AN: The Sequel to The Shift. To new readers, welcome. You won't understand the AU without at least 'The Shift' under your belt (please drop a review if you can! :D). Hope I didn't disappoint with this.

Cheers,

Eastonia

Ten years have passed.

Over which many changes had occurred. Anakin Skywalker and Ferus Olin are finally on good terms for one, and he finally hit his growth spurt around 17 for another.

Corellia was good for Obi-Wan and Anakin. They worked for a little with CorSec, learned how to apply a refined version of the Old Code – which, frankly wasn't the same as the refined version that the High Council and the rest of the Jedi Temples practiced – and learnt more about the Living Force.

But perhaps most importantly they benefitted from something the Corellian Jedi practiced, home leave.

Anakin was right, he did see his family on Tatooine again. Owen Lars reminded him strongly of Ferus Olin so unfortunately, initially the step-brothers clashed. It was often up to Obi-Wan (whom the Lars, read: Shmi Skywalker-Lars, decided to 'adopt') to separate the two. But as tensions with the Jedi's 'Chosen One' and the Ex-Serviceman waned, so did tensions back on Tatooine.

Shmi Skywalker-Lars was practical, but as the unofficial mentor of one Padmé Amidala Naberrie, she too did dream. She dreamt of a Tatooine free from slavery, free from the shackles of the Hutts.

And while Shmi Skywalker-Lars dreamt of freedom for her people, Ferus Olin and Darra Thel-Tanis dreamt of another freedom.

There is unrest in the Galactic Senate. Several thousand solar systems have declared their intentions to leave the Republic.

This separatist movement, under the leadership of the mysterious Count Dooku, has made it difficult for the limited number of Jedi Knights to maintain peace and order in the galaxy.

Senator Amidala, the former Queen of Naboo, is returning to the Galactic Senate to vote on the critical issue of creating an ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC to assist the overwhelmed Jedi...

Eastonia Presents:-

Star Wars: The Slide

Prologue: Ten Years.

Yoda's Quarters, Jedi Temple – Coruscant.

How quickly 10 years can just pass by, especially if you were extremely long lived. The Council had given the then newly Knighted Obi-Wan Kenobi the leave to train Anakin on Corellia. Outside the Council, only a select number of Jedi knew that Anakin had been made Padawan – among them were the Chosen One and his Master, Knight Tachi and Darra Thel-Tanis and her teacher the Master Jedi Antara.

Over the last 10 years, the Grandmaster of the Jedi High Council had been contemplating a prophecy only he now knew the entirety of. Yes, Knight Kenobi and Padawan Skywalker – not to mention the rest of the High Council – knew of the second half of the prophecy. But it was the first half that truly made the ancient being nervous. To everyone else it was known as The Jinn Prophecy. Not many knew it was The Lăo-Jinn Prophecy and he intended to keep it that way. The Force had to have a reason why the Chosen One was somewhere out in the galaxy and not trained as a Jedi…

Ansion.

Anakin bolted upright, panting heavily. He buried his head in his hands and groaned. That morning, Obi-Wan and Jedi Master Luminara Unduli had – although there were several hiccups – managed to secure a Republic victory around a week before schedule. And although they were supposed to technically inform the Council of the completed mission, Obi-Wan had put his negotiation skills to use and convinced the Jedi Master of the need for a vacation.

Was Anakin ever glad for it.

The door to his quarters slid open and Obi-Wan stepped into his room.

"Anakin… Again?"

"Five times in a row Obs."

"Guess this settles it then, Mum's in danger."

"Tatooine?"

"Tatooine."

The nightmare for the past five nights was always the same. The Hutts held Shmi hostage and were torturing her. Calling her to ask the citizens of Tatooine to stand down.

Because Shmi was more than a former slave or even the wife of Cliegg Lars. She was a mother, she was K'Ru'rah, she was the elected Head of the High Council of a Free Tatooine. Her dream of unity among the citizens of Tatooine had come true in a sense. Under the Hutts figurative nose, they had organised themselves into sections and areas. Each area would have a representative of each race, who would then through regular rotation, stand as a member of the Sectional Council. Each Sectional Council would then elect a member to represent them on the High Council. Shmi Skywalker-Lars had become its first Head through a write-in vote.

Needless to say the Hutts, once they got wind of the Free Tatooine and their activities – that included the freeing of slaves, weren't very happy about it. They knew they were losing power. Power that they didn't want to give up.

But something the Hutts couldn't have foreseen were two protective Jedi 'sons'.

Tachi-Olin Quarters, Jedi Temple – Coruscant.

Although the one the Jedi believed to be their Chosen One had been Knighted a month ago, he still shared quarters with his former Master. The Seperatists made such changes as simple as a quarters transfer seem needless.

Ferus bolted upright, panting heavily in the quarters he still shared with his former Master. For five nights he had been having nightmares. Nightmares that concerned someone very dear to him, Darra Thel-Tanis.

Frankly they didn't make sense. Darra was here. Not being tortured in some dark room with red eyes laughing evilly.

But Darra wasn't going to be here for long. Three days from here she was going to go on a solo Padawan mission. No backup, no help.

And he couldn't help but fear.

Naberrie home, Theed – Naboo.

Padmé sighed as she looked out the window of her bedroom. It had been 10 years since the Battle for Naboo. Ten years since she had seen the other human members of her War Council. Oh she had heard from them plenty of times, but she could only ever reach the auditory channel. On top of that, Anakin's questionable contacts had come in very helpful over the years.

She was glad that they had kept in contact; she couldn't imagine what it would have been like being cut off from her Jedi friends. She remembered laughing over Anakin's new phobia – he couldn't be that tall – besides, she couldn't imagine him any taller than her own 5 foot frame. She remembered working out a signalling code for messages with them. She remembered spending time just talking during their diplomatic missions.

She knew how thin they were being stretched, but she also knew the consequences of aggressive opposition.

War.

They were doing their part. In five days she would do hers.

Above Tatooinan Space.

Obi-Wan and Anakin meditated; the Knight silently cross-legged on the floor breathing steadily in and out, the apprentice pacing with a steady beat, his breath as calm as his mentor's. Then the 24 year old stopped and sighed,

"Got anything Obs?"

Prompting a sigh from his brother as well

"No. We've got to go about this the long way then."

He got up and stretched as Anakin headed over to the consoles and set the landing auto-pilot on. He might very well be the best pilot the galaxy had ever seen, but even then there were times where he let the computer take over so that Master and Padawan could plan. Obi-Wan dropped into the co-pilot's seat and turned his chair to face Anakin

"Okay, what do we know?"

"Six months ago, Mum and the rest of the Free Tatooine High Council signed the Anchorhead Constitution, laying out the laws governing every citizen of the planet; effectively declaring Tatooine a free planet and promising to work for its own sovereignty and restoration of Sentient Rights. Hutts hate it, takes business out of their hands."

"Mum told us of their protests, boycotts and movements. She wanted to try and open negotiations, I asked her to wait for me…"

"Get The Negotiator on the case huh? Okay, my nightmares – they don't like what they've been doing so they think getting her to call them to stand down would be enough to stop the Free Council. They have her hostage and are trying to break her."

Anakin struggled to release his rage to the Force. Obi-Wan reached over, sending soothing waves through the Force

"Breathe Ani. Remember? It's okay to feel passion, just remember…"

"To channel it into something positive…"

Anakin breathed in deeply and let it out, intoning a Corellian Temple teaching.

"Rage is born of passion, used wrongly it leads to the Dark. But used rightly and grounded in Light, it forms convictions and purpose… My purpose is to rescue our Mum – with as little notice as possible."

"The Hutts won't know what hit them."

The Lars Homestead – Tatooine.

The High Council of a Free Tatooine created a din that the Tusken shaman A'Mah'gi – one of Shmi's first students in Basic over 20 years ago sought to quiet.

"ORDER! Arguing is not going to get K'Ru'rah back! What would she say about our behaviour? Are we acting like beings deserving of a free Tatooine? NO!"

"Then what should we do?"

The doors to the chamber where the Free Council met opened as two men, one very tall and dirty blonde and the other of above average height and ginger haired.

"Provide the Jedi with some information."

"A'Sir'hit! A'Sah'hes! You're here, we didn't expect you."

The taller man they called A'Sir'hit replied the shaman

"We heard a call from the Force, when was she taken?"

"K'Ru'rah was taken a day ago."

The taller one turned and looked at the shorter saying,

"See? Told you Obs."

"Just don't rub it in please…"

Anakin turned to face the Free Council,

"Padawan Skywalker, I'm Shmi's son. That's my Master – meaning, teacher in Jedi terms. See I'm an apprentice of sorts – Knight Kenobi. We need to know where she is and anything else that could help in our rescue mission."

The Free Council nodded, the shaman was their spokesman,

"Anything for the son of our sun and his teacher."

Secret Hutt Fortress – Tatooine.

Night had come to the desert, and outside the fortress that held Shmi – confirmed through the Force by both Master and Padawan, Anakin slipped back to Obi-Wan sliently.

"Done?"

"Done."

Ferus and Obi-Wan had begun to call it 'standard-mission-with-Anakin' procedure. If it involved rescue, sabotage or anything that required going anywhere quietly, Anakin would slip off to tweak and hack the system, his mechanic background coming through as he rewired and spliced security protocols and droids to their advantage. Admittedly it always came in handy, and it always bought them a little more time. Around ten percent of the time they didn't get caught at all, but with the sort of trouble they got themselves into a delay really was actually, a fine thing.

Obi-Wan palmed his inactivated blue bladed 'saber as Anakin did the same with a 'driver and one of his dual blades – together, Master and Padawan sneaked into the Hutt stronghold. Several doors were hacked into as they made their way through several dark and winding corridors. Their only guide was the Force.

Obi-Wan caught his brother-Padawan's eye and stepped forwards lightly, heel first. That particular signal had only one message

Be cautious.

[Obs, you sense something?]

[Malice, determination, fear – but not for their own being. Three doors on your left.]

[Think Mum's there?]

[I certainly hope she is. But I think there is someone with her.]

They inched closer to the cell, a weary but defiant voice growling at more slimy one

"No Gardulla. I will not call them to stand down."

"Oh, little runaway. You really didn't think we would let go of the planet did you."

"I hoped…"

"False hope. Now, unless you call them to stand down – you won't have to worry about anyone's freedom apart from your own…"

Anakin looked over at Obi-Wan

[I've heard enough.]

[Me too, but remember Ani, Hutts are resistant to mind tricks.]

[Resistant does not mean immune. Teamwork time!]

[I swear, you will be the death of me.]

[If it's metaphorical, why not – you'll get back on your feet soon enough. But never in a literal sense.]

Obi-Wan sent him a look and nodded, together they reached out into the Force and implanted their strongest sleep suggestion. Anakin poured as much pull with the Force he could into the suggestion – among the Jedi, his own midi-chlorian count was pretty high (around 12,500 in fact) and with the practice he had in the use of the Force, he was nearly on par with a few Jedi Masters.

But against a mind trick resistant Hutt – to save an innocent life important not just to him, but to a planet, he needed more of a pull with the Force. He was the 'power source' of the mind trick in this duo operation, while Obi-Wan was the craftsman.

Inside Anakin, a tiny portion of the nano-probes deactivated and disintergrated

[A little more power Ani…]

In Obi-Wan's mind eye he could see the strain he was putting on Anakin. Then suddenly his Force presence flared for a moment. Not quite the supernova that Ferus Olin was – but approaching Master Yoda's own presence.

And Gardulla fell asleep.

Anakin looked exhausted – so Obi-Wan knew the next part, while waiting for his brother to recover, was up to him. He levitated the access card over and disengaged the bonds and locks surrounding the Head of the High Council of a Free Tatooine.

She tumbled into Obi-Wan's waiting arms as Anakin stood as lookout while recovering outside. Another look at his brother confirmed the fluctuation. Anakin's Force presence had grown slightly stronger, brighter.

Apparently this mission counted in the ten percent because they managed to return Shmi to the Lars homestead in relative peace. After medical treatment and with clear instructions to the rest of the Free Council and Cliegg Lars to make their beloved leader lay low, they headed back for Ansion. The entire operation of getting there, planning, implementing and preparations for leaving took a grand total of three days.

Jedi Temple Hangar – Coruscant.

"It's just a standard information gathering mission 'Rus, don't worry."

"Dars, Jedi dreams are either memories or visions. I should worry."

"'Rus…"

The crimson-haired rust eyed woman checked her surroundings before pecking the brunette man on the lips.

"I'll be fine. And besides, I know come Sithspit or high water you'll come after me. I still do have that distress beacon of yours."

Ferus had given that to her on her last birthday. He had cajoled Anakin into making it for him – no questions asked. Even though it took an absurd amount of pallies and set him back several credit. He considered it worth it. There was no one he trusted more with technology than Anakin Skywalker.

"The Force be with you Padawan Thel-Tanis."

"And with you Knight Olin."

Naberrie home, Theed – Naboo.

Padmé looked at Captain Typho as he went over the plans for her security again. Tomorrow she would play the part of a pilot.

They couldn't ignore the assassination threat they received that morning.

The proposal of the vote was tomorrow, they had to prepare.

AN: So? What do you think :D? Just the prologue - and the changes are evident straight away... Hehe.