Disclaimer: Not mine.

Was amazed by the amount of reviews ch1 got, thank you all.

Chapter 2

"Battle droids."

"It's an invasion army." Obi-Wan agreed.

"It's an odd play for the Trade Federation. We've got to warn the Naboo and contact Chancellor Valorum. Let's split up. Stow aboard separate ships and meet down on the planet."

"You were right about one thing, Master. The negotiations were short." Obi-Wan grinned cheekily and then darted off to find a ship.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Luke shaded his eyes from the suns as he stared at the wreck Anakin had found, looked like an old pirate ship.

"Well?" The nine-year-old asked, unable to fully mask his excitement.

Luke smiled and nodded. "Looks good to me Ani, let's get to work moving this back to the workshop."

"My own ship!"

"Once you're old enough to get a pilot's licence." He warned as they began hooking it up to tow.

"I know." Anakin didn't let that get him down as they jumped back in the speeder and hauled the ship home where Luke unhooked it and they got it settled into the secondary garage. Once it was settled in they went to work cleaning out several years' worth of accumulated sand. It was not an easy task and it took several days but finally the wreck was sand free. The ship was small, good for no more than two or three people and consisted of a cockpit, bunk room with fresher, and a kitchenette inside the only hold. But it was a good first ship for Anakin and his Mum to explore or make a fast get away, once they had the engines up to scratch.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Queen Amidala sat before a hologram of Senator Palpatine, her handmaidens, Eirtaé and Sachè beside her with Governor Bibble to the side.

"...How could that be true? I have assurances from the Chancellor...his Ambassadors did arrive. It must be the...get...negotiate..." the hologram sputtered and faded away.

"Senator Palpatine?!" The Queen called and then turned to Captain Panaka. "What's happening?"

Panaka turned to his Sergeant. "Check the transmission generators..."

"A malfunction?" Bibble offered even though he doubted it.

"It could be the Federation jamming us. Your Highness." Panaka pointed out.

"A communications disruption can only mean one thing. Invasion." Bibble had to agree with the Captain.

"Don't jump to conclusions, Governor. The Federation would not dare go that far." Amidala denied.

"The Senate would revoke their trade franchise, and they'd be finished." Panaka pointed out but he was there to protect the Queen which meant facing facts.

"We must continue to rely on negotiation."

"Negotiation? We've lost all communications!...and where are the Chancellors Ambassadors? How can we negotiate? We must prepare to defend ourselves."

"This is a dangerous situation, Your Highness. Our security volunteers will be no match against a battle-hardened Federation army."

"I will not condone a course of action that will lead us to war."

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

"Uncle Luke!" Anakin called as he rushed into the upstairs apartment over the shop.

"Slow down Ani!" His mother called in warning from the kitchen and he did even as Luke caught him, tossing him lightly onto the couch.

"What is it?" it was a little weird for his Father to call him Uncle but the boy had included him in his family and declared him to be his Uncle and he didn't have the heart to say no.

"The Boonta Eve Classic is in three days!"

Luke chuckled. "We know, the adverts have been up for weeks. So, what else?"

"Well…. I ran into Watto and he has a pod…."

"And no driver." Luke finished, glancing at Shmi.

"No Ani, I won't have you racing again." She answered as she joined them in the living room. The place was done in the typical Tatooine style of beige and white, though Shmi had managed to bring in colour using throws which made it feel homier.

"Mom I love racing!"

"It's too dangerous!"

"And you racing now would be cheating." Luke pointed out.

"Huh?"

"You use the Force consciously now Anakin, it wouldn't be fair on the others."

"Oh, I guess so."

"How about we close up shop and go see the Race?" Luke offered in compromise.

"Really?"

"As long as your Mother agrees." They both looked to her and Shmi sighed, boys and anything that went fast.

"Alright."

"Yay!"

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

"Yousa cannot bees hair. Dis army of mackineeks up dare tis new weesong!" Boss Nass told the two Jedi standing before him.

"That droid army is about to attack the Naboo. We must warn them." Qui-Gon argued, still feeling a bit damp from the swim.

"Wesa no like da Naboo! Un dey no like uss-ens. Da Naboo tink day so smarty den us-ens. Day tink day brains so big."

"After those droids take control of the surface, they will come here and take control of you." Obi-Wan tried to reason with the Gungan leader.

"No, mesa no tink so. Mesa scant talkie witda Naboo, and no nutten talkie it outlaunders. Dos mackineeks no comen here! Dey not know of uss-en."

"You and the Naboo form a symbiont circle. What happens to one of you will affect the other. You must understand this."

"Wesa wish no nutten in yousa tings, outlaunder, and wesa no care-n about da Naboo."

"Then speed us on our way." Qui-Gon stepped in, hand waving subtly.

"Wesa gonna speed yousaway."

"We need a transport."

"Wesa give yousa una bongo. Da speedest way tooda Naboo tis goen through da core. Now go."

"Thank you for your help. We go in peace." They turned to leave since the mind trick had worked.

"Master, what's a bongo?"

"A transport, I hope." He offered before noticing Jar Jar in chains and off to the side, giving them a forlorn look and Qui-Gon stopped.

"Daza setten yous up. Goen through da planet core is bad bombin!"

"Thank you, my friend."

"Ahhh...any hep hair would be hot."

"We are short of time, Master."

"We'll need a navigator to get us through the planet's core. This Gungan may be of help." He walked back to Boss Nass. "What is to become of Jar Jar Binks here?"

"Binkss brokeen the nocombackie law. Hisen to be pune-ished."

"He has been a great help to us. I hope the punishment will not be too severe."

"Pounded unto death."

"Oooooh...Ouch!" Jar Jar grimaced and now even Obi-Wan was concerned. He may not like the creature but he didn't want him to die.

"We need a navigator to get us through the planet's core. I have saved Jar Jar Binks' life. He owes me what you call a " ."

"Binks. Yousa havena liveplay with thisen hisen?" Boss Nass demanded and Jar Jar nodded, shifting to stand with the Jedi.

"Your gods demand that his life belongs to me now."

"Hisen live tis yos, outlauder. Begone wit him."

"Count mesa outta dis! Better dead here, den deader in da core...Yee guds, whata mesa sayin?!" Jar Jar mumbled as the chains dropped away before following them out.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

"So, how's that droid coming alone?" Luke asked as they tidied the shop, no matter what they did san still got in every day.

"Great!" Anakin grinned. "Just need something to cover him with. His name is C3-PO and he's a protocol droid. He already knows a few thousand languages."

"Handy." Luke managed in shock, his Father had built Threepio? The Galaxy had a weird sense of humour.

"Yeah, I figure he can help in here for customers who don't speak Basic or Huttese."

"A great idea kiddo." He praised as he locked the shop up for the night, Anakin glowing at the praise. They headed upstairs to where Shmi had dinner ready, obediently cleaning up before sitting at the table.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

"Hello Watto." Luke greeted as he fluttered into the shop. "Did you need something?"

"You ruined me! First you take them and now you won't let the boy race."

"Shmi was the one to say no to that, Mother's prerogative. And I gave you good money for them."

"And then freed them!"

"Slavery is abominable. Anything else?" Luke wiped his hands on a rag and moved to lean on the counter, staring at the angry Toydarian. Watto snarled and then left and Luke shook his head, knowing he had wanted Anakin in the race for one reason, money.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Panaka glanced into the hanger and then pulled his head back. "There are too many of them."

"That won't be a problem. Your Highness, under the circumstances, I suggest you come to Coruscant with us." Qui-Gon told the black clothed Queen.

"Thank you, Ambassador, but my place is here with my people."

"They will kill you if you stay." He warned seriously.

"They wouldn't dare." Bibble argued.

"They need her to sign a treaty to make this invasion of theirs legal. They can't afford to kill her." Panaka agreed.

"The situation here is not what it seems. There is something else behind all this, Your Highness. There is no logic in the Federation's move here. My feelings tell me they will destroy you." Qui-Gon continued, staring at the young woman, there was something off….

"Please, Your Highness, reconsider. Our only hope is for the Senate to side with us... Senator Palpatine will need your help."

"Getting past their blockade is impossible, Your Highness. Any attempt to escape will be dangerous." Panaka warned.

"Your Highness, I will stay here and do what I can...They will have to retain the Council of Governors in order to maintain control. But you must leave..." Bibble sided with the Jedi.

"Either choice presents a great risk...to all of us..." The Queen looked to her handmaidens.

"We are brave, Your Highness." Padme stated firmly and Qui-Gon hid a smirk, so that's how it was. A smart plan to have in place.

"If you are to leave, Your Highness, it must be now."

"Then, I will plead our case before the Senate. Be careful, Governor." The Queen warned the elderly man before turning to follow the Jedi. Padme glanced at him and then quickly squeezed his hand before following.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

"...moisture farms for the most part, but also a few indigenous tribes and scavengers. The few spaceports like this one are havens for those who do not wish to be found..." Qui-Gon explained to Padme, Jar Jar and Artoo as they walked into the spaceport town.

"...like us." Padme finished for him, ignoring Jar Jar's permanent state of panic.

"Dissen berry berry bad." He grimaced as he stepped in something. "Ooooh...icky...icky...goo."

They entered a little plaza surrounded by several junk spaceship dealers. "We'll try one of the smaller dealers." They headed for a little junk shop that had a huge pile of broken spaceships stacked up behind it.

"Hi chuba da naga? (What do you want?)" Watto demanded.

"I need parts for a J-type 327 Nubian."

"Ah yes, ah yes. Nubian. We have lots of that. What kinda part?"

"My droid here has a readout of what I need. Don't touch anything." He warned Jar Jar as he followed Watto out into the yard.

"...Here it is...a T-14 hyperdrive generator! Thee in luck, I'm the only one hereabouts who has one...but thee might as well buy a new ship. It would be cheaper, I think...Sying of which, how's thee going to pay for all this?"

"I have 20,000 Republic dataries."

"Republic credits?! Republic credits are no good out here. I need something more real..."

"I don't have anything else." He raised his hand. "But credits will do fine."

"No, they won'ta."

Qui-Gon frowned and tried again. "Credits will do fine."

"No, they won'ta. What you think you're some kinda Jedi, waving your hand around like that? I'm a Toydarian. Mind tricks don'ta work on me-only money. No money, no parts! No deal! And no one else has a T-14 hyperdrive, I promise you that." He snarled, he wasn't lying, not really, he didn't know what Solo had stocked but he knew no one else had the parts. He shooed them out quickly.

Qui-Gon slipped into a side street and pulled out his comm, calling Obi-Wan. "...Obi-Wan, you're sure there isn't anything of value left on board?"

"A few containers of supplies, the Queen's wardrobe, maybe. Not enough for you to barter with. Not in the amounts you're talking about." His Padawan quickly answered.

"All right. Another solution will present itself. I'll check back." He put his comm away and started to turn into the street only for Jar Jar to grab his arm.

"Noah gain...da beings hereabouts cawazy. Wesa be robbed un crunched."

"Not likely. We have nothing of value, that's our problem." The Jedi answered, feeling unsure over what they were going to do.

"Are you an angel?" A young voice asked and Padme looked down to see a young boy watching them.

"What?"

"An angel. I've heard the deep space pilots talk about them. They live on the Moons of Iego, I think. 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." He explained and Qui-Gon hid an amused smile even as Padme floundered.

"I've never heard of angels." She finally admitted.

"You must be one...maybe you just don't know it."

"You're a funny little boy. How do you know so much?"

"I listen to the pilots, and Uncle Luke tells me stuff too." He shrugged and then looked at the others. "Do you need help? Uncle Luke's good at that."

"Our ship was damaged, and we're stranded here until we can repair it." Qui-Gon answered as his poncho shifted and Anakin saw the lightsabre hidden, just like Uncle Luke had when they met!

"I can help! I can fix anything! Well…. mostly and if I can't Uncle Luke can."

"I believe you can, but our first job is to acquire the parts we need..."

"Wit no-nutten mula to trade."

"Come on, you should come to our store, we'll help." He led the bemused Jedi and his group from the alley but then spotted an old lady at her stall and headed over. "How are you feeling today, Jira?"

"The heat's never been kind to me, you know, Annie!" she smiled at the boy.

"Guess what? I've found that cooling unit I've been searching for. It's pretty beat up, but I'll have it fixed up for you in no time, I promise."

"You're a fine boy, Annie." She praised.

"I'll take four pallies today. You'll like these..." he told Padme who simply nodded. Anakin reached into his pocket and pulled out the coins, handing them over. "Whoops, I thought I had more...Make that three, I'm not hungry." He said even as the wind began to pick up and shops began to close.

"Gracious, my bones are aching...storm's coming on, Annie. You'd better get home quick." She warned, standing to close down her own stall as they walked away.

"Do you have shelter?" Anakin asked Qui-Gon.

"We'll head back to our ship."

"Is it far?"

"On the outskirts." Padme answered as she lifted a hand to shield her eyes.

"You'll never reach the outskirts in time...sandstorms are very, very dangerous. Come with me. Hurry!" he grabbed Padme's hand and pulled her along to another courtyard like the one where Watto's shop had been. Qui-Gon looked up at the sign 'Solo Repairs' and then they were in the alley to find a set of sturdy stairs which they climbed, Anakin opening the door. "I'm home Mom, Uncle Luke!"

"Dissen cozy." Jar Jar commented as he looked around the apartment.

"Oh, my! Annie, what's this?" Shmi asked as she walked from her room.

"These are my friends, Mom. This is Padme, and... gee, I don't know any of your names." He blushed slightly in embarrassment.

"I'm Qui-Gon Jinn, and this is Jar Jar Binks." Qui-Gon answered before Artoo beeped.

"...and our droid, R2-D2." Padme added with a smile.

"I'm building a droid. You wanna see?"

"Anakin! Why are they here?"

"A sandstorm, Mom. Listen."

"Your son was kind enough to offer us shelter." Qui-Gon told her, his glance around had revealed a warm home which was always a good sign, but there was something…

"Come on! Let me show you Threepio!" Anakin pulled Padme to his room and Artoo followed curiously.

Qui-Gon pulled some capsules from his belt and handed them over. "I have enough food for a meal."

"Oh, thank you. Thank you so much. I'm sorry if I was abrupt. I'll never get used to Anakin's surprises." She accepted the food, even now they were free food was occasionally tight since business had its ups and downs.

"He's a very special boy."

"Yes, I know." She smiled and then went to begin the meal. Qui-Gon watched until the door opened and a young man, maybe his Padawans age walked in.

"Shmi I…" Luke stopped, staring at the older man in the room. "Hello."

"Oh, Luke this is Qui-Gon Jinn, Anakin offered his group shelter from the storm."

"It's good he got you indoors, the winds are more fierce than usual." Luke admitted even as he went to work getting the sand out of his hair and Shmi laughed at him. "Luke Solo, pleasure to meet you."

"The store below is yours?"

"Yes. Need something repaired?"

"Our ship was damaged, we saw Watto but we have nothing to trade with."

"What sort?"

"Nubian. We need a T-14 hyperdrive generator as well as some smaller pieces."

"T-14…. We might have something, we can look tomorrow morning." Luke offered as he moved to set the table and find extra chairs.

"Thank you." Qui-Gon studied the young man as he moved about, despite the different names he looked too much like Anakin, they had to be related. But he wasn't quite old enough to be his father, a cousin perhaps? And what he had sensed, it was him, he was more than just Force Sensitive, he was too control to be untrained. He reached out to him and felt shields slam into place even as blue eyes focused on him warily. "Who was your teacher?"

"Teacher?" Luke asked, knowing what he wanted.

"In the Force."

"His name was Ben." That wasn't a lie as it was the name Obi-wan had used at the time. "He was an old hermit, he saved me when my family was killed. I didn't have a long time with him before he died, after that I worked on freighters for a few years before settling back here." He finally explained to Qui-Gon's shock.

He knew of no missing or dead Jedi by the name of Ben who it could be. He didn't know any Jedi called Ben actually. So, either his teacher had used a false name… or he hadn't been a Jedi. But when he reached out to Luke he did not feel Darkness, not like in his previous Padawan. No Luke blazed bright and Light in the Force if you could see past his shields, so did the boy. "You taught the boy?"

Luke nodded. "He needed it."

"If you had been born closer to the Core you would have been found and raised in the Temple."

"We get by." Luke shrugged it off. "Ani dinner!" he called down the hall and their conversation ended as the others joined them.

TBC…..