(Phantom, Typhon, Jedi Temple)
(Shmi PoV)
I sat quietly in the main area of the ship…personal cruiser… luxury yacht?... wherever I found myself. I couldn't keep the sigh coming from my lips, the blanket draped over my shoulders giving me just enough warmth to hide how cold I actually was, or I hoped it did.
The truth was I had no clue where I was, where I was going or what was going to happen to me and that was truly a scary thought. Over the years, as a slave, I would admit this wasn't the first time this had happened, but I had never been on a ship this nice before. I hadn't always been on Tatooine and when I had been moved from planet to planet all the ships were more akin to barges, filled to the brim with others just like myself.
It had been a long time since then, which explained how cold I was on the ship. It was always hot on Tatooine and I had gotten used to it. I hope Ani was ok out there in the wider galaxy, I felt my eyes redden just a little at the thought of my little angle.
The shinning walls, the high-tech equipment, even the holo-table that was stuck in the middle of the room, which was unusual, all just showed the difference in the wealth of my new master or I guess… mistress. I might have held hope that my new owner was a kind soul after all the bad ones I had been through over my life, being treated relatively nicely, giving me a blanket for the cold ship.
Yes, I would have had my doubts if I hadn't seen what had happened to Watto. I had seen many things on a scum world like Tatooine having been in the possession of Gardulla the Hutt for a short time as well. It was likely that experience plus many others that desensitized me to the death of the Toydarian, though I did take a small amount of pleasure in hearing his screams as I changed hands.
He had been so mean to Ani over the years, I knew he owned us, but what mother wouldn't want a little retribution, a little payback after it all. I felt my nerves fray once more as another wave of cold passed over my skin.
I hadn't fought, complained or said anything as my new mistress walked into the back room after getting the codes to the slave chip, though I was worried. Why did she want me so desperately? I couldn't possible miss the lightsaber… or lightsabers that she had clipped to her belt, especially when she started swinging it around.
It was what Mister Jinn, the one who took Ani carried. My doubts and fears worsened as I waited for us to arrive at the destination. Had I done the right thing letting Ani go with them?
I was at least glad that she had given me time for myself. No words were said as she led me out of the shop, back to her ship and taken off without a moment's notice. I didn't have time to take any possessions, not that I would have many to begin with and I'm sure none would question my sudden disappearance.
I had a few friends or I guess acquaintances that might wonder, but I was just another face that would soon disappear into the sands of Tatooine, I guess that was all in the past now. I couldn't be sure if it was a mental tactic or not that she had just left me to my own devices. She had gone to set course for our destination and come back later to give me the blanket… what was her game? I tried to get a read on her but I couldn't read her face when she moved closer.
From what I could tell she didn't care, that didn't stop me from properly thanking her. I've had masters in the past that would feign giving something to a slave and expect the proper response. 'To not be thankful for a gift would be considered an insult and be punishable.' I had seen many take pleasure in those small games.
I felt the almost forgotten rumble of the ship exiting hyperspace and knew that I had reached my new home, where I would serve… possible until I die. Unlike all my past owners I could tell there was an aura of power that surrounded my new mistress. I couldn't believe she would lose me to someone like Watto and I didn't believe for a second she wanted to sell me to another.
No I would die working for her, or be disposed of when I wasn't useful. I guess I still had some years in me left. Though Anakin was already 9 thankfully I had given birth to him young. I couldn't remember now if it was when I was 18 or 20, birthdays become a thing of the past in the slave trade.
I always remembered to throw one for Ani to make him feel special, to make him feel like an actual person. But myself… I couldn't remember anymore when I was born. Going off that though, I could say I was still under 30…just.
Maybe another decade or two before I became too useless for the heavy labor… other talents… I did know about droids, I taught Ani everything I knew till he outgrew even that. But what else was I good for? My looks had deteriorated on the sand ball, my beauty destroyed and by then it wouldn't matter…
My thoughts continued to drift as I finally felt us land. I quickly folded the blanket I had and put it to the side. I didn't have to wait long before the echoing boot steps of my new mistress came from the cockpit.
I tried to hide the small amount of fear that wormed its way through me as she stepped in front of me in all her glory. The armor, the powerful face and montrals, everything about her radiated assured power and it made me want to shrink back every second her eyes focused on me.
Her eye locked to mine in a second as I stood up, making sure to be submissive as she stood there for a short while. I wanted to clench my hands behind my back to hide my nervousness but knew I couldn't do that as I waited for her to say something.
Time seemed to stretch on for a long period of time before I heard her boots continue once more to the ramp of the ship. I was quick to follow. Reaching the ramp she stepped to the side as she pressed the button for it to lower.
A small amount of sunlight started to peek through the opening gap as the mechanical whirling of the servos lowered the mechanism. It was at that moment that she smiled at me. I just caught it as I still had my head lowered, but it was clear as day when she motioned to her side.
I knew not to disobey and quickly went to her side. She kept the smile on her face as she moved to the side, planting me firmly in the center of the still lowering ramp. I don't know why but a feeling of dread filled my bones as the ramp continued to lower, my fate hanging in the balance and my mind conjuring the worst nightmares possible to predict what I was about to see.
I just wished I could see my baby boy one more time. It was the only thought going through my mind as my heart rate sped up and it was clear for me to see what was outside. There was a dull thump as the ramp hit the soft ground outside and my head subconsciously lowered in resignation at whatever cruel fate may come.
As I dwelled in my pit of self-despair and fear all I could think of, all I could grab a hold of was the thought to see my boy one more time, I would give anything for that to happen. "Mom?" The words seemed to echo in my ear for a second startling me to look up, but my eyes were unfocused.
I stood there for another second as all my doubt and fear ebbed away as if it was all a dream. A feeling of determination washed over me so powerfully it was like I was a new person…or as if…as if my mind was finally clear.
I felt my body straighten and my eyes sharpen as I held my back straight. It reminded me of the times before my parents died, before that fateful day when we ran into pirates…of the early years when I still thought back against my captors.
Maybe it wasn't the smartest idea or notion with my predicament and my new master, but I strode down the ramp with a new found determination. I didn't know what, but something was telling me, something whispering in the back of my head was telling me that I would see my son once again!
Until that time was to pass I would stay strong I would conquer any challenge that my new mistress set! I would survive to give my child one more hug in the future!
Stopping at the bottom of the ramp I took everything before me in. Groups of Twi'leks shuffled around the open area before me, moving rubble and tending to the grounds. It was easy to tell for someone in their same position that they were reshaping the ground or concrete work, as well as planting new seeds for grass and plants that littered spots throughout the courtyard.
Some of the spots even looked like they used to be a part of some type of stream that went through the courtyard. I had worked on similar types of restoration projects when I was younger but hadn't touched such work in a long time.
Thankfully it was something I had done in the past and could grasp quickly. My eyes quickly moved further up to a part of the courtyard that already seemed to be cleared and worked on. A different more physically built group of Twi'leks were standing around learning some type of fighting techniques from an alien I hadn't seen before.
I could just make out the small cylinder that was attached to the scary aliens that was leading them, bringing another bout of worry to my mind. How many more of these monsters were here?
The thought quickly reminded me of my new mistress. A small shudder of fear went through me as I realized I had stepped off the ship before my master, one could even say barged in front of her, cutting her off.
Though the fear was kept back with my new found reserves of will power and confidence, I was still worried. I quickly stepped to the side and turned around, bowing in apology to my new mistress. Once again she didn't speak a word as I clearly heard the clink of her boots as she made her way down the ramp. I stayed still to wait for a possible punishment before I felt her slender hands cup my cheek.
The slow force from her hand made my head rise and I waited for the worst as I once again stared into the slightly red eyes of my new mistress. Her red eyes seemed to bore into my soul as she held me there looking at them for an uncomfortable amount of time.
Her head tilted to the side for a short while as her eyes seemed to glow even harder before a smile came back to her lips. I wanted the smile to unnerve me, to look wrong on her face, to be distorted by anger or a hidden malice, but I saw none of that.
There almost looked to be a type of intrigue behind the smile, something confirmed when she finally spoke, the first words I had heard from her since she spoke to Watto. "A strong bond indeed." I think my lip trembled in apprehension as the words left her but I couldn't be sure as she quickly turned from me and started to walk toward the main building before us.
I just swallowed the sigh of relief that was about to leave me as I quickly trailed behind her. I would usually lower my head in such a situation, watching the boots of my new owner and following them to my destination. But that feeling of comfort, of confidence that assaulted me when we reached the planet once again made me head lift ever so slightly as I kept taking in all around me.
Other than the group of Twi'leks fighting and the others clearing and reshaping the courtyard, there were more that were working on the small steps that my new mistress was walking up. It was clear they didn't have the right equipment to fix the broken and chipped stairs but they were clearing them and de-weeding them for easier access.
The weeding wasn't just happening on the steps. All around the courtyard weeds had grown and were being cleared out, the best example being the vines that clung to what I could only assume was a temple.
A shiver passed through my body as I looked to the side still following my mistress. The warrior training the others, the one with what seemed to be a mask made of bone, was staring straight at me as we passed. His eyes trailed me for a short but meaningful few seconds before they turned back to the group in front of him practicing fighting stances.
My heart beat sped up once again but I quickly moved on as my eyes starred up at the massive walls we were closing in on. The magnificent of the walls before me couldn't be hidden even with them cover in small bits of undergrowth and chipped as they were. I knew that if I was back here when this temple was fist established it would be a sight to see.
Maybe that's what my new mistress had been hoping to achieve? It was a small light of hope, but if it was the case my situation was better than it had been in years, working on Tatooine.
Walking through the huge double doors that signaled the entrance, there were two path ways that split off, likely giving people who entered and exited two options on their way in and out, though one side was now full of rubble that had yet to be cleared.
I made sure to keep up with my mistress as her boots quickly walked past the center of the temple. Some type of square rested in an empty pool right in the middle of the room. The inside of the temple was a lot worse than the outside. With rubble scattered all over the place, but at the same time being cleared by more Twi'leks. Multiple room split off from where we stood and two huge ramps spiraled on both sides to the top where the second level was.
My mistress didn't stop for a second and only a few of the Twi'leks stopped for a few seconds to stare at me before the got back to work. Walking up the ramps a new set of double doors stood in our way.
My mistress stopped at the doors and beckoned me closer. Doing as told I walked right to the entrance of the doors and stopped waiting for them to open. A new thought started to enter my mind as I started to process what was happening.
I could just make out a small mechanical whine as the doors creaked open, the first thing peeking through, that I could see, was a throne type chair, an unidentified figure sitting on it. Was I wrong? Do I actually have a new 'master'? Was 'she' just delivering me?!
The thought filled my mind as a hand clasped the back of my neck. My body stiffened at the sudden contact, 'her' voice behind me speaking softly. "I think that's enough for now." The words echoed in my head once before her hand left my back.
I wanted to turn to her to ask what just happened, I wanted to know what she was talking about, I wanted to know why I was once again feeling apprehension and fear swell at the bottom of my stomach… I needed to know many things…
But…
…I was out of time.
The doors finished opening and I got a full glimpse of the figure sitting on the throne. 'She' walked around my body seemingly not caring that I wasn't following as she made her way deeper inside. Before I knew what was happening my own body was floating behind her.
I couldn't draw my eyes away from him as he sat there getting closer and closer. I only had one thought as I saw her knell before him as if he were a king…no an emperor.
What have I gotten myself into?