Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars. Credits to Lucasfilm and Disney.
Hey there!
Well, this is my first Star Wars fic, and my English isn't my first language so there will be mistakes, I apologize for that. But my co-author, Paul Walker's Mistress and me have done everything we could to deliver you a decent prologue to this story J
Also, I need a Beta! If you're interested, please contact me!
Enough of rambling, on with the story!
"A little spark in the dark"
Prologue
Lorcan was nervous.
And how couldn't he be if he owned a huge amount of money to someone as powerful and vindictive as Jabba the Hutt?
He had received a subpoena by Bib Fortuna and he sensed that it wasn't for a friendly conversation. The poor Lorcan had requested an extra credit in order to afford a nice dinner for his poor daughter, Lyra. The girl didn't eat for three days ago now and her father's despair was taking control of the situation.
"Dad?" The little Lyra softly called as she stepped beside him. "What's going on?"
His face relaxed for a moment, he smiled at her. "Nothing, my sweet princess." He lovingly stroked her head, ruffling a wild mane of dark hair. "Daddy…he's fine, darling." That was a huge lie, but Lorcan didn't want to worry his daughter with things she would never understand.
"Who is your racer for tomorrow, daddy?" The girl questioned, smiling and revealing the loss of two of her baby tooth.
"What kind of question is that, Lyra?" Lorcan joked. "My racer is Sebulba as always!" She wrinkled her nose and shook her head. "What? What's wrong?"
"I don't like him, dad."
"He always wins." He replied.
The pilot, originally from Dug, was the favorite of many because he promised speed, excitement, strategy and a great competitive spirit in every race. Sebulba was a racer who always cheated, earning the hatred of his competitors and the love of his audience. The ego was undoubtedly the foundation of his mentality. Lyra was aware that Sebulba's victories brought profits to her father, but however, she never liked the racer.
"Hey, Buleeana!" Both father and daughter turned their heads to their left side. Bib Fortuna had just entered into the bar, being followed by his fellows. Lorcan swallowed and stood awkwardly, throwing a glass in the process. The color of his skin had gone from being tanned to pale. Just to see the newcomers, Lyra gasped and covered her mouth with her hands; Bib was another person she was afraid of.
"Bib!" Lorcan exclaimed as he walked in the bar. "I was about to go get you!" He said with a shaky voice." You see, I have great news for Jabba…I almost got his-"
"Jabba is not interested in the money anymore. He got tired of waiting and now it's time to become serious about this matter. "Bib cut in.
Lorcan swallowed again, his jaw tense and his hands were pressed on his knuckles as he sat down on a table. He didn't know what that meant, but he was sure that he didn't want his daughter to be a witness.
"Lyra, darling." He called, reaching for her. "Why don't you go to the band and ask them to play something more…cheerful?" The girl looked at the newcomers, and then stared back her father, clearly frightened. Lorcan Buleeana's gray eyes showed more nervousness than ever.
"I'm going to ask them to play your favorite," Lyra announced, trying to make him relax, but she failed. "I'll be right back, papa." She promised before sliding from the seat until her feet touches the ground. Lyra looked terrified again at the monsters that surrounded her father and then she ran towards the center of the bar.
Bib and his thugs surrounded Lorcan as the girl was nowhere to be seen.
"What does Jabba want to talk about?" Lorcan asked, sitting down again with a serious face as he leaned his chest over the table. Bib sat back on Lyra's former seat and put his pink hands over the table.
"You see, Jabba is usually patient when it comes to collecting debts..." He began. "But his patience never exceeds two days, and you..." Bib looked at him with his bright orange eyes. "You have exceeded a month. And you may have noticed that he agreed to give the exact amount of time you asked for...but he wants something in return. "
"Anything!" Lorcan promised while interrupting him. "I'll give it along with the money I'll win tomorrow at the race."
"Anything?" Bib repeated. "Well...you should've asked before opening your mouth, Buleeana." He and the other ruffians laughed grimly.
"What are you talking about?" Lorcan asked back looking at them with a scowl and clenched hands again.
"What Jabba wants is small, often charming and has the spirit of a slave... something that conveyed the mother."
What he heard left him perplexed, mortified. His brain took a moment to process the description, but once it did, a single image crossed his mind. "Lyra..." Lorcan whispered; and all of the sudden he started looking for his daughter among the consumers of the bar. He had no idea how many thugs had come with Bib. He didn't know if any of them were around his daughter and who would be willing to take her from him!
"No...He can't ask that of me..."
"Well, actually, he can. And also Jabba is... short of companions, you know?" Bib said lightly. "And he thought in your little girl as..."
"No…!" Lorcan whispered again. "I can give him all the money of the Galaxy, but not my daughter! She's…"
"You don't decide the terms here, Buleeana!" Bib firmly hissed. "Believe me, he's proposing you this deal or otherwise..." He approached him. "We shall to take you to the Great Pit of Carkoon!" Lorcan swallowed hard once again. His forehead was sweaty as if he was standing on the warm twin suns of Tatooine.
"But Jabba is generous and he is giving you a last chance." He then added, "Talking about the race; you always bet on the same, do you?" Lorcan managed to nod in response. "Good. Lucky for you, there is another solution to your problem."
"Which is?"
"If Sebulba win tomorrow, you must pay under the terms we have agreed." Bib said. "But if Sebulba loses... you can keep your child, but you must pay the money you own Jabba. It's simple. And now…" He clapped his hands, standing up. "Have a good day." His companions laughed behind him soon the group exited the bar, leaving Lyra's father alone.
Lorcan let go of the rigid position he kept and sank in the cushioned seat. He was silent. It was hard to process everything they had discussed. But one thing was very clear for him: his daughter would not be part of Jabba the Hutt's harem; she wouldn't be a slave. Lyra would grow to become a free woman...like her mother had always wanted.
He would never give up on his own child. No. Lyra was the last memory of his beloved wife; she was the only good thing they've done together...
"Dad?" The little girl called him once she returned by his side. "Dad…" He turned to be able to stare at her. She was there, with her big gray eyes, her dark and wavy hair falling over her shoulders giving her an innocent look. He loved his daughter more than anything in the world, but the decisions he took over the years put her at risk more than one time. And the last one was the worst of them all...
He tried desperately to smile, but he only could get a look of sadness that Lyra had been able to understand. Lorcan rose from his seat and scooped up his daughter.
"Papa, what is going on?" She asked again.
"I have to get you out of here. Come on."
The day of the big Podrace had finally arrived. The twin suns shined high in the sky, heating up the race course. The street was full of people, waiting to see their favorites in action. But not everyone was happy: Lorcan walked through the crowd gathered in the Grand Arena of Mos Espa. Lyra was behind him, holding her father's hand and trying to not lose him.
"Where are we going?" She asked, truly hectic.
Lorcan didn't look at her, "To see an old friend."
The Buleeanas made their way through the crowd; Lyra had never seen so many people together at one place. In fact, she almost never left her small and rented room; all she was eying now was completely new. Buildings, costumes, smells and even the language seemed interesting to her.
"Lyra, don't stop." Her father ordered, claiming the grip of hand.
He turned to the left and they entered in a huge hangar. Although slightly out of her room, she knew all or nearly all the contacts of her father. She also knew why they had gone to that place. Lorcan was looking for his bookie. And now more than ever, he was desperate to found him.
"Watto!" Buleeana called all of the sudden. Lyra knew Watto only by his name, but this was the first time she had ever saw him in person... but he wasn't like she imagined: Watto was a robust Toydarian, with blue skin and small wings that generated rapid beats and left him suspended about one meter above the ground. He was a junk dealer who had a knack for haggling.
"Lorcan!" Flapping repeatedly his wings, Watto waved towards the newcomers. "My dear, Lorcan!" Looking closely, Lyra saw a scraggly beard that occupied his lower jaw. "What I can do for you?" Lorcan gave his daughter's hand and with a firm and rapid step approached his bookie. Being free and able to recover the air, Lyra turned to observe everything around her. The hangar was filled with pods of all colors, sizes and shapes. Even the competitors seemed curious.
"I want to change my bet." Lorcan said urgently.
The Toydarian scratched his scraggly beard. "Your current bet is for Sebulba first, right?" Buleeana only shook his head in agreement. "Fine. Who would be your racer now?"
Lorcan looked around. There were many participants and he didn't know who he wanted. "I need someone who will definitely win the race."
Watto looked how desperate Lorcan was and then…he laughed. "Someone is being pressured, are you, my old friend?" The Toydarian patted Lorcan's shoulder several times.
"I'm not kidding, Watto!" He insisted, glancing at his daughter who had fun looking around. "Please, I need your help!"
Watto scratched his chin and then chuckled his tongue. He had recently registered one of his slaves in the race and his instinct told him that the boy definitely would lose, but...Did Lorcan knew that?
"I think I have someone in mind." Slightly, his blue body cocked to the side and saw one of the pods over his blue shoulder. "Do you see that kid?" He asked, pointing at a child. Lorcan's eyes followed what Watto. Indeed there was a child inside one of the pods, perhaps checking if everything was in order, and around him was a small group of people: a woman with dark hair; a young girl who had a serene face; a strange creature with long ears and orange skin; and finally a man who was dressed in a beige robe and had grey hair and calm blue eyes.
For some reason, that last person was vaguely familiar to Lorcan…
"That kid has entered to the race and plans to win it." Watto put his arm over Lorcan's shoulder. "Just between us, I'm not sure he can beat someone like Sebulba; but the man who he is with claims that he can win. Do you think he has any chance of being your racer? " Watto asked. "He's young, and maybe that is the key to defeat Sebulba and have a new winner." Watto whispered, speaking to Lorcan's ear. "Come on, my dear Lorcan. At least give him an opportunity, don't you think?"
"Yes..." Lorcan grumbled. If Watto thought that kid could win, then he agreed too. "Yes, I think he will do it."
"So…what will you do, my old friend?" Watto asked.
Lorcan smiled. "Everything on that child."
"Very good, very good." The Toydarian laughed hoarsely. "All your bet on the young Anakin Skywalker!"
-...-…-
The grandstands were packed with spectators from all over the galaxy. Lorcan and Lyra settled into one of the boxes facing the track. The girl was amazed by everything she saw around her. Adrenaline flowed in each of the spectators who cheered for their favorites.
"There's Sebulba!" She exclaimed, tugging her father's sleeve, who kept looking Anakin Skywalker.
"I know, honey, I know." Lorcan absently stroked her head, his hands beginning to sweat.
Lyra knew what would happen if Sebulba won the race. She and her father would dine real food and maybe they could acquire new clothes. But she doubted that this time the same thing could happen…
The thunderous sound of trumpets got her out of her thoughts. The boxes were filled with spectators who continued calling their racer; the vast majority shouted the name of Sebulba. Lyra also knew her father would shout the name of the Dug at any time, but the little girl was quite surprised to discover that he was awkwardly silent.
'Something is going on with him.' She thought as she watched him internally with disdain.
Lorcan began with the issue of gambling months after Yara Buleeana, his wife, died; and since then his addiction became in his undoing. And though he wanted to deny it, his daughter was quite aware about it.
"There is great support today, from all corners of the outer boundaries!" Exclaimed one of the speakers from the balcony. "Competitors are approaching the starting line." Down the racers seemed insignificant dots moving on a sandy mantle. Lyra leaned over the railing and rested her chin on the concrete ledge. "Oh, there I see Ben Quadrinaros, from the Tund System."
"There's the two-time winner Boles Roor!" Lyra cried excitedly right after, watching him sending kisses to his fans. "It's him, right dad?" She questioned with emotion when she recognized him. But Lorcan was still deep in his nervousness. The hosts continued to present the participants of the race. Depending on the names people magnified or rejected.
"And a late registration, the young Anakin Skywalker, a local boy!" Lorcan jumped up and knelt beside his daughter, holding her by the shoulders. That was the first expression of joy he had shown in hours.
Lyra curiously gazed at the local boy. He was a kid...after all he still was a child. And he would face Sebulba. She stood frightened as she imagined what would happen if something happened to him
"Dad." Lyra called tugging at her father's robe. For the first time, Lorcan turned to her.
"Tell me, love." He said, smiling broadly.
"Is he your winner?" The girl asked, pointing to Skywalker.
"He is." She frowned. "What? What's wrong? "
"I thought it was Sebulba." She answered.
"He's better than Sebulba!" Lorcan said, ruffling her hair.
Lyra really doubted that, but she was surprised at the courage of that child; if he was in the race, he should be an outstanding pilot. After the presentations a row of flag stood in front of the pods and people cherished again. One of the commentators announced the arrival of Jabba the Hutt, and thousands of heads turned toward the main stage. Lorcan choked on his own saliva as he saw the Hutt, but Lyra applauded him anyway.
"Welcome!" Jabba saluted, raising his short arms. Bib Fortuna was standing at his side and peered all around. "May the race begin!" The pods were launched, making a clear demonstration of the powers of each. Lyra had never felt so much adrenaline and emotion in her all life!
When Jabba finally gave the order, the race finally began. The racers started their engines, and the roar of the powerful machines filled the arena.
"And they're off!" The announcer cried. Then he blinked in surprise. "Wait!" He exclaimed, "Little Skywalker has stalled at the starting line!"
"Oh no!" Lyra cried leaning over the railing.
"And it seems that Quadrinaros also have problems!" The aforementioned driver started to become a nervous as he hit the screen controls.
"You can do it, Anakin!" Lyra shouted from her post, putting her hands to her mouth. "You can do it!" Anakin, despite being a stranger, had won the support of young Buleeana.
Inside his pod, Anakin yanked the thruster bars back to neutral and cleared his fuel lines. Then he flipped a switch and blasted out the starting grid after the other Pods.
"And there goes the young Skywalker!" Once the pod left behind the starting line, spectators and bettors could clearly keep watching the race via a screen placed in the boxes. "It will cost him to catch the leaders."
Out the course, the roar of Pod engines was deafening. Sebulba and a racer named Mawhonie were running head to head, and those moments were almost agonizing for Lorcan. Anakin had to win. He rested his elbows against his knees as he kept his eyes on the screen.
Desperate to win, the Dug came up alongside Anakin. He veered his Pod into Skywalker's and their steering rods hooked together. Anakin tried to pull away and his steering rod broke altogether. Sebulba's Pod flew free and Anakin's began to spin!
"Oh no!" Lyra cried once again.
Gripping his thrusters, Anakin quickly regained control of his Pod, but…where was Sebulba?
CRASH!
Sebulba's engines hit the ground with a huge explosion. As the Dug's cockpit skidded to an abrupt halt, he let out and angry shriek; he had lost the Podrace to a human boy! Anakin steaked ahead, his eyes focused on one thing: the finish line. As he crossed it, the crowd went wild!
"Ladies and gentleman, Anakin Skywalker had won the Boonta Eve Race!"
Lorcan had won; he no longer felt tense, but despite having recovered a great amount of the money he owned, he was not completely satisfied. During the race he felt that the young Skywalker was not skilled enough to take on someone like Sebulba, but he still managed to win.
But why he didn't feel happy?
"Can you believe it?" Watto spoke, clicking his tongue. "I've lost a slave on a bet." He shook his head as he walked away, slowly flapping his little wings.
Lorcan looked at the hangar: the group he had seen before was again with Anakin Skywalker. He wanted to go there to congratulate the child and express how grateful he was to him, but surely he wouldn't go into details in front of so many strangers. Determined to show his respects to the pilot, he crossed the hangar.
"Hey, Skywalker!" he called, closing the short distance that still separated them both. The group of people turned to him, "My name is Lorcan and I wanted to-"
Without giving him time to finish the sentence, one of them turned and confronted him. Lorcan closed his mouth and clenched his jaw. He and his wife had left the past behind, moving to the most forgotten planet of the galaxy with the intention of losing contact with anyone who they had known. But he never came to think that, after so long, the past would find him again.
"Lorcan?" Spoke the man who was wearing the beige clothes, the one whose calm blue eyes left Lorcan speechless for a moment. "Lorcan Buleeana, is that you?"
"Qui-Gon Jinn?" Lorcan nodded. The stranger had recognized him, so did he.
Lorcan knew this man and this man knew so much about him…much more than he would like to admit.
"Too many years have past, my friend." Qui-Gon replied as he crossed his arms.
Both had met several many years ago. When they still were children, they had joined the Jedi, reaching the stage of Padawans: Lorcan had been taken as the apprentice of Master Windu while Qui-Gon was made a ward of the Master, and later Count Dooku. Both grew up together, becoming excellent students; Master Yoda said the two of them would go far in their lives. But Lorcan had broken the Jedi code after meeting a girl just two years younger than them called Yara. He understood what he felt for her when he was only nineteen years old, and then he left everything for her, he even challenged his own Master. After what he had done, and unwilling to leave the woman he loved, he took the decision to leave his old life behind him.
"Does my name continue to resonate among the Jedi?" Lorcan asked with a hint of curiosity on his voice.
Qui-Gon placed a hand on his shoulder, walking away from the group. "Master Windu is disappointed at you, my old friend." He answered. "But Master Yoda reasoned that maybe you and Yara were too young to understand the responsibility of being a Jedi at the time."
"I couldn't have a life without emotions." Lorcan replied. "I fell in love with Yara from the very moment I saw her."
Qui-Gon had nothing to add to that last confession. He only just looked into his friend's grey, tired eyes.
"We heard that you had a child."
"A girl, yes."
"How is she like?" He asked with a kind smile.
"Like her mother." Lorcan replied honestly, his thoughts drifting to the image he had of his beloved.
"So, I guess she's a good girl." Qui-Gon commented with a nod.
"What brings you to Tatooine?" Lorcan then asked, changing the subject. He had no mood to talk about his past. Qui-Gon looked over his shoulder, pointing slightly Anakin.
"He is special." Answered Qui Gon.
"Skywalker?" Lorcan raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
"Since I met him, I have the feeling that this boy has something that isn't normal. I mean, he's an excellent person but something is different about him." The Jedi took a quick glance over his shoulder again, visualizing Anakin, who was talking with his mother and at the strange creature with long ears. "That's why I asked to my Padawan to make a blood test." He continued.
"And? What did the test say?"
"The count went off the chart." The Jedi replied seriously. "More than 20,000 midiclhorians." Lorcan opened his mouth, but he didn't release any word or exclamation. He stood perplexed.
"That is impossible." Buleeana murmured. "Even Master Yoda hasn't such a high count."
"I know." The Jedi nodded. "That makes me believe that he's special." Qui-Gon stepped closer to his friend. "What about your daughter? Did you find out if the Force is strong within her?"
Lorcan recalled that time when Lyra's palm was cut. He consoled her, he had dried her tears and he had promised her that the wound would close within days. The girl was too young and she was scared, but after being in her father's arms, all her concerns were pulled out of her mind. After having sent her to sleep, Lorcan picked up the rag he had used to clean the blood and put it in a drawer.
"Recently, I send some of her blood to give a count, too." Lorcan said, recalling the results. "And now I realize that Lyra is not so different from that kid."
"Same amount of midichlorians?" Buleeana nodded, looking for his daughter among the people.
Then an idea popped into his mind. It was a crazy, but it was the best he could do if he wanted his daughter's happiness.
Lorcan looked in all directions and made sure that the group of Qui-Gon wasn't paying attention and then he approached to his friend to speak confidentially.
"What will you do with Anakin?"
Qui-Gon looked for Watto among the people who remained in the hangar. He found the Toydarian collecting the money he had won in the betting. He also saw a little girl talking animatedly with one of the racers. "With that junkman I tried to negotiate the freedom of the boy and his mother, so I made a bet. I'm planning to take him to the Council and let them decide what to do with him."
The Council was on Coruscant, and that city was definitely very, very far away from Tatooine. Undoubtedly, that was the best option.
"Look, my old friend." Buleeana spoke. "I'll be honest with you. I am having troubles with keeping Lyra. Do not get me wrong: I really love her, but there are some people who threaten her well-being and I no longer possess the same strength as before to protect her…"
The calm look of Qui-Gon reflected in a pure expression, which Lorcan knew he didn't need to add nothing else. "What I can do for you, my friend?"
"I need you to take her out of here." He requested. "I know she will be better elsewhere. Maybe she can too become Jedi... I'm sure that Lyra will have a better life far from this horrible place."
That decision hurt in the depths of his heart, but that was what Yara would have wanted.
"Padmé." Qui-Gon called to the young brunette. "Come here." The girl left the group and joined the Jedi Master.
"Is something wrong?" She asked softly as she looked up at Lorcan, to whom he gave a small smile.
"Go out there and find a girl named Lyra." He asked her to Lorcan's relief. "She will come with us."
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