Beginning Again

Chapter 7: Back to Tatooine

Anakin POV

Alexa's clue had helped us eventually apprehend our spy, it had taken a brilliant plan, devised by me of course, and some time, but now had him in custody. It would have been helpful if he had decided to talk, but even when he elected to remain silent we still had him out of the way which was what we needed.

"Now we don't have to worry about our next move being reported back to T'doshok so we can proceed to Tatooine." Obi Wan said, making me cringe slightly.

"Why is it that something always brings me back there, just when I think I've finally gotten away?"

"I don't know, the Force does work in mysterious ways Anakin, maybe there's a reason you keep being called back."

"Well I hope that this is the last time that I have to return."

It was no secret that I wasn't fond of the sandy planet that I once called home, and I knew that Alexa wasn't either. She hadn't taken the news very well when we told her where we would be going.

"Anakin you know I can't go back there!"  The young Togruta hissed.

"I know, Alexa, I know.  I don't want to go back either, but the queen's life is at stake, and it's our duty to-"

"Don't lecture me!  I know all of this, but that doesn't make me feel any better about having to go back."

"I don't know what to say Alexa, we have to go, we can't ignore this."

"I'm not trying to ignore it, I just..."  With a sigh she turned away from me.

"I'm not saying that it will be easy for you, but it will help you take another step forward from your past.  You say that you want to move on right?  Well some times that means that you have to face your past head on and push through it.  I'll be there to help you this time, Alexa.  I won't let anything happen to you."

There was a moment of tense silence as I waited to see what she would say.

"You promise?"  She asked quietly.

"I promise."

"Ok."  She finally agreed.  "But I still don't like it."

I nodded with a gentle smile.  "I know.  Come on, let's get ready and get going."

Rendal POV

I stood by the landing ramp of the ship, waiting for Alexa to arrive with Master Skywalker.  I had been tempted to go and find them, but something was telling me to give them some space.  When they walked over I smiled at Alexa and she smiled back, but I had the feeling that she was less than happy for some reason.  Still, I knew better than to ask straight away.

"Everyone aboard."  Master Skywalker said as he walked into the ship, with Alexa trailing behind him.  I followed after her with my master behind me.  Once we were all seated Anakin started the engine and the ship rose off the landing platform, quickly flying out of the planet's atmosphere into space.

I had to admit, there was a bit of thrill with flying, it was fun, to watch everything racing past, especially when we went into lightspeed.  Once we did though I turned my gaze from the stars and looked at my girlfriend.  I reached out and took her hand.  'You ok?'  I mouthed silently to her.  She simply nodded and didn't say anything back, another sign that something was going on with her.  I tried to smile, but when she looked away I gave a soft sigh.  I thought that she felt comfortable talking to me about most things now...  Apparently not.  It was disappointing to say the least, but whatever the problem was it didn't look like she was going to share it or at least not yet.