Back by Popular Request: (A.N. Okay, I've got half an hour to try and do this, school is a redundant H***, until I read your reviews. THANKS A MILLION! You made an unbearable day livable.)



Slin ran back into the living room, this time with some pants on and a blaster at his side. "What do you think they want this time?"

Anakin took Padme's hand, keeping her close, "What kind of Speeder was it?"

Slin shook his head, "Large, sleek, expensive. I think it was this year's model of Nortway."

Padme looked up at Anakin, "Sounds expensive."

"They like to show off."

"Is there another way out of here?" Padme asked, hoping for a quick exit.

"Not unless you want get radiation sickness." Anakin walked over to a wall, taking Padme with him, and pressed his thumb into a certain pattern in the crazy wallpaper.

To Padme's amazement, the wall opened up, revealing a safe. Inside, Padme could see several different artifacts, some were tiny computer chips, and others were mechanical parts she didn't recognize. A stack of credits piled were near the back end.

Anakin took a handful of credits and stuffed them in his pocket.

Padme heard the sound of an engine and watched as Anakin glanced at the ceiling.

"They're here," he said, then glanced over at Slin, who nodded gravely.

Padme jumped as she heard a loud thumping noise, and saw the heavy door on the other side of the room hiss open. A tall man walked in. His ferocious manner made Padme shrink back behind Anakin.

"Well, if it isn't my man, Anakin." His voice boomed like a blaster cannon.

Anakin's grip on Padme's hand relaxed, which she was glad of since he was beginning to hurt her.

The man walked into the room. He was huge, clad in an expensive suit and a head taller than Anakin. "Judging from the expression on your face I wasn't who you were expecting." The man chuckled, a sound deep within his huge chest.

"You always make an entrance." Anakin said, getting back his old smart-aleck attitude.

"I know." The man's droid hand reached up and scratched his ear, with all six fingers. "Do you have the credits now?"

"Wouldn't you want an IOU instead?" Anakin smiled wryly.

"This isn't third grade. Zapner would be very annoyed if I came back empty-handed."

"Come on Cafrin!" Anakin said, "How long have we known each other?"

"You aren't some kid off the street anymore, Skywalker." Cafrin tilted his bald head to the side. "Stop playing around." The tone in his voice hinted that his patience was running out, and Anakin heard it.

"Don't get upset." Anakin reached into his pocket and took out the wad of credits, "You know how much I like Zapner."

Cafrin laughed again, taking the money from Anakin, "Sure, like a cat likes water." He counted the credits, and nodded with satisfaction. "Get those alert systems modified to recognize my new ride." He turned to go. "And Anakin."

Anakin looked up, "What?"

Cafrin turned on his heel and without warning bashed Anakin in the face, throwing the young thief against the wall and leaving him dazed.

"No more late payments." With that, Cafrin stalked out the door letting it close behind him.

Padme knelt next to Anakin. "You went down hard." She was not truly trying to damage his ego, but bend it a little at least.

"He had...implants." Anakin wiped blood away from his lip.

"What do you mean?" Padme looked skeptical. "And you know him for a long time, but still he punches you in the face?"

"Metal implants in his fist." Anakin got up, massaging his neck, "It's just his job."

"But you keep testing him?" Padme raised her eyebrow. Anakin's life kept taking twists and turns every time she learned more.

"Yeah." Anakin sighed. "He got me off the streets. But hey, there's nothing I can do."

"And he always takes the late payments out on Anakin, not me." Slin was smiling, roguishly, as if it was a great achievement.

"That's because he's afraid he'd kill you." Anakin replied, rolling his eyes.

"Is not!"

"Either that or make you go blind."

Slin's face was turning red, "Lets go ask him!" He bravely faced the closed door, "Hey! Big scary tax collector lets go! First one to die losses."

Anakin cleared his throat seriously, holding both Padme and Slin in suspense. "I think you should open the door first."

Slin glared at Anakin furiously, and Padme laughed.

"Get real Anakin!" Slin yelled.

Anakin laughed, making his friend even madder.

Slin marched away, without saying another word, Anakin's hearty laughter following him away.

"You should be nicer." Padme said, only half joking.

"I'm just getting him back for something."

"What?"

"I'll tell you later." Anakin's gaze followed Slin as he the pouting teenager went to his room and punched the door codes to lock.

Padme blushed slightly, suspecting the reason of Anakin's harshnessm and remembering the interrupted kiss. She looked at him, "You're still bleeding."

Anakin's hand immediately went up to his mouth, "Sithspawn." He walked back into his room, and Padme cautiously followed.

The young thief rummaged through the many cupboards and containers on the floor, trying to find some bacta-gel.

Padme watched as Anakin closed a cupboard door on his fingers.

Anakin cursed in a few different languages, including Huttese, until he heard a quiet musical sound. Padme was giggling.

Padme reached down to the bedside table, and picked up the tube of bacta-gell. "What would you do without me?"















To be continued! Hope you liked it, I've been trying to deal with school and this at the same time. P.S. THERE IS SOME REAL ACTION AHEAD! I PROMIS! (And answers.)