A/N: I hope you guys are enjoying it so far. Anyways, I just wanted to be clear about something. I do not own Star Wars or its characters in anyway, they belong to George Lucas and Disney. The only things that are mine in this story are Ariana Skywalker and R3-QT. Anyways, I hope that you all have a good week and God bless.

Bold=another language being spoken

Italic=the twins mentally speaking to each other

It was just another afternoon in the shop that was located in the spaceport of Mos Espa; a haven for anyone who does not want to be found. Anakin and Ariana were in the back doing their designated tasks when their master, Watto, called out for them after they had heard the door chime. "Kids, get in here now!" he shouted in Huttese. Not wanting to get into trouble, they stopped what they were doing and went to the storefront. They got there only to find their master with new customers who consisted of an older gentleman, a young lady, two droids, and a strange creature that the two of them have rarely ever see in those parts.

"What took you two so long?" he demanded.

"We were doing what you told us to do," Anakin defended in Huttese.

"Yeah. I was sorting the spare gear parts, and Ani was cleaning the fan switches," Ariana added in.

Watto did not really care at that moment. "Whatever, just watch the store. I've got some selling to do," he told them. He then began to lead the gentleman and one of the droids away to the back. But before they left, the man took a piece of machinery out of the creature's hands and told him not to touch anything. In retaliation, the Gungan stuck out his ridiculously long tongue behind the man's back. Which caused Ariana to giggle a bit after she, with the help of her brother, and Anakin climbed onto the store countertop. The Gungan then headed toward the deactivated droids that were on display, most likely to touch them out of defiance.

"Do you think we should warn him that they still work?" Ari thought to her twin brother.

Anakin looked at him and just thought, "Nah," with a small smile towards his sister. Anakin then turned his attention to the older girl on his left. He looked at her for moment and then asked in basic, "Are you an angle?"

This caught the young girl by surprise. She smiled at the boy and asked, "What?"

"An angle," he repeated. "I've heard deep space pilots talk about them before. They're supposed to be the most beautiful creatures in all the universe. They live on the moons of...of...um," he could not remember where.

"Iego," Ariana finished for him.

"Oh, yeah. Thanks, Ari," he directed to his sister.

She smiled back at him, "You're welcome."

Padme smiled, "You are a funny little boy. How do you two know so much?"

Anakin shrugged while he and his sister started cleaning off random parts. "We listen to all the traders and star pilots that come through here. You know, my sister and I are pilots too, and someday we're going to fly far away from this dust ball."

"You got that right!" Ariana cheered, as she and Ani high-five each other.

"You two are pilots?" Padme questioned.

Ari answered this time, "Yep. All our lives!"

"How long have you guys been here?"

"Since we were very little. Three, I think," Ani said with Ari nodding in agreement.

"Our mom and us were sold to Gradulla the Hutt, but she lost us in a bet on the Podraces," Ariana continued.

"So, you're slaves?" the handmaiden could not help but ask.

"Hey!" Ariana exclaimed.

Anakin defended them by saying, "I'm a person! My name is Anakin, and she's my twin sister, Ariana."

"I'm sorry, I did not mean to offend you. It's just that this planet is new and strange to me. I don't fully understand it," she told them once she realized what she said upset them.

"It's ok, we forgive you," Ari said, speaking both her and her brother. All three of them then smiled, when a noise drew their attention away from their conversation.

And just as predicted, Jar Jar accidentally activated one of the droids that were on display. It was beginning to cause mischief with the Gungan trying to recapture it. And when he grabbed it by the neck, Anakin shouted to get his attention. He told him to just hit the nose. Realizing why he said that, the Gungan did as he was told and turned off the mischievous little droid.

After a quiet laugh that could not be helped, they went back to their conversation, while Jar Jar went back to messing with stuff. "I like your astomech," Ariana said as she looked at R3, causing it to look at her too.

"Thanks," Padme said.

"What is it called?," the nine-year-old girl asked.

"This is R3-QT," the handmaiden introduced.

Ari waved and said, "Hi."

"Hello," R3 chirped back.

"So, what do you guys do?" Padme then asked.

"Well, our mom is Watto's housekeeper and cooks for him, while Ani and I mainly work here in the shop. We just do whatever he tells us to do" Ariana said. "Though there have been accidents sometimes."

"Yeah," Anakin continued, "and if we weren't good building and fixing stuff, along with Ari's organizing skills, we wouldn't have lasted long anyways."

It was then that the older gentleman came back, looking positively annoyed, with the other droid. "Come on, we're leaving," he said. He then called out the Gungan's name to get his attention. After Padme and the twins said goodbye and how nice it was to meet each other the group left.

When Watto came up to the counter where the twins were sitting, he groaned to them in Huttese, "Outsiders. They think we are idiots who know nothing."

"They seemed nice to me," Anakin said, his sister nodding her head in silent agreement.

The shop owner just scoffed. He then told them to clean off the racks and after that they could go home. The twins cheered as they slid off the counter, gave each other high-fives, and then went to do as they were told to do.

After they were done with their last task for the day, they decided to head home by cutting through the marketplace. But when they got there, they saw that the Gungan from earlier had gotten himself into some more trouble with their archrival, Shebulba. "We should help him," Ari told her brother, who nodded in agreement. They then went to confront the short-legged alien.

"Careful, Shebulba," Anakin spoke in Huttese.

"Yeah, I heard that this one is a big-time outlander. We would hate to see you get all diced up before either of us get to race you again," Ariana said, the two of them smiling smugly.

Not being in a funny mood, the Dug threatened them by saying, "The next we race, it will be the end of one of you. If you were not slaves, I would gladly squash the two of you right here and now."

Anakin then said mockingly, "Yeah, because it would be such a pity if you'd have to pay for us."

As Shebulba was walking away, the man that came to the shop earlier headed towards them. "Hi," the twins said at the same time.

"Hello, there," he greeted. Anakin then went on to explain how Jar Jar picked a fight with Shebulba the Dug and what would have happened if they didn't stop it. Jar Jar went on about how he did not anything bad to happen to himself, and the man then told him that the boy was right. "Thank you, my young friends," he told the twins and he and the others walked off.

Anakin was about to follow them when he felt Ariana grab onto his arm. He turned around to look at her. She then told him, "Ani, we should head home, there's a sandstorm coming this way, I can feel it."

"Don't worry, Ari, we will get home before the storm hits. Trust me, when have I ever lied to you? Besides, don't tell me that you do not want spend more time with them" he said in confidence. Even though he believed her, since she was usually right about these kinds of things, he still wanted to hang out with the group some more.

Knowing that her brother made a couple of valid points, she sighed in defeat. "Ok," she said, dramatically shrugging her shoulders.

"Yes!" Anakin exclaimed throwing his fist into the air. "Come on, we don't want to lose them," he urged his sister as he dragged her along with him, with smiles on their faces.

They managed to catch up with their new friends and even had fun hanging out with them at the marketplace. They showed them the different stalls and even introduced them to some food that they've never tried before. "Oh, you guys have got to try some of the pallies that Nana Lola sells. Come on," Ariana declared as she dragged Jar Jar by the arm Leading him and the others to the place that she spoke of.

Ani agreed, "Yeah. Good idea, Ari. Follow me, guys, it's just over here." He ran to the front of the group, now leading them to their destination.

On their way over there, Jar Jar piped up, "Nana? Mesa thought it was just yousa and yousas' mama."

"Well, technically, she's not really our grandma. It's just what everyone around here calls her, but her name is Lola though," Ari explained, while still dragging him along.

"Why is that?" Padme asked.

"It's because she treats everyone here like a grandmother would," Anakin answered that time.

When they finally reached the intended marketplace stall, the elderly woman sitting there beamed when she saw the young Skywalker twins walking towards her. "Ani! Ari! How are two doing today? And who are your new friends?" she exclaimed happily.

"Hi, Nana Lola!" the twins proclaimed.

"We're doing good today, thanks for asking," Ariana answered the first question with a smile.

"And these are travelers who came into Watto's shop today," Anakin said answering the second question.

"We wanted them to try your pallies, the best ones in the galaxy," Ari proclaimed, throwing her arms in the air for emphasis.

"Oh, why thank you, Ari," Nana Lola replied, fleeing flattered from the young girl's praise.

Anakin then grabbed one of the fruits and tried to hand it to Qui-Gon. "Here, you'll like these pallies." But it seemed like the older gentleman had spaced out. Anakin tapped him, gaining his attention, and tried handing the fruit to him again. This time he took it.

"Thank you," he said, nodding his head. He then lifted his poncho up a bit to put it in a pouch attached to his belt. But as he did that Anakin and Ariana were able to catch a glimpse of the object that hung off his belt. They turned to each other with surprised eyes.

"Is that a lightsaber?" Ari thought in astonishment.

Anakin relayed back, "I think it is."

"Then that means he must be a...," Ariana began.

"A JEDI!" they both finished at the time. Both were able to sense the smiles in their thoughts.

They were interrupted from their mental talk when Nana Lola spoke up. "Oh, my bones are aching up. A storm is coming up, kids. You two better get home quick." she warned.

Feeling the stink eye that his sister was giving him, Anakin decided that he would rather ignore it and faced the group. "Do you guys have shelter?" he asked concernedly.

Qui-Gon assured him, "We'll head back to our ship?"

"Is it far?" he asked again.

"It is on the outskirts of town," Padme answered this time.

"That's a bad idea," Ariana voiced out, as she and Anakin subconsciously began leading the group. She decided to her annoyance towards her brother aside for the time being. "The outskirts are too far out, you will never reach them in time. And trust me when I say sandstorms here very, very dangerous."

"I know, we can take you to our place. Come on," he urged.

"Oh, I hope that it's not too far," R3 chirped.

"You and me both," replied R2-D2.

"See you around kids. And you all be safe now, you hear?" Nana Lola shouted and waved at them, before they were out of earshot.

"We will, thanks," Ani returned.

Ari waving back, shouted, "Bye, Nana Lola!"

As they began heading in the general direction of the Skywalker household, Ariana then decided to voice her complaints. "I told you we should have headed home when I felt the storm coming. Now we won't get home before the storm hits." The first statement catching Qui-Gon's attention.

"I'm sorry, Ari. But if we went home then, then they wouldn't have a place to take shelter from the storm," he reasoned with his sister.

Realizing her error of judgment, Ariana turned towards the others. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be so inconsiderate," she told them full heartedly.

Sensing that her words were true, Qui-Gon smiled encouragingly at her. "It is alright, young one," he replied. "We are just fortunate enough that you here when we need you." This caused Ari to smile back at him.

Shortly afterwards, they were able to reach and make it into the Skywalker home before the storm took a turn for the worse. "Mom, we're home!" Anakin announced.

"And we've brought some friends," Ariana added on. As she said this, their mother walked into the room.

"Hello," the Gungan greeted.

"Hi," the droids beeped.

While Qui-Gon and Shmi began talking, Anakin spoke to Padme. "Me and Ari are building a droid. You want to come see it?"

"Sure," Padme managed to say before getting dragged off by the boy.

Ari right beside her brother led the way. "Yeah, come on. We'll show you 3PO," she encouraged.

"Wow, another droid," R3 bleeped.

"Two kids building a droid? This I have got to see," R2 whined.

R3 chirped back as they followed the humans, "Well then, come on."

When they got to the other room, the two droids saw Ani pull a blanket off the unfinished project. "Oh, wow," was all R2 was able to hum out.

"Isn't he cool? He's not finished yet though," Ani said.

Ari amended, "But we are getting close to being just about done."

"He is wonderful," the handmaiden marveled.

"You really like him?" Anakin sounded pleased. "He's a protocol droid to help Mom. Here, watch."

But before he could turn C-3PO on, Ariana stopped him. "Wait, Ani. You forgot to install his other eye," she told him, handing him the needed object. "Turn him on like that," she indicated to his current state, "and he won't be able to see anything."

"Your right, I almost forget. Thanks, Ari."

"You're welcome."

The Skywalker boy installed the eye, and the activated the droid.

"Oh, hello there. I am C-3PO, human-cyborg relations," he introduced himself. "How might I serve you?"

Padme could not help but be amazed. "He's perfect." 3PO was flattered at that.

"When the sandstorm is over, I'll show you the Podracer that Ari and I are building," Ani told her.

"It still needs some tuning, but it's coming along nicely," Ari said.

While the humans were talking, C-3PO went over to the other droids in the room. "Oh, hello. I don't believe that we have been properly introduced."

"I am R2-D2," the white, silver, and blue astromech introduced himself first.

"And I am R3-QT," the teal, black, and silver one announced herself secondly.

3PO replied, "R2-D2 and R3-QT. A pleasure it is to meet you both."

"Hey, you know that you are naked right?" asked R2.

"I'm sorry, come again. What do you mean by 'naked'?"

"He means that your parts are showing," R3 answered.

This caught the protocol droid by surprise. "My parts are showing?! Oh, my goodness!"

This caused everyone else in the room, droid and human alike, to laugh.

Later, it was time to have lunch so everyone, minus the droids, gathered around the table to eat the food that Shmi made, with help from the others. Anakin and Jar Jar sat on the right side of the table, with Shmi and Ariana sitting on the left. Qui-Gon and Padme were seated at the ends of the table. They all shared light conversation with each other, until the dreaded question came up. "Why is it that you haven't tried to escape from here?" Padme felt the need to ask.

Everyone was quiet for few tense moments before Ari broke the silence. "Because we can't," she answered.

"Whada yousa mean?" Jar Jar requested.

It was Shmi who then went on to explain. "All the slaves here have a transmitter along with a small explosive device placed somewhere in their bodies that they do not know."

"Ari and I have been working on scanner, to try and find them," Anakin pipped up.

"No such luck, though," Ariana stated.

Shmi continued, "Any attempt to escape-"

Ani finished for her, "And they blow you up!"

"BOOM!" the twins exclaimed together, as they both slammed their hands on the table for emphasis.

This caused Jar Jar to become to jump when he was about to have some more of his food. "How wude!" he exclaimed.

"Ani, Ari, what have I told you about hitting the table?" their mother asked them.

"Sorry," they apologized. Shmi just smiled at her children as she sat back down from topping off her guests' drinks.

Padme continued on with the conversation. "I still cannot believe that there is still slavery in the galaxy. The republic's antislavery laws-"

Shmi didn't let her finish. "The Republic does not exist out here. We must survive on our own here."

"Don't!" Ari suddenly shouted, drawing everyone's attention to her. "That's bad table manners," she director towards the Gungan.

"Ari, that was rude," Shmi scolded her daughter.

"Sorry, mom. But he was gonna use his tongue to reach across the table to get some more food. And you always tell me and Ani that it is bad table manners to do that," Ariana explained. This surprised everyone, except the other Skywalkers; and even piqued Qui-Gon's interest in the children some more.

Jar Jar gasped, "How didya yousa know mesa wasa gonna do dat?"

Ari just shrugged and said, "I saw the muscles in your throat moving, and I just felt that that was what you were going to do." This caused Qui-Gon's suspicions to grow even more. It also made Jar Jar feel a bit embarrassed.

Attempting to change the subject, Anakin spoke up. "Has anyone ever watch a Podrace?"

"There is Podracing on Malastare. Very fast, very dangerous," Qui-Gon replied.

"Me and my sister are the only humans who can do it," Ani announced.

Ari nodded her head as she took a bite of her food. She then said, "Yeah, we take turns doing every other race."

"Well, then, you two must have Jedi reflexes if you are able to Podrace." Just as he was done with his sentence, he grabbed the Gungan's tongue when he tried a second time to grab food with it. "Don't do that again. After all, Ariana is right, it is bad table manners." Jar Jar grunted an affirmative before he got his tongue back.

"You are a Jedi Knight, aren't you?" The question put Padme a bit on edge.

"What makes you think that?"

Ariana spoke up that time. "We saw your lightsaber. Only Jedis carry that kind of weapon around."

"Maybe a killed a Jedi and took it from him," Qui-Gon said, seeing if that would throw them off course.

"I don't think so. No one can kill a Jedi," Anakin protested.

"Yeah!" Ari agreed.

"If only that were true," was all the man to that.

"I had a dream where my sister and I were Jedi Knights. We came back here and freed all the other slaves," Ani told him. "Have come to set us free?"

The Jedi sighed, "No, I am afraid not."

"I think you have."

Ariana nodded, "Why else would you be here?" Padme bowed her head when Anakin looked at for an answer, then back to Qui-Gon.

After a moment of silent contemplation, Qui-Gon spoke. "I see that there is no way that I can fool you two. We are on our way to Coruscant, the capital system of the Republic, on a very important mission."

This was received by the twins making confused faces and Anakin asking, "How then did you end up out here in the outer rim?"

It was then that Padme finally answered. "Our ship got damaged, and now we are stranded here until we can repair it."

"Well, maybe we can help. Ani and I can fix anything," Ari offered. Shmi smiled at this.

Qui-Gon chuckled and said, "I believe you two can. But first we need to obtain the parts that we require."

"Sadly, wesa haf no-nutten mula to trade wit," Jar Jar added on.

Padme declared, "There must be a weak point of some kind with these junk dealers."

"There is," Shmi answered, "gambling. Everything here revolves around betting on those awful races."

"Greed," Qui-Gon spoke, "It can indeed be a powerful ally, when applied correctly."

While they were talking, the Skywalker twins were having a private conversation of their own. They looked into each other's eyes which held understanding in them. "You know what we have to do," the younger twin thought.

"Yeah," Anakin thought back. They stared at each other for another second before nodding their heads in silent agreement. "We've built a racer. It's the fastest one ever. There is going to be a big race tomorrow on Boonta Eve."

Ariana continued, "You can enter our pod and-"

But before either of them could say anything else, their mother spoke up. "Anakin! Ariana! You know Watto won't let you."

"Watto doesn't know that we built," Ani told her.

"Right. Or that he unknowingly supplied some of the parts for it," Ari sheepishly said. Her mom looked shocked at that piece of information. "It was only the parts that we needed and that he wanted to throw away while they were still in good condition." She defended herself immediately after she saw her mother's face. Shmi just sighed in exasperation.

Getting back on topic, Anakin spoke again, "But he doesn't have to know, mom." He pointed to Qui-Gon. "You can make him think that it is yours and get him to let one of us to pilot it for you." The Jedi seemed to be interested in what the kids had to say.

"And Ani should be the one to pilot it for you. Because, while I hate to admit it, he's the better flyer out of the two of us," Ari proclaimed. Anakin smiled appreciatively at his younger sister for what she said.

Shmi argued, "I don't want either of you to race. It's horrible. I die every time Watto makes to you two do it."

"But, mom, Ari and I love racing," Ani protested.

"And besides, mom, the prize money would be more than enough to pay for the parts that they would need," Ari said, trying to help the twins' cause.

Speaking up so that the mother and children would not have to keep argue anymore, Qui-Gon said, "Your mother is right, you two." He then asked if there was anyone friendly to the Republic who could help them. The Skywalker mother just shook her head sadly.

After a moment a pause, Anakin spoke up. "Mom, you always tell us that the biggest problem in this universe is that nobody helps each other"

Shmi sighed looked at both of her children. When she saw Ariana's face, she knew that her daughter felt the same as her son.

Padme tried to comfort her, "I'm sure Qui-Gon would never want to put your son and daughter in harm's way. We'll find some other way."

"No," Shmi said making her final decision. "As much as I don't like it, there is no other way. They can help you. They were meant to help you." The twins lifted their heads up at hearing that, and then turned to Qui-Gon Jinn for the final decision.