Here's chapter two. Sorry for the very long wait.
I own only my original characters, nothing else. I do not own Star Wars.
Some time past as Cato continued to sleep with Qui-Gon watching over him. The Jedi Master then felt something in the Force and realized it was coming from Cato, or rather in his dream. The boy soon became distressed by his vision. He began to toss and turn and yell frantically.
"No... NO!," he yelled in his sleep.
"Cato! Cato! Cato!" Qui-Gon yelled, trying to wake his son up, ultimately succeeding a few moments later. "You're alright now. It's alright."
"...Master Qui-Gon?," Cato asked and the man nodded. "...What happened?"
"I believe you were granted a vision from the Force, must've been frightening. Do you remember what you saw?"
"Yes. I... I saw myself. There was someone else standing next to me, but he was covered in darkness, and I was covered in light. He wasn't evil though just... dark. Obi-Wan was there too. Behind us was an no army of men in white armor," he said, describing the vision. "The galaxy was at war, tearing itself apart but... then there was this... this girl..."
"Did you know her? This girl?," he asked, and the boy shook his head.
"So... what was it?"
"...I'm not entirely sure. Best not to dwell on it at the moment though."
"Okay. You know, my mother talks about you all the time."
"Really? What does she say about me?"
"That you're a great Jedi, but a better man."
"Ha... yes, that sounds like something she would say," he said. "I saw what you did when we first appeared. Very impressive to be able to perform such a powerful Force push at such a young age."
"Thanks. Mother started training me last year. So Obi-Wan said that we're going to Tatooine?"
"Yes, we are. We should be there shortly. Now come, let's go find your mother," he said, helping the boy up.
They began to walk back to the larger part of the common area and found Amelia there, talking to Padmé with Sofi on her lap. However, when the three year old saw her brother, she smiled widely and got down.
"Cato!," she exclaimed and she ran over to him and pulled him away. "Come on, let's go find Ringer and we can all play!"
Reluctantly, he followed his sister out of the room, leaving everyone else to chuckle at the scene, even Qui-Gon.
"Haha... well at least they get along well," Padmé said.
"Indeed. Those two adore one another very much," Amelia said. "I'd hate to be the one to separate them."
"I sense that as well," Qui-Gon said. "Padmé, would you mind? I need to speak with Amelia alone."
She nodded and excused herself as the Jedi Master sat himself across from Amelia.
"The boy received a vision in his sleep. One of the future, I believe."
"...What did he see? Did he say?"
"Only something about him and another representing light and dark, a galactic war and a girl."
"This is very concerning. If he's having such visions at his age..."
"The Force is very strong with him. Sofi is almost as powerful too."
"Yes. They're already showing signs of Force sensitivity, it's quite possible that our children will one day become very powerful Force users, or at least more powerful than us. I've done my best to hide their power from servants of the dark side, but... there's only so much I can do."
"Have you considered bringing them to the temple?"
"...No, I won't be doing that," she answered. "If they do wish to become Jedi, though, I will not stop them. It is their choice to make. Just not yet though."
"A mother knows what's best for her children. However, if you change your mind, I will see to it that they are assigned to good masters. Even me, if it can be helped."
She nodded slowly and placed her hand over his, and they just sat there for a moment, smiling at each other.
"Master?," Obi-Wan said, coming into the room, and they quickly turned their attention to him. "Forgive the interruption, but we've arrived."
They slowly nodded after a moment of silence and got up and headed towards the cockpit.
It was then that a small figure in the shadows moved and was revealed to be Cato.
'Their children?,' he thought to himself before beeping was heard and he saw the blue and white astromech droid from before.
"Oh, hey... R2-D2, right?," he guessed and the droid beeped in confirmation before beeping something else. "Nothing, I just... heard something I probably shouldn't have heard. That and I had a strange dream."
The droid just beeped in concern.
"Thanks, Artoo, but I'll be okay."
"You must be Cato," Padmé said, returning to the room.
"Uh, yeah. You're... Padmé?"
"That's right. Sofi talked about you a lot, so did your mother. They love you very much."
"Yeah, and I love them too," he said then they felt the ship land. "Guess we're on Tatooine now."
"We are indeed," Obi-Wan said, returning as well. "My master, your mother, Jar Jar and the droid are going to search the nearby town for ship parts. Your mother would like you to go with them."
"...Okay. Thanks, Obi-Wan."
"You're welcome. Here, it might be best that you put these on."
He handed him some simple clothing, the kind a farmer would wear. He nodded and the Padawan left to check on the hyperdrive as Qui-Gon and Amelia appeared in farmer clothing as well.
"The hyperdrive is gone. We'll need a new one," Obi-Wan informed his master.
"That complicates things," Amelia said. "We won't be able to find one under 10,000 credits."
"Indeed. Don't let them send a transmission of any kind. I feel a disturbance in the Force," Qui-Gon said and former Jedi nodded in agreement.
"I feel it also, Master."
A few moments later, the ship opened up to a hot, desert planet.
"Why does this place feel weird, Mother?," Cato asked as they, Qui-Gon, Jar Jar and R2 walked out.
"I don't know, son. The Force is strong here for some reason."
As they left, Cato turned to see Sofi standing in the ship still with Obi-Wan next to her, and she had a sad look on her face. Cato slowly raised his hand to wave her goodbye, and she slowly responded in kind, as did the Padawan.
"May the Force be with you, Cato," Obi-Wan called out to him, and he nodded before walking away. "Don't worry, little one. My master will keep them all safe."
"Okay," Sofi said and he guided her back inside.
"Cato, keep up!," Amelia called, and he quickly ran over to her and the others. "Stay close to me. This place isn't safe."
He nodded and they continued onward, all the while, he'd sneak glances at Qui-Gon. The Jedi Master noticed this, of course, but he said nothing as they drew closer to the nearby settlement as they'd landed on the outskirts.
"Dis sun doen murder ta mesa skin," Jar Jar complained.
"Well, that's because there's two suns, Jar Jar," Cato said, and the Gungan looked up to see that he was right and he groaned in annoyance.
"Wait!," Panaka yelled behind them.
They turned to see him running towards them with Padmé in tow, wearing peasant clothing.
"Her Highness commands you to take her handmaiden with you."
"No more commands from Her Highness today, Captain. This spaceport is not going to be pleasant."
"The Queen wishes it. She is curious about the planet."
"...This is not a good idea," he relented and gestured her to follow. "Stay close to me."
She nodded and they all continued as Panaka returned to the ship.
They soon arrived in town, where they saw many suspicious looking individuals of all kinds.
"This is Mos Espa spaceport," Amelia said. "It's mostly moisture farms, with a few indigenous tribes and scavengers."
"Spaceports like this one are few in number, but are havens for those who do not wish to be found...," Qui-Gon said.
"Like us," Padmé finished.
"...Dissen berry berry bad," Jar Jar said, then he stepped in a big pile of poop. "Ooooh!"
Only Cato laughed at this as he was the only one who saw it. The group then walked into a plaza filled with many junk dealerships.
"We'll try one of the smaller dealers," Qui-Gon said, and they went into the one in their left.
It was a little junk shop with a large pile of broken spaceships and ship parts behind it.
When they went inside, they were greeted by a pudgy, blue Toydarian.
"Customers," he said in Toydarian and flew over to them. "What do you want?"
"I need parts for a J-type 327 Nubian."
"Ah yes! Nubian. We've got lots of that," he said switching to Basic before speaking in Huttese for a moment. "Boy, get in here! Now!"
"Our droid here has a readout of what we need," Amelia said.
A boy in peasant clothing quickly ran inside. He looked to be a couple inches taller than Cato, as well as a couple of years older.
"What took you so long?!," he asked.
"I came as fast as I could-," he tried to answer in the same language, but he was interrupted.
"Just watch the store. I've got some selling to do here," he said before switching again to Basic. "Soooo, let me take you and your wife both out back. You'll find what you need."
"Keep an eye on the Gungan, Cato," Amelia said.
"Ok, Mother," Cato said.
"Don't touch anything," Qui-Gon said to Jar Jar, who just stuck his very long tongue at the Jedi, making the seven year old shake his head.
Cato began to explore the shop when he saw the boy from before sitting on the counter, looking at Padmé.
"Are you an angel?," the boy asked innocently, the question confusing both Cato and Padmé.
"What?," Padmé said.
"An angel. I've heard the deep space pilots talk about them. They live on the moons of Iego, I think. They are the most beautiful creatures in the universe."
"You're a funny little boy. How do you know so much?"
"I listen to all the traders and star pilots that come through here," he answered. "I'm a pilot, you know, and some day, I'm gonna fly away from this place."
"You're a pilot too?," Cato asked, joining the conversation, while fiddling with a holo-communicator before placing it back on the shelf.
"Mm-hmm. All my life. You're one as well?"
"I can fly fighters. Still working on others. I've only ever flown an N-1 starfighter, though."
"N-1? That's a Naboo fighter. You from there?"
"I was born there, yes," he answered. "I'm Cato Pax."
"I'm Anakin Skywalker," he said to them both.
"Padmé Naberrie," Padmé said. "So, what's a little boy pilot named Anakin Skywalker doing here?"
"My Mom and I were sold to Gardulla the Hutt when I was about three, I think. But she lost us, betting on the Podraces, to Watto, who's a lot better master than Gardulla... somewhat."
"You're a slave?"
"I'm a person!"
"I'm sorry. I don't fully understand this place. This is a strange world to me."
"You'll get used to it," Cato said, sitting on the counter next to Anakin, then saw the Gungan about to turn on a pit droid. "Jar Jar!"
"Mesa wasn't goen to touch it!," he yelled before tripping over his own two feet and knocked over some things, making the three kids laugh.
Behind the shop, the Toydarian, whose name was Watto, showed Qui-Gon and Amelia to behind the shop, with R2 in tow. They then stop in front of the part that they needed, a hyperdrive.
"Here it is, a T-14 hyperdrive generator!," he said. "You're in luck, I'm the only one hereabouts who has one... but you might as well buy a new ship. It would be cheaper I think... speaking of which, how's you two going to pay for all this?"
"I have 20,000 Republic daraties," Qui-Gon said.
"Republic credits? Republic credits are no good out here. I need something more real."
"Are you willing to trade or perhaps we can pay you back at some point in the future?," Amelia asked.
"I don't make trades and I have enough people in debt with me, so no to both!"
"Well, we don't have anything else," Qui-Gon said then waved his hand. "But credits will do fine."
"No they won'ta."
"Credits will do fine."
"No, they won't!," he exclaimed, growing annoyed. "What you think you're some kinda Jedi, waving your hand around like that? I'm a Toydarian. Mind tricks don't work on me-only money. No money, no parts! No deal! And no one else has a T-14 hyperdrive, I promise you that."
"...We'll find the money to pay for it, then we'll be back," Amelia finally said as the two of them went back inside.
Back inside, Cato, Anakin and Padmé continued their conversation.
"So, what do your parents do, Cato?," Anakin asked.
"W-What?," he said, not expecting the question.
"Your parents. What are their jobs?"
"Oh... my father is a moisture farmer, and my mother is... a traveler of sorts. Helps people where she can."
"Oh. You're lucky then. I wouldn't have lasted this long if I wasn't so good at fixing things."
"I'm sure that's not the only reason. You just need something to stay alive for."
"He's right," Padmé agreed.
Anakin stopped to contemplate what his new friends had said. Then Cato began to feel something in the Force, coming from Anakin. That was when he realized that the two of them were more alike than he thought.
It was at that moment that Amelia and Qui-Gon returned, just as Jar Jar slipped and dropped the bundle of parts in his arms, something the three kids had been oblivious to.
"We're leaving," Qui-Gon said.
"Cato, come on."
"I'm really glad to have met you, Anakin," Padmé said, as she left.
"Same here," Cato said, getting off the counter and following his mother.
"I was glad to meet you both too!," he called out to them as Watto came back inside.
"Outlanders!," he said in Huttese. "They think because we live so far from the center, we don't know nothing."
"They seemed nice to me," Anakin commented in the same language, but this was ignored.
"Clean the racks, then you can go home."
Overjoyed at this, the boy quickly got to work.
"You seemed to have been getting along well with that boy," Amelia said to Cato.
"Anakin? Yeah, he and I are a lot alike."
The group found a dark and empty alleyway and Qui-Gon began to contact his Padawan.
Obi-Wan was now sitting in the main hold of the ship with Sofi and R9 next to him.
"So how old might you be, young one?," he asked, making conversation.
"Three," she answered. "When are Mama and Cato coming back?"
R9 chirped something to her, and it seemed to make her feel a lot better as she smiled at what was said.
"Couldn't have said it better myself," Obi-Wan joked and everyone present chuckled slightly.
Then his comlink went off and he saw that it was his master.
"Master, were you able to find a hyperdrive?"
"Yes, but there has been a slight complication," he answered and explained the situation to him. "Obi-Wan, are you sure there is nothing of value left on board?"
"A few containers of supplies, the Queen's wardrobe, maybe. Not enough for you to barter with. Not in the amounts you're talking about."
"All right. Another solution will present itself. I'll check back."
He then turned off the comlink and turned to Sofi.
"Why don't we go find something to eat?," he offered and she nodded slightly.
Qui-Gon put the comlink back into his pocket as Jar Jar started to complain.
"Noah gain, noah gain. Da beings hereabouts, cawazy!," Jar Jar complained back in the alley. "Wesa be robbed un crunched!"
"That is highly likely. We have nothing of value, that's our problem," Amelia said.
They began to walk around town again.
"You don't have any money by any chance, do you, Amelia?," Qui-Gon asked.
"Not enough to purchase the hyperdrive, unfortunately."
Suddenly, there was a commotion behind them. They turned to see a Dug on top of Jar Jar, about to beat him up. That is until Anakin arrived and stopped it entirely.
"Careful, Sebulba," he said in Huttese. "He's a big-time outlander. I'd hate to see you get diced before we race again."
The Dug got off of the Gungan and walked over to the human boy.
"Next time we race, boy, it will be the end of you," he responded in Huttese as well. "If you weren't a slave, I'd squash you now."
"Yeah, it'd be a pity if you had to pay for me."
"Hey, Anakin," Cato said as he and the others walked over to the two of them.
"Hey, Cato," he said before looking up at them. "Your buddy here was about to be turned into orange goo. He picked a fight with a Dug. An especially dangerous Dug called Sebulba."
"Nosir, nosir," Jar Jar said, trying to play dumb. "Mesa hate crunchen. Dat's da last ting mesa wanten."
"Nevertheless, the boy is right...you were heading for trouble. Thank you, my young friend."
"But... but... but mesa doen nutten!"
This comment was ignored and they continued onwards.
Anakin took them to another part of the marketplace, buying them some snacks. However, as he was handing some to Qui-Gon and Amelia, he spotted their lightsabers, but he didn't say anything about it for now.
"Gracious, my bones are aching...," Jira, a vendor at the marketplace said. "Storm's coming on, Ani. You'd better get home quick."
"Do you have shelter?," Anakin asked as they walked away.
"We'll head back to our ship," Qui-Gon said.
"Is it far?"
"On the outskirts," Padmé answered.
"You'll never reach the outskirts in time. Sandstorms are very, very dangerous."
"The boy is right, Qui-Gon," Amelia said. "It's best that we find someplace in town for the night."
"Yeah. Come with me, I'll take you to my place."
"What about your parents, Anakin?"
"Oh, my mom won't mind, especially once she sees the storm arrive."
A few moments later, just as the sandstorm began to hit, they arrived at Anakin's home.
"Mom! Mom! I'm home," Anakin called out and a woman of about forty years of age comes into view. "These are my new friends, Mom."
"I'm Qui-Gon Jinn," Qui-Gon said and then gestured to his companions. "This is my wife, Amelia, my son, Cato, and this is Padmé, Jar Jar and R2-D2. Your son was kind enough to offer us shelter from the storm outside."
"Come on, Padmé, Cato! Let me show you Threepio!," he said, leading the two of them to his room.
"Welcome, all of you, to our home," Anakin's mother said. "I'm Shmi Skywalker. I was just about to prepare dinner when you arrived, but I don't believe I have have enough for you all."
"That's alright. I think I have enough food for everyone," Amelia said, making Shmi sigh slightly in relief. "Would you like some help preparing it?"
"Thank you, I would love the help."
The two of them walked into the kitchen and quickly got to work.
"Apologies for just arriving all of a sudden like this."
"Oh, no. Not to worry, it's quite alright. I'm just happy to be able to help."
Anakin led Cato and Padmé into his room, with Artoo right behind them. It was pretty simple, a bed, some toys, and a workbench.
On the workbench was a human shaped android with arms and legs, but only one eye hooked up and no metal coverings.
"Isn't he great?," Anakin asked. "He's isn't finished yet."
"He's wonderful," Padmé said, smiling at the boy's enthusiasm.
"You really like him?"
"Of course!," Cato exclaimed. "You built him all from scrap parts?"
"Yup. I found him as just a torso and head and built him back together, just have to give him coverings. He's a protocol droid, to help Mom."
Anakin then turned on and the droid's eye lit up and he sat up on the bench.
'Oh! Oh! Um... where is everybody?,' the droid asked.
"Oops!," Anakin said before grabbing the other eye and installed it.
'Oh, that's much better. Hello, I am C-3PO, human cyborg relations. How might I serve you?'
"Hello, Threepio. I'm Cato Pax," Cato said.
'It is very nice to meet you, Master Pax.'
"He's perfect," Padmé commented, and the droid got up and began walking around the room and Artoo began beeping.
'I am not sure this floor is entirely stable. Hello, I don't believe we've been introduced,' Threepio said and Artoo beeps in greeting. 'R2-D2, a pleasure to meet you. I am C-3PO, human cyborg relations.'
Artoo then beeped something again.
'I beg your pardon, but what do you mean... naked?,' Threepio asked and Artoo beeped again in response. 'My parts are showing? Oh, my goodness. How embarrassing!'
In Queen Amidala's chamber back on the ship, the queen, Obi-Wan and the others were all sitting down as they listened to the message from Governor Sio Bibble back on Naboo.
"The death toll is catastrophic! We must bow to their wishes! You must contact me!," Bibble begged, sounding distressed, and this made the queen very nervous for her people.
"It's a trick. Send no reply. Send no transmission of any kind," Obi-Wan ordered and they reluctantly agreed to this.
The Jedi Padawan quickly left the chambers to contact his master. He found Sofi back where he left her, in Niner's company.
"Hi, Obi," she said when she noticed him and Niner beeped a greeting.
"Hello there. Are you two doing alright?"
"Uh-huh. Obi, what is like to be a Jedi?"
"Hmm...," he said, thinking about how best to describe it to a three year old. "It can be hard sometimes, but you get to help so many people all over the galaxy."
"Mama helps people too. She's not a Jedi."
"Yes, she does. She was a Jedi once, then she had you and your brother. But you don't have to be a Jedi to be help those who need it."
Sofi then smiled at this and walked away to explore with R9, and Obi-Wan smiled back as he got up and walked into the empty cockpit, quickly getting his comlink out.
"Master, are you there?," Obi-Wan asked and soon enough, Qui-Gon answered.
"I'm here," Qui-Gon said at the other end. "What is wrong?"
"We received a message from the governor back on Naboo, practically demanding for us to make contact."
"It sounds like bait to establish a connection trace. No response was made?"
"The queen is upset about it, but there has been absolutely no reply sent. What if it's true, though and the people are dying?"
"Either way, we're running out of time," the Jedi Master said, then he paused for a moment. "Oh, how is Sofi? Both Amelia and Cato would like to know."
"She seems to be doing pretty well. Misses her mother and brother already," the Padawan answered, chuckling slightly and he could hear his master doing the same. "She is a very bright girl. Between you and me, Master, I believe that she understands more about what is going on than she lets on, or at least as much as a three year old can."
"Agreed. Cato is the exact same way. The Force is very strong with them both, that's how they're able to comprehend so much at such young ages. They would make great Jedi, but we shall leave that decision up to their mother, and later on themselves. I must go now, take care Obi-Wan."
"You as well, Master," Obi-Wan said and turned off his comlink.
On the city planet of Coruscant, amongst the populace walking around during the night, two hooded men, clad in black cloaks, one a middle aged human, the other seemed to be red with black markings across his whole face and small horns on the top of his head.
"What have you found, my apprentice?," the human asked quietly as they walked on.
"The viceroy persuaded the governor to send out a message to the queen's ship, and I was able to locate her and the Jedi," the other man reported, speaking just as quietly. "They are on a desert planet in the Outer Rim known as Tatooine."
"I am familiar with the planet you speak of."
"Tatooine is sparsely populated, so if the trace was indeed correct, I will find them quickly, Master."
"Move against the Jedi first, the exiled Jedi as well. After that, you'll find that bringing the queen back to Naboo to sign the treaty will not be difficult."
"At last we will reveal ourselves to the Jedi. At last we will have revenge."
"You have been well trained, my young apprentice, they will be no match for you," the master said and they stopped for a moment to take a look at the view of the horizon.
"And what of the exile's children?," the apprentice asked. "What is to become of them?"
"...It would be a terrible waste to simply kill them both... when they could be useful in the future. Bring them to me, or at the very least one of them."
"Yes, my Master."
Back on Tatooine, everyone was now gathered around the dinner table in the Skywalker residence, with Amelia helping Shmi bring food out. As they did so, Shmi explained how slaves were kept under control on Tatooine.
"All slaves have transmitters placed inside their bodies somewhere," Shmi said.
"I've been working on a scanner to try and locate mine, but no luck," Anakin added.
"I can try to help you with that if you'd like," Cato offered.
"That would be great."
"Maybe another time, boys," Amelia said and they both nodded.
"Any attempt to escape-...," Shmi continued before Anakin finished for her.
"And it'd blow you up... boom!!," he exclaimed, leaving Padmé and Jar Jar horrified.
"How wude," Jar Jar commented.
"Agreed," Amelia said as she and Shmi sat down, both of them sitting across from their sons.
"I still can't believe there is still slavery in the galaxy," Padmé said. "The Republic's anti-slavery laws-."
"The Republic doesn't exist out here," Shmi interrupted. "We must survive on our own."
There was a rather awkward silence between them all. Anakin and Cato looked at each other and saw that they were both thinking the same thing, that one of them had to break this awkwardness by changing the subject.
"Have any of you ever seen a podrace?," Anakin asked, the silence finally breaking.
Just after he asked that, Jar Jar snatched a piece of food from a bowl across the table with his very long tongue, making both Qui-Gon and Amelia give him a dirty look.
"Scuse me," he said, somewhat embarrassed by the reaction of what he did.
"They have podracing on Malastare," Qui-Gon answered. "Very fast and very dangerous."
"I'm the only human that can do it."
"You can podrace?," Cato asked, surprised by this and his new friends nodded. "Didn't know humans could do it."
"Yeah, Watto said that he'd never heard of a human being able to."
"You must have Jedi reflexes if you race pods," Qui-Gon commented.
Just as soon as he said that, Jar Jar tried to snatch another piece of food with his tongue. Almost instantly, Qui-Gon shot his hand out and caught the Gungan's tongue between his forefinger and thumb.
"Don't do that again," Amelia said sternly.
He nodded as best as he could and Qui-Gon let go, and Anakin looked at them.
"...You're Jedi Knights, aren't you?," Anakin asked, causing everyone present to look at him, slightly surprised.
"...What makes you think that?," Qui-Gon asked.
"I saw your laser swords. Only Jedi carry those kind of weapons."
"Perhaps I killed a Jedi and stole it from him."
"I don't think so. No one can kill a Jedi."
"I wish that were so," Amelia commented.
"I had a dream I was a Jedi. I came back here and freed all the slaves. Have you come to free us?"
"No, I'm afraid not."
"I think you have. Why else would you be here?," Anakin stated.
Qui-Gon looked between his companions, before looking towards Amelia who nodded slightly, knowing what he was thinking.
"...I can see there's no fooling you," Qui-Gon said before growing a serious look on his face. "We're on our way to Coruscant on a very important mission."
"How did you end up out here in the outer rim?"
"Our ship was damaged, and we're stranded here until we can repair it," Padmé answered.
"I can help! I can fix anything!," Anakin exclaimed. "Cato and I can do it together."
"I believe you both could do it, but we must first acquire the parts we need."
"And we have don't have enough money to buy the stuff," Cato added.
"These junk dealers must have a weakness of some kind," Padmé suggested and Shmi quickly confirmed it.
"Gambling," Anakin's mother said. "Everything here revolves around betting on those awful races."
"Podracing... yes, greed can be a powerful ally," Qui-Gon said.
"I don't like the idea of gambling to get what we need, but it's the way we can do it," Amelia said. "Question now is how are we going to get our hands on a racer?"
"I've built a racer!," Anakin stated. "It's the fastest ever. There's a big race tomorrow, on Boonta Eve. You could enter my pod."
"Anakin!!," Shmi said. "Watto won't let you."
"Watto doesn't know I've built it. You could make him think it's your's, and you could get him to let me pilot it for you."
"I don't want you to race, Ani, it's awful. I die every time Watto makes you do it."
"But Mom, I love it, and they need help," Anakin argued. "They're in trouble. The prize money would more than pay for the parts they need."
"...Wesa ina pitty bad goo," Jar Jar said.
Qui-Gon had listened very carefully to Anakin as he spoke. He knew it could work, but what really intrigued that the boy would go out of his way and risk the wrath of his master just to help them. Cato could see this as well, and he was glad to know that there are people in the galaxy who would do things like this simply because it was the right thing to do.
"Anakin's plan could work," Cato said, making everyone look at him. "I saw some posters around town about the race, it is more than enough for us to buy the parts we need. Plus, we don't have any other options. If someone is offering to help us with all of this, no matter the consequences, who are we to refuse it?"
Amelia smiled slight at what her son had said, proud at how much he'd grown up already.
"You may be right, Cato, but this isn't our decision to make," Amelia said. "And I don't think any of us could live with ourselves if Anakin got hurt doing this."
However, despite the plan being a very good one, Qui-Gon knew that Amelia was right.
"...Both of your mothers are right, Cato, Anakin," he finally said. "Is there anyone friendly to the Republic who might be able to help us?"
The boy's mother simply shook her head at this.
"...Mom, you said that the biggest problem in the universe is no one helps each other," Anakin said. "We have to help them."
Cato just smirked to himself quietly at this, knowing that that was gonna change Shmi's mind.
"I'm sure Qui-Gon doesn't want to put your son in danger. We will find another way," Padmé said, but Shmi shook her head at this statement.
"...No, there is no other way. I may not like it... but he can help you. He was meant to help you."
"Thank you, Miss Skywalker. We're really grateful for the help," Cato said. "You as well, Anakin."
"You're welcome, Cato. Anything for my friends."
A few hours later, after the storm had finally passed and the people of Mos Espa were starting to rebuild the damaged marketplaces, Anakin left ahead of the others to inform Watto of the arrangement, and soon afterward, Qui-Gon and company arrived at the shop. While Cato and Amelia were very supportive of the plan, Padmé was skeptical of it.
"Are you sure that this is a wise decision? To put our faith in a boy we hardly know," she said to both Qui-Gon and Amelia just as they were about to enter Watto's shop. "The Queen will not approve."
"The Queen doesn't need to know," Qui-Gon responded.
"Well, I don't approve."
"We understand your well-placed reservations, Padmé," Amelia said. "However, like my son said, we don't have any other options."
Padmé nodded slightly to this, knowing that the former Jedi was right, though she kept the same look on her face. They said nothing else as they entered the shop, where Anakin was talking to Watto.
Cato stayed outside with Padmé, Artoo and Jar Jar. He sat down next to her, waiting for the others to come to an arrangement.
"Don't worry, Padmé," Cato said suddenly. "We'll get you to Coruscant, no matter what."
Padmé looked at him strangely, wondering why he didn't mention the queen. She had a good idea as to why, but decided to leave it alone for now and gave the boy a one armed hug in thanks.
"Thank you, Cato. That means a lot."
The quartet stayed outside for a little bit longer before the Jedi came out of the shop and began explaining the situation.
"We are to pay the entry fee and supply the pod," Amelia explained. "If we win, Watto will receive the winnings, and we get the parts we need, but if we lose, he gets the ship."
"You two are betting the ship?!," Padmé exclaimed quietly while trying to remain calm. "What if we lose the race?"
"It is a risk that we must take, I'm afraid," Qui-Gon said. "Anakin will be along shortly to make sure that the pod works, then we wait until tomorrow. Come, it is best that we return and inform the others."
They all nodded in agreement as they started heading back to the Skywalker home.
Once they got back, with Anakin not far behind, Qui-Gon got in his comlink and informed Obi-Wan of everything that happened. Meanwhile, Anakin got to work on finishing his podracer, with Cato helping him where he can. Padmé, Threepio, Artoo and Jar Jar were there to help them as well. The pod racer was built as a small capsule connected to two large engine in front of it, consisting of blue, silver and yellow colors.
"What if this plan fails, Master? We could be stuck here for a long time," Obi-Wan asked while Qui-Gon watched the two boys work together.
"A ship without a power supply will not get us anywhere, and... there is something strange about this boy, and Cato."
"What about Cato?," Amelia asked, walking up to the right side of him as he turned off the comlink.
"I sense a strong bond is already forming between those two boys," Qui-Gon explained. "They both are so alike, as if they can read each other's thoughts, know what they should do next. And Anakin, can you feel it? How strong in the Force he is?"
"I can. He is as strong as Cato is, and that is what frightens me a little. ...He heard us, you know? When we were talking on the ship?"
"I know. We will have to talk to him soon about it. Sofi as well."
She nodded at this and looked at the boys, smiling at the sight. Shmi soon walked over to them and watched them as well.
"You should be proud of your son," Qui-Gon stated. "He gives without any thought of reward."
"He knows nothing of greed. He has...," Shmi said, trailing off, unsure on how to explain.
"He has special abilities," Amelia finished, earning a nod from her. "He can see things before they even happen. Cato is the exact same way."
"Yes. That's why the two of them have such quick reflexes. It is a Jedi trait."
"He deserves better than a slave's life."
"So do you, Shmi. You have done a wonderful job at raising your son. If I can, I will try to free you both."
"You would?," Shmi asked, genuinely surprised.
"It would be the least that I could do for you," Amelia said.
"She is a woman of her word, Shmi. I can assure you of that," the Jedi Master said. "Though, with how unusually strong Anakin is with the Force, I must ask. Who was his father?"
"...There was no father," Shmi answered, confusing and slightly surprising the two of them. "I carried him, I gave birth to him, I raised him, without any help. I can't explain what happened. Can you help him? Even if it's only him?"
"I don't know. I didn't exactly come here to free slaves."
"We'll figure something out. That's a mother's promise," Amelia said as Qui-Gon went down to talk to the boys, who were now surrounded by Anakin's friends.
"That man really is Cato's father, isn't he? You weren't making it up."
"...Yes, he is. We fell in love while I was still a Jedi. I had to leave the order when my feelings were discovered, but I made sure that they never learned who they were for. Shortly after, my son was born. Then my daughter a few years ago."
"You have a daughter?," Shmi asked and Amelia nodded.
"Sofi, a real sweetheart, that one. She's strong in the Force as well, nearly as much as our boys. She's at the ship still with Qui-Gon's apprentice."
Anakin's friends soon left except for one, Kitster, who began to watch them work.
"Hey! Jar Jar! Stay away from those energy binders," Anakin warned, seeing the Gungan getting dangerously close to the binders. "If your hand gets caught in that bean, it'll go numb for hours."
"Yeah, something like that happened to me once," Cato said. "I was working on my mom's own astro droid and I got zapped. Couldn't feel my arm for the rest of the day."
"Ouch. Bet that freaked your mom out," Kitster said.
"More of the droid and my sister than her. The droid fainted, or rather as close to fainting as droids can get."
"You have a sister?," Anakin asked.
"Yeah, her name is Sofi. You'd like her."
Then out of the corner of his eye, he saw Jar Jar was about to get zapped and he sprinted over and pulled him away from the beam.
"You okay, Jar Jar?," Cato asked, a little annoyed that he still almost got zapped after being warned.
"Yeah, mesa'm okeeday. Sorry," he said back.
"It's fine. You finished over here?"
He nodded and the two of them walked away as Artoo and Threepio looked at each other.
'You know, I rather find that Jar Jar creature to be a bit... odd,' he said quietly to Artoo, who beeped in agreement. 'Yes, he is very odd indeed.'
Once Cato made sure Padmé was finished too with her part he headed back to Anakin.
"Okay, we're all set. All we can do now is turn it on."
"But you don't even know if this thing is gonna run," Kitster said.
"It will," Anakin assured him.
"I believe it is time that we found out," Qui-Gon stated. "Here, use this power charge."
"Yes, sir!"
"Excellent. Cato, Kitster, come along now."
He and and boys, along with everybody else then backed away as Anakin got into the capsule and plugged in the charge. He turns on a few things and the engines starting roaring on.
"IT'S WORKING!!! IT'S WORKING!!!!," he shouted over the engines and everyone cheered at this.
Anakin turned everything off and they all went inside, with his friend going back to his own home.
The rest of the day went by rather quickly, with Cato, Anakin and Padmé spending most of their time together, getting to know one another better. That night, Anakin, Cato, Amelia and Qui-Gon were outside on the balcony. The former Jedi Kinght tended to a cut that Cato had received while Qui-gon tended to Anakin's.
"Sit still, Ani. Let me clean this cut," Qui-Gon said as Anakin and Cato looked up at the stars.
"There are so many!," Anakin exclaimed. "Do they all have a system of planets?"
"Most of them."
"Has anyone been to them all?," Cato asked, making the two adults chuckle slightly.
"Haha... probably not, son," Amelia answered.
"I'm gonna be the first one to see them all!! You with me, Anakin?"
"Oh yeah!!"
"Hahaha, I don't doubt that for one moment, especially if you two are working together to do it. There, good as new," Qui-Gon said.
"Ani, bedtime!!," Shmi called from inside as Qui-Gon scraped Anakin's blood from the cut onto a comlink chip.
"What are you doing?," Anakin asked.
"Checking your blood for infections," he answered, though Amelia could sense that he was lying slightly.
"Ani!! I'm not going to tell you again!!"
"Time for bed for you too, Cato. Shmi said you could sleep in Anakin's room. Go on, off to bed, you two. You especially, Anakin. You've got a big day tomorrow."
"Goodnight, Mother," Cato said, hugging his mother, then hugged Qui-Gon as he spoke again softly. "Goodnight... Father."
This surprised the Jedi, but smiled all the same at this before he let go and the two boys ran back inside.
Once they were both inside, Qui-Gon gently extended his hand towards Amelia, wordlessly asking for the blood patch. She saw the look on his face and somewhat hesitantly handed to him.
"What are you going to do with those?"
"I merely wish to find out something," he said as he put both chips into his comlink before he called Obi-Wan. "Obi-Wan?"
"Yes, Master?," the Jedi Padawan asked.
"Make two separate analyses of the two blood samples I'm sending you."
"Yes, Master. One moment please."
"I need a midichlorian count."
"A midichlorian count?," Amelia asked, slightly amused at this. "This should be interesting."
"Indeed," Qui-Gon agreed. "What are your readings?"
"...The readings on both samples are off the charts. Over twenty thousand!! Each count is literally are equal, the same midichlorian count," Obi-Wan exclaimed quietly, shocked at this. "Even Master Yoda has a midichlorian count that high."
"No Jedi has."
"I did a similar analysis on Sofi," Amelia said. "Her count was twenty thousand on the button."
"What does this mean?"
"...I'm not sure," Qui-Gon said before the pair saw that Shmi was standing at the doorway, listening to their conversation, before walking away.
"Qui-Gon, please... please don't inform the council of our children's abilities."
"...I promise."
Sorry again for taking so long to write this chapter. I lost inspiration and interest for a while and my life got in the way. I hope you liked this chapter, I'm concerned about the second half of it. I did my best to get it done as soon as possible. No idea when the next