Chapter 54: More Allies
Anakin had checked on the Sentinels and the children. Going back to the front of the ship, he found his sister sitting on a bench with a relaxed expression on her face. "You are a lot calmer than the last time I saw you," he commented as he removed his helmet, sitting across from his sister.
"I'm happy Ani, finally I have my own life," she replied.
Anakin noticed a familiar glow that he had seen many times before, only with Padmé. "You had a child," he told his sister. Annalie smiled softly, nodding her head slowly.
"I did," she replied.
Standing up, he hugged his sister tight. "That's wonderful," he told her, smiling as she hugged him back.
"I have a son," she murmured.
Pulling away, she sat down again. "What's his name? How old is he?" he asked as he sat across from her again.
"His name is Kodai and he's only a few months old," she replied.
"Wow…it's incredible," he said quietly.
Annalie smiled softly. "He's my life," she said quietly, "now I understand how you felt the moment your children were born. I understand how you would do anything to make sure they are safe." Tears welled up in her eyes. Clearing her throat, she stood up. "Captain Solo," she called out.
"Yep," he answered.
Annalie stood behind him. "How far are we from Dxun?" she asked.
"A few parsecs," he replied.
Nodding her head slowly, she patted his arm. "Let me know when we are there," she told him.
"I thought Dxun was abandoned again?" Anakin asked.
"It was…until my tribe settled there," she replied, giving her brother a half-grin.
"Your tribe?" Anakin asked.
"The Populas Lunae," she replied.
Anakin stared at he quizzically. "They are good people," she assured him.
When they arrived on Dxun, Annalie walked off the ship first with Anakin and Padmé behind her. She held out her bow and arrow as they went through the jungle. "You think that'll stop a few of the creatures here?" Han asked.
"It embeds into the skin and electrocutes them from the inside out," she replied.
"Great…" Han said slowly.
"Han, why don't you stay here with Obi-Wan and Bastila to watch over the Sentinels and children?" Anakin suggested.
"Sure thing boss," Han replied before he and Chewie went back to the ship.
As they went through the forest, Annalie had them stop and let out a high pitch whistle, followed by a series of other whistles. A vine dropped down in front of them and a young woman landed in front of them. "Alor Annialie gar ganar yaim'ol mar'e!" she said sounding relieved. (Lady Annalie, you have returned at last!) Annalie smiled, embracing the woman.
"An jahaala ti cuun adate?" she asked, pulling back. (All is well with our people?)
"Elek," the other girl answered smiling. (Yes.)
Annalie looked at them with a smile. "This is my Second in Command, Merisee, one of my finest fighters and loyal friends," she explained smiling. The girl nodded to them. She had jet-black hair down to her shoulders and had the same clothing design as Annalie only pale green and the symbols on her wrist guards were of a flower. "Merisee, ibic ner ori'vod, Anakin, kaysh riduur, Padmé," she explained. (Merisee, this is my brother, Anakin, and his wife, Padmé.)
Merisee bowed a little to Anakin and Padmé with a small smile. "Olarom," she told them. (Welcome.) Anakin suddenly felt like the woman was staring at him intently.
"Shi solus riduur, Merisee," Annalie whispered to the girl. (Only one spouse, Merisee.)
The girl frowned a little, but then she went back toward their camp. "What did you just say?" Anakin asked.
"Let's just say the men brought to our camp are…treasured," Annalie told her brother slowly.
"What does that mean?" Padmé asked as she held onto her husband's arm.
"The women in the Populas Lunae are known to choose the strongest and more powerful men as spouses, the tradition is though that more than one can pick the same one," she replied as she jumped down a hill, "unless one woman claims sole spousal status of the man."
Annalie glanced over her shoulder. "Depending on how powerful the man is, also gives the woman the rank of respect the rest of the tribe gives them," she added, "since you Padmé, have laid claim on my brother, you will be given the highest respect next to me."
"I'm guessing you picked the strongest and more powerful husband then?" Anakin asked curiously.
"No, I received my position because I took a challenge from their previous leader and won," she replied.
Anakin smirked a little and then they arrived to the camp. They watched as the people stood up to greet Annalie with large smiles and cheers that their leader had returned. "Ner ad?" Annalie asked a young woman. (My son?) The girl nodded and hurried into a tent. "You're going to meet my son," she told her brother and sister-in-law with a smile.
The young woman returned with a bundle and Annalie happily took the bundle into her arms. "Hello there," she cooed softly to the baby in her arms. She stroked the baby's soft cheek with a smile.
"Annalie he's beautiful," Padmé said smiling, holding the baby's tiny hand between her thumb and index finger.
Anakin looked to see women staring at him fondly. Clearing his throat, he fixed his armor. Annalie looked over at his women comrades. "Mashukir," she ordered. (Disperse.) The women frowned. "Kaysh gaanla," she told the still staring women. (He is chosen.) The women reluctantly left Anakin alone. Padmé kept her arms around her husband's waist, resting her head on his shoulder. "They know you are the Chosen One, Anakin. Sadly it makes the women here want you even more," she told her brother.
"Great…" Anakin said slowly.
Annalie smiled as she led her family through the camp. "Everyone takes care of each other here, we are all friends, family even," she told them. She nodded to several of her friends as they walked by. "I will return with a few of my people to get everyone else," she added as she opened a flap to a hut, "you will stay here." Anakin looked inside and Padmé followed closely behind him. "We have several of extra huts that we can spare for everyone," Annalie explained.
"How did you find these people?" Padmé asked curiously as they sat down.
Annalie smiled down at Kodai as he let out a little noise, reaching up to grasp the pendant around her neck. "All by accident, I was being chased by several Stormtroopers who had recognized me as Darth Demonia and apparently Sidious is out searching for me," she explained.
Annalie held up her lightsaber, trying to block the several dozen blaster fire aimed at her. Her cloak had ignited from a flame thrower and ripped it off. Jumping up in the air, she jumped up into a tree but then she felt the burning sensation of a blaster shot going into her side, forcing her to fall from the tree she had jumped into. "She'll be alright, as long as she's alive to bring he to the Emperor we'll just have a medical droid take care of her injury," the commander of the group ordered.
"Think the Emperor would let us have some fun of our own with her?" another asked.
The young woman cringed a little and tried to get up when they heard a high pitched whistle. "What was that?" the commander asked. Annalie opened her eyes when she heard several of the Stormtroopers screaming in pain. Suddenly, she felt someone lift her up into their arms and she was rushed away from the group.
Annalie sighed softly, looking at her son to see him dozing off in her arms. "The man that rescued me was Regin…Kodai's father," she said softly, stroking her son's face with a small smile. Sighing, she lifted her head up. "I awoke in their medical hut and they had used their Force abilities to heal me," she explained.
"These are all Force sensitive people?" Anakin asked.
"Yes, but they don't listen to the laws of the Empire or even when it was the Republic. It doesn't exist for them," she explained.
"Which would mean they are an enemy to the Empire as well obviously," Padmé commented.
"The Empire nor the Republic know they even exist. They have taught me their ways of keeping themselves hidden, to keep themselves safe and it's been working for the last few thousand years," Annalie explained.
Anakin listened intently. "Now, you have already been welcomed with open arms obviously. So to keep up with your disguise Anakin…" she said slowly. Getting up, she set Kodai into a handmade crib beside her before walking over to a trunk on the other side of the hut. "You'll need to dress like a Populas Lunae," she told them. She removed the helmet that was attached to her brother's belt, placing it into the trunk. "Keep your armor in here, no one will touch it," she assured him before placing a some clothes into Padmé's hands.
"We can't stay here forever, Annalie…we have children of our own," Padmé reminded her.
"Of course, that's why I'm going to have Han go back to Mustafar and get them and bring them here. This is probably the safest place you could raise them," Annalie replied.
Annalie smiled at her brother and sister-in-law. "In fact, mother and Cliegg are adapting quite well," she added.
"Mom's here?" Anakin asked.
"Yes, I brought them here a few weeks ago. Sidious was snooping around there and I wanted to keep them safe. Owen and Beru wanted to live out on the Moisture Farm, but they've kept in touch," she explained.
"I'm sure Cliegg's enjoying himself," Anakin commented as Padmé helped him remove his armor.
"Oh yes, he hunts every day it seems, it's quite comical actually," Annalie replied smiling.
"How so?" Anakin asked.
"He acts like a child whenever he gets ready to hunt," Annalie replied.
"Scale from 1-10 how big of a kid?" Anakin asked.
"I'd say he is off the scale, I swear I saw him bouncing excitedly as mom was giving him his things to hunt with," she replied.
Anakin laughed a little and Annalie took Kodai back into her arms. "Well, I'll leave you two to change and I'll return to bring Obi-Wan and Bastila here as well as the Sentinels and children you saved. I'll have Han go and retrieve your children," she told them before leaving the hut.
When they emerged, Anakin had on his boots, dark brown pants and a dark brown short-sleeved tunic. Padmé hand on her boots, tan leggings, and a tan shirt that showed off her midriff. As soon as Anakin had exited the hut, the women were practically drooling over him. Annalie looked over at them with a smile. "You both fit in just fine with us," she said smiling as she stood up. Anakin cleared his throat again while Padmé kept her arm around her husband's waist. "Don't worry about them, they are only staring," Annalie assured Padmé.
"I'm not about to take any chances," she replied.
Annalie laughed a little. "Well Anakin just keep in mind to not let Padmé wander alone at night here until she learns our ways," she told her brother.
"Why is that?" he asked curiously.
"Not only are women quite drawn to the strongest men, but the men go after the more…fertile women," Annalie replied, "and once your children are here the men will know how gifted Padmé truly is."
"This is almost animalistic," Padmé commented.
"I thought so as well, but trust me once you've been here for awhile everything settles down. You're new around them, it isn't often new people join them," Annalie replied.
"Wait are you saying that if Padmé isn't close by someone will…" Anakin started.
Annalie sighed a little as she sat down. "If she knew our language, a simple objection would work. A man forcing himself on a woman is very illegal in the tribe. If it were to happen, they are banished to the darkest parts of the forest," she explained, "and we leave them weaponless." Padmé's eyes grew wide. "This is their democracy," Annalie added.
Anakin watched as a girl walked by with some food, placing them on the table before them. "Vor entye," Annalie told the girl. (Thank you.) The girl bowed before continuing to deliver more food.
"What is that?" Padmé asked slowly, looking at the stew in front of her.
"Maalras stew, it's their specialty and it doesn't taste any different than Bantha stew," Annalie replied.
They started eating the dinner placed before them when Obi-Wan and Bastila arrived. "Welcome," Annalie said smiling, "hopefully your guides weren't too harsh."
"No they were quite helpful," Bastila replied as they were ushered to sit down.
Anakin smiled a little, but then he saw his mother and Cliegg return. "Mom!" he exclaimed as he stood up. Shmi gasped with a huge smile on her face, embracing her son once he reached her.
"Oh my son," she murmured, hugging him as tight as she could.
Anakin smiled as he let her go and Shmi touched his face. "Oh you still grow more handsome every time I see you," she said smiling. Chuckling lightly, his mother kissed his cheek before hugging him again.
"Anakin, good to see you son," Cliegg told him.
"Cliegg, good to see you," Anakin replied, embracing his stepfather.
Padmé got up and Shmi embraced her. "Wonderful to see you Padmé," she said smiling.
"It's good to see you mom," Padmé replied, hugging her back.
Shmi kissed her cheek as well before the four of them sat back down. "Don't I have four more grandchildren?" Shmi asked with a smile.
"They'll be here in a couple of days, mom. Captain Solo returned to Mustafar to get them," Annalie replied smiling.
Shmi smiled, kissing her daughter on the side of her head before taking Kodai into her arms. Anakin smiled as he kept his arm around his wife's waist. Somehow, he felt that he finally found a safe home to raise his children in without the fear of the Empire finding them. He felt that they had yet another ally in their midst and it was uplifting for him to think about it. Kissing the top of his wife's head, he ate the dinner placed before him and just enjoyed being reunited with his family.
Author's Note: Hey guys, real quick wanted to let you know the language they were speaking for those who don't know was Mando'a. Just thought I'd let you know.
Arwennicole
