Chương 58: V.1-C.58│The First Mission III│
We rejoin Grievous, Anakin and Qui-Gon walking through the entranceway going towards the conference room of the planets officials and leadership, within the palace, main hall throne room.
Walking into the throne room the three are greeted to the sight of some people throughout the room and some droids stationed at various points.
Grievous speaks here to the people within the room. "Presenting the Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn and the Prince, Anakin Skywalker."
The people here were elected representatives of the people, the freed slaves and the common folk. Silence.
Before strangely enough, some if not most of them moved towards the two. "My Prince." A lot of them were referring to Anakin as the Prince.
Qui-Gon seemed a bit uncomfortable with the situation given they had surrounded them rather quickly. "My Prince, you have finally returned. There is much to discuss and we would like to ask of your opinion."
Qui-Gon interrupts. "I am sorry to interrupt but I am afraid Anakin here has to give up his position as a Prince here because he has decided to become a Jedi."
"Nonsense, it does not matter to us out here whether or not he is now a part of somewhere or something else, he came from here, helped us and is the only living child of the Queen so he would be the next in line to inherit the position." An advisor said.
A bit frustrated here Qui-Gon begins. "I am afraid that is not how it wor-" But he is stopped by Anakin.
"Thank you, all for welcoming me back but I am here for only a temporary time-frame and have many more things to do before I could possibly hope to take the throne for myself." Anakin said.
"Of course! Of course!" Many of the dignitaries reply with exclaims of how humble or how well educated Anakin is.
'They seem to be taking on their new roles quite quickly. It is as if they have lived their entire lives as important political figures, they also seem to like kissing up to my derrière.' Anakin thought to himself.
"I thank you all but I am here because of my current duties as a Jedi." Anakin continued.
Qui-Gon then continues. "Yes, as my young apprentice has said we were sent here as negotiators to help with the situation here on Tatooine between yourselves and the Hutt's."
"We do not need the Republics help." A voice comes from behind the group.
Jira, the grandmotherly figure walks out from behind a doorway, followed behind her was one of the young freedom fighters that had been on Tatooine, Trella Bare'Ah.
There were two others as well, the twin Twi'lek Gella sisters, Ann and Tann. Quite the creative names they have.
Jira then continued. "Sorry but I think we have already been introduced." She directs towards Qui-Gon first.
"Yes. You were so kind to provide myself and my companions with some free food."
"Anything for Ani." Jira smiles here whilst looking towards Anakin standing beside Qui-Gon and the dignitaries surrounding him. "Well, would you look at that, Ani has finally made it home."
Not really caring for the people around her and going as fast as her old bones would take her, Jira moved towards Anakin. "Let me see you."
She looked him up and down. "My have you grown."
"I know." Anakin has a smile on his face and accepts Jira's embrace not really caring that Qui-Gon was right next to him.
Deciding to be the party pooper of the reunion Qui-Gon coughs a bit before speaking up. "Yes, well, I think we should best be getting back to business. What I am most curious to know though is where is the Queen?"
"She is indisposed at the moment." Trella spoke coming from behind Jira.
Anakin doesn't know about anything that would keep Shmi down knowing all of the protection and countermeasures he had put in place to make sure she would be healthy. He starts to question Trella again ignoring what Qui-Gon may think of his attachment. "What is the problem."
Ann and Tann spoke near simultaneously. "The Queen isn't in any danger, nothing physical or anything she is just tired and we did not know that you would come so quickly."
"In fact she would be most pleased to see her child-"
Anakin interrupts them before they could finish. "That is fine, I do not need to see her nor she need to see me just yet. If she needs some sleep then I would suggest she get that."
They bow. "Very well."
Qui-Gon now having a chance to question, asks Jira. "So, who is the de-facto leader here now?"
"It would have been the next in line to help magistrate everything but since the Prince is not available and would be the mediator of the conflict along with yourself, it would mean the person with the most power after that." Jira explained.
"Which would be?" Qui-Gon asked.
"That would have been General Lord Vader, but he is also currently indisposed and is off-world at the moment." While Jira says the name Vader most of the people give off a mixture of emotions.
Some scared, some respect but some fear and some outright devoted to the strength that was displayed by the mysterious figure.
Raising an eyebrow, Qui-Gon then asks. "Vader is an interesting name but now it would seem that with this General Vader not here you would need another person to talk with us?"
"And that is why I am here." Jira explains. "I may not be the most high up within the newly established government here, but I am well respected and the people listen to me."
"And what would your role be?" Qui-Gon continued questioning.
"It would be an advisory position, next to the Queen." Jira answered.
"I see..." Qui-Gon replied with some uncertainty given that the old lady was nothing more than a simple farmers market saleswoman.
"My experience with the people, the various cultures here on Tatooine is what helps me here given I was once apart of the common folk myself." Jira said.
Jira continued. "I have experience with the economy here as well, I was apart of the local businesses even though it would not be to the same scale the Queen and the Prince were capable of building to."
"Alright, now let me reintroduce ourselves than given that some new people are present." Qui-Gon paused before continuing. "I am Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn and this is my young apprentice, Padawan Anakin Skywalker or what everyone else here would refer to as the Prince."
"I believe it is time we go over the basics before the Queen is ready to rejoin the discussion before negotiations begin with the Hutts." Qui-Gon finished.
Everyone agreed with the plan to debrief Qui-Gon only because Anakin was here and was here as the student of Qui-Gon and not some random person.
[]
Into the deep of the night, within the night cycle of Tatooine there were many shadowy figures running across the streets of Mos Espa.
Security measures were at an all time high, but that did not mean there were no flaws to the system created and it was constantly being upgraded to make sure crime that happened within was monitored.
This would be a violation of ones privacy if the people knew they were being monitored but Anakin did not care too much what everyone was up to in the middle of the night. No one had access to this system other then all the connected droids who would only follow his commands or those assigned to the system as admins or moderators.
Close to the newly constructed palace that housed the benevolent Queen of Tatooine was a very few people who were very well prepared for their mission.
Assassins.
Cloaked in all black to better blend in with their dark environments because not every part of the city was completed and many things were still being implemented or changed to better accommodate the residents.
Speaking through a device one speaks. "Everyone within positions."
Replies are spoken through. "Yes." Multiple people respond.
"Infiltration start." The people, the assassins swiftly maneuvered themselves through the palace walls and are able to climb upwards trying to go to the area they needed to go.
"Quietly now." The leader of the assassins spoke. "We are only here for the Queen, once she is dealt with we would be able to claim the lofty prize the Hutt's have created."
That was right, a specialized bounty just for the life of Shmi Skywalker was created so they could create chaos and hopefully swoop right in to redeclare that the Tatooine system was once again apart of their territories.
Now entering the palace, the assassins had to work their way around the various patrolling droids and the various spots that cameras were placed to better guard the Queen and associates.
"Argh!" A small transmission was sent over the assassins transmission device, and a cry of pain was heard by everyone else.
"Report!" The leader hissed quietly. "Report!" He repeated his statement.
"Damnit, we are not aborting now. We have gotten so far in..." The leader whispered to everyone within his team.
"But captain, you cant possibly think we would be successfu-"
"Shut it and just continue."
Everyone went back to trying to secure the place but every so often more and more calls and cries of pain were called out through the transmission device further increasing the anxiety everyone on this assassination attempt were on.
"Hello." The captain tried to get a read on his teammates. "Report, anyone." The area was deathly silent, and the tension within his body was now helping him as of this moment.
Cursing up and down, silently the captain decides to abort the mission finally giving up his determinism or arrogance, or pride to turn tail and run. "If anyone can hear me on this signal, I am giving the orders that you are to retreat and not continue."
"Retrace your steps and try to make it out alive, I cant be losing anymore of-" His words are cut short as a figure appears before him.
He reactivates his device again to say his last words. "This is Tyler Revnew and this would be the last time anyone will hear me, or even see me. I would just like to say, if anyone at all is still alive and has escaped that please, I beg of you look after my fami-"
Again cut shirt a sound is heard on the other side as the device doesn't turn off immediately and a distorted voice is heard that is not Tyler's.
"Tyler Revnew, assassin sent here by the Hutt's." A menacing modulated voice is heard through the other side, and it was distorted but it was off to the distance.
"Please! Spare me! I will do anything, I have a family!" What seemed to be Tyler's voice cried out loud.
Some distinct breathing is heard clearly as silence had befallen and only the sounds of the breathing and the sounds of some chocking was heard.
"One should be careful not to choke on their aspirations." Again the modulated voice spoke. "And unfortunately no one else was left alive to hear your cry for mercy, your last words. It is only I, and your are now at my mercy."
If others were here that had meet the voice, they would recognize it as Vader. "Now die for you heresy." More chocking sounds are heard from the device before it is suddenly destroyed.
Other devices connected to it similarly had experience the same process.
[]
The next day, very early in the morning, Anakin had made his way towards his mothers room with no interference whatsoever.
During the night, Qui-Gon and himself had been given some rooms and obviously he had a very luxurious room made especially for him. 'I dont intend to make Tatooine my true capital because it lacks things for my plan, but that doesn't mean I will just leave it to the wolves.'
'For now though, it will have to do.'
Coming across what was his mothers room he makes sure to sense through the Force if she is currently doing anything not very ladylike. 'All clear.'
Entering unannounced Anakin sees his mother whom is wide awake as she is currently watching some news. of course it was the news created here from the Skywalker Industries subsidiaries talking about everything locally happening on Tatooine.
"Who is it?" No one would be allowed to enter not unless they were authorized before hand and they certainly would not be able to enter when she was in a bad state, again only if authorized.
"Guess who?" Anakin says out loud, his voice now deeper than the last time they had met.
Turning around Shmi finally gets to see her intruder, especially because there is no known male that should be allowed into her room. "Ani?"
"That would be me."
Jumping out of her seat she rushes over to embrace him. "Calm down there."
"You are back." Shmi said relived before continuing in a questioning tone. "Again?"
"Well, let me fill you in on the details." Anakin then went on to explain everything that had happened the day prior but choose wisely to leave out that he had disposed of some assassins. That did not stop him from telling her of the attack.
Shmi stopped Anakin from speaking anymore about the events that had occurred and started to become more personal. "Enough of that. Now tell me, what have those Jedi been feeding you? I mean, you have practically grown so tall now that you are becoming quite the giant."
"Not to take into account that I had also seen some impressive growth, but this..."
"Should be nothing to worry about." Anakin finished for her. "What should be of your utmost concern however is your health, and given the current situation I have heard that you were not getting enough sleep."
"W-well... I have many responsibilities now, I can't just let the people down."
"That is all good and all, but you should become more selfish."
"That is not the Jedi way?" Shmi decides to turn the conversation around and point it towards Anakin.
"No it is not, but who said I was going to follow everything they say directly with no pushback?"
Smiling, Shmi replies. "I guess you would do so." She had done some research of her own, and it was not like the Jedi were all that secretive with stuff like that.
How could she not look into that organization a little bit deeper, considering she had let her only child, her precious son join up with them.
They were with alot of things, but that was not at the top of their list to cover for.
"You are staying out of trouble, I hope?" Shmi says to Anakin.
"Of course..." Anakin says but knows that she would see through him here. 'Stupid motherly or is it womanly instincts?'
"Not."
Sighing Shmi continues. "Just stay safe." She still smiles very brightly.
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