Closed to morally_cryptic

[talentedscavenger]

Rey had experienced a whirlwind of events from locating Luke Skywalker's lightsaber to being pulled through time to meet the person who started it all; Anakin. The man was her grandfather, someone who was the 'chosen one' to bring balance to the Force. If that wasn't enough, she learned of her own powers and had to be trained to use them. It was an interesting time, spending weeks learning about the man and studying under him. They developed a friendship, a strange bond between two adults who happened to be generations apart. As much as she enjoyed her time with him, she was thrust back to her present time.

Anakin was right, it was like she never left. Everyone was still at the Cantina, looking for her. The First Order arrived...it was chaos.

But that was then, and this was now. She found out about Kylo Ren and the man he idolized so much. It pained her, no, angered her to know the same person she met had turned to the Dark Side. Rey kept her mouth shut to her cousin, managing to use the Force to keep him out of her mind and push him back. Now, she had a target on her back. The events didn't go well from there, losing her friend and semi-father figure, Han.

Now she was on a quest to find Luke. The man who could or could not be father. She didn't know how many children Anakin had, though she still remembered those strong Force visions of two children. Chewie and her managed to land the Falcon on the right planet, now she had to make the journey to find the Jedi. At least the time to herself would let her deal with her emotions. She was conflicted, angry, and hurt. From losing a friend to learning some of the truth about her grandfather...it was disheartening.

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[morally_cryptic]

"I'll handle it," he says, taking over the controls with the sort of practiced ease that suggests he wasn't at all boasting about his skill with a starship. "Mos Espa is...well," he cocks his head to the side as he turns for the town in question, "...it's better than Mos Eisley. But not by much." It doesn't matter that she probably doesn't know anything about either settlement, he was just talking to fill space by this point.

As they come in for a landing, she'll be able to see well enough for herself that while the place is larger than Niima Outpost, there doesn't really appear to be much else to recommend it save maybe the large stadium-like structure situated outside the town.

For his part, Anakin settles the ship down outside of town as well instead of heading for one of the docking bays.

[talentedscavenger]

Well, apparently Anakin did have some skills behind his words. Rey continued to stay quiet, letting his voice fill the silence between them. Oddly enough, his voice was calming, bringing her to a somewhat relaxed state. Her eyes looked out the window, taking note of the places he was mentioning. The area had more life to it, more structured, but she recalled what else was there. Slavery was still alive on Tatooine.

They've landed away from the docking bays, which tells her they're closer to his mother's home. The closer they got, the more the uneasy feeling in her grew. Did she want to see her? A hard question for sure.

Now that the ship had descended, it was the moment of truth. If anything, she could say she was Anakin's...traveling companion. Those still existed, right?

"I'll head down with you." Just to make sure he didn't get into trouble. Just to maybe see his mother...maybe to find out if that woman was her mother too.

[morally_cryptic]

He looks at her for a moment, then shrugs slightly, offering up a smile. "At least you'll blend in." Because truthfully, no one would give her a second look here and between Anakin toning down the Jedi-robes-look when he went to Jakku combined with the purposeful way he walks through the streets of Mos Espa, no one was likely to bother him either.

"I...don't know exactly where she is now," he confesses, though a tightening in his chest suggests he isn't going to like what he finds. "But I know who ought to." If the Toydarian knew what was good for him.

[talentedscavenger]

Rey shot him a look but didn't say anything. If she really wanted to blend in, she would have donned her helmet and goggles too, but she left both behind on Jakku. Though, he looked different, hopefully that would work in his favor. There was a sense of purpose and power about him, though when they met, she found it easy to push his buttons.

"Let's...let's head over..." She took in a deep breath and followed him, expecting to find his mother. Or at least learn the whereabouts of her. Each step made her heart beat louder. Something wasn't right. She could feel it in her gut. Was something going on Jakku, or were they about to walk into something bad?

[morally_cryptic]

[ooc: paraphrasing the scene in AotC]

Anakin hesitates when they pass near the old slave quarters, wondering if they should just try there first but...it's been a decade, there's no telling that she's still there so after a moment he keeps walking until they find a rather grizzled Toydarian sitting out in front of the old junk shop, looking rather worse for wear. And no sign of his mother. Fear grips him then, had Watto lost her in a bet the same way Gardulla had lost both of them to him? Admirably, he doesn't let the emotion show on his face so the only one who might know it's there is Rey.

"Chut chut, Watto," he greets, finding it strange that his once-master looks so small now.

The Toydarian looks up sharply from his work, glancing at both of them before he catches sight of the lightsaber hanging from Anakin's hip and just visible where his robe doesn't quite cover it. "Anjenda! du Jedi!" He raises his hands and pushes back away from his work table, "no bata no tutu!"

Anakin rolls his eyes and ignores Watto's protestation of innocence, "mi boska di Shmi Skywalker."

That, at least, has the Toydarian looking at him suspiciously instead of cringing.

[talentedscavenger]

Rey saw the hesitation in Anakin, wondering if he should go one way or another. He's nervous too. She didn't ask how long ago he saw his mother, so this really would be bittersweet for him. Her gaze is focused ahead, glancing out of the corner of her eyes of the others around them. The junk reminds me a lot of Unakr's station, but he was smart enough to hide behind a wall in case there was trouble. Her eyes flicker to Anakin as he switches tongues, only guess what he and the old Toydarian are talking about. She picked up pieces, but that was it.

The feeling dread stirred in her, especially when the Toydarian looks him and now her. There is a strong urge to take Anakin's hand and lead him away. She wasn't about to make it seem like she was a helpless girl, or give the impression Anakin was her owner, or keeper.

So for now she stays quiet, hoping they can find his mother and leave soon.

[morally_cryptic]

After narrowing his eyes at Anakin another moment, he asks, "Ani? Little Ani?" Then another look up and down. "Nah," couldn't be him. That little kid this guy?

With another barely restrained eyeroll, Anakin reaches down and scoops up one of the obviously-broken small droids on Watto's bench. A few seconds roll by as he manipulates it with a few deft movements of his hands and a little help from the Force to click pieces inside into place. Anybody's guess as to whether he did it more to prove his identity to Watto or to show off a little for Rey. Probably a little of both.

Certainly it serves to convince Watto who looks down with surprise at the now-working little droid Anakin puts before him before he sets his wings in motion so he can look at them at eye level. "Hah! You are Ani! You sure sprouted!"

Suddenly Anakin has an idea of what normal children feel like when old relatives they haven't seen in years talk about how much they'd grown. "Hello, Watto. About my mother?"

[talentedscavenger]

[ooc: my apologies, I haven't seen the movie in ages. I need to do another marathon.]

Rey had to hold back the urge to chuckle. Ani? That was his nickname? Her eyes glanced over to him, feeling the tension start to ease. It was awkward to watch the two of the interact, but for Anakin he probably felt just as weird and awkward. To be in the presence of the Toydarian who was his owner.

Apparently the best way to prove one's identity was to rebuild something old and make it work again. Rey is a bit impressed with Anakin's skills and how he uses the Force to move the parts back into their proper spots. Funny, she had been looking at the same doll too.

The mention of his mother has Watto looking away for a moment then back at him. He looked like he had a lot on his mind suddenly. In an attempt to change the subject he looked over in Rey's direction and looks taken aback. Anakin was looking for his mother and there was a woman who looked remarkably like her.

"...Anakin, I'm going to wait outside." Perhaps it was best if Rey let the two of them talk in private.

[morally_cryptic]

[ooc: it's okay, probably easier to handwave the rest anyhow. :) ]

Anakin nods and waves her off, keeping more of his attention on the junk shop owner as she goes.

It doesn't take too much longer for Anakin to talk Watto out of trying to convince him to pay a visit to some people who owned the Toydarian money and get him back on the track of telling him what happened to Shmi. Soon enough, he's stalking outside to meet Rey. "He sold her to some moisture farmer. He says he heard they got married!"

And Anakin doesn't know if that's a good thing or not.

[talentedscavenger]

Rey moves outside, deciding to stay a few paces away from the entrance to the junkyard. The climate on Tatooine is similar and different on Jakku. The two suns made it hotter, but she was used to dry weather. At least she was dressed for it, whereas Anakin, those Jedi robes he had to hot.

She wasn't one to pace around, but she was starting to feel fidgety, pondering over her decision. Her concentration is broken once Anakin steps outside. He was upset, visibly and understandably so.

"He did what?" This wasn't good. A marriage between a slave and their owner was very rarely a good thing.

"Are they still here or do we need to go elsewhere?" she asked.

[morally_cryptic]

"Business is business," Anakin mutters in an echo of Watto, as he leads the way back to the ship. "Not here, the farm is on the other side of Mos Eisley on the other end of the Jundland Wastes." Once again, not something that would likely mean much to her but had to be said anyway.

"I'm still driving," he says firmly as they get back to the ship. Not that he thinks she was going to argue him on that at this particular point.

[talentedscavenger]

Rey follows after Anakin, making sure to keep up with him. She didn't want him to leave her behind, especially on a planet she didn't have her bearings on. Though she didn't know exactly where Mos Eisley was, she had a feeling it wasn't a good place to be. If Tatooine was like Jakku there were places that were were dangerous and near inhabitable.

Nope, there wouldn't be any protesting from Rey. He knew where they were going. She was out of her element, unsure of what she should. If she should try to comfort Anakin or let him stew in his emotions in silence. Jakku had very few lessons in empathy and compassion. The brunette stayed quiet, getting into his ship and waited for them to head to Mos Eisley.

[morally_cryptic]

It wasn't really a long trip, especially when compared to the distance between Jakku and Tatooine so soon enough, they start passing small farming settlements until Anakin finally lands outside of one in particular though he doesn't get out of the ship right away.

"It's been ten years," he says after a moment. "And I never came back for her."

He'd wanted to but there'd always been some reason he shouldn't or couldn't. Certainly while he'd been a padawan he'd had to answer to his master (and wasn't that an unfortunate term to use!) but his first thought when freed of that restriction hadn't been to come here and find her and the guilt that thought brings with it is not helping the anxiety that's been building in him ever since they left Jakku.

[talentedscavenger]

"You're coming back for her now. That's what matters. " Rey told him, trying to be of some support for him. She could sense his guilt as if it was her own. The reason behind it made her think of them possibly being twins, but she swept it under the rug. That didn't matter right now, finding his mother took precedence.

"Speaking as someone who has waited more than a decade, the time won't matter. You're coming back. She'll be happy to see you. " she whispered, looking out the window before hopping out.

"Did you want me to go with you?"

Hopefully things would be alright.

[morally_cryptic]

"Were you happy to see me?" he asks, archly. It's not the same thing at all, of course, but he's taking refuge in sarcasm as he climbs out of the ship after her.

"And you might as-..." he shakes his head and starts over, "yes, I'd like you to come with me. Artoo can look after things here."

[talentedscavenger]

"I'm not even sure we're related," she quipped back, already hating herself for denying it. They were related, by how much she didn't know. Then again it felt like they were siblings but she wasn't about to say it out loud.

Rey sticks by his side as they walk. Each step filling her with dread.

[morally_cryptic]

They don't get very far before Owen Lars comes out to meet them.

"Sorry we didn't call ahead," Anakin says completely unrepentant, "but we were kind of in a hurry. Is Shmi Skywalker here?"

Diplomacy, thy name is not Anakin.

[talentedscavenger]

Owen looked shocked to see Anakin there, along with the woman he was traveling with. For a brief moment he looks at a loss of words. He averts his gaze before facing Anakin. Shmi had been captured by Tusken Raiders weeks earlier, and more than likely dead.

Rey's eyes widened, shocked and numb. She didn't know the woman, but she was Anakin's mother--possibly her mother. She looked away from Owen to Anakin. Owen didn't confirm Shmi was dead. There was a chance she was still alive.

[morally_cryptic]

For several long moments, Anakin can't quite believe what he hears. Then the anger rises, "and you just left here there??"

At that moment, it's Cliegg who appears and interrupts, gives the story of how they tried to get her back and how several had died in doing so. Not that it seems to mollify Anakin any.

"I'm going to need a speeder."

[talentedscavenger]

Anakin's anger is strong enough for Rey to feel. His anger is justified, considering Shmi is his mother. Whether they are related or not, she wasn't going to let him go alone.

"You're not going alone," she tells him, giving him a stern look that tells him she would not budge on the subject. The feeling of dread is still in her, but she has to have hope. If not for herself, then for Anakin. No one deserved to lose their mother, even a Jedi.

If Cleigg agreed to lend them a speeder, they could go and try to find Shmi. Rey hasn't faced Tuscan raiders, but a scavenger and a Jedi could handle themselves, right? No, she didn't need to think about that. Just focus on her thoughts and help Anakin save his mother.

"even a Jedi", gee thanks :/

[morally_cryptic]

He's used to stern looks, he's spent half a lifetime getting them from Obi-Wan Kenobi so hers doesn't make as much of an impact as she might like. "You're staying here, Rey."

Whatever they had between them, they'd only just found it. Losing it, losing her, was not an option and maybe she was a decent pilot but that didn't mean she was ready for a band of Tuskens.

I couldn't help it, I kept hearing Obi-wan's voice of, 'you need to let go'

[talentedscavenger]

"What?" He didn't want her to go? Was he crazy? Did he want to die out there?

"You need someone out there with you. If you're thinking of bringing Artoo, he won't help much." As sharp as the little droid was, it was doubtful he would be useful in battle. She understood he was trying to protect her, but she had managed to survive so far.

Besides, who was going to protect him out there?

hah

[morally_cryptic]

"You'd be surprised at what Artoo can do," but no, he hadn't been thinking of bringing the droid with him. "You'll just make it harder. It'll be easier to get in alone. And we can't fit three on the bike."

Because if nothing else, he was going to believe that he was going to bring Shmi back alive.

Should we hand wave the next bit?

[talentedscavenger]

As much as Rey wanted to argue with Anakin, to tell him she would be able to fight with him, he has a point. It would be hard to fit three people on a speeder and the longer they were discussing this, the less time they had to rescue Shmi. Heaving out a sigh, she crossed her arms over her chest.

"Be careful at least." Don't die, she wants to tell him, but the words don't come out.

[morally_cryptic]

Anakin is gone until well after dark and into the next morning. Somewhere late in the night, Rey might feel a deep, cutting sense of grief and anger. Neither of which would bode well. Nor does the sight of Anakin reappearing on his borrowed speeder bike with no one sitting behind him, just what looks like a body bundled to the back of it.

Leaping off the bike almost before it stops moving, Anakin still manages to remove Shmi from its back and cradle her in his arms like she's the most fragile of packages. "She's still alive. Barely." And the only reason he hadn't taken her to the nearest large town is that there was no decent town with any sort of doctor. Better to get her inside here, to try to help her as much as they could.

[ooc: idk, I figure she could still die from her injuries but Rey could get the chance to see her first.]