Chapter 11

A couple of days later, Khunth woke up from his hibernation trance by the sound of his fighter automatically exiting hyperspace. Right outside the viewport was the planet Dantooine. Taking a deep breath, he flew the ship down to where he knew one of the Jedi outposts lay.

This is it; there's no turning back now. What will this accomplish except land me in prison, in isolation? I know what will happen if I continue on my course; I also know what might happen if I remain with the Sith. It is better this way. I do not wish to harm another friend. He landed the fighter gently on a patch of grass and shut down the engines.

I trust that Anakin is keeping you safe, my padawan. I'm sorry I couldn't make things work out. It is hard being a Master – much harder then I believed it would be. I failed as a padawan when my Master was killed, I failed as a friend when Garen was killed, and I failed as a Master when you left with Anakin. How can one live with so many failures? He walked toward the rising sun for about a mile before coming upon what seemed to be an old stone shack covered with moss.

Fear is of the Dark Side; I know this yet I'm afraid. Afraid of the Dark Side, afraid of failing, afraid of having to kill in self-defense when it's against a friend, afraid to fulfill a friend's wishes. That is why I ran. I was afraid, afraid of what might or could have happened, afraid of being alone. My conscience weighs heavy with guilt, so much guilt.

Two Jedi emerged from the shack and immediately took him prisoner when they recognized Khunth. /Forgive me/ he whispered through the still shielded bond.

Drengin felt the engines cut as they landed in the outskirts of Mos Espa. Smiling, he finished putting on his boots and ran for the ramp.

"Don't be in such a hurry, Drengin," Anakin called from the cockpit, sensing Drengin's excitement at being on a different planet. "It's not like Tatooine is going to disappear or anything."

Drengin's cheeks pinked in embarrassment as he stood in front of the ramp's opening mechanism.

Anakin came up behind Drengin and pulled the hood of his dark brown cloak over his head to hide his face. "Now you may open the ramp."

Drengin didn't hesitate and pressed the button. Before the ramp even hit the ground, Drengin was running down the ramp. Anakin rolled his eyes and chuckled as he finished waiting for the ramp to lower.

Drengin jumped off the ramp and ran a few feet before stopping to take a look at his surroundings. Everywhere he looked he saw endless miles of sand. "Where's Mos Espa?" Drengin asked in puzzlement.

Anakin came up to stand beside Drengin and pointed to the north. "You see that shimmering outline over there that looks like a mirage?"

Drengin nodded his head as he looked on.

"Well, that's Mos Espa. From a distance it blends in with the sand and can be easy to miss if you don't know what you're looking for."

"Oh," Drengin answered as Anakin started walking. "So, where are we going first?"

"I figure we can stop by one of the shops," Anakin replied, staring straight ahead. The closer they got to Mos Espa, the harder it was for Anakin to continue toward it. It had seemed so easy, to go back to the planet where he had been born. But now, now it took all of his willpower to put one foot in front of the other.

Drengin sensed Anakin's hesitation and grasped Anakin's left hand with his and smiled up at Anakin.

Anakin managed a weak smile and glanced at Drengin. "I'll be fine."

A couple of minutes later they entered Mos Espa and headed to a small square that housed some shops. Everything Anakin saw brought back old and forgotten memories. Some were happy, while others were unpleasant and sad. Anakin bit his lip as they stepped into a shop, the same shop that he had once worked in as a slave. At the counter sat Watto working on a broken electronic driver.

"Chut Chut, Watto," Anakin said to get the Toydorian's attention.

Watto looked up in surprise, startled that he hadn't heard them come in. "Ke booda?"

"Di nova, chut chut," Anakin repeated.

"No wega mi condorta?" Watto asked, looking at Anakin's hooded form, his wings twitching nervously.

Anakin noticed Watto's nervousness and picked up the part Watto had been working on. "Ding mi chasa hopa."

Drengin listened in fascination as the other two conversed in Huttese. He had heard Huttese before, but never learned the language. Now he silently wished he knew what they were saying.

"I'm looking for information," Anakin told Watto in Basic. "Do you still have the Skywalkers' possessions?"

Watto again tried getting a glimpse under Anakin's hood but was unsuccessful. "Ah'chu apenkee?"

Anakin smiled and with twist of his hand the electronic driver hummed to life with a soft whir and landed gently on the counter.

"Ani?" Watto questioned in disbelief.

"Tagwa Watto," Anakin answered as he removed the hood that covered his face.

Watto jumped a bit in his seat as his eyes widened. "It is you, Ani!" he exclaimed happily. "You sure have sprouted!"

Drengin laughed softly at this remark and spotted a faint red on Anakin's cheeks. "I didn't know you could get embarrassed," Drengin said innocently, ducking to avoid a gentle swat from Anakin's hand.

"Really, now, Drengin? Why don't you wait outside while Watto and I chat?"

Drengin stuck out his lower lip and reluctantly went outside.

Anakin shook his head and turned to look back at Watto. "As I was saying, do you still have them?"

Drengin sat down on the dusty street and leaned against the shop wall, his knees tucked up against his chest. "This is no fun and I'm hot," he sulked quietly.

"Hey, you!" someone shouted across the street.

Drengin looked up to see a male Dashade walking up to him.

"Do you know where I can find a good deal for special merchandise on this dustball?" the Dashade asked in a rough voice.

Drengin shook his head. "No, I don't – this is my first time on this planet."

The Dashade snorted in disgust. "Sorry to bother you." With that he turned around and headed back down the street.

Drengin stood up and headed back inside to where Anakin was still talking with Watto.

Watto was now on the other side of the counter sitting on a stool across from Anakin. "Kitster was bought about ten years ago by an outlander, I believe."

"You're sure about that?" Anakin asked.

"Look, Anakin, you can't expect me to have kept track of all of your friends' whereabouts."

Anakin drummed his fingers on the counter and then with a heavy sigh he looked back at Watto. "I suppose not. I was kind of hoping you would know anyway."

A small pit droid walked up to them and held out a small container to Anakin which he readily took.

"What is that?" Drengin asked as he moved a stool so that he could sit by Anakin.

The container opened with a soft click and Anakin looked inside at its contents. "It's all that is left of my mom's possessions," he answered softly as he took out a small necklace and handed it to Drengin. "This was a japor snippit I had carved for her when I was eight years old. She wore it every day."

"Oh," Drengin responded as he looked it over. "I didn't know you could carve," he remarked, trying to lighten the heavy atmosphere that hung in the room.

Anakin managed a sad smile before taking another item out of the box. With trembling hands he activated the holo picture. A tear escaped his eyes as he saw the smiling face of his mother holding him when he was a year old.

"She was very pretty," Drengin commented as he saw the picture.

Anakin nodded and put the holo picture back into the container. "She was."

Watto grunted and scratched under his chin. "A good worker too – never complained. Speaking of which, you wouldn't mind helping me get some reliable workers would you?"

Anakin looked up at Watto, automatically flicking off the holo picture. "Forget it, Watto. Besides, we can't stay here that long."

Watto's shoulders sagged in defeat. "You're probably right. It would be a bad idea, anyway."

Drengin looked at them back and forth in confusion. His gaze finally settled on Anakin and he looked at him questioningly.

Sensing Drengin's confusion, Anakin looked at Drengin and gave a small smile. "What Watto was really trying to ask was if I would work here with him again."

"Oh," Drengin replied.

"Kikyuna." Watto said to Anakin. "I have something for you that I've kept safe."

Anakin watched Watto curiously as Watto rummaged through a cabinet of parts in a corner.

Watto came back holding a light blue container with an unknown black script written on the two long sides. It is a gift from someone who was a friend of mine. He wanted you to have it."

Anakin took the container in his hands and rubbed his right hand over the top length of it. With a tiny prodding of the Force, the cover popped open and Anakin looked inside. What he saw sent his heart racing. Inside, cushioned by a thick purple material lay a lightsaber.

"A lightsaber?" Drengin remarked when he saw what was in the container.

Anakin's hand trembled as he touched the lightsaber's sleek silver surface. Ancient words written in black were inscribed on the lightsaber and the bottom of the hilt was imbedded with crystals that were, green, blue, yellow, orange, red, and a pearl white one in the center.

Taking hold of the handle, Anakin picked it up. Thousands of sensations ran through Anakin, as if generations of voices were all trying to speak at once. The lightsaber fit his hand as if it had been made for him Anakin noted as he stood up and tested its weight.

"What color is it?" Drengin asked.

Anakin activated the saber, revealing a saber color of sea blue. He gave it a few test swings, pleased by the feel. He stopped suddenly, shut down the blade and returned the lightsaber to its container.

Drengin sensed Anakin's mood shift and asked, "What's wrong?"

Shaking his head, as if to caste away a disturbing thought, Anakin answered. "Its nothing," He looked at Watto who was watching him patiently. "What was his name?"

Watto's wings drooped as he sat on the counter. "I can not tell you because he made me forget his name."

"You let him." Anakin remarked, recalling that Toydorians were very good at preventing invasions into their minds.

"I did." Watto admitted.

Anakin sighed and ran his free hand through his hair. "Can you tell me anything about him then?"

"Only that I was supposed to keep you and your mother from harm." Watto responded. "I could have left this business long ago, my friend had paid me enough currency to live in luxury,"

Anakin's gaze narrowed as Watto continued.

"You and your mother were never really slaves. I freed you both when I bought you and your mother, but kept up the guise that you both were slaves like my friend instructed me to."

When Anakin spoke, his first word came out like a squeak. "Your friend sold us to you to protect us? Why?"

"I canna say. I do know I failed you and your mother when the Sith came." Watto said in a sorrow filled voice. Suddenly life seemed to fill Watto as he sprung from the table and hovered in front of Anakin. "I did not fail completely, somehow, because your back and haven't killed me yet like the Sith was planning to have you do."

So many secrets. "Was he a Jedi?" Anakin asked.

"I dunno. He had a lightsaber, but didn't wear the clothes of a Jedi or a Sith." Watto replied, rubbing his chin. He chuckled and continued, "He was a good negotiator. Kept a fight from breaking out in my shop once, he even helped me to fix some things out back for a few days."

Drengin cut in before Anakin could formulate a response. "He's dead?"

Watto flew around to the other side of the counter and began to work on another part. "He routinely called to check up on things. The last time he called…" Watto stopped and stared Anakin in the eyes, "He told me to give you his gift when I felt the time was right."

"We should be going now," Anakin abruptly said as he stood up, the two containers with their precious contents in his left hand. "It was good to see you again, Watto."

"Chess ko, Anakin. Tatooine is more dangerous than it was ten years ago." Watto warned, nodding his head. "May the Force be With You."

Anakin nodded and pulled his hood back over his head as he and Drengin left the shop.

Mace Windu reclined lazily on the sofa in the small lounge of the ship, sipping a glass of Juma juice. "It's good to be finally away from that place," he remarked to his companion who sat at a computer terminal. "I must admit that I was surprised Master Yoda pulled us from our undercover work."

Dooku turned around to face the brown skinned Master with an upraised eyebrow. "More like shocking. I mean, you are the only Jedi that managed to get on the Sith Council – how, I still don't know – but you were in a very beneficial position there."

"And dangerous," Mace added, taking another sip from the glass. "I'm sure Master Yoda knows what he's doing."

Dooku grunted in disagreement. "I don't like this. At the rate this is going, the impending war with the Sith may not happen for a long time."

"Unless of course the Sith find out where we are and begin the war first," Mace put in solemnly.

"I pray that doesn't happen. The results would be disastrous, not only for us but for those who have allied with us," Dooku remarked before turning back to the computer console.

Mace nodded and placed his empty glass onto the table. "It would be. We're not ready yet for a confrontation." Standing up, he stretched. "I think its time for a long overdue chat with Master Yoda."

Dooku smiled as he examined the last few stops he was going to have to make. "Better get going, then. You have exactly ten minutes until I cut the comm. system when we leave hyperspace."

"That'll do perfectly," Mace agreed as he headed into the cockpit.

Master Yoda emerged from his meditation in his quarters as the comm unit beeped repeatedly. Hopping down from his meditation platform, he headed over to the comm unit and turned it on to see a face he hadn't seen in a long time. "Good to see you safe it is, Master Windu."

Mace bowed in respect. "It is good to see you as well, Master Yoda."

"Looking forward to your report we are when return you do. A question have you?" Yoda asked, sensing that Mace didn't call just to catch up on the Temple news.

"Yes, Master Yoda. Are we ever going to tell the rest of the Council members the truth of the padawans' supposed turning?"

Yoda's ears drooped as he sighed. "A great disturbance in the Force originating from the Sith Temple I sense. Unwise to reveal the truth now it would be."

Mace's face remained cool and collected as he gave Yoda the most recent update. "Garen Muln is dead, and Bruck Chun is missing. I fear Obi-Wan is lost to the Dark Side."

Yoda's ears drooped even more at this news. "Terrible this news is; more to add have you?"

"Skywalker has left the Temple as well, along with Bruck's apprentice," Mace added, swallowing down a lump in his throat. "I do not know where they are headed or why they left. The Sith Council was in an uproar when they found out Skywalker was gone." Mace thought he saw a smile appear on Master Yoda's face, but it quickly vanished behind Yoda's emotionless mask.

"Unexpected this is. Perhaps not a total failure their mission was," Yoda mused.

Mace slowly shook his head. "Skywalker is arrogant, hot-headed, and self-centered. Forgive me, but I don't believe Skywalker will ever join us. He has been lost to us ever since the Sith found him."

Yoda raised his eyebrow at Mace's words. "Stayed too long with the Sith you have," Yoda admonished him. "Clouded your mind they have. Meditate on your words and your thoughts you will."

Mace's forehead furrowed as he frowned, his still tender hold on the light slipping as he retorted in disrespect, "You have not even seen Skywalker, yet you defend him? Master Yoda, if you had seen half of the things that he—"

Yoda looked at Mace sternly, "Think you that know more you do? Lived over 800 years and seen many beings have you?" Yoda let a few seconds slide to allow the questions to sink into Mace's mind. "Question my judgment of the boy you may not. Meditate on your behavior you will," Yoda said and promptly turned off the comm. unit.

Mace stomped back into the lounge and was greeted by a smiling Dooku. "Received a reprimand, did you? Let me guess: you have to meditate on your words, thoughts and behavior."

Mace muttered something under his breath about troublesome trolls and looked up at Dooku, his eyes flashing angrily. "Were you listening in?"

"Oh, now really, Mace, my friend," Dooku said, feigning hurt at Mace's accusation. "Do you think so little of me? However, if you must know, after the last ten stops I made it has become a routine. I retrieve an undercover Jedi, they talk to Yoda, they get a reprimand, and then they go meditate in the cargo bay," Dooku responded, as if from memory. "The Sith have made you all so moody."

Mace snorted and stomped away to the cargo bay. "No – it is the old troll's fault," he grumbled under his breath.