The Lost Ones Part 3

Nar Shaddaa.

The small moon that orbited the planet Nal Hutta had once been an oasis of cool green forests and sparkling lakes. That was before the Hutts came. The vile gangster slugs seemed to defile everything they touched and Nar Shaddaa was no exception.

Luke grimaced as he stood at the foot of the ramp to the Naboo Angel. Noxious fumes permeated the air and garish, grimy buildings formed the landscape as far as the eye could see.

Anakin joined him, also wearing an expression of distaste. "It's criminal how the Hutts have destroyed this place. Now, Luke, we must be extremely careful. Nar Shaddaa is a refuge for the galaxy's most notorious villains."

"I know. I've heard Han talk about this place. And," he grinned at his father. "I'm not Luke now. I'm Grant Skeal and you're my father, Pax."

Anakin grinned back and ruffled his son's hair. "Okay, then, 'Grant.' Let's go."

They left the spaceport and made their way along the crowded street. Normally, the sight of two Jedi strolling around the downtown district would have caused passersby to cast surreptitious glances in their direction and many would have kept their distance or chosen an alternate route. But Luke and Anakin were projecting different images to the people on the street.

Instead of being tall, blond, and blue-eyed, Anakin had chosen to appear as a short, squat dark-haired man with green eyes. Luke seemed to be taller, more muscular, with brown hair and eyes. They had taken on the aliases Pax and Grant Skeal, father and son shipping merchants from Corellia. Luke had argued that they ought to pretend to want to purchase slaves. That would be the easiest way to gain access to the slave auction records, but Anakin had refused. Even in pretense, he could not play a role in the slave trade. The old pain and humiliation of his childhood slavery was too deeply entwined in his soul.

So instead they were using the cover story that they were searching for information on some associates who might have been captured by pirates and sold into slavery.

"Won't someone wonder why we're just now looking for people kidnapped seventeen years ago?" Luke had asked during the trip to Nar Shaddaa from Roon.

"Hopefully, we won't have to mention a specific year," Anakin had replied. "I'm going to use the Force to convince them to leave us alone with the records."

"Will the Hutts themselves be in control of the records?" Luke had responded. "Because if so, your plan may not work, Father. Jabba was highly resistant to mind suggestions."

Anakin had considered. "I don't think it's a native trait of Hutts in general. Some are more susceptible than others, like any group. But if my idea doesn't work, we'll just have to be creative. Perhaps we could sneak in."

They had been sitting on the sofa in the lounge, and Luke had scooted closer to Anakin and tentatively touched his hand. "Father, can I ask you something?"

"Of course," Anakin had smiled warmly at him.

"What was your life like as a slave?"

Anakin had been silent for so long that Luke had begun to think he might not answer. But finally he had. "Well, I suppose I was luckier than many slaves. I don't remember being owned by Gardella the Hutt, and Wattoo wasn't a terrible master. I actually think he was fond of my mother and me, in his own way. And my mother filled my life with love. I was a happy child. Still, by the time Qui-Gon found me, I had begun to realize the restrictions and difficulties of being a slave. I had many dreams for the future that I could see weren't possible for a slave. I had noticed that other people were prejudiced against slaves and was ashamed of that. I'm sure it would have become more difficult to accept as I grew older, if I hadn't been sent away with the Jedi."

"I've sometimes thought that you were still kind of a slave," Luke had said hesitantly. "I mean, you had to accept all the rules of being a Jedi and they sounded pretty restrictive, too. It's one thing to choose the life of a Jedi on your own, but you were so young, you didn't know what you were getting into."

And don't forget the other Jedi were chosen as infants. None of us knew what we getting into ahead of time," Anakin had agreed. "But you're right. And once I turned to the dark side, I was more a slave then than ever before. I was just too blind to see it. Truly, I was a slave for most of my life until you came and set me free." He had reached out to slide his fingers through Luke's hair. "I can never thank you enough, son. But I have devoted the rest of my life to taking care of you and Leia. I want you to know that."

"I do, Father," Luke had leaned close and Anakin's arm slid around his shoulders.

"Can I ask you something else?" Luke had asked, even more uncertainly.

"You know you can."

"Well, with your past, how could you support slavery in the Empire?"

"How could I support anything about the Empire?" Anakin had sighed and shook his head. "Same old reason, I suppose. I didn't like the slavery, just as I didn't like many of the things Palpatine did, but I saw it as necessary. Using slaves saved a great deal of money. That money could be used to strengthen the Empire. Once the Empire was strong enough to defeat all opposition, then it could bring stability to all the beings of the galaxy. I saw slavery as a temporary means to bring great good to the majority of the Empire's citizens. Although by the end, I was becoming disillusioned. It was obvious the Empire didn't really need the slaves and still Palpatine wouldn't free them. It was one more reason I had become eager to overthrow him."

After a few moments of silence Anakin had said bleakly, "I was such a fool. How can you forgive me and love me, Luke?"

"Because you saw the truth and came back to us," Luke had answered as he'd given his father a hug.

Anakin had returned the embrace, feeling overwhelmed with love for his son. His dear, courageous son who had risked everything to save him. They had sat close together in silence for awhile before resuming their plans.

Now on Nar Shaddaa, they headed for the slave marketplace. They moved along briskly, keeping close together, and not sparing a glance at the numerous shops and cantinas along the way.

Both father and son used the Force to enhance their senses and awareness. Nar Shaddaa was a haven for cutthroat criminals and no one would look twice if someone stabbed a passerby in the back and grabbed his wallet.

Just as they reached an intersection, Luke felt a slight pressure along the side of his cloak. Without turning his head, he swiftly ignited his lightsaber and spun around, suddenly finding himself face to face with a boy who couldn't be more than ten years old.

The child gasped and leaped back, ready to run, but Anakin was quicker. He grabbed the boy's arm. "Not so fast there, my young friend."

"Let me go! I didn't do anything!" the boy protested.

"Oh? Then why is my son's credit bag in your hand?" Anakin indicated the small leather pouch held tightly in the child's fist. "I suppose he dropped it along the way and you were just returning it, right?"

"Right," the boy narrowed his eyes and replied through gritted teeth.

"Why don't we continue this discussion somewhere else?" Luke suggested as he deactivated his saber and fastened it back on his belt. The crowd around them had mysteriously vanished, but Luke wasn't sure where they'd gone or if they'd be coming back to attack. Surely people recognized a lightsaber and he was certain Jedi would not be welcome here.

Holding the boy in a firm grasp between them, Anakin and Luke ducked down a side street that was partially sheltered by trash bins. The odor was unpleasant, but it was private.

"Okay, then, why don't you explain just what you thought you were doing back there?" Anakin asked.

The boy clamped his lips together and gazed at him defiantly, but Anakin and Luke could sense fear behind the façade of bravado.

"Look, you don't have to be afraid," Luke told him gently. "We're not going to hurt you. Right, Father?"

"Of course not," Anakin maintained his hold on the boy's arm, but his voice and his features softened. The boy really was very young. And now that he could get a good look at him, the boy reminded him of his own son. He had the same wiry, but strong build that Luke had, and straw-colored hair. There were some difference, of course. The boy's jaw was more square and his eyes were green rather than blue, but still, Luke must have looked something like this once. It was also a painful reminder that if Obi-Wan, the Lars, and the Organas had not been willing to look after the twins, his own children could have ended up stealing and begging on the streets.

The boy's eyes flicked back and forth between them, but he still didn't speak.

"Where are your parents?" Anakin asked more gently.

The boy gave a small shrug. "I don't have any."

"Then who looks after you?" Luke inquired.

This earned him a scornful look. "Nobody. I look after myself."

"How long have you been on Nar Shaddaa?" Luke asked again. He found it difficult to believe that a young child could survive for long on this moon without any protection.

"I dunno. A long time. I'm not going back to those slave quarters!" Abruptly the child twisted in Anakin's grip, trying to break free, but Anakin held on tightly and Luke also reached to restrain him.

"Take it easy," the young Jedi said reassuringly. "We won't send you back there. We want to help."

The boy looked at him disbelievingly, but he did stop struggling.

"Slave quarters," Anakin murmured. "Apparently the New Republic hasn't been as successful at ending the slave trade as we thought"

"You're a slave?" Luke questioned.

"Not anymore." The boy studied him a long time, and then he seemed to realize that Luke and Anakin were potential friends rather than enemies. "I ran away a few weeks ago. I met up with some other kids who live on the streets. They've been helping me get along. We beg, pick pockets, do whatever, to get enough money for food and blankets. But we don't hurt anyone. Here's your money back," he thrust the bag at Luke. "Now, let me go, okay?"

"No, not okay," Anakin responded. "We can't just let you and your friends go on living this way. Surely there must be an orphanage or someplace you could be looked after."

The boy looked at him as if he were crazy. "Not on Nar Shaddaa, there isn't."

Luke and Anakin exchanged glances. This boy was throwing a detour into their plans, but it couldn't be helped. They had to try to help him and the other children.

/There's a home for orphans on Coruscant. I've heard Lando and Leia talking about it./ Luke sent to his father.

/Yes, we could take them there./ Anakin agreed. /At least temporarily. This boy is Force-sensitive./

/I know. Another padawan, maybe?/

/Perhaps./ Anakin refocused on the child who was eyeing them suspiciously. "What's your name?"

He hesitated, then said. "Gil. No last name. Just Gil."

"Well, Gil, my son and I have some business to complete on Nar Shaddaa, but then we could take you and the others to an orphanage on Coruscant. You'd be taken care of and they might even find a family to adopt you."

"Don't need a family," Gil snapped. "I'm doing fine by myself. Besides, how do I know you're telling the truth? You could be pirates or something just trying to kidnap us. Decent people don't come to Nar Shaddaa."

Luke smiled. "You're here, aren't you?"

"Not cause I want to be," Gil retorted. "My folks were slaves and we all got sent here a long time ago when our master sold us."

"What happened to your parents?" Luke wanted to know.

"Oh, they got sold again when I was little. I lived with some slaves near the auction til a few weeks ago. We heard rumors that the New Republic was coming to make sure the slave trade had ended and the Hutts were trying to sell off all the slaves as fast as possible. I got a chance to run away so I did," He frowned at them. "And I still don't know if you're telling the truth."

"Search your feelings. Can't you sense the truth?" Anakin asked.

"Huh?" Gil just looked confused.

"Don't you have hunches or feelings about things? Like if something is safe or dangerous? Or if people are lying?" Luke elaborated.

"Yeah, sometimes I do. How do you know?" Gil was eyeing them curiously now.

"My father and I are Jedi. We can channel the Force. That's kind of like an energy field all around us. The Force gives us the ability to do certain things," Luke tried to explain.

"What kind of things?"

"Changing our appearance, for one." Luke exchanged another glance with his father and, as Anakin nodded, they both let their false appearances vanish for a moment so Gil could see how they truly looked. As he stared bug-eyed, Anakin added. "You have the potential to learn to use the Force, too. So you can sense if we're being honest. We just want to help you."

Gil shool his head in amazement. "I don't understand that energy field stuff, but changing your appearance is pretty cool. I'd love to be able to do that. All right. I'll take you to the others."

He led them down one narrow street after another. Luke was beginning to wonder if he were taking them on a wild fraize chase when the boy ducked into a building so decrepit even a lyr-rat would have avoided it.

Inside were seven young people ranging in age from children about the same age as Gil to one young man who looked almost as old as Luke. When Gil entered with two strangers, they all leaped up in alarm.

"Gil!" The young man exclaimed angrily. "Who are they?" He drew a blaster and glowered at them with hard, flinty eyes. With a sinking heart, Luke recognized a cold, unfeeling nature in him. This one would be hard, if not impossible, to rehabilitate. He had spent too much time on the cruel streets of Nar Shaddaa.

"They're friends, Robar. Really. They're Jedi," Gil said.

"Nobody has friends on Nar Shaddaa," Robar replied. "Why'd you bring them here? You know better."

"They want to help us. We can go with them to an orphanage on Coruscant. We'd have enough food to eat and a place to stay. We wouldn't have to steal and beg just to get by," Gil's voice grew slightly wistful.

Most of the other children looked at the Jedi eagerly, but Robar laughed scornfully. "Yeah, dream on, kid. And speaking of getting by, I hope you picked up more than these two today. You don't contribute anything, you don't eat."

"There's no need to worry about that anymore," Luke told them. "There's plenty of food on our ship. You can wait there while Father and I complete our business and then we'll take you to Coruscant."

"I don't know who you are, but you can't just come in and tell us what to do," Robar seemed even angrier. He hadn't lowered the blaster.

"We mean no harm," Anakin spoke quietly, in a conciliatory tone even as he kept a sharp eye on Robar. "We want to help."

"We don't need your help!" Robar snapped.

"I do," a girl piped up. "I'm tired of living here and always being afraid, always having to scrounge for everything."

"Me, too," several others chorused.

"Then get out and go," Robar said coldly. "I'm better off on my own."

Some of the children cast nervous glances at him, but they all followed the Jedi. As they left, Luke looked back at him, too, wanting to say something to persuade him to also come, but Anakin spoke in his mind. /We can't make him leave against his will, son. He's old enough to make his own decision./

/I suppose./ Luke sighed. /I just wish it weren't too late for him./

/You always want to save everyone./ Anakin sent affectionately. /My good boy./

As soon as they had left, Robar pounded a fist against the wall in frustration. He'd enjoyed lording it over the children, bullying them on occasion. Even more important, they had been a source of income for him. Each one gave the money they earned to him. After buying a meager supply of food and clothing, he'd been stashing the rest away for himself. One day he'd purchase his own ship and get away from this miserable place. Now what would he do?

Suddenly he remembered Gil saying the two strangers were Jedi. He'd heard that the Hutts were willing to pay a large reward fro Jedi. All he had to do was follow them to their location, inform the Hutts, and perhaps he could buy that ship sooner than he'd expected.

Luke and Anakin got the children safely back to the Angel, where they prepared a meal, ordered them to stay on board, and then left again for the records building. This time they met with no interruptions and reached their destination without incident. Using their aliases and the Force, they convinced the workers, two young Hutts and a human, to let them have free access to all slave records. They quickly got to work searching through the data, beginning with the records from seventeen years ago and working their way towards the present. There was no mention of Betta and Keren.

"I suppose we'll just have to go to the Imperial worlds that used slaves and search there," Luke said after a moment.

"That's the only thing we can do, I guess," Anakin sighed. "It's going to take a while, isn't it, Luke? I suppose it was too much to hope that we could find them quickly. And what if we never do?" He bowed his head. If Betta and Keren were lost forever, his burden would be even more unbearable.

"Don't give up, Father. We could find them at the very next place," Luke said softly. "Where were most of the slaves sent?"

"Kessel. Another danger spot. I'm taking you on a most unpleasant of the galaxy, I'm afraid."

"That's all right. You know I'd rather be with you than anywhere else," Luke told him.

Before Anakin could respond, he felt a sudden sense of danger. Luke must have felt it, too, because he drew his lightsaber at the same instant his father did.

Robar burst into the room, leading a group of Hutts on repulsor-lift litters, humans, and other aliens. They drew blasters and began firing.

The Jedi parried each shot and worked their way towards the door. A Rodian aimed at Luke, who had his back turned defending himself against three Gamorreans. Anakin lunged and just managed to deflect the shot. "Go!" he shouted and they dove out the door.

Anakin used the Force to slam the door behind them, and Luke sliced through the locking mechanism with his lightsaber blade. "That won't hold them for long."

"Probably calling for reinforcements now," Anakin agreed. "Come on, they'll be expecting us to go out a doorway. We'll head for the roof."

"The roof?" Luke looked doubtful, but just then a door at the far end of the corridor opened and more guards came racing towards them.

Father and son ran around the corner. Anakin caught sight of a turbo- lift. He grabbed Luke's arm and steered him into it.

Once on the roof they raced to the edge. Peering down fifty stories to the ground, Luke felt his stomach tighten uneasily. He'd never really liked heights, and ever since Bespin, he'd felt distinctly queasy when confronted with them. He could handle it. He had on Jabba's Sail Barge and at the Ewok village, but he didn't like heights and probably never would.

"We can use the Force to slow our fall. Once we're on the street we can change our appearance again and blend in with the crowd," Anakin instructed. When Luke didn't respond, he glanced over. "What is it?"

A voice shouted behind them and a shot narrowly missed Anakin.

"Nothing. Let's go," Luke summoned his courage and stepped over the edge, followed closely by his father.

The Force allowed them to float safely down. Landing in front of a side building, they disguised themselves as a Gamorrean and a Twi'lek. They quickly headed for the spaceport and a few minutes later, they were flying away from the dangers of Nar Shaddaa.