Anakin shivered. Space was cold, even when the boy was wrapped up in Obi-Wan's heavy cloak.
"Can't sleep?" A metallic voice asked dryly. Starkiller was leaning against the door.
"It's cold." Anakin pointed out, teeth chattering slightly.
"Come here, little one." Starkiller gestured the boy over.
"But it's cold," Anakin protested, moving to the sith's side.
"You'll warm up once you get moving- here, copy this..."
Starkiller guided Anakin through some stretches and something that might have been a lightsaber form, before settling the boy back down on the couch.
"Here," Anakin said, holding something out, "It's for you." Starkiller gingerly took the token, a small wooden pendant on a leather string. Anakin was suddenly very shy at the sith's lack of reaction.
"I carved it out of a japor snippet; it'll bring you good luck..." Starkiller tilted his head as he toyed with the necklace. Anakin was worried; did he not like it? But Starkiller hadn't handed it back, nor had he said anything bad about the gift, so Anakin privately decided that Starkiller must be one of those people who didn't really get things and resolved to help him interact more fluidly with other people.
"You should sleep." Starkiller murmured finally, standing up.
"Um," Anakin said, "Mr. Starkiller?" Starkiller sighed quietly and knelt next to the child.
"What is it, little one?"
"Why don't you like Mr. Qui-Gon?"
"Master Jinn and I recently had a... falling out, of sorts," Starkiller said, patting Anakin's head, "He wanted to watch you race; I wanted to get off Tatooine as quickly as possible- We had a fight and I won, it's as simple as that."
"Why would-" Anakin began. Starkiller cut him off.
"You are strong in the force. He wanted to test you, to see if you have the potential to be jedi." Anakin frowned thoughtfully.
"Is that good?" He asked innocently. That got a bark of laughter from the sith.
"It's not bad, in any case." Anakin yawned and Starkiller patted his arm.
"Go to sleep, little one."
"That was almost sweet of you." Starkiller turned to face the handmaiden.
"What do you want, girl?" Starkiller bit out. She took a step back.
"The Queen is worried." There was something in how she said it, that rubbed him the wrong way.
"The queen?" Starkiller repeated, doubt colouring his tone. Padmé flushed.
"How did you know?" She asked, nervous but not fearful. Know what‽ What was he supposed to be knowing‽
"Ah, All things are possible through the force," Starkiller said, silently thanking the force that his helmet hid his expression.
"Oh," she said, slightly disappointed. And there was a twinge of guilt in Galen's stomach.
"I don't think any passing acquaintance could tell," he offered, a beat of silence and then, "I'm, uh... Tracking.. is my specialty..." That seemed to put the handmaiden at ease. There was a long silence.
"Do you think we'll really be able to get the Senate to help?" She asked softly, insecure. 'She's only fourteen, she shouldn't have to be worrying about the fate on an entire planet' a voice in the back of Starkiller's mind said, sounding uncomfortably like Master Kota.
"I will take on the entire Trade Federation myself, if I have to," Starkiller said softly. Padmé looked up at him with a hint of tears sparkling in her eyes.
"Thank you. Although, I hope that it doesn't become necessary."
"Me too..." Starkiller murmured to himself.