Shawn and Qui-gon left Watto's box, the blue creature had reluctantly agreed to free the boy.

"So," Shawn began, "what are you going to do with Anakin?"
"I will try to convince the jedi council to allow me to train him."
"Why are you so interested in a mere slave boy, I mean most people just see a great mechanic in him"
"He is... special," Qui-gon said, "Surely you noticed this".
"Of course, he is kind, caring, a little bit to trusting, but he has superb reflexes, and like I said, he's a great mechanic."
"Did you teach your son to fight?"
"I am sorry, but Anakin isn't my son, although I wish he was my son. And no, I never taught him to fight."
"Then who was his father?"
"I don't know, I never asked. It always seemed an sensitive subject"
"Interesting, very interesting"

They entered an almost empty hanger.
Shawn saw Anakin being hugged by Jar Jar, Padme and Shmi
"Ah, gee...enough of this..." Shawn heard him say.
" It's so wonderful, Annie. You have brought hope to those who have none. I'm so very proud of you," Shmi said.
"We owe you everything," Padme said.
"Just feeling this good was worth it," Annie replied.
Shawn walked to the group, "do you know what that feeling was?"
The boy started shaking his head.
"It was teamwork, you gave your best to aid in a very important, and very secret mission, so secret I don't know what it is all about."
Everybody smiled.
"You will be rewarded, Annie, in more ways than one."
"Huh?"

In the meantime, Qui-gon had harnessed two Eopies with containers full of parts.
"Padme, Jar Jar, let's go, we've got to get these parts back to the
ship." he said.

They walked over to Qui-gon.
Padme climbed on behind Qui-gon.
Jar Jar took the second Eopie.
R2 whistled.
Anakin, Shawn and Shmi looked as the others left
" I'll return the eopies by midday." Qui-gon said.
Anakin looked at the pod and asked, "how on Totooine are we going to get the pod back home?"
Shawn smiled, "well, like this."
He then walked to the pod and pressed a button.
The pod transformed into a small red box, which Shawn pocketed.
"let's go home."
As they walked off, Shawn realized that Qui-gon was right, they were a family, in every way but blood.
Shawn then whispered to himself, "I will protect them, with my life, if I have to."

Sometime later
Shawn was in the back, busy with his 'special moves'.
Everything worked except the one tech, designed to get him home, RUYKER.
Shawn couldn't figure out what was missing.
Shmi was cleaning up as Annie burst through the door, followed by Qui-gon..

"Qui-gon is here," the small boy yelled
"Anakin has been freed," the older man said, when Annie had calmed down
"What," was the response of the boy in question.
"You're no longer a slave." Qui-gon told him.

Anakin jumped around in joy, Shmi is just stunned.

"Did you hear that, Mom?" Anakin shouted.
He then turned to Qui-gon, "Was that part of the prize, or what?"
" Let's just say Watto has learned an important lesson about gambling."
"And you need to learn not to cheat, it was lucky he didn't caught you," Shawn had entered the room.
Shmi looked a little nervous

"Will you take him with you? Is he to become a Jedi?" She asked
"Our meeting was not a coincidence," Qui-gon said,"nothing happens by accident."

It made Shawn think, 'did he end up here, for a reason? Some almighty power ripping him away from Pioneer because he had to be here? and why him and nobody else?
If Shawn hated one thing, it was to be a pawn.'

Qui-gon had turned to Anakin, "You are strong with the Force, but you may not be accepted by the Coucil."
"A Jedi! Mighty blasters, you mean I get to go with you in your starship and everything!" Anakin called out enthousiastic

Qui-gon lowered to meet Anakin's eyes.
"Anakin, training to be a Jedi will not be a easy challenge. And if you succeed, it will be a hard life." he told him.
" But it's what I want. What I've always dreamed about. Can I go, Mom!
"This path has been placed for you, Annie; the choice to take it is yours alone," Shmi said.
Shawn smiled sadly, "She is right, you know, it is your choice.

Anakin thought, looked to his mother,Shawn, then to Qui-gon.
"I want to go," he finally said.
"Then, pack your things. We haven't much time," Qui-gon said.
"Yipee!" the small boy screamed

Annie hugged his mom and walked into the other room, then he stopped. Shmi and Qui-gon gave each other a knowing look. Anakin realized something.
"What about Mom?" He asked, "Is she free too? You're coming, aren't you, Mom?"
"I tried to free your mother, Annie, but Watto wouldn't have it," Qui-gon said
Shmi came over to Annie and sat next to him.
She took both of his hands in hers, she drew him close.

"My place is here," She said, "My future is here. It is time for you to let go...to let go of me. I cannot go with you."
Tears started to form in Annie's eyes," I want to stay with you. I don't want things to change."
"You can't stop change any more than you can stop the suns from setting. Listen to your feelings; Annie, you know what's right."

"But... I'm going to miss you so much, Mom..."
"I love you, Annie...now hurry."

Anakin and Shmi hugged.
Anakin ran to the other room.

"Thank you," Shmi said to Qui-gon
" I will watch after him. You have my word. Will you be all right?"
" He was in my life for such a short time." Shmi said
Shawn looked at Qui-gon, "You better watch after him, I'll hunt you down, if you don't. I consider him my son now."

Anakin walked with Qui-gon, then he stopped to look back at Shmi and Shawn standing in the doorway.
Annie looks at Qui-gon, then turned and ran back to his mother.

Anakin cried, "I can't do it, Mom. I just can't."

Shmi hugged the crying boy.
Qui-gon watched from a distance.
Shmi sighed, "This is one of those times when you have to do something you don't think you can do. I know how strong you are, Annie. I know you can do this..."
"Will I ever see you again?" he asked.
"What does your heart tell you?" Shmi said
Anakin smiled a bit, "I hope so...yes...I guess."
As Shawn heard the 'I guess' comment, a vision flashed before his eyes, an older bloody Shmi bound in chains and a shadow moving behind her.
He focused back on the present.
"Then we will see each other again."
"I.. will become a Jedi and I will come back and free you, Mom...I promise," Anakin said.
"No matter where you are, my love will be with you. Now be brave, and don't look back... don't look back."
"I love you so much."

Shmi hugged Anakin, then she turned him around so he looked at Qui-gon, and he marched off , like a trooper.
He marched right past Qui-gon,looking straight ahead, determined not to look back.

Shawn placed a hand on Shmi's shoulder, and smiled reassuring
He went inside and started on practicing sword movements, he pretended to hold a sword, and made various slashes, cuts, kicks and punches, he hated the restriction on 'free movement' the goverment had made on Pioneer, the creation of new techs were also banned.

But now he was free of those rules, and he intented to create a tech, worthy of his nickname 'INFERNO'.
He suddenly felt a jolt and knew only one thing, Anakin was in danger.
Shawn cupped his hands and thrusted one forward and called out "RUYKER."
He vanished in a flash of light

Qui-gon and Anakin ran toward the Naboo spacecraft.
Anakin had a hard time keeping up.

Anakin called out, "Master Qui-Gon,sir, wait!"
Qui-gon turning to answer and saw a Dark-cloaked figure racing towards them on a speeder bike.

Qui-gon yelled, "Anakin, drop!"

Anakin dropped to the ground, just as the figure sweeped over him.
The figure jumped off his speeder bike, and before he hit the ground, he had swung a death blow with his laser sword that was barely blocked by Qui-gon.
Anakin looked in awe as he stood up.
The warriors, Sith and Jedi, were fighting each other with incredible blows.
Clashes of red and blue
"Annie, get to the ship! Take off! Go! Go!" Qui-gon yelled.
Annie ran to the ship.

Suddenly an energybullet hits the newcomer.
Everybody present looked as Shawn walked towards them.
Anger clearly visible on his face.
The stranger looks both angry and relieved.
"You would do great in the dark side, you have much anger."
Shawn smirked," I have much anger, do I, OF COURSE I AM ANGRY, YOU ALMOST KILLED THE PERSON I CONSIDER MY SON! "

The spaceship took off, flying low towards them.
Shawn looked at Qui-gon,"Go, I'll handle this, go train Annie."
"But,"
"GO"
Qui-gon jumped on the ramp, as Shawn faced his opponent and activating a saber, surprising the two jedi and the sith.
The ship flew away.

Shawn looked at the dark cloaked stranger, "now ,you are all mine."