What if the Chosen One was not a boy, but instead, a girl? …
SEASON 1
Chapter 1 - It Begins
32 BBY
Mos Espa, Tatooine
Celebrations and festivities were the center of attention in Mos Espa, and cities all across the desert world of Tatooine. Today was Boonta Day, a holiday established from a battle between the Hutts and a rebellious slave bloc centuries ago. It was a commemorative day, one that reminded the elites of Tatooine that any defiance against the Hutt ruling families would result in a stunning and humiliating defeat.
The Grand Arena was hosting pod-races, a tradition that dates as far back as Boonta Day. The races usually kicked off on Boonta's Eve, the previous day. However, racers from all over Tatooine, Malastare, Tibrin, and a dozen other Outer Rim worlds were sending their best racers to Mos Espa. The grandstands of the Mos Espa Grand Arena were filled to the brim with spectators, drowning themselves in alcoholic beverages, and stuffing their faces with fried, sweet, foods.
"It is imperative that we increase security, my lady." hissed the pale beige Twi'lek advisor to the grotesque Gajra the Hutt, one of the most powerful Hutts on the planet, in the viewing canopy in the main building of the Grand Arena. The engrossed, pasty green skinned, Hutt paid no attention to her black robed advisor, and reached for a squirming womprat on a platter to his right as he watched the podracers pass by on another lap. The Twi'lek took a few steps forward, standing at Gajra's right side, looking out to the arena. People were cheering and chanting for their favorite racers, but the advisor wasn't concentrated on the race at all.
He eyed the walkways and ramps that descended down the enormous grandstands, looking to see where the patrol guards were. He held his hands together, rubbing them nervously, and grinded his teeth.
"Stick a bottle of rum in your mouth!" roared Gajra in Huttese, "Sick and tired of your chittering."
"My lady, where are the extra security guards?" asked the advisor.
"Those insurrectionists won't do anything, it's Boonta Day." grumbled Gajra, resting her stubby hands on his enlarged stomach, and taking in a deep breath. "We took care of them already."
"They killed your aunt and niece." hissed the advisor quietly, looking at Gajra, "They were in line to rule over the Plains to the east, suddenly, when the time comes for their ascension-"
"Enough!" shouted Gajra, "I do not need reminding of the death of my family members." the Hutt waved her hand at the advisor, "Get out of my presence." the Twi'lek stood straight, glaring at the Hutt ruler. Lady Gajra turned her head and grunted at the Twi'lek, and he nodded understandingly.
The Twi'lek walked out of the balcony viewing room, passing by a set of guards, and heading down a hallway. He took out a comlink from within his sleeve, and activated it upon passing by other wealthy-looking individuals.
"We have intel." said a raspy voice on the comlink.
"Report."
"The Hutt is in danger."
"Which Hutt? Lady Gajra?" questioned the Twi'lek. An alien man made eye contact with the advisor, and he quickly turned his shoulder, and headed down another hallway. He could feel the rumbling of the building as people cheered and thundered outside for the racers as they made another round by.
"The entire damned clan. You were warned."
"Wait, I need more information-" the Twi'lek eyes widened upon seeing the transmission was severed, the small green light on the comlink had deactivated. He took in a shaky breath, and rubbed his forehead.
Within the blink of an eye, there was a explosion, and an uproar of terrified screams coming from outside. The building shook, the floors trembled, the walls cracked, and dust fell from the ceilings. The Twi'lek ran as fast as he could back to the viewing room where Gajra was.
The advisor ran down another hallway, quickly making a turn into a dust-filled corridor. There were armored Nikto and Weequay guards standing in the way, trying to pass through the hallway. There were beams of sunlight coming down from the ceiling. There was a giant hole in the ceiling, and also in the floor. Smoke was pluming out of the floor. The advisor stepped closer, the viewing room that Gajra was in was completely obliterated. The floor caved in, and fell through numerous more levels below.
"Oh my god…" muttered the Twi'lek, looking down in horror at the dead Hutt dozens of feet below. There were tens of other bodies sticking out of the rubble as well. The floor continued to shake and crumble as the spectators were fleeing. The guards and the advisor started running back down the hall as the floor near the hole started to fall apart.
"Call the damn Republic! Call the damn Republic!" shouted the Twi'lek to another group of guards that were running down the hall with them. "We're done for!"
Coruscant
Jedi Temple
High Council Chamber
"Reports detail that Gajra the Hutt was killed, including over a hundred other people in the explosion. Consequently, the arena started to collapse in its center, resulting in more than three hundred deaths. The death toll is still rising as of our last update." spoke Jedi Master Qui Gon Jinn, the brown haired, forty-something, Jedi Master that sat among eleven other senior Jedi Masters. It was sunset in the Senate District on Coruscant, with orange-gold beams of sunlight pouring into the room as the sun started to creep below the horizon.
"The Hutt clan has requested assistance in handling this problem with rebels." added Qui Gon, folding his hands together, and looking around at the fellow Jedi Masters for input, and a solution. Grand Master Yoda scratched his chin and thought to himself, closing his eyes. Qui Gon looked to him, hoping he would give some sort of solution. The Grand Master's wisdom always prevailed in difficult times.
"Tatooine is not a member of the Galactic Republic." spoke up Mace Windu, the second in command of the Jedi Order, seated to the right of Yoda. He leaned forward in his chair, holding his hands together, "And this is an even further inner planetary issue."
"Over three hundred people have died, not to mention the thousands of others over the past few years." rebuked Qui Gon, "It is a humanitarian crisis."
"The people are trying to rebel against a tyrannical aristocracy." spoke Ki Adi Mundi, the tall headed Cerelian that sat next to Windu, "I think it would be in our best interest to let it play out."
"They aren't some freedom fighting brigade." argued Qui Gon, "Freedom fighters, rebels, don't kill innocents in their quest to establish democracy. These are terrorists. We must act."
"Do anything, we cannot." spoke up Yoda, opening his eyes, "Have no authority in these matters, do we."
"Master Yoda is right," said Windu, looking at the nine-hundred year old Jedi Master, "we would need to be granted jurisdiction to investigate this mess by the Senate."
"And if the Senate takes too long, and more lives are lost?" questioned Qui Gon, "What sort of protectors of peace are we?"
"Enough." scolded Windu.
"Reach out to the Senate, we shall." said Yoda, with a bit of reluctance, sighing, "Allow the deaths of innocents, we cannot. Sit idle, we cannot. Act. Yes. Elsewise, tumble further into darkness, Tatooine will. Session adjourned." concluded Yoda. Each of the Jedi Masters got up, and headed for the door. Qui Gon remained seated, thinking to himself. This was progress, indeed. Not too many times was he able to convince the Council leadership to reach out to the Senate for such a massive crisis. He was grateful.
Qui Gon got up from his chair, being the last out, except for Yoda and Windu, who were still seated. The brown robed Jedi Master was at the doorway when Windu called to him,
"Qui Gon, wait a moment." Qui Gon stopped, and turned around.
"Tatooine is a delicate issue." said Windu.
"I find it rather simple. There are people suffering, and they need help." said Jinn, clasping his hands behind his back, "It shouldn't be that difficult to understand."
"As leaders of the Order, it's more than just the people." responded Windu sternly, "Our actions have repercussions, whether you realize it or not."
"Politics. That's your reason why we shouldn't act."
"What happens on Tatooine is Tatooine's business." said the older Jedi Master, "Our duty is to serve as guardians of the light, not soldiers."
"I said nothing of waging war against these terrorists." said Qui Gon, shrugging his shoulders, "We should mediate a conversation between the two sides."
"Never stoop down to speak with rebels, the Hutts will." said Yoda, "Too prideful, they are."
"They've lost many family members, six at this point. I think they'd be willing to talk if there were the right people involved." suggested Qui Gon.
"Tatooine has a strong Anti-Republic aura among its people, and the Hutts." said Windu, "It would be seen as an imperialist move." Qui Gon shook his head and began to chuckle to himself. He sighed and swung his hands at his sides,
"We aren't politicians. We aren't a branch of the Chancellor's office. We have some bit of autonomy left, and I think it would be wise of us to use it to help those in need."
"What would you propose us do, Qui Gon?" argued Windu, "Tell me, what is your plan? We have the insurrectionists who want to bring down the entire Hutt clan, not just on Tatooine, and are fine with killing innocents. And we have the Hutts, crime lords and gangsters that support and finance the largest spice cartels and illegal trade routes in the Outer Rim. These two groups are the same side of a single coin, if you ask me. So, what do you propose we do?"
"Things are not as black and white as you see them currently." responded Jinn with steadiness, "Our purpose is to use the Force and our heightened abilities to solve crises and conflicts that the ordinary man could not solve on his own. Right now, Tatooine is facing a crossroads in its destiny. This Order, is facing a crossroads as well. Will we sit back and watch innocents die by the hundreds, or will we find our conscience?"
Office of the Supreme Chancellor
Galactic Senate Building
"I understand your concerns, I really do, Master Jedi, and I appreciate you coming by to bring this issue to my attention, directly." spoke Supreme Chancellor Finis Valorum, the head of state of the Galactic Republic. The older, white-haired, man sat at his wide desk in the spacious office, wearing dark blue robes, with white linings. Before him, seated in four blue plush seats, were Jedi Masters Mace Windu, Yoda, Ki Adi Mundi, and Qui Gon Jinn. The former three were the senior-most individuals of the Jedi Council, and Jinn was invited by the Chancellor since the problem was brought to light by him.
"Believe it or not," scoffed Valorum, "About six other star systems are facing the same problem. Rebels, revolutionaries - trying to overthrow their incumbent governments; proclaiming they are ineffective and out of touch with the people."
"What we're seeing on Tatooine overshadows anything else happening in the Outer Rim." noted Qui Gon Jinn, "The death toll is skyrocketing."
"Towards this issue, how feels the Senate?" asked Grand Master Yoda.
"There are whispers of leadership changes among the faction heads, so that's all that's been dominating their minds." said Valorum, rising from his desk chair, "But, I know that the Senator of Naboo is eyeing the problem with Tatooine because of their trade relations with some of their cartels. I suggest you speak to her."
"Do you think you could bring up the issue at the next session of the Senate?" asked Ki Adi Mundi curiously, and Qui Gon nodded in agreement. Hoping that the Chancellor could spearhead the movement to get involved and help Tatooine.
"My faction does not control the majority of the Senate, so we do not control the agenda-setting. My hands are tied, Master Jedi." said Valorum, clasping his hands together sympathetically. Mace Windu got up, and so did Ki Adi and Qui Gon. Qui Gon was not happy at all, sighing quietly to himself with disappointment.
"Thank you, Chancellor." said Windu, bowing his head. Yoda hopped off his seat as well.
"Anytime, Master Jedi." said Valorum, and the four Jedi headed for the door.
"That was not helpful at all." whispered Qui Gon to Mace as they exited the office, heading down a wide corridor.
"We should speak to the Senator of Naboo, like he said." said Windu.
"If the Chancellor couldn't help us, what could a single senator do?" asked Ki Adi.
"Exactly." added Qui Gon, finally feeling that someone was on his side.
"Surprise you may be, what the voice of one can do." said Yoda, trailing behind the three taller men. They each turned to look at the Grand Master following behind, with his wooden cane in his right hand. The multi-century elder walked past the three Jedi with a sense of enthusiasm,
"An open door ahead of us, we have. Be grateful, we must. Onward, to Senator Palpatine."
Naboo
Royal Monarchic Palace
King's Court
"Where is Senator Palpatine?" asked the elected ruler of Naboo, King Piero Amidala, a fifteen year old boy seated on the large throne in the circular chamber. King Piero Amidala had platinum blond hair, and wore long robes of dark red and gold. There were six other individuals seated before him in a semi-circle, one being the Governor, and the other five regional Barons that made up the King's advisory Court.
"Her office reported that she will not be able to make the meeting, she is held up on Coruscant in negotiations with fellow senators on a new bill proposition." answered Governor Sio Bibble, the white bearded man who was essentially the second in command of Naboo's government.
"I see." nodded King Piero, "Well, let's carry on then. Governor?"
"Yes." the Governor stood up from his seat, "The Trade Federation has sent us another request for the deregulation of commerce tariffs. They wish to pass through the star system more easily-"
"And send more supplies to the Hutts? I don't think so." rebutted the King, "Tell them that Naboo isn't changing any of its laws or tariffs for an outside corporation."
"One last thing." said Governor Bibble.
"Yes?"
"There were three Naboo citizens that died in the explosion at Mos Espa." the Governor held his hands together, looking at the King's emotionless face… waiting for a response. He expected the King to become infuriated, or somewhat angry. King Piero bit his lip, and lowered his gaze.
"Well… that changes everything." he said.
"I believe what Senator Palpatine is working on is to allow Naboo to become more involved." added the Governor.
"Naboo cannot do anymore. Naboo's role is not to cater to the needs of every needy star system out there. Tatooine isn't even in the Republic. It is not our responsibility.
"The public is aware of the deaths." said Bibble, "And they are angry. They want vengeance." King Piero raised his eyebrows, and sat up straight,
"Then let us give the people what they want. These insurrectionists must pay for what they've done. I want to speak with Senator Palpatine as soon as possible."
Coruscant
Galactic Senate Building
Office of Senator Palpatine
"The Senator will see you now." said a middle aged woman, holding a datapad in her arms, approaching three Jedi Masters seated in a waiting area outside the Naboo Senator's office. Qui Gon, Mace, and Yoda were waiting to meet with the Naboo Senator, and watched a few senators leave her office once the secretary came to them.
"Thank you." nodded Qui Gon, standing up and straightening his robe. The secretary guided the three Jedi into the office, passing by a couple other senators, and nodding to them respectfully. The office was almost as large as Chancellor Valorum's, much to the surprise of the three Jedi Masters. It was even more elaborate, with enormous paintings on the wall of Naboo landscapes; mountains, waterfalls, and vast green hills. In the corners of the office were bronze statues of armless, hooded, individuals, resembling burial urns.
Standing at the side of the desk in the office was the Senator of Naboo, Ophelia Palpatine. Ophelia Palpatine smiled upon seeing the Jedi enter her office, and met them halfway in the middle of a sitting area of two couches. The senator was in her mid fifties, wearing a long navy-blue, sleeveless, dress with a silver belt. She had graying white hair pinned back into a bun of braids, and had a multilayered pearl necklace.
"Master Jedi, so good to see you!" exclaimed the female Senator excitedly, reaching out to shake Windu's hand. She then shook Yoda's hand, and Qui Gon's. "Please, sit, sit. We have a lot to discuss." The three Jedi sat on one couch on the left, and Ophelia Palpatine sat down on the opposite facing couch. "So… Tatooine."
"Chancellor Valorum-" began Mace Windu.
"Isn't much help. I know." she said, "I've been talking to him about this problem for about three months now."
"He acted like he first heard about it today." said Qui Gon, chuckling.
"That's what politicians do, when they don't really have a plan." smirked Palpatine, leaning back on her couch, and crossing one leg over the other, "Now, I was informed that three Naboo citizens were killed. This gives us an even better chance at Republic intervention. This mini civil war, semi revolt, has been disrupting trade in the region too. The Trade Federation has been sticking its nose in places it shouldn't be."
"If this does get the full attention of the Senate," spoke Windu, "what can the Republic really do? There is no standing army to enforce anything."
"Well, there are many things we can do, in terms of the economy and finances of Tatooine. We could unleash the full destructive power of sanctions and more tariffs, which can obliterate a planet's economy. But, that's not in our best interest. Tatooine is integral in commerce flow, especially into the Mid Rim, and Republic worlds. It would be our best interest to stop these insurrectionists at all costs."
"They are trying to overthrow an oppressive government." noted Qui Gon, "Shouldn't the priority be to stop the tyranny of the Hutts. Yes, these rebels are terrorists, but there must be a third option."
"The third option is to install a new government." said Palpatine, "But that hasn't been done in centuries by the Republic. It's proved disastrous in the past, and resulted in unstable star systems that foster terrorism. The realistic thing to do is to wipe out the terrorists. We can deal with the Hutts later down the line."
"That makes sense." nodded Windu.
"Be in the good graces of the Hutts, we would be." added Yoda, and Ophelia Palpatine shook her head in agreement.
"We could ask them to lower prices of medicinal ingredients and spices that pass through their system." added the Senator.
"I'm sorry," interrupted Jinn, "but how do you plan to defeat the insurrectionists? We don't have an army. I was hoping we could establish a dialogue between the Hutts and the rebels."
"I think at this point, it's too late for talking." said Palpatine, "War already broke out." Qui Gon lowered his head, folding his hands together. He was not too happy with this plan, and Palpatine could see his disapproval and dismay.
"I will bring this before the Senate." she said.
"Valorum said the opposing party controls the agenda." said Windu, skeptically.
"I lead the opposition party." smirked Palpatine, "I can bring it to a vote in due time."
"That's… that's great." said Windu surprisedly, standing up. Qui Gon didn't think the meeting should end there. Were they going to war? What exactly did they accomplish. Yoda got up as well, and cleared his throat,
"Senator."
"Yes, Grand Master?" she said, standing up.
"Begin with negotiations, for the two sides on Tatooine. Fought a war, the Republic has not in centuries. Not ready, we are." replied Yoda with a bit of hope. Qui Gon was relieved to hear him say that. War was not in their interest at all.
"Of course. Besides, if I started out with a declaration of war proposition I'd probably be voted out of office!" laughed the Senator, "Thank you again, Master Jedi. I look forward to finding a peaceful solution in the coming weeks."
Mos Espa, Tatooine
Slave Quarter
"I lost two slaves in the bombing." said a Nautolan woman, with dark green skin and a raspy voice, sitting at a table with other aliens underneath a canopy in the entryway to the slave quarter neighborhood of Mos Espa. The Slave Quarter was a few blocks of sandstone homes built on top one another that housed the slaves of numerous business-owners and moguls. A dusty gray, unarmored, protocol droid put down a tray of drinks on the table of the four men and women.
"I had to buy ten more, I lost actual workers in that bombing." said a Toydarian man, leaning back in his chair, and taking a long gulp from his drink in a steel tankard. "I lost good business too."
"I heard in the news that the Republic might do something." said an Ishi-Tib man, chittering his beak, "They might stick their dirty moneyed fingers into this mess."
"Maybe they can sort it out." said the female Nautolan.
"You're a fool." said the Toydarian, "The Republic outlawed slavery, so why'd they help a slave-owning world like us? We'd better keep our fucking mouths shut or they'll shut us all down." the Toydarian continued drinking. The Ishi-Tib began to counter his statement, but he paid no attention. The Toydarian looked up at the bronzing sky as the two suns began to set, ending yet another long day. He watched the protocol droid wobble back into a workshop, to get more drinks in the refrigerator, and nearly stumbled over.
"Watch it, Threepio!" shouted a little girl.
"My dear Maker!" exclaimed the protocol droid, swiveling to the side, upon seeing a little girl that was fixing a droid underneath a round countertop in the workshop by the door. "Master Ana, I thought you had gone home for the night."
"I didn't wanna." said little Ana, a nine year old girl with brown hair and blue eyes. She was putting on the headpiece of a single-eyed droid on its miniature body. It was made of scrap pieces, with one arm larger than the other, and one foot longer than the other.
"If Master Watto sees you-"
"Master Watto won't get mad. He'll be happy, because I'd have finished my day's work." responded the girl, tightening a bolt with a wrench at the droid's neck.
"You didn't finish the droid?!" exclaimed Threepio. Ana turned her head to look at the protocol droid,
"Obviously not, Threepio. Duh…" she exhaled annoyedly. She got up, and dusted her hands off together, "I think it's good now, though."
"Analise! Analise!" called a woman from within the workshop. The little girl looked outside, but there wasn't anyone else there, but the four slavers at their table a few meters away.
"That sounds like your mother, Master Ana." said the protocol droid.
"Thanks for reminding me what she sounds like." said Analise sarcastically, heading to the back of the workshop. She encountered a middle aged woman, wearing a long brown dress, and with black hair pulled back into a bun.
"Analise Skywalker," the older woman put her hands on her hips, "how many times have I told you about staying in the workshop after hours?"
"Sorry, mama." sighed Analise, looking up at her mother with wide eyes, "I wanted to finish my droid for Master Watto so he won't get mad."
"Your safety is more important." the mother took her daughter by her hand, and they headed to the back of the workshop. They passed through a corridor filled with junk and spare parts.
"It's not that bad out here, especially in the Quarter." responded Analise, still being pulled by her mother's hand.
"We live on a dangerous world, and in a dangerous Galaxy. I don't know how else for you to understand that." said the mother. They turned down another corridor, coming upon a set of stairs going up onto another level.
"But the Galaxy is such a big place, it can't be all so bad. And I'm not bad! I'm good!"
"There are people out there who want to take you far away from me. They will hurt you, and they will hurt me." she replied. Analise didn't really know what to say to that. The idea of her mother hurting was already making her sad. The two came upon a door, and the mother used a key to unlock it, and they went through. They were on a roofless walkway at one of the top levels of the housing complex, and continued onward towards their apartment.
Analise looked to her left, where they could see the low skyline of Mos Espa, the smoke rising out of people's chimneys, and lights starting to turn on in darkened neighborhoods as the suns set in the distance. They reached their apartment, with the door to her right. The mother fiddled with her keys, trying to open the door, and jiggled the lock.
"Mama, what's that?" asked Analise, and the mother turned her head. Analise pointed to the sky. There were streaks of white coming down from the sky, towards the far outskirts of the city. The mother Skywalker stared in complete uncertainty at the three streaks. The lights crashed into the city, erupting into massive explosions off in the distance. The mother grabbed her daughter, pulling her close to her side. An inferno of gold and orange plumed into the sky, and consequently, thick, black smoke.
"Let's get inside." said the mother, finally unlocking the door.
"Is it the bad men you were talking about?" asked Analise.
"Yes. Get to your room. Quickly now." said the mother, locking the door. She ran over to the two windows near the door, pulling down iron curtains, and locking those as well with another key.
"Mama." said Analise. The mother turned from the window, seeing her daughter standing in the middle of the living room.
"Did you hear me, Analise?"
"Are we going to die here?" the mother rushed across the room, crouching before her daughter with slight irritation,
"Don't ever ask me that. Do you hear me?!" she grabbed her daughter's shoulders, "Never. Never, ever ask me that. You know the answer to that question." the ground started to rumble slightly, and bits of dust falling from the ceiling and walls as the building trembled. Analise looked around at the cracks forming in the ceiling and walls, with tears swelling in her eyes,
"No." answered the daughter.
"Your destiny is not here."