Thank you everyone for following, favoring, and reviewing my story. When I came home from my trip, I was so excited to read all the reviews. They were wonderful. Here's the next chapter of the Skywalker Adventures. I just hope none of the characters are ooc.
Chapter 2
Anakin screamed in pain as the lightning coursed through his body.
"You foolish boy. You thought you could defeat me! Dark Lord of the Sith where greater Jedi Masters have failed," Sidious taunted as he continued to torture Anakin.
He paused for a moment. Anakin gasped for breath. With the Sith lightning, coupled with the injuries he sustained at the Jedi Temple from the clones, his body struggled to keep going.
"How?" he asked painfully.
"The Jedi in their arrogance choose to believe that the Sith were gone. For a thousand years the Sith thrived, weakening the so-called Republic while the Jedi blinded themselves to our presence, until it was too late for them. As long as there is fear and anger, the Sith will always come back."
Sidious unleashed another volley of lightning.
Anakin screamed again.
There was another scream, only this time it wasn't Anakin. It was-
Anakin woke up with a gasp to the sound of crying.
Baby crying.
He sat up and saw Padme picking Luke up from his crib and carrying him over to the changing table. He looked over to the chrono next to the bed to see that it was a little after 0600. With a shudder he remembered the events from last night. Hearing of Ryoo's death, and his and Padme's decision to go to Naboo and stop Ferus Olin.
First thing they needed to do was to let Owen and Beru know what was going on so they would be able to watch Luke and Leia until they would come back. He knew it was risky, leaving the twins unguarded, but he had an idea as to how to shield them from the Emperor.
The second thing to do would be to pack the necessary supplies they would need while they were on Naboo, including credits they could use. Padme had a chest full of expensive jewelry she had taken with her when they went into exile to be used for emergencies. They could use some of it to buy themselves passage to and from Naboo and for whatever needs they would require during the trip.
Next would be to find a ship that would take them to Naboo. A smuggler's ship to be more precise since the Imperials were searching every ship that came and left Naboo. Hopefully, they would be able to hire a smuggler with no loyalty to the Empire and wouldn't ask any questions.
"Ani?" Padme's voice broke through his thoughts. He looked up to see Padme setting Luke down on the bed next to him.
"I'm fine. I'm just thinking some things through," he told her before picking Luke up and holding him close as Padme went to get Leia ready for the day.
Anakin looked at his son. He was so little and yet looked so much like Anakin with his blonde hair and blue eyes, and his presence shining in the Force like a beacon of light. Even after all these months, Anakin still couldn't get over how Luke was his and how something so pure could come from him.
The memory of his dream though popped into his mind, ruining the precious moment. He remembered all too clearly that horrible day when he discovered the truth about Palpatine and what happened afterwards. All the betrayals, suffering, and horrors he went through that night would stay in his mind for as long as he lived.
He could no longer rush head first into danger anymore. Over the last six months he had learned to be patient. Hopefully it would stick with him as he returned to Naboo. He would need it to find Ryoo's killer and prevent him from hurting anyone else. Without further ado, Anakin got out of his bed, still holding Luke, and went to get dressed.
000{{*}}000
For breakfast, Padme made scrambled nuna eggs and Twi'lek toast, Owen and Beru's favorite breakfast. She had gotten better at making Twi'lek toast, and the nuna eggs were easy enough to make. She and Anakin were hoping to break the news to them over breakfast. Owen would no doubt be furious, and he and Beru would try to talk them out of it. It was already decided. She tasted the food before she served it. The eggs had a bit too much salt in them and the toast may have cooked a tad longer than it should have, but they were alright.
Owen and Beru were surprised when Padme served them breakfast and a little worried.
"Are you alright, Padme?" Beru asked.
"I'll be alright?" Padme assured her.
Owen looked at her suspiciously and was about to ask her something when Anakin came in with the twins. Owen eyed Anakin, and Anakin briefly glanced at him as he put Luke and Leia in their high chairs.
A tense silence filled the dining room as everyone ate their breakfast. Anakin looked at Padme, silently asking her when they should break the news. Beru broke the silence by telling Padme that she did a good job with breakfast.
"Thanks Beru."
"So Anakin," Owen said, picking up his drink. "I was thinking that we go over to the Darklighters this morning and ask if we could borrow their-"
"Actually Owen, about that, there's something we need to talk to you guys about," Anakin interrupted.
"We're going to Naboo!" Padme quickly finished.
Beru dropped her fork, and Owen spat his drink out and coughed.
"Naboo?!" he exclaimed. Anakin and Padme both flinched as the twins began to whimper.
"Padme, I know you're sad about your grandmother, but that doesn't mean you should go rushing into danger and leave your children behind," Beru said to her.
"Exactly! I'm sorry about your grandmother Padme. I really am, but the two of you are the Empire's most wanted!" Owen shouted.
"We'll be alright, Owen," Anakin tried to assure him. "Before the Clone Wars, Obi-wan and I did a lot of investigations that had us smuggling ourselves to different planets."
"You're going to look for Ryoo's killer, aren't you," Beru stated instead of asked.
Anakin looked at Padme and she nodded. "Yes we are."
"Are you both insane?! Of the Emperor finds out, he will stop at nothing to capture you both and find the twins!" Owen told them.
Anakin glared at him. "And if we don't, his little assassin will find us anyway and kill us all while he's at it."
Owen and Beru sat back in alarm.
"It was no coincidence Ryoo was murdered at the same place Padme and I spent most of our time at before our exile, and with a lightsaber. He keeps it up, he'll find us."
"All we ask of you is to watch the twins until we come back," Padme said to them.
Owen and Beru sat quietly, shaken by Anakin and Padme's words.
"Please be careful," Beru begged.
000{{*}}000
As Padme gathered her things, Anakin grabbed what few items he had that would be useful. Since coming into exile, he had neglected to shave much and was now sporting a beard which should help with the disguise.
As a Jedi, he had carried few belongings on him. One of them being his lightsaber. He knew he wouldn't be able to use it much on Naboo without drawing attention to himself, but he felt the need to take it with him.
He also grabbed the fake identifications he had made a while ago for him and Padme just in case. Then he grabbed the blaster Owen had given to him a while ago and the traveling clothes Padme had saved for him.
He believed he had everything he needed now, but something was stopping him from leaving just yet. He felt a pull back to the chest where he had hidden his lightsaber under the bed. The only other thing he had hidden that was the Jedi holocron Madame Jocasta had given to him in the midst of the Purges.
He had wanted to give it to Obi-wan or Master Yoda, but both masters had refused, saying that it would be safer with him. He didn't know if it was the Force or not, but something was telling him to take it with him.
He shouldn't.
If he took it with him, he'd be endangering the lives of thousands of force-sensitives if he got caught. Still, the thing insisted on him taking it with him.
He sighed. "I hope I don't regret this."
He grabbed it and stuffed it in his pocket.
000{{*}}000
Meanwhile, Padme was packing stuff of her own: a couple of outfits, her blaster, some toiletries, and of course her jewelry. She could get away with wearing the japor snippet Anakin had made her, but she would have to leave the blue kyber crystal Obi-wan had given to her.
Months ago, when Luke and Leia had been born and before they went their separate ways, Obi-wan had given her and Anakin kyber crystals tied in a necklace as a gift to celebrate the twins' births. He told them that the crystals had belonged to Qui-gon Jinn and a fellow Jedi named Tahl whom Qui-gon had loved before she died. From what Obi-wan had told Padme, Tahl had been an amazing woman who despite her blindness never failed to do what she believed was right. Padme would have loved to have met her.
She didn't like taking the necklace off, but if something happened to her she would want her children to have something that belonged to her. Anakin had already taken his off, that use to belong to Qui-gon, with great reluctance and had placed it in the little chest under the bed.
The kyber crystals were still strong and powerful enough to be used in lightsabers. Padme hoped it would be a long time before her children would need to use them.
Putting the chest away, she grabbed her sack and headed out the door to say her goodbyes before she embarked on a whole new adventure.
000{{*}}000
Owen took them to Mos Eisley where they would find a pilot to smuggle them to Naboo. The place was like Mos Espa, filled with criminals, bounty hunters, and slavers Anakin thought with a scowl. Hopefully their cantinas were the same. It'd make things easier in finding a pilot.
Anakin and Padme entered the nearest cantina to the sound of music playing and the smell of smoke in the air.
The feeling of walking into the Gundarks' nest filled Padme as she walked into the place next to Anakin. The room was full of criminals that could easily kill her and Anakin. It reminded her of the time she went to Ziro the Hutt to help Anakin. Of course when she was in trouble she was able to call for help. Here, if anything went wrong, her blaster and Anakin would be her only defenses.
She was aware of some of the stares following her and Anakin. There were some females in the cantina, but they were either bounty hunters or…hired companions. She was suddenly glad that she and Anakin had changed into their traveling clothes. Hopefully everyone would leave them alone if they didn't know who they were.
She and Anakin sat down at the bar counter where Anakin spoke to the bartender in Huttese, ordering them drinks before continuing to speak to him, probably asking about whom they should hire to fly them to Naboo.
She checked her blaster and the sack of jewels she had hidden in her cloak. Both were still there. She took a sip of her drink and grimaced.
A human male who had been leering at her approached her with a lustful grin. "What's a doll like you doing in a place like this?"
"None of your business," Padme told him coldly.
"Ah, a woman with fire. I like that," he leered.
He leaned forward to touch her and she pulled away, bumping into Anakin. He turned around to look at her in concern, but he saw the man and glowered.
"Can I help you?"
"How much is she worth to you tonight?" the man asked, still grinning.
"Excuse me?!" Anakin and Padme asked in unison.
"You know, how much are you paying for her tonight? I bet I'm willing to pay more."
Padme's mouth dropped in horror when she realized he had thought her a prostitute.
He leaned forward again, and Padme cringed when she smelled all the alcohol on him. He grabbed her arm in a tight grip she couldn't break.
Anakin stood up, grabbed the man's hair, and slammed his head into the counter. Padme heard a crunch, and he fell back to reveal a bloody nose. Padme realized that Anakin had broken his nose. The two men that had been behind the man caught their friend. One of them, a hairy man pulled out his blaster. "No blasters!" the bartender shouted. Faster than Padme had ever seen him, Anakin grabbed the man's arm and snapped it back. The man howled in pain as he dropped his blaster.
The other man, a Twi'lek, pulled out a vibroblade and made a move to stab Anakin. Padme quickly grabbed her bottle and smashed it against his head. He stumbled forward and Anakin kicked him into a nearby table.
The hairy man tackled Anakin from behind, wrapping his arms around his neck. Anakin struggled before he ran backwards and rammed the man into the wall. He loosened his grip around Anakin's neck until Anakin head bunted him, causing him to let go completely.
Anakin turned around, only to be punched in the face by the leader who had gotten up. He knocked into a table before turning around and punching the man in the stomach. The leader keeled over, and Anakin grabbed him to throw him into his hairy budy.
For a minute, everything was quiet, minus the painful groans of the thugs. Anakin glared at the occupants staring at him and they quickly turned back to their drinks. The music resumed. Anakin kept his eyes on the thugs as the Twi-lek grabbed the two men and hurried out.
He turned back to Padme, his eyes softening a bit. "Are you alright?"
Padme nodded.
He turned back to the frightened bartender and his scowl returned. "I'll ask one more time: where do we find a smuggler to take us to Naboo?"
The bartender quickly pointed to a corner. "Talon Karrder."
Anakin and Padme turned to see a human male sitting at a table near the back. They walked over to him. He looked to be about the same age as Anakin with dark hair.
He grinned at them as they took a seat in front of him. "Talon Karrde of the Adventurer. So you're looking for a smuggler that'll take you to Naboo? Interesting display you guys made by the way," he said taking a sip of his ale.
"Indeed, we need one that will get us in and out of Naboo without being spotted by Imperials," Anakin answered.
"Not real friendly with Imperials are you?" Karrde raised an eyebrow.
"Are you?" Padme asked.
Karrde smirked humorlessly. "Business has been rough these last few months since the Empire's formation. Jorj Car'das hasn't been too thrilled."
The name seemed familiar to Anakin but it was unimportant at the moment.
"Can you get us in?" he asked.
"Mister, I've been taught by the very best. The Adventurer will get us in. For the right price of course, "Karrde added in.
Anakin and Padme exchanged a glance before Padme dug into her sack for a piece she knew would grab his attention. It was a lotus flower brooch with pink jewels in the petals she had gotten while she was queen. It was worth at least a thousand if you found the right buyer.
Karrde's eyes widened when he saw it, and Padme made certain no one else in the cantina could see it.
"Will this work for now? We'll give you five thousand worth of jewels when we get to Naboo and another seven thousand when you get us off without being tracked," Padme explained to him.
"And don't ask questions during the whole trip," Anakin added in.
"Thirteen thousand worth of jewels?" Karrde asked a little incredulously.
Anakin and Padme nodded.
"Alright you guys got yourselves a pilot and a ship. Docking bay 76 in one hour," he said, taking the brooch.
Anakin and Padme stood up and left the cantina to go through Padme's jewelry to make certain she really had enough for the passage and any other necessities they would run into. They found themselves a junkyard where they would have privacy and started going through all the jewels.
Over the years, Padme had acquired many jewels from family, friends, colleagues, and admirers. A good deal of them were gaudy jewelry she would never wear in public, but there were some that held sentimental value to her. Such was a pair of jaded earrings she had worn several times in her years as senator. They were teardrop dangles that had once belonged to her mother Jobal until she had given them to Padme when she entered the Senate.
A pang went through Padme as she remembered her mother and the rest of her family. How were they all dealing with Grandmamma Ryoo's death? She heard from the holonet that her grandmamma had taken the news of her disappearance hard, disappearing to Varykino for months, but what about the rest of her family? Was her mother worried sick? Was her father feeling guilty for all the harsh things he said to her? Were Sola and Darred trying to stay strong for everyone's sakes? And were little Ryoo and Pooja wondering where their Aunt Padme could be? She had no way of knowing.
"Padme?" Anakin's voice jerked her from her thoughts. She looked upto see him looking at her in concern.
Making a quick decision, she put the jaded earrings on, covering them a bit with her hair and pulling her hood up more. Anakin didn't say anything, just finished setting the rest of the jewelry out. They estimated about thirty thousand credits worth of jewelry. It did surprise Padme a little that she managed to take so many when she left her apartment at Republica 500. They had more than enough. They gathered it all up back into Padme's sack and headed to Docking bay 76 to meet with Karrde.
Their journey had begun.
000{{*}}000
Naboo; 66 bby
Padme had been as surprised as Ryoo when Winama and her family had arrived to their village.
Originally from here as well, Winama had been best friends with Ryoo until her father died and she and her mother left their village for Theed to find ways to support themselves. Winama had volunteered at the Refugee Relief Movement where she met and fell in love with rising star Luke Naberrie. They had married and had a son Ruwee. Winama and Ryoo had kept in touch over the years, especially when Padme started going to the Legislative Youth Program. In her spare time, Padme would pay visits to the Naberries and had become a good friend to them as well.
Now, they had gathered in the parlor. Ruwee was trying to interest Jobal in a game of Dejarik near the window, while Padme sat next to Ryoo as she served them all tea. Mammy had gone into the kitchen to work on lunch, and Padme noticed that Madame Thule and her father were nowhere to be found. While Padme was relieved that she wouldn't have to be subjected to the woman's condescending remarks, she worried about her father. It seemed that the funeral had cemented the fact that his wife was really gone.
"I'm sorry we missed the funeral," Winama gently spoke. "The soldiers had just removed the quarantine this morning."
"It's alright. I'm glad you're here now," Ryoo said.
An awkward silence passed.
Padme glanced over at Luke. He looked a little awkward, not knowing how to comfort people who lost loved ones that he never met.
"How are things at court?" Padme asked him. Luke was a member of the Queen's advisory council and was said to be the next governor of Naboo next year as long as Bon Tapalo didn't sway the vote.
Luke looked at Padme. "So far the Queen remains undecided to the business proposal between Naboo and the Trade Federation. Tapalo has been pressing the council and the public to vote for it," he explained to her.
Padme didn't trust the Trade Federation. They were a group of spineless beings who profited off the misery and suffering of people in wars. She didn't trust Bon Tapalo either. He was an ambitious man and it was said that within a year he would rise up to a higher office.
"What does Reggie Costil say about all this?" she asked.
"He has been trying to degrade Tapalo and persuade the Queen out of making a deal with the help of Palpatine," Luke answered.
"I've heard that Cosinga Palpatine has been having an affair with Costil's sister, is that true? I thought they were related," Ryoo asked.
"By extended marriage," Winama clarified, "Palpatine's wife's niece is married to the Costils' older brother."
"Palpatine must be in his fifties. He's old enough to be Regina Costil's father," Padme said in surprise.
Luke shook his head sadly at her. "Things are very complicated when you're older, Padme. Especially in the political world."
"So Costil and Palpatine are using their relationships with Regina to gain themselves influence in court," Padme stated. She didn't know whether to despise Regina for getting involved with an older and married man, or pity her for being a political pawn.
She didn't like Tapalo, but she certainly didn't like Costil nor Palpatine. Both of them were corrupt and didn't really care about the Naboo. It was one of those dilemmas in politics when a person had to choose the lesser evil. The thing was though, Padme couldn't tell which the lesser evil was.
She didn't realized that they had lapsed into silence, until Winama spoke to her again. "I'm sorry. What was that Winama?"
Winama repeated her question, "I asked, 'Are you going back to the Legislative Youth Program?'"
Padme had thought about it as she recovered from her illness and realized that her mother would have wanted her to continue her education. "Yes. I commed my professor three days ago. He was very understanding when he heard about what had happened here, and said that he would send over my assignments and give me a week to catch up on my studies."
"I'm glad," Winama nodded. "You're always welcomed at our house, and Luke could help you with your studies if you need it."
"Thank you, Winama," Padme said.
Winama then turned to Ryoo. "I'm sorry about Jon and Hane, but do you have any means of providing for yourself and Jobal now?"
Padme looked over at Jobal. A smile appeared on the little girl's face as she destroyed one of Ruwee's holopieces. She knew Ryoo didn't want to think about it right now, but Winama had a point. Before the Plague, Ryoo had just been an ordinary housewife taking care of Jobal, running the household, and dealing with her mother-in-law while Jon's job at the mines provided everything they needed. Now, it was up to Ryoo to provide for her daughter.
Ryoo shook her head. "Before I married Jon and got pregnant with Jobal, I was majoring in business. But I have to have someone watch Jobal and have means of providing for us until I get my business degree."
"How close were you to getting your degree?" Luke asked.
"About a year," Ryoo answered.
Winama and Luke looked at each other for a moment.
"How about you come and work at my fashion store until you get your degree? Luke knows of a professor offering evening courses next semester on business that should help you out," Winama suggested.
Padme and Ryoo looked at her in surprise.
"In Theed? But where would live?" Ryoo asked.
"At our house, and no, you three would not be a burden. Padme could continue her studies, you Ryoo would have a way of providing for your family, and Jobal would have a chance of a good education opened for her. Just think about it."
Later that night, Padme found Ryoo pacing in front of the fire in her nightgown. It was mid-autumn, and soon it would be winter.
"How's Papa and Nare?" Padme asked.
"Nare went back to her home. Poor woman. I almost feel sorry for her," Ryoo said as she stopped in front of the window facing their garden out back. "And I found Papa wandering in the garden. I had to bring him in and have Mammy give him an herbal drink to help him sleep."
Ryoo sighed and Padme felt bad for her. When she was young, Padme had always looked up to her older sister. She was beautiful, kind, and everyone loved her. Padme had never seen her sister look so lost.
"You're thinking about Winama's offer, aren't you," Padme stated instead of asked. "What's the problem?"
"I don't know when or if Papa will snap out of his funk. Mama's death obviously shook him more than he thought it would. I don't want to leave him all alone, and I can't ask you to drop out of the program. Nare won't keep an eye on him, and Mammy is getting too old to be taking care of anyone," Ryoo explained as she leaned against the window.
"But if you don't find work, how will you take care of Jobal" Padme asked.
Ryoo sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "I don't know."
"You'll take Winama's offer and move to Theed and finish your schooling."
Padme and Ryoo both turned to see Mammy standing in the doorway in her dressing gown, and her gray hair in a long braid.
"Mammy-" Ryoo tried to say, but Mammy spoke up. "Don't you dare say I'm too old to be any help Ryoo Thule because if you do, I will box your ears even if you are a grown woman with a kid of your own." Ryoo closed her mouth as if she was the same age as her young daughter.
"I can take care of your Papa because I was the same way after my husband died before your parents took me in to help raise you girls. It'll take time and some reminding for to know that he's still breathing and he has a family that still needs him. He would want you Ryoo Petal to do what's best for Little Jojo and yourself, and he would want you Little Pixie to continue your studies," Mammy told the two sisters.
Padme took a step forward toward Mammy. "You sure you and Papa will be alright?" she asked gently.
Mammy smiled at her. "Little Pixie, if I can handle you in your toddler years and Ryoo Petal as a teenager, I can handle a grown man."
Padme looked at Ryoo and saw the look of defeat but gratitude to know that Mammy had won. They were all going to Theed.
000{{*}}000
There you are. I hope you all liked it. I have the next chapter written and hopefully will have it typed and published either later this week or early next week. Thank you all. Keep favoring and reviewing. It encourages me.