Chapter 30
"Rex, I need a fire squadron down here," Anakin said as he exited the palace. "I need a fire put out, and one started."
"We're on our way," Rex said.
"What is your name?" Anakin asked as he reached the young twilek woman. He spoke in Huttese, judging that she probably had a knowledge of the language by now.
"Naaviva," the young woman said. She shivered in the dark. "Thank you for saving me."
Anakin smiled, and took his heavy cloak off. He wrapped it around her shoulders.
"Come on," Anakin said, taking her hand. "Let's get out of here."
Naaviva was far too overwhelmed to question him, and let him lead her to his speeder bike nearby. "You'll have to hold on to me," Anakin said, helping her get on board. "Okay?"
She nodded, and wrapped her arms tightly around him as he kicked the bike in to motion. Pressing her face against his broad back, she closed her eyes, the sensation of the fresh air rushing past her exhilarating. Who is this man? she wondered. And why did he save me like he did?
Anakin steered the bike in the dark, using the Force to guide him. At the back of his mind he was troubled by what had just happened, how the dark side had come to him so quickly. But he pushed it aside, not wanting to dwell on it, not wanting to examine it too closely. The fires of the homestead and the mining operation became visible as he crested a hill. Anakin frowned, the anger over Jabba's treachery rising again. He brought the bike to a stop at a safe distance and climbed off, helping his passenger to do the same.
"Did Jabba do this?" she asked in Huttese.
Anakin nodded. "Yes," he said. He turned to her. "He was a monster," he said. "How long were you a slave in his palace?"
"Nearly a year," Naaviva answered. "My sister was taken too," she told him. "She was fed to the rancor six months ago," she said with a frown.
Anakin shook his head. "He'll never harm anyone again," he told her. "There will be no more slavery on this planet ever again, do you understand?"
Naaviva nodded, and then looked up as she noticed a large vessel descending close by. "Look!" she said.
Anakin watched as the fire ship appeared and began to douse the flames with water. Steam filled the air, making visibility almost nonexistent. From the steam emerged a white armoured trooper, and Naaviva hid behind Anakin in fear.
"It's okay," Anakin told her. "He's a friend, he's not here to hurt you."
Rex took off his helmet, hoping that the sight of a human face would assuage her fears. He gave her a smile. "Who's this?" he asked.
"A survivor," Anakin said. "I want you to take 20 of your best men and raze Jabba's palace to the ground," he said. "Leave nothing. Then I want an assessment of the damage here. Do you understand?"
Rex nodded, wondering if it was Darth Vader he was speaking to rather than Anakin Skywalker. "Completely," he said. "There's a shuttle waiting to take you on board until all this is cleaned up."
"Good," Anakin said. "Carry on." Anakin walked away with Naaviva. Rex watched him leave, a little confused by the apparent change in the man he'd once called his commander.
"Who are you?" Naaviva asked as she sat beside Anakin in the shuttle's cockpit.
"My name is Anakin Skywalker," Anakin said. "I used to be a slave myself," he told her. "And I vowed that one day I would return here and free all the slaves."
Naaviva smiled. "You're a hero, Anakin Skywalker," she said, putting a hand on his arm.
Anakin shrugged, not sure he deserved the moniker. "I don't know about that," he said.
"I do," she said. "You're my hero," she said, kissing his cheek.
Anakin simply smiled.
On board the Devastator
"What the devil happened down there?" Obi-Wan asked as he met Anakin in the shuttle bay. "Oh, excuse me," he said rather abashedly when he saw the young woman in Anakin's company.
"Obi-Wan Kenobi, this is Naaviva," Anakin said. "She was a slave in Jabba's palace. Could you have one of your men find her some quarters and some clean clothes?"
"Of course," Obi-Wan said, beckoning a young officer nearby. "Welcome aboard, Naaviva," he said, giving her a little bow.
Naaviva was quite surprised by the respectful treatment she'd received that she simply smiled in response, and went with the young officer. She looked over her shoulder at Anakin, feeling anxious about being separated from him.
"I'll see you soon," Anakin called to her with a wave.
Naaviva nodded, and then disappeared out the door.
"Well?" Obi-Wan said as he and Anakin walked towards the exit together. "Tell me what happened. I sense there's quite a story."
Anakin frowned. "Unfortunately you're right," he said.
Obi-Wan grew tense as he sensed the conflicting emotions in Anakin. "Tell me what happened, Anakin," he said. "I sense great trepidation in you."
Anakin said nothing as they boarded a nearby turbolift. "Jabba pushed me too far," he said.
Oh no, Obi-Wan thought with a frown. "Explain that to me," he said.
Anakin looked at him. "He blew up my house," he said. "And the mining operation. And this was after he had agreed to a business transaction, an honourable business transaction."
"Anakin surely you didn't think Jabba was capable of being honourable," Obi-Wan said.
Anakin frowned. "I'm not stupid," he said. "Of course not. But I counted on him being greedy."
Obi-Wan nodded. "I'm assuming you confronted him," he said. "And that it didn't go well. "
"You could say that," Anakin said as they stepped off of the lift.
"Are you going to tell me what happened?" Obi-Wan said.
"What do you think happened, Obi-Wan?" Anakin said, stopping and looking at Obi-Wan straight on. "He's dead. I killed him. I killed most of his minions."
Obi-Wan felt his blood run cold as he digested this. "Anakin..." he began.
"Don't start," Anakin said sharply. "I'm filthy and hungry," he said. "And I haven't slept in two days."
Obi-Wan nodded. "Very well," he said. "I'll leave you alone for now. But we must discuss this, Anakin. This isn't going away."
Anakin frowned, and watched Obi-Wan retreat down the corridor before entering his quarters for a much needed shower and meal.
As the water pulsated down his achy back, Anakin closed his eyes. The images of the carnage he'd left at Jabba's palace filled his mind, torturing him. He left me no choice, he reminded himself. He didn't deserve to live...The conflict raged within him as he fought to sleep later, but eventually the exhaustion won over, and he fell into a deep and dreamless sleep.
As Anakin slept, Naaviva, who was feeling very anxious being separated from her saviour, managed to locate his quarters. She stood outside his door, dismayed to find that it was locked.
"Can I help you?" a young officer who was passing by asked her.
Naaviva gave him her most brilliant smile. "I just wanted to check on Anakin," she said via the universal translator that Obi-Wan had provided her with. "He saved my life, you know. I was hoping to make him a special dish to eat. Do you think it would be okay if you let me in?"
The officer looked at her, unable to deny his attraction for her. He'd always had a weakness for twilek women. Besides, she was barely more than a girl. What harm would it be to let her in to cook the man she idolized a meal?
"I suppose so," he said. "But if he's mad, leave me out of it okay?" he asked her with a smile.
Naaviva smiled broadly. "It will be our little secret," she said.
The officer nodded, and then had the lock on Anakin's door overridden. It slid open, and Naaviva walked in, giving him a wink before the door closed on her.
The quarters were dark, and Naaviva reasoned that Anakin must still be sleeping. She worked quietly, and headed to the small kitchen, surprised to see a refrigerator and stove. Naaviva opened the fridge to see what she had to work with, which wasn't much. I'll just replicate what I need, she decided, pulling out a few items. Her cooking was interrupted by the sound of the computer, and she walked out into the common area to see who was contacting Anakin. She sat down and activated the device, not wanting him to be awoken, and came face to face with a beautiful woman.
"Hello," Naaviva said. "Can I help you?"
Padmé stared at the young woman, utterly confused. "I'm sorry, I was looking for Anakin," she said. "I must have the wrong transmission."
"No, he's here," Naaviva said. "He's asleep. Can I give him a message?"
Padmé frowned, unable to stem the wave of jealousy that beset her. Who was this beautiful young woman? And why was she in Anakin's quarters while he slept? "May I ask who you are?" Padmé asked.
Naaviva smiled. "My name is Naaviva," she said. "Anakin saved my life last night. I was a slave in Jabba's palace."
Relief filled Padmé and she smiled. He did it...oh Ani, I'm so proud of you! "That's wonderful," she said, feeling foolish for her brief stab of jealousy. "How many other slaves did he rescue from Jabba's lair?"
"Just me," Naaviva said. "He killed everyone else there, including Jabba."
The smile faded from Padmé's face as a feeling of cold anxiety filled her. "He...he killed everyone?" she asked.
Naaviva nodded. "Yes, with his laser sword. It was utterly terrifying, and for a moment I thought he would kill me too. When he looked at me with his eyes full of fury, I wanted to scream. But then he cut my chains and told me to run outside and wait for him. He's my hero," she said with a smile.
Padmé only nodded, the words only adding to her anxiety. "I'm sorry, I have to go," she said, and ended the transmission. She sat trembling at the computer screen for a few moments, doing her best to compose herself. Oh Anakin, what have you done? she thought as tears sprung from her eyes. What have you done?