See Chapter 1 for Copyright & Fair Use Disclaimer
From the Author
I've done it again. I let months go by without updating my fanfics. Well, besides being chronically lazy, and the god emperor of procrastination, I am also a Youtuber. My channel is Zorch Central, and I do a weekly CG-animated show there. I'm partnered with another channel called Gamers Bay, and I do a Let's Play series called "An Old Gamer Plays". On top of that I'm a manager for the Gamers Bay Google Plus community, and their sister community The Gamers Video Archive. All of this just happened out of the blue. I never intended to start a Youtube Channel, create a partnership with another, and start working towards this becoming a career. But, that is the course I'm on. Oh, and I am working on a novel. So, yeah, my plate is kind of full. I think you can forgiven the lack of fanfic updates. Anyway, I want to make time available to do this, because I like writing stories, but because my time is limited I'll be focusing on just a few stories for now. If you've been reading my stuff you already know this from past notes I've left in previous chapters. Anyway, I can't say when the next update is coming, but rest assured I haven't forgotten and I haven't abandoned "most" of my works. Regrettably, I've had to abandon several for reasons I've given in past announcements. I HATE this chapter, it isn't my best work and I know I can do better. I thought about rewriting it but I'm late enough as it is so I'm just going to release it. I will do better next time, whenever that will be. I will do my best to release updates more often as best I can, and thank you for sticking with me for this long.
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Chapter 2
Master Qui Gon Jinn was impressed. That a child could hold such an important position as chief mechanic for an entire settlement, but also possess the knowledge and skill to repair starships. The Force was with this young Anakin, that was pretty much a given. Had he been born under the Republic the Jedi Order would have recognized his gifts early on. Rather than toiling away in a repair garage, he would be now be in the Jedi Temple training with the other younglings under Master Yoda's wise tutelage.
"I gotta go to the Jiyukage Tower to requisition parts for your ship," the youngling said with an air of maturity beyond his years. "Why don't you come with me, I'll introduce you to Naruto and Jiraiya. They like meeting new visitors."
"Certainly." Qui Gon gestured his acceptance of the offer.
He and his companions followed Anakin's lead through and out of the repair facility. If Mos Sukui looked impressive from the air, the fledgling settlement looked equally impressive from ground level. It was still rough, but Qui Gon Jinn could see the city's potential. In a few more years this place could become the jewel of the outer rim. The stone walls of the ancient site were in the process of being carved into a grand, tiered metropolis. The sheer height of the walls provided shade for the pedestrian walkway on the ground, keeping the streets cool even during the hottest part of the day.
"This was all done in just a couple of years?" he heard Padme's stunned voice behind him.
Anakin nodded, "Most of this took about six months." The boy gestured to the shops and buildings carved into the stone walls.
Qui Gon could feel the positive mood of this place. He couldn't help but notice the happier more upbeat attitude of the people he passed. Most of them waved to Anakin in greeting with the same familiarity one might have with a dear friend. This was in complete contrast to the heavy, oppressive atmosphere of Mos Espa.
"This definitely looks much friendly than other outer rim settlements we've seen, master." Obiwan observed. Qui Gon nodded, in the years since taking on Kenobi as his padawan they've traveled all over the galaxy. This was not their first trip to Tatooine and they have been to much worse places than Mos Espa.
"It definitely isn't like Mos Espa." said Padme. R2 warbled in a tone that seemed to agree.
Qui Gon caught sight of their destination, it was the only tower he could see, and it sat in the very center of the settlement. Rock from the construction of the settlement had apparently been used to build the tower, a clever kind of recycling. He guessed the tower was a dozen stories tall. On the roof was an array of com antenna and a huge deep space relay. Qui Gon had only ever seen those in the big port cities like Mos Eisley and Anchorhead.
Anakin lead them to a large entrance at the base of the tower. The guards, what few Qui Gon could see, wore armored uniforms with what appeared to be military rank insignia next to the more familiar symbol he'd seen other people wearing. This raised an eyebrow. How could a small settlement afford to hire its own military force, especially one so well equipped? Anakin lead them to a lift that sat separate from two others on the ground level lobby. A guard at the desk next to the lift nodded to Anakin in greeting. No questions were asked about himself or the others who followed him.
The ride to the top didn't take long. Qui Gon could see the rest of Mos Sukui through the glass walls of the lift. They certainly had a lot of room for expansion as more than three quarters of the city was undeveloped. At the top the lift doors opened to reveal a modest receptionist area. A protocol droid stood behind the receptionist desk. An ancient design he had only see in old records from the Jedi Archives and in the Galactic Museum of History on Coruscant. Those were no longer functional, and just stood in their display cases. This one looked like it was well maintained and seemed to be functioning properly.
"Is Jiraiya in, Jaytwo?" asked Anakin.
"Of course, Master Anakin," the droid replied graciously. "Your mother said to expect you and our new visitors here, please go right in." It gestured towards a plain door situated next to the desk.
"Thanks," the small boy handed the droid his tablet. "Can you check to see if we have these parts available?"
"Most certainly, Master Anakin." Jaytwo bowed.
As he crossed the threshold into the office Qui Gon Jinn felt something in the Force. It was a brief flutter, but it was strong. The quick expression on Obi Wan's face told him his Padawan had felt it too. His attention was soon drawn to the room's only occupant, an old man with long white hair wearing an unusual set of robes. The office was spartan. Qui Gon had been expecting something more lavish. The only furniture in the room was a large circular desk that sat before a large semi-circular window that afforded a wide view of the city below, and several comfortable looking chairs. To one side was the only luxury in the office, a small bar with a two stools and two shelves of glasses. A holoprojector for communications sat in the middle of the room.
"So, these are our friends from Naboo." the old man's words put Qui Gon on the defensive, though he didn't show it.
The old man stood and came around the desk. "What makes you think we came from Naboo?" Qui Gon asked attempting to divert the man's assumptions. He wasn't certain, but the Jedi Master had a feeling mind tricks would not work on this one.
"Intelligence gathering is one of my specialties," the old man replied. "I've spent the past couple of years assembling a small but growing network of informants who collect all kinds of interesting knowledge." Qui Gon quietly prepared himself and silently signaled Obi Wan to do the same.
"Things like a report that a ship ran the Trade Federation blockade two hours ago," the old man crossed his arms. "Then, a Noobian ship damaged by what looks like blaster fire lands here with two jedi onboard."
Qui Gon shook his head, "We are not Jedi, we're simply travelers and nothing more." He didn't think the old man bought it though because he smiled suddenly.
"Look there," he raised a hand and waved it towards the door. Qui Gon stepped to the side to look so he didn't have to turn his back on the old man. The walls of the office began to glow revealing a complicated pattern of lines and writing in the language he didn't understand. Also, there was no mistaking it, whatever it was it was powered by the Force.
"Weapon detection seal," said the old man. "You and the young man there are wearing lightsabers, and your pretty young friend has a small blaster hidden in her belt." The Jedi Master noticed Padme's brief wince.
The old man's expression quickly grew serious. "If who you are protecting is who I think you are protecting it would be in both our interests to keep her majesty's presence here as discrete as possible." With that said the old man extended his hand with a smile.
"Welcome to Mos Sukui, I am the Jiyukage, but you can just call me Jiraiya." Qui Gon shook the offered hand and offered his own grateful smile.
"Thanks you," Qui Gon relaxed, thankful the situation would turn into a fight.
"We were on our way to Coruscant when our vessel was damaged," he added, giving only so much information even though this Jiraiya seemed to have already put the pieces together.
Jiraiya nodded, then turned to the young boy who had been standing there patiently. "Speaking of that, how soon can you get on their way?"
"Assuming we have the parts and the damage isn't too bad, maybe tomorrow." said Anakin. That made Qui Gon feel better. The sooner they go the queen to Coruscant the better.
"And, none of this will cost us anything?" Padme stepped forward looking questioningly at the city's leader.
Jiraiya nodded. "Not a single coin." It was then that the ancient protocol droid entered the room.
"Master Anakin, I am afraid these particular parts were used for a repair three weeks ago." Qui Gon stepped aside to let Anakin rush over to check the tablet in the droid's hand.
"Here's the work order, Moxy used it to fix a merchant ship from Alderaan." the boy said.
"There are a lot of junk dealers on this planet, someone has to have the parts we need." said Jiraiya.
Qui Gon did not miss the sudden grim look on the boy's face. "I know only one who has Noobian parts, Jiraiya sir." The old man's expression turned bleak.
"Let me guess, he's a grizzled old buzzard we both know well." Jiraiya groused.
Qui Gon looked back and forth between the two. "I take it this is going to be a problem."
"The one who has the parts you need is a Toydarian named Watto." Qui Gon could not miss the sense of animosity in the boy's voice when he said the name.
"We've met." Padme folded her arms, scowling. Qui Gon recalled their encounter with the junk dealer, and how he acted once the learned all they had to pay with were Republic credits.
"Anakin and his mother were once slaves to that mangy bird," Jiraiya explained. "I convinced him to sell them to me so I could free them."
"Convinced?" Obi Wan stepped forward, speaking up for the first time in the conversation.
Jiraiya gestured toward Anakin angrily. "He made little Ani here fly in one of those damn pod races, it almost killed him!"
"A pod race?" Padme obviously had never heard of them.
"I've seen them on Malistaire, they are very fast, very dangerous." said Qui Gon, he understood well Jiraiya's anger. To think the Toydarian would make a child compete in one of those dangerous races.
"I saved the pod though," he said proudly. "I'm the only human who can do it. Drive a pod racer that is." This got Qui Gon's attention immediately. He knew just how deadly those races were. Anakin had to be Force sensitive, and it also meant he was much stronger in the Force than other younglings of his age. The Jedi decided he'd look into later when he had more time.
"Well, you don't have to do that for him anymore." said Jiraiya with finality.
He sighed and said, "Jaytwo, contact Aura, let her know the situation. Maybe she talk some sense into him." Qui Gon suspected Jiraiya meant something else entirely.
"Yes, Jiyukage, at once." the droid bowed and left.
"Since your stay will be longer, I can arrange for more comfortable lodgings," Jiraiya offered. "Along with ample yet discreet security. As long as you are a guest of Mos Sukui your protection is my responsibility and I take that job very seriously." Qui Gon bowed in thanks.
"We would be honored to accept your hospitality." Padme bowed.
Qui Gon suddenly felt something in the Force. It was a brief presence, he couldn't quite get a feel for it because it had been so quick. He felt it again, much stronger this time, but again it lasted only for a second. One of the windows behind Jiraiya slid open and in leaped a young boy only about a year or two older than Anakin.
He wore what looked like ancient Jedi body armor in black and orange. Upon his back were two swords, and down his legs and around his waist he carried a number of pouches. The most striking things about the boy was his spiky blonde hair, his bright blue eyes, and the curious markings on his cheeks that looked like whiskers. Qui Gon felt something coming from the boy, he was definitely the source of the emanations he felt, but there was nothing about the boy that suggested he was a threat. Jiraiya didn't seem concerned about his arrival.
"Can't you just use the lift, gaki!" Jiraiya scowled at the boy.
"Where's the fun in that ero-sensei?" the boy laughed.
Jiraiya lazily gestured to the blonde. "This is my apprentice, Naruto."
Qui Gon instantly took greater interest in the boy. This was the one whom Aurra Sing spoke of with such reverence and admiration. The boy who dreamed of a city where the downtrodden of Tatooine could live free from the corruption that infected the planet like a plague. This was that Naruto.
The Force was strong with him, but in a way that was very different from anything he ever felt before. Qui Gon couldn't describe it, but he could feel his young man radiating immense power. It was uncanny, even a bit frightening.
"Hey, are these the people Aurra-chan talked about?" Naruto noticed them and came walking over. He offered his hand to Qui Gon and the Jedi graciously accepted it. The moment their hands touched the Jedi was somewhere else. He stood ankle deep in water before a set massive gates. A growl from a massive creatures issued from the other side of those gates, and a pair of inhuman eyes stared at him from the darkness.
"Who are you?" boomed a voice, powerful and menacing. Suddenly the real world came back into focus. He was no longer holding Naruto's hand, Jiraiya was now standing between them, one hand on his wrist and the other on Naruto's. It was obvious the old man had pulled their hands apart.
"I know what you saw," Jiraiya said quietly, just loud enough for him to hear. "We'll talk about it later, don't worry the boy is no danger. I'll explain everything, and I may have a favor to ask of you." Qui Gon just nodded, still a bit dazed by the powerful vision he'd just seen.
"Master, are you alright?" Obi Wan asked with concern.
Qui Gon nodded rubbing his temples. "Yes, I think perhaps I am more tired than I realized." He was glad to see Obi Wan accept that answer but Padme didn't looked convinced and stared at Naruto with an unreadable expression.
Jiraiya laughed, "Considering what you've likely been through today I don't doubt it. Naruto, go let the droids know to get the guest suites ready for our friends here." The blonde shook himself, he was also coming out of a daze, and nodded.
"Sure, I'll be right back." he said tentatively then vanished from the room. Through the door this time.
To be continued...