Chapter Text
Shmi drew a shaky breath and looked around at her fellow passengers—-all recently rescued from the slave ship taking them to Zyggeria.
They were all the worse for wear—how could they not be?----but this crew in their plain, sand colored uniforms had just pulled off what Shmi would have considered impossible.
And they were all so young .
She’d noted that immediately.
Their commander couldn’t be more than thirty. The rest were clearly a range of boys and girls who could be as young as sixteen all the way through their twenties.
But the firm professionalism and confidence they displayed spoke of far more experience than Shmi cared to ponder as they helped guide people onto their ship and began assessing the needs of the former captives.
Beside her, little Lynytt shivered and tightened her grip on Shmi’s ragged dress. She was only four, as far as Shmi could gather, and had barely spoken three words since she’d been herded onto the slaver ship along with five other people. They'd been shoved into a cargo hold containing roughly thirty more beings---all destined for the dreaded slave markets.
Shmi had seen immediately that Lynytt was Astyrian by heritage—--her lovely purple eyes were unmistakable. No doubt why she’d been taken.
Shmi had thought unprintable things about the slavers as she watched the girl weep violently in terror. None of the others were family, nor did they know where she’d been taken from.
So Shmi had gathered the child into her arms and rocked her gently, humming and stroking the silvery hair until the girl calmed.
It had been a miracle when that cargo door had opened, spilling in light and salvation.
A young officer approached them, his hazel eyes swiftly taking them in and assessing as Lynytt tucked herself halfway behind Shmi’s leg.
“Ma’am,” he said respectfully to Shmi. “Air either o’ ya injured?”
“No,” she replied. “Just hungry and rather…uncertain of our fate.” She tilted her head to the little girl, hoping the young man could see just how traumatized Lynytt was.
He nodded, slipping off his cap to reveal close cut hair that curled a little rebelliously nonetheless.
Then he took a knee on the hard deck and gave Lynytt a small little half smile.
“And yore name, ma’am?” he asked. The girl watched him without moving a muscle.
“Lynytt,” Shmi answered for her. “That is all I know, ah…” she wasn’t familiar with the rank bars or the charming accent.
“Ah'm Lieutenant Piett,” the boy said in friendly tones, gaze not leaving the child. “We’re here ta bring ya back ta yore families if possible.”
“And who is we , Lieutenant?” Shmi asked. She was reasonably certain these were the good ones. But after a life of slavery and blows in the Rim, she took nothing for granted.
“Apologies,” the Lieutenant said, looking up at her. “Ah should hev said. The Axxilan Anti-Pirate Fleet. And you are?”
“I’m Shmi,” Shmi returned. “Skywalker.”
Piett offered a hand and she shook it.
He returned his attention easily and calmly back to the Astyrian child.
“Lynytt,” he said easily. “Ah’m glad ta meet ya. Air ya hungry?”
She was still frightened and suspicious. But her head gave a jerky nod, strands of the fine silver hair falling into her eyes.
The Lieutenant leaned in just an inch or two.
“Do ya think,” he whispered conspiratorially, glancing up at Shmi again, “thet Shmi is hungry too?”
Tiny shoulders shrugged.
“Hmmm,” the boy said, pretending to ponder. “Ah’ll bet she is. But Ah dinna know what she likes. Do you?”
A more confident answer with a negative shake of the head.
“All right,” the Axxilan replied, frowning a little as though in thought. “Pairhaps she’d like ta choose. Thar’s three kinds o’ hot dinners.”
Lynytt was definitely interested and more curious now. She stepped fully into view beside Shmi.
“I would love a hot dinner,” Shmi told her, smiling down. “Shall we go look?”
Lynytt nodded and switched her grip from Shmi’s dress to Shmi’s hand.
“Well grand,” the Lieutenant stated, rising to his feet once more. “Right this way.”
“Thank you,” Shmi told him in low tones as they moved across the deck to a large stack of crates currently being unpacked by numerous Axxilan crew. “I haven’t seen her respond even that much to anyone else.”
“Little ones nade patience,” replied the young man seriously. “Especially in thase circumstances. All right. Tis nothin’ grand, but they’re all hot. We’ve got Axxilan chicken, a vegetable tagine, and um…” he squinted as he lifted the last self heating ration. “Somethin’ thet claims ta be nerf stew, but no promises.”
Shmi took a chicken as that sounded the safest. Lynytt immediately copied her as the Lieutenant gestured for them to sit on an upturned crate.
“One moment,” he told them, and trotted to another pile of supplies as Shmi helped the little girl rip open the self heating container.
She opened her own and inhaled the processed scent of a hot meal. And yes, she could taste the chemicals used to preserve it, but twin suns it was so good after their ordeal.
“Here we are,” the Lieutenant stated, returning to their crate holding a fluffy blanket. “It’s purple like yore eyes, darlin’.”
He draped it carefully around Lynytt’s skinny shoulders and the corners of her mouth lifted for the first time that Shmi had observed.
Her free hand stroked the soft fabric before she resumed eating at a furious rate.
“Slow down, honey,” Shmi admonished. “Don’t want to choke.”
“You kin kape tha blanket,” the boy told Lynnyt, smiling at her once more and perching on another crate, one booted foot swinging. “Now,” he continued, getting more business like, “we’re headed ta the space station near Iego. It’s our typical location fer relocation’ families or gettin’ beings on transports far where they wanna go. We’re hopin’, Lynytt, thet we find yore family and git ya back safe ta them.”
Shmi hoped that wasn’t false hope. None of them could guarantee that the girl’s parents were even alive.
“Mama?”
The voice was soft and tiny, but it was the first time the little one had spoken since their rescue.
“Ah hope so,” Piett replied. He looked up to meet Shmi’s eyes. “As she’s tha youngest o’ ya, we’ve already sint out inquiries. Ta…avoid potential disappointment.”
Shmi nodded, rubbing a hand over Lynytt’s back.
Something beeped on the battered data pad the Lieutenant held, and he glanced down.
“Oh marvellous. If ya like, ma’am, we have sonic showers available. No water Ah’m afraid, but better than nothin’. If ya wish.”
He rose and gestured behind him toward the far bulkhead. Shmi could see a small queue formed there that disappeared into a corridor.
“Ah’ll stay with Lynytt,” he said, meeting her look with understanding.
Shmi nodded gratefully.
A shower .
“Lynytt?” she asked. “I’m going to get cleaned up. Can you stay with Lieutenant Piett?”
He seated himself on a crate beside the Astyrian girl.
“We kin wait far Shmi together,” he said cheerfully. “Is thet alright, darlin’?”
Lynytt was immediately tense, little mouth working and eyes wide in fear.
“Or,” Shmi said, thinking furiously, “we could all walk over there. And you could see where I go, Lynytt?”
The girl nodded.
Piett bit his lower lip briefly, then rose.
“May Ah carry you over?” he asked, holding his arms out to Lynytt. “And we’ll all go over there?”
Shmi held her breath. This poor child desperately needed security. But she also needed help from more beings than Shmi.
Lynytt studied the Axxilan and then moved toward him.
He lifted her into his hold easily and dug his cap out of his pocket.
“Could ya hold that far me, Lynytt?” he asked seriously. Shmi smiled a little. Very good. Give her something to do. Something to be responsible for.
Lynytt studied the cap in her hands, running small fingers over the fabric. Shmi walked beside the boy as they made their way across the deck to the queue.
Another officer handed her a small pile of simple clothing, but it was clean. A plastic packet of lotion and toothpaste was included on the top of this pile and Shmi took her place in line.
The young man was already comforting the girl in his arms a few feet away. Shmi waved.
“Ya see?” Piett was saying. “She’s right there. She’ll get all clane and be right back. We’ll stay right here, Ah promise.”
Lynytt was clearly distressed, and watched Shmi anxiously as she rounded the corner and someone pointed her to an available cubicle.
She was as swift as possible in the sonic shower, and felt like a new woman in the simple tunic and trousers. She slipped on the thin socks and shoved her feet back into her worn boots before she hurried back out to the main deck.
True to his word, the young Lieutenant was pacing slowly back and forth nearby, Lynytt cuddled on his shoulder—a fuzzy purple bundle—as he held her closely, humming something Shmi didn’t recognize.
Lynnytt’s eyes were drooping as Shmi approached and she rejoiced inside. If she was secure enough to fall asleep on this boy’s shoulder, things were on a good track for her healing.
Shmi reached them and kissed Lynytt’s head gently. The girl smiled dreamily and it seemed that was all she needed—the security of her person nearby— to fall asleep.
“Thank you,” Shmi whispered to Piett.
Those hazel eyes, too old for such a young face, smiled at her.
“Ah’m goin’ ta have a medic examine her,” he murmured. “If ya come with me, Ah’ll show ya what we’ve put ya both. Ah hope it’s all right if ya share quarters?”
“Of course,” Shmi responded.
So he led her to a lift and they ascended a few decks to what were clearly accomodations reserved for refugees like themselves. Numerous beings, dressed much like Shmi, were being shown to their own quarters. The ship was an older model and Shmi could see the wear in the painted bulkheads and the scuffed deck. But it was safe. It was free.
The little space she entered was as comfortable as the Axxilans could no doubt make it.
Piett laid Lynytt on the lower level of a bunk bed, and tucked another blanket over her.
There were two bunk sets and Shmi decided she’d sleep across from Lynytt on the other bottom bunk.
A medic stepped in, her bag slung over her shoulder.
“Hi there, Firmus,” she greeted, shoving back a strand of black hair. “Sorry, this was the soonest I could deal with your patient.”
“No worries,” he replied in soft tones. “It’s likely aysier now she’s asleep.”
He turned to Shmi and shook her hand.
“Good ta mate ya,” he said. “Anythin’ ya nade, ya can ask far me.”
Shmi smiled at him.
“I will.”
The medic declared Lynytt healthy and merely in need of rest and food. She urged Shmi to get some rest herself and departed in a hurry.
Shmi tried to sleep, but after some time, she found she was too restless in mind. She looked over at the girl, and as she was deeply asleep, Shmi decided to head to the promenade section of the deck the Axxilans had mentioned they could use. She locked the small quarters with the code cylinder she’d been handed and moved swiftly through the much quieter corridors.
The promenade area wasn’t very large, but it had the luxury of wide transparisteel viewports and Shmi moved to one of these quietly, to gaze out at the velvety darkness.
She’d always been kept in the hold with the other ‘cargo’ and of course, she had never left the surface of Tatooine until she was sold and then kidnapped by the slavers.
She had never seen the stars like this.
They were in system and thus travelling at sublight speeds, so the galaxy spread out before her with all its color and beauty.
When was the last time she had been able to just stand still and drink in the glory of nature?
Across the way, two massive Wookiees were speaking to an officer with their characteristic huffs and rawls. It took Shmi long moments to realize the officer was none other than Piett. And gradually, she noted that he could understand them even though he couldn’t reply in Shryyyiwook.
She jumped when one of the Wookiees—-a male with matted chesnut fur—seized the boy and crushed him to his huge chest.
Oh Force. Where were the others? The Wookiee could kill that young man in seconds…
But then she realized that the Lieutenant was flushing bright red and smiling sheepishly as… the Wookiee stroked his head.
Ah.
Clearly he was receiving thanks and affection.
The Lieutenant wriggled his way out of the embrace and patted the massive paw that could kill him in one blow before he straightened his jacket and moved away to check on others around the promenade. Shmi smiled and turned her attention back to space.
There was so much more variety than she had expected. Those must be nebulas out there. And if she wasn’t mistaken that green and pink area was a gas cloud. For the millionth time, she wondered if this was what Anakin saw on a regular basis. Did he travel around the galaxy? Was he looking for her even now?
“Ma’am?”
She turned her head to see the young Lieutenant standing at a respectful distance—-the light of a pale blue nebula reflecting off his lean features.
“Do ya nade anything?” Piett asked her.
She smiled.
“No, thank you. Just…enjoying the view.”
He turned to look at it himself, hands clasped behind his back.
“Tis not somethin’ Ah ever tire of,” he agreed. “Ah just wondered, ma’am, if you naded rest. Most of the others are sleeping.” He gestured back toward the lift which led to the passenger berths several decks down.
“Mm.” Shmi pressed her fingers to the viewport, appreciating the coolness on her skin. “I did rest, thank you. What of you Lieutenant?”
He sighed a little ruefully. “Ah’ll git some kip soon, thank you.”
They shared a comfortable silence before Shmi recalled she had questions.
“You mentioned we could try to find family,” she said. “How do we go about doing that?”
Piett nodded.
“The station has long range capability,” he answered. “It’s not tha most state of the art search engine, but tis not bad. Lot’s o’ people there willin’ ta help ya. Who are ya lookin’ far, ma’am?”
Shmi had only one family member she longed to contact, but she had no idea if he lived. The Empire had been born violently a year ago and she was desperate for news of Anakin.
“My son,” she replied softly. “He always promised he’d come back for me, but—I fear he may have searched and found I was gone.”
Piett nodded in sympathy.
“Did ya know what he did far work? Where he lived? Thet helps narrow the search.”
Shmi smiled at him proudly.
“He went to train as a Jedi. On Coruscant. Well. Imperial Centre I should say now, I suppose.”
The boy shocked her when his expression changed swiftly into one of concern and pity.
“A Jedi…” he echoed.
“What is it?” Shmi asked, heart clenching. After all these years of hope, please Force…
Piett’s jaw tightened and he tilted his head a little, clearly searching for words.
“Ma’am…the—-the Jedi were declared traitors to the Empire. You may not have heard that, but—many of them were apprehended and…”
She watched him, not breathing and holding a hand to her chest as he closed his eyes briefly before opening them again and reaching for her hand.
“Many of them were killed, ma’am. Ah’m so sorry.”
Killed.
The Jedi.
“But…” she began numbly, appreciating his grounding grip. “I…I don’t understand. The Jedi represented so much good . They…they helped people…! They wouldn't—-!”
“Ah’m sorry,” Piett repeated helplessly. “Out here, we dinna know as much. We’re still focused on the problems o’ the Rim Jist…it was one o’ the early orders from the Empire. Jedi are traitors. Kill on sight orders, ma’am. But Ah could assist…if ya still wish ta look…”
Shmi squeezed his hand—-this sweet boy, doing his best to help her. She was grateful.
“How old are you, Lieutenant?” she asked, releasing him to take a breath and compose herself.
He blinked at this abrupt switch.
“Ah…well. Ah’ll bay twenty soon enough,” he told her, the tips of his ears growing red.
Younger than Anakin but not by much. Still old enough to fight and die out here.
“And…you are Axxilan yourself?” she pursued.
He nodded. “Yes.”
“When did you join this fleet?” Shmi asked him.
He placed his hands behind his back again and breathed out through his nose.
“Ah was fourteen, ma’am.”
Fourteen .
“Not so different from my son,” she murmured, turning back to the stars. “He wished to help people. To free slaves. To be a Jedi because they represented so many admirable things. Courage. Sacrifice. Peace. Kindness.”
“Perhaps…” Piett said hesitantly. “Perhaps he is still out there, ma’am.”
She inclined her head, widening her eyes and looking up so her tears would not fall.
“I would like to think so. But…given the circumstances, that search will take some time. I do not wish to spend that time marooned on a space station.”
“We kin arrange transport ta many places,” the young man reminded her. “Whare would ya like ta go?”
Where indeed?
“What is Axxila like?” she asked, smoothing a hand over the simple green tunic, wondering how she might find better clothes. Or a job.
“Well…it’s a desert,” Piett replied with a little shrug and rueful smile.
“Does it have two suns?” Shmi asked him. “I was on Tatooine for years so…”
He laughed a bit. “No. Not that sort o’ desert. Ah laud ya far livin’ there. No, Axxila is--- verra red. Red dirt an’ stone. It’s lovely in tha right light. And there are a few small oceans and more scrub forests.”
“I think I would like to go to Axxila then,” Shmi informed him.
“If that’s what ya wish, ma’am, Ah kin assist ya with that,” the boy said earnestly. “But there are many other lovelier planets…”
“Perhaps,” she agreed. “But getting to them would be difficult. I’m Shmi by the way. Not ma’am. You helped save my life after all. I think we can move past formalities. Do you come with a first name, not just a rank?”
She smiled at him.
He flushed a bit and inclined his head. “Ah…yes ma—-yes, Shmi,” he replied. “I’m Firmus.”
“Well then, Firmus. I would appreciate your assistance and anything you can tell me about living on Axxila.”