Chapter Text
“Annie” Palpatine
Prologue: The Journey of Shmi Skywalker
There where a great many things Shmi Skywalker disliked, Injustice was amongst them. The Injustice of taking Freedom, of taking Dignity, of taking Dreams, of taking Love and Joy. Of taking so much from living, breathing Sentient Beings. The Injustice of taking everything that made somebody Special and trying to Destroy it in the Name of Profits was an Process to Vile and Disgusting that it sparked even Hatred in her.
Hatred for the Monsters who thought themselves aboth others, thought themselves to be rightful when enslaving others for Profit, Prestige and Influence.
Shmi hated how Somebody could be reduced to a piece of Meat, a Product which worth was only determined by how skilled either Slaver was at Bargaining.
She hated how Slavers often assumed that once they implanted an explosive Chip into there Subjects that any Emotion and Thought was erased from the Minds of there Victims.
That Attachment was erased from there Minds, never to cause Problems again.
Shmi was only 7 Years old when she too became an Slave, when she was sold into Slavery by Pirates who boarded there Transport Ship and murdered her Parents. She couldn’t remember her Parents Names, much less how they looked like. Only the horrible Screams stayed in her Mind…
“Mommy! I’m scared!” an seven Year old Shmi sobbed into her Mothers Shoulder, scared of the loud Blaster fire emitted from the Front of the Ship. They where Seated in the far back where most of the others Passengers fleed to once the Pirates came aboard.
Her younger self hugged her Mother tightly, the Mother hugging much tighter back, trying to Shield her Daughter of the evil that was coming. Her Husband, much like much of the other Men, was long since gone, rushing towards the front of the Ship, delaying the advance of the Pirates until hopefully help would arrive.
“Shhh, shhh everything is gonna be alright my Dear, ok?” her Mother whispered into her Ear cradling her closer as the Blaster Fire grew louder and louder, advancing towards them and the other Families sitting around them.
Mothers where trying to calm there Children, desperately hoping to distract not only them but themselves from the Terror that was encroaching . Shmis Mother shed her own silent Tears of Despair as she shushed and cradled her Daughter in her Arms, praying for help.
The Ship grew quiet in the front, Blasters silencing, Mothers and Children alike could only wait for what was to come, anticipating for either Horror or Relive to arrive at them them. Shmis Mother prayed, so did all of them.
Whit an sudden and loud scream rushed Pirates towards them, Monster swarming the back of the Ship, descending upon the defenceless Mass whit Blaster fire and mad Grins on there Faces.
Shmi would never forget how she screamed then, how utterly scared she was there. How one Blaster Bolt rushed towards her and her Mother, striking the Woman and killing her, leaving an traumatized Child behind. Shmi would never forget the pure Agony of feeling her Mother warm and safe embrace slacking around her, of how her Mother simple fell into her Seat, of how the warmth the her Mother always emitted grew colder. How one Pirate grabbed her by her Hair and dragged her away from the Body of her Mother and towards the front of the Ship, past the fallen Bodies of all those on the Ship who hoped for an better live away from there Homeworld.
The feeling of being stuffed into an cold and dark Room along whit all the other Children was also miserable of all these pure and young Children being forced into such an cold and hard Room, where the only thing they could do was cry out for the Parents they knew would not come. That all they could hope for was to wake up, that there Parents would embrace them and tell them that it was all just an Nightmare, that everything was going to be fine.
oOo
Another such Memory hat she could remember quiet well was of how she was first sold by these Pirates. When the every droning Engines finally silenced, when the Door opened to there Prison and where threatened to follow these Monsters. She could remember that moist Heat hitting her in the Face as they left the Ship. Of the Jungles all around the Pirates Ship, as well as dozens of other Ships. They where Ordered to Stand in Line before the Ship, ready to examinated by potential Buyers. How the thick green Jungle around them seemed to swallow all Space around them, threatening to suffocate them, despite the Fact that the stood in an large clearing surrounded by the Woods, leaving no Trees to stop the orange Suns hateful gaze down at them.
The tropical Planet, as far as she could remember, was incredibly hot and whit the Sun glaring down at them for Hours on end it was pure torture on there young Bodies to stand there, in Line, beaten if you stepped away.
There where many other Lines besides there own, each Lined in front of another Ship, most made up of different Species, most of whom where Adults by the looks, though all of whom to be sold away for an good Price.
There Line, threw out the Day, slowly dwindled in Numbers as more and more Children where sold off, few tried to run when faced whit there future Masters, though they where quickly kicked to the Ground and beaten for daring to misbehave. This continued until she herself was sold off…
“How much for the brown Haired Girl?”, an cloaked Figure demanded, gesturing towards the younger Shmi. His Hood obstructing his Face but she still could feel his calculating Gaze on her Body, assessing how much she could be worth to him, how much he would spend to buy her.
“20 Peggat”, was the crude response from one amongst the Group of Pirates, noticeably from the one whit the most Jewellery hanging from his Body.
“20? Thats around 800 Credits. No, no Slave is worth 20 much less an useless Child. Look at her, all skinny and small, unusable for any real Labour, what could I use her for, huh?”, the Man challenged, mockery lacing his Ton,”To eat away at my Food? She won’t be able to do more the cleaning for a few more Years at least, 4 Peggat.”
The Men wanted to bargain hard for the Slave, he could not afford an more experienced Slave, an cheap was the only alternative an Young one would also return the expense easier, so he thought.
“4!? What do you take me for?! Some Primitive?!” , the Pirate replied, anger radiating from him.
“She may still be small, but in time she will grown and make an excellent Investment down the Line. Slaves at young Ages take much easier to new Skills, are easier trained and conditioned to behave. An Girl like her also will one Day be able to birth many more Slaves. Children are investments and as such have worth of there own, despite there lack of Skills” , the Pirate Leader proclaimed towards the Men, intending to raise the Price of the Child.
The potential Buyer levelled his gaze back at her, where she stood, looking afraid between the two Men, who bargained for her future like it was some Part of an Droid.
“8 Peggat then”, he eventually countered.
“14”, the Pirate lowered, both knowing they where near the final Price.
“10, last Offer” the Buyer said, finality in his Tone mixed whit annoyance.
The Pirate Leader would himself gaze at Shmi a last time, assessing her himself a last time, if she truly wasn’t worth more, a Second past then he refocused on the other Men an broad Grin stretching on his Face, “We have an Deal, my dear Friend” , he would proclaim whit laughter.
Shmi was sold for 10 Peggats, a Currency implemented by the Hutts to limit Republican Influence on there Trade. A Peggat, to this Day, was worth 40 Republican Credits. She was sold for 400 Credits, the Price for an used Blaster.
The Men who bought her was quickly forgotten, he sold her off only Weeks after he bought her. That Theme of being bought for cheap and being sold off for cheap was prevalent all threw out her early Years in Slavery. Most bought her out of necessity, needing quick replacement for easy Tasks before an permanent Solution could be bought.
She was of little worth back then, still to young to have any real Skill, still to young to birth new Slaves, she was truly worthless then, something Slavers wished to part as quickly as possible.
School on the other Hand was reserved for gifted Children, Children whit enough Potential to succeed and be come valuable Items to there Owners. Shmi never became one of those Valuable Children.
The Sentiment was Widespread amongst Slavers, that if the repeated it enough times, screamed it loud enough at there Slaves that they would belive the Word eventually.
So it was an constant Theme in her Childhood, of her Owners telling her that she was useless and would always be useless, not even worth the Air she breathed. She was still to young back then to just ignore it, she cried often then, many Nights where spend crying and sobbing for her Mother or anybody to safe her, to show her Love and Compassion. Hoping that there was at least one Person who cared enough, who cared at all.
oOo
Another Memory that Shmi could easily recall was of one of her many Masters. It was even an Memory that she lied to recall, it was an pleasant if not good Memory that sadly nonetheless ended Bitter. The Memory was her Owner Pi-Lippa, an Nikto Woman who lived and was born on Kintan. Her Species was very similar to Humans, differentiating only because of there Green, Blue or Red Skin and there purely Whit Eyes.
The Woman showed Shmi the Kindness and Love she always longed for, teaching her many great Abilities even if the Woman herself didn´t always understand it herself she shared all she could whit Shmi. She taught Shmi simple technical things, to read and write and even a bit of simple Math. She took care, truly took care of Shmi. Gave Shmi an safe Home when her price as an Slave grew to its highest because she grew attractive and fertile- was untouched. The older Woman did all she could for her and in turn Shmi would until the End of her Live pray for the Woman who showed her that there was still good in the World, that just one Person helping another could be enough sometimes, that all it can take is to just care sometimes.
“I don´t understand Miss Lippa, how can there be Numbers smaller then Nothing?” , an 14 Year old Shmi would ask the Niktonian Woman sitting to her right. Both resting on Chairs at the wooden Kitchen Table, an Sheet of Paper whit Calculations laying before them.
Shmi had an hard time whit Math, she couldn’t grasp new Concepts and as much as she was thankful for Miss Lippa trying to teach her, the other Woman herself often had difficulties herself whit these Problems.
It where now now nearly two full Months whit Miss Lippa and Shmi couldn’t be happier, she was given enough to eat and drink and even had an Bed. Her very own Bed! Shmi didn’t know why the older Woman did these things for her, didn’t dare Question her on her Motives and instead simply enjoyed her live for once, hoping that this Peace could last forever.
“Well my Dear Girl, how do I explain this, hmm, ah I know.” , the older Woman said, a warm light sparkling in her purely whit Eyes, “you must think of it as Debt you see, when someone owes Money to another.”
Pi-Lippa looked down at the Girl sitting besides her, she was an little Angle, she thought, an Angle whit bright little brown Eyes. Her Face all concentrated in deep thought, trying to understand what she as told, but realization did not yet come to the Girl.
“Think of the Numbers as an Scale, Zero or Nothing at the centre, an Balance between both Extremes, if we Add to the Right Side of Zero we have positive Numbers, Adding to the left results in negative Numbers, does- does that make Sense to you?”, the Niktonian explained, struggling to explain the new Concept to the Girl. How she wished she was an better Teacher or had enough to pay for an real One, to be able to send the Girl to School, so that she could survive on her own one Day free from any Slave Master.
“I-i think I understand… I hope” Shmi awnsered her in uncertainty, an uneasy smile playing along her Lips.
Yes, Pi-Lippa thought, in time this Girl would be free again.
The most distinct Trade of Miss Lippa was that she wanted to free Shmi, wanted to gift her an live better then she was damned to, an live worth living. It was the most Noble and Selfless Act of Kindness Shmi would ever come to see she thought.
However as she would come to lern, that such an bright Light in such an Dark World was easily extinguished.
Pi-Lippa, the Woman who gave her everything, showed her an Brightside to life died only Weeks before Shmis 19th Birthday. Only Weeks before she should liberate Shmi from the Chains of Slavery.
Pi-Lippa was murdered by her very own Brother, shoot whit an Blaster in the back of the Head because her Brother needed her Possessions to fuel his Addictions, to sell everything she had for a few more Days of High. And to Shmis dismay he succeeded in inheriting all of his Sisters Possessions, including Shmi herself.
oOo
Xi-Lippa, Pi-Lippas Brother was an tall blue skinned Men, starved of any Weight and pale beyond any Health by his Spice Addictions. The Men had thankfully no real interest in owning an Slave and fortunately was gone most Days and Nights, leaving Shmi in his Slum Hut on her own. It was not the work that made him such an bad Owner, the work was acceptable, the Men only ever wanted from her to clean his Hut, that it be tidy if he decided to sleep there.
No what made Xi-Lippa such an bed Owner was that he had barley enough Wealth to sustain himself let alone an fully grown Slave. He was indifferent at best when it came to Shims survival, not giving her any Rations for Weeks on end, forcing her to steal whatever edible thing she found in his Hut. Something he did not take very kindly to…
The Door crashed open, shaking the entire Wooden Hut, the blue Skinned Niktonian Men standing in its frame, an furious Expression set on his Face.
“What the Hell do you think you are doing!”, he screamed at her whit seething Anger, spit flying from his Mouth.
“I-i, I was, I was j-just…”, Shmi stammered incoherently, backing away from the Doorway and into the Wall behind her, trying to get distance from the Men in front of her. She was scared, so very scared. He was drugged, it was always dangerous when he was drugged. He was far more aggravated and extremely suspicious of everybody around him.
“You, You where searching for my Species weren't you! You, you wanted to take them away from me, wanted to take them for yourself! You filthy Whore! You disgusting Bitch!”, he shouted at her, approaching every so slowly.
“No, no I would n-never dare M-Master, please I was looking for some-something to eat, please belive me!” , Shmi cried out, Tears building in her Eyes, pressing herself further into the Wall behind her, she was so scared.
The Men halted in his Step, “Food… You want my Food?! You dare to take my Food?!”, he would scream, yet again pacing towards her. Closing in on her.
“Plea-!”, Shmi tried to reason again but was cut off by an harsh Slap to her Face, sending her flying to the Floor. Curling in oner herself and crying out as the Men kicked at her again and again and again. She wanted to die then, wanted all the Pain and all the Suffering to just be over.
Shmi spend only a few Weeks as the Slave of Xi-Lippa, though that was more then enough for her to come closer to Death then she ever was before. She was malnourished, beaten green and blue all over, and nearly broken. She survived the Abuse, survived the horrible Living Condition and if only barley. She cried most Nights then, pleading for it all to End.
That Plea was eventually granted when Xi-Lippa lost her in an Game of Cards. The Men lost to the Hutt Gardulla, hoping he could gamble Shmi against an fair bit of Spices. Curiously it didn’ entirely revolve simply around the Spices. Xi-Lippa was as much of an Gambling Addict as he was an Spice Addict and the rush of gambling his Slave, his most valuable Possession was just to much for him to not risk it, ultimately costing him said Slave.
oOo
Living under an Hutt was… unpleasant but not the worse Shmi often thought. Where Xi-Lippa was an Addict who could not afford to sustain an Slave, so was Gardulla the Hutt all the more harsher in her expectations of her Slaves, o9f how much Profit they made her. While Shmi was given enough Food and Water, even an place to Sleep amongst the other female Slaves so did she have to work long Hours every Day. She never once complained, not even to her fellow Slaves, was thankful for what little she was given at the time.
She was grateful being away from her last Owner, Shmi never liked the Word Master, it gave them much more control over her if she thought of them as Masters, no she liked to think of them as her Owners, that they may Control her physical Body but that her Mind was Free, that she could Express Emotions and formulate Thoughts of her own. That she could have Opinions of her own even when she never dared to Voice them.
Gardulla the Hutt used her as an Waitress in her Palace on Tatooine, serving Refreshments and Delicacies to all Guest of Gardulla. It was simple Work, it was good Work.
The Huttes would own her for the longest of all the Owners she had, when she was Child she had different Owners every few Weeks but now? As an Adult? Gardulla would hold onto her for more the an Decade. In that Decade Shmi saw how Gardulla build and expanded her Empire On Tatooine, made the Planet her very own Dominion, but she also saw how over time cracks started to appear in the Foundation of it all.
All of this however, along whit the rest if Shmis live, changed when Shmi got very tired every Day, when she got Sick in every Morning, could not bare the thought of eating. When she would no longer bleed.
Shmi never went to School, never was thought anything more then basics but she knew what these Symptoms indicated, that she was carrying an Child.
She would never be able to explain how or why it happened, could not explain it to herself. Males and Females where kept separately, ate and mostly even worked separately. Gardulla had simply no use for producing new Slaves, Infants where costly, would not work until Years later. More so did they keep experienced Slaves away from working and made nothing but Problems for the Hutt.
Shmi herself also never wanted Children either, never wanted to damn an Child to the existence of an Slave, never wanted to force her Child to never taste the Flavour of Freedom.
So when Shmi tried to explain, tried to reason whit the Hutt, hoping to find an Solution so was she meet whit distaste, anger, even disgust and hatred.
“Most Gracious Gardulla, I sincerely Apologize”, Shmi told the Hutt in broken Huttese, she never fully Mastered the Language, was to old then to easily adapt to the new Tongue.
Shmi kneeled before the Hutt in the lowly lit Thrown Room of Gardulla, the Hutt herself residing in an Stone Plato in front of her, or as the Hutt herself liked to call it her Thrown.
“And what my Dear Slave would you like to Apologize for?” the Hutt asked, an stony Edge in her Tone, reaching out whit on of her Arms for the Pipe she liked to smoke from. Gardulla the Hutt valued honest amongst her Slaves, would grand them lesser Punishments, would spare there pathetic Lives and only let them be whipped a few Times, yes Gardulla was an most benevolent Slave Master, she thought to herself.
“Most Gracious Gardulla, I.. I am ca-carrying an Child”, Shmi whispered silently, not daring not any Sound, terrified of the Consequences, not for herself but the unborn Child in her Womb.
The Hutt was still smoking in her Pipe for a few more Seconds before fully realizing what the Slave before her had just admitted. Coughing and enraged the Hutt glared at the Slave in front of her, kneeling lowly, trembling in pure fear.
“An Child you say? How was it possible for such filth as you to be defiled? What right do you think you have to take away from what little Worth you have as an Slave!? You are an worthless and stained Whore!”, the Hutt spat at her, seething in anger. The Disrespect! What did the whorish Slave things who she was! Destroying her own Worth by being defiled, stained, taking away from the Value she had as Gardullas Property!
“No m-most Gracious! There w-was no Father, never- never would I try t-to undermine the most Gracious Hutts Authority. I-i was never in Contact whit an Male, would never dare to, you must belive me m-most Gracious, please!” , Shmi pleaded, nearly sobbing in fear. Terrified of what the Huttes would do if she thought Shmi went deliberately against her Rule.
“It will be killed of, and for the Damage you made to your Worth you will be whipped, yes whipped 5 times. Let it be an Lesson Girl.”, the Hutt spat at her, seething whit anger, but it was no use, she told herself, the Damage was already done and the Slave would be punished accordingly.
“No”, the Slave before her whispered, defying the powerful Hutt before her.
“What?”, Gardulla whispered herself, though far more dangerously and full of Venom.
“I will n-not lose my Child, my most Gracious Master, I w-will work harder then five Slaves combined, will do w-whatever task is ask-asked, will repay the lost Value of myself, will wo-work enough Hours to allow for R-rations for my Child.”, Shmi pleaded, “Master I will do whatever is needed to see my Child survive, please!”, Shmi begged, tears streaming down her Face as she kneeled deeper and deeper before the Hutt, her Face pressed against the Stone Floor, the trembling in her Body growing more and more extreme whit the fear if losing her unborn Child.
Shmi would do whatever was needed, endure whatever torture may come, all to give live to her Child, that it may see the light of The World, to bath it in love and watch as it grows. She would endure whatever may cine to see to that end. The Child was special not only to her but the Universe, that Shmi knew. The Child was destined for Greatness so much could Shmi feel dee in her Heart.
Gardulla must have felt it too, must have felt something, thought something, whatever thought may moved her to her next Words, Shmi would be forever thankful for them,”50 Whip Lashes, Half the Rations, Half the Sleep, See how Benevolent I am? Now vanish from my Sight you disgusting Whore.”
Whit that Shmi was escorted from the Thrown Room, directly to the Torture Chambers.
She could do this, she thought to herself, could sustain it.
It would all be worth it, Shmi was sure of that.
She would forever bear the Scars on her Back from the lashes, would forever feel them, feel the Pain on her back as an reminder for the Sacrifice she made, And she would accept them, whenever she would hunger in the Nights, whenever she was near Collapse from to much Labour and too little Rest, she would push threw it all, all the Pain and Agony, all for her Child. For the Chance of finally having her Baby in her Arms.
It would all be worth it, she would tell herself over and over again, when she could see the little Eyes sparling, could feel the little Hands grasp her Fingers, hear the soft Voice of her Baby.
It all would be worth it
oOo
Whit every passing Month Shmi grew more powerless, could physically work less despite how hard she tried until eventually Gardulla had enough pity non her and gave her easier Tasks, demanding the lost Profits due to easier work to be paid back. Shmi was nonetheless Grateful.
Whit each passing Week the Child grew in her and Shmi could not be happier, whenever she would caress her Belly, whenever she could feel the smallest twitch of the Baby growing inside her so did the Love for her Baby grow Tenfold. Late at Night while all the other Slaves would sleep Shmi would hum her Tune lowly, would whisper to her Baby how much she loved her, how she couldn’t wait to finally meet her.
oOo
Giving Birth was by far the most Painful, Agonizing and yet Rewarding Experience in her by the long Live. She thought she would die, that she would have to trade her Live for that of her Child, would have gladly done so, accepted the Deal all for her Child.
She was more then certain she would not have survived the Night without the other Woman helping her. Guiding her threw the most painful Hours of her live. Every Push she gave, she thought it was the last she could give, every Time she thought she could do no more did she force herself to push again, all for the high pitched Cries of her Baby.
Shmi was in Agony but she also so very happy.
Then she was given her Child, holding her for the first Time and any Pain was Forgotten, any hardship she had before was unimportant. She would have gladly lived a thousand Lives as an Slave all to finally have her Baby in her Arms, bundled up in dirty spare Cloths, crying and screaming her little Heart out. Shmi could only laugh in pure relive, because her Baby was the most perfect little thing in existence.
Her Baby Girl filled the Room whit so much hope and love, whit an brightness taking away all dark Clouds in the Minds of the Woman who gazed down at her in adoration, at the Baby that cuddled into her Mother.
And when Shmi gazed down on her Baby, sound and asleep on her Chest she could only smile, studying the delicate Skin on her Face, commit to Memory all the little Details. Those Brilliant Blue Eyes looking around curiously. Those Soft Golden Locks on her Head she would caress lightly. Her little Hands holding onto her Mother. All Shmi could see was an Girl so beautiful, so filled whit light and joy and love she could not fathom how she was blessed whit such an Girl. Whit an girl that could fill the Room whit pure love and joy, not just for her Mother but all near enough to feel the Powerful Positive Emotions radiating from the her.
And Shmi knew then and there that her Child was an Angel, an little Angel send to her by an higher Power, send to her for an higher Destiny, and Shmi knew that her little Angel would full fill her Destiny , bring this Joy, this Hope, this Love to the Galaxy. Would take away all the Darkness and bring Light, Light to every Being in the Universe.
“Anna”, Shmi softly whispered to her Child, “My Beautiful Angel Anna”
oOo
Anna Anakin Skywalker was an curious Child, Shmi could see so from an very early Day in, could see the Eyes of her little Girl gaze curiously at everything new she saw, how she wanted to grasp onto everything she could reach.
Shmi had given her Daughter the second Forename Anakin, because she was scared, scared of what might happen in the future if somebody discovered that her Child was an Girl, maybe not yet, maybe not in Gardullas Palace, an place Shmi had to concede was most safe for her Child. Maybe bot even on Tatooine but Someday, yes Someday her Daughter could be in danger because of what she was, of what she represented.
Shmi saw enough “Pleasure” Slaves of Gardulla, knew that her Daughter would be in endangered someday as well, so she had to prepare, giving her Daughter an Second, more Masculine Name was one such Precaution.
She would Protect her little Angel, she would Protect her whit her very Live.
oOo
The first Time Outside of Gardullas Places, for both Mother and Daughter, was on Annas 6th Birthday, the Hutt wanted Anna to work and thought her to potentially be an good Pod Racing Candidate, she was small, light weighted and had remarkable Reflexes. Further more, for Gardulla, nothing was lost if the Child was crashing, the Racing Pod would be her only real lose.
And so they found themselves at Mos Espa for the Boonta Eve Classic, the biggest Pod Racing Event in the entire Hutt Space, attracting Racers, Gamblers and Spectators from all the dark Corners of the Galaxy.
While Shmi was not very found of the Idea of her little Girl Pod Racing, she had little say in the matter, even worse Anna was very much thrilled whit the Prospect of Racing.
Gardulla found Anna to be an potentially very lucrative Investment which could, if successful enough, slow her declining Influence on Tatooine.
Pod Racing was an very dangerous Sport, filled whit lethal Accidents and widespread Cheating, it wrecked Shmis Heart to see her Daughter in the Piloting Seat of one such Death Machine. Though not only her Eyes where fixated on the Child in the Piloting Seat, an certain Toydaraian was also closely observing the young Racer,
Shmi could only hope her Daughter remember the Conversation they had , before they left, until Shmi could hold her Baby again.
“Anna, I want you to repeat the Rules one last Time to me, ok Honey?”, Shmi told her Daughter, holding her tightly by the Hand. They would leave in a few Minutes for Mos Espa and her Daughter had to Understand the Rules for when they where Outside the Palace.
“Uhm, I don’t talk to Strangers. I don’t let go of Mummies Hand, I uhm…”, Anna sated off, listing the first Points before faltering, her face all scrunching up into an adorable little Frown.
“Annie…”, her Mother pushed her softly, they had gone threw these Points every since Gardulla had announced Annas Participation to them.
“Oh! Oh! My only Name is Anakin, I don’t react to Anna”, Annie recalled correctly, whit her soft yet excited Voice victoriously proclaiming the Rules she had to Memories.
But not long after and the adorable Frown was back on her Face and Shmi really had to fight down her smile at the Display of her Daughter.
“But is Annie allowed though?”, Anna asked, curiously looking up at her Mother,
“I-… No. No Annie. Best we stay safe and only use Anakin, yes ?”, Shmi awnsered. She would not take any Risks, not when they where in an unfamiliar Place, not whit hundreds of unfamiliar People, “Do you remember the Racing Rules as well my Dear?”
“I- uhm, I fly safely. I don’t fly to win and won’t anything risky !”, Annie, again, recalled correctly, an proud Smile dancing on her Lips, she could list All the Rules of the Top of her Head!
“Very Good, Annie. Now, should we finally meet Gardulla?”, Shmi asked her Daughter, giving her an warm Smile she could not find in herself to truly feel. Straying from the Palace was dangerous and to leave for such an large Event filled whit Criminals, Gamblers and Addicts was against everything Shmi worked for, to Shield her Daughter from the Evil of the Universe.
Shmi stood in the Ranks, watching nervously as the Race progressed before her Eyes. Thankfully Anna seemed to obey the Rules her Mother has set for the Race which was an relive, even so Annie progressed in the Ranks and by the End of it was quiet a few Places ahead from her starting Position.
It made Shmi proud and nervous all at the same. She was proud for her Daughter to be such an talented Girl, was proud of her success, was happy because she was happy. But Shmi was also incredibly nervous, because now that Gardulla saw the potential of Anna, now that she knew that Anna could become an lucrative Investment these Visits of Mos Espa and the Boonta Eve Classic would become more numerous.
oOo
It was on there Third Visit that everything changed. Gardullas Empire crumbled faster then anybody anticipated, most likely due to Jabbas Involvement in the Planetary Spice and Slave Trade, making it harder for the declining Hutt to pay all the Fees involved whit the Racing and by the third Time whit Annie, thankfully, still not winning Gardullas Treasury was depleted and her Empire standing before its Collapse. It was then that one certain Toydaraian decided to gamble for the promising Slave.
Like most of her former Owners, so too was Gardulla at Heart an Gambler. Loved the Rush of either losing Everything or Winning even more. Desperation, for most Gamblers, made these Tendencies even more prominent. So when an Toydaraian, named Watto, offered an good Deal of Spices against Gardullas Slaves in an Game of Cards. It was just too tempting for the Huttes to lessen her Losses, to buy herself more Time.
Gardulla, in that Night, in that Game lost her last Chance at rebuilding her Empire, was humiliated by an Toydaraian and robed of the wonder Child that could have saved her.
It was one of many Nails sealing the Coffin of her declining Empire on Tatooine, another two Slaves lost, another fortune Gambled away in Race she couldn’t hope to realistically Win. Another Hit to her Credibility.
oOo
Shmi at first didn’t really know what to think of this new Revelation. Yes she was happy to be freed from the Hutts Palace, away from her behaviour which became more erratic, cruel and desperate whit each passing Day. Away from the Death Spiral that was Gardulla the Hutt. She was happy that she and her Daughter where still together, something that was not guaranteed in Slavery. The Chance of getting separated from her Daughter, of not being able to Protect her, burdened Shmi every Day but so far she seemed to have been lucky.
On another Note, Shmi did not know what she should think of Watto, the unwashed Toydaraian that won her Daughter and herself in an Game of Cards. She knew nothing of the Men and that set her on Edge, knew not what he wanted, what he would do whit them, what he would do to her Daughter. Only Time would tell if Watto was an lesser or greater Curse on there Lives.
oOo
After a few Months of living under the Ownership of the Junkyard Dealer Shmi could say that Watto was an acceptable Slave Holder, well as acceptable as an Slave Holder could be that is. He was interested in Anna after he saw her Race and Race good at such an young Age at that. He was even happier when he discovered Annies Talent in Electronics. That she was an Girl was all the Insurance that he needed. Female Slaves, attractive female Slaves, where an Symbol of Wealth and Influence, an luxury Item for the most wealthy of Slave Holders,as such Annie would make Watto an fortune one Way or the Other.
Sadly Watto was quiet an harsh Owner as well, though he granted them basic Luxuries. Gave them there own House in the Slave District of Mos Espa. Gave them Basic Accessories and the work itself was quiet a bit lighter then she knew from the Huttes. The House in particular was the greatest Gift as they needed the privacy desperately due to one of Annies many Gifts.
Anna had developed the quiet unnatural Talents, Gifts of an Higher Power Shmi knew. Whenever her little Annie was upset, because an Electronic Circuit would buzz her Fingers, the Chores in the Cabin would vibrate and raddle loudly. Toys and, whit time, Tools alike came floating Annies way when she just thought about them hard enough, sometimes even when she wasn’t even intending to.
Another such Gift was, to the Joy of Watto, that Annie could influence other People, that they agreed to much higher Prices or weren't even angered by Wattos mannerism.
And while Anna was capable of an great many of Things so was she still just an Child. Still to naive to understand the great many Dangers that threatened her every Day.
Shmi came to trust mist Slaves in Mos Espa but that didn’t mean there weren't many evil and vile Creatures out there, roaming the Streets just waiting for an Opportunity.
That was why Anna wasn’t allowed to be outside when the Sun set, wasn’t allowed to talk to Strangers, she didn’t know. Why she needed to stay by her Mothers Side whenever the bought Food at the Market. Why she couldn’t have an feminine Name in the public or long Hair. Why her Mother was so scared of her adventures and bright Personality, what kind of People would take advantage of exactly that Personality.
Shmi knew her Daughter to be destined for greater Things then Tatooine could ever be part of. Knew that this Destiny would claim her one Day and give her all the Things her Mother could not. Shmi could only hope that that Destiny was filled whit joy and love, whit hope and the purest light for Annie.
She loved her Daughter and wanted her by her Side as long as she could, but also accepted that one Day she would need to let go of her little Angel, no matter how much it would break her Heart.