Chapter 3

Sabé is flying the ship as a contrast to Eirtaé doing so earlier. Anakin couldn't help it. He has to touch the buttons in curiosity as he has been on planet long than he remembers, despite knowing how to pilot.

The freighter shifts to the side.

Sabé scowls at him briefly before returning her attention to the viewport.

Anakin touches another button which causes the ship to shudder briefly...

"Stop touching things," Sabé orders, keeping her attention to the sky.

Anakin pouts before grinning as he gets a idea. He touches another button which causes the light to go bright in the cockpit.

Sabé lifts him up, causing the boy to giggle slightly, and she doesn't know what to do from here.

"How old are you again?" Sabé asks in a chiding tone.

"I think I'm nine," he replies, mirth in his voice.

Sabé shakes her head and put him back on the seat. "Well, the next time you touch buttons, I'll..." What can she do to be honest? For Naboo's sake, she doesn't have time for this!

Sabé sighs. "Well, you would be in trouble."

Sabé places Anakin back on the seat and continues flying, trying to keep her irritation from showing.

Anakin remembers his life on Tatooine. He remembers being dragged to Watto's quarters and beaten mercilessly for overstepping his place. Out of all the slaves, he has always been the fighter, someone who made most of the slavers stops short before they would ever dare to touch him as they touch the females.

They would hurt him in other ways, however, namely by the means of his mother. Gardulla's lackeys... they were separating his mother from him and dragging her to the back. He remembers hearing her cry out, her shouts... They were hurting her... All of them...

He could feel it...

Just as he feels a hand on his back, causing him to flip around, fear in his eyes. For a second, he thinks about the slavers... them somehow sneaking into the palace and about to take him back...

When Anakin blinks once more, Rabé is standing in front of him.

She smirks. "I scared you, huh?"

"No!" Anakin blushes. Rabé is very bright...

Rabé's gentle smile makes him feel safe around her just like his mother. He can trust her.

"Dinner's ready." Rabé quips, folding her arms across her chest. "You best get to eating. Some of us are hoggers concerning food."

Anakin's gaze follows the table, his eyes going wide at the amazement of it all. Eirtaé is already sitting in a seat, picking up the components she has with either her fork or her hand, and eating them as if her life depends on them. She is quickly moving onto the rest like nothing else matters, some stain on her lips now, and something within him has to laugh.

However, Yané is scowling at her, disapproval crystal clear across her expression. "Hey!" She shouts, slapping her hand away from the food on the table. "Save some for the rest of us! You eat like a pig!"

"It isn't my fault you lot knows how to cook in a way that my mouth is drooling before I devour the delicious food! It's been a long day at electronics!" Eirtaé shoots back a response. Anakin hardly met her and only remembers her because she is the only blonde handmaiden. "Now let me eat in peace please!"

The food lay out before them making his stomach growl. He is used to soup - bread if they are lucky, and other rations such as even bugs of all types. He had thought here would have been like that too when he first came here, but now what he finds is something that seems to come from Tatooine's legends.

Suffice to say, Anakin's stomach is growling loudly, making him resisting to reach out and grasping that area. The scent of the food is making him feel like jumping onto the table and eating all of it. However, he fights back the urge, knowing that making such a mistake would result in him receiving a non-pleasurable punishment.

Would it?

Anakin is receiving all this nice shelter, condition, and being treated so... well he doesn't know the terms. The conditions of slaves under these circumstances were most easily grouped into the experiences of field slaves and house slaves. The vast majority of plantation slaves labored in the fields, while a select few worked at domestic and vocational duties in and around the owners' houses. Each situation brought its own set of demands, hazards, and perks regarding not only labor, but also the quality of food, clothing, and shelter received.

Weekly food rations - usually corn meal, lard, some meat, molasses, peas, greens, and flour - were distributed every now and then. Vegetable patches or gardens, if permitted by the owner, supplied fresh produce to add to the rations. Morning meals were prepared and consumed at daybreak in the slaves' cabins. The day's other meals were usually prepared in a central cookhouse by an elderly man or woman no longer capable of strenuous labor in the field. The peas, the beans, the turnips, the potatoes, all seasoned up with meats and sometimes a ham bone, were cooked in a big iron kettle, and when meal time come they all gathered around the pot for a-plenty of helpings! This took place at noon, or whenever the field slaves were given a break from work. At the day's end, some semblance of family dinner would be prepared by a wife or mother in individual cabins. The diets, high in fat and starch, were not nutritionally sound and could lead to ailments, including scurvy and rickets. Enslaved people in all regions and time periods often did not have enough to eat; some resorted to stealing food from the master. House slaves could slip food from leftovers in the kitchen, but had to be very careful not to get caught, for harsh punishments awaited such an offense.

"How about the both of you allow Anakin something to eat, kids?" Rabé asks in a playful manner, pushing the kid along. All eyes turn to him, making him feel smaller than he actually is.

Anakin fudges nervously.

"Of course; he is the only one who has an excuse to stuff his face with food!" Yané replies, glaring at her blonde woman companion. "Not someone who continues to try to take food off my tray!"

Eirtaé smirks almost devilishly. "Do you want to discuss it in the field?"

Yané stands from her seat and cracks her knuckles. "Try me anytime..."

"Both of you! Please! There's a child here!" Saché shouts, appearing amused herself.

Yané and Eirtaé sit back in their seats, giving each other glares that are not recognizable, filling Anakin with something within his chest. He has a slight fear that they are going to hurt one another. He never like the thought of people getting hurt. If it was up to him, no one would ever get hurt.

Rabé rolls her eyes. "You both are toddlers, you know that?"

Rabé grabs him and sits him down on a seat, not sure if he is going to be able to keep his stomach under control any longer. The food is overladen with mysterious food... meat, rice, and beans. His mother always advised him that some food out there in the galaxy is not good for him, but right now Anakin finds himself unable to care.

Rabé grabs his plate. He wonders what she is doing and what she is placing on his tray, but Anakin finds it hard to stay patient with all the food in front of him. When his plate is returned to him; he finds that he has a mixture of everything - he doesn't know what to call the food - but there is meat, some rice, seasoned stuffing, and greens.

Anakin has been taught how to eat properly by his mother. He knows that disrespect is never tolerated especially at the table. She has raised him like that.

Anakin sticks his spoon and fork in repeatedly. He eats until his belly feels about ready to burst. And then Rabé fills his plate up again, and he eats some more.

He can see them watching him with close eyes, and Anakin can't help but feel as if they are trying to live up to his appeasement. Anakin isn't a slaver, a scum who would try to use someone's loyalty for him against their own will, especially since they have been nicer to him when the Jedi turned him away. Maybe they are also being overprotective because they all know about his slavery past.

Anakin can tell his stomach is beginning to hurt, but he doesn't want to stop. He cannot stop. The thought of one of them bringing a paddle down on him for not living up to their expectations... No... They wouldn't do that! Would they?!

Anakin knows better than to find out, but it just feels weird, is all; eating so much all at once, on plates that cost way more than him, drinking sparkling orange liquid which tastes so kriffing good! By the suns of Tatooine, his mouth wants more! His appetite craves more of all of it! The food and drink are something he doesn't ever want to let go of. His mother knows how to cook but she couldn't ever meet up to the people of Naboo's expectations, at least not unless she is taught in doing so.

"I think we are ready for dessert," Rabé announces whereas Sabé rolls her eyes but nod. Anakin wants to tell them but is scared they would lash out at him. All this hard work is not going to be wasted as long as he's concerned.

But now there's a huge slice of ice cream sitting in front of them all, reminding him of Mom spooning the whole pot of unfamiliar food in front of him.

"Oh, kriff this! Rabé! I'm in love with you!" Eirtaé shouts, making all the handmaidens let out a rare chuckle, her mouth watering and desiring for more.

Rabé pats her head in a playful manner. "You are such a kid, you know that?"

Anakin remembers being on Tatooine some many suns ago, when he and his mother was given some food similar that he still doesn't know what it was called. Him, pleading with his eyes for her to take most for herself, and Mom staring back at him, face heavy and stony in that way she knew always terrified him because he couldn't bare to see her so tired.

Until at last, the fatigue of the day's work will be too overwhelming for him, and he'd succumbed and forces the food in his mouth, undignified. Snarling loudly all alone so that he couldn't hear the weary, proud sigh that came from Mom's lips as she observed him. He felt immediate remorse for taking away food that his mother deserved, but she did give him a gentle smile, a gesture which he surely did not deserve.

He can still feel the old wound building up. She has always been someone who was so kind and decently raised him. Now she has been ripped away from him, forever, because she had died along with the other slaves. She has fought endlessly to sustain stability, but eventually her body shut down.

What will Mom think if she could see him now in the presence of such food? What would she say if he is too tired to eat? How to say he couldn't take another bite when he is fragile and it hurts to eat for the first time in his life? When right now, back on Tatooine, slaves are probably not eating anything.

He picks up the fork and uses it to its full capabilities, ignoring the amused looks coming from his new friends.

Sabé enters the kitchen, sit down, and grab her own plate, beginning to eat.

"Hey, Ani, have you ever had a family?" Eirtaé asks.

Anakin thinks of Mom and grimaces. "No."

"Well, we as a family likes to discuss life," Eirtaé replies, arching her eyebrow to Anakin. "So what about your family? Do you have one?"

Anakin's eyes clamps shut as he stops shoving more of the food in his mouth. "I had only my mom back on Tatooine. Most of us slaves only had one parent if we were fortunate enough."

Sabé admits. "You are a very welcoming individual to be around."

"I guess."

Quiet fills the chambers until Anakin's vision gives out and he feels himself being lifted from the table.

Anakin finds himself trapped in an endless void, his eyes searching for someone or something, but there is nothing there. It is scary to be by himself, for the darkness seems to always have some sort of shadows lurking from within them.

"Hello!" Anakin exclaims, as always wishing to rush to his mother for comfort. She always knows what to say after the slavers' beatings, after the failures in the pod races, and after a long tiresome day of work. He would never go to someone else for things he goes to her for.

Upon not receiving an answer, the boy calls out for the second most important person in his life. He hopes for a response this time. He doesn't like this loneliness.

"Hello!"

Anakin is only wrapping his arms around himself instinctively when he doesn't receive a response. He feels exposed and so small in the world around him.

"Hello!"

Anakin feels the wind rushing about. Something dark is heading in his direction, seconds away from seizing him as the slavers have done before those harsh beatings, but this brush of darkness is different from those times.

More...

It is tenser.

"Creepy," Anakin states, still walking after the endless void.

At that moment, rapid breathing makes itself known, filling him with shivers as well as deep source of power, beating constantly back in his ears.

Something burns from within him, that swallowing darkness returning, a hand outstretching from that said darkness, some unrecognizable power flickering from his hand.

Several voices make themselves known...

By the time Anakin awakens, he feels his head colliding with the surface. The pounding in his head as well as the startling darkness afraid. He rubs his hand through his throat, feeling the ache vibrating from that spot.

Where is he?

For a moment, Anakin feels like he is imprisoned in one of the slaves' quarters. He feels like Watto is going to walk in and punish him severely for remaining in the dreaming world, beating him to the point where he could barely walk, and him having to force himself not to cry.

Anakin feels like he is going to be led out with the other slaves' children. He remembers being ripped from his mother's arms multiple times and mentally pleading for the slavers not to choose him. Luckily, it was never him...

He always was able to return to his mother's safe arms where she would embrace him the moment they got home, pretending that everything was okay and that they would never be separated one day. Every day, they feared that they were going to never see each other again, and all embraces weren't ever taken lightly by either of them.

When Anakin is able to stand, he looks around only to see that he is in some sort of quarters. The quarters are better decorated than the ones on Tatooine even when it is almost empty. The bed is actually comfortable and the pillows just as so, the sheets actually covering him...

But even when it is, he still feels scared. He doesn't like ever being alone in a place he doesn't know. Still, the uniqueness of the room still is something that draws his attention. The amount and quality of furniture, cooking utensils, and other household amenities found in slave quarters varied depending on the size of the plantation, the largesse of the owners, and the status of individual slaves. Most slaves' cabins would have been outfitted with pallets for the adults to sleep on—children often slept on the floor—and perhaps wooden boxes or stools for sitting. There might be some rudimentary utensils used for cooking, and bowls or gourds from which to eat. Wooden buckets were used to carry water for cooking, drinking, and bathing. Some slaves were fortunate enough to acquire castoffs from their masters, and the lucky ones has unearthly dishes of various materials, glassware, and pewter utensils.

Nonetheless, none of them are ever really lucky, all suffering in one way or another.

Anakin opens the door nervously, naturally looking for his mother, only to see that he is in the palace. He remembers the day's events that forced him to be here instead of back home with his mother.

He walks on his tiptoes, not wanting to start another scene as he did earlier. Anakin feels a sensation in his head guiding him to a certain destination, leading him down corridors and hallways, until he, at last, opens a door. He can see the ladies in their own bed, slowly closing the door, and walking up to Sabé, pressing his hand against her cheek.

Once, he would have never touched his Master, but Anakin feels safe around her. She is definitely not happy with his presence, but he feels something drawing him to her.

"Sabé? Sabé? Sabé? Are you awake?" While he hopes she isn't furious over being awakened from her sleep, Anakin is used to it especially since slaves are not allowed to awake their masters. Some slaves do get in very big trouble.

"Now I am," Sabé replies, sounding slightly irritated. "Ani, go lay down in the guest quarters. We tried to make it suitable for you as much as possible."

"You don't understand," he whimpers. "I had a bad dream."

By now, his face breaks into pain and fear, making her feel a great trace of guilt for her irritation initially. He is not allowed to waste water. Sabé pulls him in, awkwardly comforting him by giving him affection. She covers them with a blanket, as if to remind him that she's here.

"Don't cry; little engineer, please don't cry." Sabé says, running her hands through his hair before doing something either never thought she would do. She kisses him on the cheeks, remembering a distant memory of receiving the same affectionate. "You're safe here."

Anakin untangles himself from her embrace and snuggles up against her chest, and the remaining tears he has left are surfacing themselves onto her. Sabé has to admit he is strangely adorable.

"This is only for one night, Ani," Sabé continues, feeling him wrapping her arms around him and cuddling up against her embrace. She knows trying to explain this to the rest in the morning is going to be an amusing subject for the rest of the ladies, but for now, she would have to be quiet.

Anakin nods, slightly eagerly. "Sure."

One night wouldn't hurt - just one night.

Suffice to say, that night has been the best sleep that both had for years.