place: the home of shmi skywalker
The sandstorm was hitting hard as our group stepped inside the home Ani shared with his mother. His mother Shmi was standing in the kitchen fixing a meal when we burst in, all sandy. "These are my friends Mom." Anakin explained as his mother scanned us in bewilderment. Recognition crossed her face as she saw me, but otherwise, she was obviously unsure of who we were and why we were here. Qui-Gon then approached Shmi as if in explanation and began to speak to her quietly, just as Anakin began to speak hurridly to Padme and I. "I'm building a droid. Wanna see? And after the storm, I'll show you my Podracer! Come on!" Anakin persisted as he tugged on Padme's hand insistantly. I glanced at Qui-Gon longingly, remembering the rules of a slave. But Quil-Gon instead gave me permission by nodding his head towards me.
I grinned and ran after Anakin and Padme. We walked into Anakin's room, well some of us walked. Poor Padme was dragged by Anakin! "Isn't he great?" Anakin questioned us as he pulled a blanked off of a hal-finished droid with a flourish. He waited for an approving smile from Padme, then continued. "he's a protocol droid to help Mom. Watch!" Then he pressed the droid's activation button.
The droid sat up and exclaimed, "Oh my! Where is everybody?" I looked at the droid closely, then motioned to Anakin. He gave a small yelp of realization and picked up the droid's other eye, which was lying on the table. After the eye had been placed in the socket, the droid promptly stood up. "Hello. I am C-3PO. Human cyborg relations. How might I serve you?" I smiled and gave a small round of applause. "He's great Anakin! And to think that he was just a pile of bolts when I last saw him!" I said happily. The droid started at that. "He's perfect Anakin!" Padme said, much to Anakin's satisfaction. "Oh, perfect!" The droid murmured happily.
At dinner we got into a discussion about slave transmitters and slavery. Anakin was eager to point out the factors of slave transmitters and what happened when a slave tried to escape. "And they blow you up! BOOM!" Anakin yelled, banging his hand on the table and accidentally hitting Jar Jar on the hand. "How wude!" The creature said with an offended tone of voice. "I can't believe there is still slavery in the galaxy." Padme said, a sad and concerned look spread across her features. "There are Republic anti-slavery laws," She started. "The Republic doesn't exist out here." Shmi interrupted.
I glanced at Shmi. Her face was pinched and pale. I then remembered the way she felt about being a slave. She hated slavery and hated hearing about how people tried to keep slavery from happening. She hated this because she knew that it was impossible for slavery to be banished everywhere, including Tatooine. "Has anyone ever seen a podrace?" Anakin asked. "I knew that Anaking was wisely trying to get off that touchy subject by introducing one that he loved.
Padme shook her head in the negative, but Qui-Gon nodded. "They have podracing on Malastare. Very fast, very dangerous." He said taking a grape. All of a sudden, everyone jumped as Jar Jar grabbed a piece of fruit with his long tongue and swallowed it whole. The creature gulped as Qui-Gon glared at him. "Scuse me." He muttered. "I'm the only human who can do it." Anakin broke in again. He was boasting I knew, but it was worth boasting about. Out of 20 or so alien racers, Anakin was the only human.
"You must have Jedi reflexes if you race pods." Qui-Gon remarked. As Jar Jar's tongue shot out again, Qui-Gon caught it between two fingers effortlessly. "Don't do that again." He said with a glare. Jar Jar muttered a few words as Qui-Gon released his tongue. Anakin slowly raised his head to look at Qui-Gon. "You're a Jedi Knight aren't you?" Silence reigned in the room as the seconds ticked by. Qui-Gon raised his head to look at Anakin. "What makes you think that?" He asked, taking the touchy subject with ease. I was surprised. Most people would be angry at having their secret revealed by a mere boy, but then again, Qui-Gon was a Jedi.
"I saw your laser sword. Only Jedi's carry that kind of weapon." Anakin said somewhat incriminatingly. Still with a small smile on his face, Qui-Gon remarked cooly, "Perhaps I killed a Jedi and took it from him." I then began to think of my brother, who had taught me the biggest secret that I have never told any master or friend, save Anakin. I began to finger my weapon that hung from my belt on my waist, the weapon I had taken from my dead brother. "No way! No one can kill a Jedi!" Anakin said firmly. A sad smile flitted across Qui-Gon's lips. "I wish that were so." He said regretfully. I dropped my head, thinking the exact same thing. Strange how Jedi almost always say one's thoughts. The conversation then began to deteriorate, and run along the lines of Anakin racing his pod and winning parts for Qui-Gon's broken ship at the upcoming Bunta race. After much protest from Shmi and insistance from Anakin, she finally consented to let him race for Qui-Gon.
Place: Watto's Shop
The next morning, all of us proceeded to Watto's Junk Shop to try to get Watto to let Ani race. I waited outside with Padme and Jar Jar, while Qui-Gon went inside to talk with Watto, Ani's master. I sat in the hot sun, closing my eyes and letting the burning sun flow upon my skin. "Do you like being a slave?" I was startled by Padme's voice and I opened my eyes quickly and gazed at her. "I suppose so. As long as the masters are kind. I really have no choice." I said with a shrug. "Were you a slave from birth?" She asked softly, her brown eyes sympathetic. That was a tender question to me, surrounding things that were my secret. "No, I wasn't. I was five years old when I became a slave." I said sadly.
"Five years old!" Padme exclaimed. I could tell that she was absolutely horrified at the idea. She must have come from a peaceful nation, where there are no slaves, or at least not many. She must have, due to her mentioning the Republic last night at dinner. The Republic was against slavery.
I didn't have time to answer her exclamation because Qui-Gon, Artoo and Anakin walked out. "Well?" I asked, crossing my fingers. "Let's go home and work on the Pod!" Ani cried out happily, his face all smiles. Qui-Gon then explained that he had bargained with Watto that if Anakin won, we kept the winnings save for the cost of the parts we needed. But if we lost, Watto would keep our ship. I thought that it sounded risky, but everyone else was positive things would turn out right. But only Ani and I knew that he had never won a race.
Place: The Skywalker home, dusk.
We worked hard on the Pod all day. Putting on finishing touches of paint, making sure the engines were working properly and that it's wires were in the right positions. But it worked! It actually worke! I was so happy for Anakin. It seemed as though all of his dreams were coming true. After dinner, I looked out on the balcony where Qui-Gon was sitting. He was speaking to someone in a comm-link. Someone he called Obi-Wan. Another Jedi? A shiver went through me and I had a vision. One of my first. A young man sitting inside a gleaming ship, speaking in a comm-link, wearing the marks of a Jedi Padawan learner. As soon as the vision came, it ended and I heard Qui-Gon tell the person that they were running out of time.
Then Qui-Gon caught sight of me standing in the doorway. He smiled and beckoned me to his side. I obeyed and sat down by him. "It's late. We have a big day tomorrow." He said with a gentle smile. I wasn't sure what I was doing, what I should say. I was so curious about who he was, who the other person was that I abruptly obeyed my feelings. "Is there another Jedi here?" Qui-Gon merely looked at me, then turned away. "Yes." He said softly. "Is he your apprentice?" I asked again, feeling bold. "Yes." I was quite surprised that he was even answering my questions. Most masters would have slapped me for such impertinent questions.
"Elaina, I saw what you did in the marketplace." A chill ran through me as I realized the meaning of Qui-Gon's words. He had seen me! He had seen what I had done. He gazed at me with his clear blue eyes. "Where did you learn to use the Force?" He asked gently. I was about to give an excuse when something struck my inner self. Something evil. I froze, then jumped up, wielding my lightsaber hidden in my cloak. The purple sword struck metal as I wielded it, standing between the evil and my master. When the thing I had hit fell to the ground, I deactivated my brother's lightsaber, panting. I turned to face my master, who stared at me in disbelief.
He stood up and walked slowly to the falled object, examining it. "It was a probe droid." He said softly. I couldn't meet his gaze. I felt as though I had betrayed him by witholding this critical information from him. "How?" He asked. "Master Qui-Gon, I must ask your permission for me not to tell you where I learned the Jed arts. For the time being." I added. I expected him to be like the other masters and make me tell him. But all he said was, "Very well. I will wait till you are ready. I will not push you Elaina." Then he placed his large hand gently on my face for a moment, then he walked inside the house and said no more. Afterwards, I sat outside contemplating what had just happened. Then I too followed my master's footsteps.
The sandstorm was hitting hard as our group stepped inside the home Ani shared with his mother. His mother Shmi was standing in the kitchen fixing a meal when we burst in, all sandy. "These are my friends Mom." Anakin explained as his mother scanned us in bewilderment. Recognition crossed her face as she saw me, but otherwise, she was obviously unsure of who we were and why we were here. Qui-Gon then approached Shmi as if in explanation and began to speak to her quietly, just as Anakin began to speak hurridly to Padme and I. "I'm building a droid. Wanna see? And after the storm, I'll show you my Podracer! Come on!" Anakin persisted as he tugged on Padme's hand insistantly. I glanced at Qui-Gon longingly, remembering the rules of a slave. But Quil-Gon instead gave me permission by nodding his head towards me.
I grinned and ran after Anakin and Padme. We walked into Anakin's room, well some of us walked. Poor Padme was dragged by Anakin! "Isn't he great?" Anakin questioned us as he pulled a blanked off of a hal-finished droid with a flourish. He waited for an approving smile from Padme, then continued. "he's a protocol droid to help Mom. Watch!" Then he pressed the droid's activation button.
The droid sat up and exclaimed, "Oh my! Where is everybody?" I looked at the droid closely, then motioned to Anakin. He gave a small yelp of realization and picked up the droid's other eye, which was lying on the table. After the eye had been placed in the socket, the droid promptly stood up. "Hello. I am C-3PO. Human cyborg relations. How might I serve you?" I smiled and gave a small round of applause. "He's great Anakin! And to think that he was just a pile of bolts when I last saw him!" I said happily. The droid started at that. "He's perfect Anakin!" Padme said, much to Anakin's satisfaction. "Oh, perfect!" The droid murmured happily.
At dinner we got into a discussion about slave transmitters and slavery. Anakin was eager to point out the factors of slave transmitters and what happened when a slave tried to escape. "And they blow you up! BOOM!" Anakin yelled, banging his hand on the table and accidentally hitting Jar Jar on the hand. "How wude!" The creature said with an offended tone of voice. "I can't believe there is still slavery in the galaxy." Padme said, a sad and concerned look spread across her features. "There are Republic anti-slavery laws," She started. "The Republic doesn't exist out here." Shmi interrupted.
I glanced at Shmi. Her face was pinched and pale. I then remembered the way she felt about being a slave. She hated slavery and hated hearing about how people tried to keep slavery from happening. She hated this because she knew that it was impossible for slavery to be banished everywhere, including Tatooine. "Has anyone ever seen a podrace?" Anakin asked. "I knew that Anaking was wisely trying to get off that touchy subject by introducing one that he loved.
Padme shook her head in the negative, but Qui-Gon nodded. "They have podracing on Malastare. Very fast, very dangerous." He said taking a grape. All of a sudden, everyone jumped as Jar Jar grabbed a piece of fruit with his long tongue and swallowed it whole. The creature gulped as Qui-Gon glared at him. "Scuse me." He muttered. "I'm the only human who can do it." Anakin broke in again. He was boasting I knew, but it was worth boasting about. Out of 20 or so alien racers, Anakin was the only human.
"You must have Jedi reflexes if you race pods." Qui-Gon remarked. As Jar Jar's tongue shot out again, Qui-Gon caught it between two fingers effortlessly. "Don't do that again." He said with a glare. Jar Jar muttered a few words as Qui-Gon released his tongue. Anakin slowly raised his head to look at Qui-Gon. "You're a Jedi Knight aren't you?" Silence reigned in the room as the seconds ticked by. Qui-Gon raised his head to look at Anakin. "What makes you think that?" He asked, taking the touchy subject with ease. I was surprised. Most people would be angry at having their secret revealed by a mere boy, but then again, Qui-Gon was a Jedi.
"I saw your laser sword. Only Jedi's carry that kind of weapon." Anakin said somewhat incriminatingly. Still with a small smile on his face, Qui-Gon remarked cooly, "Perhaps I killed a Jedi and took it from him." I then began to think of my brother, who had taught me the biggest secret that I have never told any master or friend, save Anakin. I began to finger my weapon that hung from my belt on my waist, the weapon I had taken from my dead brother. "No way! No one can kill a Jedi!" Anakin said firmly. A sad smile flitted across Qui-Gon's lips. "I wish that were so." He said regretfully. I dropped my head, thinking the exact same thing. Strange how Jedi almost always say one's thoughts. The conversation then began to deteriorate, and run along the lines of Anakin racing his pod and winning parts for Qui-Gon's broken ship at the upcoming Bunta race. After much protest from Shmi and insistance from Anakin, she finally consented to let him race for Qui-Gon.
Place: Watto's Shop
The next morning, all of us proceeded to Watto's Junk Shop to try to get Watto to let Ani race. I waited outside with Padme and Jar Jar, while Qui-Gon went inside to talk with Watto, Ani's master. I sat in the hot sun, closing my eyes and letting the burning sun flow upon my skin. "Do you like being a slave?" I was startled by Padme's voice and I opened my eyes quickly and gazed at her. "I suppose so. As long as the masters are kind. I really have no choice." I said with a shrug. "Were you a slave from birth?" She asked softly, her brown eyes sympathetic. That was a tender question to me, surrounding things that were my secret. "No, I wasn't. I was five years old when I became a slave." I said sadly.
"Five years old!" Padme exclaimed. I could tell that she was absolutely horrified at the idea. She must have come from a peaceful nation, where there are no slaves, or at least not many. She must have, due to her mentioning the Republic last night at dinner. The Republic was against slavery.
I didn't have time to answer her exclamation because Qui-Gon, Artoo and Anakin walked out. "Well?" I asked, crossing my fingers. "Let's go home and work on the Pod!" Ani cried out happily, his face all smiles. Qui-Gon then explained that he had bargained with Watto that if Anakin won, we kept the winnings save for the cost of the parts we needed. But if we lost, Watto would keep our ship. I thought that it sounded risky, but everyone else was positive things would turn out right. But only Ani and I knew that he had never won a race.
Place: The Skywalker home, dusk.
We worked hard on the Pod all day. Putting on finishing touches of paint, making sure the engines were working properly and that it's wires were in the right positions. But it worked! It actually worke! I was so happy for Anakin. It seemed as though all of his dreams were coming true. After dinner, I looked out on the balcony where Qui-Gon was sitting. He was speaking to someone in a comm-link. Someone he called Obi-Wan. Another Jedi? A shiver went through me and I had a vision. One of my first. A young man sitting inside a gleaming ship, speaking in a comm-link, wearing the marks of a Jedi Padawan learner. As soon as the vision came, it ended and I heard Qui-Gon tell the person that they were running out of time.
Then Qui-Gon caught sight of me standing in the doorway. He smiled and beckoned me to his side. I obeyed and sat down by him. "It's late. We have a big day tomorrow." He said with a gentle smile. I wasn't sure what I was doing, what I should say. I was so curious about who he was, who the other person was that I abruptly obeyed my feelings. "Is there another Jedi here?" Qui-Gon merely looked at me, then turned away. "Yes." He said softly. "Is he your apprentice?" I asked again, feeling bold. "Yes." I was quite surprised that he was even answering my questions. Most masters would have slapped me for such impertinent questions.
"Elaina, I saw what you did in the marketplace." A chill ran through me as I realized the meaning of Qui-Gon's words. He had seen me! He had seen what I had done. He gazed at me with his clear blue eyes. "Where did you learn to use the Force?" He asked gently. I was about to give an excuse when something struck my inner self. Something evil. I froze, then jumped up, wielding my lightsaber hidden in my cloak. The purple sword struck metal as I wielded it, standing between the evil and my master. When the thing I had hit fell to the ground, I deactivated my brother's lightsaber, panting. I turned to face my master, who stared at me in disbelief.
He stood up and walked slowly to the falled object, examining it. "It was a probe droid." He said softly. I couldn't meet his gaze. I felt as though I had betrayed him by witholding this critical information from him. "How?" He asked. "Master Qui-Gon, I must ask your permission for me not to tell you where I learned the Jed arts. For the time being." I added. I expected him to be like the other masters and make me tell him. But all he said was, "Very well. I will wait till you are ready. I will not push you Elaina." Then he placed his large hand gently on my face for a moment, then he walked inside the house and said no more. Afterwards, I sat outside contemplating what had just happened. Then I too followed my master's footsteps.