Chapter 1 - Radio Silence

A/N: What if Anakin grew under the Sith ideology of personal indulgence, rather than the collectivist ideology of the Jedi? What does it mean to be free? Can anyone be free? What separates those who are, and those who are not?

"Hey, Ani! You're finally awake".

Slowly, Anakin's senses returned; his thoughts were a confused jumble. So disoriented was he that the first thing that hit him was a nauseating, salty smell mixed with stale air and not the voice speaking to him.

The second thing Anakin noticed was several loud clangs like metal banging on metal and the sudden drop in background noise, as if dozens of beings had all stopped speaking at once.
"Shut up back there!" A muffled voice yelled out as if separated by a barrier

"What the-"

"Not the time for your loudmouth Ani" Anakin strained his ears, struggling to hear the rest of what the voice said "Trust me, you don't want to upset this sleemo."

"Yea Ani, keep it down, just whisper for now." a second voice chimes in, even softer than the first.

Anakin squinted in the dim light. "Kitster…Wald?" Anakin asked, his voice mixed with confusion and rising hope. "Is that you guys?"

Anakin now recognized the first voice as his Kitster's. "Do you know anyone else whose voice is as angelic as mine?" Kitster said.

"You really thought you'd get to just go play hero and ditch us on that dustball Ani" Wald said. "Come on, you should know things will never be that easy."

By now—and after much rubbing of his eyes—Anakin could make out the small smiles of his friends.

Wald's typical bald Rodian head, egg sized orb like eyes the colour of the night sky and rough green leathery skin a vastly different image from Kitster's dark skin, brown eyes that always narrowed like he was about to wink after telling a joke and dark coloured bowl of a haircut.

Anakin tried to sit up and a wave of dizziness hit, and left him falling back against the cold durasteel floor. He groaned, feeling the room spin.

"Take it easy Ani," Kitster said. "You may have stones for brains, but you still took a pretty nasty hit from that Zygerrian."

Anakin held back a gag as he lay there. His memories rushing back to him as a nightmare come true. He frowned and rubbed his hand against his head as he tried to put together the shattered fragments that had been his dreams.

Becoming a Jedi Knight, freeing his mom. Now just as impossible as leaving Tatooine had been to him his entire childhood.

"Really thought you were going to be some heroic Jedi, come back and free all of us huh?" Kitster said, looking at him with a strange look in his eyes. "Guess the galaxy had other plans for you, Ani."

Anakin's eyes, adjusting to the dim light of their prison, focused on his friends' faces. Wald was looking at him with what Anakin could only call pity. Which as much as it peeved him, made sense to Anakin.

Kitster still had that strange look in his eyes, and his mouth twitched as if he was about to say something. But right as Anakin thought he was going to say something, Kitster's eyes cleared and he shot Anakin a smirk.

…That was weird. Anakin thought.

"About that deal with-–" Wald said, his voice low. "That Master Jedi, what was his name?"

"Qui-Gon Jinn," Anakin muttered, the name tasting like ash in his mouth.

"Yea, him," Wald continued. "You said he was going to free you, make you a Jedi. What happened?"

Anakin felt a surge of disappointment. "He tried," he said. "He said I was special, that I had…midcalorians, or whatever they are."

"But he didn't free you," Kitster interjected, his typically playful tone replaced by something else.

"No," Anakin said, sitting upright. "We won our bet with Watto…but he refused to accept it. He said it was a Jedi trick, that the Hutts would side with him over 'Jedi scum' like Qui-Gon."

Anakin took advantage of the following lapse of silence to take in his surroundings. They were crammed into what looked like a cargo hold of a ship, about the size of one of Mos Espa's cantinas, dim lights cast long shadows and the quiet moans and whispers of dozens of other slaves reached his ears. Mats were strewn across the floor, far too few for each slave to have one.

Which made it even stranger that all of the mats in one corner were empty. All except one with a puddle from some sort of leak on the ship pooled around it that was occupied by a sleeping reptilian Trandoshan slave.

Wait…not a sleeping slave.

Anakin's heart skipped a beat as he realized the oil seemed to be emanating from what could only be a badly hurt, or freshly dead slave.

"W-what happened to him?" Anakin asked, hating his initial stutter. He was tougher than some sort of soft skinned Alderanian. He'd seen plenty of violence in Mos Espa, but never had anybody been so callously left to bleed out like that.

Not even looking in the direction of Anakin's gaze Kitster sighed. "That guard who yelled at us…he had a problem with the way that 'good for nothing skug' was looking at him." Looking down, Kitster continued. "Poor lizard had his eyes looking down the whole time".

"We think the guard just wanted to make a point," Wald added. "Show us that we're expendable so we don't try anything while we don't have any transmitters."

Anakin froze.

"No, Ani." Kitster said a pleading note in his voice.

"But—"

"What is it Kit?" Wald asked, a frown marring his face.

"Ani wants to die"

"No, I want to live," Anakin said through clenched teeth. "Our masters always told us how lucky we were to be owned by them. You've heard what animals like the Zygerrians do to us."

Kitster stared at him, eyes wide before blinking and the corners of his mouth twitched up. While Wald stared back and forth between his two friends.

"You know, Ani, for someone who's always saying they'd be such a good pilot, you sure seem to have a knack for wanting to crash and burn." Kitster said mockingly.

"You know we have to try," Anakin said, and he meant it. They would never get another chance if they got implanted with transmitters again and Anakin knew it.

"Well what brilliant idea do you have then?" Kitster asked.

…

…

Kitster stared at him, eyes wide once again. "Wow," he said, his voice practically dripping with disbelief. "All that tough guy talk and you don't even have the faintest idea on how we could even begin to escape."

"Better than being a willing slave like you" Anakin shot back. "You always were the biggest coward amongst us, but now you're acting lower than a womp rat."

Kitster jerked back as if struck and stared at Anakin with narrowed eyes.

"I think I have an idea" Wald cut in, saving Anakin from what would have been undoubtedly vicious return fire.

Anakin and Kitster both froze, Anakin almost didn't believe he heard him correctly. Only Walds slowly growing smile convinced him.

In that moment Anakin felt a heat of intensity surge within. It was more than hope— it was a searing resolve, reigniting a dream that he'd held onto since childhood. A dream that had been nearly doused after a decade of growing up in slavery and having his sole chance at achieving it recently ripped from him.

I can be free

Anakin shot a smirk at Kitster "I knew we could do it"

"You didn't know a bantha from a rancor you nerfherder" But the wide toothy smile Kitster had was evidence enough that even he was beginning to have hope.

They both knew that Wald wasn't one for flights of fantasy.

"Well come on then, how're we getting out Wald?" Kitster asked.

"Well there's a lot of ifs to it, and a fair few maybes," Wald began, looking dead serious. "But these are Zygerrian slavers we're talking about."

Wald looked at Anakin then Kitster before sighing. "Right, you two wouldn't know."

"Know what." Anakin said, a red tinge to his cheeks forming.

"I've heard a fair few spacers in Zonks Cantina talk about them, Zygerrians used to have this massive slave empire apparently," Wals began. "Eventually the republic put a stop to it and have been scanning their ships for imported slave tech such as transmitters ever since."

"Which explains why they took out our transmitters but I don't see how exactly this helps us." Anakin said.

"You guys see that vent above the Trandoshan?" Wald pointed over to the unfortunate slave. "It's practically falling off, if one of us could get up there they could get out of this sithspit room."

"Oh yeah, so we can be up in the vents…instead of down here" Kitster said. "Wait I'm lost, how's that gonna help us?"

"No no, he's right. If one of us can reach the cockpit we can signal the republic security ship for help" The excitement in Anakin's voice was almost tangible. This was a plan he could work with.

"Great plan, Anakin, really great," Kitster said. "Except for the tiny detail where the vent is about 10 feet up. Got a jetpack handy I don't know about?"

Anakin couldn't hold back the small laugh that broke out and swiftly squashed it. "We might not have a jetpack Kitster, but who needs to be a mandalorian when we have our very tall friend there," he said, pointing towards the Trandoshan.

Kitster's eyes followed Anakins finger, and realization widened his eyes. "You're not serious."

"Oh, but I am," Anakin replied with a confidence that he could see beginning to infect his slowly smiling friend. "If you and Wald can prop him up against the wall, and hold him steady. I can use him as a ladder to reach the vent."

While the idea was quite grim, it was also practical. A testament that his friends found themself agreeing to as both Wald and Kitster began to nod.

"Quickly now, do it," The new voice would have had Anakin jump out of his skin if it wasn't for the hand now clamped on his shoulder.

Turning his head up Anakin looked into the yellow eyes of a Zabrak slave who's red skin was marred with black tattoos all across his face. His hand firm on his shoulder, stopping him from jumping away. He could feel the Zabraks's breath, warm and quick.

"You're not as quiet as you think," the Zabrak whispered, his eyes darting around the room. "The other slaves have heard you, they'll position themselves to keep you out of sight."

Anakin looked around and indeed nearly every slave that could, was getting up and placing themselves around the vent. Shielding Anakin and his friends from sight of the window on the sole cargo hold door.

"Why are you helping us?" Anakin asked.

"Every sentient being has chains they wish to break." The Zabrak looked at him, eyes burning with such intensity that Anakin almost thought he saw them turn red. "Now go, Anakin. Break your chains"

"Thank yo—" Anakin froze "How'd you know my name?"

The Zabrak merely stood and joined the other slaves, ignoring Anakin.

Anakin turned back to Kitster and Wald who were looking back in shocked silence.

"We have to be quick, and we have to be silent," Anakin said, his voice firm. "We'll figure out that problem later."

Kitster and Wald exchanged a quick, apprehensive glance before nodding.

"Sure thing Ani" Kitster said.

It was now or never. They moved towards the Trandoshan, their actions stiff and jerky, with fear or determination they didn't know.

Reaching the Trandoshan Anakin watched as Wald and Kitster gingerly positioned themselves on either side of the body. They knelt down, each hooking an arm around one his shoulders.

"Hey, big guy, we need your help," Kitster said, his voice surprisingly gentle. "Please don't haunt us."

"On three?" Wald asked.

"I'll count." Kitster said "One...two…three"

With a grunt Kitster began lifting whilst on the other side Wald did the same. Hoisting the Trandoshan against the wall, and then up on its feet where they held him with shaking arms.

Anakin prepared to climb, he took a moment to look at the faces of his friends. Taking in their belief in him, and his own trust in them. He took a deep breath.

"Anakin, does it really look like you have time to be dramatic?" Kitster's face was purple and his eyes were bulging as he spoke.

"I'll see you guys on the other side."

Anakin took another deep breath. As deep as he could at least, with the walls pressed as tightly against him as they were, he could barely draw a full breath without feeling pressure against his ribs.

Finishing his moment of rest he crawled forward, the sound of his own breathing loud and echoing back in the confined space.

The ship's ventilations systems were formed like a maze, cross sections and seemingly random side vents were everywhere.

Anakin had no idea how many times he had taken a turn down a dead end or gotten stuck in a repetitive loop before realizing he was going in circles. His anger was mounting with every delay to find the cockpit, his freedom, his friend's freedom and the freedom of every slave on the ship depended on him.

"Hnggg" Anakin caught himself before he smacked his face into the flooring of the vent. It felt like the ship had suddenly stopped for a split second before continuing. That could only mean one thing. Anakin was out of time.

Any second now the ship could be docked by a Republic ship and Anakin wouldn't be remotely ready.

He needed to hurry, his heart was racing as if too count down his remaining time. Anakin moved to continue his frantic search for the cockpit when he paused.

Straining his ears for a moment, he listened.

Yes there it is, it was faint, but he heard it—the muffled sound of yelling echoed through the labyrinth of metal. It wasn't much, but it was the only lead he had. With that decided, Anakin began crawling forward and turned left down a vent, careful to make sure the yelling was getting louder and not quieter.

It was almost unbearably sufferable for Anakin, sweat dripped down his forehead into his eyes, his breaths were ragged and sharp.

It was only the thought of what awaited him and his friends if he succeeded that pushed him on.

He was getting closer, the voices were growing louder, clearer. He could make out the tone—Furious if Anakin had to describe it. Which boded well for Anakin, anything that was a problem for the slavers could only be a positive for Anakin's cause.

Or so he hoped.

It was just around the next left turn, Anakin knew it. On he went moving past an offshoot to the right and a opening upwards to another level of vents until finally, he was there.

"Damn Kriffers think they can steal from us!"

A grate sat in front of him where he could hear the voice coming from.

"Were you serious about complaining to the Queen sir?" Another voice could be heard asking.

"No…nothing we can do about it. They are tasked with an in person inspection every three transport cycles" The first voice—seemingly the captain, responded. "They'll have their way. We'll let them aboard."

Anakin would have jumped with joy if he could. It seemed the Republic inspectors were insisting upon boarding.

"They're cleared for boarding and are on the way sir"

"Good, let's go down and meet them there, why don't we." The captain said.

Anakin listened as their boots clicked against the metallic floor as they made their way out and the door hissed as it opened—and then closed.

Perfect

With the two gone Anakin could jump down, get to the comm station and alert whoever was left on the Republic ship and they could warn the inspectors. Everything was working out Wizard in Anakin's humble opinion.

It took one…two…three kicks before the lower bolts of the vent popped out and Anakin could push himself out of the vent.

Anakin wished he could call his exit graceful, but honestly considered himself lucky he didn't fall face first and only ended up on his back after his knees gave out under him.

He laid there a moment before hoisting himself up, eager to get a move on with his new life as a free person.

Making his way over to the ships control station he saw all manners of knobs, switches and buttons. Some of which he could guess at their function, others…not so much.

There we go

Anakin had found the comms and now rescue was just a matter of time after he—

"Kriff"

his mom would've scolded him if she heard him ever speak in such a manner, but Anakin couldn't help it. The comms were passcode protected and Anakin, though a talented mechanic, didn't have the foggiest clue on splicing.

Paranoid sleemos. Anakin thought. Now what?

A/N: Well there it is. Let me know how it is and how I can improve my technical skills!