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Azai Jin- Haha we shall see :)) Bratty Anakin is something that made me laugh so thank you for that!


Helloo I'm back! :D

Thank you all so much for all of your excitement with this fic, it makes me so happy and pumped to share with you the journey.


The swirling galaxy of planets Cal had come across upon his journeys were all unique within their own way.

The dark depths of Dathomir, which hung with an eerie aura. The danger and darkness twisting within the Force.

Ilum's frosty tundra that left him isolated and lost; yearning for a heat that was unable to be obtained.

Ivy vines skittering through the crumpling structures, wildlife creating homes through the abandoned homes of the Zeffo temples on Bogano.

However, these planets couldn't be compared to the swirling heat of Tatooine and Cal immediately felt the effects of such. The ship descended into the thick almost feverish warmth that seemed to cling to everything, the two suns glaring viciously at the visitors. Despite the upturned hood of his poncho, Cal could feel the heat suffocating him, sweat beading from his forehead and soaking through the ginger hair.

Stepping out of the ship, Cal's forest green eyes raked through the scenery. Sand, as far as the Jedi could see; The sand was like an endless tsunami, tumbling through hills.

Endless.

Beyond the skirts of the concerned town lay nothing. The abyss of the desert, no landmarks nor sign of life stretched for miles.

Force, he hoped that they wouldn't get lost in the desert, it would be a sure death sentence.

Anakin breezed past him, lip curling as he glared at the ground, a soft grumble stringing from his lips.

" I hate sand ."

Cal snorted in amusement, he could completely understand why Anakin would hate it-the same way he hated the icy cold which reminded him too much of Ilum. A time when he was isolated and alone , which spiraled from the clone's betrayal and continued to linger throughout his time on Bracca.

The two weaved through the dotted shops, ignoring the hushed whispers and curious glances as they passed.

The ginger kept his head low, his hood hiding the striking orange hair and emerald eyes while Skywalker did much of the opposite; holding his head high as he scanned the familiar sights for Watto.

Cal watched on as Anakin greeted the alien in front of them and although he couldn't place the language, it was obvious to the Jedi what the Padawan was asking.

Where is Shmi Skywalker?

The alien grumbled, only glancing up as Anakin asked once again, more insistent-unwilling to leave without reuniting with his only family.

"Ani?" His toothy grin widening, eyes shining with recognition while he regarded the younger Padawan.

Cal twisted away from the pair in the hopes that his soundless laughter would go unnoticed.

Ani?

Who knew?

Who knew the hero with no fear would have such a nickname.

The movement, of course, didn't go unnoticed by Anakin, his face flushed, tinging with embarrassment at Cal's reaction, watching the suppressed laughter shake through the Jedi's shoulders.

The rushed words of excitement drove the Padawan's attention back to Watto, the gleeful joy at seeing the child, standing in front of him, both older and a Jedi, sent his wings fluttering frantically.

An idea hit him suddenly.

Perhaps…perhaps Anakin could help him, for old times sake?

And so, Watto lowered his voice, the request falling from his lips.

"Hey , I've been having some trouble with some people who owe me money…maybe you could do your Jedi thing?"

A mixture of sheer disbelief and amusement rushed through Cal as he shook his head, lips upturned in a smile.

The fact that he genuinely believed that a Jedi would even consider that, let alone agree to the plan was ludicrous.

Did these people know what the Jedi stand for? Or did they view them as violent-akin to the Sith? The thought floated to Cal who immediately shoved it from his mind, unwilling to ponder the possibility.

It wasn't his business.

And yet, it reminded him too much of Merrin's first thoughts on him, her voice tinged in rage -thinking him akin to Malicos.

"You trespass Jedi."

No. Mentally, he chided himself. It hurt too much to think about them, the wound too raw at the family he lost.

He had to stay focused, couldn't reminisce or grieve while the Force, while everyone depended upon him.

Snapping back to attention, he watched Anakin's bewildered you have to be kidding me expression. His eyebrows raised, electric blue eyes judging the slave trader and his hopeful expression.

"My mother." Anakin replied, firmer as Watto continued his nonsensical blabbering's; the absence of anger within the statement reassured Cal, despite Anakin's dwindling patience, he held no irritation, no annoyance.

"Ah yes yes of course!" Watto nodded, only to avert his gaze to the scattered tools on the bench distracting Anakin with the movement. His voice was notably less confident now and seemed more hesitant.

"But you understand, Business was slow and I was running out of money…"

"Where is she? I'd like to know." The Padawan asked once again, a spark of worry igniting at Watto's apologetic tone.

"I.. sold her." Watto admitted, lowering his head as if he was ashamed.

The effects were instant and Cal could feel the crashing sadness and guilt radiating off of the man, face pinched in pain as he spoke softly back to the alien.

"You…sold her?"

"Years back, to a moisture farmer. Believe it or not I heard he freed her and married her!"

A jolt of surprise rushed through him and his head spun trying to control his overwhelming emotions.

His mother was free?

Numbly, Anakin tried to take a deep breath, in the hopes that it could help settle his emotions, to no avail and instead, his head spun, unable to keep up with the tumbling avalanche of emotions.

"Do you know where they are now?" Cal spoke up, he could feel Anakin's struggling difficulty as the Padawan tried to sort through his whirling emotions of surprise, happiness, sadness and guilt.

Watto physically jumped as Cal talked as if he hadn't seen the ginger, nor acknowledged him. The shock fleeted as he rapidly nodded as an answer to the Jedi's query.

"Yes." Rubbing his chin, he pondered, thinking. "Yes, I have it in the registers. Come come!"

Watto gestured for the two companions to follow him deeper into his shop.

Thank you. Anakin's grateful voice floated to him telepathically, it was a revelation to Cal-that they had a Force bond developed so much so that they were able to communicate.

Of course . Cal replied simply, stopping as Watto gestured for them to wait as he disappeared into the dusty darkness of the back.

How are you feeling?

A whispering sigh hung within the air at the question.

I don't know. Anakin answered honestly. I should be glad, but I feel…a bit lost. I've been so focused on myself that I didn't even consider my mother.

"You couldn't have known." Cal spoke aloud, holding the sky-blue eyes with his forest green eyes. His tone held no room for any arguments.

"You're not to blame at all."

Anakin didn't respond, but Cal could feel his nagging doubts, his thickened guilt swimming in his eyes.

"When we find her, you'll have lots to catch up on right?"

A ghost of a smile tugged at Anakin's mouth, his tense shoulders loosening as he eased the hold over his grip.

"That's true."

"Remember to tell her that you jumped out of a flying ship in mid air."

The agape expression and spluttering protests answered him.

"Wha…no. That's not fair, you did the same! Promise me you won't bring that up?"

"No promises." Cal grinned, laughter thick within his tone at Anakin's desperate pleading glance.

"Fine, fine. I won't."

The rest of their conversation was snapped short as Watto returned, lugging an ancient, dusty book to which he began skimming the scribbled records.

.

.

.

The rhythmic speeder truck filled the silence. Their hitched ride rumbled through the steep dunes with ease as they continued towards their destination.

"Where are you from? I've never heard or seen you before in the Jedi temple." Anakin finally asked, staring at the Jedi with a curious look.

Cal disliked the staining spreads of lies that continued to spill from his lips, but he couldn't exactly tell Skywalker the truth.

Oh I'm from the future. Did you know you're an evil overlord who killed most of the Jedi and wants to hunt them to extinction? One of your crew killed me so I was sent to stop you from turning evil.

"I was stationed on Bracca with my master and after that we were drifting from planet to planet on the council's orders."

Anakin hummed, nodding at the explanation. It made sense and a sense of guilt descended upon him, beyond anything he wanted to apologise for how he initially treated the Jedi.

Before he could however utter an apology, Cal tilted his head.

"What about you and your master?"

"Obi-Wan is a brilliant master, he's wise and very skilled."

"I sense a but..?" Cal added when Anakin halted his sentence unexpectedly, trailing off.

"But…No." Anakin shook his head, hesitating. "I shouldn't…"

Cal shrugged, trying to reassure the Padawan. "It's normal to find things you dislike about your family. My master was always very blunt with me."

Shifting in his makeshift seat, he lowered his voice, mimicking Jaro Tapal.

"You're not focusing hard enough Padawan. Try again."

The unexpected snort of laughter was unable to be stifled and Anakin found himself at the brunt of annoyed glances of the other passengers.

Lowering his voice to a hushed whisper Anakin confessed the truth.

"Obi-Wan is a great master, but he treats me like a child."

"What do you mean?" Cal asked, trying to study the expression he was unable to place upon the other's face.

Anakin shook his head, sighing.

Somehow, he felt better finally talking about it, as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders.

"He underestimates me and never listens to me, it's just not fair ."

Silence stretched and Cal waited patiently as Anakin scrubbed at his face, almost wearily.

"Have you told him how you feel?"

"What!" Anakin's eyebrows shot up, unable to fathom the sheer thought. "Of course not, I could never."

"Why not?" And before Anakin could retort, the Jedi continued; an understanding in his tone.

"He can't change if you don't tell him what he's doing wrong. Otherwise nothing will happen..."

Cere.

Cal remembered the shattering truth as he found out about Trilla.

Hiding the truth never ended well.

Force, the irony of that sentence.

"If you dislike it, tell him. He's learning too, you both are and there is that possibility that things could get better if you do."

Anakin blinked, turning over those words over and over.

"Just think about it." Cal shrugged. "It's up to you, but if you're seriously unhappy, don't you want to change that?"

Anakin couldn't reply as the truck lurched to a stop. The sudden and unexpected screeching of the brakes resulted in Cal losing his footing.

Stumbling and tripping, it only got worse as the doors opened and Cal fell from the truck, onto the ground. Anakin could only descend in a chorus of laughter at Cal's exasperated look, his muttering grumbles as he shook the sand from his orange hair.

With a mumbled curse, Cal accepted the Padawan's offered hand and dusted off the sand, only for his hands to still at the sight of the small abode.

"Are you ready?"

"Yeah." Anakin replied softly, voice strong despite the unease rippling through the Force, to which Cal sent waves of reassurance.

Trudging through the sands, Anakin strode to the home and tapped his knuckles on the door.

.

.

Cal could feel the steady warmth radiating off of the humble family and it ached his heart; reminding him too much of them.

Anakin's panic was flooding through the Force as his mother was yet to be seen, the unease and gnawing worry reflected onto Cal.

There was a bad feeling that he couldn't shake.

"I believe we should go inside and talk." Owen's rough voice echoed through the home and Anakin could only bite his lip in worry and agree with the man, despite the itching want for the man to just tell him outright what was happening.

.

.

"Your mother was captured by Tusken raiders."

The confession sent Anakin in a spiralling descent of fear, the churning depths of no no no please, please be joking.

A crashing guilt descended over the Padawan, flooding his senses. Every breath suddenly felt noticeably more difficult than the last, tears stung at his eyes as he struggled to maintain his façade of fine.

Cal bit his lip, a sorrow-filled expression churning in the pit of his stomach; he helped in the only way he could, sending waves of calm through the Force.

.

.

The suns hid behind the clouds, the bright orange glow of the sunset brought a chilly wind.

The crushing emotions bubbled over and the choked sobs hung in the air, sounds of heartbreak and sorrow crushing Anakin.

A presence lingered, making its way towards him and he set his stormy blue eyes to the sands, unwilling to show his weakness.

"I'm going to go after them and bring her home." His croaked voice faltered.

"Of course." Cal replied without a beat. "I'm coming with you."

"What! No, I can't drag you into this." Anakin refused, whipping his head incredulously to stare at the determined forest-green eyes of the Jedi.

"You're not dragging me into anything and besides I'm not asking. I can't just wait here while you might be in danger, Anakin."

"But…"

"I'll be fine, we'll find her together."

Realising that there was no way he was going to change the stubborn mind of Cal, he resigned; inclining his head in a reluctant form of agreement.

Cal could feel the twisted conflictions of his emotions, Anakin was conflicted . Yearning to stay within the light side, but his gnawing anger was inching closer, flaring higher.

"Anakin. Listen to me , I know you're angry at yourself, at them, perhaps even at the Jedi council. I swear on my life that we'll find her-but I need you focused."

Anakin's blank stare screamed with a puzzled expression.

"Focused?"

"Your emotions." Cal provided an edge of worry evident within his tone.

He wasn't going to lecture Anakin, just gently remind him of the anger.

"It's alright to be angry sometimes, but you have to let the Force in, don't use your anger, your love for your mother is enough."

"Oh." Anakin's voice was a feeble sigh, small and lost.

Cal didn't treat him as a child like Obi-wan.

(Keep your emotions in check, my young apprentice.)

Instead, he treated him like an individual, like a friend.

"Our priority is my mother, I don't need my anger."

Anakin's clutched, tight anger eased, he let it slip through his fingers like the sand underneath him, straining through his fingers with ease.

The other mess of emotions was still present, but of course that was to be expected.

Cal mentally relaxed knowing that Anakin was much calmer.

"They have one desert speeder we can use, so we should make it before nightfall."

Anakin turned, his face morphing into a determined stare.

"Alright. Let's go."

We're coming mum, just hang on…

.

.

.

The hanging blanket of the night proved worse than the blistering heat within the day.

Cal felt the harsh chill entrapping tighter around him, leaving him shivering in the thin layers as the warmth was stolen from him.

It reminded him too much of Ilum. A time when he was at his lowest.

"Are you ready, Cal?" Anakin's murmur was barely audible as the camp roared with life, a symphony of warbling's and the cracklings of the campfire reverberated through the confined caves.

The nod of agreement spurred the companions into action, hands drifting close to their lightsabers, Cal and Anakin twisted from their hiding spot and crept towards the Tusken camp.

Cal reached out to the Force, letting the light side twist around the two, coiling tightly to hide their signature and allowing them to sneak up to the encampment with ease.

Anakin immediately recognised the familiar warmth of his mother and in one movement, Skywalker ignited his cerulean blue lightsaber and plunged it into the hut; carefully constructing an entrance as Cal twisted around, guarding his back.

Stepping into the hut, Anakin's agony screamed, echoing deep within the Force at the awful sight of his mother.

Shmi barely stirred as her son rushed desperately towards her, his voice cracking again and again, a plea and a mantra.

Mum, mum, mum please .

His eyes watered with tears, blinding his vision, his quivering hands trembled violently while his attempts to untie the coarse ropes were all for naught.

Stepping forwards, Cal easily untied the ropes, heart tugging at the chaffed red marks upon her wrists.

"Mum?" His broken tone called and finally her eyelids fluttered weakly in response.

"Ani? Oh my sweet boy."

Her slurred words sent tears dripping down his face.

"You're going to be ok , we're getting you out of here." He whispered, trying to convince himself as well as her.

"I'm so tired, Ani." Shmi responded weakly, her limp hand dropped from his cheek.

Her eyes flitted shut.

"Mum?" Anakin wept, the quiet whimper, cracked in terror as he glanced upon his mother in alarm.

"Mum!"

Carefully, Cal reached his hand to her neck, releasing the breath he didn't know he held as the weak pulse answered, thrumming under his fingertips.

"She's alright, but we have to get her back now."

The coursing fury extended into the Force and Cal had to shove the strangled sound back into his throat as it wrapped around him; suffocating him.

Anakin's eyebrows knitted together in rage, his rage flickering deep within his eyes.

"They need to pay." His voice spat venomously, chilling Cal to the bone.

"Anakin. Listen to me ." Cal ordered, trying to dull the wavering panic within his voice.

Forest green eyes held the depths of wrath and rage in the thundering eyes.

"Your mother is barely holding on, you need to get her help. We need to go now."

The flickering fire died down and a conflicted expression crossed Anakin's expression as his eyes flickered to the entrance.

The muffled celebrations were still audible and it brought a bitter resentment within the Skywalker.

"But…"

"Is your anger and need for revenge more important than your love for your mother? She needs help, Anakin and she needs it now ."

Please . Cal begged silently. Pleading. Please make the right choice. I don't want to stop you.

The choice although it tore Anakin, it was simple.

His mother would always come first, always .

Gingerly, Anakin stood, tightening his firm grip upon her. And his anger subsided, quenching and instead leaving a simmering anguish.

His hold upon the light side strengthened.

Cal exhaled, trying to calm the racing fear that gripped his heart.

Calm down. He mentally reprimanded himself. Calm down.

The Jedi could breathe again, the Force swirled around him, trying to comfort Cal as they snuck out of the hut and back into the frigid night.

Anakin's anger had sapped his energy, leaving him exhausted and weary.

When was the last time he slept?

Dazedly, Cal was ripped from his thoughts as the garbled curse tore from the Padawan's throat.

Oh.

The land speeder.

The land speeder was only large enough to hold two, let alone three.

"Go. I'll walk." Cal urged.

"You have to be joking!" Anakin barked, eyebrows raised. "I am not leaving you alone in the darkness of the desert."

"We both know that we can't all fit." Cal retorted, the fatigue upon his face was luckily hidden within the shadowy darkness.

"Your mother needs help, she's injured. I can make my way back at a slower pace."

"But…"

I can't just leave you! Anakin exclaimed through their bond and Cal was instantly reminded of Obi-Wan's similar protests, not so long ago.

Like master, like apprentice.

"I'll be fine, but she needs help Anakin."

Anakin knew that Cal was right, but that didn't mean that the Padawan was willing to let Cal wait in the freezing colds of the desert.

He didn't have a better idea…

Anakin reluctantly placed his mother within the second seat shooting a concerned glance at the ginger.

"I'll come right back for you." He promised with a strong edge of stubbornness.

I'm so sorry.

Cal's eyes crinkled in mirth.

"Take care Anakin, may the Force be with you."

I'll be fine.

"And you Cal." Padawan repeated and with a last lingering look, the engine rumbled with response and he sped off into the darkness.

Leaving Cal alone.

.

.

.

Cal had been walking forever, his muscles screamed at him in protest.

The only point of reference he had to go off was the direction Anakin had left in, but the inky blackness of the night consumed his sense of direction.

The frosty frigid abyss of the night pierced through his thin clothes, descending him into violent shivers as they racked his body.

He could feel his breath lingering in the air, his fingers frozen cold, despite the warm gloves as he held his lightsaber.

The only form of light he had, provided pointless as the endless sea of sands mocked him.

His teeth chattered, unable to force them to stop.

Cal knew the signs, he had gone through the frozen tundra's of Ilum, knew the sinking grips of hypothermia.

Kriff he was so tired…

His movements slowed, eyes drooping shut for a split second, staggering.

The warning jolted through the Force, shrill and piercing.

Don't fall asleep!

His movements slowed, the Jedi stumbled, barely able to catch himself from falling.

Don't fall asleep!

The Force repeated, more insistent as his eyes drooped shut once more, his shivering consuming him.

He knew that the Force was right, but he was just so tired.

When was the last time he had a proper sleep?

Cal was beyond exhausted and the icy cold ate away at his strength.

"Padawan, keep going." Jaro Tapal's growling bark only resulted in a slowed blink as he swayed, huffed breaths dwindling .

Slowing.

The Jedi couldn't bring himself to answer the hallucination, it took all of his strength to take the next step and not collapse upon the grounds.

The second time he tripped Cal, couldn't catch himself and plummeted to the coarse sands, his eyes slumping shut, his breaths growing weaker and weaker.

And he embraced the deadly slumbers of sleep…


Soo cliffhangers right haha (sorry haha not really)
The next chapter will be a wild ride so hang on to your hats for that.

Anyways, thank you so much for reading my fic! It means so much to me.
Let me know what you think of it so far, I would love to hear theories and other things as well :D
See you next week!