Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars or any of its characters. All the characters are the property of George Lucas and LucasFilm Ltd.
Feedback: Is most welcome.
Author's Note: Hey everyone! So sorry for the long delay. These two months have been quite hectic. And the Force gives me a feeling that the rest of the year is not going to be an exception. Sighs.
My motto: Slow and steady wins the race! : )
Here's the chapter. Enjoy!
Chapter IV
Think! Think Anakin think! Help me Force!
But the Force did not help him. It seemed quite content sitting back and enjoying seeing Anakin rack his brain to answer Padme.
"Uh… you know the angels in the…uh…moons of…lego! Yes, lego!" He nearly exclaims. Then with a softer voice carries on, "I heard it from the customers who come here. Most of them have been off-planet."
"Oh." Padme looks at him, an amused smile on her face, "And have you ever met an angel?"
Yes. He immediately thinks.
"Yes." It takes a few moments for him to actually speak it aloud.
"Who?" Padme asks, genuinely interested now.
Anakin smiles wistfully. "You."
He looks on as Padme's face takes a surprised expression before quickly recovering. "What makes you say that?"
And here I was planning to keep this conversation short. Do any of my plans go as intended?
There was, of course, no need to answer that. Anyone who had the opportunity to work with him for even one instance knew they didn't.
He often wondered why Obi-wan even went through all the trouble to make a plan, when in the end they had to always improvise.
"Well, the angels are said to be kind and beautiful. I know that you are. So, you must be an angel."
Padme smiles at him. "You are a funny little boy, aren't you? What is your name?"
"Anakin Skywalker. But my friends call me Ani."
"It's nice to meet you Ani. I am Padme." She gives him a friendly smile. He gladly smiles back.
All his worries on what should he do next having evaporated into thin air. This was one of the main reasons, he loved Padme. Whenever she was near, his mind was soothed and all his worries alleviated.
"Obi-wan was right! You have changed."
"Anakin! You are breaking my heart! You are going down a path I cannot follow!"
With a shudder, Anakin closes his eyes. He sees Padme clutching at the invisible hands that choke her to death. His hands that use the Force to choke his wife on the presumed notion that she had betrayed him.
A soft hand rests on his shoulder. Anakin opens his eyes to see the concerned brown orbs of Padme. Anakin wonders to what extent his mind had been twisted to even entertain the idea that his wife could betray him for the person in front of him was nothing if not loyal. She was concerned for a person she had just met.
It was he who had betrayed her.
He does not deserve this. None of this. Neither this second chance nor her concern.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah-yeah, I am alright." He says making no attempt to brush away her hand. But she removes it anyways and looks at him concernedly.
Feeling the need to change the topic, he says, "I can help you."
"What makes you think I need help?"
Yes, what indeed, Anakin?
"Well, you are a strange girl to me. I would have noticed you before if you lived here. So, I am guessing that you are not a native. And believe me, this is no tourist destination."
Padme looks at him for a few moments. She is deciding whether she can trust this boy who seemed far too observant and experienced for someone his age. In the end, she decides she can trust him if only because of the genuine shine in his eyes.
"You are right. We do need help. You see our hyperdrive is destroyed and we need a new one as T-14 Nubian to get off planet."
"I will see what I can do. I am a good mechanic; maybe I could have a look."
Padme gives him a soft smile as her face takes on a thoughtful expression. "I will think about it. Thanks."
"Well, you know where to find me." He says with a smile.
"Enough about me. Tell me about yourself. How long have you been working here?"
Ah. Here comes the hard truth.
"Since I was three."
"Um, isn't that too young."
And here it comes…
"I was three, I think, when Gardulla the Hutt lost me and my mom to Watto."
Padme's expression turns from one of amusement to horror as the revelations settle in. "You-you are a slave?"
Normally, he would have retaliated in anger that he was no slave but a person. Now? It hardly affects him.
Being a slave to Watto is nothing as compared to his other Master. Darth Sidious. He has had only three masters who he remembers properly. Watto. Obi-Wan Kenobi. Darth Sidious.
With the exception of his second master, he has been a slave all his life.
His second Master. Now, that is a totally new line of thought…
Before he could, however, delve deeper into his memories and ruminations, Padme's voice brings him back to the present again.
"I am sorry. I did not mean to be rude. I hope you are not offended. This is a strange world to me. I am not quite sure I understand it."
Anakin shakes his head and smiles, "Apology accepted. It does not bother me. Soon I am going to be free and be the best starpilot in the galaxy!" He adds the last sentence to dissipate the tension that had suddenly developed in the room.
It has the desired effect- Padme smiles.
If I am unable to accomplish anything worthwhile in this life, I will atleast make sure that Padme always smiles that angelic smile of hers.
He smiles despite himself suddenly feeling the waves of annoyance rolling of a certain Jedi Master in the back of the shop.
Hmm. Must have finally figured out that Jedi mind tricks do not work on Toydarians. Pity.
"It was nice meeting you. My offer on the ship still stands."
Padme nods her head in gratitude, "That's very kind of you. Thanks."
Right then, Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn enters the shop and Anakin withholds the smirk that develops seeing his annoyed expression. Un-Jedi like. Obi-wan would say.
"We are leaving." He announces without preamble and moves out of the shop. Jar-Jar, Artoo, and Padme follow, the latter giving him a small smile as she leaves which he gladly returns.
-X—X—
Finding nothing to do whatsoever and having no intention to drown in his morbid thoughts, Padawan Kenobi decides it best to practice his katas.
He goes systematically through all his forms, surprised that he still remembers all of them without any trouble, until he finally decides to take a break.
As soon as he stops, he hears applause nearby. He looks ahead to see a small group of the crew standing near the ship, apparently having watched his workout.
He gives them a small smile and settles on a nearby rock.
"How can you bear this heat?"
Obi-wan smiles. "Being a Jedi makes you adapt to the weather conditions on different planets, Captain Panaka."
"I guess, it does. That was pretty impressive back there, by the way."
Obi wan acknowledges it with a nod of gratitude.
They remain in companionable silence for a while when Obi-Wan's comlink beeps. He glances at Panaka. Panaka gets the hint and leaves Obi-wan alone.
"Kenobi."
"Obi-Wan, it's me." The deep baritone voice of his master greets from the other end. "Yes Master?"
"One of the local junk dealers has got what we need. But he will not accept republic credits. We need something to trade. Obi-Wan, you are sure there isn't anything of value left on board?"
"I am sure Master. There maybe a few containers of supply. There's not enough to barter with. Not in the amount you are talking about at least."
"All right…"
"Having said that, I would like to inform that I have a few thousand truguts with me but they will not be sufficient to buy us the hyperdrive."
"Truguts? Why do you have Tatooine's local currency with you? And why didn't you tell me?"
"Yes, truguts. I… well let's say I had a 'feeling' we would need it. Guess I was right. It was a prompting from the Force, Master. And at the time I took them, I didn't know how it would really be useful. Well, it still is not useful…but…"
"It might prove useful further on Padawan. Although, you should have informed me about it."
"I know, Master. I apologize. It left my mind while you were leaving for Mon Espa."
Obi-Wan could very well imagine the raise of an eyebrow by his mentor who continued in a skeptical tone, "It left your mind?"
And I could slap myself right about now. A senior Jedi Padawan who forgot he had money with him. Seems like something a teenager would do not a twenty five year old man. Well, I cannot back down now.
"Uh…yes?" It came out more like a question than a confirmation. What was it about Qui-Gon that made him feel like a young Padawan again rather than an experienced Jedi Master?
Obi-Wan hears Qui-Gon sigh into the comlink, "Looks like we need to have a talk Padawan. I have felt the confusion within you. Is there anything that troubles you, Obi-wan? It's unlike you to forg—Uh… I will comm you back."
Obi-Wan is sure he heard Padme's voice in the background exclaiming something.
He reviews his conversation with Qui-Gon and sighs. Such blatant lies Kenobi.
Well, all of it was not lies. He reasons. The Force did prompt me to bring the truguts with me. Only, the fact that I do not know their use and forgot to tell Qui-Gon are lies.
From a certain point of view?
Yes, exactly! Now you understand.
Obi-Wan blinks. Did he just carry out a mental discussion with himself? He must be going crazy. All his old age finally catching up to him.
His mind was too busy dreading the 'talk' with Qui-Gon to even process how that was possible now that he is back in time.
-x—x—
"Always getting in trouble." Anakin muttered under his breath as he saw the confrontation play out between the Dug and the Gungan.
When the Dug shoves Jar Jar to the ground and holds him there, Anakin decides it's time to step in. He shoves his way through the crowd gathered.
"Step away Dug!" He comes to stand in front of Jar Jar on whom the Dug had let his grasp go.
"Careful, Dug. You may not wanna mess with this one here. He's very connected." Anakin is surprised his Huttese is still good.
"Connected? Whada you mean, slave?"
Anakin balls his fists. Somehow, the word slave when spoken through this creature, whose name was too unimportant to even remember, seems scornful unlike when Padme spoke it.
But then, Padme always had that way with words.
"Connected as in Hutts, sleemo! Big time outlander, this one. You would be well advised to back away now."
"Next time we race, wermo, it would be the end of you. If you weren't a slave, I'd squash you right now."
Anakin takes a step forward menacingly, "As if. Everyone knows I am a far better racer than you. You doubt that? Well, we will see in the next race." He adds suddenly remembering who exactly this Dug was, "We both know you do not stand a chance if you do not cheat. So I had say back off, Sebulba while you still have the chance!"
If Sebulba was intimidated by what Anakin said, he did not show it. Although, Anakin was sure he sensed a spike in fear in him. Good.
Wait a minute, was it good? Yes, he was bullying Jar Jar. I just helped him out.
Satisfied, he helps Jar Jar up.
He senses them before he hears them.
"What happened here?"
Breathe, Anakin. Breathe. Just because you have a dead Jedi Master talking to you who once believed in you and you disappointed him is no reason to die because you cannot bear to face him, now is it? Right? Right.
Thankfully Jar-Jar covers up for him.
"Mesa hate thissa place. There troubleen everywhere. When can wesa go back?"
"Soon, Jar Jar, soon." Qui-Gon then looks at Anakin inquisitively.
"Hey, Anakin!" Padme joins in the conversation.
Anakin realises he needs to speak something because he has been standing silently for a long time in the middle and now everyone was looking at him.
"Uh…hi."
"Ja—I mean your Gungan friend here was heading towards trouble. That was Sebulba. While he is no one very dangerous per say but he does have his contacts and he is a bully. It would be better if you avoid him. And do not get into trouble."
"Nosir, nosir. Mesa hate crunchen. Dat's da last ting mesa wanten." Jar Jar defends himself.
"Nevertheless, the boy is right…you were heading for trouble. Thank you, my young friend…"
"Anakin Skywalker, sir."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Anakin." Qui-Gon says and they walk down the crowded street.
-x—x—
A knock at the door interrupts him. Not that he was doing anything important rather than just glancing through the news in his datapad to gather information about other important things going on in this timeline. Like news about a certain Senator from Naboo.
"Come in."
"There's a sand storm blowing."
"Yeah, I noticed. It would slow them down."
"It looks pretty bad. We have sealed the ship."
"That's good, Captain."
"But that's not what I came here for. We are receiving a transmission from home."
"Well, lead the way, Captain, We need to hear the transmission."
"Very well."
They walk quietly on the way to the room where Queen Amidala, Eirtae and Rabe are present.
After the necessary greetings, Obi-Wan sits down and listens onto the transmission.
"…cut off all food supplies until you return… the death toll is catastrophic…we must bow to their wishes, Your Highness…Please tell us what to do! If you can hear us, Your Highness, you must contact me…"
"It is a trick. Send neither any reply nor any transmission of any kind. Although, do make a copy of it and store it in a holochip. It may serve as proof in the Senate."
Captain Panaka nods and moves to do the same.
Obi-Wan glances at Sabe who is pretending to be the Queen. She looks upset.
"Do not worry, Your Highness. The Jedi, if not the Senate, will seek a solution to it soon and we will do our best to help your people as soon as we can."
Amidala nods in gratitude and Obi-Wan takes his leave.
-x—x—
"Hello Ani! Gonna go by without saying hi to old Jira?"
Anakin halts along with his group and glances at a jolly but very poor and old lady standing behind a fruit stand who was apparently called Jira.
"Uh…sorry." He walks over to her. "How are you?"
"The heat's never been kind to me, you know, Ani!"
"Yeah…Don't worry. I will find a cooling unit."
"That's sweet, Ani. But if you haven't found it by now, then I guess it will be a while before you will."
Hmm. He did see a broken down cooling unit in Watto's shop.
"Actually, I have found it. I just have to repair it. I will do it for you soon."
"You are a fine boy, Ani. Want some pallies today?"
"Not really, Jira. Sorry. Just not hungry today."
"As you wish." She replies with a kind smile, "Gracious, my bones are aching…storm's coming on, Ani. You had better get home quick." She glances at the rest of the group for a while before starting to close her shop.
Anakin gets the hint. He turns to Qui Gon, "Do you have shelter?"
"We'll head back to our ship."
"Where is it?"
"On the outskirts." Padme supplies.
"You will never reach the outskirts in time. Sandstorms are dangerous and you should avoid being caught in one as far as possible. You can come with me instead."
The winds pick up then. "Come on, hurry!"
By the time they reach his house, the sandstorm is at its peak. Entering Ankin announces, "Mom! I am home."
"Dissen cozy."
"…And I have brought guests."
His mother enters then and is startled to find an odd group of people assembled in her living room.
"Ani?" She sends his son a questioning look.
He can feel her confusion and surprise radiating in the Force. He cannot blame her though. They do form an odd group. A tall man with a girl and a Gungan accompanied by an R2 unit.
"These are my friends, Mom. This is Padme, and… that's Mas—actually I do not now any of your names." Anakin catches himself at the last moment remembering that the rest haven't really introduced themselves.
"I am Qui-Gon Jinn, and this is Jar Jar Binks."
Artoo lets out a little beep.
"…and our droid, Artoo-Detoo."
Or as per Anakin: His wife, grandmaster, Senator Binks, and his ever loyal droid friend.
Tbc…
yiggdrasill: Yes Obi-Wan does, doesn't he? He is not as innocent as he makes everyone believe. You are right about the fact that Anakin and Padme were happy in their marriage…until Palpatine came along and ruined everything. Sighs. Anyways, may I say, I am very happy about the long review you left. Lastly, wow! Do you mind if I use few of those lines, about empathy which you wrote, in one of my future chapters where the confrontation with the Council happens? No spoilers with that last statement because I guess we all saw that confrontation coming, right? Hope you liked this chapter.
RyuuShadow: Thanks! And I apologise for the long absence. I can't wait them to meet too! I just hope I get the part right. I have a rough outline on how I want it to go. But you never know. Plot bunnies are really unpredictable. : )
Syliphen Zora Riddle: : ). Thanks so much! Well the heroes do love Qui-Gon in their own way. I am not sure about whether all the other Jedi will know or not. I have a brief idea about who else I want to let in in this plan by the Force. But it is still to be seen. I can assure you, their meeting with Sheev Palpatine will be anything but peaceful.
Blue Avenue Kitten: Me too! Oh they might save him. Most likely they will. Who's to say? But that does not mean he will not die anytime later in this fic. But that's just speculating. I hope you liked this chapter!
Nightshade's sydneylover150: That's a secret! I can answer the second question: They will work like brothers! Hehe. Just had to put it in!
baronnis: Thank you! I think they are awesome too!
Cooljoanna15: I am happy to know you find it interesting. There are quite a few options for that. I am still thinking about it. Hope you liked the chapter.
As always: Read and Review!