Chapter 2
Chapter 1
Disclaimer: Same as previous chapter.
Chapter 1
A few months later Shmi was preparing dinner for her children, she looked at Faith who was sitting next to Anakin trying to play with him, she would talk often but not of her parents. Shmi shook her head and thought, ‘At least Watto was kind enough to pretend that he owned Faith too.’
‘But still,’ Shmi thought, ‘This wasn’t the proper life for either of my children and yes Faith was a Skywalker now in name and in truth Anakin adored his big sister but still, who would name their daughter Faith? But I will keep Faith’s name as it was.’
Faith’s life on Tatoonine was hard but happy; she and Anakin would play together in the alleyways of Mos Espa and she helped Anakin find parts for his little creations but at night Faith would dream of other places: of Dantooine, Taris, Manaan and Kashyyyk.
She knew these were names of planets and most of them were listed in books that she attempted to read, Shmi told her what she knew of the other planets though she was impressed that Faith had some knowledge of worlds even if they were obscure, especially Dantooine and Taris as both worlds were important years ago, she didn’t know for what reason but that they were important.
Faith worked for Watto in his salvage shop along with Anakin when he was old enough to work, Watto actually was very protective of her and made sure that if someone got too fresh with her he would protect her.
On Naboo Padmé and Sola were both trying to help their mom to take care of Andrew though Padmé considered Andrew hers, after all she found him, though her father had told her that Andrew didn’t belong to anyone and no one could own a human being.
Ruwee was surprised how easy it was to make Andrew’s theirs legally, he came back and said, “He’s now Andrew Naberrie.”
Jobal picked him up and cradled him close to her and whispered, “It suits him but I wonder what kind of name is Andrew? Couldn’t we change it at least?”
“No,” Ruwee shook his head, “We don’t know who his parents are but we’ll honour them by keeping his name as Andrew Naberrie.”
Andrew simply gurgled and reached out towards his parents.
The years passed as they moved to Theed from the small mountain town they lived in, Ruwee wanted all of his children to have the best opportunities in the city and Andrew’s abilities of being an artist came to their own and he loved painting but it wasn’t his passion, he wanted to explore the universe and the galaxy.
His nights were full of dreams, of worlds he had never visited: Nar Shaddaa, Korriban and Telos. He moaned as he woke up, ‘How do I know these places?’ He could remember the stench of corruption of Nar Shaddaa with it’s decaying cityscapes or standing on the surface of Telos and observing the damage done by the Sith bombardment.
Andrew also supported his sister when she decided to go into politics she was young but Andrew noticed that a lot of people around them supported her, especially since King Veruna’s policies were very unpopular even though they were now open to the larger galaxy. It was bad because the deal Veruna made with the Trade Federation was bad: they were selling plasma energy and getting almost nothing back, or at least that’s what his parents told him.
He was walking up to the Palace, he couldn’t believe that his big sister was queen of the planet though he wondered why people kept calling her queen Amidala as their last name was Naberrie? He waved at her handmaidens who, he shook his head, looked so much like her that even the family couldn’t tell them apart.
Padmé saw Andrew come in and said, “I’m glad you finally came here.”
Andrew bowed, unsure of how he could greet his sister. She frowned, “Andrew, protocol states that you bow but you are my brother and that entitles you to a hug.”
He smiled and hugged her and followed her down a corridor so they could begin to talk about what was going on. Andrew smiled, “You know that dad’s proud of you standing up to the Trade Federation like that, though he said to tell you that he expects trouble from them in the Senate for this.”
Padmé smiled and nodded, she expected trouble as well as the Trade Federation wasn’t going to be happy about losing revenue from Naboo’s plasma and this new motion in the Senate, something about taxation of trade routes, was going to cause them all trouble.
“Well,” Padmé said, “We’re going to try negotiating a new deal with the Trade Federation and I do want to do this without violence.
“Umm,” Andrew muttered, “Not sure they’ll like that, I’ve been reading up on Nute Gunray and he isn’t going to be happy at our defiance to his authority.”
“Yes,” Padmé groaned, ‘And the new taxation motion is going to make him more desperate to maintain his grip on the contracts with us.”
Andrew nodded and Padmé said, “Come on, why don’t you stay for awhile? I’ve missed my little brother.”
He nodded and said, “It sounds like fun.”
A week later Andrew regretted those words as the Trade Federation began its blockade by claiming to be protesting the new taxes. As he slept he heard a voice whisper, *No Exile, you begin to see look past what the Neimoidian is saying and into his reasons.*
He woke shaking his head and decided to see what was going on, he heard that the Supreme Chancellor was sending some ambassadors to go and try to end this blockade or so they were told by senator Palpatine, Andrew vaguely remembered meeting Palpatine once and he didn’t like him very much.
“Are we sure,” he asked Padmé, “That the Chancellor is sending these Ambassadors?”
“Chancellor Valorum has been one of our biggest supporters,” Padmé said, “And besides I trust him and Senator Palpatine. Remember, you’ll be in the public service soon too.”
Andrew nodded; he had been looking forwards to it. Like his sisters he wanted to serve the people too but he wished he could explore afterwards.
She took him into the throne room where she would talk to the Viceroy herself, he stayed hidden so he wouldn’t get in the way.
Padmé hailed them and heard Gunray say, “At last, we are getting results.”
“You will not be so pleased when I tell you that your trade boycott of our planet has ended,” she said with steel in her voice.
“Forgive me highness but I have heard nothing of the sort,” Gunray said smugly.
“I’ve received word that you have been ordered to end your blockade,” Padmé said, “And the ambassadors are there now.”
“You must be mistaken,” Gunray said, “I’ve heard nothing of the sort. As you know we would never do anything without the approval of the senate.”
Andrew looked down at his feet, he was getting a bad feeling about was going on as Padmé shut off of the view screen and listened to Padmé’s advisors talk to her. Captain Panaka was sure they were going to attack and he was sure too, especially since the communications were jammed.
Padmé was getting worried about the Trade Federation if they did attack, she was worried about her brother as her family was safe in the Lake Country but Andrew, he wanted to stay with her and she selfishly wanted him to stay.
The first reports came in: there were battle droids coming out of the forests. Andrew prayed to the gods that they stayed away from the Lake Country, the Lake Country was isolated enough if no one knew what they were looking for.
He was sitting on a couch when Padmé whispered, “Andrew, I can get you to safety, please take it?”
“No,” Andrew said resolutely, “I’m not going to run. You’re staying so I’m staying.”
She nodded, “But Andrew, you keep yourself safe, please?”
Andrew nodded as they saw the droids marching in and shuddered, he moved close to his sister and sighed, “Maybe we should have something other than volunteers fighting? If we survive this, of course.”
“Yes but you know my feelings on that Andrew?” Padmé said sternly.
“Yeah,” Andrew groaned as he hugged his sister.
The droids battered their way in, one of them said, “Hands in the air your majesty,” and it took them with the rest of the advisors.
Padmé looked at the treaty that the Viceroy wanted her to sign; it was horrible as it would cause her people even more pain, so she refused to sign it. Nute Gunray sighed, “Maybe the suffering of your people will make you reconsider this.”
Andrew gulped as they were being led to some concentration camps, ‘This wasn’t going to be good.’ As the droids moved them two brown robed figures suddenly jumped down and dispatched the droids.
One of them introduced himself as Qui-Gon Jinn and explained that they were the ambassadors for the chancellor.
After a quick discussion it was decided that they were going to head to Coruscant.
Andrew nearly collapsed as he and his sister were going to the cruiser to go off planet, he was excited, never mind that they were fleeing for their lives, this was going to be the first time he went off world, ‘But not the last,’ he told himself, he was going to explore the galaxy, he was going to find out the reasons for his dreams.
Qui-Gon looked at Andrew curiously, he sensed something around him; a presence, something he wasn’t sure he liked but it didn’t seem harmful, if anything it seemed almost gray.
Andrew sat down next to the Gungan the Jedi had brought with them, his name was Jar Jar and Andrew was listening to him talk about being crunched by bombad things.
He felt the ship being rocked by laser hits and wondered how long the shields would protect them from the ships that were firing at them.
Padmé called Andrew in so she could keep an eye on him, he was her responsibility after all; she was his older sister and had to protect him and it was her duty to protect him from the Trade Federation since he was her subject too.
“What’s going on?” Andrew asked as he ran in.
She smiled slightly as he ran in and said, “You stay close to me Andrew, alright?”
Andrew nodded and sat next to her, he winced as they watched the lasers blast off the R2’s that were doing their best to repair the hyper drive. He liked droids for the most part and he was saving his allowance to buy one for himself, at least an astromech would be cool to have.
As they finally got away Andrew walked over to R2-D2, who was getting cleaned, and sighed, he looked at Padmé and said, “Are you my sister or one of the handmaidens?”
She smiled at him and said, “Andrew, can’t you tell your sister from the other handmaidens?”
“Sometimes I can’t,” Andrew said, “I mean you all look like each other it’s not even funny at times.”
“It’s alright; you want to help me with R2 here?” Padmé asked knowing full well that he did.
Andrew started to clean when R2 let out a bunch of beeps and he smiled, “Right here?” R2 beeped in response as Andrew scrubbed some of the grime out its joint.
Padmé smiled, Andrew had all sorts of surprises, like understanding droidspeak but that was a new one to her though.
The Jedi came in and captain Panaka made a face as Qui-Gon stated where they were going.
Padmé looked at Qui-Gon and asked what the problem with Tatoonine was?
“It’s controlled by the Hutts,” Panaka growled, “And if they find out who she is it could be dire.”
But the other Jedi, Obi-Wan said, “The Hutts aren’t looking for her so she should be safe there and we might be able to repair the hyper drive.”
She nodded and had them leave; Andrew snuck in and whispered, “Can I go on the planet with the Jedi, please?”
Padmé sighed, “No Andrew, we know nothing of the planet and it’s controlled by the Hutts,” but as she looked at his wide blue eyes and nodded, “But I shall be coming with you, alright?”
Andrew hugged her then he went to put on more appropriate clothes as the ship landed.
As Qui-Gon prepared to leave Captain Panaka walked out and said, “Her majesty wants you to take Andrew and her handmaiden, Padmé with you.”
“No more commands from her highness today,” Qui-Gon said, “And besides, this is no place for children,” and pointed at Andrew who made a bit of a face.
“Her majesty is curious about the people,” Captain Panaka said, “Please, they shall be no problem for you.”
Qui-Gon looked at them both and again at Andrew when he nodded, as they left for Mos Espa he said, “You two will listen to my instructions.”
Andrew felt warm, this world was new to him and he wanted to dash off and explore but he promised his sister he would stay next to them. Qui-Gon looked at Andrew and he felt the presence again: it was odd, something old and powerful, he was going to watch the boy from now on.
As they moved through the streets Andrew looked up at the two suns and muttered, “I miss the Lake Country.”
Padmé laughed a bit and said, “I agree with you Andrew, give me the Lake Country any time over this place.”
“But,” Andrew grinned, “It’s a new world so it’s cool, I wanna explore every world I can find.”
Qui-Gon shook his head at Andrew’s excitement, this planet was suffering from the rule of the Hutts but he supposed that if this was the first world he had visited then he deserved to be a little excited.
Andrew was following the group when he heard the old woman’s voice whisper, *This is where it all begins. Be mindful Exile and listen to your own intuition for it shall serve you well and be more mindful of the future.*
They walked into a junk shop and Andrew looked around and thought, ‘Junk must be a good business here?’ As he walked around and looked at some of the things when a winged creature came in and said jovially, “Welcome, welcome to Watto’s junk emporium.”
Andrew looked up and said, “Toydrian? I’ve never seen one of your species before,” and walked over to inspect him better.
“Ah,” Watto said curiously, “But anyways, what do you fine people want?”
Qui-Gon gave the specs for the parts they needed and walked out in the back to discuss business.
Padme looked at the girl behind the counter and wondered why she was here and not in school or something like that? She walked over and introduced herself.
“Oh yeah, I’m Faith, nice to meet you.”
Andrew looked up as name sounded familiar, ‘Faith?’ he thought, he vaguely remembered a Faith but it was like a echo in his mind and he couldn’t tell if it was true when he heard Faith get indignant and say, “I’m a person not just a slave!!”
‘A slave?’ Andrew thought, ‘Then the boy that’s my own age must be one too.‘ He looked at the other boy and the boy smiled, “Hi, I’m Anakin.”
“Hi, I’m Andrew and that’s Padme.”
Anakin smiled, “Where do you guys come from?”
“Oh,” Andrew thought he couldn’t just say Naboo but he supposed that they wouldn’t know of the blockade and said, “We came from Naboo, we were on a trip to Taris when we needed to stop by for repairs.”
Faith looked up and muttered, “Taris? Cool, how is it over there?”
“Umm, just a faded city,” Andrew said as he looked at Faith and suddenly asked, “Have we ever met before?”
“I was about to ask you that but no, we haven’t met before,” Faith said, “Or at least I don’t think so.”
Qui-Gon walked out and said, “We’re leaving now.”
As they left Anakin and Faith waved bye to them and Watto spat, “Republic credits, outlanders think we’re all idiots,” and flew off.
Anakin muttered, “I liked them, didn’t you Faith?”
Faith nodded, “Yeah, I liked them, they seemed nice.”
TBC