Chapter 1: Watto I

Making one's way through the mosh pit that was the slave market on Tatooine was, quite frankly, not an enjoyable way to spend one's afternoon. The smell of the different slaves that had soiled themselves would've made him rethink his life alone if he didn't well and truly need a new mechanic. The shouts of the auctioneers, which constantly resonated throughout the throngs of people also harmed the Toydarian's sensitive hearing, but "It could be worse", he thought, "at least I'm not one of those poor wingless primitives shoving past each other".

The market itself encapsulated quite a large area of Anchorhead and was the most eclectic and cosmopolitan mix of peoples and races you would ever see in the outer-rim of the galaxy, both in terms of customers and merchandise. Most slaves you could buy here were "comfort women", for the most part Twi'leks and captured Sand women that were "broken in", but here and there were more specialized slaves, chief among them were the used ones that Gaardula the Hutt was trying to sell, these were usually technicians that were well trained, but for some reason or other managed to offend the Hutt and were punished in some fashion and later resold as a result.

It was to this secluded part of the market that Watto was now making his way, his wings struggling to fly him over the taller primitives. Finally, he arrived in an unassuming auction block, whose crowd had, by the looks of it, left long ago. He arrived at the scene of a Trandoshan herding the remaining slaves back to the transport speeder.

"Hey, wait a moment, I'd like to look at the merchandise!", he screamed just loud enough to be heard by the Trandoshan over the hustle and bustle of the market.

The Trandoshan clearly heard him and managed to roll his eyes, but whether as a gesture of annoyance at having been called back to work or as a reflex that these lizard primitives just happened to have Watto couldn't say. The Trandoshan quickly herded the slaves back and asked: "What are you looking for, Toydarian?", in huttese, but with the characteristic hissing that his kind was known for.

"A technician yes, one that's good with droids and ships, and can speak huttese", Watto answered. The Trandoshan rubbed his chin as if in thought and said: "Yesss, I believe I have one that can meet your criteria", having said this the Trandoshan pulled out his shock-baton and dove into the cage, carving a path through the remaining slaves with solely the threat of electrocution, finally reaching a small human boy with dirty blond hair, who he pulled out of the cage by the scruff of the neck

"Thiss one should be satisfactory", he said again with his characteristic hiss, "that'll be three thousand creditsss."

Watto looked closer at the boy, and only then did he notice the scars that now marred what would've otherwise probably been a handsome face. The front cartilage of his nose was missing giving his face a skull-like quality, while his cheeks had also at one point been sliced open creating scar-tissue that now served as a cruel caricature of an innocent smile which typically decorated the faces of boys of that age.

"So, this is him?" Watto asked, while scrutinizing the slave warily. "The techs from Gaardula usually cost more, to be precise they usually cost double the price you just named tell me, why is this one cheaper?"

"The Mistresss has devalued this one," replied the Trandoshan. "for obvioussss reasonssss."

"Obvious? What obvious?" replied Watto, who seemed confused. "He doesn't look any worse from other slaves I've seen."

"The slaves you usually see on Tatooine are hard labor slaves, used to being whipped and heavily scarred," replied the Trandoshan, who was staring quizzically at the boy. "Most of the slaves from Gaardula's retinue are highly educated, but soft in body. They typically serve as technicians and bed-warmers. Most of the time, they are pleasant to look at, and not an eyesore. Additionally, they have good conditioning that makes them obedient and unlikely to try and escape."

"Thisss one, however," the Trandoshan turned to face Watto, a slight scowl on his leathery features, "as you can see, is scarred and hideousss. Additionally, the conditioning didn't take, so he has been deemed a flight risk. That is why he has been devalued. The only reason Gaardula bought him at all was because of his prodigious intelligence, and hardworking effort. Otherwise, he would likely be in a hard labor camp."

"Wait, whadda mean he's a flight risk?" replied Watto, mildly alarmed. "I thought the slave transmitters took care of that?"

"Ah, well that is rather complicated," the Trandoshan replied thoughtfully. "It is not likely that he will try to run, despite his young age he is smart enough to understand the consequences of attempting that. No, the risk is in him finding a way to free himself."

"How would he do that?" asked Watto.

"Anything could happen," replied the Trandoshan mysteriously. "Just to remind you, this is a slave that a Hutt praised for his genius, he has a reputation for repairing droids and ships the best out of any other slave in the retinue, and you can have him for cheap, as you said. So long as you treat him fairly, I sure he will willing remain your property."

"How did he get scarred?" asked Watto, who stared at me thoughtfully.

"Well as you know blond humans have a… reputation for being quite attractive to many races in the galaxy. Such a child would have fetched quite a price with… buyers of a sort." The slaver said with a hint of dark amusement.

Watto noticeably grimaced but the Trandoshan continued speaking without noticing.

"Somehow, the child gained word of who he was to be sold to," the Trandoshan said, looking up at the boy with distaste. "Apparently, he personally used a sharp implement to cut himself up, hence the scarring. After which he was deemed no longer suitable as a child prostitute."

"He did that to himself?" ask Watto in shock.

"Well, yessss." replied the Trandoshan, annoyed. He passed his holopad to Watto. "Read it for yourself."

"How did he find out?" asked Watto after reading the holopad.

"What do you mean?"

"I meant, how did he find out he was going to be sold as a prostitute?"

"We never found out, presumably his mother told him."

"Boy!" Watto said suddenly, looking at the boy. He quickly jumped, but just as quickly regained his composure and raised an eyebrow to indicate that Watto should proceed with his question. "How did you find out?"

"My mother told me," the boy replied with a bland and disinterested tone of voice, which Watto took to mean that his will had been broken.

"Well, that's that mystery's solved," said Watto to the Trandoshan, who was looking bemused. "How much for him?"

"As I said, 3000 credits and not a cent less," replied the Trandoshan immediately.

"I will give you 2000 for him," said Watto.

"I said not a cent less, each slave from Gaardula's is priced uniquely, and will only be sold for that price," said the Trandoshan coldly. "Now, do you want him or not?"

"Fine, fine," Watto grumbled. He pulled a piece of flimsiplast from one of his pockets and passed it to the Trandoshan. "Here's the wire number to my account."

"Boy!", Watto once again shouted to gain his attention "with me, now!"

Watto and the boy made their way out of the market and back to his speeder, after a few minutes of walking they suddenly found it. An old TX-28, that had blaster marks, presumably the product of a few skirmishes with Tuscan raiders and was in dire need of maintenance, another reason why he purchased the slave Watto briefly thought. They got in the speeder and Watto began heading back to Mos Espa.

"What is your name boy?", Watto asked suddenly and he could swear that for the briefest of seconds that there was a shit-eating grin plastered on the face of his new property, but it disappeared as quickly as it came and the bland disinterested look he was quickly associating with him returned in full force.

"Why, Anakin master.", the boy said with a tone that managed to convey both detachment and amusement at the same time, "Anakin Damask".