Chapter 10
Chapter 9
Disclaimer: Same as previous chapters.
**Warning** This is going to be a major AU of Episode 2: Attack of the Clones.
Chapter 9
Watto’s suggestion to go to Ithor turned out to be healing for Andrew as several of the Ithorian priests took him in and began to teach him their ways and how to mediate and purge himself of the dark side influence; it was slow and hard as Andrew had a lot of anger and guilt.
But the gentle Ithorians were patient with him and began to teach him how to use the force their way, he also used the Holocrons.
After nearly eight years of training Andrew was ready to leave, the priests told him of a darkness sweeping the galaxy and they believed there was something elusive on the horizon.
As he got ready to leave the Ithorian who had served as his main trainer walked up to him and said, “Andrew, you must be ready, there is something wrong as there is talk of war.”
“I know Master,” Andrew whispered, “The Republic’s falling apart.”
The Ithorian nodded and said, “You will not be able to keep out of it and you know this as well. You must remember: anger has its place, if you ignore the anger that gave you the power on Kashyyyk you may fall. Use it, don’t let it control you.”
Andrew looked confused as he got onto the Rancor’s Rage and looked at the robes he had gotten on Kashyyyk, he was going home and Shmi and Watto got ready.
Shmi sighed, this world was good for them and she couldn’t believe that such a gentle and kind race existed in the galaxy but the Ithorians hadn’t judged him for what he had done.
“Come on Andrew,” Shmi said, “It’s time to go.”
Andrew hugged the Ithorian who smiled as he left, ‘The boy and his companions would change the galaxy, hopefully for the better.’
As the ship left Ithor Andrew smiled, “We’re going to Naboo, I have been gone too long and I want to see my family.”
Chewbacca growled his agreement as Andrew put the coordinates for Naboo.
T3 rolled and beeped a bit at R2 who beeped a bit as they jumped to Hyperspace, Andrew went over and patted both droids on the head. He adored both of them but didn’t like how they decided to make C-3PO’s life miserable, they never hurt him but if C-3PO was organic then Andrew swore he was going gray thanks to the two little droids.
Watto sighed, “It’s good to get off Ithor I think, if I was going to have to eat another plant I was going to go mad.”
Andrew smirked, “Not my fault the Ithorians are herbivores, it’s their nature but yeah I did miss Bantha stew too.”
Shmi laughed, “Perhaps your sister will be happy to see you again Andrew, enough to make sure you get some meat too.”
“Padmé,” Andrew mused, “I’m sure mom and Sola have been worried about me half the time, I expected them to grab me and baby me until I came home.”
“Will you mom like that Shmi had to help take care of you,” Watto joked, “Or what?”
“Nope, probably be thankful that I had adult supervision,” Andrew grinned.
Andrew spent the trip working on T3’s motivator systems and he smiled as he intended to give T3 to Padmé, the old guy might’ve been almost four thousand years old but he was handy and they were surprised to find that he could use blasters so he made sure some of T3’s technology was integrated into R2’s frame, ‘Nothing surprises a man like a Astromech with a couple of blasters,’ he thought.
Chewbacca looked at his friend, ‘He’s not angry anymore but I would pity the ones who attacked him or mentioned that they were slavers in front of the boy.’
‘It’s been years,’ Andrew thought, ‘I hope Naboo’s alright, it’s been so long since I’ve stepped on her soil, and Padmé, I want to see my sister again.’
Shmi smiled, Andrew looked so happy, it was good to see that again, after Korriban and Kashyyyk she was sure he was going to be sullen for the rest of his life. It was still hard to believe that he butchered the slavers as he was so sweet natured and was still relatively sweet natured but a bit subdued.
“So,” Watto said, “Naboo, how are its business opportunities?”
“They were good years ago,” Andrew said, “That’s why I wanted you guys to head over there; lots of junk left over from the Trade Federation.”
“Bah!!” Watto muttered, “Trade Federation droids are crappy and stupid and they go down too easy, only thing they got is numbers.”
“Yeah,” Andrew giggled, “They looked kind of rickety.”
“Rickety nothing!!” Watto grumbled, “Even their new droids are barely better, they might as well wear target signs.”
The ship finally came out of hyperspace and Andrew giggled nervously, he wondered how Padmé would react to his new friends and her gift: T3. He wanted to keep T3 but he wanted Padmé to have a droid around her that he trusted that could help defend her and keep up with her, especially after all of his upgrades T3 could do everything R2 could.
T3 beeped as they came out of hyperspace and Andrew smiled as he saw his homeworld Naboo, the ship got a warning from the Naboo defence forces but when he told them who he was, he was informed that Padmé would meet him out by the docking bay.
Padmé looked expectedly as the ship landed, seven long years of not knowing if her baby brother was safe and finally he was coming home to her and Naboo.
T3 rolled out first and rolled around in a circle as it made a beeline for her and beeped happily, she gasped, ’A T3 model? This is a classic model.’
Andrew rushed out, wearing the robes of a priest of life, she looked at him and hugged him tightly, “Andrew, I’ve missed you.”
He hugged her back and she looked him over, ‘He looks alright, a bit scruffy but alright,’ she saw more people come out of ship: R2 was being followed by a Wookiee and, ‘Was that Anakin and Faith’s mom and their former owner?’
“What have you been up to Andrew?” Padmé asked as they walked over to meet her.
“Things,” Andrew said, “But can we get home? I wanna see mom, Sola and dad again.”
“Of course Andrew,” Padmé said, “Your friends, are they coming?”
“Umm yeah, Shmi’s been taking care of me because she didn’t like the thought of me being by myself.”
“Neither did mom,” Padmé giggled, “She kept thinking that you were going to be lonely without your stuffed animals.”
Andrew turned pink as the others looked at him and Padmé said, “Sorry but come on, mom and dad want their wayward son to come home for dinner.”
They left and Andrew locked up the ship before they headed out to the speeder, Padmé looked at her brother’s companions and she smiled, ‘Only he could’ve gone on a trip to come back with half the galaxy with him.’
Jobal saw Andrew get out of the speeder and screamed, “My baby’s home!!” and hugged him tightly, causing Andrew’s friends to snicker a bit as he turned redder.
Andrew introduced his friends and they sat down to dinner and listened to them tell them how things had changed on Naboo, he was angered to hear that Nute Gunray still led the Trade Federation and the rumours of war were becoming a reality.
“I wish I knew more,” Andrew murmured, “I’ve been on Ithor this entire time, they’ve been helping me with some things that happened to me on Kashyyyk.”
“It’s alright Andrew,” Padmé said, “You know I could use an aide so why don’t you come with me? Your friends can stay here and maybe we can investigate what’s going on further.”
Andrew nodded and said, “The droids and Chewbacca go where I go but T3’s a present for you, he’s up to modern specs now.”
Padmé smiled a bit at the odd little droid who regarded her and suddenly beeped towards her and rolled to her.
“Umm Andrew, this is really nice but don’t you need a droid?” Padmé asked as T3 beeped happily for her.
“No, he’s for you,” Andrew stated, “He’s a droid I trust and he’s tough, aren’t you T3?”
T3 beeped and rolled next to her and stayed next to her.
“I supposed I could try him out,” Padmé said as T3 looked strangely satisfied with itself.
“You won’t be disappointed,” Andrew said, “He’s really smart and tough. You’ll like him, I promise.”
That night Andrew slept happily in his own bed in years, Shmi was talking to Ruwee and Jobal about finding a place for herself in town as she had enough exploration for herself.
Padmé was talking to Chewbacca about the state of Kashyyyk, she was curious how Andrew made friends with a Wookiee and he wasn’t being honest with her, it seemed that he was hiding something from her.
The next few months saw Andrew helping Shmi move in near his old hometown as Theed was a bit much for her but the old town was perfect, nice and small and the people were nice to her. Watto ended moving in with her as a droid salesman and Andrew began to work with his sister in her new job as a senator, she looked happy being able to be able to serve the Republic in her own way, he was getting concerned with her over the growing number of separatist systems joining this Count Dooku who was getting more critical of Republic policies. Andrew agreed with some of his arguments but there were better ways of doing it.
As they were investigating rumours of war Andrew felt like something was covering the galaxy, he consulted both Holocrons who were both silent on the matter though Kreia told him to be especially careful and mindful around those he didn’t trust.
A couple of years after coming back Andrew was in the Rancor’s Rage ferrying Padmé to Coruscant while her decoy went on the new royal cruiser. She smiled, “Andrew, I’m sure things are alright.”
Andrew shook his head and said, “No, something’s been bothering me for the last couple of years. It’s elusive but it feels dangerous, Padmé please trust me.”
She nodded, ‘He is so careful and he thought everything through and through now.’ As they left Andrew looked over at the pad where the cruiser landed and saw an explosion, he and Padmé rushed over and the handmaiden whispered, “Sorry Padmé, we tried so hard.” before she died.
“No, it’s alright,” Padmé whispered and looked at Andrew and whispered, “We shouldn’t have come back.”
“This vote is important,” Andrew said, “You and I had to come back.”
As they left for the apartments Padmé whispered, “Why didn’t you become a senator like me? You would have been great.”
Andrew frowned, “Politics have never been my game.”
When they got to their apartments Andrew saw Padmé leave to go talk to the Chancellor and he began to mediate like the Ithorians taught him. He walked through the paths of the Force, trying to find out the identity of whoever attacked his sister because screw the senate investigation he was going to handle this guy himself.
He was puzzled; the Force was acting oddly as Coruscant was shrouded by the dark side. He attempted to force his way through but couldn’t, he got out of the mediation and went to make himself some tea when T3 rolled over beeping worriedly.
“It’ll be alright,” Andrew said quietly, not believing a word himself as he drank the tea. He watched the skyline of Coruscant and smiled softly, it was still beautiful but he could sense something rotten at its heart, he got up when he heard the door open.
Padmé walked in livid and said, “Andrew, they’re assigning body guards for both of us goddamn it!!” At least I’m getting Faith and Qui-Gon, you’re getting Anakin and Obi-Wan to look after you.“
“Why both of us?” Andrew asked, “I mean you’re the senator, I’m the aide.”
“Because they think they’re going to intimidate me by threatening you too,” Padmé growled as she sat down.
Andrew sighed as he poured some tea for her to drink, she smiled a bit and said, “It’s been so long since we’ve seen them, how do you think they turned out?”
“Not sure,” Andrew smiled, “I mean I’ve been out of the loop; first on Ithor and then working with you.”
“We’ll find out soon as they’re on their way here,” Padmé said, “And Yoda wants you to visit him, he was insisting on it.”
“Later,” Andrew moaned, “It’s been a miserable day.”
They heard Jar Jar exclaim, “Ani, Faith, mesa so glad to see you again,” and yelled, “Looky, looky senator; its Ani, Faith and their masters.”
Andrew whispered, “How did he become a senator anyways? I mean he wasn’t exactly popular.”
Padmé whispered, “He was popular amongst the Gungans or they just wanted him off planet, I don’t know. And do you want me to tell them that you freed their mother?”
As Andrew watched quietly as the four Jedi were being led in: Anakin had grown up alright and so had Faith. All of them looked at each other.
Obi-Wan nodded his greetings as had Qui-Gon.
Andrew looked at Anakin and said, “Well you grew up, didn’t you?”
Anakin nodded and said, “You too,” and stared at him and asked, “Are you alright?”
“Why?” Andrew asked, “I’m fine.”
“It’s nothing Andrew,” Anakin said years ago I sensed something like you needed help
Andrew looked down and said, “Nothing happened,” and walked up and went into his room being followed by T3 who beeped worriedly, the guilt was killing him even though they were slavers, he had become everything he hated and now Anakin had felt it.
“Did I say something wrong?” Anakin asked concerned.
“No,” Padmé whispered, “Andrew’s been like that since he got back from his trip Anakin.”
“Trip?” Anakin asked, “When did he go on a trip?”
Padmé laughed, “After the crisis I decided he needed to explore and he was gone for almost eight years.”
Both Faith and Anakin looked angry, “Gone for almost eight years?”
Qui-Gon smiled and said, “Their ways are not ours Faith, his culture thought it was time for him to go on a journey.”
Anakin followed him along with Obi-Wan as he was their responsibility and he couldn’t be alone just in case, T3 saw them coming and rolled out in front of them beeping angrily. Anakin smiled as he realized he didn’t look at the droid close enough, ‘It was a T3 model.’ He smiled and held his hand out towards it when Padmé yelled, “T3, let them in to see Andrew.”
T3 squawked out a nasty beep and moved aside, it looked at them and rolled out to see Padmé.
Faith looked at T3 while T3 looked at her, she knelt down and looked at directly and T3 beeped happily as he rolled around her.
Qui-Gon looked at the old droid fascinated, wondering what was going on in its mind and why was it looking at his Padawan so oddly.
TBC
Should Padme have T3 or should Anakin have him? How will Dooku and Palpatine react to Andrew’s dark side abilities? Padme and Andrew are going to be split up, where do you want them to go for their own “safety”?
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