Semele woke to find herself and Shmi in the house. It was just them because everyone else had gone on to the race in which Anakin would hopefully win his freedom. Semele Knew he would. Every possibility she saw when she bothered to look ended with him escaping slavery one way or another and his mother staying behind. This got Semele even more curious and she looked into Shmi's future, startling at what she saw. Not just one possible death, or two or even three. In every eventuality, Shmi Skywalker never lived long enough to see her son become a full Jedi. Or his fall, for that matter. In fact, her death contributed to that grieved ball of angry fury.
Semele began to look closer and was shocked to see how many strings were attached to this, all puppeting towards an early death. Dark strings. They gave off a palpable energy that made her nervous enough she had to stop looking. Feeling numb, she turned to Shmi. "Hey, I'm going to need you to stop picking mushrooms in the morning, Shmi."
The woman was a little startled, and stopped moving about the abode. "Are you like my Ani? Or are you just getting sick again? I can make a tea for the fever if you'd like."
She struggled up into a sitting position. "Shmi, Anakin is special indeed. I don't know what Qui-Gon Jinn said to you on the matter, but his fate will closely by watched by many. If...if you don't want it to turn sour or dark, I'm going to need you to come with me. Stay right by me. I will protect you from whoever wants you dead. But first, I have to take care of Watto."
X
As they stumbled along with Shmi supporting Semele, Semele formed her plan. Was it a little violent? Yes, and she didn't mind it. In the grand scheme of things, this was the way to begin assuring Anakin's future as the good man she Knew he could be. Was it going to involve a display of power? Almost certainly. Again, Semele didn't care. While her distractingly handsome companion might have a Code that told him not to, Semele had no such ties. It would...hurt her should this disappoint him, but maybe he'd understand what she was trying to do and forgive it anyway.
Finally reaching the slaver's workshop, they caught him preparing to leave. He gave Semele an appraising once over that made her not at all guilty for what she was about to do. If he thought he could take her and sell her in her weakest moment, he was about to be unpleasantly shocked. "Watto, I know about the bodies in the spacecraft you sell. I can tell the right people and they'll believe me. My godtier is known across the galaxy for it's ability to see all things. I can get the people you framed out of jail and I'll also be sure to tell them where you are. Anywhere you might flee, too. Now, what you're going to do is release Anakin and Shmi both. Tavros too."
The alien began to splutter that there were no bodies, but Semele hushed him. "I swear it, you slaver scum." She let some of the ancient fury of her race fill her eyes and Watto scowled, before handing her a device. It looked like a fuse of some sort? She held it out to Shmi who timidly pushed some buttons and Semele peeked into her future. They were all free. Some still had death woven in, but it would seem she had slipped the bonds of what dark plot had been put on her life.
"Tavros?" She called, and he stumbled into view, holding some parts for Watto. Semele gently took them from his hand. "You're free. Go home, to my place on Coruscant until I can get you passage to Endor." She slipped him enough credits to get going. "Straight home. Gamzee should be there somewhere and I know you always had a little crush on him. Go on." She began to steer him toward the space port.
Eyes brimming with rust colored tears, Tavros hugged her and slipped something in her pocket. "I had a little sand mouse steal it for you. I know you need it."
Semele sniffed and her face lit up in slight embarrassment at the scent of dry gin and cypress. He had gotten an animal friend to nick something of Qui-Gon's to help her through her heat? "Thank you. Now get, Tavros." Then she turned to Shmi and inquired with a bit of a smile as to if she'd like to go home and help begin making dinner for the Jedi. Semele was in a good mood, despite feeling heat sickness even now. Maybe the gift had come just in time.
X
She twirled the lock of hair in her fingers, before hiding it in her skirts. She'd changed with a fresh set of designs she kept in her dimensional pocket. The Jedi had to be on their way back now, because Anakin was already home to get his things. During the pod race she had dealt with her heat sickness the only way she could; with her fingers and the hair she had been gifted. Hearing them now, she stood and wandered into the main room where Anakin was helping his mother with some bags. There wasn't much, but Shmi looked like she could care less.
Qui-Gon, however turned to Semele as Obi-Wan took what Anakin had. "A moment, Mage?" She stepped out with him. "Would you happen to know anything about a small orange mouse stealing a lock of my hair?"
Semele raised an eyebrow, calling on her old composure. It was all but a memory of before she came with Qui-Gon to Naboo. "No. Orange animals are Tavros' thing. I don't have any dominion over them." She blinked the eye on Shmi's front door coyly, looking at Qui-Gon through it. How she longed to remove her blindfold and actually look him in the eyes face to face.
He cocked his head ever so slightly gazing through her as he was like to do. "Did you just lie to me, padawan?"
All her composure fled and jade blood filled her cheeks in an instant. She stuttered, trying to find an answer before settling. "Padawan? I'm not even force sensitive."
He chuckled quietly. "Keep it, I suppose. I guess it saved your life, after all. And for the record, you're still learning from me. You're always going to be a padawan to me, until you don't need to learn anymore." He gathered the others and they began to walk. Semele, mind and face ablaze followed in a daze.
She didn't snap out of it until they were almost to the ship and she felt the barest hint of movement behind her. She Knew in an instant and shoved Anakin hard with her troll strength and sent him flying into the ship. He let out a sharp cry of pain, but at least he was safe. Then the glowing saber appeared around her neck, but her purpose was achieved. She didn't care. She went stock still, holding her breath and gazing at the red plasma blade ignited mere inches from her throat. It gave off enough heat she'd probably be burned in a couple minutes.
Semele thought a moment. "Qui-Gon I'm going to need some assistance, I think."
