Star Wars: Reforged Destiny

The twin suns of Tatooine cast their relentless light across the arid desert, but in the darkened corners of Watto's workshop, Anakin Skywalker worked with quiet intensity. His small hands moved with an expertise that defied his age, assembling a device from the scraps and refuse that littered the shop. The scanner was crude but functional, a testament to the mind of a boy far older than he appeared.

When the scanner pinged, confirming the location of the slave chip embedded at the base of his neck, Anakin allowed himself a fleeting moment of satisfaction. He turned it toward Shmi, scanning her as she bent over a broken droid. The chip was there, right where he expected it to be.

"Mother," he said softly.

Shmi looked up, her face etched with weariness but softened by love. The way he called her Mother always brought a smile to her face.

"Yes, Ani?"

Anakin hesitated, but only for a moment. "Soon," he whispered, his piercing blue eyes meeting hers. "We'll be free."

She blinked at him, her expression a mix of surprise and hope. "What are you talking about, Ani?"

He reached out, placing a tiny hand on hers. "I'll explain everything when the time is right. Just trust me."

That night, Anakin made his move. He had acquired the potent sleeping drugs from a shadowy trader, carefully pouring the liquid into Watto's drink while the Toydarian's back was turned. The Force guided his actions, whispering to him the exact dose that would render Watto unconscious without killing him—or so he believed. If he was wrong, well, it wouldn't trouble him. Watto's cruelty had earned him little pity.

The Toydarian downed the drink with a loud gulp, and within moments, his wings slowed, his body slumping onto the counter. Anakin waited, ensuring the deep, rattling snores were steady before proceeding.

He floated a small knife into his hand with the Force. It glinted in the dim light as he approached his sleeping mother.

"Mother," he whispered, his voice steady.

Shmi stirred but didn't wake fully. He reached out, gently placing a hand on her shoulder. "I'm going to free us," he said softly. "You'll feel a pinch, but it's going to be okay."

With precision that belied his tiny fingers, Anakin made a careful incision at the base of her neck. The Force guided him, steadying his hand as he worked. The chip was small, a metallic parasite embedded in her flesh. He nudged it loose with the tip of the knife, then plucked it free using telekinesis.

Blood welled from the wound, but Anakin focused, calling on the Force to close it. His connection to the Light surged, knitting the flesh together seamlessly.

He repeated the process on himself, gritting his teeth against the pain. The chip felt like a thorn being plucked from his very soul, but he endured, sealing his wound with the same Force-aided precision.

When he was done, he slumped against the wall, exhaustion washing over him. But he smiled.

They were free.

The next morning, as the suns rose over Tatooine, Anakin whispered the truth to his mother.

"The chips are gone," he said. "We're free, but we can't leave yet. I'm not strong enough to protect us. Give me time, and I'll get us out of here."

Shmi's eyes filled with tears, and she pulled him into a tight embrace. "Oh, Ani," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "You're so brave, so clever. My Ani."

She kissed his cheek, her pride and love radiating like the suns outside. For the first time in years, hope flickered in her heart.

Anakin's mind raced with possibilities. His crude scanner was a first step, but he had larger ambitions. He had learned of Dathomir from whispered tales and stray conversations in Watto's shop. The planet was home to the Zabrak and the Nightsisters, a place where strength was forged through trials and dark rituals. It was the perfect crucible for his burgeoning power.

Using the Force, he had persuaded a trader to reserve a seat for him on an outbound ship to Dathomir. The man had been easy to manipulate, his mind malleable under Anakin's influence.

He had only a few hours to prepare.

Anakin returned to the slave quarters, his heart heavy as he approached Shmi. "Mother, I have to leave for a while." He said with a steady but soft voice.

Shmi froze, her hands trembling. "Leave? Ani, no. You're just a child—"

"I'm not a child," he interrupted, his tone firm but not unkind. "Not really. You've seen what I can do. I need to get stronger, and there's nothing here for me to learn."

Her face crumpled, and tears spilled down her cheeks. "Ani, you can't… I can't lose you."

He stepped forward, placing his hands on hers. "You won't lose me. I promise I'll come back for you. But if I stay, we'll both be trapped forever. I need to do this—for us."

Shmi pulled him into a fierce hug, her tears dampening his hair. "Be safe," she whispered. "Promise me."

"I promise," he said.

As the ship lifted off, Anakin watched Tatooine shrink beneath him. His heart ached for his mother, but determination burned brighter. He was free now, and he had a mission.

The boy who was once a slave was now on a path to power and freedom, a path that would shape the destiny of the galaxy itself.

And so, with the vast expanse of stars stretching before him, Anakin Skywalker began his second journey to greatness.