People, I'm back! I thank all the folks who has reviewed so far and read this silly story. Now, on with it… Oh, by the way; I'm still waiting for my beta's replied which didn't yet came. I'll try to minimize the spellings mistakes… thanks again for reminding me.

The storm has passed. Vendors and street people cleaned up the mess and rebuilt their food stalls. Jar Jar sat on a box in front of Watto's shop, watching all the activity with growing nervousness. Artoo was standing next to him. Hadrian was leaned with his back against the wall and watched around as well, heavily thinking. He knew what the future hold and he hope that he hasn't changed anything yet. Then he saw Padmé coming from around the corner and his heart jumped. She was a beautiful sight. Hadrian took a deep breath. He hoped that she wasn't mad at him anymore. Padmé stopped Qui-Gon as he was about to enter the shop.

Hadrian couldn't help but smile.

"Are you sure about this? Trusting our fate to a boy we hardly know. The Queen will not approve." She said angrily. Qui-Gon stared at her. Hadrian who was just standing next to them, was smirking. Was he the only one who knew? Guess he was.

"The Queen does not need to know."

"Well, I don't approve." Padmé added. She looked at her friend who was shaking his head. Qui-Gon turned and started into the shop. Hadrian was about to follow when Padmé hold him back.

"Why?" She asked him.

Hadrian frowned. "Padmé, it is the right way. Believe me, I know." She let him go and looked him in the eye.

"I still have a ba"

Hadrian took her hand and placed his finger on her mouth. "You may be deceived if you trust too much, but you will live in torment if you don't trust enough. Thrust me, Padmé. Please."

She nodded. He let go off her hand, turned around and entered the shop. Hadrian saw Qui-Gon standing before Watto who was looking at some hologram of the Naboo Cruiser. He stood next to the Jedi and sensed Padmé just right behind him. This was just so much fun. The blue alien was still studying the hologram.

"Not bad… not Bad… A Nubian."

"It's in good order, except for the parts we need." The Jedi said, deactivated the hologram and put it back into his pocket.

"But what would the boy ride? He smashed up my Pod in the last race. It will take some time to fix it."

Hadrian found this amusing. Anakin at the other hand was humiliated and stepped forward.

"Ahhhh… it wasn't my fault really. Sebulba flashed me with his vent ports. I actually saved the Pod… mostly."

Watto laughed. "That you did. The boy is good, no doubts there."

"We are not doubting him in any way, Watto." Hadrian replied fast. The blue Alien flashed him a grin.

"I have acquired a Pod in a game of chance. 'The fastest ever built'" Qui-Gon said, giving the boy a bright smile. Anakin smiled back. Watto gave the Jedi a dirty look.

"I hope you didn't kill anyone I know for it." He laughed. "So, you supply the Pod and the entry fee; I supply the boy. We split the winnings 50-50, I think."

"Fifty-fifty!" Hadrian exclaimed. "That's load of bullshit."

"If it's going to be fifty-fifty, I suggest you front the cash for the entry. If we win, you keep all the winnings, minus the cost of the parts I need. If we lose, you keep my ship." Qui-Gon suggested. Watto thought about it. Anakin tried not to be nervous and Hadrian was looking in between.

"Either way, you win." Hadrian said, waving his hand. Watto looked between the two Jedi and nodded. He slapped into Qui-Gon's hand in matter of agreement.

"Deal! Yo bana pee ho-tah, meedee ya." Watto said grinning. (Your friend is a follish one, methinks.)

Qui-Gon signed Hadrian to leave. Together they made there way back to the Slave Hovel. Padmé, Jar Jar followed closely. When they arrived at Anakin's home, Qui-Gon disappeared from sight, properly going to speak with Obi-Wan about the situation. Hadrian wanted to follow, but he didn't. Instead he searched for Padmé. He found them in the back yard. He saw the almost finished Pod. He saw Padmé and Jar Jar working on the wiring. He wanted to help, but he knew nothing about electronics. Nothing of that kind, besides the technology here was more vast advanced then on Earth.

He walked down the steps and joined the little group of children. They were teasing Anakin about his pod and about the way he raced. Hadrian smiled at the display, then they all disappeared to play ball except for the boy Kitster. He Saw Jar Jar fiddling with one of the energy binder plates. The Jedi-to-be sighed in frustration.

"Hey! Jar Jar! Stay away from those power couplings." Anakin shouted.

The Gungan looked up and pointed at himself. "Who, mesa?"

"If your hand gets caught in that beam, it will go numb for hours." Anakin said, working on some device. Hadrian walked around, he will prevent that the Gungan gets zapped. He reached to alien when Jar Jar was about to stand up. Hadrian pulled him away, just a few inches from the beam. Padmé gave him a smile, then he looked back at the Gungan.

"If I wasn't here you were talking gibberish right now." Hadrian told him. The Gungan nodded in thanks. He pushed him away from the speeders and watch the show from the side next to Padmé. Qui-Gon approached the group and gave Anakin a small battery.

"I think it's time we found out. Use this power charge."

"Yes, sir!"

Anakin jumped into the little capsule behind two giant engines. He put the power pack back into the dashboard. Everyone backed away and the engines ignited with a roar. Everyone cheered, especially Anakin. Hadrian was laughing and Qui-Gon smiled. Shmi, watching from the porch, smiled sadly.

The two suns has set behind the horizon and the world was cloaked in darkness. Hadrian looked at the stars finding it still unbelievable of being here. He walked along the balconies until he saw Qui-Gon and Anakin sitting on the rail of his hovel as Qui-Gon tended to a cut. The boy leaned back to look at the vast blanket of stars in the sky, something Hadrian did earlier. Hadrian joined the group and Qui-Gon acknowledged him.

"Sit still, Ani. Let me clean this cut."

"There are so many! Do they all have a system of planets?"

"Most of them."

"Have anyone been to them all?"

Qui-Gon laughed. "Not likely."

"I too wish to see them all. Being from Earth and all. It's just amazing." Hadrian said dreamily, watching the stars. Qui-Gon gave him a meaning look. Anakin smiled.

"I want to be the first one to see them all. You are happily to join me, Hadrian… Ouch!"

Qui-Gon wiped a patch of blood off Anakin's arm. Hadrian made a painful face, knowing how it feels.

"There good as new." The Jedi said. Shmi yelled from inside the hovel.

"Ani, bedtime!"

Qui-Gon scraped Anakin's blood into the com-link ship. Anakin was confused.

"What are you doing?"

"Checking you blood for infections."

"I've never seen…"

"Ani! I'm not going to tell you again!" His mother shouted again. Qui-Gon looked from where the shout came and notched Anakin to listen.

"Go on, you have a big day tomorrow. Goodnight."

"Goodnight, don't let the bedbugs bite." Hadrian said, patting the boy's shoulder. Anakin rolled his eyes at Qui-Gon and smiled at Hadrian. Now Hadrian took Anakin's place on the rail. The Jedi took the blood stained ship and inserted it into the com-link, then he called Obi-Wan while looking at Hadrian.

"Obi-Wan."

"Yes, Master."

"Make an analysis of his blood sample I'm sending you."

"Wait a minute…"

"I need a midi-chlorian count."

"All right. I've got it."

"What are you readings?"

"Something must be wrong with the transmission."

Qui-Gon looked thoughtful.

"Here's a signal check."

"Strange. The transmission seems to be in good order, but the reading are off the chart… over twenty thousand."

More to himself. "That's it then." He looked at Hadrian who arched an eyebrow. "Hold on a second." He put his com-link away and addressed the boy in front of him. Hadrian had a strange feeling about this.

"I need a sample of your blood." He asked. Hadrian looked confused; They wanted to know about his readings. Even Hadrian was quite curious about it. He nodded and stretched out his arm. Qui-Gon pricked him while Hadrian flinched a bit. He put the new ship into his com-link.

"Obi-Wan."

"Here."

"Check Hadrian's midi-chlorians."

"Hadrian's? Sure, Master."

Hadrian was quite nervous as was Qui-Gon who was watching him.

"His midi-chlorians are even higher then the boy. It totally flies off the chart."

Now Qui-Gon was surprised. Hadrian looked away, to uncomfortable. What should he say?

"Very strange indeed." He replied into his com-link while staring at the boy.

"Even Master Yoda doesn't have a midi-chlorian count that high!"

"No Jedi has."

"What does it mean?"

"I'm not sure until Hadrian explained himself fully." He closed the contact. He looked up and saw Shmi in the doorway, watching him. Embarrassed, she went back into the kitchen while Qui-Gon pondered the situation. He stared back at the boy in puzzlement.

"What?" Hadrian said.

"Two extremely high midi-chlorians readings and the highest comes from you, Hadrian… and you are withholding something." Qui-Gon said, crossing his arms. "What are you hiding?"

"I'm not hiding anything." He retorted back. "Do you think I want to be here? I was just whisked away from my home and dropped here in middle of nowhere which isn't even my own universe? How would you feel?"

"There's no need to be angry."

"I'm not angry… just frustrated." Hadrian took a deep sigh. "You don't believe me, do you?"

"It's hard to believe in you if you are such a mystery. You said you came from a different universe and yet you know an awful lot about this galaxy. How can you explain that?" Qui-Gon said. Hadrian looked away and swallowed hard. "What do you fear?"

Should he tell him. Hadrian's mind went in overdrive. Maybe he should tell Qui-Gon something to keep him off his back. Just a small detail, nothing more. He could thrust the older Jedi with his life. But what about Qui-Gon himself? Could he save him from death? Will he become a Jedi and if not, what will he do once this is over. Will the Force just send him back? Hadrian looked up. He stood up and gazed at the Jedi who was waiting for an answer.

"I fear for the future." He said. Qui-Gon arched an eyebrow waiting for the boy to elaborate. "Maybe I did let out a small detail of how I got to be here." He sighed. Here it comes.

"The Force brought me here." There. It was out. Qui-Gon looked shocked for the first time in his life.

"The Force?"

Hadrian nodded. "It wants me here to… to change the future."

There was an uncomfortable silent.

"Please," Hadrian begged, "Don't asked any of it anymore. It is all ready hard as it look. The fate of the future is right on my shoulder. Don't add anymore burden." He turned around and left the confused Jedi Knight behind. He didn't care what he will think about him now. It was out and Hadrian hoped that Qui-Gon will keep it quiet until the time came that he can tell it themselves.

Hadrian walked out of the hovel and went into the night. He stopped short not far from the Pod in the back yard. Everything was so quiet that he still need to get use too. It was nothing like the busy streets of LA. Police sirens around every corner or shouts from angry neighbors. It was peaceful and serene. Yes, he could get use to it.

He didn't know how long he stood there until he felt a present behind him. It wasn't Qui-Gon and he was glad for it, but it was something more calming. He turned his head and saw Padmé coming toward him. He smiled at her.

"Why aren't you sleeping yet?" She asked coming to stand next to him.

"Not tired yet, I guess. Besides it's a lovely night. Nothing like back home." Hadrian explicated.

"Do you miss it?"

Hadrian looked into her eyes. "Yes and no. Yes, because I miss my friends and my Master. No, because somehow I belong here and not on Earth."

"Because of the Force?"

Hadrian nodded. "Back on Earth nobody understand anything like it. 'Coz it's very rare for someone to have paranormal powers. Mostly unheard of. And here," He waved his arms around, "It's normal to use it. It's part of life."

"You mentioned friends. Don't you have any family?" She asked him nicely.

Hadrian sighed. "I don't have any family, that's why I don't miss them. I've never known my birth parents, they gave me up by birth. Probably they couldn't handle that. That's my guess."

"I'm sorry. I didn't know."

"That's why you asked." He smiled.

Padmé looked at him and felt immediately in love. She gazed away when Hadrian stared at her with his pure blue orbs, then he looked away again. She didn't know what she felt. Somehow she trusted him with her life and then there a voice inside her head telling her that this was wrong. But she didn't listen too that. He was a very good friend, even if she knew him for a few days. But he was a Jedi. Right?

"Will you become a Jedi?" She asked. Hadrian didn't answered right away, so she waited.

"I don't know." He said finally. "But I don't care either. There are some things I don't like about the Jedi."

"Like what?

"Attachment."

She looked confused, then she knew.

"You are forbidden to love."

He smiled. "Encouraged by it. No, Jedi are forbidden to bind themselves to someone which is bullshit."

"But if you have the opportunity to become one, will you then?"

Hadrian thought about this. "I guess I will. And I already know I will never live by the rules. I'm a real rule breaker." He joked. Padmé smiled. She really like him, even more then that.

"Really?"

"Rules are meant to be broken so that your can come up with a new and better rule to live by." He explained. She laughed. He had a point.

Hadrian looked at her. The stars were reflection her skin which was very beautiful. She really looked like an angel. The angel version he knew. He turned around and stood a few inches away from her. They were at the same height. Padmé, feeling somehow too close for comfort, wanted to step away but she couldn't. Actually, she didn't want to. She looked into his eyes and saw the stars mirroring in it. She was drowning into these blue depths.

"Hadrian… you are a very good friend. Someone who really understands me."

"The same reason you understand me and a only good friend around the same age as well." He smiled.

Padmé laughed. "That's true." There was an small tension between the two. Two heartbeats were beating as one when suddenly Padmé leaned in and kissed him on the lips. Hadrian snapped his eyes open while she kissed him gently. She pulled away and blushed. Hadrian found himself in a daze, but it didn't mean he didn't like it. He smirked and looked into her eyes. They hadn't have the experience in kissing but it was good enough for them.

Hadrian caressed her cheek, leaned in too and kissed her back. Padmé closed her eyes and savored the sweet taste of her first kiss. It was not much, but enough to make the butterflies increase in her stomach. She kissed him back hard while embracing him. Hadrian let his hand roam on her back until the broke the kiss and looked into each other eyes.

"Waow." They said in unison. There was a sudden silent. They were still holding each other, neither of them wanted to let go. Then Padmé broke away and gave him a small kiss on the lips.

"We better turn in. It's going to be a long day tomorrow." Padmé said. Hadrian nodded, still in bewilder of what happened. They walked back, hand in hand to the hovel to sleep. Mrs. Skywalker was kind enough to organize some sleeping arrangement. They said each other goodnight and went to their quarters.

Hadrian turned and tossed in his sleep. He was having some kind of vision. A vision he knew all to well.

A sinister looking spacecraft landed on top of a desert mesa at dust, scattering a herd of banthas. A dark cloaked man walked to the edge of the mesa and studied the landscape with a pair of electrobinoculars. He picked out the lights of three different cities in the distance, then pashed a few buttons on his electronic armband.

Six football-sized Probe Droids floated out of the ship and headed off in three different directions toward the cities. The Dark Man stood on the mesa and watched them through his binoculars and smiled.

Hadrian sat up suddenly to catch his breath. It was exactly like in the movie. He shook his head and stood up. Qui-Gon's bed was empty, so he must be up already. Hadrian decided to get dressed as well. He will meet the Sith soon enough. By the end of the day even.

"Darth Maul." Hadrian whispered.

Hadrian, now fully dressed and eaten, followed Qui-Gon to Arena. He saw many race crew members milled about outside the main hanger. He followed the Jedi inside and looked around. The Hanger is a large building with dozen or so Podracers being readied for the race. Alien crew and pilots rushed about making last minute fixes on their vehicles. Hadrian walked next besides Qui-Gon who was following Watto through the activity. Hadrian found himself excited.

"I want to see your spaceship the moment the race is over." Watto said, pointing toward the Jedi.

"Patience, my blue friend. You'll have your winnings before the suns set, and we'll be far from here."

"Which is going to happen." Hadrian replied. Watto shook his head and laughed, making a hard comment.

"Not if your ship belongs to me. I think… I warn you, no funny business." Watto stopped before an orange racer. Sitting to one side, Having his shoulder and neck massaged by twin Yobanas, was Sebulba. Watto smiled at him. Hadrian gave him dirty look.

"Don't get me wrong. I have great faith in the boy. He's a credit to your race, but Sebulba there is going to win, I think."

"Why?" Qui-Gon asked, looking at Sebulba.

"He always wins." He laughed. "I'm betting heavily on Sebulba."

"He's not going to win this time." Hadrian muttered to himself. Qui-Gon heard him and nodded. Hadrian arched an eyebrow. What was that?

"I'll take that bet." He said.

Watto suddenly stopped laughing and looked at the Jedi in confusion. "What? What do you mean?" Hadrian laughed slightly.

"I'll wager my new racing pod against… say, the boy and his mother." Qui-Gon said slyly.

"A pod for slaves. I don't think so. Well, perhaps. Just one; the mother, maybe… the boy isn't for sale." Watto replied.

Hadrian hated that kind of talk. Selling people like that were a piece of meat.

"The boy is small, he can't be worth much."

Watto shook his head.

"For the fastest pod ever built!" Qui-Gon looked dishelmed. Watto again shook his head. Hadrian didn't know what was happening, he was missing something. This part he has never seen before not even in the movies. Should have buy that special extended DVD, damn. He listened very carefully.

"Both or no bet." Qui-Gon stated.

"No pod's worth two slaves… not by a long shot. One slave or nothing." Watto explained. He Pulled out a small cube from his pocket. It looked like a dice.

"We'll let fate decide. Blue it's the boy and red his mother."

Watto tossed the cube down. Hadrian saw Qui-Gon's hand lift up slightly, using the Force. Even Hadrian felt it through the air. He looked down and the cube turned blue. Qui-Gon smiled while Watto looked quite furious.

"You won the small toss, outlander, but you won't win the race. So, it makes little difference."

Qui-Gon shook his head. Hadrian smiled. There was suddenly a plan forming. He saw then Padmé entering with Anakin on one of the Eopies that was pulling an engine. Kitster, on the other Eopie was pulling the other. Hadrian then saw Threepio in all his naked glory walking alongside while Artoo trundled behind, pulling the Pod with Shmi sitting on it. Watto passed Anakin as he leaves.

Hadrian didn't hear what he was saying but he was looking at Mrs. Skywalker. The plan he had revolved around her. Making up his mind he left the group behind and followed the blue alien along from a distance away. He saw that Watto was heading for the stands that surrounded the arena. Picking up the pace, Hadrian turned a corner and saw him.

"Watto!" Hadrian shouted. The blue alien stopped in mid air and watched the human with a mixed expression.

"What'd you want!"

"I want to make a bet with you as well."

Watto looked at the boy in wonder, then he smiled. "On what."

Hadrian smirked. "If Anakin would win the race, his mother goes free."

Watto looked at him in horror before in burst into fits of laughter. Hadrian kept smiling, he didn't want to loose his concentration.

"And what do I get if the boy loose?" Watto asked, flying around the young man like a predator.

"If Anakin would loose, you'll have me. Think about it. If he loose, not only you will win but you will gain another slave as well." Hadrian was disgust with himself. Now he was selling himself. Go figure. Watto was thinking while caressing his chin. Then he smiled.

"You have yourself a deal."

"Nice doing business with you." Hadrian replied before turning around his heel and walked away. When he was a distance away, he took a deep breath and then slapped himself.

"Idiot." He muttered. He was positive sure about the future so now he hoped that it went also that way. When he rounded a corner he saw suddenly a black flying probe droid. Hadrian cursed. He totally forgot it for a moment. It seems that this confrontation will happen. He shook his head and headed for the arena were the others were. He went on when he heard the cheers of the people who came looking at the race. Hadrian saw one of the viewing platforms which he recognized from memory. He saw then Shmi Skywalker. He gave her a nod. She looked nervously to Qui-Gon as he entered the viewing platform. Padmé and Jar Jar were already onboard. Hadrian saw them and gave them a smile. Qui-Gon saw Hadrian and gave him a puzzled look.

"Where have you been?"

"Doing some business." Hadrian replied.

Review and thanks for reading, next chapter will be up soon...