Chapter 6
He hates Tatooine.
He, or rather, Anakin Skywalker, grew up a slave here, his mother died here, he wanted nothing to do with this sandy dustball, the hellish planet in the galaxy.
When his brother told him that he had hidden Luke on Tatooine for over two decades in one of their talks in the afterlife, he could hardly believe it. But rethinking it over later, he recognized the brilliancy of the plan, the reason Obi-Wan took Luke back to Tatooine because Vader would never risk going to Tatooine because he might reawaken Anakin. In fact, Tatooine was probably the one place that Obi-Wan could be perfectly sure that Vader would never visit again.
Vader would never return to Tatooine, and the old man knew this. Yet, he did indeed return here shortly after the battle of Yavin when he was tracking down his son to search for his identity.
Oh, why do the Force have to be so damn cruel at times? Whenever he makes a declaration of something, fate always nips him in the back.
Fortunately, Vader never tracked down Obi-Wan and Luke on Tatooine; if he did, Luke would have been morphed into a greater weapon, a tool for an Empire, and a twisted being who would have been beyond redemption. He had owed Obi-Wan the biggest gratitude he can earn for morphing Luke into a person so kind and with a warm heart that would never lose faith.
Without Luke, and inadvertently without Obi-Wan, he would have still been that tool who would have followed the Emperor's commands without question, a person full of denial, and just a mere weapon.
Vader didn't miss Qui-Gon sending his protege to uncouple the hyperdrive and Captain Panaka to advise the Queen of their landing. He settles on going into the spaceport alone as he left the cockpit to find other clothing and came upon Jar Jar Binks, the Queen's handmaiden Padmé, and the little R2 unit.
The Jedi Master slow, considering the possibility that going into the city alone would make him more noticeable. "Jar Jar," he said finally. "Get ready. You're going with me. The droid as well."
He continues on without looking back. The Gungan stares after him in disbelief, then in horror. By the time he regain his wits, the Jedi is out of view. Wailing in dismay, he chases after him and come upon Obi-Wan in the main cabin hoisting the hyperdrive out of the bowels of the ship.
"Obi-One, sire!" he gasps, throwing himself to his knees in front of the younger Jedi. "Pleeese, me no go wit Quiggon!"
Obi-Wan is incline to agree but knows better than to say so. "Sorry, but Qui-Gon is right. This is a multinational spaceport, a trading center. You'll make him appear less obvious by going along." His brow furrow as he turns back to the hyperdrive. "I hope," he mutters to himself.
Jar Jar climbs to his feet and trudges disconsolately towards R2-D2, his mouth set in a grimace of forbearance. The astromech droid beeps in sympathy, then made a series of encouraging clicks.
Qui-Gon reappears, dressed now as a farmer in tunic, leggings, and a poncho. He walks past them to where Obi-Wan was studying the hyperdrive. "What have you found?"
Obi-Wan's young face clouded. "The generator is shot. We'll need a new one."
"I thought as much." The Jedi Master kneel next to his protege. "Well, we can't risk a communication with Coruscant this far out on the edge of the galaxy. It might be intercepted and our position revealed. We'll have to get by on our own." He lowers his voice to a near whisper. "Don't let anyone send a transmission while I'm gone. Be wary, Obi-Wan. I sense a disturbance in the Force."
Obi-Wan's eyes lift to find his. "I feel it also, Master. I will be careful." He eyes Vader momentarily, noting his upgraded armor, height, and balanced weight.
He proposes the Sith hadn't had the requirements to loosen up his armor for quite some time. The ship did belong to a Queen after all so them possessing tools is extremely likely.
In truth, Vader appears to be a veteran and someone who is experienced in battle. Of a Sith Warlord. Of Jedi killers of past history. Truth be told, Vader could turn brute in all but a minute, but unlike the history lessons about the Sith of Old, the dark side is heavily under control instead of untamed as claimed by the Jedi. Surprising.
In fact, his light side within him that he now feels almost overwhelms Kenobi and Jinn's presences alone. For a brief moment, Kenobi ponders if he could defeat them if he uses the light. In their history lessons, Sith operating the light is utterly impossible because they are too prideful, and at the mere thought of the light, the Sith grows weak.
Not this one, however.
He remembers confronting Xanatos. The dark side surrounded him greatly to the point where he was close to a Sith than any other Dark Jedi before. Together, the Jedi drove Xanatos toward the edge of one of the acid pools. Two swoops bearing Andra, head of the illegal POWER party, and Den pulled up behind the Dark Jedi. Andra demanded that Xanatos surrender; he would face trial in Thani for his crimes. Surrounded, Xanatos defiantly told Jinn that he was his biggest failure. His Master tried to stop him from committing suicide, but it was too late. Xanatos smiled as he leaped backward into the acid, hoping that his death would haunt his former master forever. His body dissolved in seconds, followed by his black cloak
"Don't even think about it, Jedi. I don't have to use the dark side to do combat with you. Do not force my hand." Vader spoke absent-mindedly, cutting through the Jedi Padawan's thoughts and silencing him. He loves the fool but he is not above roughing Obi-Wan's younger self up.
"But that presents great danger if he proves to turn against us," Obi-Wan continues, as if the former Dark Lord of the Sith isn't stand there.
"He's standing right here, Jedi," Vader quips, surprising the Jedi Master and Padawan. "And he wouldn't turn on you."
Both Jedi raises their eyebrows. So who is possibly a Sith has a sense of humor?
Unlike most of his Sith ancestors, he appears to use the light side as a beacon. Qui-Gon knows the Council is wrong about a great many things. He feels they allow the Jedi Order to become a sort of chancellor's police, rather than concentrating on knowing the Force. Yes, they are wise to refuse to rule - but unwise to simply accept the status quo. Short-sighted, to lose touch with the living Force by spending so much of their time and energy on enforcing laws that could as easily be left to civilian authorities. Immoral, to refuse to act against evils such as slavery. Yet, is it possible they are wrong about the Sith being all evil and the dark side not being controllable?
According to the Jedi teachings embedded in each of them, the Sith have no self-control. Their inclinations to use the dark side has no bounds which are why the dark Jedi has all been claimed and is now in a Republic's prison, their judgment having been cast by the Council.
Many Masters would have never agreed to work with a Sith and would attempt to behead Vader to bring "peace" and "balance" to the galaxy, but despite this merit, enforce by the beliefs of the Council and despite them countlessly forcing his buttons, Vader didn't yet kill nor threaten any of them.
Unbeknownst to them, Vader begins to form his own plan; he has no plans to allow Obi-Wan and Anakin to be as distant as in the original timeline. He remembers his Padawanhood when he had always felt the pain from Obi-Wan in his quarters, no doubt silently weeping for the death of his Master and how Qui-Gon can train him better.
Obi-Wan and Anakin always deviated until they became brothers by the Force, never being able to amend their past and truly understand one another. Their Force Bond always maintained reservation with one being a strict loyalist of the Jedi Order while the other continued to go rogue and would have perhaps become a younger and far more powerful version of Qui-Gon Jinn, a fate that the Jedi unquestionably wanted to avoid.
Even now, even with the younger version of his brother, he can open up the Force Bond but that will allow him to see all of the things Vader did and what happens to him. Vader is not willing to allow his brother who can still be sway from the Jedi Order after seeing its flaws to suffer from those memories. Besides, he might tell the Jedi Council and Vader's plans will be forfeit.
Obi-Wan did see through the flaws of the Council after the Order had fallen. It was Obi-Wan's pride and belief that he was good a teacher as Yoda that steered his student and friend Anakin to the dark side as he grew a lust for power thanks to the Emperor. Obi-Wan felt his arrogance got Anakin to become something else, something warped and evil. He was ashamed of this failure and wanted to do right with Luke only to die before he could teach him more about the Jedi. As Obi-Wan, he was powerful yet flawed, and as Old Ben, he wisely matured upon realization of these flaws.
If he can somehow convince the younger version of Obi-Wan to realize the flaws, form an attachment between Anakin and Obi-Wan, they wouldn't have to face the burdens of suffering. Perhaps Kenobi seeing what Anakin and his mother had gone through would leave more of an understanding between the two and their bond might be stronger as it was when other Anakin and Obi-Wan were one with the Force...
If not by the Force somehow stronger.
"Recommend you bring your Padawan with you," Vader declares, as he continues to stare at the desert but it is clear he is speaking to the Maverick Jedi Master. "If this unknown threat is out there, it would be wise for you to remain together."
Qui-Gon furrows his eyebrows, inquiring, borderline suspicious. "Not your apprentice who have intentions to kill us and for you to bring the Queen to Gunray?"
"I prefer remaining to myself... at least for now. Apprentices are too dangerous, for they can usurp you and betray you in under a second. The problem with the Sith is that they use manipulation which is why I don't consider myself among their Order. The Force comes from the life force, and the Dark Side is creative, chaotic, and beautiful, like life itself. The Dark Side is not evil. It is merely power, and power is only evil when wielded by evil hands. If not controlled, it can be your downfall. I have witnessed this myself." Vader responds crisply.
The two Jedi exchanges shock looks that Vader is willing to admit the flaws of the Sith Order and the dark side. Dark side wielders usually attempt to conquer all that is light, but Vader is a different man; he accepts both the light and the darkness, acknowledges both sides exist, and instead of attempting to destroy one or the other like the Jedi or Sith, he becomes a completely mysterious man.
Vader adds, "Fortunately, I have seen through its twisted way and turned away from embracing the dark side entirely."
"Impossible," Obi-Wan replies precipitously, staring at him with intense eyes. "Once one walks down the tainted path, one cannot return from the dark side."
"Of course the Jedi would manipulate their students in believing that those who touch the darkness cannot return." Vader pauses for a moment, staring at the desert calculatingly. "Need I remind you of Darth Revan who is view as the Prodigal Knight in your Order? Despite the countless temptations of the dark, Revan still resists and became one of the Jedi's greatest saviors. Well, he didn't have a choice because of the hypocrisy of the Council choosing to wipe his memories."
"Revan is not a hero nor a role model," Obi-Wan counters. "He is someone who is rightfully shunned upon by the Jedi Order, breaking multiple rules of the Code and continuously touched the dark side. Additionally, he gave into his attachments, knowing what they could do to him."
"And you don't?" Vader asks, prompting a raise eyebrow from the younger of the Jedi. "Oh come on Kenobi, I sense the son bond you wish you can have with Jinn. Any attempts to deny it would be fruitless." Obi-Wan is shock silent but Vader continues, choosing to abandon the previous subject. "This mysterious foe is after the Queen. I shall see to it that he fails. For now, you should remain together. If this Sith walks into the city, two Jedi may be necessary."
Qui-Gon arches his eyebrows. "You appear to be determined that this is a Sith without any proof. It is odd that a second Sith just happens to emerge on the same day you do."
"Oh come on, Jedi," Vader responds, wanting to bang his head repeatedly into a wall, "it is incontrovertible this is the work of the Sith. Your arrogant Council may not accept that the Sith has managed to slip past their eyes but they have been moving around for thousands of years, their strength and power never deteriorating. I am well aware of these feeble dark Jedi your Order has been combating for decades since the Sith of old, but trust me, Jedi, they are merely a prelude for what's coming."
Not for the first time, Qui-Gon Jinn is at odds with himself. How could the Sith's tainted presence of the dark side manage to avoid their eyes for many decades? He had known the Republic is growing ever the more corrupt, and the Jedi Order is ever relying on politics, but in reality, they should have sensed the Sith in the Republic Senate.
Qui-Gon is conflicted about what to proceed to do next. Undoubtedly, the Council would labor Vader as a liar, believe they would sense it, and openly accuse him of being someone who is attempting to overthrow the Jedi Order.
However, Obi-Wan might be the one to tell the Jedi Council about Vader's information. He has dedicated himself to the Jedi Code and the Jedi Council. He is trapped in the flawed Jedi ways.
"Obviously," Vader presses on, "if I was to betray you, it would have been now since this planet is considered outside of the Republic. I can kill every single guard and handmaiden and bring the Queen to Coruscant or murder her, along with you two. However, I am not devoted to killing you."
Qui-Gon knows he is correct. On Naboo, there is a slight chance that they could have been able to escape, but on a planet such as Tatooine, there is little to no chance of escaping for them.
"I'm willing to go with you, Master," Obi-Wan replies, shooting a momentary glare at Vader for a second. He too knows Vader is correct, despite never admitting it.
Qui-Gon rises, gathers up Jar Jar, surprisingly listens to Vader and bringing Obi-Wan along, and the R2 unit, and headed down the loading ramp to the planet's floor. An empty carpet of sand stretched away in all directions, broken only by massive rock formations and the distant skyline of Mos Espa. The suns that gave the planet life beat down with such ferocity that it seemed as if they were determined to steal that life back again. Heat rose off the sand in a shimmering wave, and the air was so dry it sucked the moisture from their throat and nose passages.
Jar Jar glances skyward, eyestalks craning, billed amphibious face wrinkling in dismay. "Dis sun gonna do murder ta da skin of ills Gungan," he mutters.
At a signal from Qui-Gon, they begin to walk-or, in the case of the R2 unit, to roll. A strange caravan of animals and riders, carts, and sleds appears against the distant skyline like a shadowy mirage, all misshapen and threatening to evaporate in the blink of an eye. Jar Jar mutters some more, but no one was paying attention.
They didn't get far when a shout brought them around. Two figures are running toward them from the transport. As they near, Qui-Gon is able to make out Captain Panaka and a girl dressed in rough peasant's garb. He stop and wait until they caught up, a frown creasing his leonine features.
Panaka is sweating. "Her Highness commands you to take her handmaiden with you. She wishes for Padmé to give her own report of what you might-"
"No more commands from Her Highness today, Captain," Qui-Gon interrupts quickly, shaking his head in refusal. "Mos Espa is not going to be a pleasant place for-"
"The Queen wishes it," Panaka interrupts him right back, his face angry and set. "She is emphatic. She wishes to know more about this planet."
The girl takes a step forward. Her dark eyes find Qui-Gon's. "I've been trained in self-defense. I speak a number of languages. I am not afraid. I can take care of myself."
Captain Panaka sighs, looking over his shoulder toward the ship. "Don't make me go back and tell her you refuse."
Qui-Gon hesitates, prepare to do exactly that. Then he looks at Padmé again, sees strength in her eyes, and change his mind. She might be useful. Traveling with a girl, they might suggest a family in transit and present a less aggressive look.
He nods. "I don't have time to argue the matter, Captain. I still think this is a bad idea, but she may come." He gives Padmé a look of warning. "Stay close to me and my student."
"I'm afraid the Queen is not finished with her demands. She wishes to learn more about Lord Vader so she is sending another to see what his true motives are." The captain declares.
They all are shocked, except the handmaiden, as another young lady walks down the ramp. Her attire is similiar to the other handmaiden.
Vader's annoyance rises as the handmaiden, Eirtaé, wearing black undergarments approaches him and stands behind him. A brief look of concern is on Kenobi and Jinn's faces because should he decide to betray them, Vader would kill the handmaiden. Padmé is equally as worried but didn't show it as much as it would be a warning sign to retreat if Vader doesn't return.
"And what have I done to earn suspicion from the Queen?" Vader questions, feeling the childish urge to groan but swallowing that urge quickly.
Panaka shrugs. "Have no idea. She just feels the need to assure you are on our side."
The smug little grin from Padmé causes him to curse mentally. Even at a young age, she is as demanding and doesn't crave to anybody as much as she is when she was older. Even during her pregnancy, there is no frightening Padmé Naberrie Amidala.
Vader slightly sags his shoulders. As much as he likes the handmaiden, she is only to be of annoyance in combating Maul. Now, he would not only have to protect himself but her as well.
Vader knows he mustn't leave yet, to ensure the fake Queen doesn't send a reply to the trap of Maul. It is immensely palpable that the handmaidens are not going to answer the call as they always said they could see through traps, but they did tease each other and Anakin Skywalker a lot.
It can merely be bluff on the girls' parts. This is likely and possible, but hey, he has to make sure.
Qui-Gon nods slightly, starts away again, the others trailing. Captain Panaka stand watching with undisguised relief as the strange little procession of Jedi Master, Padawan, handmaiden, Gungan, and astromech droid moved off into the sweltering landscape toward Mos Espa.
It is not yet mid-afternoon by the time the members of the little company under Qui-Gon Jinn's command reached Mos Espa and made their way toward the spaceport's center. Mos Espa is large and sprawling and had the look of a gnarled serpent hunkered down in the sand to escape the heat. The buildings are dome and thick-wall and curve to protect against the sun, and the stalls and shops are fronted by awnings and verandas that provided a measure of shade to their vendors. Streets are broad and pack with beings of every shape and size, most from off-planet. Some ride the desert-seasoned eo pies. Domesticated banthas, massive and horned, and lumbering dew backs hauled carts, sleds, and wagons that ran on wheels and mechanical tracks by turn, a mishmash of commerce trafficking between Tatooine's smaller ports and the planets of star systems beyond.
Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan keep a close watch for trouble. There are Rodians and Dugs and others whose purpose is always suspect. Most of those they passed pay them no notice. One or two turn to glance at Jar Jar, but dismissed the Gungan almost out of hand once they got a good look at him. As a group, they blend in nicely. There are so many combinations of creatures of every species that the appearance of one more meant almost nothing.
"Tatooine is home to Jabba the Hutt, who controls the bulk of the trafficking in illegal goods, piracy, and slavery that generates most of the planet's wealth," Qui-Gon is explaining to Padmé. He had been on Tatooine before, though it had been some years ago. "Jabba controls the spaceports and settlements, all of the populated areas. The desert belongs to the Jawas, who scavenge whatever they can find to sell or trade, and to the Tuskens, who live a nomadic life and feel free to steal from everyone."
The Jedi keeps his voice low and conversational. The girl walks silently at his elbow, her sharp eyes taking in everything. Speeders nose by them, and droids of every size toil in the service of desert-garbed aliens.
"There are a number of farms as well, outlying operations that take advantage of the climate-moisture farms, for the most part, operated by off-worlders not a part of the indigenous tribes and scavengers, not connected directly to the Hutts." His eyes sweep the street ahead. "This is a rough and dangerous place. Most avoid it. Its few spaceports have become havens for those who do not wish to be found."
Padmé glances up at him. "Like us," she says.
A pair of domesticated banthas rumbles down the broad avenue, hairy bulks clearing a path for a sled train of quarry blocks and metal struts, horned heads nodding sleepily, padded feet stirring sand and dust in thick clouds with each lumbering step. Their driver doze atop the foremost sled in the train, small and insignificant in their shadow.
Jar Jar Binks stays as close as he can manage to the Jedi and the girl, his eyes darting left and right, head swiveling as if it might twist right off his shoulders. Nothing he saw was familiar or welcome. Hard looks followed after him. Sharp eyes measured him for things he would just as soon not think about. Stares were at best challenging and at worst unfriendly. He did not like this place. He wished he were almost anywhere else.
"Tis very bad, dis." He swallows against a dryness in his throat that is caused by more than the heat. "Nutten good 'bout ills place!" He takes a careless step and found himself ankle-deep in a foul-smelling ooze. "Oh, oh. Tis icky!"
R2-D2 rolls cheerfully along at his side, beeping and chirping in a futile effort at reassuring the Gungan that all was well.
They travel the main street of the spaceport to its far end and turn down a side street that led to a small plaza ring with salvage dealers and junk shops. Qui-Gon glances at the mounds of engine parts, control panels, and communication chips recovered from starships and speeders.
"We'll try one of these smaller dealers first," he advises, nodding toward one in which a vast pile of old transports and parts was heaped within an attached compound.
They walk through the shop's low entry and is greeted by a pudgy blue creature who flew into their faces like a crazed probe, tiny wings buzzing so fast they could barely be seen. "Hi chubba da nago?" it snaps in a frizzy, guttural voice, demanding to know their business.
'A Toydarian,' Qui-Gon thought. He knew enough to recognize one, but not much else. "I need parts for a J-type 327 Nubian," he advise the other.
The Toydarian fairly beams with delight, his reticular snout curling over his toothy mouth and making odd smacking noises. "Ah, yes! Nubian! We have lots of that." The sharp, bulbous eyes flick from one face to the other, ending with the Gungan. "What's this?"
Jar Jar shrinks behind Qui-Gon fearfully. "Never mind that." The Jedi brushes the Toydarian's question aside. "Call you help us or not?"
"Can you pay me or not-that's the question!" The skinny blue arms cross defiantly over the rounded torso as the Toydarian regards them with disdain. "What kinda junk you after, farmer?"
"My droid has a readout of what I need," Qui-Gon advises the other with a glance down at the R2 unit.
Still hanging midair in front of Qui-Gon's nose, the Toydarian glances over one shoulder. "Peedunkel! Naba dee unko!"
A small, disheveled boy races in from the salvage yard, coming to an uncertain stop in front of them. His clothes are rag and thick with grime, and he has the look of someone about to be given a beating. He flinches as the Toydarian wheels back and lift a hand in admonishment.
Obi-Wan can't help but tense up, feeling an immediate connection to the boy. He appears oddly familiar. If Qui-Gon notice this too, he didn't voice it.
"What took you so long?"
"Mel tass cho-pas kee," the boy responds quickly, blue eyes taking in the newcomers with a quick glance. "I was cleaning out the bin like you-"
"Chut-chut!" The Toydarian throws up his hands angrily. "Never mind the bin! Watch the store! I've got some selling to do!" He flits back around to face his customers. "So, let me take you out back. You'll soon find what you need."
He darts toward the salvage yard, beckoning Qui-Gon eagerly. The Jedi follows, with R2-D2 trundling after. Jar Jar moves to a shelf and picks up an odd-looking bit of metal, intrigued by its shape, wondering what it is.
"Don't touch anything," Qui-Gon calls over his shoulder, his tone of voice sharp.
Jar Jar put the item down and made a face at Qui-Gon's departing back, sticking out his long tongue in defiance. When the Jedi is out of sight, he picks up the part again.
Anakin Skywalker could not take his eyes off the girl. He notices her the moment he enter Watto's shop, even before Watto said anything, and he hadn't been able to stop looking at her since. He barely heard what Watto said to him about watching the shop. He barely notices the strange-looking creature that had come in with her and was poking around in the shelves and bins. Even after she notices he is staring at her, he could not help himself.
He moves now to an open space on the counter, hoists himself up, and sits watching her while pretending to clean a transmitter cell. She is looking back at him now, embarrassment turning to curiosity. She is small and slender with long, braided brown hair, brown eyes, and a face he finew so beautiful that he had nothing to which he could compare it. She is dress in rough peasant's clothing, but she seems very self-possessed.
There is also a man not far from behind her, staring around in awe. His robes are extremely strange and the way his hair is fashioned. There is also a strange braid on his hair.
She gives him an amused smile, and he feels himself melting in confusion and wonder. He takes a deep breath. "Are you an angel?" he asks quietly.
The girl stares. "What?"
"An angel." Anakin straightens a bit. "They live on the moons of Iego, I think. They are the most beautiful creatures in the universe. They are good and kind, and so pretty they make even the most hardened space pirates cry like small children."
She gives him a confused look. "I've never heard of angels," she replies.
"You must be one of them," Anakin insists. "Maybe you just don't know it."
"You're a funny little boy." The amused smile returns. "How do you know so much?"
Anakin smiles back and shrugs. "I listen to all the traders and pilots who come through here." He glances toward the salvage yard. "I'm a pilot, you know. Someday, I'm going to fly away from this place."
The girl wanders to one end of the counter, looks away, then back again. "Have you been here long?"
"Since I was very little-three, I think. My mom and I were sold to Gardulla the Hutt, but she lost us to Watto, betting on the pod races. Watto's a lot better master, I think."
The man stares at him in shock. "You're a slave?"
The way he said it makes Anakin feel ashamed and angry. He glares at him defiantly. "I am a person!"
"I'm sorry," he apologizes quickly, looking upset and shameful, bowing his head slightly since he didn't mean to hurt his feelings. "I don't fully understand, I guess. This is a strange world to us travelers."
He studies the girl intently for a moment, thinking of other things, wanting to tell her of them. "You are a strange girl to me," he said instead. He swings his legs out from the counter. "Same for you." He eyes the other man dubiously. "My name is Anakin Skywalker."
She brushes at her hair. "Padmé Naberrie."
"Obi-Wan Kenobi."
The strange creature she come in with wanders back to the front of the shop and bent over a stout little droid body with a bulbous nose. Reaching up curiously, it pushes at the nose with one finger. Instantly armatures pop out from every direction, metal limbs swinging into place. The droid's motors whizzes and whirr, and it jerks to life and begins moving forward. Padmé's odd companion went after it with a moan of dismay, grabbing on in an effort to slow it down, but the droid continues marching through the shop, knocking over everything it came in contact with.
"Hit the nose!" Anakin calls out, unable to keep himself from laughing.
The creature did as it is told, pounding the droid's nose wildly. The droid stops at once, the arms and legs retract, the motors shut down, and the droid goes still. Anakin, Obi-Wan, and Padmé are laughing now, and their laughter increases as they see the look on the unfortunate creature's long-billed face.
Anakin looks at Padmé and the girl and older man at him. Their laughter dies away.
In the salvage yard, Watto is studying the screen of a portable memory bank he held in one hand, tracing through his inventory record. Qui-Gon, arms folded into his farmer's poncho, stood waiting patiently, the R2 unit at his side.
"Ah, here it is. A T-14 hyperdrive generator!" The Toydarian's wings beat wildly as he hovers before the Jedi, his gnarl finger jabbing at the viewscreen. "You're in luck. I'm the only one hereabouts who has one. But you might as well buy a new ship. It would be cheaper. Speaking of which, how're you going to pay for all this, farmer?"
Qui-Gon considers. "I have twenty thousand Republic dataries to put toward-"
"Republic credits?" Watto explodes in disgust. "Republic credits are no good out here! I need something better than that, something of value..."
The Jedi Master shakes his head. "I don't have anything else." One hand come up, passing casually in front of the Toydarian's face. "But credits will do fine."
"No, they won't!" Watto snaps, buzzing angrily.
Qui-Gon frowns, then passes his hand in front of the pudgy blue alien again, bringing the full force of his Jedi suggestive power to bear. "Credits will do fine," he repeats.
Watto sneers. "No, they won't!" he repeats. "What do you think you're doing, waving your hand around like that? You think you're some kinda Jedi? Hah! I'm a Toydarian! Mind tricks don't work on me-only money! No money, no parts, no deal! And no one else has a T-14 hyperdrive generator, I can promise you that!"
Chagrin, Qui-Gon wheels back for the shop, the R2 unit following at his heels. The Toydarian shouts after them to come back when they had something worthwhile to trade, still scolding the Jedi Master for trying to foist Republic credits on him. Qui-Gon re-enters the shop just as Jar Jar pull a part from a large stack and sent the entire arrangement tumbling to the floor. His efforts at correcting the problem brought a second display crashing down as well.
The boy, his Padawan, and the Queen's handmaiden are deep in discussion, paying no attention to the Gungan.
"We're leaving," Qui-Gon announces to the girl and the younger man, moving toward the shop's entry, the R2 unit trundling along behind.
Jar Jar is quick to follow, anxious to escape his latest mess. Padmé gives the boy a warm smile. "I'm glad I met you, Anakin," she said, turning after them.
"As am I," Obi-Wan agrees, unable to believe that there is a growing fondness for the young boy and the sympathy he feels for him. He has never met a slave before.
"I'm glad I met you, too," he calls after them, a reluctance evident in his voice.
Watto flies in from the salvage yard, shaking his head in disgust. "Oudanders! They think because we live so far from everything, we know nothing!"
Anakin is still staring longingly after Obi-Wan and Padmé, his gaze fixed on the empty doorway. "They seemed nice enough to me."
Watto snorts and flew into his face. "Clean up this mess, then you can go home!"
Anakin brightens, gives a small cheer, and goes quickly to work.
Qui-Gon leads his companions back through the lime plaza of salvage shops toward the main avenue. At a place where two buildings divided to form a shadowed niche, the Jedi Master moves everyone from view and brought out his comlink from beneath his poncho. Padmé and the R2 unit stand waiting patiently, but Jar Jar prowls the space as if trapped, eyes fixed nervously on the busy street.
When Captain Panaka responds to the comlink's pulse, Qui-Gon quickly fills him in on the situation. "Are you sure there isn't anything of value left on board?" he concludes.
There is a pause at the other end. "A few containers of supplies, the Queen's wardrobe, some jewelry. Not enough for you to barter with. Not in the amounts you're talking about, Ambassador."
"All right," Qui-Gon responds with a frown. "Another solution will present itself. I'll check back."
"Is anything going our way?" Obi-Wan mutters bitterly.
Qui-Gon ignores his Padawan and tucks the comlink beneath his poncho and signals to the others. He is moving toward the street again when Jar Jar grab his arm.
"Noah gain, sire," the Gungan pleads. "Da beings hereabouts crazy nuts. We goen be robbed and crunched!"
"Not likely," Qui-Gon replies with a sigh, freeing himself. "We have nothing of value. That's our problem."
They start back down the street, Qui-Gon trying to think what to do next. Padmé and R2-D2 stay close as they make their way through the crowds, but Jar Jar begins to lag behind, distracted by all the strange sights and smells. They are passing an outdoor cafe, its tables occupied by a rough-looking bunch of aliens, among them a Dug who is holding forth on the merits of Podracing. Jar Jar hurries to catch up to his companions, but then caught sight of a string of frogs hanging from a wire in front of a nearby stall. The Gungan slows, his mouth watering. He has not eaten in some time. He glances around to see if anyone was looking, then unfurled his long tongue and snapped up one of the frogs. The frog disappears into Jar Jar's mouth in the blink of an eye.
Unfortunately, the frog is still securely tied to the wire. Jar Jar stands there, the wire hanging out of his mouth, unable to move.
The vendor in charge of the stall rushes out. "Hey, that will be seven truguts!"
Jar Jar glances frantically down the street for his companions, but they are already out of sight. In desperation, he let go of the frog. The frog pops out of his mouth as if catapulted, winging away at the end of the taut wire. It ricochets this way and that, breaking free at last to land directly in the Dug's soup, splashing gooey liquid all over him.
The gangly Dug leaps to his feet in fury, catching sight of the hapless Jar Jar as he tried to move away from the frog vendor. Springing across the table on all fours, he is on top of the Gungan in an instant, grabbing him by the throat.
"Chubba! You!" the Dug snarls through its corded snout. Feelers and mandibles writhe. "Is this yours?"
The Dug shoves the frog in the Gungan's face threateningly. Jar Jar can not get any words out, gasping for breath, fighting to break free. His eyes roll wildly as he looked for help that wasn't there. Other creatures push forward to surround him, Rodians among them. The Dug throws Jar Jar to the ground, shouting at him, hovering over him in a crouch. Desperately, the Gungan tries to scramble to safety.
"No, no," he moans plaintively as he sought an avenue of escape. "Why me always da one?"
"Because you're afraid," a voice answers calmly.
Anakin Skywalker pushes his way through the crowd, coming up to stand next to the Dug. The boy seems unafraid of the creature, undeterred by the hard-eyed crowd, his bearing self assure. He gives the Dug an appraising look. "Chess ko, Sebulba," he said. "Careful. This one's very well connected."
Sebulba turns to face the boy, cruel face twisting with disdain as he catches sight of the newcomer. "Tooney rana dunko, shag?" he snaps, demanding to know what the boy meant.
Anakin shrugs. "Connected-as in Hutt." The blue eyes fix the Dug and sees a hint of fear in the other's face. "Big-time connected, this one, Sebulba. I'd hate to see you diced before we had a chance to race again."
The Dug spits in fury. "Neek me chawa! Next time we race, wermo, it will be the end of you!" He gestures violently. "Uto notu wo shag! If you weren't a slave, I'd squash you here and now!"
With a final glare at the cringing Jar Jar, Sebulba wheels away, taking his companions with him, back to their tables and their food and drink. Anakin stares after the Dug. "Yeah, it'd be a pity if you had to pay for me," he said softly.
He is helping Jar Jar back to his feet when Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, Padmé, and R2-D2, having finally missed the Gungan, reappear hurriedly through the crowd.
"Hi!" he greets cheerfully, happy to see Padmé again so soon. "Your buddy here was about to be turned into orange goo. He picked a fight with a Dug. An especially dangerous Dug."
"Nossir, nossir!" the chagrin Gungan insists, brushing off dust and sand. "Me hate crunchen. Tis da last thing me want!"
Qui-Gon gives Jar Jar a careful once-over, glances around at the crowd, and takes the Gungan by the arm. "Nevertheless, the boy saved you from a beating. You have a penchant for finding trouble, Jar Jar." He gives Anakin a short nod. "Thank you, my young friend."
Padmé gives Anakin a warm smile as well, and the boy feels himself blush with pride.
"Me doen nutten!" Jar Jar insists, still trying to defend himself, hands gesturing for emphasis.
"You were afraid," the boy tells him, looking up at the long-billed face solemnly. "Fear attracts the fearful. Sebulba was trying to overcome his fear by squashing you." He cocks his head at the Gungan. "You can help yourself by being less afraid."
"And that works for you?" Padmé inquires skeptically, giving him a wry look.
Anakin smiles and shrugs. "Well... up to a point."
Anxious to spend as much time as possible with the girl and the younger man, he persuades the group to follow him a short distance down the street to a fruit stand, a ramshackle affair formed by a makeshift ragged awning stretched over a framework of bent poles. Boxes of brightly colored fruit are arranged on a rack tilted toward the street for viewing. A weather old lady, gray-haired and stoop, her simple clothing patch and worn, rose from a stool to greet them on their approach.
"How are you feeling today, Jira?" Anakin asks her, giving her a quick hug.
The old lady smiles. "The heat's never been kind to me, you know, Annie."
"Guess what?" the boy replies quickly, beaming. "I've found that cooling unit I've been searching for. It's pretty beat up, but I'll have it fixed up for you in no time, I promise. That should help."
Jira reaches out to brush his pink cheek with her wrinkled hand, her smile broadening. "You're a fine boy, Annie."
Anakin shrugs off the compliment and began scanning the fruit display. "I'll take five pallies, Jira." He glances at Padmé eagerly. "You'll like these. "
He reaches into his pocket for the truguts he had been saving, but when he brought them out to pay Jira, he drops one. The farmer, standing next to him, bent to retrieve it. As he did, his poncho opens just far enough that the boy caught sight of the lightsaber hanging from the belt about his waist.
The boy's eyes went wide, but he masks his surprise by focusing on the coins. He only had four, he found. "Whoops, I thought I had more," he said briskly, not looking up. "Make that four pallies, Jira. I'm not that hungry anyway."
The old woman gives Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, Padmé, and Jar Jar their pallies and takes the coins from Anakin. A gust of wind whips down the street, rattling the framework of poles and causing the awning to billow. A second gust sends dust swirling in all directions.
Jira rubs her arms with her gnarled hands. "Gracious, my bones are aching. There's a storm coming, Annie. You'd better get home quick."
The wind gusts in a series of sharp blasts that sent sand and loose debris flying. Anakin glances at the sky, then at Qui-Gon. "Do you have shelter?" he asks.
The Jedi Master nods. "We'll head back to our ship. Thank you again, my young friend, for-"
"Is your ship far?" the boy interrupts hurriedly. All around them, shopkeepers and vendors are closing and shuttering windows and doors, carrying goods and wares inside, wrapping coverings over displays and boxes.
"It's on the city's outskirts," Obi-Wan answers, turning away from the stinging gusts of sand.
Anakin takes his hand quickly, tugging on it. "You'll never reach the outskirts in time. Sandstorms are very, very dangerous. Come with me. You can wait it out at my home. It's not far. My mom won't mind. Hurry!"
With the wind howling all about them and the air clouds with sand, Anakin Skywalker shouts good-bye to Jira and lead his newly adopted charges down the street in a rush.
On the outskirts of Mos Espa, Vader stands near the nose of the Nubian as the wind gathers force, whipping at his black cape, tearing across the broad expanse of the Tatooine desert. His impassive eyes look off into the distance where Mos Espa is beginning to disappear behind a curtain of sand.
'Sand storms. A rare trait about this dustball that suffices besides pod racing.' He thought. As a child, he was always fascinated by the sand storms due to it being close to warm weather, but the weather here is nothing compared to Naboo. To listen to Naboo's rain is always comforting for him. When Anakin went to Naboo, the only trait that terrified him was lightning.
He remembers being on his first Naboo vacation with and thunderstorms terrifying him to no end. He remembers running into the room when it came. Padmé and Sabé had to tell him what lightning was because Coruscant did rain intermittently but lightning hadn't happened much if at all or he had never heard it for some reason. Padmé and the handmaidens teased him for days! An experience that hopefully this version of younger Anakin Skywalker would avoid. The mortification he'd felt...
He turns as Captain Panaka comes down the ramp of the transport to join him.
"This storm's going to slow them down, but the Jedi are resourceful," Vader admits without turning to face him. Partly thanks to this man, he was trapped in two decades of a suit that constrained his movements.
Panaka nods. "It looks pretty bad. We'd better seal up the ship before it gets any worse." There is a beep from the soldier's comlink. Panaka retrieves the communicator from his belt. "Yes?"
Ric Olie's voice rise from the speaker. "We're receiving a message from home. The Queen is intrigued in Lord Vader's opinion of this."
Panaka stares at Vader. "We'll be right there," the captain advises.
They went up the ramp quickly, sealing it behind them. The transmission had been received in the Queen's chambers. At Ric Olie's direction, they found the fake Queen and her handmaidens Eirtaé and Rabé viewing a hologram of Sio Bibble that is shimmering weakly at one end of the room, the governor's voice breaking up in transmission.
"...cut off all our food supplies until you return... death toll rising, catastrophic... must bow to their wishes, Your Highness..." Sio Bibble's image and voice fades and returned, garbles still. "Please, I beg of you, tell us what to do! If you can hear me, Your Highness, you must contact me..."
The transmission flickers and disappears. The governor's voice faded into silence. Sabé sits staring at the empty space it left behind, her smooth face troubled. Her hands work quietly in her lap, betraying a nervousness she could not quite manage to hide.
"What do you think?" Panaka asks, placing his hand on his chin.
Her gaze shifts to Vader. The former Jedi shakes his head quickly. "This is a trap. Convey no response, Your Highness. Convey no transmission."
The fake Queen stares at him uncertainly for a moment, then nods in acquiescence. Vader begins to leaves her chambers without further comment, knowing he had made the right decision.
That is when he stops for a moment and he gives them pointed looks, eyes lingering on Sabé, Eirtaé, and Rabé. He nods slightly before he sweeps from the room, his black robes trailing behind him dramatically, and the door hisses shut behind him.
Panaka follows him shortly after to fulfill his own duty as he is undoubtedly growing irritated the longer they are on this planet.
"Well, of course, it's a trap," Rabé says explosively. "Does he think we're idiots?"
"Rabé! Hush!" Eirtaé nearly shouts. "That man can be a threat! He is not a regular Jedi! He manages to read past us and it appears he didn't tell Jinn nor Kenobi yet! He even knows our name and can tell which one are we with our makeup on!"
Sabé's face is starting to itch under the makeup. This is the longest she'd ever worn it. At the palace, they used the blend Yané had mixed up, but the stuff that had been stored on the royal ship is a generic brand, and Sabé didn't like it as much. It is a ridiculous thing to be concern about, she knows, but it was also her face, and so she couldn't help it. Being the Queen is starting to get to her.
Also, the starship might have a royal classification, but it has a military-style head, and that makes going to the bathroom a logistical nightmare.
She just wants to go outside and feel the fresh air, even if it is sandy and hot. Panaka forbidden it, and then there had been a sandstorm, anyway; even Sabé isn't that desperate. She did not enjoy being the person everyone look to. Even though Rabé and Eirtaé knows who she is, they still had to treat her like the Queen whenever anyone is around, and the distance is off-putting.
This is what it is like for Padmé all the time, Sabé realizes. No matter how close to her the other handmaidens get, as soon as the face went on, the walls went up, and Padmé has to trust that when the walls came down again, everyone would still like her. That is why Harli's interest in Sabé had upset Padmé so much. This distance that Sabé couldn't shake any more than she could get her face to stop itching.
"Do you think we should have told him what the message really says?" Sabé asks.
"No," Eirtaé said. "I'm certain he can already tell, and in any case, it's none of his business. He is dangerous! We can only be thankful he didn't tell Jinn yet. It's foolish to attempt to leave him in the dark. We are entrapped in his finger at this point. Vader knows more than half of the guards on this ship does."
They sit in the silence of their own thoughts for a moment, each conjuring up different fears about what is happening on the planet they had left behind. They know they been intended for processing, and that probably meant some sort of relocation camp. The speed at which the camps has been set up meant they weren't likely to be very comfortable, and droids aren't exactly known for their consideration of human frailties.
At least the weather is warm.
"I'm glad they're okay," Eirtaé reassures. "When I heard the word, I almost laughed, I was so relieved."
"I know what you mean," Sabé replies.
"And if Saché knew Bibble was sending the message, then that means they know we're all right, too," Rabé sighs. "Comparatively speaking anyway."
"Panaka said we should have the part by the end of the day tomorrow, or we're never going to get it," Sabé told them. "Master Qui-Gon is going to some sort of cultural event tomorrow morning. He was vague on the details, but he seemed to think he'd be able to take care of everything."
"The Jedi are fine, but I like it better when we're manipulating people," Rabé replies.
"Agreed," Sabé acknowledges. "When Padmé gets back, we'll see what we can do about that."
"While Jinn and Kenobi can be manipulated, Vader simply cannot be manipulated no matter of our disguise. He will see through us all. If he is indeed in association with the Trade Federation, this whole operation is ruined." Rabé replies, lip curl slightly, though it is obvious the usual rough-spoken handmaiden is uncertain about what can be done.
"What do you propose we do?" Eirtaé asks. "Pull out our blasters and try to shoot him only be disarmed once again. He can slaughter each of the security guards and us. You just saw the armor he is wearing; it's battle-torn! Vader claim the Jedi will not get involve with freeing the planet and if he is right that means we will never see our home again. If Padmé can get him involve..." she trails off, knowing they would understand her drift.
Rabé glowers at her, saying, "I highly doubt Padmé will wish for a war on her planet, especially with someone like Vader."
Eirtaé scowls slightly. "Well, we might not have any choice. My family is on Naboo! They could be near death! What about Yané and Saché?! They can already be dead!"
Rabé bends her head down slightly, reaching her hand for her friend's hand and squeezing it softly. "Look, I understand your worry for our home planet, Eirtaé, and I'm frightened too, but Vader can be out for his own ambition. I am not cold-hearted. I have seen men who is like Vader in my criminal past. Most people like him don't hesitate to abandoned anyone for their own goals. I am hoping that I am wrong, but Vader could have already leak Padmé to the Trade Federation. And I have already watched enough friends being killed."
Eirtaé sighs, feeling regret for snapping at her fellow handmaiden. "Look, I understand your fears, but I rather at least attempt to befriend him since he is too dangerous to morph as our enemy."
Sabé sighs softly, agreeing with Eirtaé on that part despite understanding and agreeing with Rabé on her arguments. Undoubtedly, all of Vader's rivals and enemies in the past have been cut down. He has battle-torn armor, a literature warlord in every type of form, and not to mention, his muscle mass. Little to no one probably ever escaped him before. They are in his dept regardless if they want to be or not.
"You best get your attire on and get going, Eirtaé. Padmé wouldn't be pleased if Vader manages to escape your view. She wants him to be analyzed. He is stealthy."
Even when Sabé wore the Queen's face, it is still in her nature to look to Padmé for guidance. It is something she had missed since their argument after the concert, and something she longed to set right. The galaxy seems to conspire against them in that regard, but Sabé is determined. If she couldn't find the time, she would simply make it.
Sabé watches as her friend nods and departs. Maybe she can befriend Vader one way or the other when it comes back. Rabé is correct about Vader and that he poses a threat, but it appears he knows everything about them so they have to hope their fears are unconfirmed.
"I don't know why don't Padmé allow two of us to go," Rabé said to her friend, "Vader can easily kill Eirtaé. I should go with them."
Sabé frowns uncertainly. "It would be too suspicious."
"For what? Vader already knows who Padmé is!" For the first time since being here-since this mission in fact, Rabé shouts and gives her friend a look of exasperation.
Sabé contemplates to go against the orders of Padmé. "Go."
"What?" Rabé inquires, shock as Sabé rarely defies the orders of Padmé in front of her at the very least. "You are willing to go against Padmé's orders?!"
"Padmé isn't cruel. Besides, we both know she can't remain mad at me for long." Sabé chuckles.
Standing outside in the windy weather, the former Sith feels divergent in emotions. Part of him wishes to stay on the ship out of the memories that may come but he cannot put himself over his father figure. His own personal grievances with the planet have mostly been planted to rest but there is a small side of him that still has painful memories. Nevertheless, fates just so happen to be ostensibly chosen here.
Vader approaches the garage and gets on the four-seater. So Padmé has been right that time when they'd talked about Naboo ships? Each ship of the Naboo does have speeders of all types.
Not too surprisingly, Eirtaé joins him shortly, falling in line from behind the former Sith Lord with a hood raised over her head, a grim expression across her face.
But a determination to fulfill her Queen's orders that she may always possess would stride her forward. Despite the shaky start with Padmé, they are now friends, and she would put her life at risk for her friends and the Naboo.
What is surprising is Rabé joining him in similar clothing. Padmé told him Sabé occasionally disobeyed her orders but it became a teasing thing between the two women years later. They are good friends even now and Padmé never is able to remain angry or annoyed at the handmaiden for long as she is the closest thing to her sister, even closer than Sola.
Vader powers up the engines and begins driving off.
Mentally adding Sabé to his list for someone who shall be a survivor when this is over along with Rabé, Eirtaé, Yané, and Saché, Vader continues to drive down.
He sighs in exasperation as he feels he is getting overwhelmed.
One thing is for certain...
He really needs a notebook for who is to survive and who is not.