Chapter 34 - A Write-In Candidate

"Here you go." Plo handed out bags to each Initiate. "And remember to be good examples of the Jedi Order while you're there."

Obi-Wan thought it was a bit much to ask a group of Initiates, but he didn't question the Master in front of the younglings. "Anakin, tell the Larses thank you for letting you and your friends stay over."

Anakin nodded and took his bag from Master Plo. Ramu took his bag next, which was larger due to the extra mask he'd need to sleep out of water for the night. They stood next to Alex and Kent, who both had their bags over their shoulders already.

When the council first suggested letting Anakin and a few chosen initiates have a sleep-over with the Lars family, Obi-Wan was doubtful. Only really young Initiates had sleep overs in each other's dorms. Then Anakin got excited and called it a Slumber Party. He started telling him all the things he'd get up to at similar gatherings with his friends back in Mos Espa, and Obi-Wan understood that they wouldn't be getting much sleep tonight at the Lars residence.

Mace knelt down next to Anakin and said, "I won't be there tomorrow, but I still want you to do your morning Meditation, as if I am there."

"Yeah, I will," Anakin hummed.

Obi-Wan almost laughed out loud. The sleep-over was the Lars' suggestion, and it was clear that none of the Masters really understood how little of it would be spent sleeping.

Only a little while away, Cliegg waited with Shmi and Owen for their house guests to say their goodbyes.

"Say boys, Anakin and some of his friends are staying over tonight. Do the two of you want to join us?" Cliegg offered.

Huff and Jula looked at eachother. Jula smiled, but Huff said, "Sir, We'd love to, but we have to go home. As you know our Uncle Lance is running for President, and they're doing the Holonet Telecast at our shop this evening. Dad wants us there to appear as a 'Collected Family,' whatever that is." Huff shrugged.

"Well, I'll tell you what. I was planning on stopping by to lend your uncle my support. When the Telecast is finished, I can drive you to the ranch," Cliegg said. Then he added, "As long as your Dad says it's okay."

Owen smiled at them excitedly, and Huff and Jula nodded.

"Alright, now do you boys want a ride home?" Cliegg asked.

"No thanks, we can walk from here. I'll see you later." Huff waved.

Anakin followed his brother into the house, looking in amazement at everything. He'd seen how nice their last home was, but he didn't expect the same here. His mom had said the new home was 'quaint and quiet.' He'd pictured a tiny home, similar to what their old place in the slave quarter was like. This home was brand new, with a slightly more modern design, but still an older classic feel to it.

"Owen, why don't you show everyone around," Shmi said.

"Okay." Owen said. "Come. This is the living area. Over there is the dining room. Behind there is the Kitchen…"

"Do you really prepare all of your meals fresh?" Ramu asked with wide eyes.

Owen paused looking confused.

"Well, they don't have a refectory around here," Anakin answered. "Don't worry, you'll like my mom's cooking."

Owen smiled and nodded in agreement. "And down this way is the Refresher. It has a sonic shower and…"

"Wait. You guys have a sonic shower, all your own!" Anakin was the one to interrupt this time.

"Actually, we have two. Mom and dad have their own refresher in their quarters," Owen informed him.

"In Mos Espa, where we used to live, we didn't even have indoor plumbing. There was a public Latrine for the slaves in the quarter," Anakin explained.

"Yeah, that's why dad had the second refresher built. He said he never wanted his wife to go without again," Owen shared. "Down this way are our bedrooms."

Owen opened the door to a large room, about triple the size of his old room in Mos Espa, and double his room on Coruscant. There were two beds in it, and several more inflated mattresses.

"You can put your bags anywhere in here. Then, outside, I have a fort too. You wanna see it?" Owen excitedly asked.

"Okay, you boys sit here, and look sharp." Mr. Darklighter ordered.

Huff and Jula were seated behind a table in full view of the camera. Jula had a pin on his shirt, and Huff wore a hat with his Uncle's name on it.

Their dad didn't pause for a second. "Where was that poster?" One of the aids tried to hand him something. "No, not that one. Oh, you know what. I think I put it in here." He pulled out a large envelope from behind his counter.

"Dad, I'm bored," Huff protested.

"Here it is!" Mr. Darklighter pulled up the poster triumphantly. He laid the envelope down on the table in front of his sons. Then he went around to attach the poster to the wall behind their backs.

Huff sighed at being ignored. Jula pulled open the envelope and pulled out a picture of a Toydarian. "Look at this one. He's uuu-ugly."

Huff laughed. "Yeah. Dad, do you need this one?"

"No. That one is not going up in my shop!" Mr. Darklighter insisted with a gruff scowl.

"Good news." Huff grabbed a nearby marker and began to doodle on the page.

The teleconference began soon after this. Their Dad had a large holo-screen up displaying what was happening at the other locations around Tatooine. Other candidates spoke about their plans for leading Tatooine. Huff found it all rather boring.

Mr Lars arrived just before it was Uncle Lance's turn. He had a conversation with their father which included a lot of head nodding. Huff took that as good news.

Then Uncle Lance stood up in front of their table. Huff put away the poster with their doodles, and Jula sat up straight. The little red light on the camera came on and Uncle Lance began his speech.

"I was born in this desert and I can say, I have never been prouder of Tatooine than I am today. Today we throw off the shackles of slavery and Hutt rule. What we become is yet to be determined, but I have no doubt it will be amazing. My people, you need a leader who…

Huff had heard the whole speech before. From their Dad's passivity, mouthing along with the speech, it seemed to be going well. When the red light of the camera went off, everyone took a deep breath and sighed.

"Almost over. Just a few more candidates, and then the Q&A," said their father.

The next to come up was the Hutt Clan's candidate for President, Jabba himself. No one really listened to his speech. It was all about chains of debt, and storms of change. It was safe to say, no one really wanted that slug in charge anymore. Then came the last candidate for the Senate. Huff looked down at the poster he was drawing on and he recognized the face.

Huff could tell Mr. Lars recognized the Toydarian too. The man went red, and he clenched his fists. Their father didn't react any more favorably. A growl came from deep in his throat.

"Watto here of Watto's Emporium. The Best Place to find no matter what you're looking for." He began like a commercial. "Tatooine needs a representative who knows business. One who knows how to switch from a slave-run economy to a free-hire economy. Yes, my shop used to be run by slave labor, but I have freed all of my former slaves. And I did it before the Republic came in here. One boy even went on to be a Jedi. His mother was freed and is now married. With my blessing…"

Cliegg was shaking his head back and forth. "Lies! This has to stop."

"I know, man," Mr. Darklighter whispered.

"He's done. Turn that camera back on. I'm going up." Cliegg ordered.

Huff watched in shock as Mr. Lars stood in front of the camera. Their father waved a signal and the camera's little red light came back on.

"Cliegg Lars here," he began. "I am just a simple farmer, but I know the value of truth. The boy Watto once owned, the one who became a Jedi, was bought and paid for. The Jedi freed him. And his mother was bought and freed by me. That man never cared a Bantha Fodder about his slaves. All he cares about is money. And If any of you think he'll help the economy: it's only his own business that he cares about."

The camera clicked off, and Mr. Darklighter slapped him on the back. "Good job. If the voters have any sense, he won't win the election."

Huff resumed his artwork. In the corner of the Toydarian's poster he wrote, "Cliegg Lars for Senate!" Then he tapped Jula to show him.

Jula made a circle around the statement and drew a speech bubble out of the Toydarian's mouth. Watto already had a mustache and an ugly eyepatch, thanks to their doodling.

Huff looked nervous when his father walked up to their table. Mr Darklighter looked down and smiled at the poster. "Now this is a work of art." He picked up the poster and attached it to the wall behind them, next to their uncle's poster. He turned back to the boys and said, "Alright, why don't you boys run upstairs and pack your bags. Mr. Lars is letting you stay over his place. I can handle this all now. They're just going to be asking Uncle Lance questions about his policy and how he'd handle leadership."

Huff smiled big, "Thank you Dad." He and Jula hugged their old man.

Cliegg pulled up to their house and helped the youngest with his bag.

"Thank you, Mr. Lars," Jula said.

Huff pulled his own bag himself, and refused any offers to help.

"The others are out back in Owen's fort." Shmi said from where she stood in the doorway. "You can go round and join them if you want."

"Yes, Ma'am," Huff said.

Cliegg put his hand behind his wife and pulled her in for a hug as they watched the boys run off. He leaned down and kissed her on her cheek.

She smirked and leaned into him. "Thank you for this."

He got warm and bubbly inside. Then he sighed, as the bubbles went away and he remembered what Watto had said.

"You're upset about something," she stated.

"Yes. Watto is running for election as Tatooine's senator. He said a bunch of Poodoo about you and Anakin, making it sound like he was the one who freed you both. I was able to correct him while I was there, but it doesn't stop him from spreading his lies elsewhere."

Shmi nodded. She leaned up to kiss him, a soft smile on her lips. "We'll just have to hope a better man gets elected."

Cliegg looked deep into his wife's eyes and sighed. His life could not get any better, and he hoped this moment would last forever.

In the days that followed, Tatooine's hopeful politicians sought to garner as many votes as possible. Holo-journalists were at all of these events, and though Most homes on Tatooine still didn't have Holonet access, a few of the richer politicians bought large screens for the center of most towns and city hubs.

It all started on one of Jabba's outreach events. A day that included the old hutt kissing a few unlucky babies, and cutting the ribbon to open a new med center in Mos Espa.

Holo cameras were everywhere at that event, and they caught one local resident carrying a poster where the Hutt was made to look like he was smoking a death stick. The words, "Cliegg Lars for Senate!" were written on the side.

In the days that followed, similar posters popped up at all of the events. It became a game to Journalists to find them in the crowds. Of course, whenever anyone asked Mr. Lars whether he had any intention to run for election, he'd state that he was not. Then he would nearly always refuse to answer any further questions.

"He probably thinks that if his name is not on the ballot, then we will be better off looking at the other candidates." One journalist said, while on his lunch break.

"A pity, he's never heard of write-in's then," his companion said. Both men laugh.

Hello Readers,

I know it was only last week that I updated, but this chapter practically wrote itself, and I couldn't resist.

Next chapter is a mystery to me. It might take a bit longer to write, for that reason, but it is on its way.

Having Cliegg become Tatooine's first Senator was always an aim of mine, but then I also knew the man would never actually run for election. He has too much humility to do that. So I was thinking about my Huff and Jula characters last week. I was a little worried starting the last chapter with those two. They are little known, and barely used in canon. And through it I figured out the best way to get Cliegg elected: Unwillingly. The poor man, I know.

Incase there is any confusion. In a previous chapter I mentioned an election too. They already elected a mayor to the town, because Towns need leaders for practical reasons. Though the position wasn't official until Tatooine became part of the republic, for political reasons, It still was real. And they had to elect the mayor before the slaves could join the voters because of, again practical reasons. That was a local election anyway. And globally there are two positions they hadn't elected yet: President of Tatooine, and Senator of Tatooine. Because slaves would have been unable to vote before this transition, they were unable to hold an election before this point. That's what they are campaigning to do now.