Disclaimer: See Chapter 1.
Author's Note :
Thanks to B for the help with the translation. We had a wonderful time, as always …
I started a Hidden Memories MSN group (for more information about updates and the progress of the story). Just click on homepage in my profile … ;-)
Now I humbly kneel before you and beg for forgiveness … I SHALL NEVER ABANDON YOU FOR A WHOLE YEAR EVER AGAIN … (well, maybe just six months grin)
No seriously, the story just won't leave me alone – I suffered a (serious) writers block and was about to give up, but I just couldn't… The story begs to be written…
So the good news … Next update won't take this long ;-) (I hope)
In the meantime, enjoy this chapter. And as always, reviews are GREATLY appreciated! They really make my day…
A special thank you to Stacey and Shea for beta-ing this story ….
CHAPTER 6
It was late. The day was coming to a close and soon a new dawn would rise. And yet there were still lights shining in many of the buildings, and this was no different in the rebuild Jedi-temple.
Entranced, Luke was staring at the figure before him. The shimmering silhouette looked nothing like the man whose mask he had removed 5 years ago. Anakin Skywalker was looking at his son with a calm, almost serene expression. Every trace of the anger and hate he had carried for most of his life seemed to have left his body. He was one with the Force again.
Yet his eyes… they radiated a deep sadness, thus betraying he hadn't completely dealt with his past. It's always easy to blame others for your mistakes, but Anakin realized he could not do this. He and only he was responsible for the many horrible dark deeds he had committed. He was more powerful than Palptine, he always had been. He could have put and end to it all. From the moment he learned that he was responsible for Padmé's... that he was responsible for the one thing that had driven him to the Dark Side… it was then that he should have realized he would never have everything under control, no matter how powerful he became…
But he choose a different path, one he now despised with all his heart to the very core of his soul, and for which he wanted forgiveness…
During his reminiscence, silence had fallen, not an uncomfortable, but a contemplative one. Luke felt the importance of the conversation and Anakin waited patiently for his son to ask him the one question he dreaded the most, but knew had to be asked… Luke had to understand…
"Why?"
The question was spoken softly, but it echoed through the large room as if a thousand victims pressed to know the answer too.
Anakin closed his eyes and let out a deep sigh. He answered softly: "For her. I did it all for her … your mother…"
32 BBY
The small workplace was stuffed to the brim with all kinds of junk and spare parts, always came in handy for fixing droids or other mechanics.
Diligently Anakin Skywalker was rummaging through the large garbage bin. To an outsider, it might seem the small boy was focused on his task, separating parts that still could have some use from those that were so worthless even Watto, despite all his selling skills, would not be able to "aan de straatstenen kwijtraken".
In reality, his mind was far, far away, thousands of light-years away from this musty dump and this restrictive planet. He was a Jedi and with his light saber he slashed his way through evil and injustice. He demanded the Hutts to release all the slaves. And his mother was so proud of him…
Anakin sighed and, with his dirty sleeve, rubbed the sweat of his brow. The harsh reality was very different; he shivered with disgust when he contemplated he might have to spend the rest of his life trapped on this remote and desolate planet, as Watto's slave. He knew there must be a different life, a better life, one where he didn't have to work because he was someone else's property but where he could work to achieve something; a life where his mother didn't have to run around in rags and where he would be able to offer her more… However, it seemed that that life was not for him. He was a slave, and always would be.
"Peedenkel! Naba dee unko!" (Boy, get in here! Now!)
Watto's hoarse voice startled his train of thought and he looked up. Quickly he wiped his hands on a cloth and hurried into the shop. It was only then that he heard other voices, and realized there were potential customers, ready to be conned by Watto.
Anakin noticed that the customer, a tall man with long hair tied in a ponytail and a neatly trimmed beard, would not be easily fooled. His light grey eyes were watching Watto appraisingly, as if they were trying to make out what was going on in the merchant's head.
The customer was accompanied by a creature Anakin had never seen before (and he had seen quite a few – since Watto was the only merchant in Mos Espa with that large a collection of spare parts, many stranded travelers from across the galaxy had to stop by). This particular creature was tall with a pinkish orange skin. His large, gangly ears gave him a somewhat clumsy, dim-witted expression and Anakin suspected his appearance wasn't misleading.
Then he saw her. She stood a bit hidden behind that strange creature, her face turned away from him. He had never seen someone that beautiful before. Despite her simple blue peasant clothes, she radiated something incredibly strong and almost regal. Her long dark hair was pinned up and her soft brown eyes were looking around the shop curiously.
Then her gaze fell upon him. In that instant, he knew he would marry her. He gave her a tentative smile, which she returned gay fully, unaware of the sudden surge of emotions this caused inside of him.
"Coona tee-tocky malia?" (What took you so long?)
Watto's voice jerked him rudely out of his daydreams.
"Mel tassa cho-passa…" (I was cleaning the bin like you…)
"Chut-chut," Watto interupted him. "Ganda doe wallya. Me dwana no bata." (Never mind, watch the store. I've got some selling to do," and he turned to the tall man. "So, let me take-a thee out back. You'll find what you need…"
The man and a small droid Anakin hadn't noticed before followed the shopkeeper and Anakin, the peculiar creature and the girl stayed behind in the shop.
He just couldn't help himself staring at her. She seemed to notice and gave a soft smile.
"Are you an angel?" Anakin finally got the courage to ask.
She looked surprised. "What?"
"An angel," he repeated. "I've heard the deep space pirates talk about them. The live on the Moons of Iego, I think." He bravely went on. "They are the most beautiful creatures in the universe. They are good and kind and so pretty they make even the most hardened space pirate cry…"
The girl looked at him in amused wonderment. "I've never heard of angels."
"You must be one … Maybe you just don't know it."
Now he she was thoroughly amused. "You're a funny little boy. How do you know so much?"
Anakin shrugged. "Since I was very little, three, I think. My mom and I were sold to Gardulla the Hutt, but he lost us betting on the Pod races to Watto, who's a lot better master then Gardulla, I think."
She looked at him incredulously. "You are a slave?"
Anakin glared at her and defiantly said: "I'm a person, and my name is Anakin."
She was taken aback by his sudden outburst and smiled apologetically. "I'm sorry," she gazed around, "This is a strange world to me."
He watched her intently and softly spoke to himself. "You are a strange girl to me."
The clumsy creature, who had stayed out of trouble far too long, chose that moment to touch a tiny droid, which began to cause havoc. When Anakin told him how to switch it off ("Hit the nose!"), Watto, the customer and the droid returned.
"We're leaving," the man said to the girl and the creature. They followed quickly, but just before leaving the shop, she gave him a final smile. "I'm glad I've met you …"
"Anakin."
"Anakin," she repeated a little embarrassed.
"Anakin Skywalker," he clarified.
"Padmé Naberrie."
And she was gone. But now he knew her name, and he had never heard anything so enchanting.
9 ABY
Leia looked up. There, in black and white in the fine, now so familiar handwriting, she saw the name written clearly. She felt a shiver pass through her. Slowly her fingers traced the two words she dreaded so much and yet was so curious about: Anakin Skywalker. She had just read how her parents first met.
Intrigued, Leia read the passage again…
The contrast between the social structure of Tatooine and that of Naboo is like day and night. The planet is governed through fear and repression, personified by the Hutts. The whole society lives of the back of something or someone and most of all of the slaves.
It's unbelievable that even now, in a time where the democracy of the Republic is so wide spread, a whole planet can thrive on slavery. It's very hard to accept this. Machines are valued more than the slaves. Everything here revolves around money and gambling; even human beings are used as collateral.
However, what worries me deeply is that the Jedi don't seem bothered by this. Master Qui-Gon Jinn even agreed to let a small slaveboy named Anakin Skywalker participate in one of those life threatening Podraces that are so popular around here. The stakes are the necessary parts for our ship.
Not only is it irresponsible that Master Qui-Gon puts our faith in the hands of that boy (there has to be an other way to get those parts!), he doesn't seem to mind that the boy's life is on the line.
For the time being I have to put my trust in the Jedi's insight, but I hope with all my heart he hasn't miscalculated the situation, for that would mean an irreparable blemish on their irrefutable reputation…
Leia reread the entry over and over again, soaking up every tiny bit of information.
She had a hard time believing the almighty Darth Vader was born as a slave – the irony didn't escape her.
Or maybe not. Maybe his overpowering tyranny had been some sort of revenge on all the years of repression he suffered in his childhood. You reap what you sow.
But when she reread where young Anakin Skywalker was mentioned, she came to the unexpected conclusion that he had been anything but a selfish or vengeful child.
On the contrary. It seemed he even had been willing to risk his life for stranded strangers to win the necessary parts for their spaceship.
Leia smiled. It felt good to know her father hadn't always been a monster. He had been willing to help people. Where did it all go wrong?
The princess looked at the name her mother had written down casually, probably with a great deal of gratitude for his help, but also with indifference; it was just a name of someone who had helped.
When would she realize or feel this name was going to mean more? Or that this name would be her downfall?
Eternal gratitude to all reviewers…
anneman : zoals altijd, echt dank u wel om het als niet-Star Wars liefhebber te willen lezen … Het was te denken dat ik nu natuurlijk weer aan het verhaal zou verder schrijven (ik ben zooooo voorspelbaar ;-)) Tot straks in Sin City ;-) grote van op afstand knuffel
KiTsTer-and-Annie: (wow, difficult nick ;-)), thanx!
K00lgirl1808: glad you like it …
TriGemini: In ROTJ, he already seems to sense Vader's presence… I guess Jedi just feel each other's presence, if they are open to it… Like Vader does with Obi-Wan in ANH … I hope you liked this chapter :-)
grace: thx, I hope you likes this chapter too
Jakia: I hope you liked this chapter too
Cinnamon: I'm so, so sorry, I really hope you're still out there, somewhere … and that you liked this chapter! Hugs!
ditto2001: oops, you are psychic ! "update soon as in next weekend, not next year …" I'm really ashamed… but I promise next update will be sooner :-)
HermOIne Granger : loooooool hugs
arthus: thank you, I hope you liked this chapter
Namonaki Pharaoh: thank you :-), hopefully, you likes this chapter too
Lochar: Hello there ! (to say it in Obi-Wan's words) – yeah, an evil cliffie, I LOOOOVE evil cliffies (except when I read them myself)… I hope everything is allright ? big hug - Oh and who says it was Leia's mother ? And thank you about the Author's Note : I didn't know that wasn't permitted anymore ….
Keirin-Sama: yep, it begins to unravel … hope you liked this chapter!
MaxCale: I hope you liked this chappie
Yasuko Stari: thank you :-)
Casperlily: thanks, and I'll keep writing ;-)
Michelleskywalker: and so I did …. I hope you likes this chapter too
Anarra: Thank you! Getting all the characters correct is really difficult (you always tend to play a little with them), so I'm really glad you think they all stay in character …
XxDarkGoddessxX: thank you so much, you make me blush. I hope you liked this chapter too :-)
Redemno: thanks ;-) , good to see I'm not the only lazy person in the universe ;-)
Minjonet: woow thank you for your nice review. I'm glad you find it believable … It's always difficult to stay with the characters (I always have to remind myself they aren't MINE characters, but this of the Bearded One, so I have to describe them the way he sees them)…
apple sauce the brave : (and the Award for most original nick goes to … : well, did he do some yapping ;-)?
Liam O'Mallon: thank you! I hope you likes this chapter too …
Slayer rock chick: yep Padmé's gonna come back ;-)
Kal's gal: I hope you liked this chapter :-)
Laura-chan: ooh from Italy … One of the most beautful countries in the world (as George also discovered ;)) … I've been to Venice one, and I certainly would like to return there. Since I've studied Latin for 7 years, I would certainly like to visit Rome or Pompei once … when I'll have enough money ;-) I hope you liked this chapter :-)