Coruscant, the Republic's capital, a bastion that stood for millenias for peace, freedom and equality against the forces of evil.
'How far we have fallen', thought the acting current Supreme Chancellor, Finis Valorum. One would think weird for the leader of the Republic to think something like this, but whoever would say that is someone priviledged enough to live on Coruscant ignorant to the rest of the galaxy's troubles and the government's own political and legal upheavals.
Day by day the situation in the Republic became more and more complicated: the Trade Federation occupied Nabu and established a blockade of the planet. And these actions were a response to the Senate decision to establish a new system of taxation of trade routes. The Jedi, sent to resolve the situation peacefully, were attacked, and their fate is still unknown. But recently, Chancellor Valorum received evidence that the Tatu system was occupied by an unknown fleet, and since then there has been no new information. Against the backdrop of these failures, the Senate began to gain strength as a supporter of the chancellor's resignation.
"What to do? It is necessary to find a peaceful solution to the problem of Naboo, since the Republic does not have an army to conduct military operations." As another piece of evidence of how much his hands are tied Finis, would really wish he wasn't Chancellor just because it's mean he'd be free of everything and could attempt to solve some of this whole mess.
Walking through the settlement of Mos Espa, Qui-Gon noticed that the invaders established outposts on the most important streets. In some places the traces of the battle were visible, but the bodies were not visible.
"What happened here?" asked the disguised queen.
"I'm thinking we will find out soon, Sabe," Kenobi answered.
Soon the group finds the Watto's junkshop. When they went inside, behind the counter they found that a Toydarian was waiting for them.
Master Jinn, being the oldest and most experienced of them was the one
"Hello, we need some parts for our ship."
"I would never have thought that someday the Jedi would be my customers." Watto asked them to follow him to his office to discuss the transaction.
When they went into a small room, Watto asked them what they need.
"What exactly do you need for your ship ...?"
Being the oldest and most experienced of the group Master Jinn was the one who took charge of handling the negotiation.
"I am looking for spare parts for Nubian 327 type 'J' and a new Hyperdrive. " Hearing the order Watto could only scratch the back his head in dismay before giving some grievous news to the Jedi.
"You see, only the day before yesterday the invaders bought up all the Hyperdrive on the planet. And those who refused to sell them ..., well, their engines were 'confiscated'."
"But why would these giants want hyperdrives?"
"Idon't know, but the engines weren't bought by giants, but by people in red tunics that flew in with them. They bought all the equipment from Hyperdrive to Droid. And they paid in large gold bars."
Having flown up to one of his cabinets, Watto opened it and pulled out a bar of gold, on which a circle was engraved, inside which was a skull.
"Did you say people?"
"Yes, they are almost no different from you."
At the same time, in the front room of the shop Padme examined a poor assortment of goods when a nine-year-old boy entered the room. Looking at her, he said:
"And you are an angel?"
Padmé blinked in surprise and turned to the boy sitting on the counter staring at her. "What?", she eloquently asked.
"An angel", the boy explained. "I heard the deep space pilots talk about them. They're the most beautiful creatures in the universe. They live on the moons of Iego," he scrunched up his face in a thoughtful manner, before amending, "I think."
Smiling, she answered. "I'm Sabe. What's your name?"
"Anakin Skywalker," the boy introduced himself.
"Nice to meet you."
At that moment, Obi Wan, Qui-Gon, and Watto stepped out of the back room.
"Annie, there's no work for today, you can go home," said Watto.
At that moment, Anakin saw two lightsabers in two people and immediately realized who they were.
"Jedi on Tatooine. It can't be true", you didn't have to be a Jedi to feel how incredulous the young man was feeling
"And yet it's true", Qui-Gon replied.
'Teacher, I suggest tomorrow to find the commander of these giants and ask him for permission to leave the planet and ask for the purchase of one of the Hyperdrive".
Having been informed by his Master before they departed the ship, Obi-Wan was informed that given their current situation he should address his mentor in a different way given the negative connotations of the word 'master'.
"Don't rush about things Obi-Wan. I think they already know what we need. From the very landing I felt someone's gaze on me. And I think you too did."
"Yes teacher", the padawan amended.
"In the meantime, we must find a place to sleep." And then Anakin interrupted the conversation: "You can spend the night with us, I think my mother will be glad to see the guests."
"Well, if you invite us, then we will follow you", Qui-Gon wasn't the kind to search a bantha gift in the mouth.
When they left the shop, Qui-Gon asked 'Sabe': "Contact Captain Panaka and tell him not to wait for us, we will spend the night in the settlement."
"Yes, Jedi Master."
As the group walked the streets of Mos Espa, Obi-Wan started a conversation with Anakin about the subject that bothered him the most. The warriors in azure armor.
"How long have giants been in charge of the planet?"
"Approximately 4 days. They appeared unexpectedly, killed all the mercenaries who worked for the Hutts. I heard they blew up the Jabba the Hutt's Palace. In just a few hours, the planet was under their control".
"But what are they doing now?"
"I heard they are building a huge fortress at the north pole of the planet. They recruit people from the local population into the militia and even gave them a name - Planetary Defense Forces. And they even started hunting for Tusken raiders, although they do not touch those who live a peaceful life. And those who are in red clothes are buying up all sorts of different equipment and even dismantled the ships that transported slaves for parts, but nothing more."
"So that's what they were looking for on our ship," Obi-Wan said, turning to Qui-Gon. The fact that he got some information regarding the humans in red clothes was a welcome surprise.
"But for what I personally am grateful to them, is that they abolished slavery", Anakin said smiling. "Watto had to start paying me a salary."
"WERE you a slave?" Obi-Wan reasoned that since he started the conversation he might as well go on with it despite achieving his objective.
"YES. Me and my mother. We hit Tatooine when I was three years old, and Watto won us over a Saback game from Gardulla the Hutt."
"What happened to the slave owners on Tatooine?"
"They killed them", he answered effortlessly."I don't know if they did the same to the ones who were willing to free their slaves if, only to save their skins or those that were even serious about never indulging in the practive ever again." He added as an afterthought.
Anakin's story surprised all three members of the group. How strong were these warriors, that in just a few hours they defeated the criminal empire of Jabba the Hutt. They did not notice that they had already approached his house in the former slave quarter. When they entered, they heard a female voice:
"Anakin, are these guests?"
"Yes mom, these are two Jedi", he gestured toward the robe wearing duo.
"Hello, I'm Shmi Skywalker, the Mother of this boy. Didn't expected to see the Jedi on Tatooine. What brings you to this provincial world?"
"Sorry for such a late visit. I am Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn, this is my Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi and this is Sabe."
"Well then, I ask that you join the table. I just made dinner."
The trio did as told and were very surprised on what was on the because it was some oddity or exotic dish but by the amount of food there.
For Tatooine, that was an amazing amount of food on the table. Something which interested the guests.
Letting her curiosity win Padme asked the question on both her and her companions minds.
"Tatooine is a desert planet, where did so much food comes from?"
"These are all from the giants. They give free food to everyone, and especially take care of former slaves, and if necessary, heal their wounds. With their arrival, a real world has been established on the planet. They set tough laws against murder, theft, slavery, and other crimes."
When everyone finished dinner. Anakin asked Padme to follow him for something incredible.
"I want to show you something", and thus the 'handmaiden' and the boy went to his room, where there was something covered by a blanket on his bed. When Anakin removed the cover, she saw a disconnected protocol droid without casing.
"Did you assemble it yourself?"
"Well, I restored it, almost to the end. Only the casing is missing. But I couldn't find one in Watto's junkyard."
"He works", she asked, still floored by the fact a nine year old managed to restore a protocol droid. And without a formal education to boot.
"Yes, I turned him off to save energy.'
"Hello, my name is C-3PO. I own over six million forms of communication" the now named Protocol droid introduced himself. "He's excellent."
A little later, a new conversation began in the kitchen:
"Shmi, you son is a very gifted boy."
"Yes, I know and am proud of him."
"I noticed something when we went to you."
"What?"
"The Force is unusually great in him, it is obvious. If he was born in the Republic we would have noticed him earlier. Who is his father" Qui-Gon asked before realising how bad things could go given the planet's past
"He does not have a Father. I endured it, gave birth, raised him. I can't say how it happened only that it did."
"Do you want to take him with you?"
"I did not say that."
"But you thought about it. And I believe it is better to let him leave this planet, begin a new life, and forget about Tatooine, as you do with nightmare,"the Skywalker Matriarch revealed
When Qui-Gon went to the balcony, to clear his head after the conversation, Anakin followed him, likely to get some answers to his own questions.
"I heard your conversation. It's true that you want to take me to Coruscant?"
"Flying to Coruscant or staying here is up to you. I feel that the Force in you is very great, and I believe that you will become a great Jedi if you come with us."
"But I don't want to leave my mother here", the boy complained/pouted
"She can go with us if she wants", placated Qui-Gon.
"And how great is this Force in me?
-To do this, I need to do a blood test for the amount of midichlorian, but the necessary equipment is only on our ship. Tomorrow you will go there with Obi-Wan. In the meantime, you'd better sleep.
"Then,I'll see you later, Jedi Master."
Now left alone on the balcony, Qui-Gon couldn't believe how much the boy is comfortable is with using the word 'master'. 'Getting slavery abolished and killing anyone who apparently didn't want to give it up must have helped a little. As well as actually bringing Order and hope. One of the few things the giants have done. Whether or not they have other purposes is unknown.'
At the same time, in his chambers of his battle barge, Alpharius, was considering the next steps of his campaign only to suddenly be contacted by Archmagos Cole.
"I hope this is something important Archmagos?"
"Yes, my lord. To collect information, we used free medical services that were provided throughout the planet. Genetic analysis from more than 10,000 donors confirmed our assumptions and created new ones." This intrigued the Primarch.
"Some people are descendants of the colonists from Terra itself while some appear to have originated from this galaxy via evolution and we know for a fact procreations between the two kinds is possible." That surprised Alpharius enough to show a little on his face. "How, we have yet to know but the genetic markers confirm both theories. We made an interesting discovery. In their organisms, as well as in the organisms of xenos caught for breaking the law, we found the presence of intelligent microscopic organisms, the number of which varies depending on the individual. These microorganisms are also present in local soil, water and food. They are part of a vast organism that spans this galaxy, which means they have a mind of their own." The Archmagos, reported.
"Can we catch them" , asked Alpharius, already thinking of what disaster this microorganism could cause. If only he knew this "unknown" variable was something he was familiar with and not as dangerous as he thought.
"Only if we eat or drink local food and water."
"Immediately create a vaccine against this microorganism and distribute it to our armies."
"It will done. My lord, we also found huge deposits of Iron ore in the crust of the planet. They can be used to accelerate the construction of intergalactic gates, and a defense network of guns in the star system."
"Excellent. I think that the construction of terraforming plants should begin if we want to stay in this world for a long time."
"Your will shall be done."
"As for interstellar travel. Can we use local technology?"
"No, my lord. They are incompatible with our ships, and there are also fears that they were created by an extinct xenos race. Therefore, I sent two Arks to the center of this galaxy, so that the foundation of the local Web is laid there, which will grow to the borders of this galaxy. And we will have a safe way of interstellar travel."
"How long does it take?"
"Roughly, five to seven standard Terran days."
"But how did you send the ship?
"Warp." The Archmagos answered both without missing a beat and as if he was talking about the weather.
"Is it not dangerous?"
"Evidence confirmed that in the local Warp there are no intelligent life forms. Even energy."
"Good. What about other technology samples?
"Lasguns are used as hand and ship weapons."
"So in battle they are our unevenness."
"Local servitor counterparts are called droids. They are used in all areas of life, ranging from war to medicine, is worrying. They have a developed "Machine Spirit" that is capable of learning new things, so they can be equated with the Iron Man of the Dark Era of Technology and to the Abominable Intelligence."
"That was what I was afraid of. Are there measures to counter them?"
"Yes, my lord. Studying samples, I managed to create a scrap code that will bring them all down in a split second. Only a powerful relay station is required to distribute the code."
"Build it in the center of this galaxy so that we can attack these 'droids' everywhere."
"I will give the appropriate instructions to the Arks, who fly to the center. Archmagos Cole, End of Communication."
With a plan already in play Alpharius only had to inform his sons and then get to work.
"Captain Dinat, I need a connection with Captain Peck."
"Yes Father."
After 4 minutes, the commander of the ground forces got in touch with the Primarch.
"Captain, I need a report."
"Yes, my lord. The construction of the operational base at the North Pole is on schedule and will be completed in 10 Terran days. We began to create local government bodies and STRs in which we recruit exclusively people in them. All of them undergo mental processing, so there is no doubt in their loyalty. Also, our units of the Robbers hunt for gangs of xenos that terrorize the local population. And the last, 17 hours ago, a ship boarded the surface, the crew introduced themselves as diplomats of the Galactic Republic, who had to land on this planet due to the breakdown of the Hyperdrive."
"They know that they cannot leave the star system without my permission."
"Yes, my lord. I ordered our agents among the local population to monitor them. In my opinion, their next step will be to try to find us and get permission to fly away from the planet."
"Bring them to my ship. I want to talk to them."
"It will be done my lord."
With that done, Alpharius was getting ready to send a report to his Father and Brothers regarding the native humans of this galaxy.