Blue Waters:
episode #6 Rescue of the Slaves
Previously: Anakin Skywalker, Padawaned to Obi-Wan
Kenobi, has left to rescue the slaves on Tatooine. It's because of an old promise Anakin had made to his mother. They first go to her.
Shmi
gathers her things. C-3PO also
comes…and they set off together: Anakin, Shmi, Obi-Wan, R2-D2, and C-3PO…in
preparation for the freeing of the slaves…. so, Anakin and the others stop by
each and every one of the slave quarters to add one more family to their
group. Some of them Anakin knew, some
of them not.
When
they went to each house, Anakin puffed up with pride as he said, "I'm Jedi
Apprentice, Anakin Skywalker, and I'm here to rescue you."
So one by one, Anakin got all the
slaves on Tatooine without Watto's noticing, (I know this is not as an exciting
event as some you've seen…but they'll be plenty of events to come in Blue
Waters) and he marches into Watto's shop with the entire group. Watto looks up, surprised.
"I am
a Jedi-in-training, release these slaves now!"
Obi-Wan had known Anakin for a long time,
but he was surprised at how demanding Anakin sounded.
Obi-Wan
shrugged, "Oh well…"
Watto was surprised, too.
"Calm
down boy…maybe we can cut a deal."
"Maybe," says Anakin.
Watto is visibly scared of Anakin. He has no like for Jedi…especially after one
had cheated him out of his best slave.
All right, so maybe it had been a fair deal, but the Jedi had known what
the outcome would be, somehow. While
Watto was busy thinking up a "good deal", Anakin crept over to where the
controls for the devices that would blow up the slaves if they got too far away
was, and pressed, "Deactivate all."
Watto
says, "all right, I have it. There is a
certain slave I once had named Anakin Skywalker. If you can find him, and bring him to me…I'll give you the rest
of the slaves."
Anakin laughed, then says, "Too late!!!"
Then he grabs a thermal detonator out form
under his Jedi outfit, not a very powerful one, and throws it at the slave
device machine, which blows it up so that it is now beyond repair. Now there can be no more slaves on Tatooine
until they can get another machine. (By
the way, once someone is deactivated, they can never be activated again!) Watto stares angrily at Anakin.
Anakin says, "Now, everyone, RUN!!!"
On his way out, Anakin says, "Oh, and if you
want Anakin, he's right here. Bye,
Watto."
The slaves all returned home…and news of
this reached the rest of the galaxy…including the Senate, which made it
particularly dangerous for Anakin. But
that's the next episode. After the
others left, Anakin, Shmi, R2-D2, C-3PO, and Obi-Wan Kenobi were now
alone.
Shmi
says, "Anakin, I can't believe I'm free!"
Anakin smiles, very proud of what he has just
done.
Shmi
says, "Now I can tell you about the rest of your family…"
"The rest of the family?"
"Yes…your brothers and your father."
Anakin replies, "I always thought I had a
father…why didn't you tell me before?"
"Because of what he did…Anakin, he sold me,
his wife, to the Hutts when I was pregnant with you…and I was only like a month
away from having you when he did…"
Anakin
starts to get really mad and yells, "He sold us. How could he do that? I'm
going go march right up to him and make him pay!"
You see they were on their way to see his
family.
Up to
this point Obi-Wan had been silent, but he suddenly says, "ANAKIN SKYWALKER,
shut-up!"
Obi-Wan
had never seen this side of Ani…it was quite evident that Anakin had deep hate
for this father of his. And that wasn't
good…
Obi-Wan
continues calmly this time, "Ani, I'm sorry, but take deep breaths and calm
down. You can't hope to do well when
you try to face the trials if you let your anger get out of hand. I know what your father did was wrong, and
you have every right to be mad at him, but you've got to control your anger…
"Anger, fear, aggression, and hate all lead to the dark side. Once you start down the dark path, forever
will it dominate your destiny." That is
a famous quote of Yoda's. Just try to
control it. Usually, you have it well
under control…but you've go to be careful.
They'll give you tough situations like that at the trials. I never faced them myself, but I know a lot
of people who have, and they're tough.
Now, when you meet your family, I want you to remain as calm as possible. Violence gains nothing."
Anakin says, after being calmed down, "I'm
sorry, master." (But deep down inside,
he was thinking, "My father will pay someday…").
They
continue onto the Skywalker homestead.
Now, ever since the Maurders took control of the planet, the homestead
fell steadily in value. The demand and
prices lowered in the Skywalker's business, and things had been tough. They had lost Anchorhead and had had to
re-locate to a location nearby. Lowdun
and Mary had left by now. They had
basically raised Summoner's children, since he wasn't around very often. Lowdun often had told Owen and Rhun stories
of the past, including the story of Lowdun's parents and their death by Poopsie
Kritch. Owen never forgot that
story. Anyway, by now both Owen and
Rhun had married. Owen married a lady
named Beru and had had 3 children, and Beru was pregnant with the 4th. The previous 3 had mysteriously
disappeared. (More on that later) and
Rhun now had a one-year old daughter.
Before we go to the Sith, I'll have Anakin meet the rest of his
family.
