Ch7
Anakin sat with his back to the wall, he'd found a small niche in the power room, several doors down from the huge engineering deck of the ship. The smaller room and the smaller generators gave off a dull glow on the black metal of the ship. The planet of Alderaan glowed to his right where a floor-length transparent transparasteel window gracing each side of the metal wall in a medium sliver, gave view of the planet below. His feet were hugged to himself from the low bench which the architecture of the starship had created, and he looked forlornly down at the planet.
It had been hours now since he'd run away from the man Darth Vader. He was cold, and it had been hours more since he'd eaten anything. He was used to not eating much but he had to eat something. More than all of this he was scared, genuinely truly scared. He'd never seen anyone with the ability to shoot lightning from their fingertips. Or throw people around like they were made of nothing or choke people without actually touching them. He'd heard stories about how the Jedi took down all the bad guys but it was always with as lightsaber. He'd never heard of all these powers the Sith could do. Could the Jedi also do that? And where were the Jedi? What happened to them? He wanted his mother, he knew she was free now and happy and it made him happy but he stilled just wanted to go back. She knew what to do, she always did and he missed her hugging him and telling him stories. He didn't want to be here. And even though he wanted to save everyone how could he do that when there was a man who could throw people around like they were nothing? The force used to sound so wizard, but now that he saw what you could do with it, it didn't look so wizard at all.
There was a soft hiss as the door slid open revealing Commander Thrawn. The Chiss was wearing standard imperial fatigues with his hair wet and spiking. It had a slick like appearance of being dipped in something like gel. "May I?" Thrawn didn't wait for an invitation and settled next to Anakin leaning back against the metal wall and giving him what Anakin could only interpret as an appraising look.
Anakin face scrunched up in a frown. "How'd you find me?"
A thin smile graced Thrawn's features. "I have my sources."
"It was him, wasn't it?" Anakin looked down at the metal hull of the ship hugging his arms tighter around himself.
Thrawn sighed and folded his arms in a relaxed manner studying the planet below.
"Why'd you do it? Why'd you jump in front of me?" The child's face was turned on him with an intense scrutiny and Thrawn was forced to shift his gaze towards him, slightly taken aback at the intensity with which the human child was now studying him. "Why shouldn't I have? The current was of an intensity I was familiar with and could handle. Yourself? You are human and a child no less, I am familiar with the physiology and biology of many species and I felt it safer for myself to intercede."
"You mean you didn't want me to get hurt." The child pouted looking away and Thrawn's eyes closed as he tried to keep his exhaustion at bay. A bacta dip had taken care of most lingering effect of the lightning but that didn't mean that his bodies healing hadn't taken a toll on him. He'd just been in the medward for an infection only to be dumped back in from the aftermath of an intense electrocution. Yes today was most assuredly not his day.
"You may be a force sensitive, but you are untrained and still a child. You may not have survived that. Do not forget that the next time you decide to anger Lord Vader."
"Well I don't like him! I want to go home to my mom!"
"While I am sorry you had to be separated from your mother in the manner you were, you must understand that what you want cannot occur at this time." Thrawn said letting out a low sigh and shifted his arms to get a more comfortable angle.
"I know! I know that! But it's not fair! I just, I just want her back!" And then it was as if a damn had been broken and Anakin started sniffling, which quickly turned into a full out sobbing. Thrawn's eyes fluttered open as he looked down at Anakin. I had been a long time since he himself had cried, perhaps a decade if he really thought about it. But he couldn't begrudge the child this. In the ascendency ten was still considered a young age but Chiss children were expected, and matured much faster than their human counterparts. He waited it out giving the child his space, though he hoped the tirade would end soon. He had several datapads to review and several updates to be debriefed on, all of which needed to be done within the next several hours, that is if he wanted to ensure he made it to a sleep rotation with several hours still left in it.
At length Anakin's sobbing decreased and he glared at the opposite metal wall as if it had personally offended him.
Thrawn sighed once more though inaudibly. "I'm here on the request of Lord Vader."
"That's why he told you how to find me isn't it?"
"Indeed, he asked me to speak to you on your upcoming training."
"Well I don't want any training so you can just tell him I'm not interested." Anakin had by now unclenched from his bubble and was swinging his legs with his arms folded across his chest.
"Do you really believe it is that simple? This training Anakin it is not a choice, he will train you, the question remains in what manner."
"Well I don't want to be like him! There's something wrong with him, he's not right! Why do I want to be like him?"
"Lord Vader…it is not so simple as you say with him."
"Well why can't you tell me then? Why does everyone think that just because I'm a child I shouldn't know anything? If you told me maybe I'd understand!"
Thrawn shifted once more wondering how to properly explain the intricacies of the force to a child such as Anakin but then chose to forgo that conversation, this time changing his tactics. "Anakin, how much do you truly know of the force?"
The child was quickly turned sullen as he deflated after his outburst. "Not much really, my Mom used to tell me stories about Jedi. They were always taking down the bad guys and saving all the people and making peace so that everyone could be happy. But they would never choke anyone with the force or shoot lightning at them. One or two sleemo bounty hunters in the Cantina talked about Jedi just to sound like ch'booza big shots, but I don't think they ever faced one really."
"If you know so little of the force then how could you possibly understand Lord Vader? The force is more than what Lord Vader shows it is true; however you do not have a choice in the matter. You will become his apprentice, the question remains in what manner. Much as with your mother you truly do not have a choice. Would you rather he break your mind and remake it? Or would you rather he teach you and perhaps in this way limit the damage that the training would cause?"
"I do have a choice! Why do you keep saying I don't? I'm the best pod racer there is I could take a starship and fly away! Vader would never find me!"
"I'm afraid you can't do that…"
"Why not?" Thrawn wasn't sure what irked him more the fact that this child just told him of his escape plan or the fact that such a plan could end in a terrible tragedy for all parties involved.
"Well for one you just told me of your plans to escape which gives me grounds to arrest you and throw you in a cell. Truly your lack of subtlety is astounding." He gave a sharp warning look cutting off Anakin as he was about to interrupt in protest. "For another, what is to stop Lord Vader from travelling to Tatooine and killing your mother for your refusal?"
There was fear in the boy's eyes. "He wouldn't do that!"
"I warned you should you disobeyed the Lord Vader he or anyone else who knew of your mother might hurt her to hurt you did I not?" There was silence as Anakin mulled over what he had said trying to make himself as small as he was able. Thrawn looked away, his own mind on his home world and just how much he had given up for its safety. He had been older then Anakin then, but had already been ready to give up far more.
He sighed; they were making little headway in the matter he could feel the distinct sensation of pins and needles crawling up his right arm. "Regardless of what you may believe Lord Vader is not the Emperor, and should the Emperor discover of your existence if he already has not, it will be far far worse for you then what Darth Vader has to offer.
"The Emperor is a Sith?"
"Indeed, and he is the Master of Lord Vader. You say you know nothing of the force but here is an opportunity for you to learn something. I suggest you take it."
"Well it's not like I have a choice or anything. And I guess I can't save everyone if I can't use the force or anything." The boy frowned at the floor. "But…you'd be there? Helping me learn about the force?" The boy looked up at him with such an earnest eagerness that Thrawn wanted to rub away the migraine that was no doubt beginning to form behind his eyes. Let alone the child's ridiculous notion of saving everyone. Though he mused that could be delved into at a later time.
"I could teach you some theory, if you truly wanted, however the best source would be Lord Vader."
The child perked up at that looking down as his stomach rumbled. Thrawn rubbed at his temples. "I suppose we should stop by the mess hall, it wouldn't do to loose such an eager apprentice over a lack of malnourishment after all."
"Hey you made a joke!" The child hopped off the bench with an enthusiasm. And were Thrawn a lesser man he would have groaned at the antics.
-0-0-0-
Elsewhere a standard and nondescript and small transport freighter, one heavily modified with excess armoring and an excess of laser cannons floated almost aimlessly in the darkness of space about it, as the pilot on board paced restlessly back and forth before a holoterminal at the center of the room.
The pilot was a woman who appeared in her mid-twenties. Her hair was looped in an intricate design which led into a bun, while she herself wore standard nondescript smuggler clothes, the only difference to them being the dark cloak she wore over them.
"Oh my, mistress Padme! It's been two hours and still no word! I do hope that everything is alright!"
Padme Amidala once Queen of Naboo then its senator was now officially on shore leave on a nice resort somewhere on a planet in the Naboo system. Though Padme knew her cover story well she didn't pay it much heed now nor would unless need be. However her current predicament was one that worried her greatly. Senator Organa had yet to contact her, it was his holocall she was waiting on and she had yet to hear from him since the Imperial blockade on his home world, one that was no doubt created to encourage his cooperation with them.
"Don't fret 3PO, I'm sure he'll check in as soon as he is able."
As if on que to her words the holocall resounded. Padme hurried to provide the agreed upon access codes as Bail was now doing on his end. The call came through using an encrypted channel and when it did she was face to face with a harrowed looking Bail Organa. "Padme it's good to see you."
"It's good to see you too Bail. How is Breha?"
"She's fine thank you." He gave a nod to someone of screen and then turned to her folding his arms before himself. "Listen Padme, we don't have much time. I can only say that someone knows that something is up. I've been using my own funds and have been as discreet as I can possibly be but even I'm not that good. I'm sorry to say that I will be unable to help the rebellion financially for quite some time, and maybe not in any capacity in the coming few months. There's just too many people watching my back. Have you heard the news on Alderaan?"
"Yes I've heard. I've also heard rumors of the discontent on Alderaan, but I'm guessing it's not as bad as it sounds."
"Oh it's bad." Bail chuckled weakly. "But I suppose you could say that it could have been worse. When the 'unofficial' blockade occurred I'd thought I'd been discovered. As it stands it's not as bad as I'd initially feared. But enough of this, what news do you have?"
"I'm afraid the Mandalorians are still not interested."
"I see, not that I was hoping for something different…. And our other contacts?"
"Nothing significant, we've managed to salvage some old republic transport ships and repair two but that's hardly enough. I've made some new contacts on Coruscant but as it stands we're still stuck. Our discretion is costing us but if we overplay our hand…"
"I know…and what of Kenobi? Have you found him yet?"
"It's a bit hard to find someone who doesn't want to be found…I had thought…well I suppose it doesn't matter now. I'm sure there are other Jedi still out there, other than Master Yoda I mean…" But even knowing that he was still out there wasn't much help at present, what with them not knowing of his location or how to even contact him.
"I suppose in this case no news is better than bad news."
She gave a curt nod though her mind was racing through all the planets Obi Wan could possibly be. But much as all the other times any number of planets came up, and searching them all could prove pointless regardless. If she wished she had the force for any reason it was for things like this, if only she could will what she wanted. Things could go much faster.
Bail's head turned suddenly and sharply to his right. "I have to go." He said still looking away from her and the transmission suddenly cut. She sighed as she bent over and cleared her holo's memory. No need to take any chances before settling in a built in starship couch in the room She shuffled a datapad before taking a seat deeper into the cushion to await her next contacts holocall and perhaps make some headway in finding Obi Wan. All the while her droid C-3PO bustled and fretted over the holocall which had just taken place.
-0-0-0-
The usual mess hall was near empty at this time of day. Here and there an officer off duty sat and ate there meal at a brisk pace. It was nearing the next night cycle and the few officers that were present likely had missed their own dinner rotation for some reason or other but that was usually almost always the case. With the amount of people on the StarShip it was a given that this facility was almost always in use.
Anakin's eyes had widened at the size of the room. Thrawn allowed this for a few moments before making his way to the section where food was given out. He picked up a square pan and passed one to Anakin. The boy looked wide eyed at the amount of food laid out, no doubt excited at the prospect of so many new things to eat and try, though Thrawn himself new most of it to taste much the same despite appearances. There was of course the mess hall of the higher ranking officers and of course the dining room reserved for Lord Vader and those officers of the highest rank including himself. Each of them served far better food respectively but the vast expanse of the room was appealing to him at the moment. Word spread fast and no doubt a large portion if not the whole StarShip already knew that Lord Vader had lost his cool and landed him in the med bay. Thrawn was not looking forward to the rumors just yet.
"Hey can I try that?" Anakin was pointing to something and the food officer on duty wasn't sure how much standard food to give to the boy, as the boy was trying to pile every dish onto his plate. Thrawn shrugged and put a little of everything on the boys plate taking only two pieces of bread and some tea for himself.
They settled on opposite benches to the side and Anakin began digging in happily with his spoon. "Wow this is wizard! There's a ch'booza amount of food here! It's like life day but way way better!"
Thrawn studied the child in mild amusement as the boy stuffed his face with the grey nutrient filled mush, a dish widely hated by all sane officers. Though this amusement quickly turned to a mild concern as the boy just kept on eating. "The food will still be here tomorrow. You should pace yourself or you will make yourself sick."
"That's ok, I don't really get sick, and I can eat a lot when I'm hungry."
He sighed as he methodically tore a piece of bread off wondering just when he was going to get to his datapads at this rate. His brief moment of musing was interrupted with a familiar voice.
"Commander Thrawn, truly it's a relief to see you up and about." Colonel Veers made his way to the Chiss and the boy a mug of steaming water in one hand and a datapad in the other. Thrawn left what was left of his bread and rose to stand beside him as the man made a sign that he wanted to have a word with Thrawn privately. The boy though noticing this was content to focus on his food though no doubt he was straining his ears to listen in as well. They moved some ways away and Thrawn folded his hands across his chest as Colonel Veers turned to stand at an angle with him from which they observed the room but were unobserved for the most part themselves.
"How bad was it?"
"The lightning?"
"Corellian stars yes the lightning Commander!" The Colonel shook his head in exasperation though he returned to standard decorum and protocols a moment later and cleared his throat. "Truly, I heard of what happened, it sounded quite terrible to say the least."
"It was not as bad as they make it out to be though I would have preferred it to be avoidable. But come now you did not ask to speak with me simply about my heath."
"I did in fact seek you out to ensure you were still well Sir. But since we are on the topic intelligence has yet to receive any contact from the Togorian pirates you had encountered."
"I see. And the operation against the Black Sun?"
"That one is proceeding quite nicely if I do say so myself though slowly. The estimate is two months till we have the majority of them."
"That is expected. Anything else?"
"Not much Alderaan is of course still seething from our political maneuverings, some standard back comm chatter on some rebels a well.
Thrawn sighed deeply. "Nothing new then."
"Not at present. The boy?" Veers asked questioningly as he motioned in Anakin's direction with his head."
"Not of a concern to yourself for now." Colonel Veers not one to pry unless he felt it prudent left the line of thought well alone and excused himself. Thrawn himself motioned to the boy who had finished eating. And after discarding their trays Thrawn led the boy to show him his room, and get him settled in to his new life as a Sith apprentice.
