Redemption

by anonymoususers21

Watching on as Vader's remains burned to ashes Anakin feels that the galaxy isn't yet ready for whats next to come. An opportunity is provided to allow him to fix what he had done and he takes the chance to redeem himself in stride. Long story still in production, lots of tie ins to Legends work. Overpowered characters if thats what you're into.

10. A New Beginning

Chapter 10 A New Beginning

Author's note: Sorry for the lateness in updates, I just started a new job and its really been kicking my a$$ with training and ensuring all my paperwork's been sorted. Between that and trying to destress I haven't had the time to get on and finish my chapter revisions. Now I finally got a bit of downtime so hope you enjoy. Also please do mention if the next couple chapters have any grammatical or continuity errors as I am going to rush through the 3-4 I'm releasing and hopefully finish out the arc.

Standard Disclaimer:

I don't own any of Star Wars, I also don't make any money from this and only really gain slight satisfaction from the development and carrying out of the story in my mind as I write it.

Tatooine, Outer Orbit, Naboo Royal Starship

08-01-32 BBY

10:00

Third Person POV

"That's it, Tatooine" Obi-Wan said as he looked over the magnifying screen, scanning the planet for a place to land.

Ric Olie looked over from the main controls, making out a small city on the display. "There's a small settlement...a spaceport, it looks like?" he looked back at the navigation controls, making sure everything was ok for atmospheric entry.

"Land near the outskirts. We don't want any attention" Qui-Gon said as he walked into the cockpit. The pilot and padawan nodded as they gently brought the ship down.

Tatooine, Desert Sea, Naboo Royal Starship Engine Room

08-01-32 BBY

11:00

Third Person POV

Obi-Wan brought up the hyperdrive, the Nubian 327 core and looked over at the T-14 generator. His master stalked in, looking at the hyperdrive core. "The hyperdrive generator is gone" he said in response to the expectant stare. He took a micro welder and micro screwdriver so he could uncouple the generator, scanning it over as he did.

"That'll complicate things," Qui-Gon responded, looking over at it as well. "You stay here then, we'll go into the settlement and see if we can find a replacement." he turned to leave. "Oh, and make sure they don't send any transmissions… be wary, I sense a disturbance in the force." He said exiting the main hold, the ship doors closing behind me.

Obi-Wan sighed as he got to work on the hyperdrive, "hopefully he doesn't bring anyone else back."

Tatooine, Mos Espa, Western Parts Market

08-01-32 BBY

11:00

Third Person POV

The twin suns of the planet were truly unforgiving. The heat was intense compared to the usually calm and cool weather of Naboo. Qui-Gon, Padme, Jar Jar, and R2 wandered through the different stalls and scrap shops in Mos Espa.

It was hard to find a T-14 generator, or any luxury yacht parts in the outer rim at all. Most would be melted down for scrap or sold off to a visiting merchant wealthy enough to peddle such parts.

They'd been hearing talk though of a part shop with a fairly large, but high-end selection according to the peddlers they'd passed, bringing them to Watto's store. "What do you want?" the Toydarian's catchy Huttese tagline belted out, as he heard the bell chime. "Keep fixing those droids Weld'', he yelled at a curious Rodian, sitting by a workbench.

He looked at the ram shamble group, a droid, a Gungan, and some humanoids, 'perfect targets' Watto thought to himself. "We're looking for parts for a J-type 327 Nubian, my droid has the readouts for the replacements." Qui-Gon led the conversation as the others surveyed the room. The yacht not only needed the hyperdrive generator, but also some basic metal plating, and inner reinforcements that had been blown off during their escape from Naboo.

Watto smiled "Ah yes, ah yes. Nubian. We have lots of that. What kinda junk?" the Toydarian said as he led Qui Gon through the store to his junk yard. Padme looked curiously around the store, watching some droids tinkering here and there. Jar Jar attempted to pick up a flat disk, or so he thought, as mechanical arms and legs sprouted from the DUM droid, and it scuttled in his arms.

Padme shook her head going over to grab the droid and set it on its feet. "He didn't mean any harm, '' she said to the droid. It looked up at her and shook its fist at Jar Jar before tapping its nose, folding down to a compact disc again. Padme giggled, picking the droid up and putting it back where Jar Jar found it. "Don't touch anything Jar Jar, we'll get in trouble" she said as she looked around. It wasn't often that a royal was allowed to wander from Naboo, especially not to the dangerous outer rim.

Tatooine, Mos Espa, Watto's Store

08-01-32 BBY

11:10

Third Person POV

"Some blast plating, inner hold shielding" Watto skimmed over his data pad, looking at the different items the off-worlder had requested.

"We were actually wondering whether you'd know where to get a T-14 generator?" Qui-Gon asked as the Toydarian tapped a couple items off the list he'd been given. "A T-14?" the Toydarian said "of course I…." he stopped, remembering what had happened to the generator.

"I don't think any shop in all Mos Espa has a T-14" he mumbled spitefully. Qui-Gon could feel his reluctance, "what aren't you telling me?" he said, waving his hand. "What do you think you're some kinda Jedi, waving your hand around like that? I'm a Toydarian, mind tricks don'ta work on me, and I can promise you no shop in all of Tatooine has a T-14" he yelled.

Qui-Gon frowned "anyways how are you going to pay for all these parts?" Watto asked, looking the Jedi up and down. Qui-Gon pulled out a pouch. "I have 20,000 republic dataries" a more formal name for the republic credit. They were the basic allowance given to Jedi for their missions, allowing them some leeway if and when such occasions arose.

"Credits? Republic credits? Republic credits are no good out here. I need something more real…" The Toydarian said, pinching his fingers "wupiupi, precious metals, anything for trade." The Jedi thought about it for a second before shaking his head, "are you sure we can't work something out with credits?" Watto frowned "we can't" he said, "no money no parts" and escorted Qui Gon back into the store front.

"Weld, you were supposed to watch the place" he called out in Huttese, the young Rodian ran back in from a side room, head darting around. "You useless, where are Zein and Kani?" he asked. He had bought two human children a couple months ago from the slave market. A bit on the cheaper side, but Watto knew he could train them.

"Practicing fixing" Weld buzzed back in Huttese "Ahhh, clean this place up" the Toydarian said waving the boy away. He turned to Qui Gon "come back when you have money, yes. I'll give you your parts then." he said as he waved them off 'stupid tourists'.

Tatooine, Mos Espa, Mos Espa Central District

08-01-32 BBY

13:00

Third Person POV

The four had been walking all over Mos Espa. Qui Gon had gotten a lead from a Dowutian store owner. The hulking figure laughing at the mention of Watto, and the T-14. "Watto, that bug, haha no wonder he was so mad. He lost a T-14 in a bet a while back, during the last Boonta Eve classic." Qui Gon leaned in, "would you happen to know who he sold it too?" he asked as Jar Jar fiddled around with some hanging scraps, almost knocking them over as Padme moved to stop him.

The Dowutian thought about it for a while. "I think his name was Brakh, yeah Brakh. Haven't heard much from the fellah recently, hasn't been by the arena in a while. He might still be around somewhere. I heard he'd gotten the part for his ship, but maybe you could strike up a deal with him." The Dowutian shrugged as he finished cleaning some trinkets on the table in front of him.

"Would you happen to know where he stays?" Qui Gon asked. "Maybe somewhere around here, best to maybe ask Maleno, only one that really knew him. If you do see him tell him Naket said to come around the arena, things are heating up for this Boonta." The Dowutian said smiling, he'd won a decent bit of wupi off of Brakh in some of the prelim races.

"Of course, thank you for your help. Put that down Jar Jar we're leaving" Qui Gon said as he headed out. 'Now where would this Maleno be?' he thought to himself as the group headed back out into the main street.

Tatooine, Mos Espa, Central District

08-01-32 BBY

15:00

Third Person POV

The sky was getting somewhat overcast, 'a storm brewing' Qui Gon thought to himself as he passed through the winding alleyways. The shop owner Maleno had given them a distrustful stare, but after hearing of the interest in Brakh's T-14 generator begrudgingly gave him some directions to where they could find him.

The central district was quite a place to navigate, twisting and winding paths, and harder to maintain given Jar Jar's penchant for getting in trouble. They went from door to door asking neighbors here and there to get their bearings. Most polite, some disgruntled, before finally coming to a yellow striped door.

Qui Gon stepped up to knock, hopefully this was the place, and as he touched the door he swore he could hear the living force cry out to him. A young man opened the door, "hello, I've been waiting for you." he said with a smile.

Tatooine, Mos Espa, Skywalker Home

08-01-32 BBY

15:00

Anakin POV

I could feel his presence through the force, a fairly powerful force presence, Master Qui-Gon always one with the living force. With three others, excitement flowed through me as I put down the parts I'd been working on and smoothed out my clothes. His presence didn't matter as much and I struggled to keep my presence down as I reached out feeling a presence I was much more familiar with. Padme, I closed my eyes calming myself.

I'd spent the last couple of months on a myriad of tasks, keeping up with some bounties here and there. And continuing to train, going deep into the Tatooine desert to see what I could test myself against, Krayt dragons, bandits, pirates, slavers. All sorts of scum out in Tatooine, that Jabba would close an eye to when he wanted. The coin he had given me helped to keep some of the peace as I did go, but also opened up a lot of new jobs for those he wanted found and taken care of around the planet.

It also helped me keep a pretty decent bankroll, getting rid of most of the goods that needed getting rid of through Maleno with the Hutt's help, and turning in whatever bounties I could. Though not having a bounty hunting permit did limit the rewards, I guess Maleno had one on file, and would often claim them for me. 'A great partnership' I smiled as the presence got closer.

I could have gone out to find them, I'd sensed Obi-Wan as soon as they'd landed, his force presence so familiar. Qui-Gon's had been a bit harder to grasp, though strong, I hadn't spent as much time with him before he died.

"There will be extra guests for dinner mom" I said as I walked to the door. She pulled out some more food from the conservator as she began to switch on the stove "the same ones from last time?" she asked disapprovingly, I still hadn't gotten her cloak back from Aayla.

"No, some special guests," I said. C3PO intercepted me on the way to the door, "should I get out the good plates then master?" he said. 'When did we get good plates?' I wondered as I gently pushed him to the side. "Don't worry about it, C3PO." "But master you've said there will be special guests and..." I cut him off as I answered the door.

"Hello, I've been waiting for you." I said as I came face to face with Master Qui-Gon, 'for a long time' I said to myself silently, 'a long, long time'.

Tatooine, Mos Espa, Skywalker Home

08-01-32 BBY

16:00

Anakin POV

We sat at the dinner table with my mother talking with Padme, while Qui-Gon and I stared each other down. I'd had Padme talking to my mother for the past hour as I told Qui-Gon my cover up story. The same one I'd told Voss, force visions, warning me of someone coming to the planet, someone important.

Qui-Gon watched as I floated utensils and food through the air to the amazement of the non-force sensitives in the room. I didn't use my force powers around the house too often, still wary of others. Plus, it kept Voss paranoid, considering I'd still been hiding my force presence from him. A trick I'd learned from The Father, that was even more powerful than force cloaking that most Sith such as Palpatine used.

It allowed me to utilize my powers while keeping my force presence to an almost microscopic form, the art of small was truly an amazing skill. Given that, it was no wonder Voss and Qui-Gon were so amazed, it was rare for a Force Blank to have the ability to use the force, usually lacking the force, or presence in entirety. Force cloaking was an advanced technique that they probably thought a lost force sensitive like me didn't know.

"So, these visions, tell me about them again?" he said, watching as I used the force to lift some funnel root to my mouth. I bit down, smiling across at an amazed Padme as I pushed the force to deflect Jar Jar's tongue from snatching up some Jogan fruit that orbited me.

I laughed, before looking back over at Qui-Gon "I told you, I saw another man, a young Twi'lek. Your ship, a J-Type 327? Took me forever to find that out. Your face, another younger one, and a man with a red face and tattoos. I could sense that he was wrong, unbalanced somehow. The force...it shows me light and dark sometimes. Different abilities, different people, but yours, yours was important. It called out to me, in the vision I sensed I could change something. You were struck down in a fight." I pretended to look troubled as Qui-Gon folded his hands and thought over it.

"What of the other visions you said you saw dark and light?" he asked, concerned "yes, a light hue of color just around a person, I can see it now even, your light is quite bright." man the poodoo I was speaking, but if it worked, I'd be golden. "Anything else?" he asked, thinking it over some more.

I pretended to hesitate. "I ... sometimes see Jedi, some light, some dark doing all kinds of things, fighting others, practicing with their swords, doing all kinds of things really." I bluffed, a good excuse for the time being. Most force sensitives my age would be pushed aside, but I also had the T-14 as a backup plan.

Qui-Gon was silent the rest of the dinner, till the end. I was cutting into some baked Jerba meat when I 'accidentally' nicked my finger "oww" I said holding my finger. My mother rushed to get her little med pack from a nearby cabinet, tending to the wound before going to toss the rags she'd used to wipe the blood into a nearby bin. I could feel Qui-Gon lifting a scrap. It zipped over to him, and into his sleeve.

I smiled as I looked up to smile at my mother. "You have to be more careful," she said, wrapping it carefully. "Of course," I replied in Huttese. Shmi being my mother was a secret I guarded very carefully. Though she still talked with some of her old friends from the slave quarters, I was still known in public by Brakh, only letting my name or nickname out in the privacy of our home. While the Jedi may be able to figure it out from her, they wouldn't bat an eye at the relationship as long as I wasn't part of the order. At the moment not explaining how I came to be would be for the best.

Tatooine, Mos Espa, Skywalker Home

08-01-32 BBY

22:00

Qui-Gon POV

I listened as my padawan told me about the short transmission that they had gotten from Governor Bibble. "The queen is upset from the contents of the transmission" he paused, "but no reply was sent." he looked troubled.

"It sounds like bait to establish a connection trace" I replied, a common trick, and one the trade federation could no doubt carry out to find the whereabouts of the senator.

My padawan looked up at me over the transmission, "but what if it's true and the people are dying Master?" It was a struggle the Jedi had fought for so long now, the battle between action and diplomacy, what was right, and the mission.

I sighed "Either way, we're running out of time." I paused before feeding the bloody scrap I'd taken from the bin earlier into a commlink chip. Jedi had been outfitted, with rather special readers to help aid with their missions.

"Make an analysis of this blood sample I'm sending you Obi-Wan" I said, sending the data through. "Who does it belong to?" he asked curiously. "A young man, he seems to be force sensitive, he also has the parts we need to get to Coruscant, he says he saw it in a vision." I mulled over the other information he'd told me, was I really destined by the force to die, who were the others he saw in his visions.

"I need a midi-chlorian count," I said as Obi-Wan ran the sample. "Wait a minute…. all right I've got it." he said, frowning as he looked at the read out. "What are the readings?" I asked curious as to what was so troubling.

"Something must be wrong with the transmission," he said, fiddling with some sensors. "Here's a signal check" I said, pinging the connection. He looked at the reading again "Strange, The transmission seems to be in good order, but the reading's off the chart...over twenty thousand." Obi-Wan said in astonishment.

I shuddered, how powerful, how did he hide it all, was he truly blessed and is he a blank as well or…? "What does it mean Master?" I frowned "I don't know yet my young padawan, I'll try to find out more." I sighed walking in from the second story balcony.

Tatooine, Desert Sea, Skitter Grill

08-02-32 BBY

12:00

Anakin POV

"So, you'll be taking me to see this other man you were talking about?" Qui-Gon asked as we walked through the busy streets, Jar Jar in tow. We'd left the droids, and Padme at home with my mother. She'd take care of them while we went to meet Quinlan, and it was much safer there then potentially picking a fight with her in our party downtown.

"Yeah, we meet up at a skewer place. He's been doing some Jedi stuff for a while here, and I've convinced him to stay." Qui-Gon looked at me dubiously, they hadn't sent transmissions to Coruscant and the Jedi temple, he was sure there were no active Jedi on Tatooine, yet he could sense no deceit from the boy.

I laughed as we got closer to the sand skitter stand, it was always fairly empty in the morning. The Besalisk smiled as I tossed a Trugut over, and he got to work making skewers. I sat down tapping on the table, Voss would hopefully drop by today, maybe even with Aayla in tow. The Besalisk placed some skewers down in front of us, I doled them around the table, and we sat quietly as we ate.

'I wonder what Padme's doing' I thought to myself. It had been hard to hold back when I saw her last night. I'd wanted to just touch her, hold her close, know that she was alive. But I didn't, when they had come to the house yesterday, I'd acted very calmly. Some short introductions, of course still using my name Brakh, I was planning to hold onto that alias for a while

But she had looked so perfect, just as she had every day, just as she looked the day I…I snapped the skewer in my hand. Ooops, Jar Jar took his chance quickly darting his tongue out to grab at the pieces of meat that had fallen to my plate. Qui-Gon looked over at me strangely.

I gave him a smile, "just something on my mind" I replied. It was always hard to control myself when it came to Padme. But I knew I wasn't at the same level, not at the level of affection, or even knowing each other. I sighed in defeat, it'd take time, but she was one of the only reasons I'd come back in time.

I munched on another skewer, I'd tried to convince myself it was to fix destiny, balance the force properly, but really, as long as she was safe. This would have all been worth it. I steeled myself going over all the different things I'd have to do, all the parts of the plan I'd meticulously thought of, that had to go just right for me to pull this off. 'May the force be with me'.

Finally, I could see Quinlan in the distance walking over with his padawan in slave garb. I gave a little snort, I'd taken some holopics for blackmail if I needed it, but it was honestly hilarious to see Aayla dressed like this.

Voss looked surprised to see me, especially with the rather boisterous Gungan asking for more kebabs. I hadn't been in contact with him in a while, he'd still been tracking the Devaronians that I'd sussed out from a couple months ago. While they had been getting some low-grade spice smuggled in, it wasn't the glitteryll that Voss was trying to track down, so he'd stuck around.

"Who's your friend Brakh?" he said as he pulled up a chair next to Qui-Gon reaching a hand to shake his when "...Jinn?" he said eyes wide as he recognized the Jedi Master. Qui-Gon stared back at him, barely recognizing him in the ratty clothes he was wearing, 'he did look like any other Kiffarian' I thought to myself as I watched the two.

Qui-Gon seemed to be trying to remember, and bam "Voss what are you…" "shhhhhh" he said as Qui-Gon looked at Aayla at his side, "and how about….". "Just quiet down would you, I'll explain it" Voss said as he looked around shiftily. "Let's go to your place huh kid?" Voss said looking at me, I sighed. Better to get it over with quicker, but I knew mom wouldn't be happy with Aayla back in the house, and without her favorite cloak.

I stopped by on the way back to buy a new cloak, making sure to drape it over her before we got to the house.

Tatooine, Desert Sea, Skitter Grill

08-02-32 BBY

12:30

Anakin POV

"What are you doing here Quinlan, and why is your padawan dressed like that?" Qui-Gon asked as they went upstairs to my room. My mother and Padme had gone out to the market with Aayla, presumably to see the sites as Padme put it. While my mother seemed to want to get new clothes for Aayla to wear, thankfully they had also taken the droids with them.

"I can explain," Voss said as they got upstairs. "I've been on a mission from the order, some talks of a new drug moving around the outer rim, and into the middle rim." he said "Aayla's dressed like that to fit in. Not many free Twi'lek out here unless you're into some bad business" he explained.

Qui-Gon looked them both over, from what Oi-Wan had told me he was critical of these undercover missions, often disliking the fact that it was difficult to request for backup, and easy to lose jedi. Qui-Gon had apparently lost someone in the past before and felt the system should be amended.

"So how do you know Brakh then?" Voss shot back at Qui-Gon, good question deflection there. "Unless he's the man you've been talking about?" he said as he looked over to me. I nodded, playing along, better to let them make their own assumptions from here.

Tatooine, Desert Sea, Skitter Grill

08-02-32 BBY

12:40

Quinlan Voss POV

I frowned as I looked over at Qui-Gon, if the boy was right, then what was to kill Qui-Gon. Was there really someone powerful enough to go against him one on one. I'd heard of Qui-Gon's impressive abilities, both with the living force, and the different lightsaber forms. While Masters did fall, it was often quite rare, usually in freak accidents or something similar.

If there was someone who could kill him on his mission it must be high profile. "Yes young Brakh here has told me about his visions, and his…. concerns." Qui-Gon awkwardly replied. So it was Qui-Gon, I had thought it might be an ordinary knight in Brakh's visions. Maybe a simple warning not to get lost in the heat of battle would have sufficed, but for a Master to be cut down. We'd have to discuss this with the council.

"What mission are you on?" last I'd heard Qui-Gon was running consular missions with his padawan. Trying to get him more accustomed to different life forms across the galaxy, and the worth of diplomacy before he attempted to obtain his knighthood

"Initially my padawan and I were sent to broker a peace agreement between the Trade Federation and Naboo." I'd been hearing something about a blockade, small mutterings in the spaceport. "I'm guessing the talks broke down?", usually Qui-Gon could keep the situation under control.

"The talks never occurred, a trap was set, and my padawan and I were stuck planet side." Interesting, the Trade Federation was getting gutsier, but the Neimoidians had always been a greedy bunch, at least the ones in power. "And now you're here... Why didn't you just make your way back to Coruscant, pay out some sleazeball at a spaceport." Jedi were given an allowance to work with during their missions.

"We were able to escape, but it's now an escort mission. We were able to escape on the Queen's yacht, they were trying to coerce her into signing a trade agreement with them." Qui-Gon said grimly. The Trade Federation had been running shady deals like this for a while now, the past century getting backwater planets to sign unilateral trade agreements with them. Pretty much holding a planet's economy hostage, while taking their senate votes as well.

What a headache, no doubt even if they were able to escort the Queen to Coruscant they wouldn't be able to force anything. They had gotten away with worse in the past. I thought back to the mission at hand, I'd put a sticky on the Devaronians ship, and it would keep track if they ever left their shuttle bay.

I would help with the escort and see where the force guides me, I was also curious as to what the Jedi council would make of this 'Brakh'.