THE FLOWER RIDGES, NABOO

The quad-winged Federation transport came in for a landing, not far from the jedi monastery, and disrupted the amazing scenery of the place. Birds headed for the sky and animals ran for cover as the massive vessel settled down. The monks gathered to greet their guests out on the main courtyard as droids and federation soldiers disembarged from the transport. One of the characters to exit the ship, mounted atop a sturdy reek, chains attached to its horns to simulate reins, was none other than Captain Sheelal Grievous; his one arm now replaced by a cybernetic counterpart, due to the wounds suffered during the battle for Theed. Grievous took point, leading the invasion forces up the hill, until they spread out in formation infront of the gathered monks. One of the monks took a couple of steps forward and with a stern face did he look Grievous straight in the eyes.

"I am Saurus Gelwyn" the monk said, "chaplain of this sanctuary. We are of the Jedi Order and enjoy its protection. We wish to take no part in this conflict of yours."

Grievous sneered as he glanced across the monks. "The jedi helped the queen escape" the kaleesh warrior then said, having no time for small talk. "Were did they take her?"

"Master Qui-Gon never came this way" the chaplain explained. "For some reason, his travels seems to have been barred, despite his neutrality."

"Neutrality?" Grievous repeated mockingly. "The jedi have sided with Naboo against the Federation, in clear violation of Republic law. You will tell me where they took the queen, and where her sister is hiding."

The chaplain held out his arms in a gesture of peace and clarity. "You must believe me, commander, that I am not able to provide you with those answers. I have no knowledge of where the queen is and the same is true of her sister."

"Then you wont mind my men searching your monastery" Grievous growled and then then waved his hand to urge his troops forward.

As the Federation troops began to head for the monastery, the monks all placed themselves tighter to deny the soldiers and droids access.

"This are jedi grounds" the chaplain pointed out. "You have no authority here."

Grievous face twisted with anger. "I am the only authority here."

The troops moved forward, blasters raised. The chaplain pulled a Federation banner-pole to him, relying on the Force to move it four meters through the air; as the banner was caught in his hands, he expertly used it as a poleweapon, defeating a full dozen soldiers and droids, even snaring two neimoidian officers with the cloth of the banner itself. Grievous jumped down from his beast and freed his disrupter-blade and activated the deadly energies that surrounded its slightly curved blade. He acted on instinct as he took the fight to the chaplain and the two soon were engaged in single combat, everyone else turning into a spectator as the two warriors went for one another. Grievous was forced to a knee as the chaplain managed to land a strike across his kneejoint; as the bannerpole came down for a finishing blow towards the kaleeshis head, Grievous held up his cybernetic arm to shield himself, the pole cracking and breaking against the armoured limb. Grievous wasted no time and pushed his entire sword into the chaplains gut, until the hilt itself was pressed against the chaplains torso.

The monks all gasped and took a step back, some covering their mouths out of disbelief and even terror. Grievous pulled his weapon out of the body of his opponent, allowing the deadly wound to freely leak blood and cover the chaplain in it, his cloak and robes soaking it all up. The kaleesh and the chaplain turned their eyes upon one another, and Grievous could not help but being impressed by the calm serenity he saw in the dying mans features; a man who did not fear death and who accepted his destiny.

"Hate..." the chaplain said as blood trickled down his chin from his lips, "leads only to suffering."

Grievous lashed out with his weapon, catching the chaplain across the neck and severed the head from the body with a single strike. Some monks fell to their knees and focused their minds on meditation, of finding balance and seeking refuge in the Force. Grievous turned his attention at the many monks, all of them anxious for what was to happen next.

"Kill them all."

And with that one simple command, the monks where all shot down in a hail of blasterfire.

MOS ESPA, TATOOINE

The hyperdrive was loaded onto a wagon that in turn was strapped to a dewback. Panaka handed over a ruby to Heegra, once a gem that had increased the splendor of the nobles of House Amidala, and as soon as the transaction was ended, the handmaiden and Jar-Jar climbed up on the wagon and two jawas began leading the dewback and the wagon through Mos Espa. Panaka noticed however that Qui-Gon seemed to linger.

"Are you not coming?" Panaka asked the jedi.

"I'll be along shortly. There is something I need to look into first."

"Alright" Panaka said and then headed after the wagon and the others.

Qui-Gon turned and headed down the other direction of the street. The jedi knight wandered through Mos Espa and asking where he could find Watto Ossiki generated a result almost instantly, and it only took twenty minutes to locate Wattos whereabouts, a small business dealing in salvage. Qui-Gon entered the shop, an establishment littered with junk, and a small droid popped up behind a counter almost instantly, the little thing an advanced version of the more common DUM-series of so called Pit Droids.

"Welcome to Wattos Prime Salvage. I am QBR3, finance and commerce droid, at your service. How can I help you? Are you perhaps interested in a trade, or are you selling?"

"I am looking for Watto Ossiki" the jedi said. "I understand he owns this establishment."

"Indeed he does" the droid by the counter said. "Master Watto owns and runs this lucrative business to the dismay of all his competition. Only at Wattos Prime Salvage will you find the highest quality of merchandize for your mechanical needs."

"I would like to speak with him."

"Does it concern a complaint?" the droid asked.

"Business" Qui-Gon said assuringly.

"Of course, sir" the droid replied, sounding almost overjoyed and pushed a button on the counter. "Master Watto will be with you shortly."

Qui-Gon did not have to wait long before a toydarian came flying into the shop through a backdoor, rambling in Huttese while smoking a thick tobacco-spike. The droid replied and clearly pointed out Qui-Gon.

"What do you want?" the toydarian asked, almost offended by Qui-Gons presence.

"Watto Ossiki, I pressume."

"Yes, what of it?"

"I understand that you are the owner of a slave named Anakin."

Watto sighed and grunted as he flicked ashes from his tobacco-spike. "What has the boy done now?"

"Nothing more than that he displayed a great deal of character and courage" Qui-Gon said and it was clear Watto did not find it very likely, judging by the face he made. "I would like to buy him."

Watto laughed aloud. "I don't think so. He is my best pilot. Half of my winnings I owe to the boy. He is not for sale."

"He is a pilot?" Qui-Gon asked.

"Yes, he is" Watto grinned. "Sixteen years old and already the best pod-racer on all of Tatooine. Truly a natural talent if I ever saw one. You should see him hunt womprats with a Skyhopper."

"So you run a stable?" Qui-Gon inquired.

The toydarian nodded with pride. "Six pilots in total. This shop I use to get hold of spare parts for my pods. No need to sell the best bits when I can use them myself. And believe me, you are not the first to try and buy that boy from me, and you wont be the last. If you are looking to buy a pod-racer pilot, I can offer you my second best driver, Kitster, and at a good price at that."

"Anakin will do fine" Qui-Gon said and extended his reach of the Force.

But the toydarian simply laughed. "No he wont" he said confidently. "I told you, he is not for sale."

Qui-Gon was somewhat surprised that this simple shopkeeper would be strong enough to withstand the influence of the Force. Realizing there was no way to persuade the toydarian of selling the boy, Qui-Gon decided to leave, for the time being atleast, and think of his options. Finding shade and refuge from the unforgiving suns, Qui-Gon retrieved his comlink and made contact with his padawan. Obi-Wan answered quickly enough.

"I have found the reason why we are sensing a disturbance in the Force" the jedi knight said over the comlink.

"A nexus?" Obi-Wan inquired, refering to certain places throughout the galaxy that seemed to merge the Force with the material realm. Places where Force sensitive creatures could gain a greater understanding of the Force, places where the Force would speak to such beings directly.

But Qui-Gon shook his head and then made sure no one was listening in on the conversation. "It's a boy."

Obi-Wan did not expect that answer. "A boy? How is that possible?" Obi-Wan found a chamber away from the others onboard so he was not overheard.

"I'm not sure" Qui-Gon said and glanced at Wattos shop further down the street. "But there can be no doubt that the boy is a vergence, a nexus. Somehow the Force responds to his presence."

Obi-Wan nodded. "Are we taking him? How old is he?"

Qui-Gon sighed and briefly opted not to answer. "He is sixteen."

Obi-Wan did not expect that either. "Sixteen?! Incredible... Imagine if we had found him when he was an infant."

"I intend to take him with us."

Qui-Gon clearly surprised his apprentice even further. "But... He is too old, master. The Order will not accept him. He is tainted by emotion and irrational thought. The moment he realizes his potential he will be consumed by the Dark Side."

"That is not certain, my young padawan. He can learn to harness his emotions and be in control of his desires. It has been done before."

"True" Obi-Wan admitted. "But more often than not in history, such students have turned rogue, many were overcome by the Dark Side. Lets wait until we reach Coruscant, and then we can inform the council of this boy and let them investigate his potential. Our mission is to take Amidala to Coruscant, not collect prospects. Why not follow common practice and inform the Order of this boy, so that they may retrieve his offspring in their infancy, should they inherit his abilities."

"The boy is special" Qui-Gon argued. "Not even when the grand masters join in council do they affect the Force to the extent that this boy does. He is too important to leave behind."

"As you wish, master" Obi-Wan reluctantly said, accepting his place as apprentice. "Major Olié says the repairs will take a few days, but then the ship will be as good as new."

"Good" Qui-Gon nodded. "That is more than enough time."