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Star Wars AU The Triumph of Darth Plagueis: Episode Twenty-One – Rebels Prologue: Tatooine Nights and Days

By

Celgress

14 BBY

Tatooine

The place of Zorba the Hutt was in the throes on a wild all night party. While this was not unusual the two cloaked beings that stood before the mighty Hutt lord and his infant grandson Rotta were. Zorba had inherited the majority of his son Jabba's vast holdings, including those in the Tatoo System with the proviso Zorba declare Jabba's son Rotta is primary heir, six years before when Jabba had perished as the result of a Separatist assassination squad unhappy with the Hutt's nominal loyalty to the Republic during the closing months of the Clone Wars.

"The all-powerful Zorba undisputed leader of the Desilijic Clan and defender of righteous will waive the outstanding debt on your moisture farm and pay you the additional sum of ten thousand Imperial credits if you agree to destroy the Besadii, may they be thrice cursed, controlled spice factories on Ylesia.", said a Sliver Protocol Droid translating the huge gangster's words into basic, while the Great Hutt stroked the long braids of his gray beard which matched those of his hairdo both in color & configuration. "Do you accept his magnanimous offer?"

"Oh all-powerful Zorba" said one of the figures pulling his hood back revealing the bearded visage of Obi-wan Kenobi. "What of the slaves who mine and process the spice on Ylesia. What are your orders concerning their fate?"

"The all-powerful Zorba is not concerned with the slave laborers of Ylesia. You may do with them as you see fit. The all-powerful Zorba only wants the factories, and if possible the mines, destroyed", translated the Sliver Protocol Droid.

"We will take the job." Siri said throwing back her own hood. Her long blond hair tied in a tight ponytail. "Have the contract drawn up."

"The all-powerful Zorba is must pleased", translated the Sliver Protocol Droid.

While traveling home using one of the speeders from their farm Siri grumbled while tightening her grip on Obi-wan's waist. "I hate working for Hutts. They give me the creeps. Zorba was eyeing me like a piece a meat." In spite of the heat of the night a shiver ran through Siri's frame.

"Zorba is a pussycat compared to his son. Be thankful Jabba isn't still around. I doubt he'd ever have offered us such a potentially, lucrative deal. Besides you'd be fetching in dancing girl attire." Obi-wan chuckled while steering the speeder around obstacles such as sand dunes, and the occasional group of irritated Jawas.

"You know if you we were half as good at moisture farming as we are at being Jedi we wouldn't be in this mess." Siri teased her husband.

"True, in my defense moisture farming was never high on my list of careers choices. The Force has a strange sense of humor, does it not my dear?"

"Indeed it does my dear." Siri replied resting her head against the back of her husband's shoulder.

The pair of exiled Jedi masters made it back before the first of Tatooine's twin suns rose about the horizon. Already the lightening sky had turned a lovely shade of lavender. The day promised to be a typical scorcher. Parking the speeder alongside other vehicles and farm equipment in the large garage the couple made their way to the modest farmhouse.

"How were they?" Obi-wan asked Yoda while looking at the sleeping twins who were sprawled on the living room floor. Each was covered in a sheet and lay on another.

"Out of control they are." Yoda grunted getting up from his sitting position. "Terrible they act. Use their budding powers for mischief they do. Be taught more control they must."

"They are only five years old Yoda." Siri laughed. "What could they possibly have done?"

"Made a total mess of the house they did." Yoda answered pointing his walking stick at the sleeping children. "Dishes everywhere there were. Katooni and I had to put them back we did. Stole me walking stick at one point they did. Listen to me they would not for some time. Never before has training younglings proven as difficult as with these." Yoda shook his head in dismay.

"Yoda is right you know." The teenaged Katooni said leaning against the doorframe of her bedroom. "They are out of control. You two are spoiling them rotten."

"I think the problem stems from our different philosophical approaches." Obi-wan said. "Yoda you want Luke & Leia trained traditionally as Jedi. Whereas Siri and I want them to decide on their own if being a Jedi is what they truly want. Forcing our views of what they should be upon the twins so early could prove disastrous. I feel it in my bones."

"I agree. The decision must be theirs and theirs alone." Siri added.

"If neither wants to be a Jedi, what then hmmm?" Yoda asked. "Let the Order become extinct we do?"

"If the Order is to survive and thrive it must change." Obi-wan said. This was an old argument between him, Siri & the Grandmaster. "The inherent weaknesses in the original structure of the Order contributed significantly to Anakin's & Ahsoka's fall. We can't merely replicate those same shortcomings and just hope for the best."

"Perhaps" Yoda muttered, "perhaps not. Tell us time will. Hope only do I right course we are taking. The fate of the Force itself hinge on our choices it may."

"They're still brats." Katooni huffed.

"Katooni" Siri said.

"Sorry mom" Katooni said. She'd be calling Siri mother and Obi-wan father as part of their family cover story ever since arriving on Tatooine. It had become such a habit neither Jedi master bothered correcting her anymore. "Luke and Leia can be a handful at times, but I love them all the same."

"That's my girl" Siri said with a smile which Katooni returned.

"Messed up this family is" Yoda grumbled unable to fully conceal a smile of his own. "What say the Hutt Lord did?"

"He'll forgive our loan and pay us the sum of ten thousand Imperial credits if we cripple the Besadii spice processing facilitates on Ylesia."

"Out to get Aruk I see Zorba still is. Revenge for Aruk's role in his son Jabba's death Zorba no doubt wants. Worthy cause this be, took the job you did?" Yoda inquired looking first at Obi-wan then at Siri.

"Yes" Siri simply said.

"Good, when do you depart?" Yoda asked.

To Be Continued