A storm was coming. The wind started to pick up, and shopkeepers in the Mos Espa street market were quickly closing up their shops. Anneke wove in and out around them, heading for home, racing the storm. She was brought to a sudden stop when she collided with the floppy, clumsy alien from earlier. Helping him up, she looked around for the other two.

The tall Jedi stepped out of the crowd. "Jar Jar! Stay close!" He nodded at Anneke. "Thank you, my young friend."

Padraig appeared from behind his Jedi companion and smiled at her. Heat rose in her cheeks, and she looked away, flustered. "A storm is coming," she said. "Do you have shelter?"

"Our ship is on the outskirts," the Jedi replied, turning to go.

"You'll never make it. Sandstorms are very dangerous. Come with me. Hurry!" She led the trio through the streets to her own home. It was cramped, but they would be safe from the raging winds and flying grit.

"Mom!" she called as they closed the door on the whirling wind and sand. "I'm home!"

"Oh my!" Her mother stopped in the doorway. "Anni, what's this?"

"This is Padraig, and… gee, I don't know your names." Heat rose in her face again.

The Jedi stepped forward and offered his hand. "I'm Qui Gon Jinn and this is Jar Jar Binks. Your daughter was kind enough to offer us shelter from the storm."

Anneke's mother took the offered hand. "Shmi Skywalker."

He reached into his belt and withdrew a handful of small capsules. "I have enough food for a meal."

"Oh, thank you." Shmi accepted the capsules with a smile. "I'm sorry if I was abrupt. I'll never get used to Anni's surprises."

Qui Gon smiled. "She's a special girl."

Shmi nodded. "Yes, she is."

Anneke caught Padraig watching her again, and ducked her head. Special! She was just a slave.

The soup from the capsules Qui Gon had provided was soon ready. The only sound while they ate was Jar Jar's slurping, until Padraig burst out, "I can't believe there's still slavery in the galaxy! The Republic passed laws against it long ago!"

Shmi smiled sadly at him. "The Republic doesn't exist out here."

He stared at her, then met Anneke's eyes. There was a shocked anger there that surprised her, as if this was somehow a personal affront to him. She stared back, unable to look away. His soft brown eyes compelled her, as if he needed something from her, but she couldn't decipher what it might be. Then he broke the contact, dropping his gaze to his bowl.

The silence was deafening. Even Jar Jar's slurping did little to ease the tension.

"Have you ever seen a podrace?" Anneke snapped her mouth shut as everyone looked at her.

Qui Gon nodded slowly. "They have podracing on Malastare. Very fast. Very dangerous." His sky-blue eyes watched her closely.

Shifting in her seat, she looked away from that stare. "I'm the only human who can do it." She caught her mother's raised eyebrow. "I'm not bragging! It's true." She hunched her shoulders and stared at her soup.

Qui Gon's soft voice rang into the silence. "You must have Jedi reflexes if you race pods."

Anneke's head came up and she met his gaze again. While it seemed he could see into her soul, there was no condemnation or judgement in his eyes. She smiled tentatively, then blinked. Jar Jar's long tongue flashed out toward a plate of fruit in the centre of the table, and Qui Gon moved even faster, catching the prehensile appendage between his thumb and forefinger.

"Don't do that again." Qui Gon released Jar Jar, and he subsided, mumbling excuses and apologies.

Qui Gon had not broken eye contact with Anneke.

She put her spoon down. "You're a Jedi, aren't you?"

One side of his mouth tilted upward. "What makes you think that?"

"I saw your lightsaber. Only Jedi carry that kind of weapon."

He leaned back and his smile grew. "Perhaps I killed a Jedi and stole it from him."

"No one can kill a Jedi."

His smile faded. "I wish that were so…"

Anneke leaned forward. "I had a dream I was a Jedi. I came back here and freed all the slaves. Is that why you're here? Did you come to free us?"

Qui Gon shook his head. "I'm afraid not."

She folded her arms. "Then why are you here?"

They stared each other down for a long moment, then he sighed. "We're on our way to Coruscant."

She frowned. "Coruscant. Wow. How did you end up out here in the Outer Rim?"

"Our ship was damaged," Padraig interjected, "and we're stranded here until we can fix it."

"With nothing of value to trade for the parts we need." Qui Gon sighed.

Padraig leaned forward on his elbows. "There must be another way. These junk dealers must have some kind of weakness we can use to our advantage."

"Gambling." Shmi's voice was disapproving. "Everything here revolves around betting on those awful races."

"Greed can be a powerful ally," Qui Gon said thoughtfully, "if used properly."

Anneke's eyes widened. "I can help!" Everyone was staring at her again, but she didn't care. "I've built a racer, and there's a big race tomorrow. You could enter my pod!"

"Anni, Watto won't let you.." Shmi began.

"Watto doesn't know I've built it!" She turned to the Jedi. "You could say it's yours. I'll pilot it for you."

"Oh, Anni." Shmi's voice broke. "I die a little every time Watto makes you race."

"But, Mom, I love racing." Anneke took her mother's hand. "The prize money would more than pay for the parts for their ship."

"I don't want to put you in danger, Anneke," Qui Gon said, "or cause your mother worry. Is there anyone friendly to the Republic who might help us?"

Shmi shook her head, clutching Anneke's hand.

"Mom," Anneke said quietly, "you said the biggest problem in the universe is that people don't help each other. Please let me help them."

The silence stretched out, while Anneke watched her mother's face, willing her to agree.

Padraig pushed his chair back. "We will find another way."

"No." Shmi's soft voice stopped him. "There is no other way. Anni's right." She raised her free hand, and touched her daughter's face. "She can help you. She was meant to help you."

Anneke threw herself into her mother's arms. Joy warred with fear inside her. A storm was coming.