The ship which transported the three force-users as well as the queen of Naboo landed on the planet of Tatooine outside of a settlement know to the local as Mos Espa. Right now the three force-users where inside the spaceship engineering deck where Obi-Wan was working on the ship's hyperdrive.

"The hyperdrive is dead, Master. We will need a new one." Obi-Wan stated.

"We will find the parts we need, Obi-Wan" Qui-Gon started before giving a small commlink to his padawan. "Don't let them send any communication, be wary… I feel a disturbance in the force."

"A disturbance, Master?" Obi-Wan asked stealing glance at Freya.

"What your Master is sensing it's probably an assassin send by Sidious to deal with us and the Queen." Freya spoke giving her own opinion on the 'disturbance' Qui-Gon sensed. She was more concerned by the strong force-presence she sensed in Mos Espa. 'I don't know who possess such a force-presence but he or she must be extremely gifted by the Force, perhaps too gifted.' Freya thought as Qui-Gon and her as well as Jar-Jar made their way outside.

Once outside the three of them started walking toward Mos Espa accompanied by R2-D2, the astromech droid that saved the ship, before Jar-Jar complained about the twin suns of the planet.

"Dis sun doen murder tada skin." Jar-Jar moaned. He was about to continue but Captain Panaka as well as one of the queen handmaiden stopped them.

"Wait!" Panaka said while running toward them.

The small group stopped to let them catch up to them. "Her Highness commands to take her handmaiden with you she is curious about this world and wish for her to observe the locals..." Panaka stated.

"No more commands from Her Highness today, Captain. This spaceport is not going to be pleasant…" Qui-Gon stated.

"I have been trained in defense, I can take care of myself." The 'handmaiden' named Padme said trying to convince the Jedi.

"Your action prove the contrary, your Highness." Freya spoke.

"What do you mean, Freya?" Qui-Gon asked surprised by the woman's words.

"What I mean is that her Highness, who is right in front of us, has disguised herself into one of her handmaiden before she was captured by the Federation, a smart plan in my opinion, but a plan that your handmaiden almost ruin when she turned to you in the hangar on Naboo." Freya replied.

"I thought no one noticed, but I was wrong. I guess now that you know you won't take me with you." Padme stated.

"No, we are not. As I said to your Captain while on our way here, the Hutts may not have something against you but seeing as you're quite a beautiful 14 years old (1) young lady I wouldn't put it past them to force you into slavery if gained their interest. So please return to the ship your Highness." Freya responded to the Queen statement.

"I see, I didn't think of that. I'll go back to the ship." Padme said before turning back to the ship followed by a surprised Captain Panaka.

"How did you know?" Qui-Gon asked completely surprised he didn't see through the Queen's plan.

"Just like I know you heard most of my conversation with Obi-Wan, I pay close attention to my surroundings." Freya started, "Now let's go, while I enjoy the suns warmth, we still need to get repair parts."

Freya, Qui-Gon, Jar-Jar and Artoo were now in the main street of Mos Espa which was crowded with pedestrian and speeder alike.

"Yep, even in three and a half millennium this planet hasn't change one bit." Freya said, her statement only heard by Qui-Gon and Artoo as Jar-Jar seemed to be lost in his own world.

"I wouldn't be sure about that." Qui-Gon stated. "Let's find a store which sell spaceships parts. We'll begin with the smalls one first." Qui-Gon continued as he pointed to a shop.

The small group entered the shop and were greeted by Watto, a pudgy blue alien who flies on short little wings like a hummingbird.

"What do you want?" The blue alien said in the hutt language.

"I need parts for a J-type 327 Nubian." Qui-Gon replied.

"Ah yes, ah yes. Nubian. We have lots of that. What kinda junk?" Watto replied in Basic before yelling in huttese, "Boy, get in here! Now!"

"My droid here has a readout of what I need." Qui-Gon replied as a disheveled boy runs in from the junk yard. He is about nine years old, very dirty, and dressed in rags. Watto raises a hand, and the boy flinches.

Watto and the young boy then engaged in a conversation from the tone Watto used it was clear that the boy was Watto's slave. It wasn't long before Watto, Qui-Gon and Artoo went into the junkyard behind the shop. Qui-Gon had ordered Jar-Jar to not touch anything before accompanying the blue alien.

Now inside the shop only Freya, Jar-Jar and the child remained. Freya watch Jar-Jar fool around with the various gizmos present in the shop, she also noticed that the boy was staring at her so she decided to engage in a conversation with him.

"Do you need something?" She asked. The boy flustered reaction to her question made her smile slightly.

"Are you an angel?" The boy asked still flustered for being caught staring.

"I suppose you're referring to the angels of Iego, correct? But I am not." Freya replied.

"I heard of from some deep space pilot that rested here for a bit. They are the most beautiful creatures in the universe. They are good and kind, and so pretty they make even the most hardened spice pirate cry." The boy spoke.

"You know a lot for a young boy, so what's your name?" Freya asked as she watched Jar-Jar activate a small droid.

"My name is Anakin, Anakin Skywalker." Anakin stated before he noticed Jar-Jar holding the small droid by its neck "Hey! Hit it on the nose." Anakin spoke. Jar-Jar did as instructed and the droid folded back unto itself once again.

"And yours?" Anakin asked curious.

"Freya Armantine" Freya responded just as Qui-Gon came back from the junk yard followed by Watto.

"We are leaving." Qui-Gon said.

The small group were now outside near a market place as Qui-Gon was discussing with Obi-Wan what was aboard the ship and how much they could barter it. It turned out that they didn't have enough money for the replacement parts they needed and as Watto had said to Qui-Gon he was the only one who possessed them.

"All right. Another solution will present itself. I'll check back." Qui-Gon said through his commlink before he ended the conversation. Qui-Gon stored away his commlink and walked into the street when Jar-Jar grabbed his arm.

"Noah gain...da beings hereabouts cawazy. Wesa be robbed un crunched." Jar-Jar said panicked.

"Not likely. We have nothing of value, that's our problem." Qui-Gon replied.

The small group was walking unto the street. Jar Jar was walking behind the others and as they walk by an outdoor cafe filled with a rough gang of aliens, one of which is especially ugly spider-like creature, Jar Jar stops for a moment in front of a stall selling dead frogs hanging on a wire.

He looked around to see if anyone was looking, then sticks out his tongue, and gets hold of one, pulling it into his mouth.

Unfortunately, the frog is tied tightly to the wire. The vendor suddenly appeared asking money from Jar-Jar who surprised by the sudden appearance of the vendor open his mouth to speak releasing the frog in the process. The frog landed in the cup of the ugly spider-like alien.

The alien pushed Jar-Jar to the ground and was about to beat him but he was interrupted by the young Anakin Skywalker.

"Careful, Sebulba...This one's very connected." Anakin spoke stopping Sebulba in his track.

"Connected? Whada you mean, slave?" Sebulba responded.

Anakin was about to retort back but was stopped by a female voice. "Connected and lucky enough to have an armed friend." Freya said a clearly mandalorian designed blaster pistol(2) in her hand and pointed at the side of Sebulba's head. "Now let him go, I'm not asking a second time." Freya ordered.

Sebulba obeyed without much resistance and once he was out of sight, Freya spoke once again. "Thank you, Anakin if you hadn't come I wouldn't have notice Jar-Jar being stupid again." Freya said.

"Well, he picked up a fight with a dug, a dangerous one at that called Sebulba" Anakin replied.

"Nosir, nosir. Mesa hate crunchen. Dat's da last ting mesa wanten." Jar-Jar said.

"Nevertheless, the boy is right...you were heading for trouble. Thank you, my young friend." Qui-Gon said as he and the rest of the small group started to walk again.

Meanwhile, outside of the spaceship stood Obi-Wan who was watching the horizon as the wind started to pick up. He was soon joined by Captain Panaka.

"This storm's going to slow them down." Obi-Wan said without looking toward the captain.

"This look bad, we should seal the ship." Panaka stated before his commlink activated.

"Yes?" Panaka started, "We're coming." Panaka responded before silently asking the Padawan to come back inside with him.

Freya, Qui-Gon, Jar-Jar and Artoo were still outside on the market place when Freya spoke. "Seems like a sandstorm is about to hit, we won't be able to make it to the ship in these conditions we need to find shelter."

"I agree with you, it seems like we don't have much choice." Qui-Gon responded before he noticed Freya walking toward the young Anakin.

"Anakin." Freya called.

"Yes.?" The young child replied.

"A sandstorm is about to heat the town and we won't be able to get back to our ship. So we need shelter do you know where we can find some?" Freya asked.

"Yeah, follow me." Anakin replied in a happy tone.

"Mom! Mom! I'm home!" Anakin called as Freya, Qui-Gon, Jar-Jar and Artoo entered the small home.

"Oh, my! Ani, what's this?" Shmi, Anakin's Mother said while looking at the small group.

"Those are my friend, a sandstorm has hit Mos Espa and they needed shelter." Anakin responded.

"I see. Sorry if I sounded abrupt, I'm Shmi Skywalker." Shmi spoke understanding.

"I'm Freya, your son is really hospitable." Freya said.

"Qui-Gon Jinn," Qui-Gon introduced himself before doing the same for Jar-Jar and R2D2.

After a small but more detailed explanation given to Shmi, Anakin showed Freya the droid he was building, C3PO. Artoo came with the two of them and once he commented on C3PO having his part showing Freya couldn't stop herself from laughing. The small group shared a meal with the Skywalker family and one of the discussion topic was pod racing.

"Have you ever seen a pod race, Freya?" Anakin asked.

"I've heard of it but I never seen nor experienced one. But from what I know its practically impossible for normal human to win one." Freya responded.

"You're correct Freya, a human would need Jedi reflexes to be able to compete." Qui-Gon inputted in the conversation.

"I… I was wondering… something Mr. Qui-Gon." Anakin said somewhat timidly.

"What is it?" Qui-Gon asked.

"Well, ahh… you're Jedi Knight, aren't you?" Anakin asked curious.

"What make you think that?" Qui-Gon asked, looking at Anakin.

"I saw your laser sword. Only Jedi carry such weapons." Anakin stated.

Qui-Gon leaned back and his chair, while Freya can be seen smiling toward the young boy. 'This kid is really perceptive, don't you think?' Freya asked Qui-Gon telepathically.

'Indeed' Qui-Gon thought his reply knowing full well that Freya could see his thought when she used her telepathy.

"Perhaps I killed a Jedi and stole it from him." Qui-Gon replied at Anakin statement.

"I don't think so... No one can kill a Jedi Knight. Once I had a dream I was a Jedi. I came back here and freed all the slaves...have you come to free us?" Anakin spoke.

"No, I'm afraid we're not… Also Anakin, it is possible to kill a Jedi. There are many way to kill a Jedi but now is neither the place nor the moment to have such conversation." Freya spoke as a sad look crossed her face.

"I think you have...why else would you be here?" Anakin responded.

"I can see there's no fooling you… You mustn't let anyone know about us… we're on our way to Coruscant, the central system in the Republic, on a very important mission, and it must be kept secret. However we're stranded here until we can get the pieces we need to repair our ship." Qui-Gon replied as he leaned forward.

"Also we lack the funds to buy said pieces, Watto's price are well over our budget shall we say." Freya continued Qui-Gon statement.

"But if this planet is still the same as the last time I visited it, junk dealer are surely still addicted to gambling, am I correct?" Freya asked.

"Yes, everything here revolves around betting on those awful races." Shmi stated.

"Pod-racing… Greed can be a powerful ally… if it's used properly." Qui-Gon said.

"I've built a racer! It's the fastest ever… There's a big race tomorrow, on Boonta Eve. You could enter my pod. It's all but finished…" Anakin said excitement present in his voice.

"Anakin, settle down. Watto won't let you…" Anakin's mother chided.

"Watto doesn't know I've built it." Anakin said to his mother before turning toward Qui-Gon. "You could make him think it's yours, and you could get him to let me pilot it for you."

Both the Jedi and the Sith could sense Shmi's anxiety and anger, she clearly didn't like Pod-racing. "I don't want you to race, Annie...It's awful. I die every time Watto makes you do it."

"But Mom, I love it...and they need help...they're in trouble. The prize money would more than pay for the parts they need." Anakin pleaded with his mother.

"Your mother his right." Qui-Gon said, siding with Shmi.

By the stars! Qui-Gon, make up your mind on who's side you're on, Freya thought.

"We'll find another solution," Qui-Gon started "Is there anyone friendly to the Republic who might be able to help us?"

Shmi shook her head no. "We have to help them, Mom… you said that the biggest problem in

the universe is no one helps each other…" Anakin once again pleaded.

"I'm sure Qui-Gon doesn't want to put your son in danger. We will find another way…" Freya said while thinking of the other way. The only other way is to steal the parts from Watto but would Qui-Gon even agree to this.

"No," Shmi said, shaking her head in the process, "Annie's right, there is no other way... I may not like it, but he can help you...he was meant to help you."

"Is that a yes?" the boy asked. His eyes brightened and almost jumped out of his chair in excitement "That is a yes!"

A/N :

1) I found on the web that Padme at the time of the Phantom Menace was 14. While Anakin was 9 or 10. (src : . )

2) If you need a visual aid, think of the pistols used by Sabine Wren in Star Wars Rebel

Well here is a new chapter. I hoped you liked it. Any suggestion, tips and ideas are welcomed.