Life 75: Chosen Again
(Skydroid Plaza, Tatooine, 32 BBY)
"How interesting…" I thought to myself, as I took in the sight of the group that walked inside my store.
An older man, grizzled and sharp, yet he held a bizarre sense of hope within him. I could tell as much from the way he looked for a threat, yet readily smiled at me.
Beside him, stood a young man that could have easily passed for his child, if he hadn't looked so… cold, to the others.
He wasn't angry or anything, just… disconnected.
"How concerning…"
With them, was a young woman dressed in servant's robes, her hair tied in a simple braid… yet I knew her face.
I struggled to remember where, but I had seen it through my business trips… and if I had, then this girl was undercover… Had the Republic found my foundry yet?
Nah, I still had a few years left on the lease.
I instantly disregarded the Gungan, seeing as it definitely wasn't in charge of this makeshift caravan.
I saw the man from before, the older man, approach me.
He was the leader of their group apparently, so I got to business.
"You know, normally people prefer the droid. Their memories can be wiped of course." I said in greeting, my eyes further scrutinizing the group, my gaze returned by the younger man.
The older one gave me a funny look then, and smiled.
"We were hoping to speak with the owner of this establishment. Do you know him?" He asked me, a light tone to his voice as he leant over slightly.
I resisted the urge to command the droids to open fire…
I instead growled, then calmed myself with a sigh.
I had gotten this response before, which is why I built DO-BY.
People questioned a child running an enterprise, not a 'stupid' droid running a shop front.
I blinked and looked straight at the man with as much venom as I could muster.
"I am the owner. Anakin Skywalker, creator and CEO of Skydroids." I introduced myself, an arrogant grin coming to my face, but I had earned such arrogance. One did not usually create a grand company in less than four years, after all.
I had, and I was never usual.
The man looked surprised then, before shrugging it off.
"My apologizes. I need parts for a J-type 327 Nubian Cruiser." He said gracefully, his eyes casually moving over the front line of my droid line. Protocol, Astromech, Ranger and Assault droids stood at attention, some looking their way and others working away at tablets.
Why use perfectly capable droids as display, when I can have them display their skills while filing my taxes?
"Yes, you do." I said confidently, as my prized assistant came into sight. DA-80, my favorite droid of all, and the one I could not work without. I had even given her a name, which could be considered childish, but I had.
Clara, the perfect assistant, and one that I relied upon much too often.
While HK-47 had been a masterful recreation, he had been… disappointed in my choice of business. He lived for conflict, death and dismemberment, and above all else, excitement.
So I kept him on retainer, and allowed him to become an official Mercenary.
HK's reasoning was that there must be more for him to see… and he seemed to believe his former master still lived.
I was sad to see him go, but I felt an odd pride.
My creations were more than just that, creations.
Amazing, as I had experimented with magic before, and never made anything with sentience… until now.
Bringing myself back to the present, to the group looking anxious before me, I began detailing to them their extensive problem…
"My droid informs me that your ship is grounded. Your hyperdrive is broken, your flight capacitor is faulty, and your fuel tanks are ruptured. How you actually managed to land that ship, alive might I add, is beyond my knowledge. For all purposes, you all should be dead." I said with marvel in my voice, my eyes shifting between them in slight shock.
None of them were remotely harmed.
They should be dead, and they weren't…
Before the man could respond though, Clara signaled me with a sonar blip. I had constructed a chip within her that enabled her to release a near-silent noise that was undetectable by most beings and droids… And was connected to my ear piece, of which was hidden by my hair, tied back as it might have been.
She gave a single signal.
I was to be careful, and wait for further information.
There was more to this group than they acted.
"Would it be wrong to assume you sell all of the parts we would need?" The man asked me, his eyes almost narrowing as he truly began to realize that he was totally and uttered screwed.
I smiled.
"Of course. I don't just sell droids, I sell components and blueprints as well. You're incredibly lucky, however, that I have replacement parts for your ship. The Naboo Spaceport was not easy to convince. It took ages to approve a partnership, since the Queen was busy…" I recounted as I thought of the troubles I had establishing a relationship with Naboo as a business partner… only to realize something.
So many surprises today.
"Must be my birthday."
I merely glanced at the girl, noticing her pale dramatically as she began to consider if her secret had been blown.
Even if her fellows hadn't realized it, I definitely would not be the one to reveal her.
Playing with a secret was much more fun than revealing it.
"As well, I have a compatible Hyperdrive Generator as well, one of my own design." I stated, Clara holoprojecting from her wrist, the intricate design clear to see.
"How are we to ensure it will work?" The man asked, obviously skeptical, as he should be. I just laughed at his suggestion.
"You merely need to ask the Republic, considering that they've endorsed my business in return for Hyperdrives for each of their official transports, and private charters." I stated, signalling to Clara to start a slideshow of sorts.
From my officials business license, to the signed contracts with the Republic, Coruscant Spaceports, and for a bit of kick, my trade agreement with the Naboo Royal Family.
I truly believe not even the Queen was aware that I was slowly building her planet an army, as no peaceful planet would last long.
The planet was beautiful, so I merely ensured that it would keep such beauty.
This girl looked so shocked to see the contract… her name written by a different hand.
Anger blossomed in her face, and I smiled.
"Oh yes, I was right."
"I see then, very impressive. Now, I have 20,000 Republic dataries. I trust that it will be sufficient for the repairs." The man stated, less of a question and more a statement.
Was… was he threatening me?
However, as I was who I am, I merely laughed in their faces.
"20,000… You really know nothing of my business…" I laughed out, as I snapped for Clara to project my standard prices, the group gasping in shock. "The hyperdrive alone is 70,000 Credits. The parts included, along with maintenance, would cost you roughly 100,000 Credits."
You could hear the whirring of Clara's components then, as silence reigned in the shop once more.
The man turned to me then, his fingers extended, only for the man to grunt in pain.
In less than a second, Clara had grabbed hold of the man's arm, gripping it with the force of a Rancor, stopping him in his tracks.
The group jumped then, especially the young man, who now demanded the man be released.
The group was confused and angry, only for Clara to speak with as much rage as a droid could contain.
"Enraged Statement: Master, the males are Jedi. Their sabers have been categorized and ran along with what records the Republic have on database of their order. Only one matched confirmation." Clara stated with heated frost, as she released the man, only to send a signal out, awakening the Battle droids in the room, alerting them to potential danger.
"Confirmation?" I asked her, watching as the group seemed to be frozen in surprise, aside from the Gungan… who continued to spout some nonsense about enemy droids…?
"Confirmation: Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn, Savior of Mandalore." Clara stated, almost seeming shocked as she once again phased out of sight.
I knew this man, or, at least I knew the people he had saved.
I would have preferred him to be outright with me, but knowing who he was now… he was likely on the run.
I sighed.
I couldn't just give some of my best components to this group, free of charge… but I did have a lucky solution.
"Do you like games, Master Jedi?" I asked the man, seeing his eyes gain a curious glint to them, as he seemed relieved that I wouldn't attack them just because he was a Jedi.
I'll admit, I knew next to nothing of the Jedi, but I knew they were supposed to be the good guys.
"I have been known to play the occasional game, mostly Pazaak when I've the time. What did you have in mind?" Qui-Gon asked in return, obviously seeing where I was going. Or, at least he thought he did.
I wouldn't give him too hard of a challenge.
"Tatooine is renowned for many things, including myself, but it is well known as a world of sport. Pazaak, Holochess, Podracing, and my personal favor, Dueling." I explained with a grin, as I watched the younger man frown in concern.
He knew what I was going to ask.
"I have a professional interest in the Dueling Arena, and a personal enjoyment of it. Nothing is lethal, and you may always quit… but I do have a soft spot for champions." I explained, a chuckle flying out as I saw the determined look on the man's face.
"Oh, I like these people."
"Mister Skywalker, come to try your hand again?" An alien I knew well said to me as I approached his booth.
I had become good friends with many of the people involved in the Tatooine Tournament halls, and among them was Towa Mendrel, the Devaronian owner of the stadium, and a dear friend of mine.
Dear enough to bet on me the many times I had fought, even sponsoring me during my early days in the Tournament and providing me the contacts I needed to expand my exploits on the planet, eventually giving me the clout to bring my company off planet.
Hell, he had gotten me contacts on the Inner Rim, which would have been impossible for me unless I had actually went there.
Towa had been the most useful card in my deck, and continued to do so.
"Not today Towa, but I have myself a new champion. He's a fine fighter, and I believe that he'd fare well against the others." I said with a grin, wanting to see the merits of the Jedi Order, and the skill of those trained by it.
"You? Sponsoring a Champion?" Towa said with a deep laugh, as I just rolled my eyes. "Mustafar must have frozen over if you'd actually support a whelp. You bad mouthed the Mandalorian we had in here last year. Who caught your, oh so biased eye, my friend?"
I merely let him laugh then, as I checked the reports from Clara. A stranger customer had come into the shop…. A scarlet Zabrak, asking for his "friends."
Clara had turned him away, implying company standards and the need to actually purchase something to remain in the store.
He hadn't been happy.
Things were getting very interesting, of that I was sure just from the footage.
"He's far from a whelp. In fact, I'd wager that he defeats every single champion." I said confidently with not a hint of bluster, as I knew, or hoped, that the man was truly who he had seemed.
A warrior.
Towa stared at me in shock, as I just grinned in return.
"How… how much were you thinking?" Towa asked me wearily, his red eyes glowing with excitement.
"100,000 credits that he wins without a single injury."
"Confident, aren't you?"
"As I should be."
"Ladies, gentlemen, and all the rest of us freaks!" Towa yelled through the stadium's speakers, the alien's voice echoing out among the cheers of the audience around them.
The usual mantra was announced, as the one-hundred and forty-seventh Tatooine Grand Tournament commenced with a special announcement, much to a certain group of Jedi.
"Master, are you sure about this?" Obi-Wan Kenobi asked in concern, the two sitting in the Champion's Reprieve on the corner of the stadium, the Master consoling his Padawan as the two listened to the pre tournament announcements.
Something about the Tatooine Prince?
"Obi-Wan, I have never been more sure of something in my entire life." Qui-Gon said with a confident smile, a hand coming to rest on the young man's shoulders. "This is all just another trial."
Obi-Wan took a deep breath then and nodded, his worries disappearing into the force like ashes to the wind, a tranquil feeling overcoming him as the balance he normally held returned.
"Of course Master, I didn't think like that. The disturbance you felt, this is likely a prelude to it, isn't it?" Obi-Wan asked him, the two of them putting their bright minds to use.
Qui-Gon had grown quite attached to the young man he had raised, the one person that he could ever call son, and he only hoped he was right… and that two Jedi would still leave this planet as they left it.
"Now then, please welcome our newest Champion, Skywalker's very own hero, Golden Son!"
The cheers and roars rose and rose as almost the entire planet seemed to be devoured with noise and excitement.
Qui-Gon just looked fondly at his Padawan then, and nodded.
"I believe you're up."
"Wait… that's him?" Towa asked me in disbelief as the two of us sat high above the battle, the young Kenobi boy walking out with a glowing vibroblade in hand, scarlet and gold robes wrapped around his body, pieces of armor placed even across the robes and creating the appearance of a grand and noble warrior, despite the fresh face of the boy.
His fierce eyes and quick surge to combat did not derail from his newfound glory.
"He's a walking stick with a stick! Yeah, he's got some tricks, but you honestly think he'll live through all this?" Towa asked me in shock, my smile just growing as I drank out of my goblet, my eyes drinking in the entertainment of this all.
I loved this place dearly. A place to truly let loose and release my demons to the pleasure of others.
I was akin to their god at this point, The Prince being my title within the arena, the name and banner I had held as I fought my way across the planet, my legend only growing farther through the sands as my name became etched in the dry earth of it all.
"Would you have believed I could have done all I had? Need I remind you, I was a third his size." I reminded my friend with a laugh, his own following in suit.
Oh, my mother had almost died of a heart attack when she heard that I had entered myself into a tournament… and then was completely and utterly shocked when I returned home a champion, Towa sponsoring me himself.
Now, my friend and I stood above the fighting, our places judging those that shed bled, the stands around us joining us in the spectacle of it all.
"You still want to keep that bet?" Towa asked me with a smirk, almost sure that he would win our little bet… but I of course had to double down.
"I'm not stepping back on it… but let's make it even more interesting… I bet he'll beat the Grand Champion himself." I said with a smirk, only for Towa to look on in shock at me, as the grand champion had only been seen twice before, when he first fought, and when I fought him.
"I know he's here, watching all of this go down. He'll be ready, and he'll lose to my champion." I said with confidence, leaving Towa completely amazed.
I knew I hadn't gotten involved in the tournament in years, but I knew I had struck back with a vengeance.
"You… Who is this kid?"
"A person with potential."
"My master… they are here…" A shrouded figure spoke in the sands of Tatooine, a hologram emerging from a floating drone. The figure crouched in the valley of the planet, eyes looking onto the distance as some inane tournament was fought far down below, the hologram observing as well.
"You are sure of this? You know the price of losing them…" The transparent man stated, cold fury in his voice, a similar robe hiding his features from view, a darkness shared between them both.
"Their ship is here… Mos Espa can not hide them from me… I have heard the whispers through this planet. Strangers, odder than the usual, arrived… now, one of them has entered this ridiculous tournament… A man in robes, skilled with a blade." The morose man explained, his anger growing fierce and unholy in his chest, a thrum of power blowing through the sands, a storm forming in the lost paths of the planet.
"The Jedi… You will kill him, both of them." The hologram commanded, the figure bowing his head at the order, his eyes beaming out towards the final obstacle left before him…
"I will do as you command, my master."
"You have no choice, Lord Maul."
