I N W H I C H . . .
Jedi padawan Sylvie Kryze and Qui-Gon Jinn meet two force sensitive slaves who's future choices turn the galaxy upside down.
-Full description inside-
[DISCONTINUED]
Alina regretted not getting a robe for herself. The sun beat down on them harshly. Watto had found and given them the exact location of the Lars farm. It was remote, not too far from Mos Eisley but far enough. After getting the location they went back to Pamde's ship, landing just outside the house. R2 beeped as the two Skywalkers and Senator headed towards the house.
"Stay with the ship R2" Padmé instructed. The droid whirred in response before moving back towards the ship. As they made their way towards the house Alina spotted a protocol droid outside with a coat of dull grey. It looked up as they passed "Hello, how might I be of service?" Alina's brows furrowed, she knew that voice... I am C-" He was cut off by Anakin "3PO?" he asked.
The protocol droid stammered for a response "The Maker!" he exclaimed "Master Ani! I knew you would return, I knew it! And Lina and Miss Padmé, oh my!" Alina grinned "It's been a while" If it weren't for the voice box she probably wouldn't have recognized him, the last time she'd seen him was ten years ago when he didn't have a shell covering his parts. "Hello 3PO" Padmé said.
"Bless my circuits! I'm so pleased to see you" 3PO said. "We've come to see our mother" Anakin said. "Oh. um. I think perhaps we better go indoors" The protocol droid said. The two Skywalkers exchanged looks as he led them down the stairs. "Master Owen. Might I present two most important visitors" 3PO said to a man with light brown hair who was cleaning some tool.
A girl with her hair up, seemingly a bit younger than the man moved to stand next to him. "I'm Anakin Skywalker" Anakin said, moving forward "Alina Skywalker" Alina said. "Owen Lars" The man then looked to his right "This is my girlfriend Beru"
"Hello" The girl said, offering them a smile. "I'm Padmé" The Senator said. "I guess I'm your stepbrother" So Watto was telling the truth. That would be a first. "I had a feeling you might show up someday" Owen said. "Is my Mother here?" Anakin asked. "No, she's not" Another voice said. They turned their heads to see an old man making his way towards them in a wheelchair.
He held out a hand for the two Skywalkers to shake which they did. "Cliegg Lars. Shmi is my wife" he said. "Nice to meet you but where is our mother?" Alina asked. "We should go inside, we have a lot to talk about" Cliegg said, turning his wheelchair in the direction he came from. The two siblings turned to look at each other "Something's wrong" Alina murmured, voicing both their thoughts. Anakin didn't respond, lightly squeezing her hand.
They sat around a table, drinks placed in front of them by Beru. Alina thanked her before looking at Cliegg "Where's our mother?" she asked. The Lars exchanged looks, only deepening the worry the Skywalkers felt. "She was taken" Cliegg said finally. "What? How?" It was all the younger Skywalker could do to remain seated.
"It was just before dawn. They came out of nowhere. A hunting party of Tusken Raiders. Your mother had gone out early like she always did to pick mushrooms that grow on the vaporators. From the tracks... she was about halfway home when they took her. Those tuskens walk like men but they're vicious mindless monsters. Thirty of us went out after her, only four came back" Alina chewed on the inside of her cheek, she would not cry. She refused to.
"I'd be out there with them but after I lost my leg I just couldn't rise anymore until I heal" Anakin nodded though his face told a very different story. Both Skywalkers could feel each other's pain like it was their own. Only half because it was their own.
"I don't want to give up on her but she's been gone a month" A month. The same time the nightmares started. "There's little hope she's lasted this long" Cliegg said. That was the final straw. Alina couldn't bear to listen anymore. She stood up abruptly, nearly knocking her chair over. With tears in her eyes she stormed out "Where are you going?" Owen asked. Alina didn't stop "To find my mother!" she called back.
The Lars were kind enough, she knew that but the longer she sat at that table the longer her mother suffered at the hands of those beasts. She made her way over to the speeder, not turning when Anakin came up behind her. "She's not dead!" Alina snapped, wiping furiously at her tears. "I know, we'll find her, I promise" Anakin said, pulling her into a hug which she gladly accepted. She sensed Padmé exiting the house and coming towards them.
Alina knew Anakin sensed her too, she could sense his heartbeat pick up. She pulled away from the embrace, letting her brother go talk to Padmé as she started up the speeder. "You're gonna have to stay here. These are good people Padmé. You'll be safe" he said. Alina watched as the two held each other close, even when they moved out of the hug. "I won't be long" Anakin said as he moved to sit on the speeder with Alina sitting behind him.
Through the whole trip neither of them said a word. They didn't need to. They could read each other's emotions well enough and it was obvious that both of them had their mind set on a single goal. The twin suns began to sink lower and lower as they drove in. Alina turned her head to face them, her face pressed against Anakin's back.
Amongst the few good memories she had of Tatooine watching the binary sunset with Anakin and her mother from the roof of their house was one of the best of them. And they could do it again. They would once she and Anakin brought their mother back. Only now they'd be watching from the Lars house, free. All of them would be free.
. . • ☆ . ° .• °:. *₊ ° . ☆
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
