Chapter 7: Cruelty

"She idly wonders which is crueler, man or nature. She determines it must be man. Nature has no remorse, but neither does it have malice."

Neal Shusterman, UnSouled

Alderann, 3642 BBY (11 ATC)

Medria was not a stupid woman, nor was she an idiot. Indeed, she would say she was quite tolerant, as far as Sith go, that is. She was aware that sometimes mistakes would be made, that success was not always guaranteed. She even understood that each person had their own motives for their actions. However, there were things that she would not tolerate. Incompetence, lies, and traitors. After guaranteeing Willsaam's parents a prosperous life in the empire her holo chimed. She made her way to a secluded alcove with Quinn before answering. At first she expected it to be FimmRess, again, or even Vette from a different holo. However it was the imposing figure of her master that came through.

"Ah, apprentice, the sith FimmRess who attends Duke Kendoh was able to patch me through to you directly, excellent."

"Master," Medria bowed, feeling Quinn do the same though he was unsure he was even visible on the call.

"I am seeking an update. News of your search for Jaesa Willsaam's family has reached me, and I am quite concerned."

Medria's brows creased and she spared a glance at her captain who appeared to be equally confused. What was there to be concerned about? Every task she set out for had been an unrivaled success, even when helping the other imperial missions along the way. If anything there should have been praises reaching her master's ears from the other sith lords planet side that she had assisted.

"I am not sure I understand, Master. What news have you heard?" She asked.

"Duke Kendoh contacted me to tell me that you have been busying yourself with personal exploits and disregarding my mission."

Medria pulled a face before sighing in an annoyed tone, "What exactly did he say about me?"

"In a moment. First the more important subject. Tell me you've found the family of Noman Karr's padawan. Tell me they have been taken care of."

Medria nodded, falling to a stance that was similar to what Quinn did when he was reporting to her, though more relaxed.

"I made them swear allegiance to the Empire and sent them to Dromund Kaas. They just left, and should be arriving in a few days barring any issues with their transport."

"Really? Excellent thinking. As I torture them their pain will scream into the galaxy and torment their daughter" Baras started to plan.

"I promised them riches, and I believe it will be more effective if they live fruitfully." Medria explained, but her motives were slightly different. While her master wanted to destroy Willisaam, Medria wanted the girl to turn and join them. If this Jedi's padawan was as powerful and dangerous as her master made her sound, then all the more reason to keep the girl alive, and close.

"Ah, very cunning. The happier they are under imperial rule, the more it will tear at the Jedi's heart. I will make it so. You eclipse my greatest hopes for you and prove you belong at my side." Baras gleamed. Though Medria could not see his face, she could hear the smile in his voice. A good investment, that was what she was to him. A far cry from when he had been willing to sacrifice her back on the capital planet many months earlier. "Which makes my susceptibility to duke kendoh's gossip about you all the more foolish."

Medria stiffened. Gossip. Meaning the worm said more than just one tall tale.

"Are you going to tell me what that maggot said? Or must I wait in suspense?"

Quinn shifted behind her. Though he had been with her for some time, she could tell he was not quite as comfortable with how she spoke to her master as Vette was.

"First off, Kendoh said that you set off an explosive that caused the death of several Thul dignitaries."

Medria's eyebrows jumped up. How dare he.

"Quinn, what are the numbers on the chance of the explosive we set killing Thul dignitaries?" Medria snapped.

"The odds of that happening, my lord, are less than 1 percent. We were very exact in the charge amount to cause no undue harm to our allies planet side." Quinn quickly responded.

"I'll kill that worm," she growled softly, but was still overheard by her master.

"I assume then that wasn't the case. Shouldn't surprise me. Kendoh also said that you had the general of Organa's military forces at your mercy and you spared her. Suggesting that you're a traitor."

"That is an outright lie. I killed the general, and her people myself."

"I sense no tremor of deceit in you. All that matters to me is that your mission is complete. For whatever reason the man has taken it upon himself to slander you. I have no further use for Duke Kendoh. Punish him however you please. If it were me, he'd pay severely."

"I shall handle the matter."

"Do what you will, but quickly. Until we destroy the threat of Jaesa Willsaam, nothing else is important. Goodbye apprentice." Her master ended the call. Immediately Medria leaned against the wall and slowly slid down until she was seated on the marble floor. She only partially noticed Quinn when he pulled out his scanner and started checking her vitals. She buried her head in her knees and sighed.

"My lord?"

"I'm tired, Captain."

"Then you should rest, my lord, but not here." Quinn said softly. Medria sighed again and stood, making her way to the exit. They were able to sneak back out of the compound, leaving dead guards in their wake when they were spotted, and were able to get back into imperial territory easily enough. In no time at all they were on an thrantra heading back to the Thul residence.

Medria sat behind Quinn, her arms wrapped around his waist to keep herself from sliding off. She sighed heavily and pressed her forehead between his shoulder blades.

"My Lord?"

"I'm fine, Captain." she mumbled. She thought about closing her eyes, but she couldn't. She was so very tired, yet her only chance to rest, she couldn't calm the storm in her own mind.

"What can I do to assist?"

She stiffened ever so slightly before relaxing against him.

"Just talk. I don't care what about."

"Of corse…" he trailed off, speaking softly about his service on Balmorra, followed by some anecdotes about his family. It was a strange comfort, one she never felt with anyone else. True, Vette could talk anyone's ear off, and she could be 'emotionally available' but it was different. In the quiet moment with him she knew that this, this was family.

It was unfortunate for Kendoh that by the time they arrived the exhaustion left her and what remained was a simmering rage ready to boil over, directed at the incompitant duke. She stalked forward straight towards the chambers Kendoh's servants pointed her to. While Quinn's presence was very apparent behind her, her whole focus was on one thing. Punishment. Her knuckles rapped on the frame of the entryway as her eyes bore into the back of the duke.

"Ah come in, I heard of your success and I am so very pleased for you" Kendoh sounded slimy.

"Cut the antics Kendoh." Medria snapped, taking another purposeful step forward.

"Is there a problem?" He asked, taking a measured step back. Medria's lip curled on one side as she stepped closer still.

"You're my problem." was all she said.

The satisfactory reaction was instantaneous. The Duke jumped slightly, and started to back away quickly, one hand in front of him as if to placate the monster that was taking the place of the woman who stood before him. He edged closer to FinnRess, and only seemed to calm once he was by the other sith's side

"I… oh. You've spoken with your master, I see. I can explain. I realized when you blew up the power grid several of my rivals would be exposed. So, I seized the opportunity to eliminate them. I… had company when I was speaking with your master, and I needed to keep my fellow house members blind to my maneuvering."

"That is a lie." FinnRess spoke up, looking down at the squirrely man with disgust. "You contacted baras yourself, alone"

"Ohhh, you should not have done that, lying to me was your last mistake." Medria closed the distance between them in a few long steps.

"I-I only wanted Baras to know that I was looking out for him." Kendoh's hand was out again, trying to keep a distance between them as if it could serve as a barrier that would actually stop her. "It was harmless. I knew you would succeed and all Baras would care about was that. Please, please don't kill me. FinnRess, you and your men are assigned to me. If I am attacked you must defend."

FinnRess looked down at the man before taking 5 steps away, closer towards Quinn who still stood at the entryway. It was then she noticed Quinn's hand was on his blaster, waiting.

"If Darth Baras' apprentice decides you die, we will not intercede." the bodyguard informed him as he relaxed against the wall. As FinnRess said that the other bodyguards in the room retreated, leaving the room entirely.

"Kendoh's going to die, you can count on that." Medria's eyes narrowed

"It will be a pleasure to be relieved of this assignment. Can we help at all?" FinnRess spoke up.

"I don't need any help" She responded without even looking over her shoulder. She could feel her eyes burning with heat from the force. The cowardly man shrank before her as he stumbled back. He scrambled across the room, trying to get away from her as she stalked forward. He dashed towards the door but was blocked. FinnRess stood shoulder to shoulder with her captain across the doorway. The duke gripped FinRess's arm.

"No, you're supposed to protect me" He begged. Before either man could blink a streak of black and purple cut through the man. Separating his head from his body.

"He was a sad and twisted waste of space. Serving him was torture." FinnRess droned, nudging the body with his foot. Medria rolled her eyes and walked up to her captain, ignoring her fellow sith.

"Is our business here finished?"

"I believe so, my Lord. Our task for Darth Baras is complete, and you have finished all side assignments that were asked of you… If I may, My Lord."

"Always, Captain."

"Although this planet is beautiful, it would be best if we leave quickly, before someone else finds another task for us and we find ourselves on a planetary war tour here."

"Shame, but wise insight, let's get back to the Salvation and see if our blue friend managed to keep it in one piece."

Quinn sighed loudly and shook his head.

Coruscant, 22 BBY (3631 ATC)

Obi-Wan struggled to not yawn as she and her apprentice entered the elevator. The two of them barely had time to clean up before they were instructed to report to senator Amidala for protection detail, after an assassination attempt. While Anakin was well rested, she could not boast the same.

She had spent her time at night speaking with Tremel and other representatives of the alliance who had joined in the past few years. After that, she continued to speak to Tremel about the sith acolytes that showed interest in training, as well as receiving an update about the welfare of Anakin's mother. According to the old overseer, the stationed acolyte last checked at the scheduled report time two weeks ago. The acolyte was scheduled to call in by the end of the week with the next updated report of Smee. Naturally this was a relief to her, it gave her some comfort that her apprentice's nightmares could very well just be nightmares, but she still instructed the old man to go himself to check. It took a bit of convincing but the old man relented and agreed to travel to Tatooine (despite the strain it would put on the alliance), and check himself.

Yet, despite the difference in rest, it was clear that her apprentice was flustered. Never once did she see the boy fussing about the state of his robes. Truth be told the robes spent more time on the floor than hung up while clean, yet, these robes were the nicest he had been in. She raised an eyebrow. Slowly she tugged on the mental bond they shared. The poor boy was tense, very tense.

"You seem a little on edge, Anakin."

"Not at all." Anakin was a terrible liar. True, if it was anyone else, he would just appear to be trying to make sure he looked appropriate and composed, but Obi-Wan was not anyone. She had raised this mess of a boy for the past 10 years. She nodded and looked forward, glancing at the slowly changing number that indicated the level.

"I haven't seen you this tense since we fell into that nest of gundarks." The reaction was immediate.

"You fell into that nightmare, Master, and I rescued you, remember" Anakin puffed up and turned on his master with an exasperated look. But the tension that was there was gone.

"Oh, yes.." She nodded slowly before chuckling. Luckily Anakin followed suite, chuckling under his breath and rolling his eyes. However it didn't last long. "You're sweating, relax. Take a deep breath."

"I haven't seen her in ten years, Master."

Obi-Wan sighed, and turned to face her apprentice fully. She grabbed his tabards and straightened them, followed by his robes. A small smile crept on her lips, she remembered someone else who got obsessive about the state of his uniform when overly nervous, once, long long.

"Anakin, relax. She's not the queen anymore."

"That- That's not why I'm nervous-" Anakin started but the doors to the lift slid open, and both noticed they reached the floor. She gave him one last look before sending a reassuring feeling through their bond.

Obi-wan stepped out of the lift, followed shortly by Anakin.

"Obi? Obi!" a voice that was like a death sentence hit her ears. Good force, she wished she forgot about this unfortunate creature. "Obi! Mesa sooo smilen to seein yousa!" the Gungan exclaimed, grabbing Obi-Wan's hand and shaking it as if he could shake energy into her.

"Jar Jar, it's good to see you" She smiled, though a little strained. Then, just as quickly, the Gungan's attention landed on the poor child behind her.

"And thisa being your apprentice…. Noooo Annie? Little bitty Annie? Yousa so biggen!" The Gungan cried, enveloping her poor apprentice in a hug.

"Hi, Jar Jar." Anakin sighed, patting the Gungan senator.

After a few painful moments for the two jedi, the Gungan lead them to the living area of the senator's flat.

"Mesa palos here. Lookie lookie, senator. Desa Jedi arriven." Jar Jar presented them. As soon as Jar Jar stepped aside, Obi-Wan was able to see the senator and her bodyguard. The two were standing on the balcony, arguing by the looks of it, but immediately turned and greeted them. Obi-Wan smiled and bowed to the senator, still remembering the young queen she had protected so long ago. It was clear that the young Amidala still remembered her, by the large smile she had.

"It's a pleasure to see you again my lady, though I wish it was for better circumstances." Obi-Wan stepped forward. Senator Amidala stepped up to Obi-Wan and shook her hand.

"It has been far too long, Master Kenobi. I'm so glad our paths have crossed, but I must warn you that I think your presence here is unnecessary."

Obi-Wan was sympathetic, after all, the senator had reached out to the alliance about their strife. Obi-Wan simply nodded and smiled at the young woman.

"I'm sure the Jedi Council has their reasons"

Then the senator's eyes drifted up behind Obi-Wan, where her young apprentice practically towered over her. Confusion filled her eyes before recognition and shock.

"Annie? My goodness, you've grown."

Anakin smiled

"So have you…" Anakin started, and Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow. The senator certainly didn't grow that much, "grown more beautiful, I mean…" It took all of Obi-Wan's will power not to slap her own forehead. How was this her apprentice. "and much shorter… for a senator, I mean."

Obi wan glanced up at Anakin, how could he be so bad at social interaction. It physically hurt her to listen to her apprentice. Luckily Senator Amidala was a saint and simply laughed and shook her head.

"Oh Annie, you'll always be that little boy I knew on Tatooine."

Anakin's embarrassment was palpable, and well earned, which even the bodyguard felt based on the look he shared with Obi-Wan. Slowly everyone moved to the seats.

"Our presence will be invisible, my lady, I can assure you." Obi-Wan tried to offer what comfort she could to the young Senator.

"I'm very grateful you're here, Master Kenobi. I'm Captain Typho, head of Her Majesty's security service. Queen Jamillia has informed you of your assignment. The situation is more dangerous than the senator will admit." the bodyguard introduced himself.

"I don't need more security, I need answers. I want to know who is trying to kill me." Senator Amadala argued, looking exceedingly frustrated. Though it was understandable, they weren't investigators. They were protectors and negotiators.

"We are here to protect you senator, not start an investigation." Obi-Wan tried to explain but once more her apprentice decided to stuff his foot down his throat.

"We will find out who's trying to kill you Padme, I promise you."

Obi-Wan glanced at the infuriating boy, saying his name mentally to him in a way that was very clear. He was getting very close to crossing a line with her. Anakin bowed his head and shut his mouth.

"We will not exceed our mandate, my young padawan learner." Obi-Wan scolded aloud.

"I only meant in the interest of protecting her, Master, of course."

"We will not go through this exercise again, Anakin. And you will pay attention to my lead" Obi-Wan warned. It was early for him to go on missions without her, and if he didn't mind the council, or his mouth, he was certain to get in over his head.

"Why?" Anakin asked. It sounded like a child, a toddler defiantly going against their parents. Anakin outgrew this phase almost 9 years ago, or so she thought.

"What?" She asked slowly, over pronounced. Her accent slipping through.

"Why else do you think we were assigned to protect her, if not to find the killer? Protection is a job for local security, not Jedi. It's overkill, Master. Investigation is implied in our mandate."

"We will do exactly as the Council has instructed, and you will learn your place, young one."

"Perhaps, with merely your presence, the mysteries surrounding this threat will be revealed." Padme tried to ease the tension that laid between the master and apprentice. Slowly Obi-Wan turned back to face the young senator. "Now, if you excuse me, I will retire."

Senator Amidala stood, as did everyone else, and Obi-Wan gave her a short bow as she and her handmaids left.

Obi-Wan sat and listened to the conversations happening around her, mostly, as her padawan lamented about how Amidala didn't recognize him. Once Jar Jar also left Obi-Wan stood and went to her apprentice. She placed a gentle hand on his arm and sent a comfort and reassuring feeling towards him.

"Anakin, you're focusing on the negative again. She was pleased to see us. Now, come, let's check the security here."

The boy sighed but agreed and the two went off to check the security.

Now, Obi-Wan has done many a stupid thing in her life as a Jidai, many more as Medria. However, she was close to considering this to be the most stupid thing she had done in her life. In all honesty, it was instinctual, when she flung herself through the window, with a little help from the force to shatter the glass, and grabbed onto the probe droid. That, though, was when her plan ended. She had success, but to find herself dangling thousands of feet in the air, clinging to a droid that seemed intent on throwing her off. The droid weaved through traffic with deadly intent. After the force damned droid tried both to shock her to get her off, and trying to burn her from the back burners of speeders. She held on as tight as she could with one hand and quickly activated her wrist com.

"Call old man." she huffed, cursing in several languages as she was scrapped against a building. It took what felt like ages before the force damned man answered.

"I wasn't-"

"I swear on the force if I find out one of our people is behind the assassination attempt on Senator Amidala, I will personally strangle you to death."

"My lord?"

"I am currently hanging off a probe droid, through traffic!"

"That's not very safe-"

"I KNOW IT'S KRIFFING NOT SAFE!" she shouted. "Do you have any assassins on Coruscant?"

"None currently on mission."

"Kriffing hells!" She slapped the transmission closed while Tremel was midword.

The droid swayed back and forth, scraping her against buildings in a desperate attempt to be rid of her. Then the force pinged in her mind, a warning.

"Oh I have a bad feeling about this." Though her mind had been elsewhere and she was rightfully distracted, she managed to just dodge a shot of blaster fire. However the second shot was unavoidable as it connected solidly with the droid.

The next several seconds had her cursing in every language she knew as she tried to slow her rapid descent to the city below. Luckily a speeder passed by under her and she just managed to grab ahold of it and pull herself in. As soon as she was seated she sighed and looked at the driver, her apprentice.

"Well, that was wacky! I almost lost you in all the traffic." He smiled as he sped off after the would-be assassin.

"What took you so long?"

"Oh, you know, master, I couldn't find a speeder I really liked, with an open cockpit… and the right speed capabilities, and then you know I had to get a really gonzo color…" Anakin trailed on and on, eyes smiling mischievously. Obi-Wan sighed and rolled her eyes.

"If only you'd spend as much time working on your saber skills as you do your wit, young one, you would rival Master Yoda as a swordsman." She half-heartedly scolded as she gripped onto the speeder handle. Anakin deftly moved in and out of oncoming traffic, across many lanes, and breaking several traffic laws as he did so.

"I thought I already did."

"Only in your mind, my very young apprentice," She teased but quickly yelped as Anakin went blazing through a construction site as the assassin shot at them. "Careful! Hey, easy!"

"Sorry, I forgot you don't like flying, master."

She gripped the handle harder as she braced herself against the seat. She tried to find her happy place, flying with her friends and family, but the reckless manner her apprentice flew, it was impossible to calm her racing heart rate.

"I don't mind flying," she started to argue but quickly stopped as her apprentice narely missed getting hit by a commuter train, "but what you're doing is suicide!"

"Master, I've been flying since before I could walk. I'm very good at this." The boy tried to argue as he flew across traffic lines, forcing large trucks to bank so they weren't hit.

"Just- Just slow down. Wait, don't go in there!" Her breath caught, and she had to grip harder so as to not bump into anakin as he took a sharp right into a tram tunnel. Her heart beat increased with the current danger she was in.

"Don't worry so much, I have this!" He insisted. But the lights of the tram ahead of them argued otherwise. The idiot slammed on the brakes and turned them around at a speed that had her regretting eating at all that day.

"You know I don't like it when you do that." she wheezed.

"Sorry, Master. Don't worry, this guy's gonna kill himself any minute now!"

"Well it's not a competition to see who can do it faster!"

They dodged and weaved after the target through traffic. At one point the assassin looped over and ended up behind them, shooting at them from behind. Anakin slammed on the break again, forcing Obi-Wan to brace against the dashboard to keep her head from hitting it. In that moment she realized they were now next to their target, who started to fire point-blank at her. She dropped.

"What are you doing? He's going to blast me."

"Ah, sorry."

After several more harrowing incidents that had Obi-Wan thoroughly regretting every life decision, each one worse than the last. Eventually Anakin said the words that she hated most.

"This is a shortcut." Naturally, the boy was unsure of himself and stopped in traffic looking around.

"Well, you've lost him."

"I'm deeply sorry, master." The bite in his voice made Obi-Wan roll her eyes.

"Well, this is some kind of shortcut. He went completely the other way-"

"Excuse me for a moment." Anakin cut her off and the next thing Obi-Wan knew she was sitting in the passenger seat of the speeder, without her apprentice. Obi-Wan sighed heavily before peering over the edge and seeing her apprentice grab onto the assassin's speeder.

"I hate it when he does that." She slid into the driver's seat and took off after the two.

Spaceport, Coruscant: 22 BBY (3631 ATC)

There was no doubt about it, Obi-Wan was far more nervous about Anakin's first solo mission than he was. Back at their apartment she checked his bag 3 times, made sure that she had small snacks tucked away inside, as well as extra credits, just in case. Each time her apprentice merely rolled his eyes and insisted that he had things under control. She gripped his luggage tightly as they awaited the senator and her entourage. Mentally she started going through the check list for his luggage. Her claw-like nail found its way between her teeth as she absently gnawed at it, face skewed in worry.

"Master, calm down." Anakin interrupted her. She blinked and looked up at him confused. "I haven't seen you this nervous before. I'll be fine. Why don't you have faith in me?"

Obi wan sighed and ran her hand over her hair, which for once, wasn't done nicely.

"Padawan, I do have faith in you. I know you can do this, but it will be dangerous, and I don't want you to get hurt, not while I'm not there to keep you safe." she sighed again and placed a hand on his shoulder, I just didn't think you would be out on your own quite yet. I had hoped to keep you by my side just a little longer."

Slowly a small transport started to land, and Obi-Wan knew. She was here. Obi-Wan turned back to Anakin, and nervously straightened out his peasant attire. She was a mess, and she knew it. She couldn't help but remember how she and her husband were after their first child was born and they had to go on a mission. But unlike then, there was no one to bounce her worry off of, to be the balance for the other's concern, to console her. What would happen if the assassin followed them, and goaded Anakin into a fight. Her breath rattled in her chest and she looked at her apprentice in the eyes. What if this was a repeat of what happened on Mandalore?

"Now remember, your lives are more important than any adversary. If you are confronted, take the senator and run."

"I know, Master." Anakin's eyes rolled.

"I mean it Anakin, don't play heroics, stay safe and alive."

"Yes master."

The senator stepped out of the speeder followed by Captain Typho and Dorme. Anakin shifted next to her, standing up straighter. Obi-Wan dared to peek up at her apprentice. His eyes were locked on the senator, his mental shields up and locked in place. If Obi-Wan had only been a jedi, she would have thought it as nothing, but she wasn't a jedi. She knew that look of admiration in his eyes. She knew it because her own husband looked at her with that look. Anakin was in love with Padme Amidala.

"Then my jedi protector will have to prove how good he is." Padme's voice rung in Obi-Wan's ear. Obi-Wan blinked and looked to see that the group had approached them.

"Anakin, don't do anything without first consulting either myself or the council."

"Yes, Master." He sighed.

Then Obi-Wan turned to the senator. "I will get to the bottom of this plot quickly, my lady. You'll be back here in no time."

"I will be most grateful for your speed, Master Jedi." She thanked Obi-Wan. There was a soft chiming sound and Anakin straightened again.

"Time to go." He said, grabbing the luggage as the senator hugged her handmaid. They were a few feet towards the terminal when Obi-Wan called out to her apprentice. She couldn't help but see the little boy she raised, walking away into the dark unknown.

"Anakin! May the force be with you!"

"May the force be with you, Master."

Obi-Wan continued to watch as the two disappeared into the spaceport with the senator's loyal R2 unit trailing along behind them.

"I hope he doesn't try anything foolish-" she thought to herself. Her apprentice was known for attempts of the unnecessary and often idiotic.

"I'd be more concerned about her doing something, than him," Captain Typho commented. Obi-Wan was slightly startled, as she did not realize she expressed her concerns aloud. She had hoped that the senator would keep her apprentice focused, but that appeared to be a false hope.

Tatooine: 22 BBY (3631 ATC)

Anakin tried to keep a level head, and stay calm. He repeated the mantra over and over most of the night trying his best to rely on Obi-Wan's reassurance that his mother was fine, but the latest nightmare shook him greatly. Padme was truly an angel, her small soft hand rested on his during the rickshaw ride to Watto's shop. His eyes were locked on the shop far before they arrived at it, the rickshaw came to a stop a few yards from Watto's and Anakin stepped out, offering a hand to Padme to help her out as well.

"Wait here please," Anakin asked the droid driver before walking to Watto's. The blue creature that owned him in his youth sat on a stool in the front of the shop, fiddling with a droid head. He was angry, Anakin could sense it as he approached without even seeing his ageing face. There were three droids chittering away as they tried, and failed, to help the toydarian.

"No, not that one- that one!" he shouted, gesturing at something. Anakin took a deep breath mentally reciting the mantra Obi-Wan ingrained in him. Calm the storm.

"Excuse me, Watto." Anakin interrupted, his tone sharp.

"What?" Watto asked, confused.

"I said excuse me."

Watto turned to the droids and barked the order to "Shut down". Anakin's lips curled in a sneer. Watto was truly nothing without anakin. The shop was in disarray, and he couldn't even manage to repair a simple droid.

"Let me help you with that," Anakin sighed, taking the droid head and screwdriver from him. With deft fingers he started to play with it.

"What? I don't know you… What can I do for you? You look like a Jedi. Whatever it is… I didn't do it." Watto looked skittish and scared.

"I'm looking for Shmi Skywalker," Anakin said. Watto looked from Anakin to Padme and back to Anakin confused and suspicious.

"Annie? Little Annie?" He asked just as the droid popped to light as ran into the shop.

"You are Annie! It is you! Ya sure sprouted! Weehoo! A Jedi. Waddya know? Hey, maybe ya couldda help wit some deadbeats who owe me a lot of money…" Watto started talking loudly, greed filling his eyes.

"My mother" Anakin interrupted, the polite smile he wore disappearing from his face.

"Oh, yeah. Shmi… she's not mine no more. I sold her."

"Sold her?"

"Years ago, not long after you. Sorry Annie but you know business is business. Sold her to a man, never seen him before, strange man had an old cybernetic arm, he gave her her freedom right there in front of me."

Anakin froze, the storm evaporated, that description was familiar. A cold feeling crept up his spine before a heat grew in his chest

"Dark skin, graying hair? Looked old but like he could still put up a fight if needed?" Anakin asked.

"Yeah, that sounds like him. He was real nice to her, told her that he was asked to free her by a friend."

"Do you know where she is now?"

"I heard she married some moisture farmer named Lars, over on the other side of Mos Eisley."

Anakin nodded lost in thoughts before settling that he needed to know. "Do you know what the man's name was?"

"Yeah.. it was bore… Borat Tremble? Something like that?"

"Boreas Tremel?"

"Yeah! That's it. Boreas Tremel."

"Thank you." anakin said numbly and left, walking back to the rickshaw.

So many thoughts were running through his head at once. He felt unbalanced. Every time Anakin expressed worry for his mother's freedom his master was quick to tell him not to worry and that everything was alright. Without a doubt if it was the old man he had met on a few occasions who freed her, it was because his master had asked him to. But if it happened not long after he left Tatooine it meant that she did that some time shortly after she took him as her padawan, if not even before then.

As the rickshaw drove back towards their ship Padme turned to Anakin.

"What was that about?"

"I- I don't know. Boreas is a friend of Obi-Wan's."

"Do you think she was the friend he had mentioned?" Padme asked, looking at him carefully.

"I doubt it. She's always been frugal with money, and she refuses to talk about family, except to tell me not to dwell on it, and that I can handle things when I become a knight."

Padme hummed and rubbed his hand. She had no words.

Anakin was silent even on the flight to the other side of Mos Eisley. They were able to locate the moisture farm after asking another farmer. They started walking towards the homestead when they noticed a droid outside working. Anakin inspected it as it turned and started speaking.

"Oh, hello. How might I be of service? I am C-"

"3PO?" Anakin asked with a smile creeping on his lips. His mom kept it. He wasn't entirely sure if she would have been allowed to keep C3PO if she had been freed, but if he was here, obviously she was able to keep him.

"Oh,my.. Oh my maker! Master Anakin! I knew you would return, I knew you would. And this must be Miss Padme."

"Hello 3PO." Padme smiled.

"Oh, my circuits, I am so pleased to see you both." 3PO exclaimed excitedly.

"I've come to see mom." Anakin said, eyes trailing to the house.

"I think… I think… perhaps we'd better go inside" 3PO stuttered, looking anxious for a droid. Anakin's brow furrowed but he nodded and followed his old droid inside the homestead. It was much cooler as they descended into the homestead than it was out in the sunlight of the desert. A young man and woman, close to his age approached them, as the man wiped his hands on a cloth.

"Master Owen! Might I present two important visitors" 3PO gestured towards Anakin/

"I'm Anakin Skywalker"

"Owen Lars. This is my girlfriend, Beru." the man introduced himself.

"Hello," the girl said quietly, nodding her head.

"I'm Padme"

"I guess I'm your step brother." Owen sighed, "I had a feeling you might show up some day."

Anakin's eyes narrowed and he glanced around at the doorways. She would be out here by now. He could see small details of her. A plant here, a pot there.

"Is my mom here?" He asked, walking around a little.

"She's not." A new voice piped up. Anakin spun on his heel as a man on a floating chair came into the courtyard. One leg was heavily bandaged while the other was missing completely. He approached Anakin and awkwardly put his hand out to shake Anakin's.

"Cliegg Lars. Shmi is my wife…" Cliegg sighed. "Come on inside, we have a lot to talk about."

Anakin nodded numbly, and followed his… stepfather… into the house. They sat down at a dining table as Beru went into another room.

"Your mother had gone out early, like she always did, to pick mushrooms that grow on the vaporators." Cliegg started to explain as Beru entered the room placing a tray of drinks on the table. "From the tracks, she was about halfway home when they took her. Those Tuskens walk like men, but they're vicious, mindless monsters. Thirty of us went out after her, four of us came back. I'd be with them, only… after I lost my leg I just couldn't ride anymore, at least until I heal. This isn't the way I wanted to meet you, son. This isn't how your mother and I planned it. We were going to wait until we heard you became a knight, meet you then. Look, I don't want to give up on her, but she's been gone a month. There's little hope she's lasted this long."

Anakin's jaw clenched and he stood.

"Where are you going?" Owen asked, eyes widening.

"To find my mother."

"NO, Annie!" Padme jumped to her feet.

"Your mother's dead, son. Accept it."

"I can feel her pain, and I will find her. She's alive."

The room grew silent for a moment.

"Take my speeder bike." Cliegg said, not looking at Anakin.

Anakin was idly working on the engine of the shifter after it broke on his way back. He heard Padme come into the room. At least he thought he heard her. Everything was hard to process through the storm that was raging in his chest and mind. His eyes burned.

"I brought you something. Are you hungry?" Padme's voice echoed in his ears.

"The shifter broke." He said softly, pinching at some wires. "Life seems so much simpler when you're fixing things. I'm good at fixing things, always was. But I couldn't…" He stopped working as his vision swam. He could still feel her in his arms whenever he stopped working. Her beautiful voice raspy and hoarse.

"Why did she have to die? Why couldn't I save her? I know I could have!" He turned and walked away from Padme.

"Sometimes there are things no one can fix. You're not all powerful, Annie."

"Well I should be! Someday I will be, I will be the most powerful Jedi ever! I promise you, I will even learn to stop people from dying." He shouted, the storm raging more than it ever had before. "It's all Obi-Wan's fault. She's jealous! She knows I'm already more powerful than she is. She's holding me back!" He threw a wrench across the garage. It crashed into something in the adjoining room. Then everything went quiet, his hands were trembling.

"It's not her fault." A hoarse voice spoke up over the silence. Both Anakin and Padme whipped around to face the doorway where a man stood. He was bandaged all over and holding onto the door frame as if it were the only thing that held him up. The bandages across his head were sploched with blood and the skin that did show were covered in bruises of all shades.

"It's not her fault, whatever you think, don't think that." The stranger said again.

"Who are you?" Anakin asked, his hand reaching for his lightsaber.

"I'm Kad. Obi-Wan hired me and a few others through a contact to protect your mother. I was supposed to be guarding her. I failed my task."

"You-"

"I'm sorry. My negligence caused this. So please don't blame Obi-Wan, blame me." Kad bowed his head, and eased himself down to kneel in front of Anakin. Anakin took a few long steps forwards and grabbed Kad's collar.

"Why? Why!" he screamed.

"I-I went out with Shmi that morning to pick mushrooms. I had just called in my monthly check in to my contact and had received an update, your update. I was telling Shmi about it, reading off the report as we walked. Most of the update was Obi-Wan bragging about you, that you were smart and quick witted. Shmi loved every second of it, beaming brightly even though it was far too early. When I gave her the report card on your grades. It was so quiet that morning, so I wasn't paying attention as she bragged about you. She loved you so much, so much. They came out of nowhere. I hardly had time to grab my weapon before they were beating on me. I did my best to stop them but there were too many. Next thing I knew I was waking up in the house with Beru changing my bandages… that was last night."

Anakin couldn't help it. He started sobbing, dropping Kad's collar and sliding against the table to sit on the ground.

"I killed them. I killed them." he started to repeat over and over.

"Oh Annie," Padme's soft voice sighed. Then he felt her warm embrace surround him.

"I killed them all… why did I do that? Why? I hate them. I don't want to hate them all… I just can't forgive them."

"To be angry is to be human." Padme said softly.

"To control your anger is to be a jedi."

"Kid, Jedi aren't emotionless. Jedi have the same emotions, sometimes even act on them. You're okay. It'll be okay. Put aside the Jedi for now, and just be human. You can be a jedi again in the morning." Kad said, his hand resting on Anakin's arm. The three of them share the silence that was filled only with Anakin's sobs.