Star Wars 2.0
Episode 6
Chapter 2
"You'd think one could find better parking in a city that covers the whole planet," Anakin teased, standing before the damaged ship Owen had barely managed to land. Its bottom hull had crumpled like a discarded can and now lay half buried in the ruinous trench it had made in the road. How the rest of the ship had held together enough for everyone to survive, Anakin could not tell. He was used to flying fighters that would be dust in a crash like that, and had rarely flown cruisers like the ones Owen was used to.
"Your valet service stinks here. They'd just as soon shoot me down as do a good parking job," Owen said.
"That's why you've got to leave a good tip!"
Owen didn't have a good comeback – he was exhausted – so he grunted and started back to work.
Anakin followed. "That skid should've ripped holes all over the hull," he said. "Probably would've killed half the troops inside. If I didn't know better I'd say there was some special power that kept it together."
Owen stopped and turned his eyes on Anakin interrogatingly.
"Don't look at me, pal," Anakin said, smiling knowingly. "I was busy with the droids on the ground."
"Guess it must've been one of the dozens of others from your order that makes this planet their home."
"Those weren't maneuvers one could do from outside the ship," Anakins said.
Owen searched his mind for another comeback line, but after a moment he didn't bother. Anakin could always counter with something else; so Owen just glared at him.
"There's always room for one more among the Jedi," Anakin said.
"I'm too old."
"I can vouch for you."
"I do well enough on my own, thanks," Owen said, and he began to turn away.
Anakin interrupted his brother by striding to him. "Hold up," he said.
Owen sighed with annoyance, but stopped and turn to his brother once again. When Anakin came within a few feet, he held out his lightsaber. "Are you threatening me?" Owen asked.
"No!" Anakin said with a laugh. "I'm giving it to you."
"I don't want any part of the order…"
"You don't have to join," Anakin assured. "I want you to have it. I built a new one for myself."
"So you're giving me a hand-me-down."
"If you join you can make your own."
"I'd probably chop my own arm off with it…" Owen began to say, but Anakin grabbed his arm and shoved the lightsaber into his hand.
"I don't have anywhere else to put it, so I want you to have it. In case anything ever happens to me."
Owen drew in a deep breath, then said, "Well, you might lose your new one. You did have a tendency to lose things…"
"I told you, I didn't lose your miralight game."
"It didn't grow feet and walk out on its own."
"Just… keep it safe, would you?"
Owen looked down at the lightsaber weighing down on his hand. It was exactly as heavy as he had expected it to be. He wanted to hand it back, but he knew how stubbornly persistent Anakin was. So he agreed to hold onto it, and he added, "Baroo and I are looking for somewhere to settle down when this is all over. I'm sure we can make sure there's a safe place to keep this."
"Speaking of your wife," Anakin said, looking past his brother.
Baroo approached the two of them, a cross expression on her face. "You know she's waiting," she said.
"Yes! Of course," Owen said with a start.
"Who's waiting?" Anakin asked.
Owen waved the hand with the lightsaber, signaling his brother to follow as he said, "Come with me."
"He doesn't know?" Baroo asked, her voice half scolding.
"Not exactly," Owen answered.
"Know what?" Anakin asked.
"Why wouldn't they have coordinated?" Baroo asked.
"They did," Owen answered."
"Who did?" Anakin asked.
"And?" Baroo asked as they boarded the damaged ship.
"Just… for a different flight."
"You didn't bring…" Anakin began.
"She couldn't wait to see you," Owen said, and he pressed a hidden button.
A part of the wall unlatched and slid open revealing Amidala stretched out on a couch reading a book. She glared up from it at Owen. "Bit of a bumpy landing, don't you think?"
"I hope you were strapped in," Owen said.
Amidala kept hold of her book with one hand while she lifted her harness with the other. "Still very bumpy," she said.
"You could've been killed!" Anakin said as he strode aggressively into the hidden compartment.
"Glad to see you, too," she said, turning her eyes on him.
"No flying into war zones. We agreed on this," he demanded.
"We agreed on not meeting in public," she countered. "So I don't get in trouble with the Senate and you don't get in trouble with the Order."
"One random shot could've taken you out," he said.
"Could've taken us out, too," Baroo added a little offended.
Anakin kept his focus on Amidala. "It's dangerous," he said.
"I know," she said with a spark in her eye and a greedy smile across her moist lips. She tossed the book aside and opened her torso toward Anakin while she bent up one of her long legs invitingly.
Anakin looked her over, his blood still boiling, but now beginning to focus in a different direction. He stepped up to the edge of the couch and leaned in to her, still breathing heavily, his eyes ablaze. It wasn't clear whether he would hit her or kiss her, but Amidala did not flinch. "Owen, could you give us a minute?"
Owen knew his brother's temper and wasn't sure about leaving them alone. But he spotted a smile growing across Amidala's lips, so he stepped back. Baroo pushed the button and the hidden door began to slide shut.
The last they saw of Anakin and Amidala, their faces were pressing together, their lips inseparable, and their bodies intertwined in a raptured embrace atop the sofa.
