What Could Have Been Part 2: Anakin's Trials

Return of the Dynamic Duo

Luke

"Nice going you Nerf herder!" Leia huffed. They were sitting on salvelaged cargo from the back of the crashed Escapade while their parents inspected the damage. Luke felt horrible. He had distroyed their ship and they were in the middle if nowhere!

Padme

Padme fought open the emergency door at the haul of the ship until her husband tore it open the rest of the way. "How could I let this happen? I should have been watching them..." he grumbled. Padme rested a hand on his shoulder, "It's alright. We're all safe and thats what's important."

Flustered, Anakin ran his hands through his golden mane of hair, "But the mission-" he protested. Padme kissed his temple, "isn't ruined," she finished. Yes things had spiraled out of control, literally, but in the end she was just happy that her husband and children were safe.

Anakin

"I guess I'd better contact Obi-wan and tell him we need a transport to pick us up..." Anakin muttered. Just perfect! First day back on the job and he nearly gets his family killed! And he had to explain it to Obi-wan!

In the rear of the ship, Anakin sifted through crates of supplies looking for the astromech droid Obi-wan said he sent with them. "I think you'll be quite pleased with this one..." Obi-wan had remarked. Anakin wondered what he had meant by that but his question was soon answered.

Inside the luggage hold sat a little domed droid. It's faded paint; blue and white. It's model number; R2-D2.

"Artoo..." Anakin whispered in astonishment. The droid's dome spun around and blinked happily. R2 rolled up to his old master and bumped at his knee. "Artoo, it is you!" he chuckled, "Hey Padme! Come see who Obi-wan sent along!"

Padme smiled in shock, "Artoo?" The little droid whistled a greeting. "Wow... I never thought we'd see you again!" Anakin said in amazement. As the memory of his mechanical co-pilot returned, another droid also trickled back into his thoughts. Another droid that seemed to never be too far from this one. "I wonder..." he thought aloud. Anakin climbed through more of the wreckage and sure enough, the sight of worn gold plating caught his eye in a back room. He moved away a stack of crates and found his old protocol droid, C-3PO, sitting quietly.

Of course, that was only because he was powered off.

With the flick of a switch, the droid's dull eyes lit up and so did his voice, "Good heavens! The nerve of that Master Kenobi! How rude of him to stuff me back here on this overcrowded metal monstrosity to- to... Oh dear, I'm afraid I haven't any idea where I am..." the droids eyes studied their surroundings for a moment before focusing on Anakin. "Master... Skywalker? Is that you? Oh my dear maker! I'm so glad to see you again! Oh, and you've brought Mistress Padme along too!" Padme laughed slightly as she stepped into the room, "Hello Seethreepio. It's good to see you again."

Anakin grinned, "I can't believe this. Well you guys, there's a few people we would like you to meet," he explained, glancing at Padme.

They led the droids out of the ship and into the daylight of Felucia. Luke and Leia were sitting on a crate argueing.

Luke

"It wasn't my fault Leia! I didn't crash the ship on purpose!" Luke defended. His sister had been yelling at him ever since they crashlanded and he was tired of hearing it from her. "Well maybe next time you should take some time to think, Mr. Destined Jedi Warrior!" she shot back.

Luke plopped down on a crate, "What makes you think I'm some Destined Jedi?" he asked. Leia sat properly on the crate next to him, "Didn't you hear Master Obi-wan? He said he saw a vision from some other Jedi. He said that we were desperately needed for this mission! Connect the dots!" she leaned closer although they were the only ones there, "And I haven't told you the best part... While we were at the Jedi Temple, I saw this painting of two warriors standing on a cliff side. Their was a little heading that said The Destined Warriors. Don't you see what's going on here?"

Luke played with a fallen twig, "Not really," he admitted. Leia groaned, "Luke! We could be there Destined Warriors!" she proposed. Luke tossed the stick aside, "You really think so?" he asked. Leia patted his back, "Positive."

Luke began thinking. Maybe they were special. Maybe there was more here than just becoming Jedi like their father. Maybe they would be more...

But he was snapped out of his thinking by a loud, unfamiliar voice coming from the ship. "- Just who are we going to meet Master Skywalker?" the voice begged.

Luke turned around. Two droids were following his parents over to him and his sister. The gold one was going on and on until his father cut him off, "See-threepio, Artoo, we would like you to meet our son and daughter, Luke and Leia Skywalker."

Luke glanced at Leia who was already bent down next to the little astromech droid, "Aww, he's so cute!" she squealed. The droid beeped and whistled happily in response. "Luke, Leia, this is Artoo-Deetoo and See-Threepio," their father introduced. See-Threepio held out a tarnished metal hand for him to shake, "Greetings. I am See-Threepio, human cyborg relations."

Luke shrugged, "Nice to meet you."

But just as he shook the droid's hand, another bang echoed from the ship. It sounded the same as the one he had heard during the trip. His parents shared confused glances but when he turned toward his sister, she was smiling widely.

What are you hiding?