The next morning, Qui-Gon helped the twins into a couple of jackets he made for them to wear to school. Orange for Carmine and blue for Anakin. Kara already got her jacket on, all ready for school.

The twins looked outside excitedly as children passed by on their way to school and got onto school shuttles.

"Hey, Dad? Who are they?" Anakin asked, motioning to the other kids.

"Those are your schoolmates, Anakin." said Qui-Gon. "Girls and boys."

"Real boys?" said Carmine.

"Indeed. You will be in the same school as Kara, just one grade below her. Remember to behave yourselves, play nice with the other children, and your prime directive..."

"Protect Kara from any danger." said the twins.

"Correct. Now, you have the path and coordinates downloaded, correct?"

"Yes, Daddy."

"Good." Qui-Gon got each of the kids their lunch bags, gave them kisses, and sent them on their way to their first day of school. "Be safe, little ones."

Along the path to school, there was a pair of Weequays, who were a couple of infamous conmen. The head honcho was named Hondo Onaka. He and his associate walked along as they watched the children walking by.

"Ah, the innocent little girls and boys on their way to school." Hondo said, seeming to enjoy the sight. "School, a noble institution."

That was when they came upon a poster for Preigo's traveling circus.

"Oh, look. That ringmaster Preigo is back again." Hondo said. He laughed as he had an old memory. "Remember when I put you in those silly clothes and passed you off as a clown? Good times."

His friend didn't seem to find that memory particularly funny.

That was when Kara and the twins walked by.

"Don't run off, Carmine." Kara said, as Carmine wanted to run to some place where someone was playing music.

But Carmine ran off anyway and started dancing around to the music. Hondo happened to notice and was impressed. Carmine showed to be very talented in the art of music and dance, and had amazing break dance skills beyond those of the typical nine-year-old.

"That boy has quite the talent." Hondo said. Then he looked at the poster again. "Preigo might be interested in him."

"Carmine, come on." Kara said, taking her brother's hand and beginning to walk again. "We don't wanna be late for school."

However, as they walked, the twins froze as they sensed danger.

"Prime directive: Protect Kara Jinn!" they said.

Carmine pushed Kara out of the way, while Anakin caught a heavy crate that fell from above, apparently having been part of construction nearby, and the equipment fell apart.

Hondo and many other witnesses were astonished by this young boy's incredible strength.

Anakin placed the crate down and he and Carmine had their sister stand up.

"Commencing first aid scan." Anakin and Carmine said, looking Kara head-to-toe. "Scan complete."

"I detect no signs of severe injury." Anakin said. "However, she does have a minor bruise on her left upper arm caused by the fall to the ground."

Carmine pulled out some first aid supplies he had in a compartment in his stomach and applied a special ointment to Kara's arm.

"Incredible, where are you boys from?" Hondo said.

Anakin scanned the Weequay before him.

"Scan complete. Species: Weequay. Male, middle aged. Blood type: AB-."

"How does such a small child know so much?"

"I am an android." Anakin said. "I am Anakin."

"I am an android too. I am Carmine." Carmine said.

"And I am Kara, their sister. And we are late for school." Kara said, taking her brothers' hands.

"Hold on, children." Hondo said. "Why go to school when you can take the easy way?"

"Like my father says, there is no shortcuts to success." Kara said.

"However, there are shortcuts to take for a shorter path to one's destination." Carmine said.

However, as the kids tried to leave, Hondo told them about the circus.

"Applause, everyone loving you, and easy money. With your talents, you will be famous." Hondo said.

The androids were programmed to recognize danger, but their free will started to make them think otherwise and impair their judgement. They started to think being in the circus would be cool.

"Come boys, on to the circus." Hondo said.

"Hold on! You're not taking my brothers anywhere!" Kara said.

"Come, little lady. Have some fun!" Hondo said, twirling the girl and having his friend "coax" her into going with them, by holding onto her as he guided the boys away.

Meanwhile, Sapphire was rushing to find the boys, having overslept.

"Some conscience I'm turning out to be." Sapphire snorted. "Late on the first day."

Except, when Sapphire was about halfway to the school, she looked and saw her kids being brought to a speeder. The boys willingly got in, but Kara was basically pushed in.

"Oh no." Sapphire said. "Anakin! Carmine!"

Sapphire tried to swoop in and get them, but the speeder already took off, the wind throwing her off balance and making her land flat on her stomach.

The filly shook herself and contemplated what to do.

"Should I go to their father? Or to the police?" she debated. "I'll go after them myself."

Sapphire ran as fast as she could and started to fly again, looking for the speeder and following its path.

Carmine and Anakin were shown to Preigo.

Carmine demonstrated how he could remix music and dance really well, whereas Anakin demonstrated his strength and martial arts and acrobatic ability. Plus, with the two of them being equipped with various tools, and being androids, Preigo figured they would be fantastic investments for his show. And he took Kara because he figured they needed a cleaning girl, or maybe she could be useful as a pretty face in another act.

And so, the next show, the twins would be featured.

But Kara kept trying to tell her brothers this wasn't a good idea.

The twins waited for their turn from behind a curtain and watched the other acts going on.

Preigo had jugglers, acrobats, daredevils, clowns, and animal tamers. All of them amazing. The twins could feel butterflies in their stomach compartments and circuits.

They were both in sparkly outfits made just for them, and were eager to show off their talents to everyone.

"When do we go on?" Carmine asked.

"Mr. Preigo said we'd go on after the cat tamer." Anakin said. "And looks like they're almost done."

"I'd be more worried about something else right now if I were you. Like how Daddy's gonna be more than just worried when he finds out we didn't go to school!" Kara said angrily. "We'll be grounded for the rest of our lives!"

"Studies show that grounding can be lessened by good behavior." said Anakin. "And earning money for the family would earn us parole."

"I don't need to check the internet to know we're not technically doing anything illegal." Carmine said.

"Maybe not us, but Preigo taking in three minors without a parent or guardian's consent is illegal!" Kara said. "We have to get out of here now!"

"And now, I present to you, two mechanical marvels." Preigo announced.

"That's our cue!" Anakin said.

"Introducing, the Android Twins. Our musical friend Carmine, and the acrobatic stylings of his brother Anakin."

Anakin and Carmine came out as bright lights shined, and Carmine started with a beat.

Carmine:

Feels like things are getting real

The twins began to perform as Carmine began to sing.

There's something in the air That I can't explain
Like electricity running through my veins
My wheels are spinning Like my world's going to change
Right before my eyes

Anakin started with some flips and Carmine joined in, the two of them dancing together like pros.

Carmine & Anakin:

Never felt so alive
Holding on for the ride
This is the time of my life
I'm on my way to be More and more like me
And now it finally feels

Carmine:

Feels like things are getting real
R-e-eal Re-e-eal
R-e-eal Feels like things are getting real
R-e-eal Re-e-eal
R-e-eal Feels like things are getting real

Sapphire soon arrived and saw her boys on stage. She had no idea what to do.

"Hmph! You're having fun now," said the pegasus. "But the circus life is anything but luxurious."

Kara had the same thoughts.

What's going on I'm getting emotional
If only life could have A remote control
'Cause I can't stop the way I feel Here we go
System overdrive

Kara kept thinking and thinking of what to do. She had to get on stage somehow and rescue her brothers from what might have been the biggest mistake of their young lives. And then she looked at some of the costumes and props and had an idea.

Carmine & Anakin:

Never felt so alive
Holding on for the ride
This is the time of my life
I'm on my way to be More and more like me
And now it finally feels

That was when Kara entered the stage all dressed up in a sparkly purple and gold outfit, and she danced with her brothers to make it look like part of the show. She took Anakin's hand and started to dance away with him, hoping to get him off stage, but Anakin twirled her and dipped her surprisingly well for someone much shorter than her.

Kara tried again with Carmine, but he pulled her into a dance too, and lifted her like a swan as the music paused for a moment, and then he sang again.

Carmine:

Feels like things are getting real
R-e-eal Re-e-eal
R-e-eal Feels like things are getting real
R-e-eal Re-e-eal
R-e-eal Feels like things are getting real
R-e-eal Re-e-eal
R-e-eal Feels like things are getting real
R-e-eal Re-e-eal
R-e-eal Feels like things are getting real

The crowd cheered as the twins and Kara's act was finished. Flowers and credits were thrown to the three to show how they really loved the act.

"Come on, you two! Let's go." Kara said, trying to pull her brothers offstage, but people didn't seem to like that Kara was forcing them away.

"Get her off the stage!" said a crowd member, and a tomato was thrown at Kara's head, shocking the twins.

"Who threw that?" Kara said.

And then she was hit in the face with another piece of food.

That made the twins mad.

"Leave our sister alone!" Anakin said.

But a bratty kid threw something at Kara.

That was when the twins' eyes turned red, as their programming took over.

"Prime directive: Protect Kara Jinn." the twins said.

And then, to the crowd's surprise, the two androids began to change.

Anakin turned his arms into blasters, and Carmine's eyes started to glow.

"Destroy attackers of Kara!" the boys said, their voices sounding more robotic and terrifying.

The crowd began to scream and run as Carmine shot lasers from his eyes and Anakin fired blasts.

"Anakin! Carmine! No!" Kara said.

"Boys!" Sapphire shouted. "Stop that! Violence is never the answer!"

Sapphire swooped at the two androids as they continued to pursue Kara's attackers. But they shooed her off and continued their pursuit.

"Guys! Please stop!" Kara said. "You're better than this!"

Kara ran faster and faster until she managed to get in front of her brothers.

The androids tried to go around her, but Kara held both of them by their shirts.

"Kara, move." Carmine said.

"No." Kara said. "You two need to stop."

"She's right, boys." Sapphire said. "The way Kara was treated was wrong, but violence is not the proper way to respond. You were programmed to protect Kara from worse threats than tomatoes being thrown at her."

"It's true. And now, it's you who needs protection. From yourselves. By acting this way, you're only making me afraid, which contradicts your programming."

That seemed to cause the twins to glitch for a moment as they processed it. And the more they thought about it on their own, the more they realized Kara was right. And their eyes changed back to blue as they put their weapons away.

"Kara..." Anakin said. "I'm so sorry."

"I'm sorry too." Carmine said, tears forming in his and Anakin's eyes.

"Let's go home." Kara said. "Daddy's probably worried about us."

However, another threat quickly arose as Kara was lassoed and so were the twins by a couple of Preigo's men.

"Oh no you don't!" Preigo said angrily. "The three of you have ruined my show tonight! You will pay for what you've done. Before you unleashed your weapons, the crowds loved you. We will travel the galaxy. But first, we will have the two of you reprogrammed."

Before either of the twins could do anything, a couple of stronger performers grabbed the twins and managed to switch them off, making them appear to be sleeping.

Kara tried to scream for help, but the circus performers placed a muzzle over her mouth and tied Sapphire around her muzzle and wings so she couldn't fly for help.

"Come, men." Preigo said. "We head to our next stop tonight!"

And the children were forced into one of the trailers of the traveling circus vehicles and locked in.

Kara looked at her brothers as they were switched off, unable to do anything to help her. And she couldn't switch them back on because her hands were tied behind her back and now Sapphire's legs were tied up too.

Kara began to cry as she worried that she may never see her father again. Or Obi-Wan or R2-D2.

Hours went by, and Qui-Gon arrived at the school to pick his kids up.

"Kara. Anakin. Carmine." Qui-Gon called. "Where are you?"

Qui-Gon walked around the school, seeing children being picked up by their parents or the school shuttle. He grew concerned and thought his kids were inside.

"Children? Where are you? I'm here to pick you up." Qui-Gon said.

There was no answer.

That was when Qui-Gon ran into Mace Windu, one of the teachers at school. Kara's teacher.

"Excuse me." said Qui-Gon. "Mr. Windu. Qui-Gon Jinn."

"Ah, yes. Mr. Jinn. How are your children?" Mace asked.

"What do you mean?"

"I assume Kara was sick, since she wasn't here today." Mace said.

"What do you mean she wasn't here?"

Suddenly, Mace was the one who was worried.

"She never showed up today. Mr. Plo Koon says your sons Anakin and Carmine never showed up to their classes either."

Qui-Gon immediately when to the headmaster Yoda's office and asked for more information. No one had seen any of Qui-Gon's children all day!

Qui-Gon was about to have a heart attack, but then he remembered he'd installed trackers on the androids and immediately hurried home to his lab and called the police as he turned on his computer and R2 started to do a GPS location program, hoping to find the missing children.

"Where could they possibly have gone?" Obi-Wan wondered out loud.

"I don't know," said Qui-Gon, tears forming as he worried about his little girl and his boys. "But I pray they will be alright."