Yes Serena's uncomfortable behaviour around Anakin is intentional. First of
all, she senses his inability to control his emotions and it frightens her.
Second, he, however unintentionally, seems to bring up painful memories she
has. Third, she senses bad things to come from him in general. Lastly,
(you'll find out in the next 2 chapters)!
Thanks for all the great reviews!!!
Last Time: The group started walking down the crowded street. " Mesa doen nutten!" Jar Jar exclaimed referring once again to the incident. "Fear attracts the fearful." Anakin and Serena said in stereo. They exchanged a surprised look before Anakin continued. "He was trying to overcome his fear by squashing you." Serena and Qui-Gon both nodded surprised by the wisdom in the young boys' words. "Be less afraid." Serena said turning to smile at Jar Jar.
Chapter 11: Sandstorms
Anakin seemed to know his way around the crowded streets so the group followed him closely.
Serena notices the winds beginning to pick up and turns an inquisitive gaze on Qui-Gon. "It's a sandstorm." "Do you have shelter?" Anakin asks abruptly. "We'll head back to our ship." Serena immediately responded wary of where the conversation was headed. "Is it far?" "On the outskirts." Qui- Gon replied regarding his padawan curiously. He wondered why she seemed to be in such a hurry to get back to the ship. "You'll never reach the outskirts in time...sandstorms are very, very dangerous. Come with me. Hurry!" Serena and Qui-Gon exchanged a look. Serena sighed noticeably as the group followed Anakin as he rushed down the street.
The wind is blowing hard when they followed Anakin down the street and into a small home. He closed the door and the winds immediately quieted.
Anakin looked around for a minute before yelling at the top of his lungs. "Mom! Mom! I'm home." Suddenly a warm, friendly woman of forty, entered the already crowded hallway, and looked around the group surprised before fixing her eyes on Anakin. "Oh, my Ani, what's this?"
He smiled brightly up at her. "These are my friends, Mom. This is Serenity, and...gee, I don't know any of your names." He said indicating Qui-Gon, R2, and Jar Jar. "I'm Qui-Gon Jinn, and this is Jar Jar Binks and our droid, Artoo-Detoo." Qui-Gon introduced them.
"It's a pleasure to meet you Miss. Skywalker." Serena said curtsying and smiling, she felt immediate warmth towards this friendly woman. "Anakin! Why are they here?" his mother demanded. "A sandstorm, Mom. Listen." The wind can still be heard howling outside. "Your son was kind enough to offer us shelter." Qui-Gon said calmly.
Anakin suddenly turned to Serena, his eyes shining in excitement. "Come on! Let me show you the droid I'm building. His name is Threepio!" Serena nodded slightly and followed Anakin as he led her to another room. "Dinner will be ready soon!" his mother called after them.
Serena followed Anakin into a room containing a small bed. Spare parts were everywhere. He led her to a workbench in the corner. On top of it was a droid. It was almost finished although it had no outer coverings. She listened half heartedly as he explained the droids various function all the while reaching out with her senses to scan the area for danger.
Since arriving in Anakin's home the feeling in the pit of her stomach had steadily increased. At first it had been the obvious dark energy that radiated off Anakin that had bothered her. Why could she sense it when her master seemed oblivious to it? Now, she realized there was something more to it then that. She couldn't understand him, there was something about him that she could not figure out, something that was tugging at the back of her mind like she had forgotten it and just needed to remember. It was this feeling of not-knowing that unnerved her most. True, Anakin might be harmless but that was not a risk she was willing to take. Not when her master and Obi-Wan as well as her newfound Nubian friends were in the line of fire. Anakin gave her a bad feeling and she was usually right about stuff like this.
Anakin continued explaining what his gizmos and gadgets did and Serena nodded and smiled at the appropriate times. Her eyes suddenly went blank as Qui-Gon contacted her over their bond. Anakin didn't seem to notice and she listened as her master and Obi-Wan spoke. '...The Queen is upset...but absolutely no reply was sent.' Obi-Wan assured Qui-Gon. 'It sounds like bait to establish a connection trace.' As she listened Obi-Wan paused for a moment before continuing in an unsure tone. 'What if it is true and the people are dying?' She took it upon herself to answer. 'Either way, we're running out of time.' She said softly, ending the conversation.
She turned to see Anakin looking at her curiously. "I'm sorry, I must have spaced out for a second." She said shrugging innocently. She sighed in relief as he turned away and continued to tell her about his many projects until Jar Jar came to tell them dinner was ready.
Serena silently took her seat next to Qui-Gon at the dinner table. It looked to Qui-Gon like she was deeply troubled by something and he was very concerned but as though sensing his eyes on her she looked up and smiled brightly. They listened intently as Anakin and his mother told them about life on Tatooine.
"All slaves have transmitters placed inside their bodies somewhere. Any attempt to escape..." "...and they blow you up...poof!" Anakin finished his mother sentence, earning a horrified look from Jar Jar and understanding nods from Qui-Gon and Serena. "I've been working on a scanner to try and locate them, but no luck." Anakin said regretfully. There's an awkward silence and Anakin changes the subject. "Have you ever seen a Podrace?" The jedi both nod there heads yes. They both sense concern radiating off Anakin's mother.
Jar Jar takes advantage of everyone's' distraction and snatches some food from a bowl at the other end of the table with his tongue. Serena shoots him a dirty look. "They have Podracing on Malastare. Very fast, very dangerous." Anakin nods. "I'm the only human who can do it." "You must have Jedi reflexes if you race Pods." Qui-Gon says, surprised when Serena chokes slightly on her soup. "I'm alright." She coughs slightly, shifting uncomfortably under her Master's concerned gaze.
Once again, Jar Jar uses everyone's distraction and attempts to snare another bit of food from the bowl with his tongue, but Serena, in a flash, grabs it between her thumb and forefinger. Jar Jar is startled. "Don't do that again. It is not very polite." Serena says reproachfully before letting go of his tongue. He nods and looks very embarrassed about being caught.
"I...I was wondering...something..." Anakin says looking imploringly at Serena and Qui-Gon. "What?" "Well, ahhh...you're Jedi, aren't you?" Qui- Gon looks thoughtful while Serena frowns slightly. "What makes you think that?" "I saw your laser sword in Watto's shop. Only Jedi carry that kind of weapon." Qui-Gon relaxes slightly and smiles. "Perhaps I killed a Jedi and stole it from him." Anakin gave him an incredulous look. "I don't think so... No one can kill a Jedi Knight." Qui-Gon shook his head as Serena listened intently to the conversation. "I wish that were so..." Anakin continued enthusiastically. "I had a dream I was a Jedi. I came back here and freed all the slaves...have you come to free us?" "No, I'm afraid not..." Qui-Gon began but Anakin cut him off. "I think you have...why else would you be here?"
Serena smiled slightly wondering how her master would explain away the young boys numerous questions. She'd have to tell her master eventually about this feeling she had, but first she wanted to see how he would explain their presence on Tatooine. Qui-Gon seemed to think for a moment before answering. "I can see there's no fooling you... You mustn't let anyone know about us...we're on our way to Coruscant, the central system in the Republic, on a very important mission, and it must be kept secret." "Coruscant...wow...how did you end up here in the outer rim?" Anakin asked. "Our ship was damaged, and we're stranded here until we can repair it." Anakin's eyes lit up. "I can help! I can fix anything!" Qui-Gon smiled. "I believe you can, but our first job is to acquire the parts we need..." "Wit no-nutten mula to trade." Jar Jar added helpfully.
Serena turned to face Anakin's mother. "These junk dealers must have a weakness of some kind." The older woman nodded. "Gambling. Everything here revolves around betting on those awful races." Qui-Gon thought for a moment. "Podracing... Greed can be a powerful ally... if it's used properly."
Anakin smiled suddenly. "I've built a racer! It's the fastest ever...There's a big race tomorrow, on Boonta Eve. You could enter my pod. It's all but finished..." His mother cut him off. "Anakin, settle down. Watto won't let you..." "Watto doesn't know I've built it." He persisted, turning to Qui-Gon, "You could make him think it's yours, and you could get him to let me pilot it for you." Serena noticed Anakin's mother becoming upset. "I don't want you to race, Ani...It's awful. I die every time Watto makes you do it." Anakin frowned. "But Mom, I love it...and they need help...they're in trouble. The prize money would more than pay for the parts they need." Qui-Gon cut in. "Your mother's right. Is there anyone friendly to the Republic who might be able to help us?" He asked Anakin's mother. She shook her head no. "We have to help them, Mom...you said that the biggest problem in the universe is no one helps each other..." Serena spoke for the first time in awhile. "I'm sure Qui-Gon doesn't want to put your son in danger. We will find another way..." the woman just shook her head sadly. "No, Ani's right, there is no other way... I may not like it, but he can help you...he was meant to help you." Serena and Qui-Gon exchanged a look.
Note to all readers: I hope you enjoyed this chapter and remember flames will be used to roast my marshmallows! Read and Review! Sincerely, Moon Kitty
Thanks for all the great reviews!!!
Last Time: The group started walking down the crowded street. " Mesa doen nutten!" Jar Jar exclaimed referring once again to the incident. "Fear attracts the fearful." Anakin and Serena said in stereo. They exchanged a surprised look before Anakin continued. "He was trying to overcome his fear by squashing you." Serena and Qui-Gon both nodded surprised by the wisdom in the young boys' words. "Be less afraid." Serena said turning to smile at Jar Jar.
Chapter 11: Sandstorms
Anakin seemed to know his way around the crowded streets so the group followed him closely.
Serena notices the winds beginning to pick up and turns an inquisitive gaze on Qui-Gon. "It's a sandstorm." "Do you have shelter?" Anakin asks abruptly. "We'll head back to our ship." Serena immediately responded wary of where the conversation was headed. "Is it far?" "On the outskirts." Qui- Gon replied regarding his padawan curiously. He wondered why she seemed to be in such a hurry to get back to the ship. "You'll never reach the outskirts in time...sandstorms are very, very dangerous. Come with me. Hurry!" Serena and Qui-Gon exchanged a look. Serena sighed noticeably as the group followed Anakin as he rushed down the street.
The wind is blowing hard when they followed Anakin down the street and into a small home. He closed the door and the winds immediately quieted.
Anakin looked around for a minute before yelling at the top of his lungs. "Mom! Mom! I'm home." Suddenly a warm, friendly woman of forty, entered the already crowded hallway, and looked around the group surprised before fixing her eyes on Anakin. "Oh, my Ani, what's this?"
He smiled brightly up at her. "These are my friends, Mom. This is Serenity, and...gee, I don't know any of your names." He said indicating Qui-Gon, R2, and Jar Jar. "I'm Qui-Gon Jinn, and this is Jar Jar Binks and our droid, Artoo-Detoo." Qui-Gon introduced them.
"It's a pleasure to meet you Miss. Skywalker." Serena said curtsying and smiling, she felt immediate warmth towards this friendly woman. "Anakin! Why are they here?" his mother demanded. "A sandstorm, Mom. Listen." The wind can still be heard howling outside. "Your son was kind enough to offer us shelter." Qui-Gon said calmly.
Anakin suddenly turned to Serena, his eyes shining in excitement. "Come on! Let me show you the droid I'm building. His name is Threepio!" Serena nodded slightly and followed Anakin as he led her to another room. "Dinner will be ready soon!" his mother called after them.
Serena followed Anakin into a room containing a small bed. Spare parts were everywhere. He led her to a workbench in the corner. On top of it was a droid. It was almost finished although it had no outer coverings. She listened half heartedly as he explained the droids various function all the while reaching out with her senses to scan the area for danger.
Since arriving in Anakin's home the feeling in the pit of her stomach had steadily increased. At first it had been the obvious dark energy that radiated off Anakin that had bothered her. Why could she sense it when her master seemed oblivious to it? Now, she realized there was something more to it then that. She couldn't understand him, there was something about him that she could not figure out, something that was tugging at the back of her mind like she had forgotten it and just needed to remember. It was this feeling of not-knowing that unnerved her most. True, Anakin might be harmless but that was not a risk she was willing to take. Not when her master and Obi-Wan as well as her newfound Nubian friends were in the line of fire. Anakin gave her a bad feeling and she was usually right about stuff like this.
Anakin continued explaining what his gizmos and gadgets did and Serena nodded and smiled at the appropriate times. Her eyes suddenly went blank as Qui-Gon contacted her over their bond. Anakin didn't seem to notice and she listened as her master and Obi-Wan spoke. '...The Queen is upset...but absolutely no reply was sent.' Obi-Wan assured Qui-Gon. 'It sounds like bait to establish a connection trace.' As she listened Obi-Wan paused for a moment before continuing in an unsure tone. 'What if it is true and the people are dying?' She took it upon herself to answer. 'Either way, we're running out of time.' She said softly, ending the conversation.
She turned to see Anakin looking at her curiously. "I'm sorry, I must have spaced out for a second." She said shrugging innocently. She sighed in relief as he turned away and continued to tell her about his many projects until Jar Jar came to tell them dinner was ready.
Serena silently took her seat next to Qui-Gon at the dinner table. It looked to Qui-Gon like she was deeply troubled by something and he was very concerned but as though sensing his eyes on her she looked up and smiled brightly. They listened intently as Anakin and his mother told them about life on Tatooine.
"All slaves have transmitters placed inside their bodies somewhere. Any attempt to escape..." "...and they blow you up...poof!" Anakin finished his mother sentence, earning a horrified look from Jar Jar and understanding nods from Qui-Gon and Serena. "I've been working on a scanner to try and locate them, but no luck." Anakin said regretfully. There's an awkward silence and Anakin changes the subject. "Have you ever seen a Podrace?" The jedi both nod there heads yes. They both sense concern radiating off Anakin's mother.
Jar Jar takes advantage of everyone's' distraction and snatches some food from a bowl at the other end of the table with his tongue. Serena shoots him a dirty look. "They have Podracing on Malastare. Very fast, very dangerous." Anakin nods. "I'm the only human who can do it." "You must have Jedi reflexes if you race Pods." Qui-Gon says, surprised when Serena chokes slightly on her soup. "I'm alright." She coughs slightly, shifting uncomfortably under her Master's concerned gaze.
Once again, Jar Jar uses everyone's distraction and attempts to snare another bit of food from the bowl with his tongue, but Serena, in a flash, grabs it between her thumb and forefinger. Jar Jar is startled. "Don't do that again. It is not very polite." Serena says reproachfully before letting go of his tongue. He nods and looks very embarrassed about being caught.
"I...I was wondering...something..." Anakin says looking imploringly at Serena and Qui-Gon. "What?" "Well, ahhh...you're Jedi, aren't you?" Qui- Gon looks thoughtful while Serena frowns slightly. "What makes you think that?" "I saw your laser sword in Watto's shop. Only Jedi carry that kind of weapon." Qui-Gon relaxes slightly and smiles. "Perhaps I killed a Jedi and stole it from him." Anakin gave him an incredulous look. "I don't think so... No one can kill a Jedi Knight." Qui-Gon shook his head as Serena listened intently to the conversation. "I wish that were so..." Anakin continued enthusiastically. "I had a dream I was a Jedi. I came back here and freed all the slaves...have you come to free us?" "No, I'm afraid not..." Qui-Gon began but Anakin cut him off. "I think you have...why else would you be here?"
Serena smiled slightly wondering how her master would explain away the young boys numerous questions. She'd have to tell her master eventually about this feeling she had, but first she wanted to see how he would explain their presence on Tatooine. Qui-Gon seemed to think for a moment before answering. "I can see there's no fooling you... You mustn't let anyone know about us...we're on our way to Coruscant, the central system in the Republic, on a very important mission, and it must be kept secret." "Coruscant...wow...how did you end up here in the outer rim?" Anakin asked. "Our ship was damaged, and we're stranded here until we can repair it." Anakin's eyes lit up. "I can help! I can fix anything!" Qui-Gon smiled. "I believe you can, but our first job is to acquire the parts we need..." "Wit no-nutten mula to trade." Jar Jar added helpfully.
Serena turned to face Anakin's mother. "These junk dealers must have a weakness of some kind." The older woman nodded. "Gambling. Everything here revolves around betting on those awful races." Qui-Gon thought for a moment. "Podracing... Greed can be a powerful ally... if it's used properly."
Anakin smiled suddenly. "I've built a racer! It's the fastest ever...There's a big race tomorrow, on Boonta Eve. You could enter my pod. It's all but finished..." His mother cut him off. "Anakin, settle down. Watto won't let you..." "Watto doesn't know I've built it." He persisted, turning to Qui-Gon, "You could make him think it's yours, and you could get him to let me pilot it for you." Serena noticed Anakin's mother becoming upset. "I don't want you to race, Ani...It's awful. I die every time Watto makes you do it." Anakin frowned. "But Mom, I love it...and they need help...they're in trouble. The prize money would more than pay for the parts they need." Qui-Gon cut in. "Your mother's right. Is there anyone friendly to the Republic who might be able to help us?" He asked Anakin's mother. She shook her head no. "We have to help them, Mom...you said that the biggest problem in the universe is no one helps each other..." Serena spoke for the first time in awhile. "I'm sure Qui-Gon doesn't want to put your son in danger. We will find another way..." the woman just shook her head sadly. "No, Ani's right, there is no other way... I may not like it, but he can help you...he was meant to help you." Serena and Qui-Gon exchanged a look.
Note to all readers: I hope you enjoyed this chapter and remember flames will be used to roast my marshmallows! Read and Review! Sincerely, Moon Kitty
