CHAPTER ONE

The twin suns of Tatooine rose over the harsh desert landscape as Shmi Skwalker got up to tend her moisture farm. She was alone now, her husband was killed by the sand people many years before, leaving her alone with her son Owen. Strangely, a few years later, she became pregnant again and bore another son, a golden haired, blue eyed boy she called Anakin. His birth had been a mystery to her, and the gossips of the area wagged tongues over who the real father was. Shmi never even answered them, knowing they'd only laugh at her claim that no man was involved. Whatever happened, it was odd indeed. Perhaps in time, the truth would be revealed. She was happier here now than she'd ever been. Having been born a slave, her husband had bought her and given her freedom, though she knew that this legacy alone would be enough to taint the boys as the children of a slave. It didn't matter anymore, life was hard as it was. It was all they could do to survive.

Owen Skywalker was 24 years old, still at home, he had nowhere else to go. He might as well stay and take over the family farm, he had no ambitions beyond it. This life was fine for him, safe and comfortable. He hadn't even yet married his longtime girlfriend, Beru Whitesun, and others joked that she might give up on him if he didn't ask her soon. He awoke without being called for, but Anakin was still asleep as usual. His underground bedroom didn't offer benefit of windows, so the sunrise didn't enter his room and alert him the day had begun. Anakin was 16 years old, and very different from his brother. He didn't want to be a farmer, didn't even want to stay on Tatooine. He stared at the stars in the night sky, dreaming of flying away into them, to far distant places and adventures. He was fascinated by the Jedi order, and wanted to join, though his mother and brother only laughed at him when this was mentioned. A warrior priest of the force, who'd want to be that? The force was frightening to them, they didn't like to discuss it. Anakin not only wanted to talk about it, he wanted to touch it, to live it. He felt a close connection to it, and he could sense things they couldn't. This made Owen call his brother a 'weirdo' and belittle him for his dreams.

"Get up you worthless tub of bantha fodder!" Owen yelled, banging on the bedroom door of his younger half brother.

Anakin pulled his pillow over his head of golden curls and moaned, face down into the matress. "Go away. I don't feel good."

"You NEVER do! I'm getting tired of this. You're just plain lazy."

"Shut up, you don't even know me!"

"I know you lay here on your lazy butt all the time when Mother and I are doing all the work around here. I think she should toss you out, let you go into Mos Eisley and fend for yourself with all the other lowlife!"

A loud noise was heard from inside the room, and the door flew open. Anakin's blue eyes were full of rage, and something was flowing through him that Owen couldn't understand. He backed up, in fear of his younger, taller brother. "Get outa my face!" He screamed, and slammed the door.

Owen opened it again and barged in and found Anakin face down on the bed, ignoring him. He looked around the room. It was the same as it had been since Anakin was little. There were toy spacecraft and other flying machines dangling on strings from the ceiling. In the corner, a shabby droid he'd been working on for years still sat. It could talk now, but wasn't quite functional for any practical use. On the wall, there was an image of young Queen Amidala from Naboo, the girl Anakin had a crush on for years. Owen ripped it down and tossed it at him. "A Queen, what would she want with a bum like you?" Owen pulled the picture down and threw it on the bed. Anakin got up, turned around and pushed Owen across the room. "You're asking for it, punk!" Owen charged at him, but he was repelled even harder against the room. He hit the wall hard and fell to the ground. Anakin had never touched him. "Get OUT of here!" Anakin ordered again, his eyes filled with something Owen had never seen. He was completely stunned, and even frightened, at what had just happened. Anakin's rage alone had attacked him, without ever even lifting a finger. Not admitting his fear, Owen stood up and walked away. "Hurry up and come topside, WEIRDO!" He slammed the door, and Anakin hit it with both fists in disgust after it was closed. He lay back down on the bed and stared at the picture of the young Queen, then put her face down on the bedside table. He felt so stupid now for even daydreaming about her. Owen was right, she'd never like him. He stared up at the model flying machines that hung down from the ceiling and wished he was in one of a real one like them, far, far, far away from here.

Owen reported to his mother, who was away from the dwelling tending the moisture evaporators in the field. "I can't get Anakin to wake up, again."

"That's how he flunked out of school. I worry about him. He wasn't meant for this place, he's different than we are."

"Bantha fodder, mother! He can do anything he sets his mind to!"

"What if what he's setting his mind to has nothing to do with this moisture farm?"

"You would support that?"

"I"d be very sad to see him go, Owen, but we all must follow our own paths. He has to find out which one is the right one for him."

Just then, Anakin strode by, eyes focused straight ahead, not looking at them.

"Good morning, Anakin." Shmi said cheerfully.

"Hello mother. I'm going into town to check out some power converters. I'll see you later." He said without stopping or slowing down.

"What? Where are you going? I don't believe you, get back here!" Owen yelled. Anakin ignored him. Shmi just looked away. Her older son went back to working, her younger son soon disappeared on foot over the nearest dune.

Far above the planet, a wise Jedi master named Qui-Gon Jinn and his partner and former apprentice, Obi-Wan Kenobi, realized they were having problems with their ship. "Will she make it, Master?"

The younger man asked. Master Jinn shook his head. "I feel we will not. We must set her down, now, or we may crash or become hopelessly lost in space." Young Obi-Wan tried not to show his fear, having fear was a bad trait for Jedi. He calmy nodded. "Tatooine, that's a desert planet, and one full of Tuskens and rogues of all types."

"Your memory and insight serves you well. Yes, that is true. Such an outpost is avoided by all if they have the choice. As of now, it is our only hope."

They stared out the viewport as they headed their ship into the atmosphere of Tatooine.