STARLIGHT. anakin skywalker

prologue.

An utopian hub for smugglers, bounty hunters and an array of humans and non-humans entangled in webs of criminal activities. A desert planet thriving on the scarcity of Republic security. If one hoped to build a criminal empire of sorts, an Outer Rim world like Tatooine was to a gangster what a temple was to a Jedi. Organised crime was in bloom, rooted in slavery and spice smuggling.

Hence, Jedi Knights rarely stepped on such planets. Despite their reputation as defenders of peace, Republic ambassadors had little to no influence on such mayhem. An unfortunate syzygy of events, ominously balancing out the relative peace reigning over the Galaxy, called the remnants of the crew of Radiant VII along with the queen of the Naboo — joined by her own crew — upon its sandy lands. Its remote location poses a tremendous advantage, in a system far beyond the reach of the Trade Federation. With no hyperdrive to lead them to the safety of the Core, the Jedi would have to make use of their finely attuned diplomatic prowess to obtain their getaway ship parts and successfully complete their mission.

The Naboo Royal Starship, with its sleek silvery plating, makes a relatively smooth landing, near the outskirts of a rather primitive settlement, or at least one not standing a chance against the modernised regions that Coruscanti inhabit. Technological advances are meagre; the droids are barely outdated piles of scrap and the holocomms are at least two generations old. The ship's surface gleams against the rays of sunshine coming from the fireball reigning across the serene sky selfishly.

The desert climate strikes Arysa at once, before even stepping down the boarding ramp. A gust of wind infilled with particles of sand irks her sight and the unmerciful heat of the scorching sun rays create a smothering discomfort. She gives up her conventional robes both to avoid attention upon herself, but also in order to prevent the additional layers of clothing from preserving the already unbearable heat sheathing her skin. Her utility belt stays hidden underneath the huge poncho, obviously designed for someone with exponentially broader shoulders and a taller figure.

The Padawan has proven herself capable of handling the mission and of being out in the open on a planet ruled by the Hutts by finding her way to her Master on the perilous Trade Federation battleship. All of Sevrin Derlin's worries were in vain since the Force appears to be particularly strong with his apprentice. In spite of her acuity to pain and suffering, Arysa cleverly protected herself by not allowing the waves of anguish to topple over when they accessed the depths of her innate empathy.

The Gungan creature — or the pathetic life form, as Obi-Wan likes to call the oddities his Master frequently encounters on his missions — mutters several complaints on the group's path to the settlement they had spotted before they landed. The Jedi Knights seem to be unbothered by his ability to speak, but Arysa and her unfinished droid are already exhausted. R2-D2, the witty astromech she's been working on throughout the past couple of years, beeps to his creator about how much he wishes Jar Jar Binks could be left behind.

"Wait," the captain tries to catch up with them on their path through the desert.

The command prompts Arysa to turn around in sync with Qui-Gon Jinn. The Jedi stop walking until the man reaches them, joined by a young girl, dressed in a modest outift. Arysa recognises her as one of the queen's handmaidens.

"Her Highness commands you to take her handmaiden with you," the captain relays as the handmaiden looks around eagerly.

"No more commands from Her Highness, Captain," Qui-Gon cuts him off immediately. "The spaceport is no going to be pleasant."

"I agree, Tatooine is not a welcoming planet for royalty," Sevrin assents, but the handmaiden curiously glances at the man's young Padawan, who seems to be too young to be in the midst of the spaceport in question.