Chapter 5: New Friendships

In Tharpas' bubble house, little Sheev Palpatine was cornered in the back of a room, scared.

He felt so terrified and scared, his body was stiff and his mind clouded with fear, and he couldn't stop shaking or speaking. He felt desperately alone and vulnerable, not knowing what was going to happen next.

Tharpas approached Palpatine gently. "Don't be afraid little one, where do you live? Can you at least tell me your name?" he asked with concern.

But Palpatine was too scared and shaking to answer. His lips were static and frozen. He couldn't even raise his voice or look him in the eyes, he was petrified by the absolute fear that invaded him.

"You have nothing to fear, I won't hurt you," Tharpas said and slowly and carefully approached Sheev, observing the child with concern and kindness. I looked at him, still shaking and unable to move, but a hint of confidence was beginning to form in his eyes.

When Tharpas touched his head he noticed the boy's high temperature and felt great concern. He decided that he could not leave him alone in that state and began to care for him.

He laid the little boy down on his bed and gave him some very sour medicine, but it made him feel much better little by little. Despite his initial state of fear and anxiety, he began to feel more secure and comfortable under his care.

"Little boy at least tell me your name" Tharpas asked with a soft smile.

But the little boy could barely answer, he was still deeply sad. He yawned slightly.

"Are you sleepy little boy?" Tharpas asked with a smile

But the boy just looked at him silently, with his eyes lowered and his body stiff. He felt exhausted, but the sadness and fear he felt were stronger than the tiredness.

Tharpas calmed the little boy down "It's okay my love if you don't want to sleep at least lie down in bed" but when he didn't get an answer "Very well do you want me to sing you a song? My mother used to sing it and I would fall asleep" In that state of tiredness and sadness made Sheev give in to Tharpas' request and he took shelter in the bed, preparing to listen to his song.

The melody sung by Tharpas was really beautiful, and little by little Sheev began to calm down. He felt deeply exhausted and emotionally drained, Tharpas' voice and gesture were like a soft caress on his tormented soul. Little by little, he fell asleep in his lap, feeling a sense of comfort and security that he hadn't felt for a long time.

The next day Sheev woke up again and together he left the city, Tharpas had told him to meet him in the swamps.

Would the colt even remember him? Would he attack him again? Sheev thought curiously.

"Hello, Dalee!" Tarpas pushed his Kaadu onto the open path and smiled at the human boy.

Sheev shrugged. "Where is he?"

Tharpas smiled. "All hissens in such a hurry? You, a colt, want to see you. Come on then, I'll take you to the corrals." Sheev waited cautiously as the Gungan brought his Kaadu mount closer and extended a long, slightly slimy hand.

Suppressing a shudder, Sheev accepted it and let himself be pulled with surprising strength onto the Kaadu, just behind the roughly hewn leather saddle. For a moment he was afraid he would fall off the sloping backrest, but Tharpas guided his hands to a small spot on the back of the saddle.

"Wait, don't get bumpy. Not too far." Bumpy enough to make his teeth chatter, Sheev found as the Kaadu moved through the swampy undergrowth, each step sure but jerky.

It was nothing like riding a Gualama, nothing like the smooth, four-legged gait of his father's trained stallions. He also did not like their scaly skin, cold and rough and very different from the fur he liked to dig his fingers into.

Tharpas kept up a quick pace, and before an hour had passed, the Gungan had slowed the Kaadu to an awkward trot, and Sheev had never been so grateful to dismount from a living creature.

He slid over the spongy earth on legs that shook with the effort of staying mounted, but he soon forgot the pain when he spotted the cobbled pens a short distance away in an artificial clearing. There were half a dozen of them, and each pen contained a small handful of Zalaaca pups of varying sizes and genders.

Several Gungans walked between the pens, carrying buckets of food to the hungry animals.

A soft whimper rose from the nearest pen, and Sheev knew instantly that it was his foal. Stumbling slightly as he regained his legs, the young man made his way to the edge of the pen, gripping the smooth, interlocking wood and staring.

Yes, it was his foal, as perfect as before and full of energy as he bounded up and down the other side of the corral. For a moment, he admired the dull stripe on his side, the elegance of his muscles.

Now Sheev wasn't sure what to do. Did he call out to him? If so, what should he say? Hiss? "Hey, you!" He tried to shout, but it came out as a whisper.

The Zalaaca froze mid-stride and spun on its hind legs, arching like a Gualama and landing on four stiff limbs as its wide, intelligent head swiveled to locate him.

Sheev's eyes widened and he took a half-step back. How had he heard him? Finally, the large red eyes sought him out and the foal instantly launched into an uneven gallop across the corral.

Tharpas laughed behind him as Sheev took another step back. The Gungan reached out a hand and placed it on his shoulder. "Hesa is happy to be seen."

Why.. Sheev thought sadly, no one was ever happy to see him. Why did this wild animal see him any other way "Come on, Hesa wants you to pet him."

Encouraged by Tharpas, Sheev carefully returned to the edge of the pen and the Zalaaca chirped softly.

Sheev took a deep breath, reached out a shaking hand and the Zalaaca pressed its nose against him, as gentle as before. Sheev suppressed a smile.

Tharpas didn't try to fight the silly grin spreading across his wide lips. "Hesa yousa foal, it's okay! Mesa has never seen foals like this. What is your name?"

"Name?" Sheev blinked in surprise. Well, of course a foal needed a name. He stared at him for a long moment, until he nodded. "Galo."

"Galo?" Tharpas asked wanting to know the meaning of the name.

Sheev finally let out his smile as he scratched the foal's neck. "Yeah, in Naboo it means 'the one who sings.' He has a lot of sounds he makes. I like them."

The Gungan also gave the impression of bragging, and his laughter echoed. "Disa's a really cool name!" He walked off to the other side of the corral. "Wesa wants you to ride him."

"What!?" Sheev asked, a little surprised and nervous.

He watched Tarpas unlock the door. On the other side, Galo danced anxiously in place, his wide hooves hitting the green mud. Sheev looked suspiciously at the colt and Tharpas grabbed him by the shoulders to place him on the Zaalaca's back.

Galo, my Zaalaca, wanted me to ride him and although I was nervous and a little scared, Tharpas helped me sit on his back. I felt a little scared, but at the same time I felt intense curiosity and excitement. With Tharpas's guidance, I began to ride Galo and gradually felt more comfortable and safe on his back.

My Zaalaca, kept a smooth and fast trot as he rode with me on his back. We traveled through several beautiful places, surrounded by nature and fresh air. Some of the places we visited included the dense jungles of Naboo, the winding grasslands, and the roads lined with trees. Wildflowers. I felt free and full of life riding on Galo, feeling the fresh breeze of the air on my face and admiring the beauty around us.

But there was a small accident, both I and Galo ended up completely covered in mud. Instead of scolding me, Tharpas and my Zaalaca Galo laughed and considered it a fun time. It was a memorable and fun experience, and I have since had an even greater appreciation for Galo and the company I have found in the Marshes.

Here, time seemed to stand still, and it was not until Sheev was out of breath that he realized how much time he had spent running through the marshes, training Galo to come to his call and jump on command, and many other tricks. Tarpas was happy to teach them both.

When at last Sheev knelt on the soft ground and Galo contentedly laid on his back beside him and writhed in the grass, the sun had set halfway in the sky. Sheev reached out to touch his flank and noticed how mud had run down his sides, soaking the bright colors into a dull brown.

As if Tarpas was thinking the same thing, the Gungan placed a rough brush in his hand. "Strengthen the bond, your will. Take care of it, it's yours now."

Sheev straightened up and Galo rolled against him, long neck curved over his shoulder. The colt nudged his shoulder and he winced. Right against one of the deeper bruises. "Enough," he muttered, pushing the broad head. Galo squealed and raised his broad head, grinding his thick molars.

They sat in companionable silence as Sheev cleaned the mud from Galo's scaly sides. Tarpas leaned his back against a thick, gnarled tree and watched the human work, tilting his head when he noticed the determined gleam in the boy's eyes.

Tarpas smiled and his face was no longer as strange as before "You are a serious boy, too much, tinkin mesa"

Sheev sighed "I have a lot to think about."

"You should have very good times, you are just a boy"

"The Naboo live differently than the Gungans" said Sheev. "I will begin my mandatory service in four years in our government, unless my father wants me to start earlier. It is very rigorous. Do the gungans even have a government?"

The Gungan laughed happily "Oh, berry berry, we have a government, although dissent is easier than your hissen's. We are not so fussy. We like our young people smiling" Sheev gave a slight smile as he stroked the brush down Galo's rough, scaly left flank.

Tharpas gave his odd laugh and then grew more serious. "We're not so different, Mesa tinkin. But Mesa also thinks it's not the government that's making you so serious."

A thousand insects buzzed in the silence that followed his awkward statement. Sheev rubbed the dirt stain on the Zalaaca's shoulder a little harder. Tharpas had undoubtedly seen the bruises on his arms. It was careless of him to roll up his sleeves to brush Galo.

He pulled down his sleeves again. "I have a lot to think about," he repeated silently.

Their conversation died then, for Sheev now felt nothing but the cold touch of reality. He looked at the distant sky through the branches of the trees. He had stayed too long! Are they even looking for him? Maybe his mother Bremé is worried about him. But for Cosinga it is better that he dies alone in those swamps after what happened with Maree.

At night Sheev went back to bed but he could see Tharpas looking at him seriously.

"Please tell me where you live little one… I promise not to hurt you. You can trust me" Tharpas asked.

But the little one was still reluctant to answer. Although he had felt comfortable and safe in his company, he was still terrified and nervous about going home and facing his father and he simply stayed silent, avoiding his gaze.

Tharpas noticed my bruises as I cleaned Galo and bathed me in the lake. He saw the wounds and marks on my body, and he came to the correct conclusion that someone had caused me harm and that I had escaped to the swamps.

"Little one you must not be afraid of me, someone hurt you and you escaped right? But I am not going to hurt you, trust me… please. I will take care of you and protect you as if I were your older brother."

His words were comforting, I was still scared and couldn't get the thought of going home and facing my abuser again out of my mind.

Tharpas treated me with tenderness and concern, his words made me feel protected and reminded me that I had someone willing to take care of me and keep me safe from violence and abuse.

"Relax, I will punch the face of anyone who wants to hurt you, no one will hurt a child as cute as you" Tharpas said with a small smile.