Chapter 10 – Shame the Devil
A little girl with long dark brown hair and amber eyes sat huddled and alone in the corner of the large cargo bay.
Now she had done it.
She had screwed up big time.
Just when she was starting to get comfortable using her voice, she got mad and snapped out in anger.
It wasn't even about a big thing. She had just felt annoyed, and the words had just slipped out of her before she could stop.
She sighed as she curled in tighter on herself. She had barely lasted one month, and now she had blown it. If she were lucky, she'd probably get a slap or two or get shut in her room for hours on end like Jabba's Slave drivers used to do.
She was so engrossed in her wallowing; that she did not notice the tall Deveronian male walking up to her cautiously until he stood beside her.
"Hey. Mind if I sit here?" He asked softly.
The girl just hid her face in her hands and did not look up.
With a soft sigh, the Deveronian sat carefully next to her, doing his best not to startle her.
"Look about what you said-"
"I'm sorry!" She squeaked loudly, cringing on herself like a frightened tortoise in a shell. "I'm sorry, I won't do it again, I swear! Please, I-I-I'll do anything-"
"Woah, easy there, Wildcat. Easy." The Deveronian put a gentle hand on top of her head. "Don't worry; you're not in trouble this time. I know why you snapped, and it's okay. I get it. Sometimes it's rough having many such people squashed into one ship."
"But what I said-" the little girl gulped ",-i-if I had said that back at-at…I would have been-I should be getting-" her voice faded, and she shuddered horribly into her curled knees.
The Deveronian's gaze softened as he wrapped his arm around the girl's shoulders.
"I know, kid." He murmured gently, "But around here, we do things differently. Yeah, we have rules, and we keep one another in line, but we don't thrash one another to a pulp. Well, Nima, Scraps and I don't. Scud and Mungo might rough each other up occasionally, but they're not that serious about it."
"They're not?" the girl peeped with a slight frown.
"Nah." The Deveronian smirked. "Trust me, Wildcat. Mungo and Scud are two of the best mercs in the business. If they wanted to kill one another, they wouldn't waste their time scrapping in a rec room like a pair of dogs."
"You mean…they wouldn't…I mean…if I…got mad…they wouldn't…you wouldn't…" the girl looked up hopefully only to quickly avert her gaze as she caught his eye.
"No. We won't hurt you." the Deveronian sighed, squeezing her into his side. "You're a part of this family now, kid. And family doesn't hurt one another. We might annoy the hell out of one another, or we might get mad at each other or want to get even and scrap a little to get it out of our systems. But we'd never go out of our way to truly harm one another. Not without good reason."
"You promise?" the little girl mumbled as she leaned into the Deveronian, whose smile softened warmly.
"Yes, Una. I promise."
It was along the long scenic route that Shaak-Ti had decided to lead Una and Slyde as they made their way to the guest quarters. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan accompanied them, occasionally providing little snippets of information about the places they passed through.
Una knew this was mostly done for her benefit, being the only true newcomer. However, she was unsure whether it was helping her already foul mood.
Everything around her was so pristine and perfect. So beautiful and peaceful and so kriffing ignorant of the harshness outside.
The worst was when they were led to the Jedi Temple Crèche. Many children in the Creche courtyard were playing and laughing loudly or practising their lightsabre techniques with one another.
The sight made Qui-Gon and Slyde smile, and they started reminiscing about their shared childhood. Una felt her heart sting when she heard Slyde laugh at the memory of an old prank he dragged Qui-Gon into playing on one of their many tutors.
Tutors, friends, classes, a warm bed, three square meals a day, and the company of adults who respected them and nurtured them with love and patience.
Una nearly lost it as she watched a nearby Rhodian toddler fussing loudly get picked up and soothed comfortingly by one of the young female carers.
Tch! Slyde, you bastard. How dare you say you understand? You grew up surrounded by all this love and care. You have no idea what it's like to wake up and get kicked in the guts at dawn.
Una felt a tingle on the back of her neck and glanced sideways to see Obi-Wan watching her closely through the corner of his eye.
Oh great. Junior heard my thoughts.
She rolled her eyes as he opened his mouth to say.
"Masters, forgive me, but perhaps we should press on? We still have much to do before this evening, and I think Miss Crest probably needs to rest before the Council tests her skills. She is still injured after all."
"Hmph!" Una grunted under her breath but was grateful for the assist deep down.
She was unsure she could trust herself not to open her mouth and say something genuinely profane and cruel.
"Yes, Obi-Wan, you are quite right. Forgive us, Una; we got carried away." Qui-Gon bowed his head apologetically to Una, who shrugged, doing her best to keep her face as blank as possible as she said.
"It's okay, Old Man. I get it. It's easy to lose track of time when you're having fun." Una shot a dirty glare at Slyde, who chose not to rise to the bait, though it was clear to any that watched that he looked hurt.
Una did not care. She just wanted to get out of here before losing her shit again.
She was glad when Shaak-Ti began leading them back into the main temple building and towards the Jedi living quarters.
"We have a few spare apartments on hand just in case we need to house visiting Jedi from other temples." The Master explained as she led the four of them down a long corridor with bare stone walls lined with doors.
"Here we are."
Shaak-Ti swiped a passkey, and they entered a door to their left.
The room beyond was quite plain. It was simply a vast open space with a small kitchen on one side, a small circular low table with cushions around it for dining and an empty room where two bedrolls were already set up with the blankets and the sheets folded on top of the pillows. Across from the front door was another open doorway through which Una could see a small bathroom. All in all, it looked comfortable and peaceful.
"The setup may be simpler than you may be used to, but we hope you are comfortable." Shaak-Ti bowed her head graciously as she let Slyde and Una enter the room first. "The room is equipped with basic amenities, and we have supplied some ingredients to prepare your meals. However, we also have the dining halls above if you wish for more company. The Temple kitchens are open just before breakfast and close immediately after dinner, though that does not stop the more mischievous padawans from trying to sneak their way in for a midnight snack." Shaak-Ti smiled at Obi-Wan, whose cheeks flushed red in embarrassment.
"We shall send someone to collect you when it is time for your test Miss Crest. May the Force be with you."
"Thank you, mam," Una nodded quietly, unable to meet the Torgrutan's kind and sympathetic gaze as she turned to bow her head to Slyde and handed him two-pass keys.
"We shall leave you two to rest as well." Qui-Gon bobbed his head. "Though we may come around later once we have fetched Anakin. It might help his nerves to see some friendly faces in the Temple before he takes his tests."
"Good idea." Slyde nodded with a grateful smile to his old friend. "We'll see you later then."
The door shut behind them, and Slyde turned to face Una, only to see her red-clad back disappear behind the bathroom door.
The Deveronian sighed.
Well…looks like I'll have to wait then.
"I saw what you did back there, Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon said once they returned to their shared living quarters a few corridors away. "And I must say you did well in diffusing the situation before it could come to a head."
"I was only doing what I thought was right, Master." Obi-Wan sighed as he plopped down on a nearby cushion and allowed himself to sag. Finally, he was home and could relax. "I was worried Una's temper might affect the younglings around us. You know how sensitive they are to such things. And that meeting with the Council could not have helped her current feelings towards her father."
"No, I'm afraid it didn't." Qui-Gon agreed solemnly as he walked over to the kitchenette and started making himself and his padawan some tea "It is a delicate situation. And considering Una's past, it is understandable why she would be so bitter."
"Yes, and about that, Master, how did you figure it out so quickly? I don't think even the Boy knows she is a fellow slave like he was."
"Maybe not on a conscious level, but there is a kinship between them that can only be found through shared life experience," Qui-Gon answered calmly. "As for my discoveries, it was not until I saw her with Anakin and his mother that I began to connect the dots. I chose not to disclose the information to anyone else because one, it was not my story to tell, and two, it quickly became clear that her experience still caused her great pain. You should have felt how potent her anger towards the Hutts was at the pod race."
"To be fair, the Hutts are not a lovable species, to begin with, Master." Obi-Wan raised his eyebrows dryly. "I daresay many people have plenty of reasons to hate them."
"Yes, their slaves most of all." Qui-Gon murmured thoughtfully, "The life of a slave on Tatooine is very harsh, Obi-Wan. And from what I've learned, life in the Hutt's home world is far worse for them. Both Una and Anakin's mother was lucky to have escaped the planet when they had. Slaves, like them, are usually sold to pleasure houses where they will be forced to clean and do manual labour until they reach puberty. If a slave is deemed attractive enough, they are usually groomed for prostitution, but if not, they will continue in menial service roles, with the females often being forced to breed and raise more slave children. Any sign of free thought or rebellion is met by cruel punishments that can sometimes end with the slave's death. From birth, slaves live in constant fear, and will do anything to please their masters, which I'm sure you'll agree, is a far cry from the sheltered upbringing you, Slyde and I have experienced here at the temple."
"I never thought about it like that, Master." Obi-Wan muttered as he took off his brown outer robe and folded it neatly beside him. He stroked the fabric lightly under his fingertips, remembering only too clearly the tired and sad look Una had worn as she sat there bundled up in his robes staring at the lightsabre in her hands.
Even now, at a distance, he could feel her hurt and sadness through the Force. Usually he would have shrugged it off. This was, after all, her matter that she had to deal with on her terms, yet…he could not shake off the feeling of worry. He and Una were not close friends, but he would never have pegged her for an ex-slave, not with the self-assured way she carried herself, nor with the freeness of her spirit.
"No wonder she is so protective of the boy," Obi-Wan murmured as his master sat opposite him at the table and handed him his tea. "It cannot have been easy recovering from such trauma as a child."
"If she truly has recovered." Qui-Gon took a sip of his cup. "Some hurts take more time to heal than others. I fear Slyde's lies have reopened a few wounds that were not properly healed, to begin with."
"Do you think they will be able to recover from this?"
"I do not know Obi-Wan." Qui-Gon sighed as he walked over to his padawan and put down both their cups on the dining table. "Like all masters and padawans facing hardships together, this is a hurdle only they can pass for themselves. But if they need our help, then we shall do what we can as friends."
"Of course, Master." Obi-Wan took a sip of his tea, his blue eyes darting worriedly to the front door.
Una stared at her reflection in the mirror.
It had been half an hour since she had locked herself in the bathroom. Half an hour since she had just sat there on the toilet in silence, holding her head in her hands.
This had to be, without a doubt, the most screwed-up day she had ever had. Never in all her life did she ever think she would be in the Jedi Temple of all things, facing its high council and talking about the return of the Sith! What kind of world was she living in?! Why did she have to take that f-ing job for the Trade Federation in the first place?
No-no! Woman up, Una. Woman up. You've got to talk with him sooner or later, and better off it being sooner because that will give you more time to kick his ass when you're done talking. First thing's first, I'll wash my face.
She stood up and went to splash her face in the sink.
No way in hell I'm letting him see how pissed I am. Gotta stay calm. This is just another interrogation. All I'm doing is getting answers, doing that stupid test, then I'm pissing off and getting smashed at a Cantina.
She dried her face with a nearby towel and straightened up.
"Right. Here we go."
She opened the door and coughed loudly.
"Alright, Devil-Horns, let's get down to it!" She called out and was derisively amused to see Slyde's shoulders jolt in surprise, though he was quick to compose himself. He was seated on one side of the low dining table, setting up a pitcher and a couple of glasses of water, one for him and one for her on the other side.
Una took her place, slightly peeved at how serene he appeared.
Oh, how could she have been so blind? The way he held himself was as posh and as refined as Junior and the Old Man.
"Before I begin, Una, let me just state that it was never my intention to hurt you or-"
"Slyde, stop. Save the pretty talk for your fancy friends upstairs." Una cut across him with a scowl. "I get it. You're sorry you lied. What I want to know is why? Why did you quit the Jedi Order, and why did you never tell me the truth?"
"Always straight to the point." Slyde shook his head in exasperation.
"Yeah, well, we've spent long enough dithering about." Una folded her arms. "Had you been any other crook, I'd be cracking your ribs with my boots by now. So out with it! When did you become a Jedi, and why did you quit?"
"I was born on Devaron," Slyde calmly took a sip of his water. "And when I was a year old, I began to show signs of Force Sensitivity. The Jedi Order usually keeps tabs on Force-Sensitive children in the Core and Middle Rim. Those with a strong enough Midichlorian count are usually brought here to the main temple for processing before they are assigned to one of the other temples."
"Did your parents give you up, or were you taken?" Una asked stiffly.
"I was an orphan, so I was given up willingly." Slyde shrugged. "My midichlorian count was higher than most younglings from the Jedi temple on Deveron, so I was assigned to live here in Grand Temple."
"And that's how you met Qui-Gon?"
"Yes." Slyde nodded. "Qui and I grew up here in the same youngling clan. As initiates, we attended classes together, played together and got into a lot of trouble with some of our pranks."
"And Shaak-Ti?"
"Sometimes the older students are sent to help assist the teachers and carers with looking after the initiates." Slyde's smile softened slightly. "Shaak-Ti was still just a youngling when I left, but she was always level-headed and wise beyond her years."
"I thought attachment is forbidden here." Una raised her eyebrows, and Slyde sighed.
"Ah yes…that old line." He rolled his eyes. "Yes, people do say that attachment is forbidden. However, there is no definite line in the Jedi code that outright forbids it."
"Then why is it looked down upon?" Una frowned. "Your bond with Qui-Gon and Shaak-Ti helped you when you were here at the temple."
"It did." Slyde nodded. "I suppose you could say that attachment outside the order is frowned upon because the people that encourage the rules are afraid of what attachment can do to a Jedi."
"You mean…because a Jedi has powers, the council thinks if something happens to hurt them or the people they care about, then-"
"Then they could lose control." Slyde finished grimly. "And before you ask, Red, yes. It has happened—many times. Powerful force sensitives have lost themselves to the darkness because they cannot control their emotions. That is why the Order thinks it's necessary to limit the number of attachments a Jedi has throughout their lifetime. That is why, even though Jedi younglings are raised in the Crèche, we don't exactly have one parental carer assigned to each one of us. Younglings are usually raised in groups of ten to fifteen, with one or two primary carers taking shifts. But Jedi children only truly get full one-on-one guidance once they earn themselves a master after their initiated trials. And once they are under the guidance of their masters, they are encouraged to slowly distance themselves from other earthly attachments as they grow and develop. Luckily for Qui-Gon and I, our masters did not discourage us from remaining close friends."
"Who were your masters?"
"Qui-Gon's old master was Dooku Serenno."
"Like the planet Serenno?" Una quirked a brow, and Slyde nodded again.
"The very same. The House of Serenno are the planet's rulers and play a vital part in that star system's government. Master Dooku was the last Padawan of Master Yoda and an exceptional lightsabre duellist. However, he has long since retired from his role on the Jedi Council and has taken his place as Count on his planet after pirates killed his brother's family."
"Right. Got it." Una grunted, eyeing Slyde up and down. "And what about your master? Who were they?"
"Reyna Crail."
"Reyna…" Una breathed. "So then my middle name-?"
"Yes. I gave you her name to honour her. She was a Deveronian, like me, and the closest thing to a mother I had." Slyde added a small fond smile as he set his water down on the table again.
"Did you get to choose your master, or was she assigned to you?" Una tilted her head, her curiosity now outweighing her anger.
"Neither. Reyna chose me. She saw my performance during my trials and approached me first. Said she liked my guts." Slyde chuckled. "She was an odd one. She was quite a young Jedi Knight when she took me under her wing, but she already had a reputation for being…hmph, unusual."
"So, she was a wildcard?" Una folded her arms.
"Oh no, not wild at all." Slyde shook his head. "She was calm and steady and, in most respects, almost a perfect Jedi. But …well…let's just say her philosophies clashed with the Jedi Code."
"Clashed?" Una frowned.
"Yes. As I said, the Jedi order is not quite big on attachments."
"Yeah, but they don't exactly try to hide it, do they?" Una snorted to herself. "Honestly, it's a bit weird if you ask me. Look, staying calm and not letting the negative emotions control you in the heat of the moment I get. But emotions and attachment are a part of life. Take that away completely, and you lose all means of learning how to empathise with others and see their point of view."
"Yes, that's what Reyna used to say." Slyde's smile widened ever so slightly. "Like you, she believed that emotion and attachment were important to understanding the ways of the Force and that by completely cutting ourselves from love, we were cutting ourselves off from growing in knowledge and experience."
"And you agreed with her?"
"Not in the beginning. No." Slyde snorted bitterly "even though I was a troublemaker in my youth, I was still tried my best to follow the Jedi Code to the letter when I became a padawan. It was not till my master passed away that I truly started to see the value of her wisdom."
Una grimaced as the old gravelly voice of Yoda seemed to flash across her head.
"Sorry he does feel, your father. In time forgive him you must. Behind his motivation, love it was, and grief, terrible grief. Understand these, and the truth you will find."
"She was killed wasn't she?" Una murmured quietly. "Someone killed her. That's why you left. Because you loved her and wanted to avenge her?"
Slyde looked up at her surprised, his smile replaced by a stricken expression that made his pointed face look rather harsh in the dim light of the room.
"Yes."
"Who did it?" Una raised an eyebrow.
"I don't know." Slyde admitted. "It had been four years since I became a knight, and my master sought out my aid for one of her missions. She could have done it on her own, however, I think she missed the old times. I did not mind, for I too was struggling a little with my own inner demons at the time and needed some guidance."
"What were you struggling with?"
"My faith in the Order." Slyde grimaced "I had been on many missions into the Outer Rim, and I had seen the state of the Hutt territories. I tried to bring the attention of it to the Council back then. However, given that the Outer Rim pretty much policed itself and was not considered Republic Space, the Jedi Order could do little to intervene, lest the crime families wage an all-out war with the Republic Senate. I felt frustrated. I had been raised to believe the Jedi did what they could to bring peace to the entire galaxy, not just to protect the Republic's interests."
"I'm guessing the Council did not like you saying that."
"Not quite. The Council understood where I was coming from, and I genuinely think some council members at the time did want to extend our aid to the more lawless regions. But back then, there was a lot of tension between the Senate and the Jedi Order. You see, the Order serves the Republic but also works outside of its control. The Supreme Chancellor at the time did not like that. He wanted the Senate to have more control over our internal affairs and did many things behind the scenes to make us look bad in the public eye. However, on the surface, we both had to appear as if we were the best of chums."
"So, the Council were afraid of speaking out about cleaning up the Outer Rim because they did not want to appear as if they were challenging the idiot and proving all his accusations true?" Una said, and Slyde hummed.
"Yes. But that did not stop the Order from occasionally sending a few of us Knights and Masters into the Outer Rim like Reyna and me." Slyde ran a hand over his bald head and horns. "It was dangerous out there. Not only were we going deep into Hutt Territory, but we were also forced to dip into Wildspace a few times. If it were not for me and my master meeting Nima along the way, we would never have survived out there."
"Nima?" Una blinked, her heart freezing in her chest. "You knew her since then? She knew you were a Jedi?!"
"Yes. She knew." Slyde's eyes were now pointed down towards the table. "She was our pilot we hired for the journey, though she did more than steer the ship. At the time, Reyna and I were tracking down a smuggler trading very valuable Sith holocrons on the black market. We tracked the smuggler down to Canto Bight, where he was selling the holocrons at a private auction. Nima and I went in disguise through the front door as patrons and stole a couple of tickets to the event, while my Master would go in through the staff's quarters and contact us when she had found out where the Holocrons were but-"
"But she never called." Una finished her voice quiet as her gut sank. She had seen enough private auctions and knew the type of security those rich evil fat cats would hire. They made men like Zotar Sil and the Tuskan Raiders seem almost tame and sweet like fluffy loth cats.
"She was caught and dragged before the entire auction." Slyde shook his head, his yellow eyes bright and watery as he pinched the bridge of his nose to steady himself. "They drugged her with a sedative to keep her from trying to escape. And there, right in front of my eyes, they started placing bids on who would be the one to end her life. Jedi are so rare in the Outer Rim, and unlike the Republic, they would consider killing a Jedi a feather in their cap. After all, the Jedi would never care about the Outer Rim, so why should the Outer Rim care or fear repercussions from them? I tried betting for her life myself. I thought if Nima or I could get closer, we could help her out of there."
"But you were outbid and outplayed." Una guessed, her heart clenching as she watched her father's eyes shut as if in pain.
"He was clad all in black; he even wore a mask so I couldn't see his face. By the time I had reached my master, the deed was already done. The being vanished into the crowd with the holocrons in his pockets and her blood on his boots." Slyde's hands clenched into tight fists on the table. "He was strong in the force. I'll never forget the darkness I felt from him for as long as I live."
"Did his Force Signature feel like the Sith we faced on Tatooine? Or the one in my mind?" Una bit her lip nervously.
"I don't know." Slyde wiped his eyes carefully. "It was so long ago, so I will never know if it was a Sith. Besides, you heard what Mace said. The Jedi and the Sith are not the only Force Wielders out there. The list goes on and on, the Knights of Ren, the Guardians of the Whills, the Grey Jedi."
"I'm going to take a leap here and assume the Jedi did very little to help you find them." Una took a swig of her water.
"They did try to help at first," Slyde grunted bitterly. "Some fellow knights did what they could to gather information with me on the sleemo. But when the trail got cold, they too gave up hope of finding an answer. They believed that if it were the Force's will, the man would reveal himself again. But he didn't. I never found that dark stranger, nor his creed. I had been searching for him for a whole year with Nima when the Order finally ordered me to give up and return to the Temple."
"But you never returned."
"Oh no, I returned alright." Slyde rolled his eyes. "For one night. I packed all my belongings and left a couple of hours later. Only Shaak-Ti saw me leave, but she knew better than to stop me. That was a good twenty-five years ago. After I left, Nima and I started hunting bounties together, and over time, Scud joined us, Mungo, Scraps and then…"
"Me," Una mumbled. Now it was her turn to look down at the table. "Did you know back then that I was force sensitive like you?"
"Yes," Slyde murmured. "Before I captured you that first time, I did some digging into how you escaped. The Foreman had no clue how you found the transmitter when he never revealed its location to anyone. Nor had he noticed you had deactivated your chip. Then I talked to the other slaves. They barely spoke to me, and whatever information they did give about your identity was nearly all false. I suspect they wanted to protect you, and they thought if I was chasing the wrong person, it might give you a chance to escape. But I did hear their thoughts through the Force. Many of them remembered how you always seemed to know when the Foreman was in a bad mood even before entering a room. How a broom or scrubbing brush would always be out of reach one minute but in your hand the next even though you didn't move. I was sure I was dealing with a Force Sensitive in hiding. You can imagine my surprise when I found out that the bounty I was chasing was, in fact, a tiny six-year-old girl."
Slyde looked at Una's face, his expression gentle as she couldn't help but smirk.
"Yeah, I remember that." she snorted. "I also remember that protein bar you gave me tasted like shit."
"I know. I hated them too. But it was all I had on me at the time." Slyde chuckled softly.
There was a silence as Una looked up at her father, her jaw clenching as she willed herself to keep her voice neutral and calm.
"If I was already so strong with the Force as a child, why didn't you bring me to the temple after you freed me?"
"I did try to," Slyde admitted, his smile falling again. "Every day, I told myself, I had to take you to the temple. That you would be safer learning here, yes, you were considered too old to begin training, but I thought that since you had not made any attachments in your old life as a slave, I might be able to convince the masters to let you start training. I even put us on course for Coruscant. But when we reached the edge of the Core Worlds I…I just couldn't do it."
"Let me guess; you got attached," Una smirked, but her heart was not really in her jab.
"Yes. I did." Slyde nodded sadly. "And so had you. You began trusting us and letting us in. I knew if I tried giving you up to the Order after all we had been through together, you might never trust anyone again. As selfish as it was, to me, your happiness was more important than ever becoming a Jedi."
"That did not mean you had to hide my powers from me?" Una leaned back and folded her arms.
"No. That was a mistake on my part, I admit it." Slyde huffed. "But understand, I was still very much angry at the Order for how it had given up on my Master or the Outer regions. I did not want to raise your hopes only to have them let you down like I felt they did to me."
"You still could have taught me to use the Force without them." Una countered stubbornly. "As you said, Jedi and Sith are not the only Force Users out there."
"I could have. But even if I did teach you, knowing the Force does not make you invincible." Slyde fixed Una in his piercing yellow stare. "I know why you are mad at me, Red. But trust me when I say that even if you knew how to wield the Force, you might not have been able to change what happened to Nima, just as I cannot change what happened to my old Master. Even the Force has its limitations, one of which is that it cannot truly bring back that which is dead."
"I wasn't thinking about doing that." Una spat, eyes burning with unshed tears. "I just…I just thought if I knew at the time…perhaps I could have saved-"
"I know Wildcat. I know." Slyde reached out and patted the top of her head.
Despite her anger, Una could not help but lean into the touch.
For a moment, she felt as safe as she once did as a youngling. But she still had to know…
"And Mungo, Scudd and Scraps? Did they know you were a Jedi too?" She asked through gritted teeth.
"I never told them outright, but I had a feeling they knew," Slyde murmured as he stroked a hand through her ponytail.
"Which is code for they saw you do something, and they never talked about it with you," Una grunted, and Slyde nodded, letting the tips of her dark hair fall through his fingers.
"Yes, I think they saw me use my lightsabre once."
"So, you have it?" Una's mouth twisted.
"Of course."
"When did they see you use it?"
Now it was Slyde's turn to scowl angrily.
"When that scum, Flask, kidnapped and dumped you into that Nexu pit back on Nal Hutta. Nima and Scraps tried to provide cover for me with smoke bombs, but Mungo, Scud and Flask saw me draw my blade to kill the beast."
"Is that why you killed Flask?" Una frowned, "He saw you and threatened to rat you out to Gardulla?"
"That was part of the reason, yes." Slyde nodded stiffly. "That, and he threw you into that pit to die. That pissed me right off."
"Again, seeking revenge. Not very Jedi of you." Una snorted, and Slyde shot her a slight frown.
"I am no longer a Jedi, Una. I told you I gave up this way of life a long time ago."
"Have you?" Una narrowed her eyes. "You've always tried to solve things peacefully before taking a shot. And yeah, you do the ugly jobs for Jabba sometimes, but you're not afraid to take the small paying jobs, too, if it means you can help people and bring them justice. You're kind to those in need, and you always try to hear every side of an argument before making a judgement. You've always been a Jedi, even if you gave up the robes and the temple. I wish you trusted me enough to show me how to be that too."
"I never thought you ever wanted to be one," Slyde muttered, leaning back and folding his arms. "I thought you were happy being a hunter."
"I was and still am." Una grimaced. "But things are different now. Last night, I could have had my mind broken if Junior were not there to help me. And what if that Sith shows his face again? What am I going to do? Hide behind you or Qui-Gon? Slyde, if I see this mess through to the end, I need to know how to use these powers to protect myself and those that can't."
"I know." Slyde looked at her sharply. "But knowing how to use the Force is not just about picking up objects with your mind or using fancy sabres. If you are going to learn, you'll need to push yourself beyond anything you've ever done before. Not to mention all the flack we're going to cop from the Jedi Council if they judge you as a dangerous individual."
"Slyde, I am dangerous. With or without the Force." Una raised her eyebrows. "And I honestly don't give a flying shit what the Council thinks. And if that Windu tries ordering me around, I'll stick my boot up his nose and send him flying. Seriously was he always such a hard-ass?"
"Yes. Since we were young." Slyde waved his hand dismissively. "He was such a goodie-two-shoes. Honestly, he talks big about maintaining a calm and composed mind when he has always had a short fuse. I don't know how he made it to the council, but I suppose he must have matured significantly over the years."
"Or gotten better at hiding his temper." Una grinned as she drained the last of her water. "Seriously, I could smell his loathing me from a mile off."
"Ha, don't worry, kid; Mace does not hate you." Slyde chuckled. "Your nerve irritates the crap out of him on the surface, but deep down, he respects your guts. And speaking of respect, you and Kenobi are getting along much better, I must say."
"Yeah, well, he did help me protect Anakin from that attack," Una mumbled airily. "And I guess he's not too bad. I mean, he is very posh and very up himself, but deep down, he's a good guy."
"That he is. Or else Qui-Gon would never have agreed to train him." Slyde's grin widened as he reached out to pat her head again. "So…are we good, Red?"
Una scowled at her father.
"We're good. I'm still pissed at you, but we're good." She mumbled, her cheeks burning red hot as Slyde ruffled her hair affectionately.
"Good. Now rest up. You've got your test this evening; you'll need your strength. Then tomorrow, we'll start training."
"We will?"
"Yes. Like you said. Time is not on our side. Tomorrow we'll start training, no matter what the Council says."
"You promise?" Una looked her father dead in the eye, and he smiled back.
"I promise. Now come on, let's get some rest. We'll need it."
"The boy's here to see Padme."
"Let him in."
"I'm sorry, Ani, but Padme's not here now."
"Who is it?"
"Anakin Skywalker to see Padme, Your Highness."
"I've sent Padme on an errand."
"I'm on my way to the Jedi temple to start my training, I hope. I may never see her again, so I came to say goodbye."
"We will tell her for you. We are sure her heart goes with you."
"Thank you, Your Highness."
Anakin Skywalker felt very nervous as Qui-Gon led him into the small speeder docked just outside Senator Palpatine's Penthouse apartment. It was almost sunset on the great city planet, and only now had the Jedi Council summoned his presence.
The day had been exciting but also incredibly nerve-wracking.
Shortly after arriving at the space dock, Senator Palpatine had his driver take Anakin, Jar-Jar, the rest of the Queen, and her entourage for a small speeder tour of the upper levels, during which they passed by the grand Galactic Senate Building and the Senate offices. Then after that, they had been driven back to the Senator's luxurious penthouse suite of apartments he privately owned to freshen up and rest before treating them to a large and delicious luncheon.
Anakin had never seen so much food in his entire life and had almost panicked as one of the Handmaidens, Sabe, helped him pile up his plate. He could not see Padme anywhere, but according to the Queen, a couple of her handmaidens were exhausted from the journey and were resting in their guest quarters, so he assumed she must be there too. He had asked Sabe whether he could bring Padme or the other handmaids some food since she missed the meal. However, the other handmaids just smiled in warm amusement at his sweet gesture. Even Senator Palpatine seemed charmed and was quick to assure Anakin that should the other handmaidens wish for nourishment and refreshment upon awakening, they need only ask, and Palpatine would provide it at once.
He then asked Anakin a couple of questions about how he had arrived on the Queen's ship in the first place. Anakin told him briefly about how he had lived on Tatooine (leaving out the part where he had been a slave) and how he was being taken to the Jedi Temple in exchange for helping the Jedi fix their ship to become a Jedi himself.
Despite his excitement, Anakin could not help but feel that this statement bothered the Senator somewhat. The older man seemed quite concerned that the Jedi took a boy of Anakin's age from his loving mother, whom he was close to, especially since everyone knew that the Jedi Order strongly opposed the concept of attachment.
Opposed attachments? Anakin wondered what he meant by that.
Qui-Gon had said he would have to leave his mother behind, but Anakin only thought it was because she was still enslaved, and the Jedi Order was so far away. He had promised that once he became a Jedi, he might be able to come back to her soon and free her.
It had never occurred to him that the Jedi would never allow him to return home.
Well, maybe they would not let him go alone back to Tatooine since he was still just a kid, but maybe when he was older, he could ask for permission.
Anakin frowned as he remembered the grim faces of the four adults from that morning. He was sure that something had happened during the night while he was asleep.
He did not know what it was, but it had them all on edge. Una and Obi-Wan both seemed to be the worst at hiding their emotions, Una especially. Anakin did not know why but it seemed her sadness had grown a lot overnight and that Obi-Wan was very suspicious and cautious of everything.
He wondered if it had anything to do with that evil, horned man in black Qui-Gon had fought. Had he tried following them? Were they worried he would catch up?
Anakin shivered as he remembered the black and red tattooed snarl and those pitiless red and yellow eyes. Anakin had seen several Zabrak before in Mos Espa but never had he seen one with such a ferocious face. Nor had any of them felt so cold it almost burned…
His thoughts were distracted as he watched Senator Palpatine direct his attention toward Jar-Jar Binks and ask him about the situation with the Gungans.
The clumsy Gungan was desperately trying to be on his best behaviour. However, as the day stretched, it became clear to everyone that the subtleties of politics were wasted on him. Luckily one of the handmaidens had discovered that the penthouse had a small swimming pool, and it was with great enthusiasm and relief that Jar-Jar leapt into the clean water and began swimming happily.
Anakin, meanwhile, spent most of his afternoon exploring the apartment. However, whenever he tried to snoop around looking for something interesting, he found his gaze drifting to one of the windows to look out over the vast city.
Anakin used to think Mos Espa was a crowded city, but it was a slight drop in the Dune Sea compared to the levels upon the town that stretched far as the eye could see. Then there was the Jedi Temple.
Anakin gazed at it open-mouthed as Qui-Gon steered their speeder towards the massive temple, a tall pyramid-like structure with multiple turrets reaching high above. Even at this distance, its shape loomed impressively between the skyscrapers and maze of speeder lanes that surrounded it.
"You live in there?" Anakin looked up at Qui-Gon.
"Yes. The Temple houses many Jedi Knights, Masters and initiates." Qui-Gon smiled at the look of awe on his young charge's face. "It also has training grounds, a grand library, and even a school for younglings like yourself."
"School? Jedi have to go to school?" Anakin tilted his head.
"Of course." Qui-Gon nodded. "Being a Jedi is not just about swinging a Lightsabre and using the Force. Sometimes the Republic calls on us to act as mediators and diplomats on its behalf. And as keepers of the peace, we must use our words to diffuse a situation before it gets out of hand. As such, a Jedi's education must equal our skill with a lightsabre. I trust your mother handled most of your education herself?"
"Yeah, she did." Anakin nodded, eyes darting down to the frayed hem of his tunic. "Mom taught me how to read and write and do some maths. Watto didn't mind her teaching me that since it made us more valuable if he ever had to sell us. But he never let me go to school. He said only non-slaves deserved to go to school."
"I see," Qui-Gon murmured, and though his face was calm, his heart ached in pity. While he was glad Anakin had received some education, the Jedi Master could not deny that a part of him was frustrated that anyone could treat a child so harshly.
If only the Republic were not so caught up in its infighting and corruption, it might be able to make a difference in the Outer Rim, where help and reforms were needed the most.
"I'm sorry, sir. I did not mean to make you upset."
Qui-Gon blinked in surprise as he looked beside him and saw Anakin's head lowered in shame.
"There's no need to apologise, Ani. You did nothing wrong. I have a few things on my mind."
"You mean what's going on, on Naboo?" Anakin peeked up nervously. "Padme and everyone is all very worried about it."
Padme…Anakin wished he could have said goodbye correctly. The other handmaids were lovely and sweet, but for some reason, the sight of Padme's warm, kind face always soothed him.
The boy was dragged out of his thoughts as Qui-Gon spoke once more.
"Yes. It is a problematic situation. The politics surrounding the blockade are very convoluted and difficult to see through. But as with most things, Ani, time and patience are key to figuring out any solution. And I am sure an answer will present itself in time."
There was a silence as the Jedi and the young boy cruised along in the speeder towards the temple.
As it got closer, so too did Anakin's nerves. The poor boy was almost shaking when they entered the hangar bay where all the temple's transports were parked and not in use.
"Mister Qui-Gon, what's going to happen when we get inside?"
"First things first, Anakin, we will put your belongings away in my quarters for safekeeping, then we will go upstairs to meet the Jedi Council for your test."
"Test?" Anakin looked up fearfully. A test? What kind of test? No one had ever mentioned a test. He had not prepared for anything-
"Don't worry, Ani, it's not so bad." Qui-Gon patted his shoulder soothingly. "It's simply a short assessment to examine your connection to the force. It shouldn't be too hard for you, given how quickly you pick up things. And Una will be taking it too."
"She will?" Anakin looked up hopefully.
"Yes. So, chin up, Ani. You won't be alone."
Qui-Gon wished he could say more. He knew this must have been difficult for the boy, but what else could they do?
The Fate of this boy's life – no – the whole galaxy, was at stake. Everything hinged on his staying in the light. The dark side had come too close to touching Anakin last night. It could not happen again.
And yet, Qui-Gon could not help but wonder if he was doing the right thing.
Would a boy such as Anakin, who had been raised with much love and tenderness by a mother in a hot, unforgiving world, survive in the serene cold of the Jedi Order?
Qui-Gon had hoped his padawan Obi-Wan would warm up to the boy and help guide him as Una had done. The three of them were already bonded through the Force. Any Jedi or Sith could see that from a mile off.
For all her snark and rough edges, Una had quickly accepted the connection for what it was. However, Obi-Wan was still stubbornly refusing to budge.
Obi-Wan was not quick to trust others; it was true. But even he could not be so blinded by the code, could he? But no, Qui-Gon had seen how the younger man had protected the boy without a second thought when he saw he was in danger. Beneath the stubborn stony barrier, his apprentice had a fierce, warm heart. Perhaps fiercer than even Qui-Gon gave him credit for. He was just too afraid to let anyone see it.
Fear of attachment, fear of the unknown. Fear of the power of emotions.
The council believed it was above such feelings, but Qui-Gon could see how scared they had become. It greatly disturbed him how much they dreaded Anakin and Una before they met them.
He only hoped they had enough wisdom to put aside their fears and do what was right.
It was not long before Qui-Gon pulled the speeder into the hangar bay of the Temple. Slyde, Una, and Obi-Wan were all waiting at one of the small docks. The lattermost shifted as he watched his master help a gaping Anakin down from the speeder.
So young to be put through such trials and tribulations, yet too old to start the journey to being a Jedi.
Could the council truly be swayed to let him stay? If they didn't, then what would happen then? The Jedi could not keep children unless they had special permission and Obi-Wan doubted the council would let Qui-Gon keep Anakin if he were not accepted to be trained.
Perhaps one of the Temple staff could take him in? or he could be put into the Jedi Agri-Corps? But no, Obi-Wan mentally sighed. He could not think like that, not after what he went through as a youngling. Nothing was worse than having your hopes of becoming a Jedi crushed by being placed onto a farm on a distant planet to be forgotten about.
Obi-Wan shot a furtive glance sideways at the Deveronian man and the human woman by his side.
It was not an ideal solution, but Slyde Crest had successfully raised his Force Sensitive daughter outside of the Jedi Temple's influence. Yes, he had yet to teach her the ways of the force, but still, he technically met all the qualifications to be a master-
His thoughts were interrupted as Anakin rushed forwards to greet them excitedly.
The boy was thrilled to see Una, who he latched onto with a big hug around the middle.
"Ooh! I'm glad to see you too, kid." Una grinned as she ruffled the blonde head affectionately.
"Shall we?" Qui-Gon gestured to the hangar bay exit.
For a woman keen on shooting my brains out upon first meeting, she truly has a soft spot for the boy.
Obi-Wan smirked. There was a softness in Una's catlike amber eyes as she helped steer an awed Anakin away from the speeder, her hand curled protectively around his shoulders. It was perhaps the first time he had seen the boy genuinely speechless. Usually, he was almost vibrating with energy and the need to ask questions. But now, he stared open-mouthed at the temple around him as if he were being led through a dream.
And in a way, that was exactly what was happening, Obi-Wan mused as he took the opportunity to look around at the familiar scenery.
Padawans were walking with one another or dutifully a step behind their masters. Masters and knights caught up with one another about recent events they had missed. Temple staff and droids were going about their daily rounds. Young initiates, smiling mischievously as they walked between classes, planning their next prank or their late-night forbidden escapades to the kitchens.
Obi-Wan sucked in a deep breath. All in all, it was just another peaceful, regular day at the temple for him. But for Una and Anakin, this must have been so strange and foreign. He could hardly blame the hunter for her earlier mood.
It must have burned to know that if Fate had just been a little kinder, she could have grown up sheltered and safe. But Fate had played its hand, and whatever may have been done did not matter. Both Una and Anakin were here now, and the Force would decide what came next in their journeys.
Padme gazed at the Senate floor, her heart racing beneath the thick layers of her official robes.
So many officials from so many planets. Many much higher than her and below her. It was almost daunting how all the pods seemed to vanish into the tall grey domed ceiling.
But Queen Padme Nabarrie Amidala had not suffered through an invasion and a blockade just to give up on the floor of the Senate.
"The chair recognizes the Senator from the sovereign system of Naboo."
She straightened her spine as she sat behind Senator Palpatine as he maneuvered their pod into front and centre stage before Supreme Chancellor Valorum.
"Supreme Chancellor," Palpatine said, clearly and calmly, not at all deterred by the whispers and mutterings dancing in spirals up and down the senate assembly ", Delegates of the senate, a tragedy has occurred...which started right here with the taxation of trade routes. And has now engulfed our entire planet in the oppression of the Trade Federation."
"This is outrageous! I object to the senator's statements." The Republic's Nemoidian representative of the Trade Federation blustered angrily from his seat.
"The chair does not recognize the senator from the Trade Federation at this time." Vice-Chair of the Senate, Mas Amedda, a Chagrian, barked waspishly from his position beside the Supreme Chancellor.
"To state our allegations, I present Queen Amidala, recently elected ruler of the Naboo, who speaks on our behalf." Palpatine finished his address, not even missing a beat or batting an eye at the interruption before taking his seat to give his younger queen the spotlight.
Padme sucked in a deep breath and stood to her feet, doing her best to ignore the fresh wave of suspicious murmurs and mutterings rippled through the walls around her.
"Honourable representatives of the Republic, I come to you under the gravest of circumstances. The Naboo system has been invaded by the droid armies of the Trade Feder-"
"I object! There is no proof!" the Senator of the Trade Federation cried out sharply, though Padme could hear the tremble of fear in his voice clear as daylight. "This is incredible. We recommend a commission be sent to Naboo to ascertain the truth!"
"The Congress of Malastare concurs with the honourable delegate from the Trade Federation. A commission must be appointed." Padme's eyes hardened as the Senator from Malastare nodded in agreement.
How many planets were allied with the Trade Federation and supporting this blockade? She had not given the idea much thought till now. She was sure it was just Nut Gunray and the Trade Federation acting foolishly on their own. It had never occurred that other factions within the Senate may have had a hand in supporting their actions. Now she realised just how foolishly she had been thinking. They must have been in this from the start; they might even be profiting from the blockade.
Despite keeping her chin held high, Padme only felt her heart sink further to the floor.
"…a lot of those people in that senate…well…they probably aren't that good. If they did care about other people the way you do, then places like Tattooine and the outer rim, where we have slavery and gangsters ruling the roost…well, none of this would exist."
That was what Una had said. Una, a bounty hunter, born and raised in the outer rim far, far away, understood the core world politics better than Padme herself did after years of studying in her childhood.
That's because she's lived with the consequences of the Senate's failings.
A small voice niggled at the back of Padme's head.
Naboo has always prospered under the Republic's sphere of influence; of course, we'd never get to see the ugly side of this lumbering behemoth till it was too late for us.
She watched closely as Chancellor Valorum rose to speak, only to be held back by his Vice-Chair and his Aid.
"Enter the bureaucrat." Palpatine hissed into her ear, "The true rulers of the Republic. And on the payroll of the Trade Federation, I might add. This is where Chancellor Valorum's strength will disappear."
Yes, Palpatine had warned her of the Chancellor's waning power in recent months. But Padme knew Valorum was not an evil man. He might have been wrought in a scandal recently, but he had been trusted by the Jedi Order enough to be able to request their help whenever time called for it. And yes, while the Jedi did have to work in tandem with the Senate sometimes, they seemed to have a respectful and harmonious relationship with the current Chancellor, so he must be a somewhat honourable man.
But even honourable men could stumble and fall, and it was with great dismay that Padme listened to what the man had to say next.
"The point is conceded. Will you defer your motion to allow a commission to explore the validity of your accusations?"
The validity of my accusations?! You have the word of the Jedi Order itself, and you still need more evidence?!
Padme was almost tempted to take a leaf out of Una's book and curse but instead chose to say firmly:
"I will not defer. I've come before you to resolve this attack on our sovereignty now! I was not elected to watch my people suffer and die while you discuss this invasion in a committee." She was almost trembling with rage as she raised her head and looked at Valorum directly. "If this body is not capable of action, I suggest new leadership is needed. I move for a vote of no confidence in Chancellor Valorum's leadership."
Chancellor Valorum stared at her in shock.
Had Padme not been so mad, she might have pitied the poor man. He had supported the Naboo for many years, only to now have them seemingly stab him in the back. But what good was a leader so scared of upsetting everyone that he would purposefully not do the right thing by his people?
"Vote now! Vote now! Vote now!"
"ORDER!"
"Vote now! Vote now!"
Many of the Senators around them were shouting, some in approval, some in dismay. It was clear, however, that there was much excitement at the proposition. Palpatine had said that Chancellor Valorum's time in office was ending, and the Senate could smell the blood in the water. All they needed was the right bait.
"Now they will elect a new chancellor, a strong chancellor, one who will not let our tragedy continue," Palpatine murmured in approval, and Padme shivered.
She wished she could have done this another way.
But what choice did she have?
She was a leader too. She had to think about her people first and foremost.
And yet, she could not help but wonder if somehow, somewhere along the line, she had not just doomed them all.
And here is chapter 10!
Una finally has the truth about Slyde. And Palpatine starts making his moves to become "the Senate"!
I hope you guys enjoyed it. Please fave or review for more.
See you next time.
Fuzzybeta