Disclaimer: Hmm... No beard, no ranch, no money... I DON'T OWN STAR WARS, PEOPLE!
As I turned on the holo-projector and stared at the two figures, I wondered who they were. But I knew that Uncle Owen wouldn't tell me, and Aunt Beru probably didn't know. They'd tell me to stop fooling around with the stuff in the garage.
The figures were both human, one was a man, the other, a woman. A younger Owen and Beru? No, it couldn't be. He had lighter hair, and her hair was dark.
She was walking into the garage. The audio track was messy, at best, and only chunks of words could be understood.
"I— som— ar— gry?" is all I could hear of what she said.
He was fixing a part of a swoop bike. I couldn't tell what he was doing exactly, but he didn't even look at her. "The shifter— oke. Life— so much—"
I paused the recording, and looked at the data chip. There was dirt on the edge, so I brushed it off and pushed it back in.
The track began again. "I brought you something. Are you hungry?"
My eyes darted over to the man, whose back was to the holocam. "The shifter broke. Life seems so much simpler when you're fixing things." I had to agree with him on that. But he hadn't seemed really focused on his work. He seemed distracted. "I'm good at fixing things. Always was. But I couldn't…"
He looked over to her, an angry look on his face." Why did she have to die? Why couldn't I save her? I know I could have!"
At that moment I understood his sadness. She spoke again, trying to comfort him. "Sometimes there are things that no one can fix. You're not all-powerful, Ani—"
Ani? Was that the man's name?
"Well, I should be!" He snapped. "Someday I will be. I will be the most powerful Jedi ever!" He was a Jedi? "I promise you!"
Obviously he didn't keep his promise. The Jedi are extinct.
"Anakin…" She trailed off.
Ani was a nickname, I guess. For this person called Anakin. But who was the woman?
The holo was confusing. "It's all Obi-Wan's fault! He's… He's jealous! HE'S HOLDING ME BACK!" He threw something, probably a tool, into the back room.
"What's wrong, Ani?"
Anakin was almost looking directly at the holocam. "I… I killed them. I killed them all. They're dead." He turned so I couldn't see his face, but I could see the shock on hers. "Every single one of them. And not just the men. But the women. And the children, too! They're like animals. And I slaughtered them like animals. I HATE THEM!" I could almost feel his anger. Maybe he was talking about grandma and the Tusken Raiders.
He leaned against the workbench and sat down. She
crouched down next to him.
"To be angry is to be human," she said comfortingly.
Anakin shook his head. "I'm a Jedi. I know I'm better than this."
They were silent for a moment.
"I'll let you get back to your work," she finally said, standing up.
"No, Padmé. I want you to stay here," he pleaded. Padmé? Is that the pretty girl's name? That's not a name you would hear on Tatooine.
"Ani, I think you need some time alone."
"Please."
Then the recording ended.
I bit my lip. Who were those people? Who did Anakin kill? Why were they here?
So many questions.
"Luke?" Aunt Beru called. "I need you to come set the table!"
I stood up, retrieved the data chip, and ran back to the house.