep it up!

  But there was no way the N1 would have enough fuel, let alone enough ammo, to keep up with all these vultures. But things got worse. The vultures kept pouring in over the edge, and they took down the cruisers in a storm of metal and blaster fire. It didn't matter if the cruisers held the advantage if they were simply overwhelmed by a tide. It got worse, a dread went down with the tide. They weren't going to make it!

  He heard somebody on the radio, he accidently thumbed the switch, hot mic was the last thing he needed! It didn't matter, he could feel the collar tightening! His head was going to explode! His right engine was shot out. He was going to die! Then the vultures that were after him disappeared, he could feel it in the force. Something passed him by, but it was too late. He was heading for the hanger!

  He passed right through the atmospheric shield! Why didn't they scramble the passcode? It was just a generic civ code that every fighter and ship had installed. His system jammed them all out in a second trying to get the right one, and it opened like magic! he was in! But with his thruster out he could barely keep the ship from hitting anything, vultures ignoring him and trying to get out, C-9979s parked with OOMs looking at him strangely as they went about their business. One fighter couldn't do much in here.

  But one proton torpedo? Now that could do something special! His fighter gave out, but as he thumbed different controls, trying to get it to light. And with R2 trying to repair the sorry ship. He launched a torpedo into something important! And it was exploding! And he was still on the ship!

  And take off! He was out of here. His right engine was still smoking, but he could fly, as long as he didn't gun that engine. He got on the radio and told people to escape, the ship was bout to explode!

  Besides, what was it and right side things? His right side engine, he entered the right side hanger...