Monday afternoon Anakin is waiting for Miss Secura to pick him up so she can take him to his father. He is dressed in blue jeans, blue shirt and a black jacket which he had laid aside when sorting through his things yesterday afternoon. He is nervous to meet his father for the first time and starts to fiddle with the sleeve of his jacket.
"Calm down Anakin. I'm sure it won't be that bad to meet your father. Besides Miss Secura will be there with you so you won't be alone" Obi-wan says while sitting down next to Anakin on the couch. Anakin nods and wants to say something only for a knock on the door to startle him.
Luminara walks to the door from the dining room and opens it. On the other side of the door stands, as expected, Miss Secura who can be seen by Anakin when Luminara steps aside. Miss Secura greets Luminara before walking up to Anakin and kneeling down before him.
"Are you ready Anakin?" She asks and Anakin nods nervously.
"Let's put your things in my car shall we? Then we can be on our way to the embassy"
"Okay" Anakin says as he and Obi-wan stand up to load the boxes, suitcase and his backpack in his car. When the exit the house the see a small blue car standing before the house. Together they put the suitcase in the trunk with one of the boxes, the other box is put on the backseat. When they had packed everything securely into the car Anakin knew that it was time to leave.
"Till tomorrow, I'm sure I will see you at school" Anakin tells Barris and Obi-wan while hugging both of them before hugging Luminara.
"Goodbye, I don't know when I will see you again"
"Till tomorrow" Barris and Obi-wan tell him while Luminara says
"Goodbye, I hope to see you again this week. Be yourself to your father, don't behave differently than normal okay"
"I will" Anakin says after which he climbs in the backseat and puts his backpack between his legs on the floor of the car before putting his seatbelt on. Miss Secura sits down in the driver's seat and starts the car while putting also her seatbelt on before driving away.
The trip to the embassy takes them thirty minutes and lands them in a wealthy neighborhood. As the drive through the neighborhood Anakin sees many villas with beautiful gardens. Anakin sees many beautiful gardens and wonders how much it costs it to keep it so well maintained. When Miss Secura stops before a small brick wall with a fence on top of it, Anakin thinks they have arrived at the embassy and unlocks his seatbelt.
"Wait here, Anakin. I'll be right back" Miss Secura says before taking the keys out of the key slot, unlocking her seatbelt and stepping out of the car before walking up to a intercom by the port, at least Anakin thinks she is talking into a intercom. As he looks around he can see a large house at the other side of the fence and wonders why an embassy has to be so big. There can't be many people living inside it as they would stay in a hotel or have their own house. Also he can't imagine why people would then still need such a large building. The garden before the embassy has a large field of grass which is surrounded by colorful plants. On the other side of the street is a white villa with a fence around it. Just as Anakin wants to take a closer look at the villa the front door opens and Anakin sees Miss Secura sitting down in the driver's seat again. She puts her seatbelt back on and starts the car again. Anakin can see that the gate is being opened and sees that Miss Secura drives her car through the gate only to close behind them.
As they near the front of the building Anakin begins to get really nervous about his impending meeting with his father. He wonders what he should say to his father and what his father will say to him. Now that he is at the embassy Anakin is convinced that he will soon know what the secret is about his fathers' work and his identity as he was never told what his father's name is.
Why the car stops before the stairs leading into the embassy Anakin unlocks his seatbelt and asks
"Miss Secura, what do I have to do with my things? Do we take them with us inside?"
"You can take your backpack with you p inside if you want. Your father will arrange for the rest to be taken inside" Miss Secura explains.
"I will take my backpack with me then" Anakin says and waits until he can get out of the backseat to take his backpack with him inside. He puts his backpack on his back and looks around until he feels a hand on his shoulder. When he looks up he sees that it is Miss Secura who put the hand in his shoulder. She looks at him with calm eyes and says
"Come on Anakin, procrastinating won't help. Best to get difficult things done first and be done with it"
Anakin nods and follows her nervously up the stairs to the front door. When they reach the door, it is opened for them and they step inside the embassy. As Anakin looks over his shoulder he sees that a butler had opened the door and now closes the door behind them. As he looks around to see where Miss Secura is he sees that she is talking to a man in a black suit who sits behind a desk with many papers and other things on it. He sees the man makes a call to someone as Miss Secura puts her purse, which he hadn't noticed she had with her, on the desk and the man starts searching it when he is finished with the call. He gives Anakin the impression of being a security official and Anakin knows that he will also check his backpack so he takes it of his back and puts in on the ground. The man does indeed search his backpack when he is done with Miss Secura's purse. While the man searches his backpack Anakin looks around the room they are in.
Opposing the desk of the security official Anakin sees stairs leading to the first floor. The stairs are covered with a rich carpet. In the middle of the room stand two couches, two chairs and a table in the middle, which all match each other in the rich coloring and beautiful finishing on the top of the backrest and the handrails. On the table stands a vase with flowers together with other miscellaneous things.
The walls are also richly covered and are decorated with laps and to Anakin's knowledge, expensive paintings. Some walls also have a table standing before it with has some sort of art on it or flowers. An opening in the wall opposite the front door leads to a room which he can't see into. Scattered around the room stand multiple sculptures all which look really expensive like the paintings.
Just as the official is done with searching his backpack a dark skinned man in a purple suit walks up to them and guides them to the couches.
"Make yourself comfortable he will be with you in a moment" the man says and turns to walk to the front door. But just as he intends to do that and Miss Secura and Anakin want to sit down a voice suddenly speaks suprising everyone in the room.
"There is no need. I'm already here"
Anakin looks up and sees a man with long brown hair, blue eyes, chin strap and a mustache standing on top of the stairs. The man is wearing a green suit and has a hand on the banister next to him. Anakin believes that the man is around the same age as his mother and suspects that the man is also his father. He is impressed with how good his father looks and hopes he won't disappoint him.
The butler, security official and the dark skinned man suddenly stop what they are doing and stand straight. Miss Secura does the same as the men so Anakin follows her example. All this gives Anakin the impression that his father is a really important person and his nervousness doubles suddenly at the thought of meeting his father. Only when his father makes a motion with his hand does everyone relax and back to their work. His father walks down the stairs and towards them.
"Miss Secura, thank you for bringing my son to me" Anakin's father says while shaking Miss Secura's hand.
"It was an honor, your majesty" Miss Secura answers. The use of the title surprises and confused Anakin. He knows only royalty uses such a title and wonders if his father if perhaps a king, but quickly dismisses the thought as he is sure he would know if he were a prince.
Not sure what to do and not wanting to be considered rude Anakin stays standing until his father mentions for Miss Secura to sit down which she does and he follows her example.
"My people are bringing Anakin's stuff inside in case you can't stay long" his father says as he sits down with an expressionless look on his face which gives Anakin the impression of him being a cold person.
"That is good as I unfortunately will have to leave in a few minutes to be in time for my next appointment" Miss Secura says.
"I'm sorry to hear that" his father says and Anakin sees that Miss Secura is looking at the front door. Only then does he notice that his suitcase and both his boxes already standing before the desk. The butler walks up to them and gives her her car keys. She accepts them and stands up while saying
"Excuse me, your majesty, but I have to go"
"Of course, have a good day Miss Secura" his father while standing up and giving her another handshake. Then Miss Secura leaves the embassy and Anakin is alone with his father for the first time in his life.
Earlier this morning
Qui-gon steps out of his plane and is hit by the heat of Tatooine's early morning. He wonders how anyone can live here when it is already so hot this early in the morning and also how hot an afternoon will be. Luckily he sees a limousine from the embassy together with a police escort already waiting for him at the bottom of the stairs. He walks down the stairs and steps into the limousine when one of his bodyguards opens the door for him. As he sits down and puts his seatbelt on he notices Mace sitting down next to him doing the same. Soon the limousine drives away to the embassy. The trip takes them an hour and he uses the time to read the documents Tahl gave him so that he can sort out the schools. Together with Tahl and Anakin he will make the choice of Anakin's new school.
When he arrives at the embassy he puts the documents into his briefcase and waits for the door to open so he can step out of the limousine. When he steps out he sees the ambassador waiting for him together with senior attaches at the bottom of the stairs.
"You majesty, it is good to meet you again even if it is for a unexpected visit" the ambassador says.
"It is good to see again to, ambassador Valorum" Qui-gon says and makes sure not to mention the reason for his visit out in the open so that no one who shouldn't know could hear the reason for his visit. Finis Valorum was appointed by his father before his abdication at his insisting some nine years ago. They are old childhood friend and talk about everything so he knows about Anakin and always keeps an eye on him and Shmi as much as possible. He had informed him that he hadn't been able to contact them and because he wasn't in the city at the time as he had appointments throughout Tatooine he wasn't informed of her dead. So until he was called by his friend he had worried what had happened to them.
"Shall we go inside to my office so we can talk" Ambassador Valorum asks and Qui-gon agrees. As they enter the embassy Qui-gon and ambassador Valorum move to his office where Qui-gon explains the reason for his visit.
"That would explain why I don't hear from Shmi and why no one is in their house. But it makes me wonder where prince Anakin is staying right now" ambassador Valorum asks. He has always referred to his friend's son as prince when he is either alone with Qui-gon or Shmi when she still lived.
"He has been staying with a foster family who Shmi apparently knew. The Unduli family?" Qui-gon asks as he wants to know if Shmi ever talked about them to him.
"Ah yes, I know that name. Luminara Unduli has two foster children, Barris Offee and Obi-wan Kenobi who is prince Anakin's best friend. I have met the boy a few times when he was playing with the prince when was visiting" ambassador Valorum explains at his friend's question and sees the relief in his eyes that prince Anakin was with people he knew and not with strangers. Afterwards they talk about work and personal matters until Mace enters the room to tel him that a Miss Secura has arrived with his son.
"Excuse me, Finis, but I have to go and meet my son" Qui-gon says to excuse himself.
"Of course, my friend. Go meet our young prince" ambassador Valorum says and Qui-gon leaves the room to walks towards the ground floor. As he nears the stairs he hears Mace say
"Make yourself comfortable he will be with you in a moment"
He sees that Anakin and a woman with long blond hair intend to sit down at the couch so he says
"There is no need. I'm already here"
He sees that Anakin looks at him and appears nervous which he doesn't like. The staff he sees stands straight to show respect for him arriving in the room. Miss Secura he sees following the example of the staff and he is amused to see that Anakin follows them. He regrets that Anakin only becomes more nervous and intends to talk to him as soon as possible. The nervousness won't do him Anakin any good.
"Miss Secura, thank you for bringing my son to me" he says as greetings and appreciating.
"It was an honor, your majesty" Miss Secura answers. He notices that Anakin is surprised at the use of the title. He knows he is to blame for it as he doesn't believe it wise for someone else to tell him that he is a prince and more importantly that he is an heir apparent.
As he mentions for them to sit down she does so. Anakin follows Miss Secura's example so as to not appear rude.
"My people are bringing Anakin's stuff inside in case you can't stay long" he says to see how long she intends to stay. He puts his diplomatic face on based on his experience to not show his nervousness.
"That is good as I unfortunately will have to leave in a few minutes to be in time for my next appointment" Miss Secura says.
"I'm sorry to hear that" he says out of politeness. He sees the butler walk up to them and hand Miss Secura her car keys. After accepting them stands up while saying
"Excuse me, your majesty, but I have to go"
"Of course, have a good day Miss Secura" he says and Miss Secura then leaves the embassy and he and Anakin are alone for the first time in their life.