Promises Kept
The celebration at Shimi's home was in full swing, with everyone gathered around a table laden with exotic dishes and smuggled delicacies that Braylen had furnished for the occasion. The dim light of the Tatooine suns filtering through the windows cast a warm, intimate glow over the gathering.
Jar Jar, always eager for food, was already indulging in a dish that looked far too spicy for him, while Padmé, Obi-Wan, and Qui-Gon mingled with Shimi and Anakin. R2-D2 and BB9 hummed quietly in the corner, the droids offering occasional beeps of approval at the festivities.
Braylen stood up, raising a glass and drawing everyone's attention. "Alright, everyone," he began, his voice carrying a tone of deep pride, "I'd like to thank you all for being here to celebrate Ani's victory today. But this isn't just a celebration of a race; it's a celebration of freedom."
Everyone's eyes turned to Anakin, who sat wide-eyed, still trying to grasp the magnitude of what had happened earlier. Braylen continued, "Ani, you've made history—becoming the youngest human, or otherwise, to win a pod-racing event. I know this is just the beginning of the great things you'll achieve. You've got a bright future ahead of you."
Anakin smiled, his face beaming with pride, as Jar Jar gave an enthusiastic cheer.
Braylen then turned to Qui-Gon, his tone shifting slightly. "And Qui-Gon... for obvious reasons, I've always avoided the Jedi. But because of you, someone who has become very important to me and to many others now has his freedom. For that, you've earned my friendship. To the future."
He raised his glass higher, and everyone joined in, raising theirs as well. "To the future!" the room echoed in unison.
As everyone clinked glasses and exchanged smiles, the sense of warmth and camaraderie was palpable. Braylen glanced over at Anakin, knowing the boy's life had forever changed, just as all of theirs had in subtle ways. Whatever the future held, this moment was a victory—not just for Anakin.
After the party had quieted down and most of the guests had retired for the night, Braylen found Padmé standing outside, gazing up at the stars. He approached her calmly, his usual composed demeanor masking the importance of what he was about to ask.
"Padmé, can we talk?" he asked.
She turned, offering him a polite smile. "Of course. What can I do for you?"
Braylen took a deep breath, his gaze steady on her. "I've been observing you, and it's clear that you're much more than just a handmaiden. You're close to the Queen, aren't you? A confidant, perhaps."
Padmé's eyes flickered slightly at the suggestion, but she didn't deny it. "What makes you say that?"
"I recognize someone who holds real influence when I see it," Braylen replied. "And I would like to ask a favor—on behalf of myself and my family."
Padmé tilted her head curiously. "Go on."
"Tomorrow, we'll be leaving Tatooine," Braylen began, his voice steady but laced with a hint of vulnerability. "And apart from this place, I have nowhere to take them—no place suitable for a family, at least. I want to take Shimi and Anakin to live on Naboo. I'm a good pilot, and my ship is far better than most, but beyond that, in terms of combat, very few can match me—certainly no one short of a Jedi. If the Queen grants us citizenship and a place to live, I will pledge myself to her service. I can be an asset."
Padmé was quiet for a moment, clearly considering his request. The sincerity in Braylen's words and the determination in his eyes were hard to ignore.
After a thoughtful pause, she nodded. "Alright, I'll speak to the Queen on your behalf. She's kind and will listen, especially given everything you've done for us."
Braylen's shoulders relaxed slightly, his expression softening. "Thank you, Padmé. It means a great deal."
Padmé smiled gently. "You've helped Anakin and Shimi more than anyone else here. It's the least I can do."
The next morning, as the sun began to rise over Tatooine, everyone was busy loading up the Ebon Hawk for their departure. Braylen oversaw the packing, making sure everything was secure while Shimi and Anakin gathered their few belongings. As the ship's engines powered up, it hummed with the promise of a new life beyond the desolation of this desert planet.
Braylen piloted the ship smoothly, bringing it to a soft landing beside the Queen's starship. The ramp lowered, and Padmé turned to him before heading out. "Braylen, I'm going to speak to the Queen. She'll be expecting you soon. Just meet us there when you're ready."
"Sure thing," Braylen said, giving her a nod, watching as she walked toward the sleek, silver starship that carried their hopes to Naboo.
As Padmé walked, her thoughts were preoccupied. Ever since that first dinner at Shimi's, Braylen's words had lingered with her. When he questioned her about leadership, about relying on others and the dangers that came with it, her instincts had made her defensive, wanting to protect her Queenly pride. But Braylen hadn't known he was speaking to the Queen herself.
The irony of him asking her to speak to the Queen on his behalf hadn't been lost on her. She nearly laughed at the thought as she approached the starship's doors. He had pointed out truths that not even her advisors had dared mention. They had filled her mind with idealism, but Braylen had made her see the reality of what it meant to rule—of how easily she could be manipulated if she relied too much on those around her.
Anakin's situation weighed on her too. There was something undeniably special about him, a kind of raw potential that drew her attention. Braylen's strength as a mentor and protector had already proven invaluable to the boy, but she knew Anakin would need even more protection where they were headed—especially on Coruscant.
Padmé resolved to act. If there was anyone she wanted by her side right now, it was Braylen. Not just for his skills, but for his understanding of power and how to wield it. She knew the Jedi would likely take an interest in Anakin, and that could lead to complications. History was rife with examples of how the Jedi had dealt with those who strayed from their path, especially those like Braylen—a Sith, but not in the way she had been taught to fear.
As she approached the ship, she made up her mind. When she spoke to Sabé, she wouldn't just ask for citizenship and a place for Braylen and his family on Naboo. She would ask for diplomatic immunity, a shield that could protect him from the Jedi. With the galaxy as it was, they needed someone like him—someone who could navigate both the light and the dark.
Padmé stepped onto the Queen's ship, determined. This would be her first act of true leadership, one her tutors would never have advised. But something about this path felt right. Perhaps the Force had indeed given her this opportunity. If it had, she wasn't going to waste it.
Braylen stood before the doors to the Queen's meeting room, calming his thoughts. He had spent enough time with his Sith master to know how to conduct himself in front of powerful individuals, but this was different. The Queen of Naboo may be young, but she still held significant authority, and this moment could shape the future for him, Shimi, and Anakin.
"Enter," came Sabé's voice from the other side of the door, firm but calm. Braylen took a breath and stepped inside, greeted by the handmaiden who now stood as the Queen's decoy.
Sabé had just finished her briefing with Padmé and was still processing the information. She didn't fully understand why Padmé had made this request on Braylen's behalf, but her trust in the Queen was absolute. They had known each other for years, even before Padmé had taken the throne.
"Your Highness," Braylen said, bowing slightly in respect as he approached.
"Padmé has spoken to me," Sabé said, her voice carrying the authority of her role. "She told me of your request, and I'm granting it. As for your service, I'm sure you are aware of the events at my palace?"
"I am," Braylen replied.
Sabé studied him, trying to gauge his demeanor. There was a sense of power about him, something different than what she expected. "Tell me, if you had been with me during the invasion, would I have been captured?"
"No," Braylen said confidently, his voice steady.
Sabé's eyes narrowed slightly, measuring the weight of his words. "Then I want you to become my bodyguard. It would not only fulfill your request for citizenship and protection for your family, but it would also grant you diplomatic immunity, which I've been informed would be… useful to you."
Braylen paused, taken slightly aback by the directness of the offer. Diplomatic immunity would be more than useful; it would be invaluable, especially given his past and his complex relationship with the Jedi.
"That is very generous of you," Braylen said, his voice low but appreciative. "I accept."
Sabé gave a curt nod. "Then it's settled. Once we reach Naboo, your position will be formalized. Welcome aboard, Braylen."
Braylen bowed again, this time more deeply. "Thank you, Your Highness. I will not fail you."
As he turned to leave, he couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. This wasn't just about finding a place for his family—it was about securing their future. As long as he served the Queen, they would be safe. And with diplomatic immunity, even the Jedi would think twice before making a move against him.
When Braylen returned to the Ebon Hawk, he found Anakin running the final systems check, his face lit with excitement. The future seemed brighter now, and they were ready to leave Tatooine behind.
"Everything ready?" Braylen asked.
"Ready to go!" Anakin grinned.
"Good," Braylen said, placing a hand on the boy's shoulder. "We've got a new life waiting for us on Naboo."
Suddenly, Braylen's senses flared with the familiar darkness. It was unmistakable—Maul had arrived. His presence was like a blade slicing through the Force, sharp and menacing. Braylen's eyes narrowed; this was unfinished business.
"Braylen, is something wrong?" Shimi asked, sensing the tension radiating from him.
"We have company," Braylen replied grimly, already anticipating the coming confrontation. "HK, you are to defend Shimi and Anakin. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Master," HK-47 responded, his voice cold and mechanical.
"Ani, you stay with HK and your mother," Braylen said firmly, turning to Anakin. "Do you understand?"
Anakin nodded, his face showing a mix of confusion and fear. "Yes."
Braylen stepped out of the ship, and as he suspected, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan were already outside, their lightsabers ignited and ready for battle. The tension in the air was thick as they scanned the desert horizon, where Maul's dark silhouette was approaching on his speeder.
"Qui-Gon, the Queen is your priority," Braylen said as he strode forward. "Leave him to me."
"You can't take him alone," Padmé insisted, her voice filled with concern. "Let us help."
Braylen turned to her with a calm, determined expression. "Don't worry about me. Consider this my first official act as the Queen's bodyguard. We'll meet you on Coruscant."
Padmé hesitated, her eyes locking with his. She knew this wasn't the time for arguments, but the concern in her heart was clear. "You'd better," she finally said, her voice soft but resolute.
As Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan led the others away, Braylen stepped further into the open, eyes locked on Maul, who had dismounted from his speeder, his double-bladed lightsaber igniting with a snap-hiss. The crimson glow of Maul's saber cast eerie shadows across the sand as the two Sith locked eyes, each assessing the other with deadly twin suns of Tatooine cast long shadows across the dusty landscape, their heat bearing down on the sands and rock formations. A storm was brewing in the distance, but for now, the air remained still, as though the planet itself was holding its breath. In the heart of an abandoned canyon, two figures stood face-to-face.
Darth Maul, with his crimson and black skin, his savage horns, and his double-bladed lightsaber ignited, paced back and forth like a predator sizing up his prey. Across from him, calm and focused, stood Darth Vetris, his dark cloak draped over his armor, the hilt of his single-bladed lightsaber clutched in his hand but unignited.
"Vetris," Maul hissed, his yellow eyes narrowing. "You've come all this way just to die."
Vetris remained silent, his mind sharp and focused, the teachings of Form V: Djem So guiding his every movement. He wasn't here for words. The storm within him was brewing, and soon, it would be unleashed.
Without warning, Maul lunged forward, his double-bladed lightsaber spinning in a vicious flurry of strikes. The air crackled with energy as Maul's crimson blades tore through the space between them. Vetris sidestepped the initial flurry, igniting his own crimson blade with a sharp hiss, and met Maul's assault with a powerful, two-handed block.
The impact sent shockwaves through the ground beneath them, but Vetris did not falter. Maul was fast—his strikes were fluid, unpredictable, but Vetris had studied him. Djem So was a form built on power, on control. Each of Maul's attacks was met with a precise block, redirecting the energy and building up Vetris's counter strike.
Maul spun, using the reach of his double-bladed lightsaber to keep Vetris on the defensive, but Vetris bided his time. Maul was a master of Form VII: Juyo, a style driven by raw emotion and aggression. Vetris, however, used that aggression against him. Maul's attacks became more furious, but with each missed strike, Vetris absorbed the energy, his own attacks becoming more deliberate, more powerful.
Suddenly, Maul attempted to sweep Vetris's legs out from under him, but Vetris anticipated the move. With a sharp, forceful leap, he vaulted over Maul, twisting in mid-air to deliver a powerful overhead slash. Maul barely blocked the strike, the impact sending him skidding backward in the sand.
Vetris landed smoothly, his feet planted in the dust, his stance solid. The calm in his mind remained, but there was fire in his strikes now. Djem So was designed to turn defense into offense, and Vetris had allowed Maul to attack long enough.
Now, it was his turn.
With a roar, Vetris charged forward, his lightsaber crashing down on Maul's defenses with relentless power. The strength behind each of his strikes was immense, forcing Maul to backpedal, his double-bladed lightsaber barely able to keep up. The clash of their weapons echoed through the canyon as Vetris pressed the attack, his strikes heavy and precise, each one aimed to break Maul's guard.
Maul snarled, trying to break away, but Vetris was relentless. He brought his saber down again, and Maul barely blocked it, his footing faltering. Vetris saw his opening.
With a sudden, brutal twist, Vetris disarmed Maul, sending one end of his double-bladed lightsaber flying into the dust. Before Maul could react, Vetris unleashed a powerful *Force push, sending the Zabrak sprawling across the ground.
Maul scrambled to his feet, igniting the remaining blade of his saber, but Vetris was already upon him. Their sabers clashed again, but now Maul was on the defensive. The ferocity of Vetris's strikes left him no room to counter. In a final, devastating sequence, Vetris swung his saber with crushing power, shattering Maul's defenses and driving him to his knees.
Breathing heavily, Maul looked up, rage burning in his eyes. "I… will not be defeated… by you!"
But it was too late.
Vetris lifted his saber high, and with a final, decisive strike, he brought it down across Maul's chest. The Zabrak's body crumpled to the ground, his lightsaber extinguishing as it fell from his hand.
The silence was deafening.
Vetris stood over Maul's body, his own lightsaber still ignited. He stared down at his fallen opponent for a moment, his emotions calm, yet beneath that calm was the unmistakable power of the dark side. *Maul had been a worthy adversary, but this had been inevitable.
He bent down, picking up Maul's discarded lightsaber hilt, feeling the cold metal in his hands. Proof of his task was done.
The storm in the distance began to move closer, but Vetris paid it no mind as he deactivated his lightsaber and turned away. He had fulfilled his master's command. Now, he would take Shimi and Anakin to begin a new life—and Anakin would become his apprentice.