The present time… Tatooine
"No, please stop!" the young woman cried, as one of the bandits tied her hands in front of her. Nearby, her husband lay unconscious, having been hit over the head a few moments ago.
"Shut yer mouth woman!" the portly, human bandit ordered, shoving her into the sandy ground beside her husband, and then going back inside the homestead to help his companions ransack the place. They had come out of nowhere, and they had been aided by the cloudy dark night in their stealthy attack on this innocent homestead. The only light around, was being projected onto the entrance hovel of their homestead by the bandits speeder.
The woman's husband slowly began to stir, and she moved over and cradled his face in her binded hands. He had a mean looking bruise on the left side of his head, but thankfully it didn't look too bad.
"Arasa…Arasa" the man said frantically in a daze.
"I'm here Tell, I'm right here darling" Arasa replied, as she very gently caressed his face.
"My love, I'm…so sorry. I…never saw them" Tell said, having to keep the wave of nausea he was fighting at bay.
"Shh it's okay Tell, it's not your fault. Everything's gonna be okay" Arasa said reassuringly. Tell gave her a weak smile.
Just then, the portly bandit leader and his three companions came out of the homestead entrance hovel, carrying bags of food, water and what few items seemed of worth to them to their speeder. One of the bandits, also a human, turned to the two captives.
"Hey boss, whatta we gonna do with d'em" the grotesque man asked, pointing to the innocent young couple.
"Maybe we have a little fun with them," said one of the bandits, a weequay, as he drew a knife and caressed Arasa's throat with its tip. "And then slit their throats". The boss chuckled evilly.
"Do whatever boys, just don't take too long" the boss replied, and the other bandits eyed their victims like hungry predators. Arasa and Tell grabbed each other, ready to spend their last few moments in each other's arms.
But suddenly, the weequay was pulled to the ground by an invisible force, and screamed as he was dragged out into the dark desert. A brief flash of blue was thought to be seen, but it vanished as quickly as it'd appeared, and the screaming was silenced. All the bandits quickly hugged the side of the speeder, blasters drawn and aimed out in the desert.
"Wha…what da hell happened to Kaal?" the human bandit asked nervously. The boss briefly looked around.
"I dunno," the boss said quietly.
Suddenly something landed hard in front of them on their speeder, causing them to scramble away in momentary fear. Just as they were about to shoot, they realized what it was that had been thrown onto the speeder, their former friend Kaal, who had a deep, burned slice through his throat, and a look of fear frozen on his dead face.
"We…we gotta get outta here" a young, human bandit cried. Before anyone could do anything, he jumped in the speeder's driver seat and started it up.
"Akili…wait!" The boss called, but it was too late. Just as Akili had about gotten the speeder ready, he too was dragged out into the darkness, his screams filling the quiet desert night.
"Akili!" the boss roared, as he and his remaining bandit started wildly firing their blasters out in the darkness. After a few moments, Akili was tossed back at their feet, but he was still alive and pale as snow. The bandits stopped firing, and as the other bandit knelt down to check Akili, the boss looked out into the desert.
"Whatever you are, come out and fight" the boss yelled out into the desert. Suddenly, the hairs on the back of the boss's neck started to stand up.
"Alright" a deep voice said. The boss whipped around to see the silhouette of a figure crouching on top of the entrance hovel. The other bandit who also saw this, tried to draw his blaster on the figure. But the boss watched, as the figure jerked his right arm up, and the remaining bandit went flying into the side of the speeder, a sickening crack accompanied the impact. The boss looked back to the figure, a look of shock on his face.
"Who…who are ya?" the boss asked, more fear in his voice than he would've liked.
"Your worst nightmare" the figure replied lowly, and a cobalt blue laser blade ignited from the figure's right hand, illuminating him to show a human man clad all in black, and wearing a black cloak and hood also.
The boss grit his teeth, and tried to raise his blaster quickly, but watched in utter fear, as the man leapt down at him. The boss cried out, and it was soon silenced, as his head was relieved from his shoulders. Akili felt like vomiting, as he watched his boss's headless body slump to the sandy ground, and even the couple looked away from the gruesome sight.
Akili propped himself up on his elbows and turned his eyes to the figure responsible, and saw that he was looking back at him. The man pointed his blue energy blade at Akili, the blade's tip mere inches from his face, and Akili closed his eyes as he thought he was about to join his companions in death. But to his surprise, he opened his eyes when he heard a sudden hiss, and looked to see the blade was gone. The man waved his hand at Akili.
"Your group was attacked by sand people, you were the only survivor. Now run home, quickly" the man said. After parroting what the man said word for word, Akili got up and ran off into the desert. As the couple watched the bandit run off into the distance, they turned their attention to their mysterious rescuer, who was still watching the bandit run away.
"We owe you our lives, mysterious stranger" Tell said, as Arasa helped him stand slowly.
"But we would like to know, who are you?" Arasa asked. The figure stood silent for a moment, and then reached back and dropped his hood as he turned to face the couple. Arasa gasped at the familiar face.
"An…Anakin?" Arasa stumbled, dumbfounded that he was indeed alive.
"We thought you died with your folks last year," Tell said. Anakin smiled faintly.
"That's what most people think Tell, and I intend to keep it that way" Anakin replied, as he made his way over to the bandits speeder.
"But I don't understand, how did you do all of that? And how did you get that laser sword?" Arasa asked.
"For your own safety, it's better you not know," Anakin replied, as he finished searching through the front of the bandits speeder, and pulled out a small brown leather bag.
"It's no longer safe here. I suggest you two find a more…hospitable planet to live on" Anakin said, gently tossing the bag to Arasa, and a metal jingle could be heard when she caught it in her hands. Arasa looked in the bag, and both her and Tell were surprised to see a decent amount of credit chips of varying worth. When they looked back up, they saw Anakin about to walk off.
"Will we ever see you again?" Arasa called. Anakin stopped, and turned back to face them.
"Probably not," Anakin replied.
"We'll never forget you," Arasa said.
"Thank you Anakin," Tell said gratefully. "And…we're sorry for what happened to your folks".
"So am I Tell…so am I" Anakin replied solemnly with a nod, and then put his hood back on and walked off into the darkness. Arasa and Tell immediately hugged, grateful for both being alive, and that now they could seek a better, more safer life elsewhere. But no matter where they would end up, they would never forget who it was that both saved and changed their lives forever.
Anakin Skywalker.
After he had seen that Anakin had taken care of the remaining bandits, Obi Wan had returned to their speeder and awaited his apprentice's return.
They had been returning from a supply run to Anchorhead, when Anakin had sensed a disturbance in the force. They decided to investigate and sure enough, they had arrived at the homestead that belonged to some of Anakin's friends just in time to see the two of them get captured. And now as he waited, Obi Wan communed with his former master.
"His abilities have grown unlike anything I've ever thought possible" Obi Wan said telepathically through the force.
"Yes, I foresee him becoming the most powerful Jedi ever" the spirit of Qui Gon replied in Obi Wan's mind. "With the knowledge and guidance he will one day have, he shall know no limits".
"I just hope that I've trained him well enough," Obi Wan replied.
"You have, Obi Wan. It was the will of the Force that you were to train him. You have made me very proud, and not just by training Anakin" Qui Gon replied.
"Thank you, master," Obi Wan replied, feeling a small tear well up in his eye, upon hearing his former master's praise, but then sobered as Qui Gon spoke again.
"Obi Wan, Anakin is going to be tested very soon. And this test will be the true beginning of his path to become a Jedi. And eventually, his final test will be to one day face Sidious" Qui Gon said. Obi Wan visibly shuddered at that thought.
"I just hope he will be ready when that day comes. It would break me to see him die" Obi Wan replied.
"He will be, Obi Wan. With you and others he is soon to meet by his side, he will have no equal. Trust in Anakin, Obi Wan. But above all else, trust in the Force itself" Qui Gon said, as his voice faded away. At that moment, Obi Wan sensed Anakin hop back into their speeder beside him.
"Are your friends all right?" Obi Wan asked. Anakin nodded, as he started up the speeder.
"They will be Master," Anakin replied, as they started off on their way back home. "They'll be able to go somewhere safer now".
The next few minutes were spent in silence, until Obi Wan spoke. "By the way, I watched you spare that last bandit, why?"
"When I looked at him all I could see and sense in him was fear, not evil like the others, and it didn't seem right to kill him" Anakin replied. Obi Wan smiled proudly.
"Well you did the right thing Anakin. You thought as a Jedi should. Just remember, that's how a Jedi must always think" Obi Wan said. Anakin simply nodded, and gave a simple 'yes master'. Immediately, Obi Wan could tell something was wrong.
"Anakin, are you alright? You seem troubled" Obi Wan asked. Anakin sighed.
"The last time I saw Tell and Arasa was two days before my family died. They were some of our friends we had invited to the wedding" Anakin replied forlornly. Obi Wan was quiet for a moment, thinking as to what to say.
"Well, I can't imagine what that must feel like. All I know to say is that we were taught at the temple that everyone must eventually pass on, and become one with the Force" Obi Wan said.
"Though we don't know what it's like yet, and we won't until we too rejoin the Force, I can promise you that your family is in great peace, Anakin" Obi Wan said, unable to see the small tears swelling in Anakin's eyes.
"Thank you master," Anakin replied, as he attempted to release his emotions into the force. Over the last year of training, Anakin had learned more about the Jedi and the force than he had ever thought possible. And around six months ago, with some parts and a crystal provided by his master, Anakin had already constructed his first lightsaber. But even then, he knew he still had much to learn.
As they were almost back to Anakin's homestead Obi Wan decided to discuss what they would do the next day.
"After that ordeal earlier, we'll only do meditation in the morning. After that we'll begin-".
"Master look!" Anakin suddenly exclaimed, pointing to the sky.
Obi Wan looked where Anakin pointed, and saw an escape pod go screaming over them, and crash land in a nearby canyon. Before his master could even think of the possibility of protesting against it, Anakin steered the speeder into the direction of where the pod landed. After a few minutes, they found the still smoking escape pod, and got out of their speeder. The pod looked like it had sustained damage before the crash, and they could see it had lost several different pieces.
"Do you think anyone is still alive?" Anakin asked.
"Only one way to find out" Obi Wan replied, as he raised his arm and called upon the force. With a flick of his hand the door of the pod was torn off, and thrown away into the sand nearby. Slowly and carefully, the two Jedi approached the escape pod, lightsabers in hand.
"Hello, is anyone in there?" Anakin called into the pod, but heard no response.
"We're not going to hurt you. We saw you crash as we were passing by, and thought you might need some help" Obi Wan called. Then they heard a stirring, and got their inactivated lightsabers at the ready. After a moment, a little blue and white astromech droid rolled out of the darkness, and beeped and whirled at the sight of his rescuers.
"An astromech droid," Anakin said curiously. "Hey there little guy, what happened to you?".
The little droid beeped and whistled a reply, as Anakin knelt down in front of him and placed a hand on the little domed droid's head.
"He says the freighter that was supposed to deliver him here was attacked by pirates, and he just managed to escape" Anakin said, turning his gaze to see his master looking at the droid thoughtfully. Anakin only grew more curious. "Master?"
"I've seen this little droid before, but I'm trying to remember from where" Obi Wan replied, as he rubbed his beard thoughtfully. Suddenly the little droid started letting out a series of excited beeps, whistles and whirls, causing Anakin to look back at the little droid.
"He says you're the one he was sent here to find. He's been tasked with delivering a message to you" Anakin said. Obi Wan's brow furrowed.
"A message from who?" Obi Wan asked. The little droid replied.
"He says it's from his mistress, Padme Amidala" Anakin translated. And then it hit Obi Wan, and his eyes widened.
"Of course, I remember now," Obi Wan said. "This is the little droid from-".
Obi Wan was cut off, as suddenly several blood curdling howls echoed loudly throughout the rocky canyon. Just as the two Jedi ignited their lightsabers, they found themselves surrounded by several Tusken raiders. Moving to where they were standing back to back, the master and padawan readied for the fight.
One of the Tuskens yelled viciously, and charged at Obi Wan with his gaffi stick held high. Obi Wan jerked his left arm forward, and a wave of sand blasted up from the ground and struck the Tusken in the face, disorienting it.
Another decided to try and charge Anakin. As the creature charged the young Jedi, he swung the jagged edge of his gaffi stick. Anakin brought his blade up quickly and severed the jagged part, and then brought it down through the Tuskens neck. Over the past year, Anakin's combat skills had grown to a level that would've matched that of some Jedi knights in the days of the Republic.
As they continued to fight off the ever advancing raiders, they could see several more joining in the fray. Knowing they could kill them all, but choosing to spare them instead, Obi Wan and Anakin decided to end this skirmish here and now. The two Jedi exchanged a knowing glance, and then both reached into the force and jerked their arms forward, pushing all the nearby raiders hard to the ground. Lifting his hands to each side of his mouth, while Anakin stood guard of him, Obi Wan reached deeply into the force and let out a ferocious, ungodly roar that resembled a native Krayt dragon. The echo throughout the canyon was so loud, that even Anakin had to cover his ears.
As soon as they heard the roar, the Tusken raiders, frightened that a normal seeming human being could make a roar of one of the most fearsome creatures in the galaxy with ease, all scrambled and ran away into the desert. As soon as they sensed the Tuskens were gone, Anakin and Obi Wan both let out sighs of relief, and deactivated their lightsabers. Obi Wan turned to Anakin.
"Perhaps it's best if we continue our previous conversation back at the homestead" Obi Wan suggested. Anakin nodded.
"I agree. Come on little guy" Anakin said, motioning for the little droid to follow him. The little droid happily beeped, and once they got the little astromech loaded onto the speeder, the two Jedi were off once again to see what awaited them next.
"So you knew this Padme Amidala?" Anakin asked, as they settled in the homestead's dining area. Obi Wan nodded.
"Several years ago, Master Qui Gon and I were sent in secret to her home world of Naboo to negotiate between her people and those that were blockading her world, the trade federation" Obi Wan began, as he took a beverage from a tray that C-3PO had prepared for them. He took a sip of the warm beverage, and then continued his story.
"You see back then, she was actually Queen Amidala, and serving in her final year of her second term. After that whole debacle and her term as queen, she immediately took a position as Naboo's senator. She served as that all throughout the Clone War, and she was even one of the Jedi's strongest supporters in the Senate".
"You say that like she was your friend" Anakin noted, taking a sip of his own beverage. Obi Wan shook his head.
"We were somewhat friends, but nothing to where I'd say we could've called each other good friends. If something in the Senate was not serious enough for Master Yoda or Master Windu, I was usually the one to deal with most things that concerned the Jedi" Obi Wan replied.
"Well she apparently considered you enough of a friend to seek you out" Anakin said. Obi Wan rubbed his beard thoughtfully.
"Yes, which reminds me," Obi Wan replied, as he turned to Artoo. "Artoo, how did your mistress know where to send you?". The little droid beeped and whistled a reply, and Obi Wan turned to Anakin for a translation.
"He says that's classified for now," Anakin replied. Obi Wan's brow furrowed.
"Well, I see no point in delaying it further. Artoo, let's hear your message," Obi Wan said.
Artoo beeped affirmatively and positioned himself nearby, and then lowered his domed head, and began projecting a hologram. Immediately Anakin's attention was caught, as his eyes beheld a beautiful young woman, wearing a simple dress and her in two simple buns, with her arms crossed in front of her. And she had a natural beauty to her that was unlike anything he had ever seen before in his whole life, almost as if there was something…angelic, to her.
In his earlier teenage years, Anakin had two girlfriends, and neither lasted more than a few weeks because he had never found himself truly in love with either of them. And when he had begun his Jedi training, his master had told him that Jedi were not to have attachments. But even now, as he looked at this beautiful woman who's existence he'd only learned about an hour ago, he felt something warm forming deep in his heart. Obi Wan noticed his stare.
"Anakin?".
"She's beautiful. She's just like the angels I used to hear about as a boy" Anakin said, as his gaze seemed entranced with her image. Obi Wan said nothing, though he grew ever slightly concerned, as the message began.
"Greetings, Master Kenobi. You are probably wondering how I got this message to you, and I shall explain so you may feel more at ease. Thanks to our mutual friend who shall remain nameless for now, I was very glad to learn that you were indeed able to survive the Jedi purge. After brief deliberation and consultation, our friend was able to provide me with your location. And that leads me to why I've contacted you".
"Master Kenobi, the Jedi are not the only ones in dark times. Ever since the Empire formed, Emperor Palpatine and his cohorts have ruled with an iron first, spreading his tyrannical rule all throughout the galaxy unopposed. And though I admit that I and several of my colleagues inadvertently helped create this, we are looking to try and begin repairing the damage. On behalf of myself and several others with me, I ask you to help us in taking the fight to this evil. And if you accept, our friend has promised to reveal to you and your mutual friend that you share some very worthwhile information".
"Master Kenobi, I want you to know that to this very day, what you and your Master did for us in our liberation eight years ago has not been forgotten, by me or by my people. And I promise you his sacrifice was not in vain, nor was all that you sacrificed when you served the Republic valiantly in the Clone War. I know it may seem that way now, but both your and the Jedi's sacrifice in that war, helped keep the fires of peace and freedom of tyranny burning in the hearts of many, fire that will see the empire burn. Inside my astromech that delivered this message to you, are a set of coordinates to meet with me in my homeworld of Naboo. I really do hope that you will come to our aid…no, I beg you to our aid. Help us Master Kenobi, you're our only hope".
As the message ended, Obi Wan folded his arms and leaned back in his chair, rubbing his beard as he thought about all he had just heard.
"Master, we have to help her," Anakin said. Obi Wan remained silent for a moment.
"If we do, we will reveal ourselves to the Empire. And then, they will hunt us and everyone around us as well, " Obi Wan replied.
"Yes, but surely she would not have risked reaching out to you unless she really needed it" Anakin replied vehemently. Obi Wan was silent, and stood up and walked to the dining room entrance and folded his arms across his chest. After a moment, Anakin took a deep breath and spoke again.
"At least let us go hear her out in person, master," Anakin pleaded. "For all we know, she may not be the only one who needs us.
Obi Wan still remained silent, looking off into the nearby now star-filled sky, as he weighed the options of what they could do, while his conversation earlier in the night with Qui Gon echoed in his mind. 'Obi Wan, Anakin is going to be tested very soon. And this test will be the true beginning of his path to become a Jedi' was the part in particular that kept ringing in his head. He knew they would have to eventually leave Tatooine to face the Empire eventually, but he had not counted on it being so soon. Anakin stood up, and came and stood by his master's side.
"Master, I'm ready for this. I know I am. And I promise I'll show you" Anakin said softly, but with determination.
"Agree with your apprentice and former master, I do," the voice of Yoda said in Obi Wan's mind. "Time for your apprentice to be tested, it is".
Obi Wan sighed, realizing that it was both his former master's and the Force itself's will, he turned to Anakin.
"Alright Anakin. We'll leave for Mos Eisley first thing in the morning" Obi Wan said. This caused a smile to appear on Anakin's face, something that didn't happen all too often during their training.
"Thank you master. I promise, you'll see that I really am ready for this" Anakin replied. Obi Wan simply nodded.
"Yes, well, the hour grows late and we'll need to leave early tomorrow, so you best get some rest" Obi Wan replied. Anakin nodded, and headed off to his loft with little Artoo in tow, to rest and prepare for tomorrow.
Obi Wan couldn't help but allow himself a small smile. For one of the few times since they'd met, Anakin seemed somewhat happy. Perhaps it was because now he finally had his chance to go off and see the galaxy and have the adventures that he so craved. Or perhaps it was because now he could get away from the place that constantly reminded him of his lost family. Whatever the reason, Obi Wan certainly couldn't blame him, he himself had already had more than enough of his share on this sandball for a lifetime, even though it'd only been two years.
But though he was fully confident in Anakin, there was still a part of him that couldn't help but worry. Worry about both what he knew and didn't know Anakin would and could face against the Empire, and also worry if he had trained the boy, who both had and was still quickly becoming like a brother to him, well enough to face those challenges. Letting out a renowned sigh as he ran a hand through his hair, Obi Wan realized that only time would tell him the answers to his questions and concerns. And with that, he walked off to his guest room in the homestead, so he himself could rest up for their departure the next day.
It was just after dawn, and the two Jedi were all packed up and ready to go away from this place for good. But after they had loaded both droids onto their speeder, Anakin had one request to make of Obi Wan, one that his master did not mind granting him in the slightest.
"You all gave me so much, and I could never have asked for a better family. I'm sorry I wasn't able to save you, but I know you're all together in peace now" Anakin said, as he stared at the grave stones of his family. "I'm going away now, and I don't think I'll ever be coming back. There's nothing left for me here now, but I'll never forget any of you, I promise".
Then Anakin walked up, and knelt down at his mother's grave, and placed a hand by her name. "Mom" was all he got out, before he had to swallow a lump in his throat and a tear trickled down his eye. "You gave me so much, and after all we went through together, you always kept hope for a better tomorrow in my heart. I miss you so much, and I always will".
"I'll make you proud of me mom, I promise you" Anakin said, as he slowly stood up and wiped the tears away from his eyes. "Goodbye mom, I'll always love you".
And with that he turned and walked to the speeder, putting on the hood of his dark cloak and never looking back. When he reached the speeder with Obi Wan, who had stood back and watched the sad scene unfold, he felt Obi Wan place his hand gently on his shoulder. And he looked to his master, and saw Obi Wan smiling softly back at him.
After a moment more, the two Jedi climbed in the speeder, and headed off to answer the call of both Anakin's 'angel', and the Force itself…
Chapter 3 to come soon, and as always, thanks to those who read, review and enjoy the story…
