Chapter V
Everyone is at a makeshift table, eating the foods served to them, they're not much, but Shmi worked her best on it. Vader smiled, it was still a welcoming change. He tried to mimic the movements of the others, attempting to remember how to eat from memories 19 years before without dredging up any bad ones.
He was doing good, for a guy that hadn't eaten in 19 years, his first bite had made him realise how really hungry he was, so now he was trying to resist the urge to wolf down the food on his plate.
But at least he wasn't as bad as Jar Jar, who was loudly slurping on his soup. Vader gave a murderous glare at the Gungan, everyone looked at him. Realising that, Jar Jar blushed a bit and put down the soup.
Shmi started conversation among the table, by noting, "All slaves transmitters placed in their bodies somewhere."
"I've been working on a scanner try and locate them, but no luck." Anakin innocently stated
"A slave transmitter scanner? Kid, you must have some mechanical talent if you think you can do that." Vader noted, like he wasn't the same person as the boy he was talking to.
"I do. I built many things, like a droid and a pod-racer." Anakin replied, Vader smiled slightly, remembering that he only used the pod once.
"Anyway, any attempt of a slave to escape…" Shmi paused, wondering what to say
"And they blow you up… poof!" Anakin exclaimed, making hand motions to show exactly what happens. Padmé and Jar Jar became horrified, Vader's frown deepened, he remembered a few slaves that attempted to escape their masters, even if he was the Dark Lord, he had a soft spot for slaves.
"How wude" Jar Jar muttered
"I can't believe there's still slavery in the galaxy! The Republic's anti-slavery laws…" Padmé silenced herself at hearing Vader's patronising chuckle, she glared at Vader and asked, "What are you laughing at?", sternly
"Your innocence, it shines like a bright light in Force. The Republic goes to as far as Chameta, or your home-planet, Naboo. Not beyond there, in Tatooine, the Republic is simply a distant government, one that has no involvement in the Hutt's affairs." Vader answered, Shmi glanced at Vader
"You know a lot about the Force and the Outer Rim, your accent, it's one of Huttese. Why is that?" Shmi calmly asked
"I… used to be a slave, here, on Tatooine. For the beginning of my childhood, until I was saved by a Force-user, after that, I learned about the Force." Okay, so that wasn't a lie, but it wasn't the complete truth either.
Silence took over the room, as Qui-Gon glanced at Vader, he somehow knew that he himself was the Force user that took Vader in. Vader was definitely strong in the Force, and Qui-Gon knew from the time Shmi mentioned they were slaves, that Vader was one too.
Padmé and Jar Jar were shocked, their newest companion, the one that seemed so detached and wise… and… distrustful, was a slave? Padmé didn't know what to say to that, should she feel sorry? And she realised that innocent comment was true, despite trying to act as a monarch should, she hadn't seen or experienced the things most have.
She realised, that outside the Republic, many things have gone ignored even before she was born, this man… he was… interesting. Padmé opened her mouth to speak, but then shut it.
"You were going to say something." It was more of a statement, and despite the different tone it took, a soft, compassionate tone, unlike the hardened edge it normally took, she recognised it to be Vader, Padmé glanced at him.
"I'm sorry, I didn't know." Padmé's voice's volume went down to a whisper.
Vader felt his hear jump out for the girl, he might not be able to love her the way he wanted to, but it hurt to see her sad. He put his hand on her, and passionately spoke, "You don't have to be, one might once be a slave, but he or she has the capability to break free if he or she tries hard enough, and does it the right way, I've gotten over the scars I got through slavery. You are now seeing the truth Padmé, embrace it."
Silence took over once again, Qui-Gon glanced at Shmi, who looked sympathetic, for the one who was gripping Padmé's shoulder, as she looked down, Anakin didn't know what to say, this man was dark, but he felt that darkness fade, a bit, showing the light inside, not a very bright light like Qui-Gon's, but a warm light, something Anakin felt safe with.
Anakin then decided to change the currently somber subject. "Have you ever seen a pod race?" He asked
Padmé's expression changed from sad to confused as she nodded her head 'no', Vader released the grip on her hand and made a half-smile, Qui-Gon made a dirty glare at Jar Jar when the alien took a piece of fruit from the bowl using his tongue.
"They have pod racing on Malastare." Qui-Gon answered, Vader blanched at the memories of that planet, rumour held that there were two Jedi who won pod races there, one of them being himself, another being one he didn't know. Qui-Gon continued "Very fast, very dangerous", he commented
"I'm the only human that can do it." Anakin honestly stated, Vader made no outward expression, Shmi looked at her son in disapproval, Anakin glanced at his mother and asked "Mom, what?", he looked back at the others "I'm not bragging. It's true. Watto says he never heard of a human doing it."
"You must have Jedi reflexes if you can race pods." Qui-Gon noted, on the inside, knowing it was true.
Vader smiled, as he immediately looked left and saw Jar Jar attempting to take another piece of fruit, but before the Gungan could do it. Vader held the tongue with two of his fingers. Qui-Gon smiled, thinking that he was going to do it had Vader not. It saved a fruit from the bowl compared to when he could have done it.
"Don't do it again" Vader warned, using a force suggestion to induce fear. Jar Jar bobbed his head up and down in that feeling.
"I… I was wondering… something…" Anakin hesitantly looked at Qui-Gon
"What?" Qui-Gon asked, interested
"Well, ah… you're a Jedi Knight, aren't you?" Anakin asked
"What makes you think that?" Qui-Gon asked, not even afraid that Anakin figured it out
"I saw your laser sword. Only Jedi carry that type of weapon." Anakin confessed, Qui-Gon leant back on his seat, and smiled. Vader's lips grew into a smile too.
"Perhaps I killed a Jedi and stole it from him." Qui-Gon suggested.
"I don't think so… no one can kill a Jedi Knight" Anakin stated, as Vader snorted, there were many Jedi killed ultimately, mostly by the Sith, but stormtroopers managed to kill many Jedi Masters.
"I wish that were so." Qui-Gon sighed
"I had a dream I was a Jedi, I came back here and freed all the slaves… have you come to free us?" Anakin asked, hope in voice
"I'm pretty sure it's something else, with the Nubians here." Vader mumbled
Right after Vader mumbled that, Qui-Gon calmly replied, "No, I'm afraid not."
"I think you have… why else would you be here?" Anakin asked, a bit forcefully, but not too much
"Kid, there's no fooling you." Vader smiled a bit, it was good to be complimenting himself without anyone berating him for doing that.
Qui-Gon leant forward, "Vader's right. You mustn't let anyone know about us, we're on our way to Coruscant, the central system in the Republic, the central system in the Republic, on a very important mission, and it must be kept secret"
"Coruscant… wow…" Anakin imagined the city planet in his mind, he saw advertisements of it once or twice. He then asked "How did you end up here in the Outer Rim?"
"Our ship was damaged, and we're stranded here until we can repair it." Padmé informed
"I can help! I can fix anything!" Anakin exclaimed, eager to fix
"I believe you can" Qui-Gon looked briefly at Vader, and then back to Anakin, "But our first job is to acquire the parts we need"
"Wit no-nutten mula to trade" Jar Jar piped in
"These junk dealers must have a weakness of some kind." Padmé stated
"Gambling. Everything here revolves around betting on those awful races." Shmi nodded her head sadly at that.
"Podracing… Greed can be a powerful ally" Qui-Gon quoted, Vader nodded approvingly, since it was Sith quote, Qui-Gon glared at Vader, and added, "If used properly."
"I've built a racer! It's the fastest ever… There's a big race tomorrow, on Boonta Eve. You could enter my pod. It's all but finished." Anakin mentioned, Vader smiled at the memories he had with the pod, despite those were short.
"Anakin, settle down, Watto won't let you." Shmi tried to calm Anakin down
"Watto doesn't know I've built it. You could make him think it's yours" The boy pointed at Qui-Gon, and then he continued "And you could get him to let me pilot it for you.
Qui-Gon and Vader both glanced at an upset Shmi. There was a silent moment, as Shmi contemplated this. Vader wondered how reckless he actually was, back when he was Anakin Skywalker. Well, he'd be able to know, since now, he could view it in third person.
"I don't want you to race, Ani. It's awful. I die every time Watto makes you do it." Shmi tried to persuade him otherwise
"But mom, I love it, and they need help, they're in trouble. The prize money would more than pay for the parts they need." Anakin groaned
"Wesa ina pitty bad goo." Jar Jar agreed, mumbling
"You're mother's right. Is there anyone friendly to the Republic who might be able to help us?" Qui-Gon asked in a serious tone, Vader snorted, knowing that that question would make his mother figure out that making Anakin race was worth it.
Shmi shook her head 'no', Vader glanced at Jar Jar, who was still eating. He then glanced at Qui-Gon, who was looking at Shmi, so he looked at Shmi too.
"We have to help them, Mom, you said that the biggest problem in the universe is no one helps each other…" Anakin started
"Anakin, don't" Shmi tried to silence Anakin
"I'm sure Qui-Gon doesn't want to put your son in danger. We will find another way…" Padmé tried to break the tension in the room
"No, Ani's right, there is no other way… I may not like it, but he can help you. He was meant to help you." Shmi replied, Vader swore that somehow, being beside Force-strong people all her life, she could identify currents in the Force.
"Is that a yes? That is a yes!" Anakin exclaimed, cheering. Vader suddenly stood up
"Excuse me." Vader took his plate, but Shmi stood up along Vader.
"No, I'll take care of those." Vader put down the plate, as he walked off.
Vader knew the pod deal was signed, but there were still ways Anakin would not become a Jedi, first would be losing the Pod Race, then would be Council. But Vader was too tired to think about that. Despite he just ate, he was tired.
Vader aimlessly walked past the kitchenette, to his right. He then walked forward, and opened the door that led to his own former bedroom. He was overwhelmed by memories, as he saw C-3PO, as he was right then, set up sitting on the bed, mechanical parts were strewn everywhere, he never had a clean room, even as a Jedi.
Vader walked in, and turned right. He saw C-3PO, having been fitted all the parts, Vader flicked the switch, as his yellow eyes lit.
"Hello. I am C-3PO, Human-Cyborg relations, who might you be?" C-3PO asked, looking at Vader
"I am… Vader… Da-Luke Vader" Vader answered
"Hello then, Master Luke." C-3PO greeted
"I prefer Vader, if you don't mind." Vader kindly stated
"Okay then, Master Vader. How may I help you?" C-3PO asked, being prompted to immediately serve
"I don't need help, for now" Vader then quickly flicked the switch, the droid was useless for now.
"He's amazing, isn't he?" Vader heard a feminine voice say, Padmé.
"Padmé" Vader breathed, as he turned around to see the 14 year old smiling. He then answered the question "He is.
Padmé walked closer to Vader, to see that Vader was a lot taller than her. Vader raised an eyebrow, wondering what she wanted.
"Vader…" Padmé started stepping closer towards Vader, as if something drew her closer to him
"What do you want?" Vader snapped, frowning, Padmé took two shocked steps back, he then realised his mistake, so he tried to apologise, "Wait! I'm sorry, I didn't mean to snap, I just… hadn't had someone close to me in nineteen years."
"Nineteen years… that must have been hard" Padmé commented
The two stood still for a while, glancing at each other. Padmé came closer, taking two steps, like a toddler taking her first steps towards her father. Vader felt the sympathy… for him… Vader realised that the girl had just been shown to the darker worlds.
"I'm sorry" Vader muttered
"For what? I should be sorry for you." Padmé asked, confused
"You are being shown the darker elements of the galaxy for the first time, I should not have snapped, taunted or did anything to get on your bad side, you need support, something you have not got here. Except for the boy, who doesn't and wouldn't understand. But I can." Vader softly told Padmé, as he sat down, using the bed as back support.
Padmé slowly sat beside Vader, "You really hadn't someone close to for 19 years?", she asked
"The last one… was my wife, I killed her by accident, and worse, she was pregnant back then. I killed her in a flurry of rage, and since then I vowed not to get close to anyone ever again" Vader honestly told his wife's past/alternate self.
"Why'd you do that?" Padmé asked, now confused, and a bit scared of the guy beside her, but she didn't move.
"I told you, by accident, I thought my wife, I thought she cheated on me with my best friend, someone who I cared for like a brother." Vader confessed, trying to keep tears from coming.
"I don't know what to say" Padmé choked out.
"You don't have to. No one cares for me anyway." Vader replied
"Someone does now." Padmé briefly glanced at Vader, and made a sad smile, wrapping her petite body around him. Vader didn't mind it. In fact, he was happy to have Padmé now, even if it wasn't in the way he necessarily wanted.
Yup, Vader and Padmé are warming up to each other. But their relationship won't be the lover/lover relationship, not all all. I'll leave that relationship thing to young Anakin and Padmé. The relationship I intend for Vader and Padmé is the one between a father and a daughter, and plus, doesn't hurt for Vader to have at least one person he cares for as a child.