Author's Note: Love those reviews!  Yes, I hope AotC Anakin has more personality than the TPM one (sigh).

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Part Four (4/11/02)

Sobriety is overrated. My life to this point had been little more than pain and suffering, so, given the opportunity, I dull my senses.

Thank the gods that this party had alcohol. The minute Maecenas and I came through the door, I grabbed something bubbly and fizzy off a nearby tray.

Maecenas gave me a nasty look, but that's all he really could do. I was 'free' now. I gulped the drink down in a few swigs. I was about to grab another when Governor Gujdim Wiphshun showed up to greet us. He was a Gran, in other words, a native of Malastare.

"A pleasure, as always, Mr. Skywalker," he started loudly, grasping my hand in a full-force handshake. I grinned sheepishly, feeling somewhat fuzzy from the drink. "I think the ticket sells go up ten fold when you get even a kilometer closer to the arena. And you, as well, Maecenas, time honored friend."

He let go of my hand and hugged Maecenas.

The two began talking. I don't know what about, though I didn't really care. Instead, I took the chance to check the place out. The mansion was as nice inside as it was out. The ballroom was royally decorated with hand-woven tapestries, with one hanging high above on each wall. All of the weavings were composed of a variety colors, but each one had a different core color. My attention somehow focused on a deep purple one, which was directly over Wiphshun's head.

It had a number of humanoid figures woven onto it. They were all poised as if they had been stopped in mid air. Some were jumping, while others defending. The only similarity was that they all possessed beams of light within their hands.

It was a scene of Jedi Knights. I had heard of them when I lived on Tatooine. They were the guardians of peace and justice throughout the galaxy. They helped the innocent, defended the poor… Yet, I had always wondered why they never came to free the slaves on my home planet.

But that was before they had attempted to kill the Supreme Chancellor. They've been galactic criminals ever since, drawing a high price from bounty hunters. Although now, most were probably dead anyway.

"Like the art, Mr. Skywalker?" I returned my attention to Wiphshun.

"It's nice." I nodded. He turned his head for a quick glace at the tapestry.

"That one," he chuckled, "is very hard to get these days, you know. Jedi historical art is rare to begin with, but in these times …"

I nodded blankly as he jabbered on. My focus was drawn away once again to my surroundings. This time, I noticed the people. Of course, there were the party guests, dressed in their bizarre outfits, but I never found them appealing. It was what was behind the scenes- things most people chose not to look at, to not bother with.

It didn't take long to spot the servants carrying around trays. Maecenas used droids to keep up the loft - I was his only slave - but Wiphshun had people. Humans, to be more precise.

Most of them were young women, dressed in revealing brass strappy-bikini things and transparent linen of varying colors. Wiphshun had good taste, that was for sure, but I didn't allow my post-pubescent eyes wander too much. I felt embarrassed for them, as a fellow slave, and could only hope that one less pair of eyes on them would take away some of the shame.

But I knew better.

"… and what do you think about the post-Hyperspace Wars resurgence, Mr. Skywalker?" Wiphshun's voice broke me out of my thoughts yet again. He was looking at me, waiting for me to say or do something. He must have been staring for a few moments, at least. His eyebrows raised in slight speculation.

I was caught off guard and my mind began racing for something to say. Unfortunately, nothing of usefulness came out.

"Huh?" I managed.

Maecenas wasn't even paying attention to our 'conversation'. As a substitute, he was beckoning to someone across the room. Before I had a chance to properly respond to the question, Maecenas grabbed me by the arm and led me off, saying a few quick goodbyes to Wiphshun.

We hurried towards a small entourage. The group of people cleared, revealing an overindulgently dressed woman.

Maecenas was grinning like an idiot and squeezed my arm harshly a few times.

"Anakin," he said proudly. "I'd like to introduce you to the Duchess of Baroonda."

Oh, no. By the Gods, no.

She was twice my age, at the very least … She had a veil covering the bottom half of her face, but the top halves of her cheeks were blushed slightly. The creased skin around her black eyes was evident enough to estimate her age. She elegantly snapped a few fingers at her cohorts, causing them to find other interests. She looked me over closely, her eyes wandering to and fro like an investor over a piece of property. I tried not to fidget too much, but I was becoming painfully uncomfortable.

"You're taller than I imagined," she said after a moment. Her voice was husky, no, more like hoarse, and she spoke her Basic with a light, mid-rim accent.

I, of course, didn't exactly know what to say to her comment. She continued to look at me, her eyes amused. The blood-red veil danced a bit about her lips, but didn't falter to cover her mouth.

"Well, you do not talk much," she finally sighed. I shook my head somewhat. She put her hands on her hips playfully and gave me a mock glare.

"But anyway," she continued with an exasperated sigh. "I saw you on the cover of that magazine. My whole planet is fascinated by you. A household name, you are."

I could imagine her hidden grin. Maecenas laughed gently and padded me on the back. I tried not to flinch at his touch; the situation was already bad enough.

"He finds the words when he needs them, Milady," he told her. "Well, I'll leave you to yourselves - I believe our host desires some company." Before he left, he was able to give me the classic 'don't screw up' look and a quick wink.

How I hate him.

"Your friend was quite kind to introduce us," the Duchess said, once he was gone. She came closer to me and clenched her two arms around my right. "That magazine did not do you justice, I believe." She nestled my shoulder with her cheek - she was much shorter than I - and egged me into a slow walk through the ballroom.

The magazine she was speaking of was Podracing Quarterly. I suppose that doesn't really need too much explaining, does it? Well, needless to say, I had made the cover several times, more or less, yearly. So much so that my mom, the last time I saw her, had collected them as a sort of holo album of me growing up.

The magazine issue the Duchess was talking about was just released a few days ago - right before yesterday's race. Although many of the covers featured me standing on, or by whatever pod I was currently racing, the newest had a close up of my face. Personally, I hated the picture, but I could only wonder at how my mom must be cherishing it at the moment.

The magazine, interestingly enough, decked the tables at this party. It was a tribute to Wiphshun's wealth, because he actually had them printed out on tree fiber, instead of a regular old datapad. I reminded myself to swipe one before the evening was over.

"Are you enjoying yourself, Anakin?" the Duchess asked. "Is it all right if I call you Anakin?" She batted her eyelashes and handed me another drink. We stopped walking to drink.

"Um, yeah, sure, fine," I told her, hoping that would answer any, and all of her questions. I took the glass she offered eagerly, but drank it in polite sips. She took a glass herself and removed her veil to touch the rim to her lips. She was no more radiant without it than with it, in my opinion. I supposed that if I spent any more time in aloofness, however, Maecenas would probably come over and wring my neck.

"And you, Milady?" I asked in between sips.

She attempted a cutesy laugh, but her voice came out something more of a snort. "I suppose so," she said. "Your governor friend went to quite a lot of trouble. But I must say that this is no comparison to some I have seen."

I turned her statement around in my head a bit, trying to find the most suitable answer. The quickest way possible to get her into bed and to make this night over was what I was looking for.

I tried the subtle approach.

"On your home planet, Milady?" If I know royalty, nothing perks them up like talking about how great they or their lands are.

"Yes, have you ever been to one?" She took another drink of her wine and slowly ran her hand up my arm.

"A party? No, but I have been to Baroonda." I awarded her with a dashing grin. "Quite a beautiful planet, Milady."

"Why, thank you, you are most kind." She favored me with a smile (her veil was still down).

I was so bored. It had been less than fifteen minutes and I was already ready to jump out a window. But, unfortunately, the Duchess still had a few surprises left for me.

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