Tatooine.
Kitster Chanchani Banai used to be a Human slave boy on Tatooine, and the supposed best friend of Anakin Skywalker before he left for Coruscant to become a Jedi.
After not seeing his smuggler father, Rakir Banai, in many years, Kitster gave up hopes of being rescued from Tatooine and instead hoped to one day be a majordomo for a wealthy Mos Espan estate.
At least that was at first but then he grew to admire Anakin greatly, so much so he began to imitate everything he did. From the way he talked to his walk. Everything.
Kitster had of course heard of the slave resistance that was very underground. There were rumors that Skywalker industries was working with the slaves, it was kind of an infamous thing that they helped slaves out.
Freeing them and all but those were just rumors, at least on the surface. Kitster can say for sure that Skywalker Industries was helping the freed slaves, runaways and other people break their chains.
The person at the head of this group? Anakin himself.
At that end, Kitster had joined as young as he could to make sure he could help out as he has great emotional investment not only because of his deep admiration of Anakin but also because this subject hit him hard.
He didn't enjoy the life of a slave and was born into it just like Anakin was. Kitster had watched as the slave quarters, the district itself had gone through a total renovation upgrading the lifestyle of those who had decided to stay.
A lot did decide to stay on Tatooine if only to help the rest of the slaves here on Tatooine.
"Hey Skywalker's fan! Come over here, your help is needed." Most within the resistance had taken to calling him a fan of Anakin, they weren't wrong but he was both embarrassed and proud of this fact.
That he had been widely regarded enough to be known as such is certainly something.
Most people did use his actual name, but sometimes the adults just liked to tease him just like all the other kids his age they had decided they wanted to help. A lot had taken inspiration from Anakin while others were brought into this situation because of their circumstances.
But one thing is for sure is that things are starting to heat up, Anakin would be coming back to Tatooine and he was one of the only ones to know it among the other important higher ups.
"So, Skywalker's coming here to Tatooine."
"Don't tell the others anything yet. It could cause a commotion."
"I think it is great he is coming back, he did say and promise to continuously help us."
"Of course he would, he is our de-facto leader."
Many adults were talking about various things, specifically the people who had the largest roles to play in the upcoming uprising.
"Hey Kitster, you feel ready to see Anakin again? With the rate that he was growing I wouldn't expect him to come back any less grown." One of Kitster's adult friends asked him.
"Well, yes. It would be interesting to see the changes he has gone through but from what I understand is that he is going to come in a disguise."
"That is true, he said something about keeping his identity secret from the Republic." The woman continues. "Remind me again, what was Anakin's code name?"
"Vader. His code name is Vader. I believe he is also bringing over some droids to assist us in our take over."
"Me too, but I cant really confirm that. Despite such good communications the people here have only had limited training when it comes to military operations. Hopefully Skywalker is bringing those droids."
The woman continues. "They would help in the preservation of life."
"That is true."
Looking back over to the table of important people, they start to continue their discussions with the plan.
"Look, does anyone know when Skywalker is coming."
"Shmi had informed people that her son was coming and I dont think the boy would be cruel enough to tell his mother he is coming and then not show up."
"Yes, of course that is true but can we be sure that he is to stay with us till the end?" Even though Anakin had done alot he cant help it if not everyone likes him.
"He could be for all intents and purposes just taking his mother away from the planet then he would abandon us all here. Left to die or be recaptured as slaves!"
"That is not true!" Kitster decides to speak up in this moment, he had gone through a growth spurt of his own and is currently 13 years of age giving him some height and having enough common sense to make logical judgements.
Kitster may have been a slave and is now only a simple free child but that didn't mean he was stupid but it did mean he had very strong emotions to display to the group of adults arguing over what is to happen.
One had gone so far to disparage his friend and slander his good name. Just thinking about the many things Anakin had done for him Kitster should be mad, very mad in fact.
"Anakin is a good person! The best person and in fact a much better person than you!"
The man that disdained the boy and had no respect for Anakin interjects. "What's it to you boy? What is a kid doing here at the adults table anyway?"
"Bob, calm down its just a kid."
"Calm down? Calm DOWN?! We are about to go to war with the Hutt's and you expect me to be lenient with a kid who has barely gotten off of his mothers milk."
The man named Bob went a bit too far as Kitster's mother had died while he was a young boy and in fact had died because of the slavers they were under at the time.
Eyes going red, Kitster was enraged and in a surprising quick dash he manages to tackle the man to the ground with a surprising amount of strength. No one had noticed the flash of blue light that was emitted from Kitster's small necklace that hung around his neck.
The necklaces that Anakin had gifted to many people did more than just protect their minds, and just like the blue stones that he had crafted them from it could give a non-Force-sensitive individual the ability to use the Force these basic artifacts could in a moment of passion empower someone physically.
"Woah, there. Calm down kid. No need to get violent with the man, we have all had it rough the past few days."
Kitster having clamed down lets out a deep breath before saying. "Yeah sorry about that. It was just the lack of disrespect and to even go so far as to taint Anakin's name with his pathetic views, it really got to me."
"While I respect your guts kid, you should always take in the situation as there is near always a reason for someone's behavior."
"I guess."
"A few people have grown in discontent as they now live lives of luxury and now that their peaceful times are coming to an end because of the upcoming war people can get upset." The man the pulled Kitster off of Bob continued.
"I know Anakin and his mother, Shmi has done alot for us as they are or were slaves themselves at one point but sometimes people grow resentment for those who helped them."
People within the background drag Bob off to get some treatment as the meeting resumes as normal with no more heated tones but with cold calculations.
"Why is this so? Why can people not see that Anakin has given us much, I would go so far to say that he has given us apart of himself just to help us out." Kitster argues his point.
"Not everyone see it that way, in fact the few that complain also look at Anakin as he were another slave master himself."
"That is ridiculous!?" Kitster exclaims out loud.
"Quiet down kid." The man says to calm Kitster back down. "I know, I know your point but the reason for this is that Anakin and his mother also benefit from our labor by working for them."
"We are payed well enough and are in fact given many choices to where we can leave the planet with a small sum of Republic credits to start up somewhere else." Kitster then continues. "If not and we choose to stay or go to one of the branches off of Tatooine we are given good, no great accommodations."
"That doesn't matter to some, they would still try to find blame with Anakin. Not every slave is a good person themselves, even if people dont deserve to suffer slavery some slaves still deserve some punishment for what they have done or are willing to do."
"Well..." Kitster hesitates as a topic had been brought up that hits close to home. "That is true. My mother had died because another slave within our group had killed her off. No one cared."
"The life of a slave is hard, near impossible to live in any good conditions and that is why I get it. Your anger over Anakin being called out as if he has done something wrong."
After a while, the meeting had finished and everyone had gone in their separate directions getting ready, preparing themselves, their family and friends. Everyone around each other is scared for they do not know what is about to happen.
What is about to come and there is no telling if they would be successful.
There is one thing on Kitster's mind though at this moment. 'Ani, where are you?'
[]
'Right everything should be ready and from all reports most of Tatooine has gone on a silent lockdown.'
Anakin had smuggled some droids onto Tatooine to prepare for his arrival. He doesn't know what situation could happen and there is no telling if the Hutt's had caught on to what was about to go down.
'It would be better to get my mother off planet first.'
Anakin had prepared everything for his mother to live a comfortable life and in fact knew to include the people closest to her like Jira to come along with her. If she were to go to completely different surroundings with nobody she knew Anakin would fear for her mental state.
'Its ok, she is a strong woman. She has been through alot and would go through a whole lot more before I can really give her peace of mind.'
"Grievous, you have gotten everything prepared." Anakin communicates to Grievous through his Nanosuit that he had hooked up with a special network that allows him to communicate with any and everyone he is also connected.
"Yes Master Skywalker."
"Great, now it is time for the two of us to meet up again in real life. I will be meeting you on Tatooine."
"I will be on my way, Grievous out."
Anakin has some more things to do before he can meet up with everyone on Tatooine and that includes getting permission from the Jedi Order to have a little trip off planet. Anakin would have to confront either of his masters, probably both into allowing him off planet for an extended amount of time.
Of course he must try and redirect their attention somewhere else as to make sure they are distracted and deal with something else.
He had set up something specifically for the Council to be on alert about, something that would put not only them but at the same time simultaneously Sidious as well.
Even if the Jedi find out why he is going to Tatooine, they would not be able to connect the dots that he is Vader. But if Sidious finds out he would want to investigate in depth what had happened and this could go badly for him despite the preparations he had made in the event something like that was to happen.
Anakin had sent not just any type of droid under his control to Tatooine, he had sent his elite droids, the living droids capable of using the Force as a frontline to stall the inevitable while he makes his way over.
If everything is going according to plan he should be able to leave the temple unnoticed if not he has back up plans in store incase his absence is noted.
[]
Day cycle, Coruscant.
Anakin had steadily made his way out of the Jedi temple and had gotten a ship for himself to take him to Tatooine. Which ship? The one he had originally stole from Maul. 'I do not know the specifics of what happened to him, all I know is he has survived and didn't have his entire body cut in half.'
'He is still probably mad, and his hate will fuel his power just as the dark side always does.'
Boarding the ship he now controls before anyone would notice his absence he takes off into the atmosphere getting ready to use hyperspace. "Lets set coordinates for Tatooine."
Back within the temple the Jedi were none the wiser about what was to happen or commence. Qui-Gon was having a relaxing day so far that he had some free time to catch up with his old apprentice Obi-Wan. "Hey, my not so young former apprentice."
"Master!" Obi-Wan exclaimed surprised at the visit from his master, it wasn't often he had gotten to see him. Obi-Wan had missions of his own to go on after the Jedi High Council had decided he could officially become a Knight.
"I just thought I would check up on you. How you have been, what have you been doing, these types of things."
"Not much." Obi-Wan says, but Qui-Gon was expecting a different answer. "Ok, maybe I have been doing alot but now I have the freedom to do things on my own to prove myself."
"You do not have to prove yourself to anyone, anymore Obi-Wan."
"I know, I just feel like I had gotten the promotion simply because I did a mission I felt I barely did anything in."
"That is not true and you know it. you succeeded where I failed. I would go so far as to say-" Before Qui-Gon could finish a disturbance could be felt throughout the temple.
"Well, I guess there is some trouble to get to."