FLASHBACK
Anakin couldn't believe it! The first human to win the Boonta Eve podrace was him, at nine years of age! He skidded his pod to a halt, his best friend Kitster was already running towards him.
Anakin hopped out of his pod, he couldn't help but grin. Not for the fact that the crowd was chanting and cheering his name, and the fact that he will get a fortune for his pod, but he knew Padmé especially would be proud. He really wanted to show her how good he was.
" YOU DID IT ANAKIN, YOU DID IT! " he hugged Anakin tightly.
He smiled, but didn't speak. The crowd emerged from the stands and came to carry Anakin away, still cheering him.
About an hour later, the arena emptied and Anakin was left to re-unite with his mother and friends.
Qui-Gon walked over to him, placing his hands on Anakin's shoulders. " You're a bit worse for wear Annie ," the Jedi master said softly, " but you did well! " he smiled at him, while wiping a small patch of dirt off his cheek.
" There, good as new! "
He ruffled Anakin's hair and bound the cut on his arm, which he cut after one of the other pods exploded and had sharp pieces flying everywhere. ' An accident just waiting to happen. ' Anakin had thought a while back.
His mother Shmi, and Padmé came up to him giving him hugs and kisses.
" Gee.. enough of this! " Anakin said in embarrassment.
His mother smiled. " It's so wonderful Annie, what you have done! You know, you have brought hope to those who have none. I'm so proud of you! "
" We owe you everything! " Padmé added. He smiled an appreciative you're welcome.. although he wished she could of said something more.
Before he knew it, he was walking with Qui-Gon back to his ship. He was to leave Tatooine, these would be his last few steps on this planet for an awful long time.
Anakin had strayed into deeper thoughts, when suddenly Qui-Gon switched on his lightsaber, he spun around and sliced through a strange floating machine that seemed to of caught up to them and started following.
Anakin was good with metal parts, but this he had never seen before. Qui-Gon inspected the scraps carefully, ignoring the acid smell that hung in the air.
" What is it? " he asked.
" A probe droid. Very unusual.. nothing like I have seen before. " Qui-Gon replied, looking around the streets.
Anakin could tell that the master could sense something that wasn't right. " Come on Annie! " he said quickly, while speeding his pace.
After a very long walk, Anakin and Qui-Gon could see the ship in sight. Qui-Gon, who was being cautious, suddenly felt a disturbance. He glanced over his shoulder to see a speeder coming towards them, with a dark cloaked figure being the rider.
" Qui-Gon wait! " Anakin shouted, as he had fallen a bit behind.
" Drop Anakin! " he shouted frantically. Anakin obeyed the instruction and dropped to the ground, getting a mouthful of dry sand in his mouth.
The speeder rode over Anakin's body, only just missing him. As it sped over him, a strange image suddenly flashed into his thoughts. It was of a man dressed in black.
Something about him seemed evil, but he couldn't see much of him. Anakin ignored it.. he thought it was just another silly thought. Besides, he was more worried about Qui-Gon.
The cloaked figure must of been a Jedi master of some sort too, as he had a lightsaber of his own.. yet it was red. It was amazing, how the flashes of colour clashed together and swirled around as the bearer flipped and spun to dodge the other's weapon.
" Annie get out of here! " Qui-Gon cried out, while trying to keep his strength.
Anakin stood there, he wasn't sure what to do. He was half focusing on the two duelling.. he could tell that the cloaked man was stronger and younger, Qui-Gon only had enough strength to defend himself and block his strikes.
" Anakin! " Qui-Gon screamed, seeing he hadn't moved from the first time he told him to.
" Get to the ship! Tell them to take off! GO! " he finished. Anakin bolted for the ramp way of the ship, it didn't take long till he ran inside and found Padmé with a dark skinned man.
" Qui-Gon's in trouble! He says to take off, now! " Anakin blurted.
The dark skinned man looked at him suspiciously.
" Who are you? " he demanded.
" He's a friend. " Padmé said quickly while seizing Anakin's arm.
" Hurry captain! " she said.
They walked through the hallway of the ship, Anakin explaining quickly to Padmé what happened.
" Qui-Gon's in trouble! " Padmé announced once they entered the cockpit.
" He says to take off now! " Anakin added. A young man that Anakin assumed was also a Jedi, immediately got up on his feet.
" Where is he? " he asked firmly. He looked out the view port of the ship and scanned the desert plains for Qui-Gon.
" I don't see anything! " the pilot said, peering over the Jedi's shoulder.
" Over there! " the Jedi pointed, his eyes were very sharp and quick.
" Get us into the air, over there now! Fly low. "
The naboo pilot obeyed his order and scrambled into the seat. The others in the cockpit, quickly sat down.. Qui-Gon came into view now.
After a few agonising minutes of watching Qui-Gon battling, he finally managed to jump on the ramp way.. escaping from the demonic figure.
Anakin and the Jedi ran through the halls of the ship to quickly greet Qui-Gon.
" Are you alright? " Anakin asked, looking deeply concerned.
Qui-Gon breathed heavily, exhausted from the long battle. He nodded.
" I think so. That's a surprise I won't forget anytime soon! "
" What sort of creature was it? " the other Jedi asked.
" I'm not sure. Whoever he was, he was trained in the Jedi arts. My guess is that he was after the Queen. "
"Do you think he'll follow us? " Anakin asked quickly.
" We'll be safe once we're in hyperspace, but I have no doubt he knows our destination. If he found us once, he can find us again. "
Anakin furrowed his eyebrow, he was more relaxed now.
" What are we going to do about it? " he asked softly.
The other Jedi turned to stare at him, as if there was something he said that he didn't like.
" We will be patient. " Qui-Gon answered after noticing the uncomfortable stares.
" Anakin Skywalker, meet my apprentice.. Obi-Wan Kenobi. "
END FLASHBACK
Vader found himself waking up, screaming. Most likely because of Obi-Wan.. he hated him, especially after all the damage he had done. If Obi-Wan ever made the mistake of returning, he would be dead. Vader would get his revenge, just as he did on Count Dooku.
" We aren't far Lord Vader. All will be well soon! " Palpatine spoke smoothly.
Vader gasped in fright, he didn't realise he was there. He was too busy thinking.
He slowly shut his eyes, trying to think of Padmé. She was the only thing he needed right now. Vader could smell her presence.. he could see her, he could feel her kiss. He opened his eyes, expecting that she would be there.. but there was nothing.
He could feel a tear trickle down. All the effort to shed one tear hurt his eyes, as did the tear hurt his hot and wounded cheek.
One day, he will open his eyes.. and Padmé will be there. He knew it.