As promised the next chapter... Enjoy and don't forget to review!


Qui-Gon let it slide and walked at the woman.

"Is he nervous?" She asked him.

"He's fine."

Padmé looked not very happy. She stepped forward to address the Jedi Knight.

"You Jedi are far too reckless. The Queen…"

"The Queen trusts my judgment, young handmaiden. You should too."

"You assume to much." She replied. The platform rose like an elevator so that the spectators could see the whole arena. Hadrian stood besides Padmé and flashed her an smile. She smiled back, sliding her hand in his. Hadrian took it and squeezed it gently. Then they heard the announcer shout through the entire arena.

"Start your engines." The earth-pounding roar of the engines revving was deafening. Hadrian never went to a race before and to be the first to see actually a Podrace. Now he got the new sensation of trying out himself. Hadrian and Padmé looked over the rail. On the bridge over the track, a great green light at the center flashed. It was the signal. The Podracers shoot forward with a high-pitched scream. Hadrian saw Anakin's pod shutting down.

"An dare ovv!"

"Oh… wait. Little Skywalker has stalled."

Padmé and Jar Jar were very disappointed with Anakin. Hadrian squeezed her hand again. Qui-Gon put his arm around a very worried Shmi to comfort her. Then finally, Anakin's engines ignited. He zoomed away after the receding pack of competitors, leaving one quadra-Pod racer still trying to get started. The two-headed announcers described the race as it progresses. They let out a breath not knowing they were holding it. Hadrian looked besides him.

"Trust him." He said to her. Padmé smiled. They watched the progress of the race on a small, hand held view screens. The race was proceeding as Hadrian knew it would happen. But it was just to much fun to see it in real life.

"Where's Ani." Jar Jar asked. Padmé, Shmi, Qui-Gon and Hadrian watched another screen and looked worried. They saw the fight between the racers and some people let out shouts when some raced didn't make it. Qui-Gon sat down and quietly meditated. The women searched the landscape for any sign of the racers. Hadrian sat down next to the Jedi and followed his example. Qui-Gon cracked one eye open.

"You know how it ends?" He asked. Their was an explosion which came from the quadra-pod. Then their was the sound many Podracers passing the Arena.

Hadrian shrugged. "Yeah. But I'm not telling you." Qui-Gon stood up. Padmé, Shmi and Jar Jar yelled for joy as Anakin passed. Hadrian just got a glimpse of the boy's pod.

"What gooie-on?" Jar Jar asked.

"Bug off." The man said. Jar Jar looked crestfallen. Lap two. Sebulba and the pack race past the main arena. The crowd stood and yield as the podracers screamed off into the distance. Qui-Gon and Padmé looked worried.

"He musta crash-ud." The Gungan said. Hadrian elbowed him.

"Here he comes." Padmé said, looking over the railing. Sure enough, coming around the bend was Anakin, quickly gaining on the pack. The two-headed announcer described the action. The crowed went wild.

"It looks like Skywalker is moving up though the field. He's in sixth place, not bad."

Hadrian saw that Anakin continued gaining on the pack. Tension for Shmi and Padmé was unbearable. Hadrian let the Force flow through his body and soothed Padmé's nervousness away. She looked a him and smiled. As Hadrian followed the race on the view screen, he saw that Anakin was racing neck and neck with Sebulba over the rough terrain. Shmi, Qui-Gon, Padmé and Jar Jar all screamed as Anakin came through the arena. Hadrian sheered along with them. The lights in the tower indicate that this was the third and last lap. He listened to the announcer what was happening.

"Skywalker is forced onto the service ramp!"

"Amazing… a controlled thrust and he's back on course! What a move!"

"He's catching Sebulba! Inkabunga!"

"That little human being is out of his mind. They're side by side!" Hadrian took a deep breath when he watched it play out on the screen. In his mind he crossed his fingers so that Anakin will win. They all were transfixed on the screen. Waiting for the strike to come.

Then he saw Anakin flew through a explosion as the crowd stood up cheering. Padmé jumped around Hadrian's necked and cheered along. Jar Jar jumped up and down with excitement and Padmé screaming for joy and she kissed Hadrian full on the lips. She broke away blushing. Qui-Gon and Shmi smiled. Anakin raced over the finish line. He was the winner.

"It's Skywalker! The crowd are going nuts! Oh ah oh ah!"

As Anakin stopped the Pod racer, Kitster turned up and they embraced. Hundreds of spectators joined them and put Anakin on their shoulder, marching off, cheering and chanting. Hadrian then saw a black probe droid moving through the crowd and frowned.

Several aliens left Watto's box, laughing and counting their money. The blue alien saw Qui-Gon and Hadrian standing in the doorway. He flew up against them.

"You and You," He pointed at Hadrian, "You swindled me! You knew the boy was going to win! Somehow you knew it! I lost everything."

Watto flew up to the Jedi and put his face right up against his. Qui-Gon simply smiled back. Hadrian stood a little at the side. Watching.

"Whenever you gamble, my friend, eventually you'll lose. Bring the parts to the main hanger. I'll come by your shop later so you can release the boy.

"You can't have him and her! It wasn't a fair bet!" Watto replied.

"Would you like to discuss it with the Hutts… I'm sure they can settle this." Qui-Gon warned him.

Watto waved him of with a sad tune. "No, no! I want no more of your tricks! Take him."

Qui-Gon bowed his head in respect and left. Hadrian walked up to the alien and arched his eyebrow. "I hope we are even on this as well?"

Watto looked at the boy in front of him. He nodded, then flew away. Hadrian turned around but not without seeing the Prob droid again. He eyed it and started to run after Qui-Gon.

"I feel a disturbance in the Force , Qui-Gon. Something is watching us." Hadrian said while he helped him harnessed the Eopies to containers full of parts.

"You do?"

Hadrian nodded. "There's a black Probe Droid following us since before the race. My bet it came over night. Who ever it is, he knows we're here."

"Then we can't hold up much longer." He turned around and faced the group. "Padmé. Jar Jar, let's go, we've got to get these part back to the ship."

Padmé nodded. The group walked over to the Jedi and the Eopies. Padmé climbed with help of Hadrian behind Qui-Gon. Jar Jar swung up onto the second Eopies, only to slowly slide off the other side. Artoo whistled. Hadrian stood beside Qui-Gon.

"I'll stay and keep an eye on things."

"I'll return the Eopies by midday." Qui-Gon said. Hadrian nodded. Anakin, Shmi and Hadrian waved as they rode off.

The Skywalker family invited Hadrian back to their house. He accepted it. They walked on the main street of Mos Espa and turned a corner to arrive at the slave hovel. They entered, chatting all the way. Shmi was very glad that her son came out of it well. Anakin took Hadrian by the hand and together they disappeared in the back yard.

"I still can't believe I actually won." Anakin said cheerfully. Hadrian smiled and leaned against the wall.

"You'll get used to it eventually."

"Have you ever won something, Hadrian?" The boy asked. Hadrian nodded.

"Several times." Was his answer. The boy looked in awe.

"In what? Races? You don't looked that old."

"I'm thirteen, kid. And no. Not in races, in combat competitions. I won three time junior rank in close combat and two times in sword fighting."

"Waow! Are you really a Jedi?" Anakin asked. Hadrian looked thoughtful. What was he suppose to say? Well, the truth would be nice. He hated lying anyway.

"Actually no. I'm not."

"But you're carrying a lightsaber. That must count for something."

"But doesn't make me a Jedi, Ani. Anyone who can wield a sword can take a lightsaber as his weapon. But if they give by the chance of becoming one, I would not refuse."

The boy nodded. "You're a really good friend, Hadrian."

"Thanks."

They walked back into the house. Anakin said he needed to do something, leaving Hadrian along with his mother. He asked if he could help out with something but Shmi shook her head and told him that he was a guest. Not long before Anakin burst into house closed followed by Qui-Gon.

"Mom, he sold the Pod. Look at all the money we have!" Anakin pulled a bag of coins out of his pocket. Shmi look in wonder.

"Oh, my goodness. That's wonderful." But it wasn't everything.

"And Anakin has been freed." Qui-Gon added.

"What?" The boy shouted.

"You're no longer a slave." Anakin jumped for joy. His mother was stunned beyond believe. Hadrian found this quite emotional. Anakin embraced his mother.

"Did you hear that, Mom?" He looked back at the Jedi. "Was that part of the prize, or what?"

"Let's just say Watto has learned an important lesson about gambling." Qui-Gon said. Hadrian laughed along, nodding his head. All to well.

"Now you can make your dreams come true, Ani. You're free!" She looked at Qui-Gon. "Will you take with you? Is he to become a Jedi?"

"Our meeting was not a coincidence. Nothing happens by accident. Your are strong with the Force, Anakin, but you may not be accepted by the council. Even you Hadrian."

"I know." He replied. Anakin beamed.

"A Jedi! Mighty blasters, you mean I get to go with you in your starship and everything!" the boy asked.

Qui-Gon knelt down to the boy. "Anakin, training to be a Jedi will not be a easy challenge. And if you succeed, it will be a hard life."

"But it's what I want. What I've always dreamed about. Can I go, Mom?" He looked at his mother.

"This path has been placed for you, Ani. The choice is to take it is yours alone." Qui-Gon replied. Anakin thought hard, looked at his mother then at Qui-Gon. He looked at Hadrian and nodded.

"I want to go."

"then, pack your things. We haven't much time."

"Yipee!" Anakin hugged his mother again and started for the other room, then stopped. Shmi, Qui-Gon and Hadrian gave each other a knowing look. Anakin has realized something. But then Hadrian smiled.

"What about Mom? Is she free too? You're coming, aren't you?"

Qui-Gon was about to answer, but Hadrian cut in.

"This is were I come in."

Qui-Gon gave him a look. All eyes were set on him. "Mrs. Skywalker… You are free too."

It was a bombshell that suddenly exploded in the small house. Qui-Gon was speechless, together with Shmi who was totally surprised. Anakin came out of the daze and knocked Hadrian over, hugging him. Thanking him over and over again. Hadrian pushed the boy away when he was then embraced by the mother. There were tears in her eyes.

"How?" she asked him.

"Let's just say I made a bet with a blue alien." Hadrian said. " We maybe can't free all the slaves, but at least we did free you and your son."

"That was you business, Hadrian." Qui-Gon asked indifferent. Hadrian turned to look at him.

"Yep."

Qui-Gon shook his head while smiling. This boy is unbelievable.

"Now you can come with us." Anakin said. Shmi smiled and looked at her boy. But she shook her head.

"Son, even now being a free person, my place is here. My future is here. At least you can depart with me knowing that I'm free and well. But I'm going to miss you.

"I'm going to miss you so much, Mom." Anakin cried.

"I love you, Ani… now hurry." Anakin and his mother hugged, then he ran to his room. She turned around and looked at Hadrian giving him another hug.

"Thank you."

"I will watch after him. You have my word." Qui-Gon said.

"Even I will keep an eye out for him." Hadrian added. "Will you be fine?"

She smiled. "He was my life for such a short time."

Waow, some tension! Next chapter is action packed... Stay tuned!

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