AN OLDER MENACE

Anakin was fourteen when Qui-gon found him. Already able to use the Force, Anakin knew the Jedi was coming - and his fate... Will Anakin be able to save Qui-gon from certain death?

Story Information/Ideas.

Anakin's Powers.

Force Sense.

Telekinesis.

Mind Trick.

Precognition.

Find.

PROLOGUE.

As they walked down the main street of Mos Espa, Qui-gon, Padme, R2 and Jar Jar came to a little plaza surrounded by several spaceship dealers.
Looking around briefly, Qui-gon frowned slightly. "We'll try one of the smaller dealers." He suggested, leading them to a little junk shop that had a huge pile of broken spaceships stacked up behind it.

As they entered the dingy junk shop and are greeted a pudgy blue Toydarian. "Hi chuba da naga?" ("What do you want?")

Smiling at him, Qui-gon shrugged. "I need parts for a J-type 327 Nubian."

Cocking his head, Watto nodded. "Ah yes, ah yes. Nubian. We have lots of that..." He turned towards the back of the shop, "Peedenkel! Naba dee unko!" ("Boy, get in here! Now!")

"My droid here has a readout of what I need," Qui-gon told the Toydarian as a disheveled boy, ran in from the junkyard. He was about fourteen years old, very dirty, and dressed in rags.

Anakin froze when he saw Qui-gon, his eyes widening slightly as he recognised him - he was the jedi from his dreams.

As Watto raised a hand, Anakin flinched. "Coona tee-tocky malia?" ("What took you so long?")

Staring at Watto, Anakin gestured out the back, "Mel tassa cho-passa-" ("I was cleaning the bin like you-")

"Chut-Chut! Ganda doe wallya." ("Never mind! Watch the store.") Watto cut him off, already turning away, "Me dwana no bata." ("I've got some selling to do here.") He faced Qui-gon, "Soooo, let me take you out back, and you'll find what you need."

R2 and Qui-gon followed Watto towards the junk yard, leaving Jar Jar with Padme and Anakin. As Jar Jar picked up a gizmo, trying to figure out its purpose, Qui-gon took the part out of his hand and put it back. "Don't touch anything."

Jar Jar made a rude face to Qui-gon's back and stuck out his long tongue.

Anakin sat on the counter, pretending to clean a part, as he stared at Padme. He'd seen her in his dreams too, but in reality, she was even more beautiful.
He noticed that she was a little embarrassed by his stare, as she mustered up an amused smile, he finally, he found the courage to speak. "Are you an angel?"

Padme's eyes widened as she stared at him in shock, blushing slightly. "What?" She couldn't believe what he'd just said.

Anakin smiled at her, "An angel." he repeated, settling on the counter, he shrugged. "I've heard the deep space pilots talk about them. They live on the Moons of Iego I think..." he continued to stare at her, as he spoke. "... They are the most beautiful creatures in the universe. They are good and kind, and so pretty they make even the most hardened spice pirate cry."

Padme looked at him in silence, not knowing what to say. Swallowing, she shook her head. "I've never heard of angels."

"You must be one..." Cocking his head, Anakin grinned. "... Maybe you just don't know it."

Laughing, Padme shook her head, he was such a funny boy. "How do you know so much?"

"I've been here a long time, since I was very little, three, I think..." Looking away from her, Anakin shrugged again. "My Mom and I were sold to Gardulla the Hutt, but she lost us, betting on the Podraces."

Padme stared at him in shock, "You're...a slave?"

Looking at Padme defiantly, Anakin folded his arms. "I am a person!" He said hotly, "My name is Anakin."

Taken aback by his angry reaction, Padme shook her head, "I'm sorry. I don't fully understand..." She looked around, "... This is a strange world to me."

Anakin frowned at her, she hadn't meant to offend him? All his life he and his Mother had been looked down on with contempt, and sometimes disgust, because they were slaves. "You don't care that I'm a slave?"

"I think it's horrible," Padme said as she shook her head, "No one should have their freedom taken away."

Anakin smiled at her, "I'm sorry I snapped at you... it's just..." He shook his head and sighed, "... Most people treat slaves like we're worth nothing."

Jar Jar pushed the nose on what appeared to be a little droid, it instantly comes to life, growing legs and arms, and started marching around, knocking over everything as jar jar tried to stop it.

Grinning, Anakin shook his head. "Hit the nose!"

As Jar jar did as he was told, the droid collapsed back into its original state. Laughing, Anakin watched as Padme straightened her hair.

x

Watto read from the small portable monitor he is holding, standing before a hyperdrive. "Here it is...a T-14 hyperdrive generator!" he grinned at Qui-gon, "you're in luck, I'm the only one hereabouts who has one..." he looked at Qui-gon and shrugged, "... But you might as well buy a new ship. It would be cheaper, I think." Frowning, the Toydarian cocked his head, "Speaking of which, how's thee going to pay for all this?"

"I have 20,000 Republic dataries," Qui-gon told him.

"Republic credits?!" Watto shook his head, "Republic credits are no good out here. I need something more real..."

Qui-gon sighed, "I don't have anything else..." he raised a hand, "But credits will do fine."

Watto looked at him and shook his head again, "No they won't."

Using his mind power, Qui-gon waved his hand again. "Credits will do fine."

"No, they won't!" Watto narrowed his eyes at Qui-gon, "What you think you're some kinda Jedi, waving your hand around like that? I'm a Toydarian. Mind tricks don't work on me! only money. No money, no parts!" He glared at Qui-gon angrily, "No deal! And no one else has a T-14 hyperdrive, I promise you that."

xx

Jar jar pulled a part out of a stack to inspect it, and they all come tumbling down. He struggled to catch them, only managing to knock more down.
Anakin and Padme were oblivious as they continued to talk.

"... I wouldn't have lasted long if I weren't so good at fixing things." Anakin told Padme, he looked at her and smiled, "I made my own droid..." He trailed off as Qui-gon hurried into the shop, followed by R2.

Qui-gon looked at Padme, "We're leaving."

Jar Jar instantly followed Qui-gon outside, while Padme smiled at Anakin. "I'm glad I met you, Anakin."

Smiling, Anakin cocked his head. "I never did get your name."

"I'm Padme."

Anakin looked sad as he watched her leave, "I'm glad I met you too!" he called out to her. Then he frowned, his thoughts turning to the Jedi... He'd seen him in his dreams, and he knew that If he did nothing to help them, Qui-gon would die.