Dark Legacy

Chapter 20 - Tatooine

Author's Note: This chapter includes mentions of the Tatooine Slave Culture created by fialleril. Also, there is a mention of an OC character, who we are very possessive of and consider to be canon. :D 

~ Amina Gila

They go to Tatooine two days after Anakin and Padme return from Naboo along with Rex and Sabe. The meeting with Ruwee and Jobal went far differently – and better – than Anakin had anticipated. They seemed thrilled to hear that Padme had found someone to marry, albeit a bit put out that they didn't attend her wedding. And with that meeting behind him, Anakin is more than ready to go to Tatooine.

Even though it's been nearly two weeks since the assassination attempt, Dooku still remains in the Halls of Healing. Aayla and Vos have sworn to protect him with their lives, if need be, Plo and Depa pledging their support as well. The four have been given a few preliminary instructions on the usage of the Dark Side, primarily by Dooku, and with Obi-Wan and Anakin's supervision, both Vos and Aayla began to draw on it in a controlled manner.

So far everything has gone well. Better than well, actually, considering that, once news of Plo and Depa's alliance with the Sith became common knowledge, other Jedi, including Fisto, surprisingly enough, had begun coming to them asking to join, or for help or advice. Many of them are younger individuals who are struggling with the Dark Side due to the war. Among them are Kento and Mallie Marek, both of whom had married in secret shortly after the start of the war. Apparently, Anakin wasn't the only Jedi who wanted to be able to settle down and have a family.

Anakin had never expected their reformed Sith Order to gain so much popularity – or for him to gain so much fame and respect among the Jedi – and once their campaign on Tatooine is complete, he and Obi-Wan will have to work on figuring out how to handle the situation. There are only four Sith right now, or two technically since Ahsoka is still training and Obi-Wan never passed his trials, and they can only do so much.

But that is something to deal with another time.

So far, everything in their plan has gone without a hitch. Fives took a squadron of clone troopers, including Padme and Sabe, to escort the freed slaves to a safe location while the Sith and clones eliminate the slavers or others who try to fight them. Secure inside his armor, Anakin can't feel the harsh, dry wind blowing across the surface of the planet, making his cape swirl around him. With a snap-hiss his gold lightsaber hisses to life as he flips over the edge of the ridge landing on the ground below and stalking towards Jabba's palace, the Dark Side flowing through him.

The battle is extensive, but easy, especially since they have so much support; the clones are used to fighting larger, more dangerous armies of droids, not groups of criminals and thugs, many of whom are not well-trained fighters. After taking Jabba's palace, they move to Mos Espa. It's strange to be back, to be fighting from house to house as they take the city from whatever minimal slaver resistance is there.

Most the slaves have already been evacuated, courtesy of Fives' men, so it does make it easier for them to fight. Still, the clones have all been warned to check their fire. There's no reason to cause any more destruction than is strictly necessary for the mission. Whatever slavers they can capture, they will. It will be therapeutic for the freed slaves to witness their former masters getting justice by whatever laws they institute. And that includes Watto, because Anakin knows that he will probably surrender when he realizes the city is being overrun. Witnessing his death will... help him, he thinks.

Anakin struggles to hold back his fury when he sees the Zygerrian slaver only feet away from him, attempting to escape with some of the others, but then, he remembers her, and how her body was so still and cold when he'd found her. The Dark Side surges in response to his emotions, and he lets go, delving in as he grabs the slaver's neck with the Force, lifting him into the air.