When we entered the house, I noticed that Shmi seemed exceptionally depressed.
I knew what that meant.
Qui-Gon Jinn must have brought up the subject of my freedom with her earlier.
As happy as she was because of my freedom, she did not want to be separated from her child.
I felt sorry for her, but I knew she would be safe.
She just had to wait a little longer.
When Qui-Gon explained that he was taking me for Jedi training, I pretended to be surprised and excited.
Saying that I still had a few things to prepare, I ran to my room.
When I looked at that room for the last time, I smiled and hoped I would never see it again.
I walked over to 3PO, removed the console, and added a new memory bank, which switched 3PO into guardian mode.
Even though he still lacked his plating, his posture and the way he moved changed completely.
When I was rebuilding him, I bought military motors for droids from Vardis.
Now he simply switched his movement mode.
He no longer walked like someone who had something shoved deep up his backside.
Only like a real battle droid.
All of his steps became stable and certain.
I left his personality because I liked it in the movies and did not want to destroy it.
“Master Anakin, please be at ease.
I will ensure your mother’s safety.
I am certain of it,” C-3PO said.
“I know, C-3PO.
Give her this when we leave.”
I handed him the holographic device that my mother was supposed to play only after we left, as well as the chip remote and the slave contract.
I grabbed the card with a million credits that was lying on the table in the place where the man of my acquaintance and partner had left it.
Nice pocket money for a first solo journey through the galaxy, I wanted to joke, but unfortunately I had no audience.
See you, C-3PO.
When I reached the living room, I hugged Mom tightly and promised her that I would take care of myself during my travels.
I noticed that she was barely holding back tears, but despite everything, we said goodbye and set out.
When I turned around before the corner, I noticed that she was still standing in the doorway and watching me leave.
I wondered how she would like the preparations I had made for her.
When we disappeared behind the intersection, a very aggressive ball suddenly shot toward us, which I did not recognize at first.
It almost tore my head off.
A second before that tragic event, Qui-Gon Jinn ignited his lightsaber and cut it in half like paper.
His movements were completely invisible to me.
The only thing I registered was a flash.
A moment ago we had been walking, and right after that the probe was already lying on the ground, cut in half, while I stared in shock at the Jedi putting away his lightsaber.
Honestly, Jedi in real life seemed far more superhuman and terrifying than in the movies.
I had not even noticed his movement, and the probe had already been destroyed.
“Master Qui-Gon Jinn, I sense the same Force I told you about.
It is connected to that probe, and it feels as if its source is getting closer.”
“Yes, I know.
I sense something as well.
Run, Ani.
We have to reach the ship as quickly as possible.”
[SHMI POV]
I waited until Ani disappeared around the corner, and only then did I gather myself enough to enter the house.
I made myself something to drink and sat down in the living room.
The house seemed strangely quiet, lonely.
One could even say abandoned.
I knew that the Jedi could give Anakin a life I would never be able to provide, but if you carried a child under your heart for nine months and then cared for him for years, abandoning that attachment was truly difficult.
I tried to be brave, but in the end tears appeared in my eyes.
Suddenly I heard some movement and quickly wiped my eyes.
Fortunately, I quickly recognized that it was the droid Anakin had built.
Only today, he seemed somehow different.
It had always amused me how strangely he walked.
Ani told me that they were specially designed that way to seem friendly and not pose a threat to crews and ambassadors, for whom they usually served as translators.
But now he seemed to walk with an almost military step.
Every movement seemed balanced and most efficient.
There was no longer the funny, duck-like walk of the original.
“Madam.” He bowed slightly like a gentleman.
“Master Anakin left me clear orders to carry out after his departure.”
“What orders?” I asked, clearly surprised by the whole situation.
“I was instructed to give you this holographic journal first.”
“A journal?”
I quickly reached out and caught the holoprojector, which we certainly could never have afforded.
I began to feel nervous, wondering what Anakin had gotten himself involved in this time.
The hologram of little Anakin appeared on the table.
“Hello, Mom.
You are probably surprised.
I have been planning this for over two weeks, and now everything is already in motion, so you just have to go with the flow.
You knew that I was always special, more intelligent than an ordinary child, but even from you I hid part of that maturity.
You do not need to regret that I am leaving.
You were the best mother I could have dreamed of under these conditions.
Do not worry.
My adventure with the Jedi Order is only beginning, and I will definitely be happy and safe.
C-3PO has your slave contract, bought from Watto, so you are now a free person.
Congratulations, Mom.”
The hologram shot one hand upward in a victorious gesture.
“Thanks to the contacts of Vardis, my acquaintance and now partner, I managed to obtain several upgrades and a new defense program, which I implanted into C-3PO.
Vardis’s people will also install weapons and armor on him in the workshop when you arrive.
You will go with them.
They will arrive five minutes after you listen to this message, because it automatically sends an evacuation signal.
They will ensure your safety and transport you to Vardis’s ship in orbit.
If you want to find some work or a hobby in one of his new companies, I have already arranged everything with him.
Just tell him what interests you, and he will try to find something for you.
One could say that after a conversation about the future of the galaxy and our place in it, I awakened in him something people call ambition.
He decided not to limit himself to Tatooine anymore and is founding several space companies whose development directions I personally advised him on.
I have constant contact with him, so if you want to talk to me, just let him know.
The Jedi in their current state require cutting themselves off from family and from their emotions, which they are not very good at, but that is why I did not take you with me.
Enjoy a little happiness, Mom.
I know how hard it was for you to raise me.
Until we meet again, and may the Force be with you on this new path of life.”
The hologram smiled and disappeared.
The message ended, but my brain seemed to stop.
I did not know what was more shocking: that I was free, or that my nine-year-old son had arranged everything behind my back.
C-3PO handed me my slave contract and the detonation remote.
I stared at them, and it still did not reach me what had just happened.
As I sat there with emptiness in my head, I did not know how long.
Suddenly I heard footsteps.
For a moment I tensed up, but after a second I remembered Anakin’s message.
Four armed and masked people entered the house, with a rising silver phoenix above two dunes on their chests as some kind of emblem or identifying mark of their group.
The largest of them, apparently their leader, stepped forward and asked:
“Ms.
Shmi Skywalker?”
The only thing I was able to squeeze out was:
“Uh-huh.”
“Do you need to pack anything, or can we move?” said the clearly hurried soldier.
“One second, I will just take a few keepsakes of Ani.”
“Good.
Let us go.
We need to hurry.
It is becoming more and more dangerous for us here.
Several of our people have already disappeared.”
I quickly ran to my room and took a few keepsakes of Ani that I kept under the bed.
When they escorted me out, two in front and two behind, I noticed that we were getting into a luxurious speeder parked in front of the door, which roared away with its engines the moment we reached it.
C-3PO also slipped in behind us.
As we moved farther and farther away from my home, I realized that we were heading toward the spaceport in Mos Espa.
I remembered the information from Anakin.
His acquaintance was orbiting above the planet, waiting for my arrival.
We reached one of his private landing pads, judging by the security and identical uniforms with the symbol already known to me.
The gate behind us closed with a slam after we passed it.
We got out, and in front of us appeared a starship, or more precisely a small interplanetary transport.
(But I did not know much about them, so I did not know what it was.)
Slowly, its rear entrance opened, and we boarded.
The ship seemed to be waiting only for us, because immediately after our arrival, it took off.
I felt a slight acceleration when the engines began to work.
The flight lasted about half an hour.
I did not really have anyone to talk to, because everyone looked intimidating and was masked so that only their eyes were visible, so we sat in silence.
Suddenly I felt a stronger jolt, after which it seemed that we had docked with a larger vessel.
If our Anakin were now in space and observing what his Shmi had landed on, his inner geek would certainly begin listing facts.
“CR90 Corvette was developed by Corellian Engineering Corporation around 51-44 BBY, before the events of The Phantom Menace.
Initially, it was designed as a fast diplomatic, patrol, and transport ship.
CR90 corvettes were used, among others, by:
The Galactic Republic — as diplomatic and escort ships.
House Alderaan — the most famous vessel was the later Tantive IV of Princess Leia.
The Galactic Empire — some corvettes were seized and used for patrols and escorts.
The Rebel Alliance — many CR90s served as command ships, transports, and courier vessels.
It was valued for its high speed, reliability, ease of modernization, and relatively low operating costs.
Its price ranged, depending on modernization and equipment, from 3 to 8 million galactic credits.”
When the airlocks opened and we entered the larger vessel, I noticed that behind them, in the corridor, as if anticipating my arrival, a middle-aged man was waiting, dressed in very richly decorated clothing.
And clearly very well-groomed for his age.
I wanted to bow in greeting, but before I could, he took my hand and lightly kissed it.
“Welcome, Ms.
Shmi Skywalker.
I am honored to finally meet the mother of such an extraordinary young man as Anakin.
Thanks to him, I not only multiplied my wealth, but he also opened my eyes to the almost infinite possibilities offered by our beautiful galaxy.
My name is Vardis Dane.
Please follow me.
We have several matters to take care of before you will be able to rest.
I can see that you are shocked by the whole situation, but you will have time to think everything through after a few medical procedures that you require.”
His words stopped my steps.
“What do you mean?”
“You will understand when we reach the infirmary.
Our medical droid will explain everything to you.”
Our docking point was only a dozen or so meters from the infirmary, so we reached it in less than a minute.
“I cannot go any farther for reasons of your privacy.
After the procedures are completed, if you need anything, please inform one of my people.
I have to handle quite a large number of new contracts and investments, so I may be unavailable for the nearest time.
I wish you a successful recovery.”
He bowed slightly and left together with the people who had brought me.
Only C-3PO remained with me.
“Madam, you do not need to worry.
All procedures were recommended by Master Anakin.”
“Good.
Since Anakin recommended them to me, let us do it.
I have never been a coward.
What are a few medical procedures?”
I sighed and walked through the door to the infirmary.
If she had stayed behind the door, she would have noticed that C-3PO was now moving away from the infirmary toward the workshop.
Apparently, it was time for his modifications.
After entering the infirmary, there were white walls everywhere.
Even the air seemed somehow sterile.
Beside the bed stood the previously mentioned droid, who, when I entered, turned toward me.
“Good morning, Ms.
Shmi Skywalker.
I am a 2-1B class surgical droid.”
In front of me stood a tall medical droid of some class I did not remember.
He had a slender white body, an elongated head with two glowing photoreceptors, and long, extremely precise hands ending in surgical tools.
His appearance certainly did not add to my confidence.
“Welcome.
I see that you are stressed.
I will list the procedures you are to undergo in order to calm you.”
Removal of the slave chip.
Immersion in a bacta tank to regenerate the body and improve the condition of the skin.
A full medical scan of the entire organism.
Genetic diagnostics and disease detection.
Treatment of all untreated injuries, fractures, and scars.
Replenishment of vitamin and mineral deficiencies.
Tooth regeneration and full dental reconstruction.
Removal of parasites and all detected infections.
Cleansing of the lungs from Tatooine dust and pollution.
Correction of eyesight to full sharpness.
Comprehensive rejuvenation of the body to the extent possible with modern galactic medicine available on this ship.
“Do you have any questions regarding these procedures?”
For several seconds I could not breathe.
This droid clearly did not know how to calm stressed people.
Fine, I sighed.
Since Ani had gone to such effort, what kind of old mother would I be if I could not go through something that was clearly good for her?
“Please do not be nervous.
You will feel nothing.
All procedures take place after the patient is put to sleep.
Please lie down on the bed.”
I walked over and slowly lay down on the operating table, which this droid called a bed.
“You will feel a small prick and fall asleep.
When you wake up, all procedures will be completed.
Of course, depending on your condition, it may take from one day to several days.”
You have to be joking, I wanted to shout, but…
I suddenly felt a prick near my neck, and the whole world went dark.
…
Autor note
In the near future,
If you spot any issues or plot holes, let me know and I’ll work on them.
Let me know if you want these bits of Star Wars lore in the chapters about ships, planets, etc.
or not.
Thaks for reading and support.
stone(;