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“Please look after amu, I’m worried that Watto will sell her now that I’m not there. He always threatened to sell her once I was bigger. Watto isn’t a bad master but if she gets sold…” The worry in his Padawan’s Force signature drew Obi-Wan from his meditation just in time to catch the words of the boy’s prayer.
He wasn’t surprised when his eyes landed upon Anakin kneeling in at the shrine of Ney-Aki, one of the Stewjonian mother goddesses. He had noticed that Anakin was drawn to that particular shrine whenever the two of them retreated to the isolated Stewjonian Garden.
The two of them were being watched closely by the Jedi in the Temple, especially the Council Members who seemed to always appear out of nowhere whenever either of them was stressed or having a hard time with something. The Stewjonian Garden was one of the few places where the two of them were free from the weight of their assessing gazes.
The Garden had been designed and planted by another Stewjonian Jedi many generations ago. It was cold and rocky, designed to represent the snow-laden mountains that most of the Stewjonian population resided in. Obi-Wan had discovered it as a youngling when he became curious about the planet of his birth and it had quickly become his place of refuge.
Anakin had been delighted at the idea of sharing something secret with Obi-Wan and had explored both the Garden and what it contained with great enthusiasm. Anakin seemed to thrive in the cold air, scampering around the garden exploring all the nooks and crannies, fearlessly leaping from rock to rock and quickly finding many of the small shrines that were hidden throughout the Garden.
He listened carefully as Obi-Wan had told him the stories of the gods and goddesses hidden away in small shrines throughout the garden and in return told Obi-Wan of the Sands, the secret stories of the desert gods that the residents of Tatooine worshipped.
Obi-Wan had noticed that Anakin was more drawn to Ney-Aki than any of the other gods and suspected it was due to her resemblance to the mother goddess of Tatooine. Both are mother goddesses who watch over vulnerable children, and whose stories were full of secrecy and sacrifice.
As Anakin moved away from the shrine having concluded his prayers Obi-Wan gestured him over. “Anakin. Why would Watto be able to sell your mother?” He asked once Anakin had joined him on the carved marble bench.
Anakin's voice was matter-of-fact. “He owns us, owned me.”
“You were a slave.” Obi-Wan said flatly as he felt the world shift around him. How had he not known that his padawan had been a slave?
“Uh-huh,” Anakin nodded, “But Master Qui-Gon won me in a podrace and freed me.”
“He won you in a podrace?” Somehow Obi-Wan managed to keep his face blank of the rage that was starting to build in his gut. How could Qui-Gon not have mentioned that fact to him?
Anakin beamed at him, “The Boonta Eve Classic. It’s the biggest race of the season and I won.”
“You won?” Podracing was very dangerous, fatalities weren’t uncommon and severe injuries were normal. Anakin must be both very good and very lucky to have survived and won.
“Yeah. Master Qui-Gon entered the pod that I made and I drove it. It was the first time a human ever won.” Anakin sounded so proud of himself, and Obi-Wan was proud as well, but so very, very angry.
Obi-Wan keep his face as calm as possible and hid the swirling anger deep in himself to be dealt with later so that Anakin wouldn’t sense it and think he’d done something wrong. His Master had been a good Jedi, but not a very good man. He had been stubborn once he had made a decision and often it had been Obi-Wan who suffered due to those decisions.
Qui-Gon trusted in the Force and followed its guidance even when in opposition to the desires of the people they were helping. He seemed to ignore the collateral damage that he left in his wake as long as the mission was completed, so maybe it wasn’t a surprise that he’d risked the life of a nine-year-old slave in a deadly race to complete his mission.
“Well done padawan.” He couldn’t think of anything else to say.
Anakin beamed at him, but his smile faded quickly, “But my mother is still on Tatooine.”
“And still a slave.” Obi-Wan guessed, his Master would have tried to free her but wouldn’t have pushed too hard if it endangered the mission’s success. It was no wonder that Anakin was concerned about his mother, not only was just being a slave dangerous enough, but she was the mother of a slave who had no doubt lost a lot of people a lot of money. “Did you have a slave chip?” He was unfortunately very familiar with the slave trade, having been enslaved three different times during his padawanship.
“Master Qui-Gon deactivated it after he freed me.” Anakin smiled brightly.
Obi-Wan frowned, “But the Healers took it out during your physical didn’t they?”
“Physical?” Obi-Wan felt dread at the question. His master couldn’t have been that irresponsible, could he? But it might explain why he hadn’t been contacted by the Halls about Anakin in the months since his arrival, if nothing else he would have thought there would have been immunisations that Anakin would have needed.
“The Healers would have given you one the first night you stayed in the Temple.”
Anakin frowned, “I haven’t been to the Healers.”
“Ever?” Obi-Wan was standing even as he said the word. Anakin scrambled up and looked up with worried blue eyes.
“I’m not sick.” Anakin promised, “I don’t need to see the Healers.”
Obi-Wan carefully considered his words, realising that Anakin’s history as a slave would require a different approach to how he would normally have approached the topic. After all, a sick slave was a useless slave and a useless slave wasn’t worth keeping. It did explain why even after the months that Anakin had been his Padawan the young boy seemed to worry that Obi-Wan would get rid of him if he was bad.
“It’s not that I think you’re sick,” He reassured Anakin, “but the Healers can easily remove your chip and a physical will help make sure that you are less likely to get sick in the future. They’ll be able to tell us if you need different food, if you have any allergies and if we need to make any other changes. They might even be able to tell us about where your mother and father came from.”
Anakin considered his words, blonde head cocked slightly as he thought, “Well I’d like to get my chip removed and it would be cool to know where amu came from.” Then he grinned slyly, looking at Obi-Wan with guileless blue eyes, “If I’m healthier does that mean I get my lightsaber sooner?”
“I’ll consider it if you do me a favour and promise not to podrace ever again.”
“You know you’re breaking all sorts of rules by contacting me?” The Kiffar on the other end of the comm was grinning even as he asked. Quinlan Vos was one of Obi-Wan’s closest friends and they both knew that unless it became unavoidable neither of them would ever tell anyone about this call.
Obi-Wan shrugged, “Some things are worth breaking rules for.” While many seemed to have forgotten Obi-Wan’s mischievous nature, viewing him as someone who ended up in strange and chaotic situations due to his Master dragging him into them, Obi-Wan’s friends knew that wasn’t the case at all.
As a child, Obi-Wan had struggled with following rules and spent most of his childhood in trouble with the crechmasters. It was only during his years as a Padawan to Qui-Gon Jinn that he had learned how to talk his way out of trouble when he was caught and much to the annoyance of Quinlan and his other friends in the last few years, he almost always managed to get out of trouble without punishment.
“In that case what can I do for you, my friend?” Quinlan Vos would do anything in his power for the younger redhead. While Quin was a few years older than Obi-Wan the two of them had been instantly drawn to each upon their first meeting. The two-year-old Obi-Wan with his cheerful smile and obvious delight whenever he had seen Quin had been a balm on his nerves while he had been adjusting to his parent’s murders and abrupt entrance into the Temple. Once the true strength of his psychometry had become known many of the other children had been wary of being his friend, worried that he would learn their secrets, but as the five-year-old Obi-Wan had told him with wide grey eyes it wasn’t like he wouldn’t tell Quin everything anyway.
He had watched as Qui-Gon had destroyed a lot of that openness and innocent joy, and had sometimes wondered if Obi-Wan wouldn’t have been happier if he had ended up in the Agricorps. He had only mourned the man’s death because he knew that Obi-Wan had loved the man, so if he could do anything to help his friend he would, even if it meant breaking the rules.
“I need a favour.” Obi-Wan looked tired underneath the calm mask that he had developed under Qui-Gon.’s eyes were tired and as he rubbed a hand across his face Quin could see the exhaustion in his posture, but Quinlan knew it would only be obvious to those that knew the other man well to most he’d look exactly like he was portraying himself to be, a slightly disreputable smuggler calling in a favour.
“If it will clear some of my debt I’ll do what I can.” Anyone who watched their conversation would only see what the two of them were presenting. Obi-Wan had obviously guessed something about his mission because he was dressed in casual clothing that made him look like a disreputable spacer. Quin trusted that the other man wouldn’t say anything or let slip any information that would endanger either his mission or his life.
Obi-Wan nodded sharply, “I need you to buy a slave for me.” Okay, that wasn’t what Quin had been expecting.
Quin tapped his fingers on the table in his small room as his mind worked quickly. Since it was highly unlikely that Obi-Wan suddenly wanted to get involved in something that he had once labelled as “the vilest trade”, what he really meant was he wanted to free a slave and since he knew that Quinlan was currently stationed on Tatooine it was someone specific.
“Must be someone pretty special if you are breaking the rules to contact me.” He’d been on assignment on Tatooine for over a year, infiltrating one of the gangs that ran alongside the Hutts who were suspected to be running weapons into the Core. He considered the repercussions of doing what Obi-Wan was asking for but couldn’t really see any major problems. The cover he had was exactly the type of person who would happily own a slave if the opportunity came up, but he didn’t have the money to buy a slave outright, even the cheapest of slaves wasn’t exactly cheap.
“Just someone who caught my eye last time I was on the planet,” Obi-Wan smirked as he spoke. “I had to leave a bit faster than I was planning and had to leave her behind.” Quin had known that Obi-Wan and his Master had been on the planet a few months ago, but as per regulations neither party had reached out, so that could be true.
Quin wiggled his eyebrows salaciously, “Pretty little pleasure slave?”
Obi-Wan shook his head, “Pleasure slaves are easy to come by, my friend. This one caught my attention due to her skills.”
“Skills, right.” Quin teased. “Give me some details and I’ll see what I can do.”
“Shmi Skywalker, her owner is a Toydarian junk dealer named Watto in Mos Espa.” Skywalker was a common name for slaves on Tatooine, it was one of the standard names given to children too young to remember their actual family name. But since the Boonta Eve Classic, it was not exactly a safe name to carry. He’d heard that several slaves named Skywalker had been killed in the weeks after the race just in case they were the pilot and to prevent the other slaves from getting uppity. Quin had been one of many that had lost a lot of credits on that upset, no human had ever won one of the big podracing events, let alone a human slave. The gossip was that he must be mixed species for all that he looked fully human, but no one had been able to confirm as the pilot had disappeared immediately after the race.
“Any relation to the winner of the Boonta Eve?”
Obi-Wan blinked at him and Quin knew he’d surprised the other man with the question, “His mother.”
Quin’s tapping quickened, “I hope you’re lucky my friend. Skywalkers have been having a lot of problems with death since the race.” He had to warn Obi-Wan that a rescue might not be possible. “And even if I managed to find her, she’s not going to be cheap. A slave with that sort of breeding potential is valuable, no matter what other ‘skills’ she has.”
Obi-Wan frowned slightly at Quinlan’s warning, and Quin knew he was a lot more worried than he appeared. “Her owner is fond of gambling.” He offered, knowing that it would make things easier for Quin, as it was unlikely that he had a lot of money.
“I could make that work. Any time limits? Or just whenever I can get my hands on her?”
“Sooner would be better than later.” Obi-Wan told him, “But I know that you’re probably busy with your job.”
Quin shrugged, “Nothing that would delay me too much.” He leered, “A bit of relaxing company would probably do me some good.”
Shmi Skywalker keep her head down as her new master led her away from the home she had shared with her son. She had known that this day was coming, Watto had been losing money steadily since Anakin had won that race. He resented both the monetary loss and the loss of Anakin himself, and he’d been making riskier and riskier bets to regain both money and status ever since.
The annual Hutt tax was due in the next few weeks and she’d realised after the continued losses that the only way that he’d be able to pay it was if he got extremely lucky or if he sold her and she had known which was the more likely of the two options.
When Watto had flown into the shop in a flurry of anger and violence she’d known the time had come and when the dangerous-looking Kiffar had strolled in a few hours later with a smirk on his face she knew he was her new owner.
She’s been surprised when after her control had been handed over the Kiffar had directed her to lead him to her place to gather any personal belongings, normally masters didn’t like to acknowledge that their slaves might be people with a home and a history. She gathered the most important things, a few japor snippets that Anakin had carved as a child, a holo of Anakin and her that was taken a few years ago and a worn blanket that had been at her side for as long as she could remember. She hesitated for the barest of moments at the droid that Anakin had spent hours working on and somehow her new master had spotted it.
“If you want to bring it I don’t care.” His voice was indifferent as stood at the door. “If nothing else it can carry things.” She’d glanced at him and swallowed before carefully activating C3PO and instructing him to be quiet as she quickly packed the small amount of clothing that she owned. Her hand hesitated over the tiny outfit that Anakin had worn as a baby before she stuffed it among her clothing. It didn’t take her long before she’d gathered as much as she dared and moved to stand before the Kiffar.
“Nothing else?” He asked, dropping the death stick he had been smoking on the ground.
She shook her head, “No master.”
“Got more blankets? Space is cold.” She blinked at the words before grabbing the two whisper-thin blankets from the beds. They wouldn’t do much to stave off the cold but they were likely to be all that she got. She restrained the shiver that racked her body, she had only the faintest memory of the cold of space, she’d been on Tatooine since she had been taken as a child as a slave.
He frowned at the same pile of belongings she had collected but gestured for her to follow him as they headed for the spaceport. She trailed behind him, noticing that everyone seemed to unconsciously move out of his way and began to wonder just how dangerous her new master was. And how cruel a master he was going to be.
The ship he led her to was in such a bad condition that she wondered if it would fly at all, but she could see the bones of it were solid and if it were to be repaired no doubt it would be a lovely ship. She recognised it as an XV-300 light freighter that had been heavily modified and knew that if Anakin had been here he would have been excited to be working on it. He’d seen one a few months before he’d been freed and had spent hours rambling about its specs and how it flew. By the gods she missed him, but his life would be better with the Jedi and his happiness was worth any heartbreak to her.
She followed him into the ship, the interior was tidier than she had expected, but had obviously been stripped of anything of value and was empty of any personal belongings. As they moved through the ship he brusquely indicated the purpose of each of the rooms before he stopped at one of the doors and gestured her in, she swallowed and braced herself to cope with whatever he desired of her.
“This is your room.” It was small but that was normal on light freighters. There was a narrow bunk and a set of drawers but otherwise, it was empty. It was more than she had expected as slaves didn’t normally get a bunk, especially not on spaceships, as far as she knew slaves were left to find a small space and make it as comfortable as they could.
“Thank you, master.” She kept her voice low and soft. “How many I serve you?”
After Anakin had won that horrible race she’d heard many slave masters speculating about her breeding value. Even Watto had told her how much her future children could be worth with Anakin having proven his worth, she’d been lucky that he didn’t really make long-term plans and he hadn’t started breeding her.
She’d been through that a few times in her life and knew she was lucky that Anakin had been the only child she’d carried to term, the other pregnancies ending in miscarriages. She’d seen other slave women worn and broken from carrying child after child and losing them either to sale or death and had prayed to the desert mother that her fate would be different.
“For now I want you to inspect the ship and tell me what it needs to be spaceworthy.” He stared at her for a long moment, “I won it in the same game of cards that I won you in.”
She nodded, “Of course master. I’ll get started now.”
“Use the sonic and clean up, there are first aid supplies in the fresher.” His voice was bland and she couldn’t read anything about his feelings from his body language, “I’d prefer that you keep yourself healthy, no point in a slave that can’t work.”
The weeks passed quickly as she fixed up the ship. It hadn’t been as bad as it looked upon first inspection, but it was definitely not in the best of shape. After she’d done the first inspection on the ship her new master, Gaylen Var, had taken her shopping to get the parts and tools she needed to make the repairs and then left her to it.
He made no demands on her body, supplied her with enough food and water to keep her healthy, but didn’t talk much. He was away from the ship more than he was present, but every time he was around she could feel the way he watched her with intelligent, suspicious eyes. After the first two weeks, she had carefully asked if she was allowed to leave the ship, and he’d agreed that she could leave the ship as long as she got her work done for the day and was back before dark.
She’d asked around, and all the other slaves were able to tell her was that he’d been on Tatooine for over a year and was working security for the Fin’Pa gang, and occasionally collecting bounties. He wasn’t known for indiscriminate violence, but when he acted it was without hesitation and he had no qualms about killing people.
She kept her head down, did the work he assigned and chose the times she left the ship carefully. Trying to only do so when he was away, and never stayed out for long. The Slave-Mothers watched over her and gradually their whispers grew louder. That he was a new slave owner, far too reliant on her slave chip to keep her compliant. They murmured of escape and freedom, but something whispered to her to stay, that it would be worth it. She recognised it, long before she had conceived Anakin it had whispered to her of a son, a child that would bring joy to her when she was at her lowest, and after Anakin had left to become a Jedi it filled her dreams with tantalizing visions of green things, laughter and love, so she waited, patient and trusting in the voice.
“We’re leaving tonight.” She breathed in sharply as her master’s voice came from behind her. He moved silently and she often found herself wondering how long he stood watching her before he spoke.
Shmi nodded, the ship had been ready for flight for the last week, she’d focused on the essential systems first, and once they were done had moved on to the more non-essential systems, like the fresher and kitchen. She had been surprised by the extent of her knowledge while doing the repairs, she’d always just focused on one part at a time. She hadn’t realised just how much she had learnt during her time as Watto’s slave.
“Stop when you can and we’ll go to the market and stock up on supplies.” She nodded and waited as he considered her. “Do you have warmer clothing?”
She shook her head, “No master.”
“We’ll have to get you some.” He tapped his fingers against the table he was leaning on. She blinked in surprise, masters didn’t care about the comfort of their slaves, and didn’t spend credits on them unless they had to. At least not on Tatooine. “Have you travelled off-planet before?”
She shook her head silently, she had only blurry memories of the time before Tatooine, before slavery. She knew that she had been born elsewhere but had no idea where.
“Space is cold.” He told her, “And there is no point in you being too cold to work.” She nodded automatically, “And since it’s unlikely that we’ll be returning to Tatooine tell me if you spot something you want.” She couldn’t stop the frown that flickered across her face, “A reward for working so hard.” He offered his face blank of emotion but somehow still sincere.
He moved through the market quickly and efficiently, stocking up on rations and other necessities. She trailed after him in disbelief as he brought her two sets of warmer clothing, finer than anything she’d ever worn before, as well as two blankets made of bantha wool. When she’d made no suggestions of something for her reward even when prompted he led her back to the ship.
Once they had unpacked he had studied her and then handed over a small pouch. “You’ve got until our launch window in an hour to say your goodbyes and buy what you want.” He ordered before disappearing into the cockpit.
She carefully opened the pouch and found a small pile of credits, more than enough for her to buy some small mementoes. She shook her head in disbelief at his actions, masters didn’t give their slaves money and certainly didn’t trust them to not run when given credits. She took a steadying breath, knowing that this would be her last chance to run.
As the ship lifted off the planet’s surface Shmi clenched her trembling hands, she made her choice deciding to trust in her dreams and stay with her master. When she had slipped into the ship’s cockpit a few minutes before their launch window, her master had only glanced at her and gestured to the co-pilot seat. Her hands trembled violently where they were tucked into her new skirt as they departed the only home she could remember. Away from the hope that she and Anakin would be able to find each other again.
The take-off was smooth, and she felt a small flare of pleasure that her repairs were functioning so well. Her master was a good pilot, easily guiding the ship as they left the atmosphere and moved into space. She regretted that she couldn’t see Tatooine, while it was the place of her slavery, it had been a place of joy as well, her beloved Anakin had been born here. Almost as if he had heard her regret the ship was turned so that she could see Tatooine as it grew smaller and smaller. Even from space, it wasn’t an attractive planet, but distance made the vast deserts almost glow gold as they reflected the light of the two Tatooine suns.
The ship shuddered slightly as her master sent them into hyperspace, and she watched the stars around them blur into streaks of light. Her soul quaked and she realised for the first time in memory there was silence around her. Even when she was traversing the deserts of Tatooine the buzz of life had hummed under her feet, the memories of long-gone souls singing and telling the story of their lives.
Her master had been correct hyperspace was cold, not only was the temperature lower than she had experienced but for the first time in her life the constant warmth of life around her was gone and she was alone.
Well except for her master.
Who was watching her.
“Come, we need to talk.” He unbuckled himself and stood gesturing out of the cockpit. She fumbled with her restraints and then trailed after him as he led them into the ship’s galley.
“Sit.” She sat silently as he competently made two cups of caff. She took the cup he placed in front of her and when he raised an eyebrow pointedly carefully raised it and took a sip. “My name isn’t Gaylen Var and I’m not a mercenary.”
She took another sip as she carefully considered the information, he must have a reason for telling her. “Then who are you?”
“Jedi Knight Quinlan Vos at your service.” He told her, bowing extravagantly even in his seated position, losing the air of danger that had clung to him.
She stilled, hands clenched around the hot cup in her hands. “A Jedi.” She eventually murmured.
He nodded and carefully placed an item on the table, an item that made her heart clench as she recognised it. The controller for her slave chip.
“I disabled it as soon as I could.” He told her calmly as he pushed it across the table to her. “Although I couldn’t tell you, you were free as soon as your master gave it to me.”
She slowly reached out and picked up the offered remote, the skin of her hands whitening under the tense grip she had on it. “Why?”
“A friend of mine contacted me and asked for a favour.” She stared at him, “To free you.”
“Master Jinn.” She murmured, she had honestly believed the man would forget about her as soon as he had Anakin in his possession. He hadn’t seemed to care for her future at all, his entire focus on his mission and taking her son away.
“No.” Quinlan Vos correctly gently. “Obi-Wan Kenobi, who was Master Jinn’s padawan.”
At her blank look, he clarified, “His student.”
She allowed herself to frown, “Master Jinn said that he would be taking Anakin as his student.”
The Jedi frowned and tapped his gloved fingers on the table, “Anakin was 10 or so?”
“Nine.”
“Then I don’t know what Master Jinn was planning. Obi-Wan was his student and Jedi can only take one student at a time. Maybe he was hoping that Anakin would be accepted into the creche and he could take Anakin as his student once Obi-Wan was knighted.” He hummed lost in thought for a long moment, before shrugging.
Her heart flared with despair, was Anakin safe? If Master Jinn hadn’t taken him as his student what had happened to her son?
“Not to mention that the Jedi Order doesn’t accept children after 5 years of age or their species equivalent.”
“Why not?” Her worry was growing. Where was Anakin? Was he being cared for?
He shrugged, “It’s easier for younger children to adapt to the Jedi ways than it is for older children who have grown up emersed in their own culture. We don’t view the world the same as the rest of the galaxy and it’s easier to teach that if you start young. It is also easier to teach young children how to control their abilities and connection to the Force. When they are older they often have figured out their own ways of coping and channelling their gifts. If Anakin is as strong as I suspect he is then you must have noticed that he had some control over his abilities? That as he got older his outbursts were more focused.”
She tilted her head as she considered his words, while Anakin had seemed to gain some control as he aged the outbursts he did have were more violent, stronger. “Perhaps, but he still had them.”
The Kiffar shrugged, “It takes years of practice before we have complete control. While I don’t know exactly what was decided, I can tell you that Obi-Wan is looking out for him, otherwise he wouldn’t have arranged to have you freed.” He reassured her.
“What will happen to him if the Jedi don’t want him? If he’s not accepted into the Temple?” She asked clutching her cup in one hand and her remote in the other.
“Once they’ve given him a solid introduction into controlling his gifts, it’s likely that they will send him to the Jedi Corps to learn a trade so that he can support himself in the future.”
“Not back to Tatooine?”
His immediate head shake was reassuring, “No. The Council would never send a child back into slavery.”
“Can we find out what has happened to him? If he’s being sent to the Jedi Corps will I be allowed to join him?” She asked.
“I couldn’t risk making contact with Obi-Wan to get more information while we were on Tatooine, but I’m planning on contacting him when we reach the Arkanis system.”
“Why him and not Master Jinn?” She’d noticed that it was Obi-Wan and not Master Jinn that the Jedi talked about, she’d also noticed the use of ‘was’ when he referred to Master Jinn.
His tapping on the table sped up momentarily, before slowing again. “Have you heard anything about what happened on Naboo a few months ago?”
She frowned at the apparent change in subject but shook her head. “Not really, only that that there had been a problem with the Trade Federation?”
He nodded. “The Trade Federation and the Naboo have had a robust trading relationship for many years, but the rumour is that the Naboo were unsatisfied and were seeking a reason to dissolve the current agreement and renegotiate. In retaliation the Trade Federation blockaded the planet and when the Queen fled they invaded the planet. I’m not really sure why they thought that was a good idea, but it’s what happened. The Queen managed to reach Coruscant and request assistance from the Galactic Senate, when it was unsuccessful she returned to Naboo and along with the native Gungan’s expelled the Trade Federation forces.”
Shmi nodded, still wondering at the relevance of the information.
“Rumour is that a Jedi was killed in the process.”
“And you think it was Master Jinn?”
He nodded swallowing a mouthful of caff, “Missions tend to be more successful if the same team works them from beginning to end, so unless it was absolutely necessary the Council would have left Master Jinn and Obi-Wan working with the Naboo when they returned to the planet.”
“How do you know that they were on that mission did Obi-Wan tell you?”
“No, but there were rumours that the Naboo Royal Spaceship made a stop on Tatooine at the same time that I saw Master Jinn in the market.”
She tilted her head and studied him, “And you think the Jedi killed must have been Master Jinn because you’ve spoken to Obi-Wan?”
The Jedi nodded, “He contacted me about three months after the Naboo Invasion.”
“And he didn’t give you any information about Naboo?”
He shook his head, “The conversation was very short. He asked me to do him a favour and gave me your information but that was it.” He shrugged, “Honestly he really shouldn’t have contacted me at all. It’s against all mission protocols and both of us could get in trouble if we get found out.”
“Why do it then?”
Quinlan smiled, “Obi-Wan will always try to do the right thing even if it breaks the rules.”
“They will object to you freeing a slave?” That didn’t sound right, the Jedi were viewed by the galaxy as the defenders of the people.
He shook his head, “No, the Jedi free slaves whenever they can, what they will object to is that Obi-Wan contacted an undercover agent and risked the mission.”
She nodded thoughtfully, “I suspect for all our sakes that if anyone asks I have no idea why you freed me, nor have I ever heard of Obi-Wan Kenobi.”
“That would be for the best.” He took a sip of his caff, prompting her to take a sip of her own and remember the remote clutched in her hand.
“What’s the plan after we reach Arkanis and have contacted Obi-Wan?”
“After that?” He smiled gently at her, “We’ll get your chip removed and you can decide what you want your future to be.”
“You’ve been acting weird since Knight Vos came over.” Anakin complained as he followed Obi-Wan into a residential building in the lower levels of Coruscant about an hour away from the Temple.
“Yes well.” Obi-Wan was distracted and Anakin didn’t like it. He knew that Obi-Wan had been missing his friend, but his arrival had left his master upset and jumpy. But all he knew was that the man had recently returned to the Temple after an extended mission on the Outer Rim.
He had been looking forward to meeting the Kiffar whom both Obi-Wan and Aayla had told him about, but so far he wasn’t as great as both Obi-Wan and Aayla had made him out to be.
Aayla was his only friend in the Temple, once it had become obvious that Anakin wasn’t able to relate to the initiates his own age Obi-Wan had introduced him to Aayla. She was 13 to his ten and they were both mature for their age, and both had experienced the darkness of the galaxy, unlike most of the initiates. It helped that she knew that Knight Vos would be taking her as his padawan when he returned from his mission, so was less concerned with being the perfect initiate and attracting a Master.
Obi-Wan did take him out of the Jedi Temple occasionally, normally as a treat for a particularly good mark on a difficult assignment or successfully performing a kata, but the destination was either Dex’s Diner for food or one of the markets near the Temple. A visit to a residential building was unusual and if he didn’t trust Obi-Wan so much it would be worrying.
Anakin loved those trips, he adored Dex and the range of food that the Besalisk treated him to. It was so different to the calm of the Temple. The market was equally as fascinating, it was more reminiscent of Tatooine with the huge variety of species that frequented it. Obi-Wan tended to find them a quiet space to sit with their treats and then quiz him on the people they saw. What was their species? Where was their home planet? What was something interesting about their culture? And if Anakin didn’t know Obi-Wan would share stories about them with him and he adored stories.
The building was tidy enough, Anakin couldn’t see a lot of dirt or trash around, but it was very different to the Temple with its obvious yet understated wealth. This was more like the nicer areas of Mos Espa, where people made decent money but didn’t have a lot to spare for luxuries.
“What are we doing here?” Anakin asked curiously as it was obvious Obi-Wan wouldn’t be sharing what had upset him.
“It’s a surprise.” Obi-Wan’s voice carried a hint of mischief.
“This isn’t like the surprise visit to the pet store is it?” Obi-Wan had thought that Anakin might enjoy having an animal companion, but Anakin hadn’t known that pets were a thing. He’d horrified the other patrons of the shop when he’d innocently queried if they were buying something special for dinner, one of the children had even burst into tears. Obi-Wan had hustled Anakin out of the shop as fast as the two of them could move and the two had burst out into awkward yet hysterical laughter as soon as they were free.
Obi-Wan cringed at the reminder, “I will admit that it wasn’t my finest idea, but I know you’ll love this one.”
“Really?”
“Don’t you trust me?” Obi-Wan looked down at him and raised an eyebrow.
“Not with surprises, not anymore.” Anakin scuffed a foot on the ground as Obi-Wan summoned the elevator. “And this is very different to where we normally go.”
Obi-Wan crouched and placed his hands on Anakin’s shoulders, “I promise you’ll love this one. Trust me.”
Anakin sighed but nodded, “Okay.”
The two of them rode the elevator up to the 47th floor and then Anakin fell into place behind Obi-Wan as he move purposefully along the corridor searching for a particular apartment.
“Ready?”
Anakin rolled his eyes at the question, “Yes and I even promise to pretend to like it if it sucks.”
Obi-Wan grinned and pushed open the door, “I really doubt that’s going to be a problem.”
“Amu.” Anakin shrieked as caught sight of the woman standing by the windows. Unconsciously he used the Force to supplement his speed as he crossed the room, slamming into her open arms.
Anakin didn’t bother to try and stop the tears that formed in his eyes as the familiar scent of spices and desert blooms filled his nose. He had all but given up on seeing her anytime soon, he’d asked regularly for the first few months he was in the Temple, but the Council had made it clear that he had to release his attachment to her if he wanted to be a Jedi. He knew that Obi-Wan had also tried to get her freed since he had found out that she was still trapped in slavery, but had failed.
“Ani.” She pulled out of the hug, “Don’t you look so healthy.” Her hands cupped his face and she pressed a gentle kiss to his forehead.
“How are you here? Are you free?” Hope bloomed brightly in his heart, he knew that her presence meant that she was likely free but he needed to hear it from her mouth.
“Yes Ani, I’m free. Your Obi-Wan arranged it.” She told him, a brilliant smile lighting up her features.
“Thank you.” Anakin rubbed the tears from his eyes as he turned to look at the two men standing by the door, taking in the form of Knight Vos for the first time.
“Oh, Anakin. Once I knew she was still enslaved there was no way that I was leaving her on Tatooine. I was hoping that the Council would help but you know how that turned up.”
“And that’s where I came in.” The Kiffar bowed extravagantly.
“I knew he was on Tatooine so I contacted him and asked him for a favour.”
“Thank you, Knight Vos.” Anakin’s gratitude swirled in the Force around the room and the Knight bowed his head in acknowledgement.
Anakin turned back to his mother, “I’m so happy. I have so much to tell you.”
Obi-Wan smiled as his padawan started to fill his mother in on everything that had happened since he had left Tatooine.
“You know it’s likely that I’ll never be able to repay you for this.” He told the Kiffar standing at his side.
“You’re my friend Obi-Wan, my best friend. Something like this never needs repayment.” Quinlan told him seriously. “Although if you feel like giving me a blow job I’m not going to turn you down.” The playful leer didn’t fade as Obi-Wan elbowed him in the gut.
An hour passed in comfortable conversation between the two pairs before Anakin’s distress caught Obi-Wan’s attention.
“What do you mean you aren’t staying?” His padawan sounded devastated.
“Oh, Ani.” Shmi hugged him tightly. “No, I’m not staying here. This is a step on my journey, not the conclusion.”
He frowned wistfully, “Where will you go then?”
“Somewhere green.” Her face was serene. “A place where water is plentiful and the people kind.”
“Alderaan.” Obi-Wan’s voice broke into their conversation.
His mother made an interested hum, while Anakin could feel the Force sing at the name.
Obi-Wan moved closer and took a seat on the couch opposite where Anakin and his mother were curled up. “Alderaan is one of the Core Worlds. It’s renown for its beauty, the kindness of its people and how highly it values education.” He smiled at Shmi, “And if you are anything like your son, you’ll enjoy the cold mountain air.”
She raised a surprised eyebrow at the information, and Quinlan laughed.
“You’ve been spending time with him in the Stewjonian Garden?” He sounded amused and studied Anakin carefully, “He must like you a lot. I can’t remember the number of times he chased me out when we were younger.”
Anakin beamed at the words, they were more proof that Obi-Wan did actually like having him around.
“And I’ll be able to find a place on Alderaan?” Shmi queried. “Core Worlds are not often welcoming to those from the Outer Rim. Especially as I have no papers, no Republic citizenship.”
A flush bloomed across Obi-Wan’s cheekbones, while Quinlan cackled. “It’s not well known, but I know Viceroy Organa and Queen Breha fairly well.”
“Biblically.” Quinlan didn’t stop his chortling even as Obi-Wan brutally elbowed him in the side.
“And if I reached out they would help you with that.” Obi-Wan spoke as if Quinlan wasn’t present.
Shmi studied the red-head, “It seems like now it is you doing me a favour.”
“There are no favours between family.” He smiled gently at her before a hint of pain flickered through his eyes as he turned to the now beaming boy pressed against her side. “Anakin.”
“Yes.” Anakin narrowed his eyes at the tone, he recognised it as the one the older man used when he was going to be giving him some news that Anakin might or might not like.
“I love having you as my padawan and will be very happy if you choose to stay, but I will understand if you choose to leave.”
Anakin frowned in confusion, “Leave? What do you mean?”
“Your mother is free now, it would be safe for you to join her on Alderaan if that is what you want to do.”
“Oh.” Anakin’s eyes went wide and Obi-Wan knew the idea hadn’t occurred to him.
“Part of being free, truly free is making your own choices. Even if they are difficult. Right now you have to decide if you want to go with your mother or remain here and become a Jedi.”
“Amu?” He turned wide blue eyes to his mother.
“It is your choice, my love. But I will love you no matter your choice and you will always be in my heart.”
He chewed on his lip as he thought. “I want to help people.”
“You don’t have to be a Jedi to help people.” Obi-Wan told him, “Nor do you need to decide right now, you can take your time. Being a Jedi would mean living your life by the Code, learning to trust the Council and the Force to guide your life.”
Shmi smiled at him as he looked at her in mute appeal, but didn’t say anything.
“I want to be a Jedi.” He said eventually. “But I want to keep amu safe as well.”
“It’s not your job to worry about me.” His mother turned his face towards her own as she spoke. “I can take care of myself. I’m free and your Obi-Wan would not send me somewhere that was dangerous. If you want to be a Jedi, you will need to learn to let go of that worry and focus on your life in the Temple.”
Anakin frowned. “But…”
“No Anakin. You’ve dreamed of helping the galaxy since you were a young boy, and being a Jedi could be your path to doing so. To be a Jedi means putting others' needs before your own, to let go of the fear that lives in here,” She touched his chest lightly. “And if necessary sacrifice your life and personal happiness.”
Anakin blinked at her in surprise, “How do you know so much about being a Jedi?”
She laughed, “Oh Ani, Quinlan and I were on a small ship together for weeks. We had to talk about something on the journey.”