The first thing that hit them was the heat. Dry, stifling, choking heat. The type of heat that made it impossible to think about anything else but just how hot Tatooine was. Their sleek, silvery Naboo starship looked very much out of place among the dilapidated, weatherbeaten smuggler ships in Mos Espa's spaceport. Padme, however, had donned a hooded robe similar to the planet's peasant population, while Anakin wore his drab, inconspicuous Jedi fare, though he kept his lightsaber concealed.

Though Anakin had not been to Mos Espa in 10 years, he had no trouble remembering his way around as he quickly led Padme through the maze of congested streets towards a small, familiar shop that, a sign proclaimed, sold salvaged spaceship components. They walked inside the shop's entrance, and Anakin, struck with the onset of recurring mixed emotions regarding his life before the Jedi, rang the small bell at the desk.

The familiar blue Toydarian, leathery wings moving impossibly fast, hovered over to greet his new customers.

"Welcome," he said in his gritty voice, "What can I get you?"

He was surprised at the unnerving urgency in the young man's voice. "I'm looking for a former slave of yours – Shimi Skywalker."

"Ahh yes, ummm…Shimi, yes…she isn't mine anymore. I sold her to an umm…Lars."

"Could you tell us where she is right now?" Anakin asked, insistent.

"Moisture farm, not too far from Mos Eisley. What's it to you?"

"I'm her son," the man replied.

Wattoo was shocked. Could this tall figure have been the precocious and talented boy he remembered? "Ani? Ani?? Is it really you?" he asked. "I wondered what happened to you after you ran off with that old swindling Jedi."

Anakin bristled at the comment, not at all enjoying hearing the great Qui Gon Jinn referred to in such a manner. Padme offered a calming glance, and his anger faded as quickly as it had flared.

"Yes, Wattoo, I'm a Jedi now."

"Wow…a Jedi, ehh? I don't suppose you'd like to stop by later….I can't get the blasted power generator here working…"

But when he turned around, Anakin and his companion were already on their way out the door.

***



The Jungand Wastes were a harsh environment, a wasteland of sandstorms, predators, ruthlessly competing wildlife, a land of death and destruction. Along the timeless, eternally shifting dunes crept giant sandcrawlers, populated by roving Jawas, scavengers of the desert's mechanical victims who made their miserable nomadic livelihood by trading with the local moisture farmers.

Shimi Skywalker had gone out one particular morning to seek out the Jawas, needing to purchase some critical supplies for the Lars' homestead's moisture vaporators. A simple woman, Shimi did not require a great deal in life to be happy, and lately she had been as close to happiness as ever. Five years ago she had become acquainted with a local farmer and widower, Cliegg Lars, and the two of them had fallen in love. After two years, Cliegg was able to save enough money to buy her freedom from Wattoo, who had to pay off mounting gambling debts. Once freed, she had married Cliegg and gone to live the life of a Tatooine moisture farmer. Although she dearly missed Anakin, she had taken an instant liking to Cliegg's son from his previous marriage, Owen, who was two years younger than Anakin.

But now, all that remained for Owen and Cliegg to find was a crumpled, bloodstained body lying in the sand, with bantha tracks all around. The two men knew the savage, hated Tuskens were responsible. After they had returned the body to the homestead, they had set out to find the raiding party, seeking to appease their grief and frustration in revenge, but the savage elements had already erased the trail.