(My version of the Coruscant Council session had it been infiltrated by an
angel of God)

The circle of various races assembled in the big room as the nervous nine
year old Anakin was brought forward. He felt his new mentors’ and friends’
Qui Gon and Obi Wan’s gentle wordless assurances mixed with the various
questioning of the others. Yoda was the first to speak.

“How feel you?” he probed gently, testing the boy.

Anakin’s brow rose in perplexity, immediately sensing that it wasn’t a mere
concern with his health.

“Cold, Sir.” he said nervously, feeling like a trapped animal in a cage with
the strange assortment of onlookers surrounding him. Besides the Jedis,  the
only other visage who gave him any remote comfort was a strange, serene woman
who sat to his left. She blended in with the other humans present, but there
was something about her eyes. Anakin also sensed a higher energy from her
that wasn’t the Force. Somehow she made him feel a bit braver and more sane.

Yoda’s wrinkled green forehead creased even more in irritation when Anakin’s
answer wasn’t the one he was looking for.

“I sense much fear in you.” he answered for him, making the boy cringe. The
strange woman spoke up.

“He misses his mother.” she said quietly to Yoda. “Can’t you understand
that?”  Yoda ignored her. He fixed his luminous green eyes on Anakin and
pointed a finger for emphasis.

“Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hatred, hatred leads to suffering.”

Anakin hung his head. He didn’t understand where any of this was going. All
he knew was he was homesick, and becoming a Jedi was becoming less appealing.
Obi Wan and Qui Gon exchanged discreet, but concerned glances. Anakin looked
like he was going to start bawling any second. The woman broke in to save
him.

“With all due respect, Sir.” she said to Yoda, a strange light glinting in
her pale blue eyes, “he needs to be taught that there is more to his training
than ignoring negative emotions. He needs to know the true goal behind the
Jedi’s mission.”

If Yoda had had his staff, he would have slammed it down on the floor.
“Control a Jedi’s mission is!” he insisted with an elderly huff. “Resist the
Dark Side he must! What right have you to question a Jedi Master, hm? A Jedi
you are not.”

The woman only sat quietly, unphased. “No, I’m not.” she said just as
quietly, but something in her voice demanded attention. “But have you ever
wondered about the source your Force comes from, Yoda? What would you do if
you learned there was a higher power Who is over it and all other forms of
power? Who orders the universe we try to control? “

Mixed reactions rippled around the room in disturbed and questioning murmurs,
and even Qui Gon and Obi Wan were mildly stunned. They’d never heard a
concept like THAT before! And the gall of that woman! Yes, she was a recently
elected member of the Council and well respected, but up until now she had
never questioned the Force.

Yoda’s eyes grew wide, then quickly retracted. “The Force is the greatest
power.” he insisted, struggling between shock at her seemed blastphemy and
unease at the feeling she might be right.

“No, Yoda, it’s not.” the woman said, rising. The Council drew involuntary
breaths as a glow started eminating from around her. “I am an angel, sent by
God to help you.”

Yoda’s eyes DID bug out this time. “Impossible this is!” he practically
hyperventillated, summoning all the powers of the Force to keep his shock
under control. Everybody else just stared in awe.

“All powers, everything you see and don’t see is created by God.” she told
them. “He loves every one of you more than you can imagine. But He dosen’t
want you to worship the things He created. You can’t have a relationship with
a Force. That power is only here to help you understand Him better. He wants
your hearts, your souls. The Force can’t make you complete. He can. The
greatest force is God’s love. And God IS love. Just like the Force, you can’t
see it, but it’s there.”

For once, Yoda was speechless. He closed his eyes and blocked his thoughts
from all but the angel.

“The Force is strong with you.” was all he could say.

“No,” the angel corrected him. “I’m not speaking from the Force’s  power, but
from God’s. You can block your mind and heart from me, but no one can hide
from Him. He dosen’t want to condemn any of you. He just wants to give you
life. Think how much more powerful the cause of the Jedi would be if you gave
the credit to Him? Live for Him, fight for Him, stand for Him, and the dark
side dosen’t have a chance. Remember that when you train your Jedis.” She
cast one last loving glance at Anakin, Qui Gon and Obi Wan before
disappearing before their eyes.

The Council sat in silence for a long, long time. Finally, Yoda spoke. This
time, he directed his words to Qui Gon.

“Train him I will not.” he insisted. He blocked the dark ripple of
uncertainty from his mind so they couldn’t see it.

“Then I will.” Qui Gon said, and it was settled. Yoda sighed.

Anakin was startled by a strange sound like a cooing dove, and looked over
his shoulder just in time to see a white bird sail out the window, though the
window was covered by glass. He smiled.
 

by: Kelli Clark