DUTIES TO THE REPUBLIC
Chancellor Organa was not content to part with his new advisor/ bodyguard so easily, but was acutely aware that Anakin's family came first. He'd offered nannies and quarters on Dantooine, but Anakin refused.
Master Kenobi assured Bail that he already had a solution in mind. Obi-Wan contacted Anakin on Naboo.
'How are things there now?'
'The twins are fine. Everyone's just shaken up. Padme's parents are moving to Varykino.'
'We need you back on Dantooine. The CIS Leaders have been doing a dance and agreeing to nothing at all.'
'I'm too distracted to work when the Twins are with me. I can't leave them on Naboo without someone to cloak their presence in the force, Master. They'll be found again. Ferus has his own life to attend to, and I will not ask anything of the Order,'
'Consider an offer from us instead. The twins can stay at the Temple's Creche until after the conference. They'll be safe there, and Master Thracia will keep you up to date.'
'The Council is offering this? Why?' Anakin eyed his mentor suspiciously.
Obi-Wan offered one of his patent looks in response, one eyebrow raised in a mix of surprise, and reproving question that he did not feel. Obi-Wan knew if Anakin were less worried or the conversation was held in person the younger man would not be so easily deflected. However, instead of insisting on an answer Anakin sighed.
'I'll accept. I will see you in the next few cycles then. May the force be with you,'
Obi-Wan nodded sage farewell.
Master Kenobi presented his proposal to the High Council next.
'Skywalker is no longer the responsibility of this order. This Council did not send him to Dantooine, and he has rejected our previous offers where his children are concerned,' challenged Knight Kaftan Onelli, the newest council member.
'Those were offers for training, not protection.' Obi-Wan returned. 'Anakin's presence has been invaluable on Dantooine. If we allow him to be neutralized in this way our lack of support could be taken as a lack of support for the Chancellor, the Senate, and by extension the Republic. We can ill afford such in light of the current political climate. And it is well within our abilities to assist.'
'They would not need more protection if they were already here,' Ki Adi Mundi pointed this out with the faintest trace of sorrow as the fates of his own children came to mind. The population of Cerea being so low, none of his daughters had come into the order, and they all died when the planet was attacked.
Obi-Wan resigned himself to their attitude, but refused to acquiesce. 'Let us take an alternate view then, Masters. These are the children of Senator Amidala. Viceroy Gunray took his Federation's defeat by Naboo under her leadership rather personally. He was implicated in previous sponsored assassination attempts against her. Let us suppose the Twins were attacked because of their Mother? We provide protection for the children of Galactic Leaders in many situations. Anakin being their Father should not prevent us doing the usual now.'
Grand-Master Yoda finally interjected. 'Wise Master Kenobi's approach is. Anticipate this situation we did not. Make this offer we shall, before a direct request from the Chancellor we receive. Become public knowledge Council reservations about Skywalker should not.'
'If we regain Anakin's trust he may yet accept our offers for the children's training, and perhaps, return himself,' Mace added thoughtfully.
The Negotiations went on more than a month, during which Anakin stayed in Obi-Wan's Temple quarters whenever time allowed him to visit his children. With their end came official celebrations on Coruscant. As soon as Chancellor Organa released him Anakin was packing his Naboo Skiff. Mace and Ki Adi Mundi approached him on the landing pad. He stood at the base of the landing ramp and faced them squarely.
'Anakin,' Mace greeted.
'Masters,'
'The Council is making a second offer for Luke and Leia. They have so much potential. They should be trained,' the Korun Master continued.
The Cerean took up the conversation. 'Consider they are already settled in the Creche. It would be a simple transition if you accept.'
Fiery anger stirred behind Anakin's eyes as his original suspicions of their offer recurred. 'This is why the Council agreed to keep them?'
'It was our duty to the Republic…..'
Anakin laughed bitterly. 'Yes. For the Republic. Of course. You would never have done it for me.'
'They would be safe here, Anakin.' Ki Adi appealed.
'You expect ME to accept separation from my CHILDREN?' Anakin was nearly shouting now. As far as he was concerned it was Mundi's assignment away from his family that led to their deaths.
'The Council offers reinstatement of your commission as well Anakin, if that is what you wish.' Mace informed him.
'Let me guess. Luke and Leia would be placed in separate youngling clans. And I'd be assigned missions off Coruscant for most of the next 13 years, until they are both on off-world missions most of the time themselves.'
'It wouldn't have to be like that Anakin,' Mundi countered.
'Are the policies on non-attachment still in place?'
'We are meditating on and actively debating reforms, including the issue of attachments…..'
'Then it would be like that. No thanks. I refuse your offer.' He hurried back to the crèche for his children, and departed the Temple and Coruscant as fast as he could.
0000000000000000000
A RACER RETURNS
Upon his return to Dialo's Anakin was irritated to meet yet another sentient he hoped never to see again.
'Ah! Ani!' Wattoo flapped his wings, and rose from the counter stool he'd been resting on. 'Back in the business, eh? Shop goin' well since you back here I'd bet…..' Wattoo couldn't keep bitter jealousy from his voice, and Anakin's temper flared.
'Leave. While am of a mind to let you.'
Wings flapped, eyes shifted, snout twitched. Arms opened in a gesture of pacification. Wattoo stayed put. 'Hear me out, eh Ani? Very good business proposition….'
'As if I don't know better….'
'Associate wants to race the Boonta Eve re-open with team. Wants new pod, from other stable, you know? Not look like team, eh? "Like crazy little human flew years back, when we lost all our money," he said. I said I find human, and maybe pod too, eh?'
'Qui-Gon sold the Pod. You got a wad of money for those old parts, and me,' The deal meant his freedom, but it separated him from his mother, and Anakin still resented it.
'Got money only for parts. You, I lose in bet with Sneaky Jedi,'
'Bet... I WAS A BET?'
'That Old Jedi, he tricked me! I never…'
'Wattoo, your greed tricked you. You bartered my life to an out-lander you didn't know. He could've done ANYTHING with me….'
'Why you complain, eh? You be Jedi General, War Hero, fly all over Galaxy,' the Toydarian flapped his blue wings at a speed that indicated rising irritation, while his arms mimicked the child Anakin had been, pretending to fly around the Junk Shop. 'Wadda you say? You fly for my friend? He pay gold dataries, good everywhere, eh?'
'I'm not working for Jabba, or any of the Hutts,'
'Money is money, Anakin. Earn fair, the way you like! Besides, associate is no Hutt! His respectable businessman! Good being to know….'
Anakin grunted. 'What do you get, Wattoo?'
'Commission, of course, and help you out of retirement, eh?'
'I don't need your help. I can build him the pod. That's it.'
'No say build, you have Sneaky Jedi's design?'
Anakin laughed hard, his eyes glittering with relished malice. 'I built the pod I raced at Boonta Eve, Wattoo. Qui-Gon sponsored so we could keep the winnings. You gave your most profitable slave away for nothing!'
Wattoo was ruined financially by losing Anakin. To his surprise he found he missed the boy he had secretly begun to think of with some affection. He still hadn't recovered. But anger would not bring him the dataries he needed to keep his Mos Espa shop afloat. Groveling to the man he used to own might.
'Okie, you build pod. He pay everything, and your fee?'
Anakin gave a price based on the going rates for similar design work on Coruscant's middle levels.
'Start high, eh? Drive hard bargain?'
'No Wattoo. This isn't Tatooine, and I'm a professional. He'd pay more in the Core, and he knows, or he wouldn't send you to ask me.'
'He could buy from two Dugs at this price!'
'But I'm the crazy little human he wants. He can pay or go.'
Two Naboo cycles later Wattoo indicated the price acceptable, with a piloting bonus that would double Anakin's take.
Anakin's reply was an estimate for parts, a modified version of Dialo's contract, and written refusal to pilot in the race.
