The Will of the Force

Chapter 4: Enlightenment and Revelations

Padme found herself back in the pure white room, Qui-Gon waiting for her as before. He smiled and gestured for her to join him on the bench, saying 'You've made a good start, but there's still a ways to go yet. I fear Obi-Wan and Owen will be more difficult to convince of Anakin's redemption than Breha was. More on par with Bail's reaction, I suspect, only they won't have anyone there to quieten them.'

As she sat, Padme nodded in agreement. "I'm hoping that Beru will listen to reason and may be able to persuade Owen, but Obi-Wan...' her voice softened as she admitted 'I once thought of him as one of my closest friends but after what he did to Anakin, and to Luke and Leia, I'm not sure I can ever forgive him or trust him again. I fear that he may not let us take Luke, that he may not see that the force wills it, and could attack. Anakin's made so much progress but if Obi-Wan endangers one of the twins he'll fight him, and he's still severely weakened from their duel on Mustafar.'

'Your concerns are understandable and, unfortunately, well-founded. When the time comes, Padme, trust in your instincts and the force. They'll guide you.'

This seemed like a good segway into her questions about her abilities. 'Ever since I first appeared to Anakin I've been experiencing things that I think are usually associated with force-sensitivity. I can sense emotions and influence them, speak and be spoken to telepathically, reach out through the force to locate someone, send emotions and messages through bonds, and I think I can hear people's thoughts.'

'I didn't think it would start so soon,' he said, more to himself than to her.

'That what would start so soon?'

'Padme, I was not completely honest with you about the nature and purpose of this place,' he indicated to the room around them.

She was surprised, but in the short time she'd known Qui-Gon in life, she learned that he didn't hide things without a good reason 'OK...'

'It will take some time to explain fully-'

'I have to get back to Anakin by the time the Extractor reaches Tatooine.'

'Don't worry, time passes more slowly out in the living world than in here.' When she nodded understanding, he continued. 'I'll start at the beginning. In life, though not force sensitive, you had a significant amount of Midichlorians – you were just a hundred shy of displaying capabilities in fact. As it was, the Midichorians manifested themselves in different ways such as intuition, empathy, and intelligence. When Luke and Leia were in your womb, their strength in the force added to your own. When they were born, your abilities awakened. Had you survived, you would have been force-sensitive. Palpatine had other plans it seems.' Qui-Gon paused to let this information sink in. Padme knew there was something off about her death and wasn't surprised to learn that it was the emperor's doing. Her near force sensitivity, however, was more unexpected. As a child, she often wished that she could learn the ways of the Jedi and master the lightsaber, but she had never shared this longing with anyone, sensing that she would be mocked. When she turned eleven and her parents introduced her to politics, she let go of that dream knowing that it would never be. Anakin and their marriage rekindled that wish, and it was one of the reasons she was determined that both of her children would be trained. Hearing now that after all this time, she had been so close to what she thought was impossible, an ache long-forgotten stirred inside of her.

After he gave her some time to collect herself, for he could see that these revelations had a deep impact on her, Qui-Gon resumed. 'This is a waystation in the force, though not for those with unfinished business. Rather for those whom the force deems may return to life.' Padme's eyes widened in disbelief as the Jedi master continued 'Usually, such a place would resemble a ship port, signifying the choice between returning to the living world or going on to become one with the force, but it is shaped and given form by those who pass through. You are the first to ever do so. Now, these powers you've been developing. As I mentioned, Luke and Leia's birth made you force-sensitive, and the abilities were present from that moment on. However, you didn't sense them as you were close to death, and now that you aren't, you're aware of them.'