“Well, I’m pretty good at mechanics.
At least the basic kind.”
“I can see that.
But the word ‘good’ doesn’t really describe what you’ve just shown me.
More and more, I get the feeling that the status of a slave doesn’t suit someone with your talent.”
He fell silent for a moment, studying me carefully.
“I’m considering buying your freedom and offering you a normal employment contract.
What do you think?”
I had to admit, for a moment I was surprised by his almost unconditional appreciation of talent.
“I would be honored, but I have to refuse.”
“Refuse?” with visible confusion.
“Wouldn’t that be beneficial for you?”
“Under normal circumstances, yes.
However, I already have certain plans, and my current status as a slave is still necessary for me to achieve a few goals.”
His confusion only deepened.
“I think this is the first time in my life I’ve heard someone say they need to remain a slave.”
“I admit, it sounds strange.”
An amused smile appeared on his face.
“That’s a very mild way of putting it.”
“Even so, I’d be happy to agree to a long-term partnership beneficial to both of us.
What’s more, I’m willing to sell you the full rights to this device.”
One of his eyebrows rose slightly.
“The full rights?”
“Yes.
You can even publicly announce that you invented it yourself.
I don’t care about fame or recognition.”
For a moment, he stared at me in silence.
“And what do you expect in return?”
“Three thousand paggats and a little assistance in purchasing a certain medical droid.”
Silence fell.
Vardis Dask looked at me as if he were once again trying to understand who I really was.
“Three thousand peggats,” he repeated slowly.
“And a medical droid.”
“Exactly.”
“You don’t want a share of the future profits?”
“A position in my company?”
“You have no idea how many people on this planet would kill for an opportunity like that.”
For several seconds, he simply stared at me.
“Young man, I have an increasingly strong feeling that you’re far more unusual than your age would suggest.”
He remained silent for a moment, studying me closely.
I extended my hand toward him.
“And if we’re going to do business together, you should know my name.
Anakin Skywalker.”
For a brief moment, he stared at my outstretched hand as though the gesture itself was unexpected.
Then he smiled and shook it without hesitation.
“Vardis Dask.
It’s a pleasure to officially meet you, Anakin.”
“To our future cooperation,” I said.
“I’m certain it will prove exceptionally profitable for both of us.”
A spark of interest appeared in the businessman’s eyes.
“To our cooperation.”
He squeezed my hand a little more firmly.
For a brief moment, we stood in silence in the middle of the garden beside the operating moisture vaporator.
He was acquiring technology that could greatly reduce the number of units required to maintain his operations, while I was acquiring the money needed to carry out my plans and my first truly influential ally on Tatooine.
“Well then,” Vardis said, releasing my hand, “let’s move to my office and discuss the details.
I must admit, I haven’t negotiated with someone this young in a very long time.”
“And I’ve never negotiated with someone this rich.”
For a moment, he looked at me in surprise.
Then he burst into genuine laughter.
Even the guards standing several meters away looked unsure whether they had just heard a joke or an exceptionally cheeky remark.
“I like you more and more, Anakin Skywalker.”
“That’s good.
I hope you’ll feel the same way about the price.”
This time, he laughed even louder.
Sitting together in his office, now without guards and with appropriate drinks placed on the desk, we began discussing the details of the agreement.
Vardis leaned back comfortably in his chair and slowly rotated his glass in his hand.
“So you’re telling me that you want to sell this technology for a fraction of its true value solely because of your current situation, and in return you expect complete discretion?”
“Exactly.
And a little help acquiring a certain medical droid.
I don’t know if you’ve heard about the upcoming auction.”
“The surgical droid recently imported from the Core Worlds?”
I nodded.
“That one.”
“Very well.
If that’s all you expect in exchange for something this valuable, I think we can reach an agreement.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean that I’m buying the rights to your design.
I’ll guarantee complete discretion.
I’ll also help you acquire the medical droid if it actually appears at the auction.”
He paused for a moment.
“However, three thousand peggat is a very large sum.”
“For a technology capable of increasing moisture vaporator efficiency by one hundred and fifty percent, it’s a bargain,” I said with complete seriousness, as if reciting a profound truth of the universe.
An amused smile appeared on his face.
“I see negotiations aren’t entirely foreign to you.”
“Mechanics isn’t the only useful thing in life.”
“I’m becoming more and more curious about who you really are.
Possessing this level of knowledge and composure at such a young age, Anakin Skywalker…
you don’t seem like a normal child.”
“Fortunately, you don’t need to know the answer to that question for us to make a good deal and both benefit from it.
After all, the more friends you have, the easier life becomes, wouldn’t you agree?”
For several seconds, he watched me in silence.
Then he slowly nodded.
“You’re right.”
He opened one of the datapads and began preparing the documents.
“In that case, let’s proceed with signing our agreement.”
I left the estate lighter by one moisture vaporator and an entire set of project documentation, but richer by three thousand peggats.
Even now, I was still surprised by how smoothly everything had gone.
Not only had I achieved exactly what I had set out to do, but this new acquaintance had exceeded all my expectations.
Before the meeting, I had imagined several possible outcomes.
In the worst case, I’d be thrown out through the gate.
In an average outcome, I’d manage to sell the project for a significantly lower amount.
In the most optimistic scenario, I’d receive a fair price and discreet assistance.
Instead, Vardis Dask had turned out to be a far more reasonable man than I had expected.
Not only had he not tried to cheat me, but from the very beginning he treated me as a business partner rather than a child or a slave.
Most adults would have considered such a possibility ridiculous.
His way of thinking was clearly an investment in my future and a bet that it would bring greater profits than a one-time theft ever could.
As I walked through the streets of Mos Espa, I instinctively glanced at the small credit terminal hidden in my pocket.
3000 peggets
Just a few days ago, such an amount had seemed absurd.
Now it was sitting in my secret account established by Vardis.
Of course, most of that money already had a purpose.
Buying Shmi’s freedom.
The surgical droid.
Preparing for her to leave Tatooine.
Several other projects that had long been waiting for proper funding.
Even so, for the first time, I felt like I had truly begun taking control of my own fate.
Until now, I had mostly reacted to events.
Now I was beginning to create them myself.
A faint smile appeared on my face.
I still had a long list of problems ahead of me.
The slave chip was still lodged inside my chest.
The Boonta Eve race was approaching rapidly.
And the future of the galaxy was still heading toward the catastrophe I knew all too well.
Yet for the first time, I had the resources to begin truly influencing the direction of my life.
As I walked through the streets, I couldn’t shake the feeling that every passerby was staring at me.
As if they all somehow knew I had become richer in the last few hours.
It felt like every person I passed was wondering how to rob me.
Of course, I knew perfectly well that it was absurd.
Nobody knew anything about the deal.
It was simply a natural feeling after suddenly becoming wealthy.
Even so, I kept glancing over my shoulder.
I watched people suspiciously.
I paid attention to anyone who walked behind me for more than a few minutes.
Only after a while did I realize how ridiculous I must have looked.
I shook my head and quietly chuckled.
“Calm down,” I muttered to myself.
And yet I couldn’t completely get rid of the feeling.
So I quickened my pace anyway.
The faster I got back to our slums, the better.
Only once I was home would I truly believe everything had gone according to plan.
It was probably the most stressful walk of my new life.
The entire way, I felt like something was about to happen and ruin everything.
When I finally reached home, Shmi was already awake and, as usual, busy with her chores around the house.
As soon as I stepped inside, she greeted me with a warm smile before returning to her work, not paying much attention to me.
Meanwhile, I instinctively wiped nonexistent sweat from my forehead.
Only then did I realize just how tense I had been for the last several hours.
Trying to act completely normal, I offered a brief greeting and almost immediately slipped into my room.
If Shmi noticed anything suspicious, thankfully she chose not to comment on it.
I hid the datapad beneath the floorboards and let out a sigh of relief as I sat down on the bed.
“Alright.
Time for training,” I sighed.
Then I returned to my daily routine of endless grinding.
For the next three days, everything seemed to return to normal.
Every morning I trained my abilities, developing both the Force and my physical capabilities.
Later I went to Watto’s workshop, where I spent long hours repairing machines and vehicles.
In the evenings, I returned home, meditated, worked on projects, and prepared for the next day.
Routine.
Suspiciously peaceful routine.
However, I knew it wouldn’t last.
The day I had been waiting for ever since obtaining the money was approaching.
The auction day.
When I woke up that morning, a familiar feeling of tension and anticipation settled in my stomach.