When Sith Beat Jedi To The Prize (Of The Chosen One)

[neverwantedtobesith]

Garth'zel had intended never to go to Tatooine again. The entire experience the first time he was there was hot and miserable. The only good point, so far as he was concerned, was meeting Andronikos. But as luck would have it, his ship ended up deciding to need minor repairs. Nothing too bad, but it did require him to land somewhere to get the parts he needed, because of course, the bit that went was something he didn't have spare parts for. The only planet within reasonable range? Tatooine.

It didn't take long for a Force-sensitive boy to catch his attention. One strong enough that he was surprised the Jedi didn't already find him. Well, their loss was his gain. ...Once he pried him loose from Watto, anyway. He suspects he actually had an easier time of it than a Jedi would, although he's not going to hang around and give one the chance to give it a shot. At least, unlike them, he's willing to come to Tatooine from time to time so Anakin could see his mother. Probably not more than a couple times a year or so, due to it being best to go there when they're at least vaguely in that part of the galaxy anyway, but it's far better than 'sorry kid, we're never bringing you back'.

Of course, there is one tiny problem with this whole thing. He's never had to raise children before and doesn't know what he's doing. With the ship safely in hyperspace and not due to come out of it for a good long while, enabling him to do things that didn't involve sitting in the pilot's seat of the ship, he's in the lounge area. Time to figure out what he's doing. "Have you managed to get any kind of schooling? Like from someone you know, sitting down with you for an hour here and there as time permitted to teach you things like how to write?"

May as well figure out what he needs to teach besides how to use the Force consciously instead of unconsciously drawing on it.

Comments

[imaperson]

Anakin smiles a little, thinking Garth'zel is teasing him about their earlier conversation.

"Ok." He would have liked to have been able to watch that, but he'll ask later. It seems like it's going to be a while before he's trusted to pilot. "Where are we going?"

[neverwantedtobesith]

"Rishi, as it turns out. I've been there before, although, it's, um, been awhile." Due to his previous trip being before his extended nap.

"This'll serve as a chance to see if Raider's Cove still exists, I suppose. Back in my time, it was a pirate town. Given it's along a hyperspace route these days, the planet probably doesn't have much of a pirate population left. I'll probably take you places I've been to."

"I hope Raider's Cove has an actual spaceport or at least landing field if it still exists," Garth'zel grumbles. "Andronikos and I had to be dropped off on a wooden dock that had enough space for a shuttle but was not big enough for the ship I had at the time. This one wouldn't fit either. Not that there's any way that same one would still be there after over three thousand years."

[imaperson]

"Rishi." Anakin repeats, so he will remember it.

He's had experiences with pirates, good, bad, neutral, so he's not immediately wary, but he's aware he needs to be careful. "Lotsa pirates deal in slaves." He didn't know if they did that long ago, and if he didn't, it wasn't far to not warn him.

[neverwantedtobesith]

"I know. Andronikos was a pirate, hence me bringing him along on that trip. I'd actually met him on Tatooine. I also made sure not to ask if slaves had ever been part of his cargo." Since otherwise, they would have been likely to have... problems.

"As you can imagine, he was not a nice man. But he was loyal to those who were loyal to him in return." Needless to say, Garth'zel has no idea what happened to the man after he disappeared. He probably went back to piracy.

[imaperson]

Anakin nods. "Kitster's dad is a pirate, or was. Kitster hasn't heard from him in a long time, he doesn't think he's coming back anymore." The boy had dreamed once, of his father coming back and rescuing him from the life of a slave. It had been hard to watch. "Some are ok, I guess." But he was cautious about them as a group.

And of course, Watto has done business with some, so Anakin could be recognized.

[neverwantedtobesith]

"Mmm, probably not. Piracy is, needless to say, dangerous work." So chances are good the kid's father is either dead or in prison.

Right, probably time to let Anakin focus on his food before a potential mood drop ruins his interest in it.

[imaperson]

"Seems like most work is." From what he knew anyway. Even farmers were missing fingers or parts sometimes.

Anakin eats quietly for a bit. "Is there something I could do to earn some money? So I can share it with him?" He was his best friend, after all. And money would help him.

[neverwantedtobesith]

"There are jobs out there that should be perfectly safe. It's outside factors that make them potentially not safe. Like, say, a thief deciding to rob wherever that person works." So theoretically, whatever job shouldn't have anything dangerous happening.

Now an eyebrow goes up. "I can't say I was planning to put you to work on anything besides various kinds of lessons."

[imaperson]

"Huh." Well, that is well beyond his experience and he is taking Garth'zel at his word.

"But what if I wanted to?" He doesn't have a concept of 'allowance' or of a guardian providing spending money, and even if he did, he isn't that bold. But he can ask to earn it.

[neverwantedtobesith]

Garth'zel makes a face. "I suppose that telling you that you don't have to do that sort of work anymore won't help?"

He's pretty sure that's a 'no'.

[imaperson]

"If you're paying me, it's not the same, right?" That would be a 'no'. "I'm not trying to be greedy. I just want to help my friend." And he wouldn't be there to physically do so anymore.

[neverwantedtobesith]

Garth'zel pinches the bridge of his nose. "Why are children like this?" he asks no one in particular.

"You do know that it's going to be a few months before we go back, yes?" Meaning it's not like Anakin would be able to give Kitster the money anytime soon.

[imaperson]

"What?" Anakin's voice is soft as Garth'zel questions the air.

"A few months?" He actually hadn't thought they would be going back that soon. "But that's ok. He's really capable too." He's sure Kitster will be ok for a few months.

[neverwantedtobesith]

Garth'zel raises an eyebrow at Anakin, choosing to ignore his original question. "How long did you think it was going to be until we went back?"

[imaperson]

"Like. A year. Or more." Hence part of his fussing over speaking with his mother. Not that he still didn't want to, but it was a very different time frame he was looking at now.

[neverwantedtobesith]

Garth'zel shakes his head. "I'm looking at taking you back at least a couple of times a year. Preferably at least one or two more times than that, but two trips back a year is the minimum I want to attempt. Basically, how often the trips back happen depends on how much time we spend on the opposite side of the galaxy from Tatooine, pretty much."

Given it would be ridiculous to beeline to Tatooine from someplace in the region of, say, Ziost. Or even further away and deeper into the territory of the old Sith Empire.

[imaperson]

Having a more firm grasp of details does cause Anakin to lean back, focus drawn inward for a moment. That is far more than he'd thought he would get and it's difficult not to start bouncing about on his feet in excitement. While he is well aware of pilots and travelers, that's more often than he most who travel so far.

"Maybe I can make him things to sell, instead? He's good at that." And Anakin likes to make things, so it works out for both of them.

[neverwantedtobesith]

Now it's Garth'zel's turn to lean back in his seat to consider things. "It depends on what you intend to make and how many, I think."

But so far, it sounds like a reasonable proposition.

[imaperson]

"Well. It can't be too things. He'll get robbed. And nothing too valuable either. Cause. Yeah." Anakin plays with his fingers for a moment, thinking. "The moisture farmers need small things, mostly to allow them to conserve water. Kitster is trying to get on with a wealthy family though, maybe as a majordomo. So he'd trying to impress them. And they are more likely to have the money for stuff and like little things. Knives to sample fresh fruits and membranes to seal the cut surfaces to they don't dry out. Flasks that stay cool but aren't heavy. Toys for their children. I can make lots of things."

[neverwantedtobesith]

"Mmm." Garth'zel considers that. "No promises, but I'll see what I can do."

He'll need to figure out what to get so that Anakin could make the things he wants to and all that. Along with things like how much would be needed, work out where things would be stored in their various stages and so on.

[imaperson]

He's used to that kind of promise, born more out of a people who have so little power but mean to try. He'll happily take it. "Thank you."

Given they were all that were on board, Anakin could use the crew bunks for storage. He didn't see why not. But didn't fully know what to make however.

[neverwantedtobesith]

Whereas Garth'zel has plenty of money with which to make things happen, he just needs to take space constraints into account.

"You should probably finish your food before what's left has a chance to get cold," Garth'zel notes. "You'll probably also want to take some time over the next couple of days to try to narrow down what you want to try to build and how much, which will help me with my end of things there."

Also known as buying whatever it is Anakin needs for what he's doing. ...Along with the space issues that are his main concern.

[imaperson]

In thinking about home, his mom, his friends, Anakin had forgotten his food. Given he'd eaten more in the last few meals than he had in days previously, having food to eat was something he could forget. "Oh. Right."

Anakin turns his attention back to his food, nodding. He'd think of something, probably several somethings. "I will."

[neverwantedtobesith]

Garth'zel is just going to use the quiet now as a chance to think about what to teach Anakin once they were done eating. It's probably a good idea to start teaching him how to defend himself using purely non-Force-involved methods, he decides. Ways involving the Force are going to have to wait until Anakin has a better grasp on using it.

[imaperson]

Anakin is quite as he eats, not knowing what to say or even really do. There's a lot to think about and he wants to spin off on his thoughts, and it's difficult to do that while he's eating. But he's also reluctant to not eat, even if he believes he'll be able to get it later.