Archive of Our Own ^beta

When her son brought strangers home right before a sandstorm, she was worried that they won't have enough food and water. Even if Watto didn't abuse them for no reason, he wasn't exactly wealthy, and on Tatooine there was always a shortage of everything. Monthly food rations, if not saved, would last for only three weeks. Despite that, she hosted them as best as she could.
She was proud of her son. Of the way he was always willing to help others, even people he barely knew. And still she was worried for his safety. And it wasn't about the race he was supposed to take part in. She was worried that someone might some day take advantage of his good heart. She feared that it was only a matter of time. They were slaves on Tatooine afterall.
But even more than that, she dreaded the idea that his willingness to bring goodness to the world may disappear. When he gets hurt enough times. She didn't want to believe that would happen, and tried to prevent it. But she saw for herself how the faces of all the once cheerful kids turned harsh like stone. Far too many times.
She knew that Anakin was extraordinary. And not only in the way a child is incredible in the eyes of their mother. The boy had many talents, so many, it was impossible to count. But that wasn't all. There was something else. She felt it deep in her bones. The conversation with Qui-Gon only solidified that idea.

- He can see things before they happen. That's why he appears to have such quick reflexes. It's a Jedi trait.

- He deserves better than a slave's life.

At those words the man looked at her with a strange sadness in his eyes. It lasted a fraction of a second, maybe even less, but still long enough so that she could notice it.

- Had he been born on the Republic we would have identified him earlier. - and again, for a brief moment, the same sadness was back in his eyes - The Force is unusually strong with him, that much is clear. Who was his father?

For this question Shmi was more or less prepared for, but despite that, the answer wasn't much easier.

- There was no father. I carried him, I gave birth, I raised him. I can't explain what happened.

People would usually laugh at her answer. They would tell her that she lost her mind, or simply, slept with so many men, she can't remember. But on Qui-Gon's face she saw understanding. A spark of hope ignited in her.

- Can you help him? - she asked.

Hearing those words, the Jedi seemed saddened again.

- I don't know - he replied - I didn't actually come here to free slaves.

That evening when she finally managed to get her son to bed, she heard the man speaking with his apprentice. She didn't understand much. She had no idea who master Yoda was, or what midichlorians were, but she was partially able to figure it out.  When he saw her, she wanted to leave, but before she got the chance to do so, he asked her

- Do you know anything about the Ruusan Reformation? - he was so quiet that, for a moment, she wondered if he actually spoke.

When she nodded her head sideways, he smiled and continued, this time a little louder, still barely above a whisper.

- It took place around a thousand years ago, when the Sith Wars ended. It changed the way the political system worked, and was the symbolic end of the Old Republic. It limited the Great Chancellor's power. - Qui-Gon, who was still looking at her until that moment, looked towards the desert. - Besides that, Jedi were obligated to disband the Light Army, give up all ranks, and cut ties with the military, which meant they would come back to their original role - peacekeepers. That war was the result of a few members of the order turning to the dark side. It was, considered by many, an internal conflict, that spanned all across the galaxy, due to which many innocent people were hurt. That's why we've been made to atone for what we have done. In order to prevent similar situations from ever occurring, Jedi training was to be centered on Coruscant. Moreover, the order indentured itself to serve the Senate for a thousand years. In exchange, the Senate was supposed to support the order financially. Well - technically the taxpayers are doing that - but that's a different story.

He sat silent for a while. Shmi thought he finished talking, but he spoke again, even quieter, if that was even possible.

- At the beginning this arrangement worked. More members were joining the order, the Coruscant temple was rebuilt, and the Republic entered an era of peace. However the senators were becoming more and more aware what kind of power they had over the Jedi, and how to gain even more of it. They started to take over other aspects of our lives, and before we realised what was happening, they were in control of practically everything. Starting from the ships we were flying, to the food we were eating. It's difficult to stand up against someone who controls your food rations or heating, and could cut them off at any moment, right? - The Jedi Knight smiled sadly - The members of our order became slaves to the Senate. At first, we only took care of easy missions, personal, albeit meaningless, favours. But, as you can probably imagine, the politicians started to reach for more. And more. Now, our main objective is to fulfil the senator's orders. The true Jedi Order has fallen a long time ago...

He, again, stopped for a moment. Finally, he took his eyes off of the dunes, and looked back at her.

- Ofcourse, not many people know of the true nature of our "relationship". What would it look like, if the righteous Republic had slaves? - A fake anger flashed over his face - That's why so many people consider us equals. And, ofcourse, we can't complain about bad conditions, we don't have corporal punishment after all. Well, most of the time.  They are keeping us on a chain. A golden chain, embroidered with gems, but still a chain. That's why I'm not sure I can help your son. I'm not sure if you still even want that kind of help. - as he said those words, he hid his face in his hands.

Shmi looked, surprised, at the once awe-commanding and respectable man, who now seemed so sad and frightened. She approached him slowly, and sat on the wall beside him. Then, she gently wrapped her hands around him. Now, she was the one who laughed sadly. Who would have thought that her life could be this similar to that of a mighty Jedi?

- You said that You only agreed on a thousand years of service? - she started gently - and the Reformation also took place around a thousand years ago. Does this not mean that your enslavement will end soon? How many years do You have left?

- Technically thirty two. But freeing ourselves from under the Senate's influence will not be easy. Not to mention the fact that they control our finances, or even all the laws that were put in place after the reformation. Just leaving the order is nearly impossible. Going missing in action is also not a possibility. We have chips implanted in us. They are connected to vital nerves, damaging them or taking them out will result in getting paralyzed. These intensive searches for force sensitive children are being conducted for a reason. Even those, who can barely do anything are taken in. Their parents obviously don't know what fate is awaiting their child. Due to the lack of contact, they are unlikely to get that knowledge. The less the child remembers, the better. But taking in the older ones isn't much of a problem either. Sure, there are only a few like Anakin, but taking him in wouldn't be a problem due to his - his voice stopped for a moment - heritage - he finished.