Chapter II
Hello again! Sorry if the last chapter was a bit horrible, that was because it was confusing on how I was going to make Vader realise he time-traveled and only Qui-Gon realises that too, so I apologise for that.
The references from last chapter are:
Adenan the Masterless Padawan references:
Chameta: A planet made by me, ruled by the Da'atarka family
YASW: Years after Sith Wars
Yoda's Reformations references:
Yoda and Mace's reactions to a disturbance in the Force ten years before: Mace hated Anakin Skywalker in that story and Yoda becomes Anakin's temporary Master in that story, and Yoda becomes more giddy and attached while Mace becomes more gloomy and evil
Talimer Skywalker: A Skywalker OC made for Yoda's Reformations, Anakin's uncle; former Jedi and Bounty Hunter
Five-Person Rebellion references
Qui-Gon and Anakin looking similar: Because (spoilers for that story, so don't read this point if you don't want any spoilers), Anakin is Qui-Gon's son in that story!
Despite Darth Vader and Qui-Gon were talking and laughing when they were deciding Vader's alias, now Luke Vader, the two still had a distrust for each other, Vader more distrusting than Qui-Gon.
The Jedi had been trying to turn Vader back to the light, and still was annoying Vader with it.
"You're a slave to the Dark Side Vader, do you not realise that?" Qui-Gon seriously asked, for what seemed the hundredth time, as Padmé Amidala, Jar Jar Binks and an astromech droid R2-D2 were walking behind the two.
Qui-Gon had given the cover story that Vader was the former apprentice to the Sith Lord, when Vader had to be introduced to the people who were in the ship with Qui-Gon.
Qui-Gon already knew to be Palpatine due to the slip of words earlier, but they didn't reveal that, it was too early, and the Force was screaming at Qui-Gon to not tell the identity of the Sith Lord.
Back to the subject, so Qui-Gon had told that Vader was the former apprentice to the Sith Lord, who deviated from the Sith after the bond between Vader and his Master was broken, but Vader still used the Dark Side, Obi-Wan Kenobi, who Vader had a spike of anger at, had protested at that, claiming that Yoda had said that once someone falls to the Dark, they can't come back to the light. Vader almost force-choked Obi-Wan because of this comment, causing more distrust between Qui-Gon and Vader. This also caused distrust between Padmé and Vader.
Now, the heat that was making him tired, the sand that was sticking on his expensive clothes, and Qui-Gon's incessant ramblings of 'how the light was a better choice than the dark' was all making his already bad temper rise.
"Fine. I'll keep that subject to myself… for now" Qui-Gon huffed, disappointed with the results as he looked away at the growling Vader, as they kept walking.
"So… where are we going?" Padmé asked Vader, distrusting of him.
Vader still couldn't look at Padmé, since she reminded him of her future self, the one he force-choked. Vader swore that by no means will he let his past self hurt Padmé like he did.
"A junk shop belonging to a toydarian named Watto" Vader answered neutrally, Padmé frowned further, as he looked right, and saw said shop. He stopped, and his mouth gaped a bit, as he remembered all his times here.
His time as a slave, and his time as a Jedi.
"Let's go in" Qui-Gon ordered sternly, as he walked ahead, Vader sighed, he wasn't suited to taking orders from anyone other that Sidious, especially after 19 years of doing that. Padmé purposely pushed Vader's right shoulder as she walked past.
So the others walked past Vader, who just stood there, frowning and not wanting to see his past self, who was… not so obviously, a slave to Watto, though, it would be… interesting to see how he and Padmé met from another point of view.
Vader sighed again, this time in frustration. He had nothing else to waste, since everything he had was cleared and/or changed when he travelled back in time.
Vader took a few steps and growled, oh how he hated sand, he won't have to deal with it once he got to Coruscant, that's for sure. He walked few more steps, and began feeling a tiny tinge of nervousness alongside all those dark feelings.
Vader ignored the feeling, he's Darth Vader! Sith Apprentice! Merciless Second-In-Command of the Empire!
An Empire that doesn't exist yet, nor does he want to.
He saw the ruthlessness of the Empire since it formed, since he was the Second in Command. He didn't accept most of the Empire's strategies, but his Master told… no… forced him to accept and encourage it.
But the Death Star changed everything, he realised that he wasn't as bound to his Master as he was. His eyes dangerously glinted golden as all his anger embraced him to the Dark once again, as a lowly civilian decided to walk from his right. Vader dangerously glared at the civilian, like a dangerous predator being approached by his prey.
And the prey fears the predator. And so did the civilian, as he widened his eyes in fear, and backed away slowly. Vader smiled in satisfaction, despite he didn't like the Empire's tactics, he still enjoyed the fear of others.
Since it made the others like what he was, and still is, Vader feared a great many things, and was insecure, despite his efforts not to show them.
Vader decided finally that there was nothing to waste, and hastily went into the shop, only to see a young Anakin Skywalker sitting on a table, looking at Padmé. Anakin glanced briefly at Vader, who frowned further, before Anakin quickly sensed the man's darkness and looked away.
Anakin decided to concentrate on what he was doing and asked innocently "Are you an angel?"
"What?" Padmé asked back, baffled, as she looked back to see the young boy who asked the question
"An angel, I heard deep space pirates talk about them, they're the most beautiful creatures in the universe, they live in the moons of Iego I think" Anakin answered immediately, as he worked on something
"You're a funny little boy" Padmé remarked, then, out of interest, she asked "How do you know so much?"
"I listen to all those traders and star pilots who come through here. I'm a pilot y'know, and someday, I'm gonna fly away from this place" Anakin remarked
Vader cracked a smile at the mildly amusing scene, and the irony that it wouldn't be Anakin that would 'fly away from this place', as he put it. His eyes went blue once again because of that humour, this wasn't the first time his eyes went blue after he became Vader, there were a few times before, back in his time. Anakin briefly glanced at Padmé, and then went back to working on the part he was working on
"You're a pilot?" Padmé asked, more interested in the boy
"All my life" Anakin answered, not looking up
"How long have you lived here?" Padmé then asked, Vader chuckled slightly, knowing what would come next
"Since I was very little, three I think. My mom and I were sold to Gardulla the Hutt, she lost us betting on the pod races" Anakin softly answered, not looking up, Vader frowned a bit at being reminded that
"You're a slave?" Padmé kept her tone soft, Vader decided to speak up before the boy made his distasteful comment
"Slavery is common in Tatooine, but you should be aware that all slaves are also people, just like us" Vader's voice went soft, to the two children, the comment seemed neutral and calm, but Vader was angry on the inside.
Padmé slightly frowned, as she hissed "I did not ask for your input", her eyes glinting in a way that eerily reminded Vader of the time Princess Leia Organa was interrogated in the cell AA-23 in the Death Star that was assumably destroyed by the Force-Sensitive pilot he tried to shoot down.
Vader, Anakin and Padmé all three jerked their heads as they saw the clumsy Jar Jar Binks having trouble with a pit droid used in pod races. Vader closed his eyes, trying to quell his anger at the gungan.
"I suggest you hit the nose" Vader almost robotically told Jar Jar, who did exactly what Vader said, the Pit Droid fell to the ground, shut down
"Thanks" Anakin thanked the one who was, though almost everyone being unaware of it, his future self.
Qui-Gon Jinn came out of where he was. Vader could sense the obvious frustration coming in waves out of the man. Vader knew that Qui-Gon only had Republic Credits. He only bought them here without the credits, to see the fun of it.
Qui-Gon started walking out, before briefly glancing at Jar Jar, who was messing with more parts. Vader followed Qui-Gon quickly, as Padmé followed the two adults.
"It was nice meeting you… ah…" Padmé paused, realising that she didn't get the boy's name
"Anakin Skywalker" Anakin supplied nicely
"It was nice meeting you, Anakin" Padmé repeated, as she introduced herself "I'm Padmé Naberrie, by the way", Padmé swore she heard Vader smirk from behind her
"It was nice meeting you too Padmé!" Anakin waved Padmé goodbye, a bit sad to see her leave
Vader smiled, it was good seeing the time Padmé and he met once again, from a fresh point of view, sure, it was a bit different due to him interacting with the two, but it was a good experience for him anyway. He wished that things were always this simple, but alas, it simply is not.
End of Chapter. But not end of story, the next chapter will come out soon, I assure you. From last chapter, YASW means 'Years after Sith Wars', if you didn't know.