11.
Breha felt unhappy about how Anakin had left his brother. She hadn't realized at first that Anakin was so young. He was tall and mature looking, and had seemed quite independent and determined when he had first found them in their crashed ship in the middle of a stormy desert. But it seemed silly that she could come between a family that she had just met that day. Right before they had left the crash site, she had told Anakin that it would be ok if they waited until they could speak to Anakin's father. But Anakin had already made up his mind and said that they should get to a spaceport as soon as possible, before the transports that were leaving for the day were already filled.
She also felt now that she didn't really need an escort; she would be able to get passage to Coruscant on her own. Before thy had left to retrieve R2 back at the crash site, the nice station owner had given her an outfit of very plain looking travelling clothes, and said that they should be sufficient to keep her from drawing any attention to herself. She had left her lavish outfit for him in exchange, figuring that he would be able to sell it for a high price. It was the least she could do for his generosity, and he had refused credits when she had offered.
As they approached a larger city and bustling spaceport, Breha decided to let Anakin off the hook and forge ahead alone. "You can drop me off in the city, Anakin," she said loudly, lifting the mask away from her mouth for a moment. "I think that it would be best if I continued along by myself. This is my battle, not yours."
For a moment it seemed that Anakin had not heard her over the wind and engines, but then he ripped off his mask and looked at her dejectedly. "At the station you said that you needed my help to get to Coruscant!" he cried. "That I couldn't just go home and forget about what was happening on Alderaan!" He looked away and at the approaching cityscape of low, sand scoured, tan and brown buildings, keeping the mask off. "Besides, what if something happened to you? I wouldn't be able to live with myself… not after rescuing you from your ship! I feel responsible for you now!"
"That's very sweet Anakin!" She said, leaning towards him so that she didn't have to yell as loudly. "But I'll be just fine! Once I'm on a transport, nothing will happen to me, and once on Coruscant, I will only need to find Senator Palpatine. He will grant me audience and call a special session of the Senate if necessary." She grimaced as she felt sand pelting the side of her mouth. "So, you see, there's really nothing else you can do! You should go home and be with your family… they need you more than I do."
…
Breha's words hit Anakin hard. How could she not want him to go with her? He stepped on the accelerator and brought the speeder into the outskirts of Mos Eisley at high speed, scaring some local youngsters that were outside in a junkyard working on building a pod racer. But he slowed when they finally reached the main shipping district, which was lined with large landing pads and hangars. There was a transport cruiser on one of the pads at the far end of the strip, so Anakin parked the speeder in front of the entry gate.
He looked over at Breha, who was now looking up at the ship. He wanted to say something, but he was finding it hard to find the right words. That wasn't like Anakin, he was usually so sure of himself and in control back on the farm. Maybe he should just forget and go back home, back to the life he knew. She turned to him, and in her eyes he could see that she was anxious, unsure. She was a princess and had probably never been on any type of public mass transport before.
"Looks like this is my stop, huh?" She said and started to climb slowly out of the speeder.
Anakin got out as well and helped her to get R2 unloaded from the thruster decking. The droid was her only baggage. "Are you sure?" he asked her desperately, hoping that she would change her mind and tell Anakin that she needed him desperately to go with her. "I really don't mind going! It would be an honor to accompany you on such an important mission…" he grimaced at how hackneyed he sounded.
"R2 will keep me company, won't you R2?" she said to the little astromech, patting him on the top of his dome. R2 whistled back, pleased to be rolling under his own power again after being tied down to the speeder.
"Well," Anakin started, looking down at his feet, "I guess this is good-bye then… Good luck with, with everything."
"Thank you Anakin," she smiled. "We might still be stuck out in the desert starving right now if it weren't for you!" She gave him a quick hug, which caught him off guard. "Thanks again… I guess I owe you one…"
She let go and turned around quickly and headed for the platform gate. There was a lean to set up against the shabby wire fencing, where a big creature with furry ears was selling tickets. There were no express flights from Tatooine to Coruscant, or anywhere for that matter, so Anakin figured she would have to make a few stops along the way for more loading and unloading. R2 followed the princess closely as she purchased a ticket and got in line to board the ship. Anakin was hoping she would turn around and wave, but she just kept going slowly, waiting her turn to go up the ramp. When she finally made it through the hatch, she was gone… swallowed up by the big ship.
He could hardly stand it. Breha had been standing there just a minute ago, talking to him. She had hugged him so fast, he had hardly had time to register it. He wished he could have that moment back again, so that he could appreciate it this time. As the last few passengers started up the ramp, he saw the ticket seller starting to close up his vendor case and hop down from the tall chair he had been sitting on in the lean to.
Anakin turned around and put a hand on the speeder ready to hop back in, but then something called to him. He knew that going home was the wrong decision, and he would have to act quickly to correct his mistake. He looked back at the ship, and then at the ticket vendor, grabbed his old satchel from the speeder and started to run towards the gate.
The seller grunted and turned around to look at Anakin, but didn't stop closing the gate. "What's your problem, partner?" he growled, stepping between the boy and the gate.
"I have to get on that ship," Anakin said as calmly as he could, pointing at the vessel. He could see now that two attendants were getting ready to wheel away the ramp.
"No can do, sport!" the seller said, arms crossed. "All sold out today I'm afraid, you can try another ship further down the strip or come back tomorrow."
"No good!" Anakin scowled, "you don't seem to understand… I need to be ON… THAT… SHIP…." Anakin forced his words and stared at the ticket agent, imploring him to understand his need. But the agent froze in place and Anakin began to think it was hopeless. Then he realized that it appeared that the agent was having trouble breathing, and his eyes were bulging unnaturally. He continued to look at him, and the vendor's lips started to flap, trying to find the right words.
"Hold on!" He yelled over to the attendants, which had moved the ramp about 5 meters away from the craft now. "My young friend here has got to get on that ship! Bring the ramp back and open the hatch!" He moved out of Anakin's way and waved him through the gate, opening it back up far enough for the boy to slip through.
"Thank you!" Anakin yelled back, not believing his luck. He ran towards the ramp which was just getting back into place. He bounded up and through the oval opening on the side of the ship.
Another attendant was waiting on the inside of the hatch. "Seats are all taken, but you can sit in the back cargo area," she said, pointing in the direction of the stern of the vessel. He hurried back while keeping his head down. He didn't want Breha to know that he had boarded until they were underway. He hoped that she would understand his feelings, if only he could express them to her.
He heard the ramp outside rolling away once again, and the hatch slam shut. Huge engines powered up and the craft began to lift smoothly into the air. Anakin was nervous and excited all at the same time. He had never left Tatooine before, and now he was going across half the galaxy.