They arrived finally at Coruscant. But right after they set foot at the landing zone, they were greeted by a grim looking Yoda and Even Piell.
"Time for rest, you have not," Yoda said and really looked saddened about that.
"An important matter came in, and we need your diplomatic talent, Knight Kenobi," Piell explained a little more.

Obi-Wan suppressed a sigh and nodded. "Alright, but I will let my Padawan here. He requires the rest," Obi-Wan said.
Before Anakin could protest, Piell spoke, "No, you may require his expertise."
"His expertise?" Obi-Wan asked, and even Anakin looked bewildered. He may know some languages, but he was sure that he had no expertise in the diplomatic field.
"You will go to Tatooine and negotiate with Jabba the Hutt. He blocked a critical trade route for the republic, despite our allowance to use this route. Make sure, that the trade route will be open again and in near time," the Jedi Master explained.

Anakin's eyes widened. He couldn't believe what he had heard. They should go to Jabba the biggest slaver of Tatooine and negotiate about some trade routes? And he should go with his Master because of his expertise? Which expertise did they mean? His expertise as a slave? Would they sell him to get the trade route back?
Slowly, he looked at Obi-Wan and tried to hide his fear. If he wanted to stay with the Jedi, he had to be the perfect Padawan. He had to make sure that they would want to keep him.
Obi-Wan also looked at him, but Anakin couldn't read Obi-Wan's expression.
He didn't know, that Obi-Wan asked himself why Anakin became rigid. He knew that Tatooine was the place he was enslaved, but he was a Jedi now, and he didn't know about any connection between Jabba the Hutt and Anakin. He didn't know that being a slave or having a slave past always was connected to Jabba the Hutt, no matter if the person had ever met him. This Hutt ruled Tatooine, and he controlled the slave market, even if some slaver didn't want that to be true.

"Take some of your men with you. Make sure he gets the message that we won't tolerate something like that again," Piell added.

Obi-Wan bowed, "Yes, Master."
Anakin bowed too, a little deeper than normal.

"Cody, Rex, Kix, Jesse and Hardcase, you come with us," Obi-Wan ordered, and they went to a light freighter from the order.

"W-wait…" Anakin spoke up.
"Mhm?" Yoda sounded.
"We need money," The Padawan explained.
"Money? We won't pay Jabba for something we have a contract for," Piell replied.
"Not for him. You don't get far on Tatooine without money. And I don't mean credits. We need wupiupi," Anakin explained.
"My Padawan is right. Credits don't have any value at Tatooine, but when we require anything, we will need money. Tatooine is ruled by it," Obi-Wan said and looked to Anakin, who nodded approval.

"Money you will get," Yoda said, "Good preparation important for Jedi is."

Obi-Wan smiled proudly at Anakin, but he was already back in his thoughts and didn't see it.

Anakin was silent the whole journey long. Somehow the space felt colder than normal, but he didn't seek shelter in his bunk.
Obi-Wan tried to distract him by giving him more task you could imagine possible at a light freighter. The Jedi Knight didn't know what else he could do, but what astonished him was that Anakin never asked if they could visit his mother.

Anakin did everything his Master told him to do, but neither co-piloting nor attending the medic droid could distract him enough of his thoughts.

He pondered about what he could do to make sure that he wouldn't be sold. The best thing probably was to help his Master in every way possible. To do that, he went through every mission information he got.
He had to make sure that Jabba would be in a good mood. That would be their best chance to get what they want.
But how could he try to please the one who enslaves his people?
He had sworn to come back and free them all. Now he came back to make sure the contract between the republic and this slaver maintained.

The clones were uncertain how to behave around their little Jedi. Since they had their new mission, he never smiled, despite some fake smile that looked really sad. The most time, Anakin looked as he wasn't there, as he was deep in thoughts, while mumbling to himself in huttese.

Anakin sat in the co-pilot seat and studied a map from Tatooine. It was strange to see the places he knew since he was small at a real map and being able to recognize them.

"Master, we should land at these coordinates. There, the ship is safe from sandstorms and Jawas as well as the Tusken raiders," Anakin said, pointing at the coordinates.
"It is next to Mos Espa, your old hometown," Obi-Wan said skeptically.
"It is also near the palace, but we should go to Mos Espa and get a speeder. I know where to get the best speeder for the best price," Anakin replied.

"Why don't we land next to the palace or at the spaceport of Mos Espa?" Jesse asked from the background.
"Jabba's palace stands already a long time now, and he is as powerful as ever. I doubt that that would be possible if you could just land in front of his door our even near it. I don't know for sure, but I doubt that there is a save landing spot. You can never trust a Hutt. And the spaceports at Tatooine should always be your last resort. The prices are too high, and the people are one of the trustworthiest I know, and I know a lot of untrustworthy people," Anakin explained, dead serious.
Obi-Wan looked at his Padawan. He knew Anakin could be serious and very confident, but he had never seen this child so certain and serious at the same time.

Even Obi-Wan took this mission serious, but Anakin knew this planet and its inhibitors, so Obi-Wan decided to trust his Padawan. If it meant to take this mission as serious as a deadly mission where lives are in danger, then he would do it.
What Obi-Wan didn't thought about was, that there were lives at danger and not only their own. Anakin knew that Jabba could attack them, even if it was unlikely. More likely was that a Jabba in a bad mood would be deadly for his slaves, especially for the young and weak.

They landed and went to Mos Espa. Only Kix stayed with their ship to have an eye on it and for them to be able to flee as fast as possible if it is necessary.
It was quite a long way. For getting a safe landing spot, they had to walk half a day to Mos Espa.
The clones were glad to have white armor, but it was still hot with the twin suns shining. Obi-Wan however asked himself why Jedi had to wear so much layers and how Anakin seemed to have no problem with it.

The young Jedi knight shook his head. The answer to his last question was clear.
"You really knows the way, Commander?" Jesse asked, a little skeptical. Around them were only sand. Maybe in the far one could identify some plateau.
"Yes, as long as the plateaus are at each of our side, we only need to head north, then we will get to Mos Espa," Anakin answered, walking seemingly tireless.
"The sand is getting all in my boots," Hardcase complained.
"Mine too, Hardcase, mine too," Obi-Wan answered sympathetic:
"Oh," Anakin exclaimed making a sheepish face. "Sorry, I should have told you, how to wrap clothes around your shoes and legs to hinder the sand from getting in," Anakin said apologetic.
"That is possible?" Hardcase asked.
Anakin nodded and showed him that he had wrapped clothes around his shoes and legs.
"Well, now it is too late," Obi-Wan said. "And it isn't your fault. I at least could have asked, knowing you could have some tips or us," he added.

In Mos Espa, Anakin guided them through the busy streets and alleys. All the attention were on them. No wonder. The clones were practically shining in the sun, even with their, a little worn out, armor.
But for once it wasn't a bad thing. For once, it was good, that the people knew of their presence. They had to show their presence in order to show Jabba that they were strong and wouldn't hide. He had to make sure Jabba would take them seriously. Anakin knew, that Jabba would know of them being there before they got to him.

With Anakin's guidance and his talent in haggling, they got a pretty good speeder for a relative fair price. The young Padawan wasn't really surprised that nothing seemed to have changed while he was gone. In all his years in this city, there weren't any big changes.

Obi-Wan had a good eye on his Padawan, as they went through the city, but beside being able to navigate through the streets without problem, he showed no sign of thinking about his past or even any emotion. The Jedi Knight didn't know if this was a good or a bad sign.
Since he didn't know what to do, he let the topic fall.

"Master, let me speak first to Jabba. You have to let him see your strength in your posture. Despite showing him your respect, you shouldn't let him think he could toy with you," Anakin requested from his Master, "And no mater what I do, don't react to it."

"Why shouldn't I react to your doing?" Obi-Wan asked.
"You know, how I was irritated from some of your core-worlder behavior? It is the same thing. You won't understand everything I do, but showing this is a sign of weakness. You are the boss of our group, you stand above the things we do," Anakin explained.

Obi-Wan nodded, still not sure, but he had decided to trust his Padawan.

"And you," Anakin turned to the clones, "you should stay back. Your hands slightly on your weapons. No open aggression, but show them that you are ready to shoot if necessary. They have to take you serious. So the best thing is to have a stoic silent. Watch out for everyone in our surroundings, even the dancers and the children. Everyone could attack, if Jabba wants or if someone is just stupid. If Jabba wants to see your faces, only take your helmets down when my Master tells you. You will only listen to him, not even me. Like I said, he is the boss. And if you take your helmet off, look as grim and deadly as possible."

"Sir, yes sir!" the clones saluted.
Everyone was surprised how well Anakin had everything thought out. But it remembered them again how serious this mission was.

They were brought before Jabba the Hutt.
Anakin went slightly behind his Master, holding his head submissively down, while Obi-Wan held his head high. He didn't like how his Padawan behave, but he trusted that Anakin knew what he did.

Cody, Rex, Jesse and Hardcase went behind them, always ready to react.

As they were before Jabba, Anakin went to the front of their little group and knelt down.
It took every self-control Obi-Wan and the clones had, not to react to this.

"This lowly servant of the Republic greets his Excellency Jabba Desilijic Tiure of Nal Hutta, Eminence of Tatooine, in the name of the mighty Jedi and victorious General of the Republic Obi-Wan Kenobi," Anakin greeted in huttese.
"You speak for the Jedi?" Jabba's protocol droid said in huttese as well.
"I am to introduce and explain our reason to come here, so the negotiations may run without problems," Anakin answered.

"Then what brings this mighty Jedi here, lowly servant?" Jabba asked, emphasizing 'lowly servant'. Anakin knew what Jabba was thinking, 'slave'. But despite hating being thought as a slave, it was his plan in this case. It also let Jabba think that Obi-Wan was mighty and cruel enough to have a slave. In Jabba's case, it was a good first impression.

"My Master is here to 'negotiate' about our use of the trade rout his Excellency has blocked. Our contract provides us with the allowance to use this route. In exchange, we pay you. It also says that we don't disturb each other's businesses," Anakin began to explain, everything in huttese.
"Since his Eminence is blocking us from using the trade route, the republic feels compelled to terminate the contract and see you as an ally from our enemy. But we don't want to lose our relationship of live and let live. There is no need to endanger his Excellency's great imperium," Anakin ended with glancing to the clones.

He was sure Jabba got the hint. They had an army, a big one. And would he be seen as a separatist's ally, his crime imperium would be in danger.
Since Jabba was a greedy one and always trying to gain more, the idea of losing so much, was terrible for him.

Jabba probably knew all this beforehand and Obi-Wan would have told the hutt the same as Anakin had, but Jabba thought the Republic as something weak. And just telling the hutt what would happen if he doesn't cooperate, wouldn't be taken serious.
Anakin managed to let Jabba believe that even the Jedi were cruel enough to have slaves, and the presence of the clones as the army did the rest.

It went to silence, after Anakin had ended. Then Jabba answered.

"The mighty Jabba is ready to negotiate with the Jedi and General Obi-Wan Kenobi," the protocol droid translated in basic.
With that, Anakin stood up and get to his place behind Obi-Wan, still with his submissive posture.

Obi-Wan stepped forward and began the negotiations, but Anakin didn't listen.

His heart was racing and he felt sick. All his memories of slavery came in his mind. All the pain and humiliation. He just wanted his mom to hold him in her arms, sing for him or telling him stories. Anakin just wanted to forget.

Jabba's laughter got Anakin out of his thoughts.
"Very well, Jedi. The mighty Jabba will accept, if you show us that you are willing too to continue the contract," Jabba got translated.
"What has the mighty Jabba in his mind?" Obi-Wan asked.

"One of Jabba's worker hasn't come back with Jabba's goods from Mos Espa. Your accompaniment shall bring him and Jabba's good back. You can keep one of your soldiers here with you. Will you accept?" the protocol droid asked.
Obi-Wan thought about it then nodded.
"Padawan, take Captain Rex, Jesse and Hardcase with you and bring this man back," he said.
Anakin bowed, "Yes, Master."