Star Wars Fan Fiction
by
~kwawin
PART I
Two months have passed since Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn's death on the planet of Naboo. Anakin Skywalker, the boy Jinn proclaimed as the "Chosen One", now lives on Coruscant at the Jedi Academy. He has become a Jedi apprentice under the tutelage of Master Obi-Wan Kenobi. Anakin trains daily with Kenobi, and his skill with the Force continues to increase. Obi-Wan will teach young Skywalker the ways of the Jedi, as Qui-Gon would have done had he lived. Kenobi can foresee that Anakin will become a powerful knight someday, if he can overcome his fear of losing his mother. As he tries to help his padawan, the young Jedi Master must also conquer his own fear of failing his fallen master.
~
The Jedi Council is greatly impressed by young Skywalker's skill with the Force. Council member Adi
Gallia pays particular attention to the young apprentice. She is a powerful Jedi, especially with
her ability to shield her thoughts and feelings from others. She is also well connected with Coruscant's political elites through her family's diplomatic ties. Gallia has become a close friend and confidant of Senator (now Chancellor) Palpatine's, after her discovery of the Trade Federation's plot to invade Naboo. It was her warning that prompted Chancellor Valorum to request the Jedi Council's intervention in the matter. Palpatine continues to show his gratitude to the Jedi Master in many ways. In turn, Adi informs him of many interesting things... especially things about Anakin.
~
The Chancellor is very curious about the boy. He has become obsessed with him. He felt how strong the Force was with Anakin when he first met him. But Palpatine took no action then because he was too busy maneuvering his way into the Chancellorship. Besides, he already had an apprentice. A powerful apprentice. But that was two months ago... and now Darth Maul is gone.
Now enthroned as Chancellor, Palpatine is ready to strike. He must acquire the boy soon, before he too is lost to the Jedi. The Sith master will need a powerful apprentice to help bring about his new galactic order... someone strong with the Force to execute Palpatine's will throughout the galaxy.
However, his desire to snare Anakin has a slight problem. How could he entice this scruffy little ex-slave boy away from his "family" at the Jedi Academy, and to a stranger he'd only met a couple of times before? The Chancellor knows that this boy will not be won over by the flashy, material things most slave children craved. There must be a way to get Anakin without the Jedi discovering his true intentions. Then Palpatine remembers something.
Adi Gallia had mentioned how incessantly the boy spoke of his mother. Anakin even expressed guilt over leaving her. The Jedi master also told the Chancellor of Skywalker's anger toward Obi-Wan and the Jedi Council for not finding a way to free her. The padawan once boldly asked the Jedi Masters why they simply couldn't buy her freedom. His master's unfortunate response was "Well, if we bought her, we'd have to buy all the slaves in order for this action is to be fair. Besides, buying slaves would be condoning the very system of slavery itself."
Huh?
Even Palpatine had to laugh when he heard that one. "Stupid Jedi", he thought to himself. He despises Obi-Wan and wants revenge for the Jedi knight's slaying of Lord Maul. But that will come later. For now, he'll just take the boy.
~
Back on Anakin's home planet of Tatooine, Watto the junk dealer is still pretty down on his luck. He'd lost big, betting against young Skywalker at the Boonta Eve pod race. His shop and home had been auctioned off, so he moved in with his last remaining possession, Shmi Skywalker, Anakin's mother. Of course Watto never does any work, except finding odd jobs for Shmi, who then turns over her meager earnings to him. He had long since gambled away the money Qui-Gon had given her.
So when a mysterious stranger appears and offers to buy Shmi with a generous amount of hard cash, Watto accepts without hesitation.
~
Shmi is relieved to finally be free of Watto; yet she's apprehensive as she boards a small, elegant ship. Whoever this new master is, he certainly has great wealth. At least she figures she'll eat regularly.
The stranger doesn't talk and Shmi learned long ago not to speak to your master until spoken to. Their silent journey ends several hours later as they land on a distant planet. Shmi looks around in awe as she exits the ship, tripping and nearly falling from the ramp, were it not for the stranger's quick reflexes catching her. He places her onboard a waiting shuttle, then returns to his ship. She sits alone, still silently uneasy as the shuttle leaves for Wr'Ithan Legatia, the official residency of the Supreme Chancellor.
~
Shmi is ushered into the magnificent estate by a
protocol droid. The entrance from the landing platform leads to a grand atrium, complete with exotic birds, trees and several small waterfalls. It's like one of those grand hotels she'd seen on some viewscreen adverts. The droid leads her up a palatial staircase, down a long hallway and into a large, lavishly decorated bedroom. "This will be your room, milady."
Shmi is dumbfounded. "Milady?! Oh, there must be some mistake. I think I'm supposed to be in the servant or slave quarters."
"No mistake, milady. This is your room." The droid hands Shmi a very beautiful dress. "The master wishes you to wear this for dinner tonight, which will be served in about forty minutes. I shall return at that time to escort you down to the main dining room. If you need anything in the meantime, please press the gold button next to the bed." The droid exits the room, as Shmi continues to stare in disbelief. She begins to wonder what manner of master this is, bringing a tired, middle-aged slave woman here for who knows what. Where is "here" anyway? She scans the room and walks over to a large window. Looking out across the endless skyline of the metropolis, she concludes that this must be Coruscant.
Coruscant?
Isn't this where Qui-Gon said he was going to take Anakin to train as a Jedi?
Anakin!
Maybe she will see him again! Shmi smiles and hugs the dress she's holding. She glances down for a moment, then up to a timepiece on the wall. "I'd better get dressed", she whispers to herself, as she hurries into a large adjoining bathroom.
~
Shmi is being led by the protocol droid into a grand hall. "This is the main dinning room. Please be seated, milady. The master will be with you shortly." The droid seats Shmi at a long, candlelit table, decorated with fine crystal and gold settings. A door
at the rear of the room opens and two more droids enter, followed by a woman wearing a crimson veil. And then... the Supreme Chancellor?!
Shmi's mouth opens. Even on remote Tatooine everyone knew him. His face was on viewscreens, hologram players, even speeder bumper stickers. He was everywhere, reassuring the people that he was their "Protector, Defender, Father, Friend." Well, he sure is being friendly tonight. "But why me?", Shmi ponders. She closes her mouth and begins to stand as the Chancellor walks over to her.
"No, no, please don't get up. You are my guest tonight. I am very pleased to meet you, Shmi." He kisses her hand and smiles as he eyes her up and down. "You look very lovely."
Baffled, Shmi tries to pull her hand away as Palpatine tightens his grip. "Don't be afraid, my dear. I'm not going to hurt you." As she relaxes her hand, he releases it.
Shmi lowers her head and speaks nervously. "I'm sorry, sir... I just don't understand why I'm here... sitting at your table."
"Yes, I suppose it does seem rather strange. One moment, a slave on a remote planet; the next, a beautiful guest in the home of the Supreme Chancellor. I'll be happy to explain all this once we've had dinner. Alright?"
Shmi nods and anxiously smiles as Palpatine is seated across the table from her. The woman in the crimson veil turns and exits the room. The next hour is spent with droids going back and forth, serving a delectable five-course gourmet feast. Shmi tries not to eat too fast, but she's starving. It must've been twenty-two hours since her last meal. Anyway, Palpatine isn't bothered by her ravenous appetite. He's actually enjoying watching her eat. He feels a sort of pleasure... like a kid feels when feeding a stray kitten.
The Chancellor does almost all the chatting, making small talk about the weather, Coruscant traffic jams, etc. After all, what else could he discuss with this lowly slave woman?
Anakin, perhaps?
Shmi pushes away her half-eaten dessert. She's stuffed. It's been a very long time since she's felt the satisfying pain of a full belly. Palpatine stands and helps Shmi up from her chair. They walk into a vast library and sit down in two plush chairs near the fireplace. A droid enters and offers each of them a small glass of Tswi, a very expensive, thick, black liqueur. Shmi glances at Palpatine, as he smiles and drinks while eyeing her. She sniffs her glass, takes a tiny sip and pauses. "Wow! That's pretty strong", she thinks to herself. She figures she'd better just nurse this one.
"What's the matter, Shmi? Don't you like it?" The Chancellor asks, his glass half-finished.
"Oh, it's fine sir. It's just that... I really don't drink." Shmi sets the glass down on a small table next to her chair. "Sir. Would you kindly tell me why I'm here? I mean, what my job duties will be here?"
"Job duties? Oh no, I haven't brought you here to be my servant. You are here as my honored guest." Palpatine studies Shmi's bewildered face as he finishes his drink and sets the empty glass down on the table. "How much do you know of the Trade Federation's defeat on the planet of Naboo?"
Shmi looks down. "Not much, I'm afraid. News is often slow to reach Tatooine. And I'm not very knowledgeable about galactic affairs. My small life centers around trying to survive day to day."
Palpatine takes her hand. "That is in the past, my dear. You are here with me now and my home has become your home. You see, everything that I am and that I have, I owe to your son, Anakin."
Shmi looks at him with astonishment. "Anakin?!"
"Yes. Your son played a crucial role in freeing my home planet of Naboo from the invasion forces of the Trade Federation. Were it not for him, my world might have been lost. And my future, my very life... ruined."
Shmi smiles in amazement. "Chancellor, sir, do you know where Anakin is?"
"Why yes. He is right here in Coruscant, at the Jedi Academy. That is why I brought you here, so that you might be re-united with your son. I felt it was the least I could do to show my gratitude. I had confidentially suggested to Obi-Wan Kenobi that the Jedi Council bring you here themselves. But when the Jedi ignored my request, I felt I had to take matters into my own hands."
A joyful tear streams down Shmi's cheek. "Sir, may I please go see him?" Palpatine gently wipes the tear away and smiles sweetly at her. "Of course, my dear. But he must come here. I do not trust the Jedi after their willingness to leave you stranded on that God-forsaken planet. I sincerely believe that if you were to go to them, they would send you away... back to Tatooine."
"Why?! How can they?! You are my master now!"
The Chancellor massages Shmi's hand and deeply sighs. "Shmi, I did not want to tell you this. But I have been informed that your former master was murdered earlier today. And though he deactivated the transmitter within you, Watto died before he could file the official registration of your sale. My payment in cash did expedite the transaction, but left no legal record of his having sold you. Watto's heirs or creditors will want you back, since they still consider you to be a valuable asset of his estate. They've probably already hired bounty hunters to find you."
Shmi anxiously looks away, as Palpatine continues.
"The Jedi will fear your taking Anakin away from them, as retribution for the shabby way they've treated you. Not to mention your presence here being a thorn in their hypocritical, self-righteous side. The Jedi would offer any bounty hunters their covert assistance in capturing you. And once back on Tatooine, you would likely be sold at auction, never again to see Anakin."
Shmi's countenance has turned to one of despair. Seeing Anakin again had been her only hope over the last two dismal months. Now that she was this close, how could she bear to lose her only child again?
"Do not worry, my dear," Palpatine gently smiles. "I shall do everything in my power as Supreme Chancellor to protect you. But you must trust me... and do exactly as I say."
Shmi slowly nods. She will do whatever the Chancellor tells her to. Palpatine rises from his chair and helps a weakened, frightened Shmi to her feet. He gently kisses her forehead and holds her securely in his strong embrace. He is now her protector, defender, father, friend.
Part II
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April 17, 2000
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