Obi-Wan waited patiently in the Nubian ship with Queen Amidala, her handmaidens and security team. If the real girl over here is truly Queen Amidala anyway, she seemed to rely more on her handmaidens than her captain when it came to leaving the planet, when Qui-Gon had offered her the choice to leave, she looked back at her handmaidens, particularly the one right next to her, and whatever she saw in her eyes has convinced her to agree.

The handmaiden who spoke to the Queen was the same handmaiden who left with Qui-Gon. The captain had left with her earlier to ensure she will be accompanying him, saying something to Obi-Wan about'The Queen would like to know more about the planet and it's culture.'Which is a veryveryinvalid and irrelevant excuse. Honestly, why would Queen Amidala have the desire to know about a Hutt ruled planet while her people are suffering and dying - if what the governor told her is true anyway - ? Either she's uncaring of the fate of her people or she's just naive.

Obi-Wan sat in silence watching the endless sea of sand from the pilot windows. He wasn't really paying attention to the view - there isn't much view anyway -, he was so deep lost in thoughts that he didn't notice the sand picking up and becoming aggressive until it covered the wide windows and he could see no more. Concerned, he commed his master, he doesn't know anything about sandstorms, but he does know a storm of any kind is no good.

He can hope his master will be well, but again, this is Qui-Gon. Of course, he will be alright.

It doesn't hurt to make sure though.

Shmi heard the Jedi - Qui-Gon Jinn, he called himself that - speak to another through the comms, reassuring that they found shelter till the storm is over. And a way to leave.

That way is through Anakin.

Her precious Ani.

The Jedi will be betting on his ship - a Nubian ship, Shmi did not know much of them, she hasn't seen much of them, these kind of sleek, fancy ships did not have place here on Tatooine - to get the lost part to save said ship. Stupid idea? Yes. Is it worth risking her son's life? Absolutely not.

Shmi did not approve of the plan. She wasn't lying or exaggerating when she told Anakin she dies each time she watches him podrace, it's a dangerous, barbaric race. Hutts and the natives on Tatooine didn't know anything of just or fair games, they could kill her son and no one will bat an eye. No one would care. Not only because such is the way of this planet but it's also the way of slaves.

Slaves are inferior beings. Their lives aren't worth much, it wouldn't matter if they die, get injured or get terribly sick, a slave can be easily replaced by other slaves. After all, Tatooine's majority is slaves, not slavers. It is so far in the Outer-Rim, so far away from the Core and the Republic, a perfect save heaven for slavers, for people full of greed and hate. A place where cruelty can be easily practiced here.

"I didn't know slavery still exists in the galaxy. It's illegal in the Republic."

The girl - Padmè - is naive. The naivety of the Core-Worlders never failed to outstand her, their hope in their governments and their Republic very big to the point it blinds them to the truth. Most slaves here are from the Core, stolen from many many Core Or Mid-Rim planets and then sold in the market here, in the Outer-Rim. Shmi will be surprised if they didn't have markets there, in the worst places of the Core and Mid-Rim.

Still, Padmè is young. And she grew up in a world so full of peace, grew up as a child should, not like Ani and many other children here, who grew up with the horrors of slavery and the cruelty of fate. Shmi has to admit that she still feels so bitter because the Republic, countless armies, many Jedi, and no one thought to free slaves? Or perhaps, give them hope to start a reevaluation?

Shmi does not believe in the Republic, or the people who work in it. Not when they deemed her child's life lesser by not bothering to free him. Not when they doomed her and many others to suffer the fate of slavery because they were born into a different place, born somewhere that doesn't have green fields or waterfalls.

But Shmi believes in her son. Her Ani who told her he is sure he will win the race this time, who told her he can feel it. She knew better than to argue, Anakin proved his gut-feeling to be true countless times before, she has no reason not to trust him. But she's a mother, his mother, of course she will worry.

Anakin insists it's more than his gut-feeling, it's something much deeper, something more alive. "It speaks to me Mum, it tell me what to do, what will happen, it guides me", his bright blue eyes stared right into her soul as he said these words. The same way he stares at her whenever he tells her a detailed description of her feelings.

It was the most terrible moment of Shmi's life when she realised her son has the powers of a Jedi.

If the slavers knew, they will take him away, they will fight tooth and nail over him, to have a prized slave, to brag to the other slavers about how they managed to get such a rare property. So she taught him to never ever speak of his powers to anyone, not to his friends, not to show signs of having abnormal powers in front of anyone, for his safety and for the rest of her own heart.

But Qui-Gon knew.

His eyes pierced through her son, as if to analyse him. Looking at him with amusement and awe, as if be discovered something precious, something long lost. Shmi prayed to Ar-Ammu and to Leia that the Jedi will take her son, will save him from the horrors she endured her whole life.

Shmi has a feeling tonight will be the last night she tucks her son into his bed. She held him extra tight tonight, held his hand the whole time he told her about how excited he is for tomorrow, about how he is sure he will win. Kissed his forehead and kept her forehead resting against his for quite some time before he asked for a story with bright hopeful eyes.

She obliged. For her Ani, there is nothing she won't do. Nothing she won't risk.

"Quite a few thousands years back, at the start of slavery", Shmi begun, stroking Anakin's golden hair. "There was a slave girl, her name was Leia, and Leia was known to be strong, fierce, and brave. Of course, slavers do not approve of such slave, they deemed Leia unworthy, deemed her dangerous.

Leia would always protect her family, would always take the whips for them, she would share her food with them. Make sure everyone went to sleep with a full stomach, and an injured body".

"She seems strong", Anakin said as he played with her fingers, adorably comparing her thumb to his. "I like Leia.", he declared firmly.

Shmi smiled softly and gently trapped his thumb under hers, making him giggle and trap hers in return. "Leia was indeed strong, and very very brave, her only concern was to keep her family safe, to make sure everyone remained untouched while they were waiting for luke.

Of course Ani, you know a shoulder cannot bare the weight of the galaxy on it's own, for it would break. Leia was very very strong, but she was also very stubborn. She refused to let any of her family ever got punished, refused to let any of them suffer, so one day, while they travelled from one place to another, Leia collapsed.

She was hungry, injured and very very weak. She didn't look like the strong Leia her family knew her to be. So they also refused to move unless Leia is taken with them. The slavers got angry, and they killed every one of Leia's family. When Leia woke up and found her family dead-"

"She got mad! And called on the power of the desert and Ar-Ammu to grant her eternal power! Leia killed the slavers who killed her family and freed all the slaves from Tatooine! And her spirit lives on to grant luke to everyone! No matter how slow the process is!", Anakin cut off and explained very happily and excitedly, such story shouldn't be for children, but it's all Shmi ever knew, all any slave out here knew. It brings them hope, that in this part of their life, they are luke.

Their hopes, stories, dreams, beliefs is something the slavers can't ever control, their minds are their own, all they ever own. It's a lesson she taught her Ani from a very young age.

with a smile, Shmi kissed his forehead and recited with him their prayer to Ar-Ammu, and to Leia, before leaving him to sleep.

"Impossible, the midi-chlorians count is higher than Master Yoda's! Where did you get the blood sample?"

"It's the same boy I told you about earlier", Qui-Gon's voice carried through the night, he caught her eye and ended the call. But Shmi already knew.

With a pained smile, she went to bed.

Ani won.

Leia freed her son.

She made him luke.

Leaving Tatooine was messy. Messy and dramatic. Like every single mission of his and Qui-Gon's.

And they picked another pathetic life-form with them. Again, like every single mission of his and Qui-Gon's.

Except the pathetic life-form isn't normal. The pathetic life-form is a strong powerful Foece-Sensitive youngling with a ridiculously high midi-chlorians count. Higher than Master Yoda's! The very Grandmaster of the order!

And of course, as an untrained 9 years old youngling with such power, the boy didn't have any idea how to shield his mind or how to keep his emotions guarded. His emotions and thoughts bled heavily into the Force, and he shone so bright, so so bright. Like a supernova. Obi-Wan has to squint to be able to look properly at him.

Anakin is filthy and his clothes are full of dirt and sand, and he is so terribly small Obi-Wan is afraid of shaking his hand too tight when they were introduced in fear of breaking it. But he is adorable, very very adorable. He clung to Padmè at first, probably because she's the only person who he knows around here, and she didn't seem to mind his endless questions, or taking care of him.

The handmaidens were also taken with the boy, giving him as much blankets as he needs and wants, making sure he ate all of the ration bars because he is so small. Obi-Wan can't believe he is 9 standard years old. He looked six.

"Hey uhh, mister Obi-Wan sir?", a small voice snapped Obi-Wan out of his thoughts, he looked down to see Anakin looking up at him - and craning his neck to do so - bright blue eyes staring right into his for a moment before averting his gaze.

"Yes?"

"Mister Qui-Gon asks you to keep an eye on me while he debriefs the con-couns- cou-n-cil of what happened."

The adorable pronunciation of the word council made Obi-Wan's heart melt. The youngling is cute. Obi-Wan doesn't like how he wants to hug him close to his chest and keep him there, everyone always made fun of Master Koon for being so soft towards younglings, especially Obi-Wan. But now, look at him.

"Oh- alright Anakin."

"I told him I can handle myself, but he doesn't seem convinced, he said I'm too young, but I won the Boonta Eve! I'm the first human to do so and the youngest person to ever win it! Mum used to tell me it's dangerous but I made it out alive each time now so I can take care of myself!", the youngling truly loves talking, his eyes wide with excitement and giddiness as he proceeds to tell Obi-Wan each detail of the podrace.

Anakin's joy is bleeding into the Force, and Obi-Wan found himself smiling even thought he is secretly horrified at the thought of Qui-Gon letting a child join in a barbaric race.

But oh well, that's another thing to tease his master about. Right now, he found Anakin to be the sweetest being ever.

"The boy is dangerous! Everyone can sense it! Why can't you?!", it's a remark made out of anger, frustration, and envy. A remark made out of his feelings. Something a Jedi should not say. But Obi-Wan couldn't help it, couldn't care less, Qui-Gon has dismissed him in front of the whole Council, dismissed him all for a boy he knew only for days.

A boy who waltzed in and stole his master without even trying, without even doing anything to prove himself to Qui-Gon. While Obi-Wan, Obi-Wan who spent his life fighting and trying to make Qui-Gon see he made a right choice when he took him in, to make him see that Qui-Gon didn't make a mistake when he trained him, that Obi-Wan is worthy of being his Padawan.

Years, more than a decade long, spent trying to win Qui-Gon's affection, pride and approval swept away by a mere boy?

And to rub salt through the wound, Qui-Gon told him it is not his place to speak. Invalidated him, them, just like that.

Obi-Wan wants to rage, wants to scream, wants to tell him "was I never enough for you?", but he didn't, like the obedient Padawan he made himself be, he nodded and said "Yes Master" and left.

He briefly heard Anakin say "Qui-Gon sir, I don't wanna be a problem", and guilt ate at him alive. Great. The boy heard him.

Obi-Wan will be the perfect Padawan, he will be Knighted, he will leave his master behind to train his new Padawan. Qui-Gon never wanted him, that much was clear. No matter what Obi-Wan does it will never be enough.

He will never be enough.

Naboo is free.

The mission has been successfully completed.

But Qui-Gon...

Qui-Gon is dead.