The Attack

The Tatooine desert's heat was taking a toll on Amara. She wiped the sweat that rolled down her forehead. She could see the spaceship coming into the view. It was a chrome color, with a long nose. Waiting by the ship was Obi-Wan, appearing down the ramp way as soon as they neared, his face intense. "I was getting worried."

Qui-Gon dismounted, and then helped Amara down. Her feet landed against the hard ground and she dusted off her clothes, grateful that she didn't have to ride on the uncomfortable eopie any longer. She then grabbed Padmé's hand, helping her off the animal. Padmé thanked her before quickly walking onto the ramp way, entering the ship.

Immediately noticing there was a second person with his Master and the Queen's handmaiden, Obi-Wan raised his eyebrow at Amara, studying her for a moment. He presumed that she was the girl Qui-Gon had told him before. She's strong with the Force, he thought.

Qui-Gon gestured to her. "This is Amara. She'll be joining us on our mission."

Obi-Wan gave him a hard, steady look, before focusing his attention Amara. "Obi-Wan Kenobi, Qui-Gon's Padawan." Seeing the puzzled look on her face, he then added, "His student."

Amara nodded her head, understanding what he meant. She waved at him as she introduced herself.

"I'm going back," Qui-Gon told Obi-Wan as soon as everything was unloaded. "Some unfinished business. I won't be long."

"Business?" Obi-Wan echoed, arching one eyebrow.

"I won't be long."

Obi-Wan looked at his Master then sighed. "Why do I sense we've picked up another pathetic life form...?" he asked disapprovingly.

Amara crossed her arms over her stomach and blinked, a little bit taken back by his comment. She tilted her head as she stared at the Padawan. "Excuse me?

"It's the boy who's responsible for getting those parts." Qui-Gon said firmly, interrupting her thoughts. "Look," he continued as he swung his legs over one of the eopies. "Just get that hyperdrive installed so we can get out of here."

"Yes, Master," Obi-Wan replied. "It shouldn't take long."

When Qui-Gon started to leave, Amara grabbed his arm, making him stop. "I'm coming with you." She didn't want to be left behind with a bunch of people she never met before, besides Padmé and Jar Jar.

Qui-Gon nodded and offered his hand to her. With that, they rode back into Mos Espa. Along the way, Amara stared to have an uneasy feeling in her stomach, like something awful was going to happen.

Back in Mos Espa, Amara and Qui-Gon visited one of the junk dealers and sold the podracer for some extra money. They had returned the borrowed eopies and began to look for Anakin.

They started to make their way over to the slave quarter's street when they saw a crowd forming around something. Moving in closer, Amara saw that it was Anakin and another creature fighting one another. She rushed over, pulling Anakin away, separating the two fighters. "What is going on?" Amara commanded.

"He said I cheated!" Anakin defended.

Qui-Gon put his hand on Anakin's shoulder and steered him away from the crowd, not saying anything until they were out of hearing. "You know, Ani," he lectured him, his deep voice thoughtful. "You will have to tolerate his opinion. Fighting won't change it."

Anakin looked back at the kid, giving him dark look, but nodded anyway. Amara took his hand and went to his house. As they neared his house, Qui-Gon took out the money he had gotten from selling the podracer.

"These are yours." He handed the bag over to Anakin.

"We sold the pod," Amara explained to him.

Anakin's face lit up and raced toward his home. It's going to crush him when he finds out that he is free but his mother isn't, Amara thought sadly as she watched Anakin rush into his house. She entered the hovel, seeing Anakin handing over the money from earlier to his mother.

"Mom! Mom!" he cried out as she appeared to greet him. "Guess What! Qui-Gon sold the Pod! Look at all the money we have!"

Anakin dropped the leather pouch into her hands, enjoying the startled look on her face. "Oh, my goodness!" Shmi breathed softly, staring down at the pouch. "Ani, that's wonderful!" Her eyes lifted quickly to meet Amara's and Qui-Gon. He stepped forward, holding her gaze.

"And Anakin has been freed." Qui-Gon said quietly.

The boy's eyes went wide. "What?"

"You're no longer a slave."

While Anakin jumped for joy, Shmi was stunned. She stared at the Jedi in disbelief, her worn face rigid, her yes mirroring her shock and disbelief.

"Did you hear that, Mom?" Anakin let out a whoop and jumped for joy. He turned to Qui-Gon, grinning. "Was that part of the prize, or what?"

Amara stepped forward. "Let's just say Watto learned an important lesson about gambling today."

"Now you can make your dreams come true, Ani," Shmi whispered as she touched his cheek. You're free!"

She released him and turned to Qui-Gon, her eyes bright. "Will you take him with you? Is he to become a Jedi?"

Qui-Gon hesitated. "Our meeting was not a coincidence. Nothing happens by accident. You are strong with the Force." His eyes shifted over to Amara. "Both of you. But either of you may not be accepted by the Council."

"What do you mea— "Amara began, but she was cut off by Anakin.

"-A Jedi!" Anakin's eyes widened. "Mighty blasters, you mean I get to go with you in your
starship and everything?!"

Qui-Gon knelt down, his face somber. "Training to be a Jedi will not be an easy challenge. And if you succeed, it will be a hard life."

Anakin shook his head quickly. "But it's what I want. What I've always dreamed about." He looked quickly to his mother. "Can I go, Mom?!"

But Qui-Gon drew him back with a touch. "This path has been placed for you, Ani; the choice to take it is yours alone."

Anakin paused for a moment and thought about it. A mix of emotions rolled through him. He felt happiness at finding the thing he wanted most in all of the galaxy—to be a Jedi. He glanced quickly at his mother, seeing the acceptance in her eyes.

Amara held in her breath as Anakin's gaze returned to her and Qui-Gon. "I want to go."

"Then, pack your things," Qui-Gon advised. "We haven't much time."

"Yippee!" Anakin shouted, jumping up and down. He rushed to his mother and hugged her as hard as he could, then ran to his bedroom. He was almost to the doorway when he realized something. His mother. "What about Mom? Is she free too?" he asked hurriedly, eyes darting from one to the other. "You're coming, aren't you, Mom"

Amara shared a worried glance with Qui-Gon and Shmi. She looked back at Anakin with a sad expression.

"I tried to free your mother, Ani, but Watto wouldn't have it."

Anakin felt his chest and throat tighten. "But the money from selling-"

Amara sighed, shaking her head. "It's not enough."

Shmi held her son and brushed his face, taking both of his hands in hers. "Son, my place is here. My future is here. It is time for you to let go...to let go of me. I cannot go with you."

"I want to stay with you." Anakin looked away sadly. "I don't want things to change."

His mother gave him an encouraging smile. "You can't stop change any more than you can stop the suns from setting. Listen to your feelings; Ani, you know what's right."

Anakin took a long, slow breathe and dropped his head. He needed to do what he knew must. Amara and Shmi exchanged a look of concern for him. Minutes later, Anakin rose up, his eyes brimming with tears. "I'm going to miss you so much, Mom..."

Shmi nodded. "I love you, Ani." She released his hands. "Now hurry."

Anakin gave her a quick, heard hug, and raced from the room, tears streaming down his face.

Shmi turned to Qui-Gon. "Thank you."

"I will watch after him." Qui-Gon promised Shmi, his voice warm and reassuring.

Amara smiled at Shmi. "I'll keep an eye on him too. I'm also going with them to Coruscant. Will you be all right?"

"He was in my life for such a short time." Shmi whispered.

I'm so sorry.

Amara watched as Anakin hugged his friend Kitster impulsively, then broke away and raced toward her and Qui-Gon. Before he reached them, he stopped to look back at his mother, who stood in the doorway. He turned back to Amara, and then ran back to his mother.

"I can't do Mom," he whispered, clinging to her. "I just can't."

Anakin was shaking, wracked with sobs. Shmi let him do so for a moment, comforting him with her warmth, then backed him away. She knelt beside him, her face solemn. "Ani, remember when you climbed that dune in order to chase the banthas away so they wouldn't be shot? You were only five. Remember how you collapsed several times I the heat, exhausted, thinking that you couldn't do it, that it was too hard?"

Anakin nodded through his tears.

Shmi held his gaze. "This is one of those times when you have to do something you don't think you can do. But I know how strong you are, Ani. I know you can do this."

The boy swallowed his tears. "Will I ever see you again?" he asked in desperation.

Anakin marched past her, starring right ahead.

"What does your heart tell you?" his mother asked quietly.

Anakin shook his head doubtfully. "I don't know. Yes, I guess."

Shmi nodded. "Then it will happen, Ani."

He took a deep breath to steady himself. "I will become a Jedi. And I will come back and free, mom. I promise."

"No matter where you are, my love will be with you," Shmi told him, her face close to his. "Now be brave, and don't look back."

"I love you, Mom," Anakin said quietly. Shmi hugged him one last time and gave him a small push.

He walked forward, marching right past Qui-Gon and Amara, fighting back the tears that threatened to come. Amara followed right behind him, and they set off for the spaceship once again.

Amara walked side by side with Anakin through the desert, Qui-Gon far ahead of them. She tried to ease him by telling him that she would also be training to be a Jedi. That had made him feel a bit better about the situation, but was still upset he had to leave his mother behind. She suddenly got that same uneasy feeling she had before, but this time, it felt worse than before. Slowly, she glanced over her shoulder, catching the sight of a speeder at its dark hooded rider a few yards away from her. Amara grabbed Anakin's and started sprinting toward the ship, refusing to look back.

"Anakin, Amara, drop!" Qui-Gon yelled to them.

Amara pushed Anakin out of the way, dropping to the ground just in time. The person's lightsaber would have taken off her head. The person leaped out of the speeder and began to duel with Qui-Gon. The hooded part of the cloak the person wore fell to their shoulders, making Amara freeze up with fear. It was the same tattooed covered, horned man she had saw in her vision, his yellow eyes still filled with such was he here on Tatooine? "We have to go now!" Amara turned to see Anakin yelling at her. She pushed herself up from the ground and ran onto the ramp way of the ship.

Just inside the hatchway, they found Padmé and a dark-skinned man in uniform coming toward them. Padmé caught sight of Amara and her eyes went wide.

"Qui-Gon…in trouble…says to take off...now!" Amara blurted out, gasping for breath.

The man blocked her path, eyes questioning and suspicious. "Who are you?"

She looked at him for a split second before moving around him. "We don't have time for this!" Amara followed Padmé ran towards to cockpit, Anakin and the man following closely behind. She rushed down the hallway into the cockpit, trying to tell Padmé what was happening, but her words were tumbling over one another. When she reached the cockpit, she found Obi-Wan. "Qui-Gon's in trouble."

"He says to take off!" Padmé added in.

Obi-Wan got on his feet in a flash. "Where is he?" Without waiting for an answer, he turned to look out the window, scanning the area for his Master.

"I don't see anything," the pilot of the ship said, peering over his shoulder.

"Over there!" Obi-Wan's eyes caught the sight of movement at the corner of the port. "Get us into the air and over there! Now! Fly low!"

After seeing Qui-Gon fighting on the viewscreen in the cockpit, Amara rushed to where he collapsed in the hallway, kneeling beside him. The Jedi lay on the metal floor, his clothing dusty and damp with his sweat, his body bruised and battered.

"All you alright?!" Amara yelled, her face mirroring her concern. If the ship didn't get to him in time who knows what would've happen. As for now, Qui-Gon was the closest thing Amara had to a family.

Qui-Gon nodded, brushing himself off before putting his hand on her shoulder. She relaxed a bit. "I think so. That was a surprise I won't soon forget."

"What sort of creature was it?" Obi-Wan pressed, brow furrowed darkly.

His Master shook his head. "I'm not sure He was well trained in the Jedi arts. My guess is he was after the Queen..."

"Do you think he'll follow us?" Anakin questioned quickly.

"We'll be safe enough once we're in hyperspace, but I have no doubt he knows our destination."

"What are we going to do about it?" Anakin demanded.

"We will be patient," Qui-Gon said firmly. "Anakin Skywalker, meet Obi-Wan Kenobi."

Anakin beamed. "Pleased to meet you. Wow! You're a Jedi too?"

Obi-Wan looked from him to Qui-Gon and rolled his eyes in despair.

Amara helped Qui-Gon back to his feet. She moved in closer and whispered, "That man…" she trailed off, still shocked that he was there. "Was the same man that grabbed me in my vision."

Qui-Gon glanced out the window, not knowing what to say. There was something off about Amara. It wasn't because she had no memory, but because he could sense something within her. The strange part was it wasn't the Force he was sensing. Where was she from? It was a little odd that the same man she had described to him attacked them. Was the man going after her and not the Queen? He thought. There were so many questions he had, but most of them would go unanswered.

A/N:Thank you to everyone who has commented/read this story so far! Next chapter will be Coruscant and Amara's encounter with the Jedi Council.