Hey, readers. If you've read my story, "Boba Skywalker," I'm now creating one like that but for Omega as she gets to know life as a Skywalker herself. So, for this first chapter, it was actually inspired by a couple of things.
The other day, my niece and nephew were visiting, and I showed them these Safe Side videos I watched when I was a kid to learn about Stranger Safety. And then, I watched that episode of the Bad Batch where Omega got into trouble because she went somewhere with Fennec Shand, a stranger at the time, and I started thinking... apparently no one taught Omega about Stranger Danger.
It had been just after Omega was rescued from Fennec Shand. She didn't let go of Qui-Gon for a long time.
All throughout the night, Qui-Gon held his granddaughter close, safe and warm, which helped her sleep peacefully.
And when she was finally with Anakin and Padme again, they were both so relieved to know that Omega was safe.
But, they of course, did give her a lecture about talking to strangers.
"People you don't know can be dangerous," said Padme. "You should never go anywhere or even talk to adults you don't know."
"You were very lucky to be rescued this time, Omega." said Anakin. "The next strange adult you come across could be even more dangerous."
Omega sniffled and cried a little.
"I'm... I'm sorry. I... I didn't know."
Anakin and Padme held her in a hug and told her not to cry.
"Shh. Don't cry, Sweetie." Padme said, kissing Omega's head. "We just don't want to lose you."
Anakin caressed Omega's cheek and told her, "The important thing now is you're safe. And we're gonna make sure you're better prepared. Luckily, we know some experts."
"First thing to know, Omega." said Carousella. "Is that there are people who can hurt you, and they look like everybody else."
Carousella and Crescent, being royal guards, knew a lot about different kinds of safety. Fire safety, earthquake safety, kitchen safety, and stranger safety. Before either of them even began training, their mother taught them to be wary of strangers.
Now, Carousella was wearing a green shirt and firefighter helmet in green too for this very lesson. And Omega wasn't the only student here. Gabby, Boba, and Lamenta were brought in too, as well as some younglings who decided to join.
"That's why we have to be careful who we're surrounded by." Gabby said.
"That's right." Carousella said. "And there are all kinds of hot tips to staying safe."
During this lesson, Carousella would be here known as Safe Side Super Mare. And the outfit she wore was magical. It could change color. Green when it was safe, yellow when it was time to be cautious, and red when danger was afoot!
"Like what?" Omega said.
"First thing to know," said Crescent. "Not all kids have magical powers, and even if you are one of those who does, that's no guarantee you'll be safe."
"Take Boba, for example. He's gotten pretty good at karate." Carousella said. "But, do you think he's strong enough to fight any grownup who may try to hurt him?"
She called over Obi-Wan and told Boba to try to fight without using magic. Boba ran at the Jedi, but Obi-Wan grabbed him and held him with ease.
"Jedi, Enchanted, or ordinary, it's very difficult for children to fight grownups." Obi-Wan explained, setting Boba down.
Carousella explained to the class how strangers could be found in all kinds of places. The marketplace, the playground, the mall, down the streets, and the theater too.
"Here's our first hot tip." Carousella said. "Always make sure you keep your Safe Side superhero in view. If you can see them, they can see you, and get to you fast."
"Safe Side superhero?" Lamenta said curiously.
"The people you know will keep you safe." Crescent said.
"Like you and Carousella?"
"Kind of. We're technically still younglings. The superheroes we're talking about are also known as your Safe Side adults."
Carousella looked at the kids and asked if any of them could name examples of safe adults they knew could protect them.
"Mommy and Daddy." Gabby said.
"My grandpa?" Omega asked, remembering how Qui-Gon rescued her with the Batchers. "Hunter, maybe?"
"Exactly." Carousella said. "Always know who your Safe Side adults are, and make sure you keep them close. They might not look super, but when it comes to protecting you, there's no messing with them."
"My mommy would put someone trying to hurt me in a lot of pain." Lamenta said.
Carousella giggled and said, "I'm sure she would. So remember, kids. No one can mess with any of your Safe Side adults, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Even grandparents can be real kick butt protectors."
Qui-Gon karate chopped a table in half to demonstrate that.
"Bottom line," said Crescent. "Always make sure to have your trusted adult nearby in any public place, and when someone knocks at the door, never answer it unless you have your Safe Side adult with you. It could be someone dangerous."
Carousella's outfit was now yellow, as she set up the class to demonstrate various scenarios of potentially dangerous situations.
"Now, strangers who may want to hurt you will often try different kinds of tricks." Carousella said. "They may pretend to be someone of authority, lie to you, or try to offer you a treat. A good adult will never try to talk to you or get close to you unless your Safe Side adult is with you."
"Now, Omega." Crescent said, guiding Omega to a table to sit at with Ganodi. "Caroline is going to pretend to be a stranger, and we're going to act out a scenario."
"Kids are smart enough to know how to protect themselves." Carousella said. "But it can be scary if you are ever separated from your Safe Side adults."
"Now, girls. Imagine you're sitting at a picnic table in the park, minding your own business. It's up to you to figure out what to do."
Crescent motioned to another table, where Anakin sat in view.
And they began the scenario.
Omega and Ganodi sat at the table together, coloring pictures, when Caroline, pretending to be a stranger, approached them.
"Excuse me, girls. Have you seen a voorpak pup? She's a few days old." said Caroline. "I'm worried she'll get hurt if I don't find her soon. Maybe you can come with me and help me look."
Omega started to think about what she should do. If someone asked her for help, she'd naturally want to help them. But she thought again and remembered Carousella said a good adult wouldn't approach without her safe adult beside her.
"We don't go anywhere with strangers." Ganodi said.
"Dad." Omega called. And Anakin came.
"Very good, girls." Caroline said. "I could've been someone dangerous."
"And remember," said Crescent. "Never give any personal information to a don't-know. Like your name, where you live. The less a stranger knows about you, the less the chance of them hurting you."
Carousella then went over something else important and had a memory brought up from Boba's mind.
"Sometimes, even though we know to be careful, kids may accidentally be separated from their Safe Side adults." Carousella said. "Like in a giant shopping mall."
"That happened to me once." Boba said, recalling that day he was lost. "I ran away from Mom while chasing a bouncy ball in a toy store, and then I realized I was lost. I was really scared."
Carousella explained to the class that there were important rules to prevent things like this from happening, like holding hands with their Safe Side adult, having a meeting place in the event of unforeseen separation, and always paying attention to one's surroundings.
"What if you get lost anyway, like I did?" Omega asked.
"Why don't we see how Boba handled it?" Carousella said, and had the memory played back.
In the memory, Boba found someone who worked at the store and asked them for help. And sure enough, the lady who worked there helped Boba get reunited with his mother.
"Going to someone who works at the store, like a security guard or service worker is the smartest thing to do." said Carousella. "You can also approach someone who has kids with them if you can't find anyone who works at the store. Chances are they're safe and can help you find someone."
"And if an adult you don't know tries to talk to you or get close to you," said Crescent. "What do you do?"
"Run!" Lamenta exclaimed.
"That's right." Carousella said. "If a don't-know tries to get close to you without your safe side adult with you, you don't have to listen to them or go anywhere with them. It's also okay to use your loudest, strongest safety voice, and always yell THIS IS NOT MY MOM! THIS IS NOT MY DAD!"
Everyone had to cover their ears as Carousella yelled.
"That way, people know you're in real trouble! You should practice this whenever you can."
Once they got the okay and created a magical bubble of silence, the grownups and royal guards had the kids practice shouting out HELP! THIS IS NOT MY MOM! THIS IS NOT MY DAD!
Omega had to catch her breath afterwards.
Anakin counted ten steps from a spot Gabby stood. and then grew some flowers in a big circle.
"Pretty." Gabby smiled.
"Thank you. But this isn't for showing off." Anakin said.
"That's a first." said Carmine, getting a look from his twin.
Carousella walked up to the circle and spoke again.
"One way to make sure don't-knows can't hurt you is not letting them get too close to you." Carousella said. "Run from danger."
"Well, how close is too close?" Petro asked.
"Good question." Crescent said. "You see this circle Anakin made around Gabby?"
The kids nodded.
"That's the safe distance to keep between you and a stranger."
"That's pretty far." Katooni said.
"Pretty far is good." Carousella said. "And this here is your safe side circle. Most of the time, it's invisible, not marked by pretty flowers. And if a strange adult ever crosses into your safe side circle, run and tell your safe side adult!"
Next lesson: Kinda-knows.
"What's a kinda know?" Boba asked.
"A kinda know is someone who's not your safe side adult, but you communicate with anyway because it's their job, or they might work with your Safe Side adults." Carousella explained. "People like your doctor, your dentist, your teachers, your parents' bosses at work or their friends. Even some of the Jedi are kinda knows. If they aren't your Safe Side adults, then you only kinda know them. So, if a kinda know asks you to go anywhere with them, don't go unless your Safe Side adult says it's okay."
"What if my parents aren't around?" Omega asked. "Or can't get to me? Like if I'm visiting a friend and they can't get to me because they get stuck working?"
"That is a very good question, Omega." Carousella said. "You should ask your parents to make a Safe Side adult list. All of you should. Have at least three safe side adults from each of your parents, the ones they trust the most to look after you if they're unavailable."
So, Omega did just that with her parents. And they made a list of the adults Padme and Anakin trusted the most to take care of their children if they couldn't get to them in time.
On Anakin's side, Qui-Gon was one Safe Side Adult for the kids since he was their grandfather. Their Uncle Carmine and Aunt Caroline were another two. And Obi-Wan was on that list too. The Bad Batch were counted especially for Omega as her Safe Side adults.
For Padme, her parents were on the list, and of course her sister Sola. And she counted her good friends Bail Organa and Mon Mothma as a pair of trusted adults who weren't related to her.
Carousella and Crescent then reviewed everything with the kids on Stranger Safety.
To summarize a few simple rules, don't go anywhere with a don't know or a kinda know unless your Safe Side adult says it's okay, run from danger, yell for help if danger does get near you, and know who all Safe Side adults are to stay safe.
Omega wasn't sure she could remember all that. And then came a day she went to a store with Caroline.
Caroline stopped to take a call, and Omega was playing a video game, when a strange adult came over to her.
"Hello, what's your name?"
"Aunt Caroline." Omega called loudly enough to get her aunt's attention.
Caroline came over to her niece, and the stranger went away.
"Are you okay, Sweetie?" Caroline asked.
"I'm fine." Omega said. "Some strange guy just came to me and asked my name."
"Did you tell him?"
Omega shook her head. Caroline smiled and praised Omega for what she did.
"That was very smart, Omega. You remembered what you learned."
Omega felt pretty good about remembering what she learned. Until one day...
"You're coming with me, little girl." said Bane, trying to take Omega.
"HELP! THIS ISN'T MY DAD!" Omega screamed.
And her parents came running for her, but sadly they couldn't rescue her this time, but luckily for her, someone else did, and she would be safely returned to her family very soon.