'Harvest' (Chapter Fourteen)
By Ennon
A/N- Miss Naye- Glad you think it's funny and thanks for staying with me! I hope other regulars will join/rejoin us soon!
CHAPTER BEGINS
In the six months since the Coruscant Five Million relocated to New Alderaan, Anakin helped them to remember such skills as constructing homes out of the rubble, how to pen in livestock, how to clothe and clean themselves, how to find fresh water and edible plants along with waste disposal. Anakin felt pulled in all directions with inquiries and demands for his teaching but seeing the faces of the other former slaves- (especially his many children) light up at his presence gave Anakin a great deal of purpose in those fledging times. New Aldera City was essentially rebuilt from the ground up by the sixth month and inhabitated by the largest colony of Freed Coruscantics who daily would walk to the surrounding countryside to find its food.
He and Artoo were doing their best to teach literacy to as many as possible who had been deprived of access to learning as slaves but with few holotexts around to be read, no way to produce new ones and little energy to even read the remaining holotexts. Anakin was somewhat hampered in his efforts to teach, but then he recalled Yoda having told Luke about how he'd kept detailed memories of Jedi days alive when he was all alone in exile in Dagobah with no access to holotexts- by chanting and singing. Anakin,thus, encouraged as many to chant everything from history, literature to scientific explanations and instructions. Still, there were other matters that didn't wait. .
"But why are we pulling these plows, Anakin?" Kitster the Wookie asked(in Wookiee)
"Because the banthas here haven't been trained and we need to make sure there's a steady food supply before the winter- and we're the strongest of them" Anakin replied while dragging the wooden plow while carrying a pouch over his chest containing his 2-month old son Obi-Wan Padtwinsib in New Alderaan right outside the New Aldera city remains.
"But I remember us Wookiees foraging and hunting for our food. Why can't the humans and others do that?" Kitster asked(in Wookiee) while guiding the plow as several of Anakin's children's mothers followed behind to spread the seeds in the freshly plowed soil..
"With five million from Coruscant and another 2 million that have joined us this past year, we can't rely on the plants and animals being hunted to extinction. Besides, these will be useful skills to learn when everyone resettles the rest of the galaxy," Anakin explained.
"But I'm no farmer! I have too much Wookiee in me!"Kitster protested(in Wookie).
"Our Founder Luke said he had too much of me in him to farm when he young!" Anakin laughed.
" I'd much rather you train me to be a New Jedi" Kitster protested (in Wookiee).
"Consider this part of the training! After Our Founder's wife Mara died, My True Master learned that growing things is a good solace and teacher of patience- and it helps us feel stronger in the Light Side!" Anakin declared as he turned the plow around while Kitster pushed it forward.
"Ani, did it help when the Angel Mother died eight years later?" asked 25-year-old the black haired Shmiree Padtwinsibsma as she carried their 2 month-old son Obi-Wan Padtwinsib in her carrying pouch while helping throw the seed.
"Luckily, I took to it before then- and she always enjoyed the brightness and fragrance of the blooms I'd grow for her right to the end," Anakin recalled.
"Until we re-awoke six months ago, I'd never even seen a flower. Now I can't imagine our child not growing up without them in our lives!" Shmiree declared as she scattered it forth.
"He sure is getting restless there! I'll miss being able to carry him around with me!" Anakin laughed as he kissed the top of his youngest child's head.
"I'll do whatever we need. You know that but I still don't think I'll ever like farming!" Kitster sniffed (in Wookiee).
"Shh! What's that?" Anakin said in alarm.
"I don't hear anything!" Kitster protested (in Wookiee).
"Listen to the Force instead of your ears! How many times do I have to. .?" Anakin whispered.
"You're right. It sounds like some kind of droid flying 20 light years past this system!" Kitster gasped (in Wookiee).
"23, actually but I'd say it's a Mong droid trying to seek us out. We need to concentrate the Force on that spot. Okay, everyone! NOW!" Anakin commanded verbally and via the Force.
"We. .did it!" Kitster exclaimed as every Force wielder could sense the droid being imploded in space 23 light-years away.
"Yes, we did but it was obviously one of thousands all seeking us out! They want to recapture and re-enslave us. They're frustrated with the fact that all their slaves now have their mother tongues and the older ones have memories of life before," Anakin groaned.
"What will we do?" Shmiree asked.
"We'll have to have an assembly to plan our next course of action but we can't just sit still and do nothing," Anakin declared.
After listening to a large number of chants and songs, the meeting came to order- and Anakin shocked everyone the hundreds of attendees (at the restored New Alderaan Royal Council Hall).
"That probe droid was one of thousands- not dissimilar to what I used when I was Our Founder's Enemy to seek him out 791 years ago," Anakin sighed.
"Why do you keep comparing yourself to monsters ?" one of Anakin's children's mothers named Bortai Padtwinsibma (a grey-haired woman aged 65) asked).
"Because I WAS a monster back then and can share the insights from that horrible time to help outflank other monsters," Anakin groaned.
"But you were in that horrible person's service. You told us about how he tricked you," Bortai gasped.
"Yes, but every cruelty I reveled in and wanton death I caused was of my own choice and volition back then. Pretending those choices I made and horrible actions I did were that wretch's responsibility and not my own would be dishonest and cowardly," Anakin sighed.
"But it's been centuries since then and you've walked in the Light Side all that time whenever possible," Jobal Padtwinsibma (another of Anakin's children's mothers in a brunette in her 40's) protested.
"True but that doesn't change what I did or restore life to those I crushed when I didn't, "Anakin groaned.
"Why are you rehashing that business again when we have to decide how to combat the Mong droids?" Kitster the Wookiee protested (in Wookiee).
"I must address those times so we can find insight into how to stop the Mong threat from hurting any one of us," Anakin sighed.
"But that droid was destroyed. Are you sure that will lead them to us?" Jobal (one of Anakin's children's mothers) asked.
"It may not be that hard for them to put together it was destroyed by the Force- and they could try to search for the Force's source. Then,too, if it's one of thousands, they could easily send another one that would spot us," Anakin groaned.
"Is there any way we can prevent them from sending them out,Father?" Anakin's son Qui-Gonn Padtwinsib (aged 23 who looked virtually like Anakin's own twin-for the time being) asked.
"If we could find their source. .." Anakin pondered.
"But the Quechu-Mong has millions of systems and is just as big as ours," groaned Bortai.
"Yes, but few of them are inhabited and it's all ruled by the Quechu whose system are surrounded by systems of the Mong who serve them and enslave us,"Kitster the Wookiee explained (unfortunately, in Wookiee).
"What did he say?" Anakin's son Qui-Gonn Padtwinsib asked.
"If only you'd stay for Wookiee lessons like your younger brothers Han and Kino do," Anakin sighed.
"But.. ." Qui-Gonn Padtwinsbib started to protest.
"Kitster was taken by them for a few years quite deep into their galaxy and just recalled that their entire galaxy is run by one system called the Quechu who have surrounded themselves by the Mong who serve them. By the Light Side, this may be even easier than My True Master, the New Alderaan Matriarch and their friends ending the Imperial Gap!" Anakin exclaimed while jumping a meter off the raised chamber.
"What kind of creatures are the Quechu?" asked Bortai (one of the mothers of Anakin's children).
Kitster the Wookiee growled a bit and then Anakin translated.
"He says he only saw one image of them on a monitor while they were talking to the Mong. .and they weren't creatures at all but. .. . DROIDS!" Anakin gulped.
"What! " the assembled group asked.
Kitster the Wookiee explained in more detail.
"They live in a system where no one but droids is allowed- not even their subject Mongs who do their dirty work for them in the surrounding systems ," Anakin translated in awe.
"Pops, maybe we should leave here," pondered a Corellian former slave descendent (by Padmé ) named Oscott Magnus (aged 24).
"No, we're starting to rebuild- and hopefully, we'll spread out and be able to teach the REST of the galaxy, but we need time so it looks like I'll have to go on a mission to the Quechu Core World in the Quechu-Mong Galaxy," Anakin gulped.
Everyone was quite appalled at what he was saying.
"But what if something happens who will. ..?" Anakin's onetime mate Bortai asked.
"Every life the Force touches is precious- whether we're Wielders or not. I've lived more than seven centuries more than the next eldest in my family and I no longer have regrets. I'm ready to meet My True Master and My Angel again and forever!" Anakin happily beamed.
"But what about the rest of us?" Shmiree (Anakin's onetime mate) asked.
" My grandson Prince Anakin Organa-Solo of New Alderaan and Naboo gave his all to keep our galaxy free of the Mong for almost seven centuries and I'm willing to follow in his heroic steps to keep all of you free!" Anakin exclaimed- while he noticed that Kino's many times great-nephew Oscott somewhat was oblivious to hearing about his heroic collateral ancestor again.
"But,Pops, how do you expect to sneak in there?" Oscott asked.
" Luckily, I remember something that was onloan from the Yavin New Jedi Museum Temple to the Royal New Alderaan Museum at the time of the Mong Invasion that could come in handy- and I think I know where the Museum's rubble pile may be," Anakin pondered.
"I've adjusted the Hyperdrive on the Mong Slaver Shuttle as you showed me. Anything else?" Anakin's 51-year-old son Patientless Padtwinsib asked while they were in the clearing of the shuttle.
"Just help fasten on this helmet. I'd forgotten how tricky it was to redo the collar clasps while wearing gloves- and I somehow don't feel like asking the Force to help me put this thing BACK on," Anakin groaned as he came up to the cargo door wearing a replica of. .. Darth Vader's Armor (although with plenty of room for Anakin's restored body and Anakin was able to breathe through the mouth area grid). and carrying Vader's Mask in his right hand.
"You actually WORE that thing for 23 years?" Patientless asked.
"I did, Son! If I put this mask on, I'll look every bit like a machine as those Quechu are," Anakin groaned.
"Are you sure about this?" Kitster the Wookiee asked (in Wookiee) as Artoo beeped his total agreement with Kitster.
"I already received Our Founder Luke's blessing on this . He knows that change comes from the inside out- not vice versa," Anakin sighed while he put Vader's Mask over his collar.
Artoo beeped a bit.
"Artoo, I wish you could come with me and Kitster but you're needed here. Think of all the classes you're teaching and I don't want to chance you being captured and changed into something you were never meant to be,Old Friend!" Anakin consoled as he hugged Artoo's lid.
"I'll help you take the Mask off when you need to eat and . .at other times,"Kitster the Wookiee sighed.
"It must be very uncomfortable inside that thing!"Patientless gulped.
"Not as bad as before," Anakin sighed.
"But those boots! You hadn't worn shoes in decades!" Kitster the Wookie gasped (in Wookiee).
"Better my toes temporarily imprisoned than the Coruscant Galaxy not being freed!" Anakin declared as he and Kitster walked up the ramp to the cheers of the millions of former slaves on New Alderaan.
Two months later, having successfully passed through more than a dozen Mong check points, they were able hover over the Quechu-Mong capital planet of Quechu and both were quite amazed to see what a sterile environment it was with the entire planet covered in buildings but, of course, not a living being to be seen (not even a Mong)- only the Quechu droids themselves.
"Didn't you say Coruscant looked similar to this before they invaded it and took everyone away?" Kitster asked in Wookiee.
"Actually, yes," Anakin gulped.
"And you want to rebuild that planet just like THIS? I'd prefer it with weeds and vines growing through the ruins to that!" Kitster gulped in Wookiee.
"Yes, I guess there were too many existing on that single planet," Anakin conceded.
" Do you know what we're looking for?" Kitster asked in Wookiee.
"The Force will tell me when we've found it as it's told me that only someone who knows what it was like to BE a machine and tyrant can make any headway with these droids," Anakin sighed.
"Are you ready?" Kitster the Wookiee asked via the Force.
"We will be! We'll have to use the Force to communicate with each other because if they suspect I can speak your language," Anakin pleaded.
"I understand. We need to do what needs to be done!" Kitster the Wookie exclaimed via the Force.
"Forgive me putting the binders on your wrists, Kitster but Our Founder used this trick with your ancestor Chewbacca in helping her future consort rescue the New Alderaan Matriarch,"Anakin recalled as they were ready to land on the main planet of the Quechu System. .
Kitster the Wookiee growled a bit (which needed no translation).
" I'll only fasten the binders together when we're actually there! I promise." Anakin sighed.
"Didn't you once tell me how you and my original namesake disguised themselves as Sand People when you two were boys?" Kitster the Wookiee asked.(in Wookiee).
" Glad you were paying attention!" Anakin laughed.
" Interesting story just don't expect me to become a Senator like he did!" Kitster the Wookiee laughed (in Wookiee).
"As long as you inspire someone by being half the friend he was to them that Kitster Banai was to me the latter half of his life, that will be more than enough!" Anakin insisted he banged on Kitster the Wookiee's back.
"I hope your vocoder can automatically translate into the Quechu with the Mong program we put in the microchip,"Kitster cautioned(in Wookiee)
" No time like the present to find out," Anakin gulped- and for the first time in almost eight centuries, he turned it on and had to hear the VERRY deep drone of the vocoder instead of his own actual voice.
"I don't think I could stand being in that machine and having to hear that voice instead of my own. No wonder you became twisted and evil!" Kitster the Wookiee gulped (in Wookiee).
"It wasn't being 'more machine than man' but my own choices that made me twisted and evil back then. Artoo's all machine and not the least bit flesh but it would be hard to find a more heroic and virtuous being in any galaxy," Anakin pondered (with the vocoder deepening then translating his voice into Quechu) as they left the Mong shuttle.
"You there! You're bringing us a Wookiee Scant Sacrifice for tonight's Arena?" a red-metallic droid about a quarter meter taller than Anakin in his Vader Armor shouted in Quechu( which Anakin could hear being automatically translated back into Coruscantic Basic via his ear droid translator).
"Yes that's what I'm here for!" Anakin replied in Quechu via his vocoder.
" He looks as though he'd be a good specimen for the simulcast. I hope the Mong didn't overcharge you for this one, though," the red metallic droid snapped in Quechu.
"Not too bad," Anakin replied in Quechu with his vocoder- as the red metallic droid started pulling open Kitster the Wookiee's lip to check the teeth.
" This one seems quite docile- in spite of the Mong letting the Memory Wipe System break down," the red droid sniffed in Quechu.
"Shouldn't they have fixed that by now?" Anakin asked in Quechu with his vocoder.
"They tried but they think raising the frequency will just wipe their memories out,too. Then we'd be stuck with having to do their work FOR them," the red droid snarled in Quechu.
"Couldn't have that now, could we?" sniffed Anakin in Quechu with his vocoder.
"Get the Wookiee ready for the Arena so we can put on a good show!" the red droid sniffed in Quechu.
" They want me to be an Arena Sacrifice?" Kitster the Wookiee silently screamed to Anakin via the Force.
"It would seem. I sense at least one familiar Force presence here- and another that doesn't have the Force? Hmm, I wonder how I could sense . .?" Anakin asked to himself as they made their way towards the Arena (which they had spotted before landing and was easy to find in the dead strait streets spiraling out from the circular building.