Once again Harry had to sit and listen to the blather as the hour of ceremonious tripe continued.
"We will now hear from the Trade Federation on the subject of the alleged blockade of Naboo." The Chancellor announced.
Harry was sweating buckets under his mask as his pod floated out. It was just him and two droids from the shuttle. Padme was in her role as the Queen several storeys up. This was as bad as his hearing for underage magic.
"Honoured members, the Trade Federation withdraws any objections to the investigation of the incident at Naboo. I have personally met with Her Majesty, Queen Amidala and have made arrangements to see the situation rectified."
There were murmurings of surprise and confusion. Not to mention the look of befuddlement on the Chancellor's face.
"Honoured delegate, I do not recognise you." He said hesitantly. "Could you please identify yourself and explain by what right you speak for the Trade Federation?"
"I am the Emperor, leader of the Empire of Magic of which the Trade Federation is a member. The former Viceroy and his directorate have been relieved of their positions in the light of their actions against the people of Naboo."
"Empire of Magic? I have never heard of such a body."
Harry just shrugged. "You have now."
"It's a Sith!"
Harry had no idea who said that but it was a cry that was soon picked up by other delegates. Harry regretted ever agreeing to this.
"ENOUGH!"
Harry had no idea that Padme could be that loud.
"The Emperor is no more a Sith than I am." She glared at the delegates as her pod moved forward next to Harry's. "I have spent more than six days in the presence of the Emperor. In that time he has conversed with numerous Jedi and they have been very respectful to each other.
"It is despicable that you should throw such disgusting accusations against one who has saved my people. We will not stand for it."
"You say that, but it is clear he has conquered you and that you are his puppet. Just as he has conquered and subjugated the Trade Federation!" The Ambassador from Malastare accused as his pod floated forward.
Harry turned to the Chancellor. "Whilst I am grateful for Her Majesty's support, I believe order should be restored and that you should enforce the rules of the Senate. Neither the Queen nor the Ambassador was recognised and given leave to speak. The fool who shouted I was a Sith certainly did not signal his desire to speak.
"As the offended party, who has the floor and has been so egregiously maligned, I must petition for justice."
"How dare-"
"Silence!" Valorum snapped at the Ambassador. "The Emperor is correct, both you and Queen Amidala will return to your places."
He waited for both to leave, Amidala did so with far more grace than the scowling Ambassador Aks Moe of Malastare.
"Emperor, I am afraid a little patience will be required before I can address your complaint as I will need to review the recordings to see who committed the grievance."
"I can afford a little patience." Harry allowed. "For now, I will cede the floor with a courtesy warning that the Empire of Magic is considering removing the Trade Federation from the Republic. Whilst the Trade Federation was wrong to attack the people of Naboo, the underlying motive was valid. We will not recognise the Republic's abolition of the Free Trade Zones in such a unilateral manner. Should the Republic wish to push the matter, then I am told that currency and trade could see severe changes for both sides as we attempt to mitigate the damages you seem intent on inflicting on us."
Harry didn't wait for a response as he pushed a button that took his pod back. He ignored the stunned look on the Chancellor's face and those of his advisors as the senate descended into chaos.
What he did notice was a late arriving Senator Palpatine who boarded the Queen's pod and immediately began speaking heatedly to her. Amidala seemed to be uncomfortable.
That's when Harry noticed the old man had a painful grip on her upper arm. "Sabe! He is hurting the Queen!" Harry shouted up towards the higher placed Naboo pod. He turned to the droids. "Can you get me up there?"
"Negative. Senate pods are locked into pre-determined routes."
Harry growled in frustration. He palmed his wand and threw out a stunner. The old man dropped like a rock.
Fortunately, his actions went unnoticed in the clamour and chaos around them. He quickly pushed past his bodyguards and exited the pod.
He marched straight to the nearest stairs and jogged up them, he was challenged by various guards but he was high on adrenaline and his wand was ready. Stunners flew quickly and accurately.
He burst through the door to the pod docking bay and found Sabe and Yane trying to rouse Palpatine. Harry ignored them, stepping over the unconscious fool and moving to Padme. "Are you alright?"
She nodded shakily, holding her left arm. "He- He just collapsed."
"I did that. How is your arm?" He asked worriedly.
Padme was clearly in shock.
"Sabe, we need to leave. Now!" He snapped.
"The Senator-"
"Was attacking the Queen. Either leave him or call for reinforcements."
"Your Majesty!" Yane gasped as she noticed Padme holding her arm.
"Look, my ship is ready and waiting. I can take her up and have her treated whilst you take the git into custody, ok?"
"We can handle the Senator. Additional units are approaching and will escort you." One of the droids reported.
The group had been escorted straight to the Trade Federation embassy and into the onsite medical wing. As usual, the Neimoidians spared no expense in ensuring their comfort so they had a dedicated medic droid.
Padme was soon sitting in a medical chair with a substance called 'bacta' being circulated through her arm.
"Why would the Senator do something like this?" Yane was nearly biting her fingernails as she hovered over the queen.
"I want to know how that old man had the strength to fracture her bones." Sabe was furious. She had made a personal call to Captain Panaka and additional security forces were en route from the embassy and Naboo.
"Where was her dog? Where were your dogs?" Harry demanded angrily. "They are supposed to protect you!"
"Pets are not allowed in the Senate building, Harry." Padme said soothingly from the reclining medical chair. "Even if they are for protection."
"Master Harry, whilst that is true, as you have seen today, droids are under no such restrictions." C-3PO's voice sounded distantly from Harry's mask on a nearby table. "Perhaps the addition of a suitable droid that has direct access to Her Majesty's vitals and comm link would be of use."
Harry relaxed a bit. Once again the rescued and salvaged protocol droid had come to save his day. If it hadn't been for C-3PO guiding him he would have been utterly lost in the hearing.
"If you would be so kind as to get me back to my body, I would happily begin arrangements."
"Sure 3PO. You've been great today. Once we get you a disguise you won't need to do this again." Harry assured him as he picked up his mask.
Rather than risk associating Harry Potter's registered droid with the Emperor, Harry had worked with R2-D2 to extract C-3PO's core and install it in his mask so he had a trained advisor on hand. Remote communications were not permitted in the Senate meetings.
"It is always a pleasure to serve, Master Harry. Just even more so with a body."
"Emperor, Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn has returned with Jedi Master Yoda. They are requesting transport to your ship to secure Darth Maul." A droid reported from the doorway.
Harry looked unhappy with that. "Send them in."
"Harry? This was already arranged, wasn't it?" Padme asked.
"Yeah, but that was before you were attacked."
"We are trained and capable of defending our Queen." Sabe argued heatedly.
Harry simply took a step back from Padme and gestured to the tubes plugged into her arm.
"Sabe… we did fail." Yane said with shame. "Even now, our dogs aren't here. Eirtae has proven how effective they are at protecting us."
"What? What happened?" Harry demanded as he turned to the aforementioned handmaiden.
"It was just an attempted mugging." Eirtae assured him. "I was buying supplies and someone pushed me down. Pad had the mugger pinned to the floor in seconds. I was unharmed and so was Pad."
All the girls had given their dogs names based on those usually associated with Sirius and his animagus form.
"I'll go and release them from the bedroom." Rabe winced as she rushed off.
"Queen Amidala, injured?" Came the old high-pitched and surprised voice. "Heard Senator Palpatine was ill, we did. Not this." Yoda frowned as he entered with Qui-Gon.
Harry and the girls were all relieved that Anakin wasn't there.
"That bastard crushed her arm." Harry snarled. "He did the same to me after the last senate hearing. Kept threatening me too."
"What? Why didn't you tell me?" Padme asked.
Harry just shrugged uncomfortably.
"Were you walking around with a broken shoulder all that time?" Yane asked as she pulled a medical probe off a shelf nearby and ran it over Harry.
"He was perfectly healthy when we scanned him on the Droid Control Ship." Padme frowned.
They turned to the chuckling Yoda. "Sturdy, wizards are. Can survive more than humans. But still… damageable."
"That would explain how Harry survived his fall on arriving on Naboo." Qui-Gon nodded.
"Magic, like the Force, invoked on instinct it can be. Saved Sirius many times, it did."
"I want to know why Palpatine was hurting Padme." Harry redirected the conversation. Rabe returned at this point, preceded by a pack of dogs, eager to return to their charges.
"He has been heavily involved in the Free Trade Zone debate." Qui-Gon offered. "Perhaps he was upset that Naboo is changing its position."
"Master Jinn- I- I need you to persuade me with the Force." Padme said hesitantly. "Please."
Qui-Gon looked appalled, but Yoda looked very sad and waved his hand. "Your feelings, tell us your feelings for Harry."
The handmaidens looked horrified as Padme's expression glazed slightly. Harry was confused.
"Enough." Yoda snapped his hand down and Padme began breathing heavily. He hobbled up to the chair and patted Padme's hand. "Strong you are. Jedi you are not. But strong is the Force in you.
"Learn what you needed, did you?"
Padme nodded, her shaky expression turning hard and severe. "Palpatine was trying to use the Force to control me."
"Are you saying that the Senator for Naboo, is a Sith?" Qui-Gon stepped forward and asked gravely.
"I have felt the Force used around me and I have now experienced it on myself." Padme began to sit up and Harry and Sabe moved to help her. "I know that is what Palpatine was doing at the Senate."
"I thought these Siths were supposed to be rare." Harry frowned. "We suddenly find two in a week?"
"Always two." Yoda looked him in the eye sternly. "Master and Apprentice. Always two."
"So Maul is the Apprentice?"
"That is what the droids confirmed." Sirius spoke up from the corner where R2 had been reinstalling C-3PO into his body. "Darth Maul, apprentice to Darth Sidious.
"Of course, what Yoda seems to be forgetting is that, whilst there is always a master and apprentice, it doesn't mean that the master's master isn't still around or that the apprentice hasn't taken on an apprentice of their own."
"So we could be dealing with four Sith?" Sabe demanded.
"Or more." Sirius nodded. "At some point the master and apprentice will try to kill each other. Occasionally we get lucky and they manage to do each other at the same time."
"What happens with Palpatine?" Harry asked. "You said Sith can do what Jedi do, like mind-control. Can the local police handle him?"
"No. Sith are always dealt with by the Jedi Order." Qui-Gon said firmly. "We will interrogate both Maul and Palpatine and learn the truth."
"Yoda, you have to get Harry to Kashyyyk." Sirius ordered. "All my possessions are there and he will need them. Whether as Harry Potter or The Emperor, he has taken on and defeated a Sith. He will be a target."
Yoda looked resigned. "Agreed. Accompany him, will I. Teach him what I know."
"It's been too long since you had a Padawan old friend." Sirius grinned.
What was supposed to be a quick trip to Harry's droid ship to retrieve Darth Maul and deliver him to the Jedi Temple, turned into a three-ring circus.
Sabe was back in the makeup (after three hours). Padme had insisted on accompanying them. Qui-Gon had decided to bring his new Padawan and Obi-Wan along. Panaka had ordered an armed escort for the Queen.
And finally, three other members of the Jedi Council had demanded to go as well.
Harry was back in his mask and wishing he had 3PO still. "You will abide my instructions and by the instructions of my droids. If you don't… well, we will simply provide the Council with a recording of your stupidity along with your remains."
He wasn't pleased about being ordered around. Especially as he was-
"Actually, no. You will all stay here. Yoda, Qui-Gon, come with me."
"We will not stand by and wait whilst there is a Sith on the loose." The dark-skinned Mace Windu scowled.
"Really? Because Palpatine has been running around and doing things for decades."
"Enough! Respect! Respect for the Emperor." Yoda said angrily as he stomped his cane. "Return to the temple. Prepare for prisoners you will."
Windu looked like he might argue but Yoda leaned forward sharply.
"Much trouble in, when we return to the planet you are, hmm?" Yoda chuckled as Harry led them through the large hallways of his ship.
"I wasn't going to change my mind about the other Jedi so why would I do it for Padme?" Harry grumbled.
"It's comments like that make me really regret not being there to raise you, Pup." Sirius said sadly as R2 rolled along behind them.
A simple colouring charm ensured that 'H2-P2' would not be associated with 'R2-D2'.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Let's just say it's clear no one taught you about women."
"I know about women." Harry muttered.
They soon reached the cargo container that was being used to hold the Sith. Harry had instructed the droids to keep the monster sedated as he didn't have time to sit there and watch him.
Harry was impressed as Yoda levitated the fifteen-foot-long container back down the hallway and onto The Ghost. Harry had insisted on using that ship. He wanted to take his bloody mask off.
Despite his unusual speech patterns and slow, seemingly weak movements, Jedi Master Yoda was capable of quick thinking and organisation.
Within hours of returning to the planet's surface, Maul was in custody and Yoda was wandering around The Ghost with a critical eye, accompanied by R2 and Sirius.
Despite the Queen's ship travelling with them, Padme and her handmaidens had opted to travel on Harry's ship.
At Sirius' insistence they were on the way to Kashyyyk. Whatever Sirius had left for him was important enough for Yoda to agree with the urgency. Like Naboo, Kashyyyk was located in the mid rim, it was, however, much closer to Coruscant than Naboo. It would only take a day and a half to reach them.
Once Yoda had finished his inspection of the ship, Sirius had ordered the girls and their dogs to the cargo bay for lessons on their dogs, how to care for, handle and train.
As Sirius explained it, the dogs were a manifestation of Harry's imagination. Each one would behave as Harry expected Padfoot to behave. So whilst they were trained and housebroken… they were mischievous.
Yane had been mortified to realise that her dog knew exactly what it was doing when it had been trying to nuzzle under her skirt.
Sirius reluctantly taught the girls about the value of a water spray bottle and a rolled up newspaper. He felt like such a traitor to canine kind.
Kashyyyk = Dense Forests = Massive Trees = Big sticks = Dog's Heaven
The entire mood of the party went straight up at the delighted and excited looks on the conjured canines. The girls felt horrible that they couldn't 'let the dogs off the leash' as Sirius put it.
They had landed at a private landing pad built high in the trees and were met by two Wookies. They were introduced as Chewbacca and Malla, Garaka's great-grandson and his wife.
Yoda and Sirius seemed to be able to understand the wailing and growling language of the Wookies, the rest of them had to rely on C-3PO.
What was really interesting was that Chewbacca and Malla seemed to be able to communicate with the dogs.
"Yeah, I can talk to other dogs… sort of." Sirius chuckled. "Dogs don't really have a language but they can convey things. I got a real shock when I landed on Garaka and he started growling. I could understand him so I turned into Padfoot and 'talked' back.
"He then called me an idiot and said he could understand me as a human.
"It was the start of a beautiful relationship." He wiped a fake tear from his eye.
"Master Harry, Mister Chewbacca says his great-grandfather locked Master Sirius in a cage for six months whilst they waited for the Jedi Council to deal with him." C-3PO translated the clearly scoffing Wookie.
They turned to the chuckling Yoda. "Find him in the cage, I did." He nodded. "But not for small animals, was it built."
"You pulled another Azkaban?" Harry asked his deceased godfather in amusement.
"Twelve years, Harry." Sirius said gravely.
"Uh huh, talk to me when you reach fourteen years."
"Shit. Sorry Harry, I didn't mean to be insensitive." Sirius was mortified.
"Whatever. We're both free now." Harry dismissed the topic.
Sabe stepped forward as she was dressed as the Queen. "Master Chewbacca, perhaps we could see Sirius' belongings. We do hope to spend a few days here at the least, but we are scheduled to meet with Chief Tarrful later today."
Wookies lived on a planet filled with trees. Massive trees. But the Wookies were exceptionally strong and intelligent. They lived in the treetops in homes made of wood logs. Corridors of wood linked various groups of trees together and the rooms were carved into the trunks of the trees themselves. The abodes spanned up to nine trees in rows of threes and three vertical levels.
Sirius' was slightly smaller. It was only six trees in two rows of three and two vertical levels.
"This is very cosy." Harry smiled at his holographic parental figure.
"Thanks. Just big enough for me to be a slob in, bring back a girl or just hang out with the gang." Sirius said proudly. "Of course, you might want to expand a bit, I only ever brought back one girl at a time." He looked pointedly over his shoulder. "You seem intent on out doing me."
"Is there a personal landing pad for Harry's ship?" Padme asked.
"Sure, we landed on it." Sirius chuckled.
"That was quite some distance to walk." Padme was surprised, there was a lot of empty trees in this area, plenty of space to build a pad.
"Yeah… I always was a bit paranoid." Yoda's scoff went ignored. "The pad is on the edge of the property. It makes it hard for enemies to land close and get the drop on me."
"You own all the land from here to the landing pad?!" Yane asked in awe.
"And the same distance in each direction." Sirius confirmed. "Well… Harry owns it now."
"What?"
"It's all yours Pup." Sirius was confused as to the problem.
"But I don't know what to do with a home!" Harry protested.
"You live in it, Harry." Padme said kindly as she took his hand. "Like you can live on your ship."
"But I don't know where to get food or how to make money for rent and taxes!" Harry was getting more and more upset and beginning to panic.
Chewbacca stepped forward and placed a heavy hand on Harry's shoulder as he spoke.
"Mister Chewbacca says that he will teach you and until you are ready he will make sure everything is taken care of." C-3PO translated. "He says that Master Sirius was considered family by his great grandfather and that makes you family too."
Malla stepped up next to her husband and spoke.
"Mistress Malla assures you that her mate's family has cared for your trees for centuries, they are happy to keep doing so."
Chewbacca spoke again.
"Master Chewbacca says you shouldn't worry. Take things slow and learn all you can."
Harry nodded shakily. That actually helped. Sure, he'd just had all these things thrust on him, but with Padme, the handmaidens, Sirius, R2, 3PO and Chewbacca's family… he didn't need to meet a deadline.
But he'd make sure he learnt well and fast to make them all proud and so he could show his appreciation.
"You want me to learn how to use a sword and shield?"
"Harry, Sith use the same weapons as Jedi. Lightsabres. It is nearly impossible for non-Force sensitives to use a lightsabre without killing themselves." Sirius explained. "A lightsabre can cut through anything… except another lightsabre and phrik, which is what this sword and shield are made from."
The sword was similar to an old English sword with cross guards at the hilt, the whole thing appeared to have been made in one piece and was completely smooth. The shield was also one piece and was in the style of a heater-shield of the middle-ages. The type that the knights would have used.
Both were completely smooth and undecorated other than the leather wrapped around the hilt of the sword and tied to back of the shield to hold.
Harry picked them up. "These are quite light!"
"Yep, but still heavier than a lightsabre which gives you an advantage against them."
"Teach you, I will." Yoda promised. "Saved us much, that shield did."
"Sirius… what is this?"
Harry and the others were looking at a long thin metallic object. Based on the size and the fact it had a saddle, they could assume it was a vehicle.
"This is my version of what they call a Speeder Bike." Sirius said proudly. "I just stripped out the guts and made it run on magic like a broom, or my old Triumph."
"Triumph?"
"Motorbike. I bought a glorious motorbike after I finished Hogwarts. James and I modified it so it could fly. Last I saw it, Hagrid was riding it away from your destroyed home that Halloween." He said gravely. "But anyway! This is my version of my motorbike in this galaxy." He grinned. "I can't wait to see you ride it."
Padme and the girls stood on the walkway outside Sirius' home with their hands covering their faces. Sirius was grinning and Yoda… was amazed.
"Jedi do not fly so well." The old creature marvelled as they watched Harry zip amongst the trees at speeds that were fatal.
R2-D2 started beeping.
"Your Majesty, R2 says you should not worry." C-3PO translated. "He's survived droid armies, Sith Lords and politics. R2 says this is the first time he has seen Master Harry relaxed.
"Personally, I am worried too. My processors are beginning to overheat just watching him!"
"He always said that riding his broom was when he was happiest." Sirius said with a fond smile. "The galaxy would have to be in mortal peril before I take it away from him."
It was a very happy group that entered the central government tree for the Wookie home world. Harry had returned from his little joy ride beaming and badgering Sirius with questions about whether he could make The Phantom run on magic.
Despite their nail-biting fear, Padme and the handmaidens were also much happier. They hadn't really seen Harry smile properly since they met him.
This good mood clearly affected Chief Tarrful as he welcomed them happily. Harry didn't really pay attention to the discussions between Queen Amidala (Sabe) and Chief Tarrful. Most of it seemed to be exchanges of thanks and the like for their aid on Naboo. C-3PO was in his element as a translator so Harry, Yoda and R2 just stood back and watched quietly.
Harry was soon dragged into the conversation though.
"Master Harry, Chief Tarrful asks what your intentions are now that the crisis on Naboo is over." C-3PO addressed the young wizard.
"I- erm- P- Her Majesty asked me to travel with her." Harry said nervously. "I don't really know what else to do so… that seems like a place to start."
Not realising that he was being a bit rude, he turned away from the high-ranking officials and knelt down and whispered in Yoda's ear.
A short conversation where Yoda seemed very certain and Harry turned back to the group. "Master Yoda says you are a trusted friend, so I would like to inform you that I am currently the one called The Emperor of Magic. It's something R2 did when he reprogrammed the droid army above Naboo." He finished with a stiff and clumsy bow.
The chief was shocked and clearly not convinced. But he took a single glance at the Jedi Master and the doubt fled, leaving just the shock.
"In light of Master Yoda's opinion and The Emperor's declaration, I would also like to apologise for deceiving you." Padme bowed low. "I am the real Queen. This is Sabe, my handmaiden and bodyguard who risks her life as my decoy."
Tarrful was clearly off-balance and unsure what to do.
"Contemplate what you have learned, my friend." Yoda hobbled forward. "Take the younglings back to the home, I will. Wait for your call, we shall."
"You stay, Yoda." Sirius offered. "I can lead them back."
"Alright Harry, if you are going to survive in this world as a wizard and not as a muggle then I need to teach you a few things." Sirius declared as they arrived back at the tree house. "Fortunately, whilst I was alive I created a syllabus for you. First up, apparition."
"You are sure you can teach me, right?" Harry asked worriedly.
"Pup, I spent most of my life preparing these lessons for you." Sirius assured him as R2 settled in a corner of the room. "Now, back when I learnt we were told to remember the three D's. Destination, Determination and… something I never could recall." The hologram said dismissively.
Harry did not look very reassured.
"All you need to do is know where you want to go and then gather your magic and make yourself appear there. I know it sounds very vague, but apparition is very much an act of will."
"What about splinching?"
"As long as you gather a ton of your magic and overpower it you won't have that problem. Once you can successfully apparate you will be able to figure out better amounts of magic to use so you are more efficient."
Tarrful, Chewbacca and a squad of armed guards stormed across the walkways. A loud explosion had emanated from the human's house and it had been heard halfway into the treetop city.
Yoda was calmly hobbling along in their wake and chuckling as he was reminded of his younger years.
The Chieftain and his guard arrived to find the human females standing outside the house with their ears bleeding and in pain. He quickly ordered a healer to come.
He then tried to enter only to be stopped by a bloody hand on his arm. He looked down to see the recently revealed Queen looking up at him.
"THE FLOOR IS GONE!" She said loudly, clearly deafened by the explosion.
One of the guards cautiously opened the door.
The door fell into the room.
And down into the forest below.
The floor was gone.
So were two of the walls and most of the ceiling.
"So! Slight mishap." They saw the astro-droid in the far corner, perched precariously on the last remaining bit of floor. Sirius was projected above its head with a sheepish grin. "We might need a search party for Harry."
Harry hit the ground with a horrible thud.
Sand flew up around him.
He just lay there, groaning for a few minutes.
"Boy! Wha' thou back here for?!"
"Nice to see you too Watto." Harry let his head fall back and hit the floor of the junkyard as some of it fell from the precarious piles onto the various branches he'd dragged along.
Everybody was going nuts. Padme, the handmaidens, the droids and Sirius were in a panic trying to figure out where Harry had gone. The Wookies had sent a party to the forest floor but couldn't find any sign of the wayward wizard.
Tarrful was also fairly disturbed by the fact that the small human managed to decimate a tree like that.
Only Yoda seemed to maintain his calm. "Patience. Resourceful, young Harry is." He counselled.
Padme was not in the mood to be coddled. "He doesn't have a communicator. He doesn't have his armour. He doesn't have any money. He doesn't even know how to read Galactic Basic! Just how resourceful-"
R2 started beeping.
"R2 says that Master Harry is sending a communication to The Ghost. Would you like him to relay it here?" 3PO translated.
Padme was sure that Jedi weren't supposed to be smug.
R2 rolled over to the nearby computers and connected to it. Harry's visage soon appeared on the screen.
"Sirius, what do I do now?"
"What?"
"I tried what you said but I wound up falling in mid-air. So I tried again to land on somewhere I knew was solid ground. Now I'm back on Tatooine in Watto's shop."
"Harry… you apparated all the way to another planet?"
"It was the first place that came to mind! I was falling from a great height!"
"Pup- Harry, I never tried apparating between planets!" Sirius was nearly gobsmacked. "I mean, what if I didn't make it? I'd be floating in space… dead!"
"Well I'm here now. What do I do to get home? Watto is still a grumpy old sod. Should I try and apparate to Naboo or Coruscant?"
"NO!"
Harry was taken aback by the collective shout.
"Harry, when you apparated out you took most of the room with you and blew out the girls' eardrums. When you arrived you blew up the tree you landed on. That's why you were falling. Merlin knows what will happen if you make that sort of entrance on Naboo or Coruscant."
"Oh… well that explains why Watto's junkyard looked worse than usual."
"Harry, contact Jedi Council, I will. Arrange for Naboo embassy landing pad to receive you." Yoda said as he made his way to the screen. "Will contact you soon."
"Thanks Yoda. I guess I better go and fix some of Watto's stuff again."
The screen went dead.
The room was silent.
"Bugger me." Sirius broke it with the quiet curse. "Inter-planetary apparition." He then turned to Yoda. "Could have saved us a lot of time back in the day."
Yoda just sighed. "Too eager to die, you always were."
Harry was sweeping up the last of the branches he'd brought with him as Watto flew around, constantly grumbling. The Troydarian had purchased a new droid and it was waiting at the front of the shop for customers.
Harry didn't think Watto got a lot of business. He had been here for four hours, the Naboo Embassy had been ready for him three hours ago but a sandstorm had blown in and Harry was stuck till he could get out of the town. He didn't want to create more problems for the grumpy little bastard.
"Watto, do you get a lot of business?"
"Enough to eat." Came the biting response. "Dis is a spaceport town. Lotsa ships land here. Lotsa old and broken ships. You have a short memory, boy?"
Harry chuckled, he knew the giant flying bug was talking about how they first met because the ship he was on needed a new part.
"Well, you said the Hutts run the planet, right? Do they run the slave trade as well?"
"Ha! Hutts run everything." He said derisively. "You core dwellers… you think you don't deal with them?" He floated over so he was nose to snout with the wizard. "Hutts run thou precious republic too."
Harry gave a rather patronising nod. "Uh huh. Well I want them out of the crime business. Especially the slave trade."
Watto fell to the ground in a hysterical heap of laughter.