Boondock Jedi

by Traban16

Huey discovers a power; no a FORCE that will change the course of life as we know it in the galaxy FAR, FAR AWAY! "Breath, Anakin. Master Huey says that our eyes can decieve us, so don't trust them always." Obi-Wan said calmly to Anakin.

8. A Trippie Trip to Tatooine!

Jedi Ranks in Their Paths:

Huey: Warrior Master

Jazmine: Healing Master

Riley: Weapon Master

Cindy: Sage Master

Traban: Sage Master

Ming: Warrior Master

Chapter 8: A Trippie Trip to Tatooine!

---

Aboard the Trade Federation Lucrehulk-class battleship the Saak'ak, in the main conference room Nute Gunray and his aide Rune Haako sat at the conference table while a hologram of a cloaked figure bore down on them like a Phantom Menace.

"And what of Queen Amidala? Has she signed the treaty yet?" the hologram image of Darth Sidious said calmly while Gunray and Haako

"She has… d-disappeared, my Lord." Gunray said, much hesitation in his voice as he gulped, "One of the Naboo-cruisers got past our blockade."

The hologram of Sidious changed it's disposition immediately from calmly impassive to sneering with rage.

"I want her found, and that treaty signed!" Sidious snarled as Gunray and Haako paled rather weirdly from their healthy green to a sickly one.

"M-my Lord it is impossible to locate the ship now that it is out of our sensory range." Gunray said quickly as Sidious smirked while turning to the side of him. A second figure appeared in the holo-image, crossing his arms and glaring pure disgust and hatred at the two aliens who quivered in fear of him and Sidious.

"Not for a Sith, it isn't. Meet my apprentice, he is Darth Maul. He will find your lost ship." Sidious said with an obvious note of pride in his voice.

It wasn't long before the hologram faded, and the two Nemodians turned to one another with fear evident on their faces.

"This is getting out of hand." Nute panicked as Haako nodded rapidly in agreement, "Now there are two of them!"

Rune Haako shook his head as he put it in his hands, "We should have never made this bargain…"

---

Back aboard the Naboo spaceship, Huey and the others were gathered around the R2-unit that had saved them from near death.

"Well, isn't this one extremely well put-together little utility droid." Cindy said, looking over the astromech droid as they stood before the Queen in her chambers.

"Yeah, you really did save us, didn't you?" Jazmine said as she petted the R2-unit lovingly. Huey only rolled his eyes as his arms were crossed.

"It's not a pet, Jazmine. It's a machine that was fulfilling it's programming." Huey said in a bored drawl as Jazmine looked up at him with her tongue out.

Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan and Captain Panaka were right alongside Jazmine and Cindy with the little droid before the Queen while Huey and Ming were near the door leaning against the walls beside said door. The Queen and her three handmaidens; Padme, Eirtae and Rabe, listen as Panaka, Jazmine, and Cindy praised the little droid.

"It is extremely well put-together little droid. Without a doubt it saved the ship, and all our lives." Panaka said as he too patted the top of the droid's head.

Queen Amidala nodded her head regally, "This small droid is to be commended. What is it's number?"

The astromech droid let out a series of beeps and whistles as Captain Panaka leans over the droid, scrapes some dirt off the side, and read the number aloud.

"R2-D2, your Highness." Panaka said as the Queen nodded, giving a slight bow of her head.

"Thank you, R2-D2." Amidala said before pausing, her eyes flickering to her left somewhat while the little astromech beeped in gratitude, "Padme!"

The handmaiden named Padme stepped forward and bowed to her Queen. Ming nudged Huey, who nodded, but held up a finger as the Queen continued to speak.

"Clean this droid up the best you can. It deserves our gratitude." Queen Amidala said before turning back to Panaka, "Continue your report, Captain."

Panaka stepped forward, but cast a dour look at the Jedi, mostly Huey and Qui-Gon. Huey raised a brow at the look while he stepped forward to address the issue.

"Your Highness, we are heading for a remote planet called Tatooine. It is a system far beyond the reach of the Trade Federation." Huey said as Panaka interrupted, making Huey scowl at him for doing so.

"I do not agree with the Jedi on this, Your Highness. Tatooine is very dangerous. It's controlled by an alliance of gangsters known as the Hutts." Panaka said sternly, not looking the least bit happy about what the plan the Jedi had come up with.

Qui-Gon stepped forward as he looked right into the eyes of the Queen, expressing with his firm gaze the seriousness of his words while all the others in the room watched on, "You must trust our judgment, Your Highness."

Ming, Cindy, Huey, and Jazmine were the only ones to see how the Queen seemed to subtly glance toward the handmaiden Padme, who had moved to stand next to R2-D2.

The meeting was over with Amidala dismissing them and telling Panaka and Huey that she would take their words under consideration.

Panaka, Obi-Wan, and Qui-Gon were looking over the pilots shoulder while Huey and Cindy watched from their seats in the cockpit. A large desert planet was directly in front of their ship as they came into it's atmosphere. The pilot began flipping switches and the like.

"That's it, Master: Tatooine." Obi-Wan said as Huey and Cindy exchanged looks.

"There's a settlement down there, a spaceport of sorts, it looks like." Obi-Wan said as he looked through the ship's computer.

"We should land near the outskirts until Traban and Riley have arrived. We don't want to attract any attention until at least then." Huey said as he got up and reached into his robe for his phone.

Cindy gave Huey a look as she crossed her legs, "And doing just that would attract more attention."

"What do you mean?" Panaka asked before Huey could respond. Huey rolled his eyes as he looked at Cindy, who tapped at her temple with a smug look. Huey only sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose as he could feel a headache coming on.

"Mister Ollie?" Huey said as the pilot turned to him.

"Yes, Master Jedi?" the pilot said.

"Get clearance to land at the spaceport." Huey said as he and Cindy looked at the scope.

"Mos Espa? That's new." Cindy muttered to Huey as he nodded.

"Not really." The pilot said, having overheard them, "Its been around for about two hundred years. Anchorhead has been around forever, I believe."

Huey shrugged while Cindy gave a light chuckle as she settled back into her seat, smiling at the pilot, "You wouldn't believe us if we told you."

Cindy watched as Huey walked out, and turned back to Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan, both of whom looked at her curiously while Panaka looked severely displeased.

"By landing outside in the desert, we'd attract way more attention than landing at the spaceport; effectively blending in with the rest of the galaxy's traffic here."

"But the Queen's safety-" Panaka began.

"Shall not be compromised in any way. This will be safer, trust me. We'll just have to post people at the ramp, and not let anyone onboard without explicit clearance from either we Jedi, or the Queen." Cindy said calmly as Qui-Gon exchanged a look with his apprentice.

Behind them, the door opened as Huey came in grumbling about something, sitting in his chair and drumming his fingers over the console while Ming and Jazmine walked in after him.

"Something the matter, Hue-man?" Cindy asked as Huey sighed from his seat beside her.

"Traban and Riley are behind schedule due to some trouble with the passage's route and stops to get here. They're on a civilian transport, so it'll take them about another day to get here." Huey said.

Cindy only gave a giggle as she shook her head, "Those two are always late when they're together by themselves. I used to think that they were-"

"Don't say it." Huey growled as he gave Cindy's smug look an annoyed one.

"Oh well, we'll just have to go without them for now." Ming said as she leaned against a wall.

"We?" Qui-Gon asked as Jazmine nodded.

"Of course, Master Jinn. Huey, Obi-Wan, R2-D2, Cindy, Ming, and myself shall venture into the town and look for parts. You will stay, and protect the queen along with Captain Panaka and his Guard. The only reason I'm going is because we don't have many medical supplies, and I'm hoping to find some." Jazmine said with a serene look on her face as she closed her eyes and smiled at Qui-Gon.

Qui-Gon looked rather put out about the idea that he was basically being told to stay behind while his Padawan was getting to go off ship, but Jazmine was technically senior master on the mission.

Plus, she had this scary aura about her that was ten times worse than any other healer he had ever known. It was just daring him to talk back against her so it could destroy him and make him one with the Force.

Why was it that the medics were always the scariest…?

"Two of us would need to remain behind, and while we are a bit dated in this area, Huey and Cindy are better suited to be amongst the population of Tatooine. They can't leave Huey behind as he's to meet up with Traban and Riley. Ming is going to basically be the muscle should anything go wrong with either venture, and R2-D2 should as they may require his assistance." Jazmine said as Qui-Gon raised a brow.

"And of my Padawan?" Qui-Gon asked, with a smile on his lips as Jazmine smiled back.

"Learning experience." She said quickly in a teasing tone as Qui-Gon shook his head with a chuckle.

Not finding an argument he could use to his advantage, he nodded. Jedi Master Jazmine truly was something else…

It wasn't long before they had landed on the spaceport and their boarding ramp was down. Jazmine and Huey walked toward the down ramp, ignoring Panaka's words about exposing the Queen to danger, and how they should have hidden the ship out amongst the dunes.

"Would you stop your whining, Panaka! Tell me something, Captain, between the two of us, who's been away from Naboo more?" Huey said, finally having enough of the man's insipid whining.

"I know what you're getting at, but the Hutts are vile beasts-" Panaka said as Huey merely waved him off.

"Yeah, and I was labeled a Sith Lord once upon a time. It's called Life; deal with it." Huey said as he spun on heel and walked away while the man sputtered out nonsense. Jazmine sighed as she moved to catch up with her husband.

"Huey?" Jazmine called softly as she pulled up the hood of her robes. Huey stared out at the spaceport from on the boarding ramp while many life-forms moved about.

"It hasn't changed much." Huey muttered impassively as he crossed his arms and continued staring.

"Huey?" Jazmine said again as Huey glanced over at his side where Jazmine was.

"Sorry, but he was annoying." Huey said and turned to his wife. Jazmine was about to tell him something, but she stopped whatever she was about to say when she saw Captain Panaka come back again down the ramp. The thing that stopped her from warning him that Huey tended to kill really annoying people was that he came with one of the Queen's Handmaidens.

"What had been the girl's name? Parvati? No, I think that's from Harry Potter. Pallie? No, that's from that law show I used to watch. Paulie? No, that's the guy's who Huey broke the arm of for trying to touch me that time. Wait, it's Padme! Yup, Padme! I knew it along." Jazmine thought as she smiled at the two approaching. From over their shoulders she could see Ming and Cindy coming along with the R2-driod.

"Her Highness wishes to learn more about this planet, and requests you take her handmaiden with you." Panaka said importantly once he and the girl Padme had stopped in front of them.

"No thank you. We're not taking requests today." Huey said irritability as Jazmine smiled and elbowed him in the ribs.

"We'd be happy to take her with us, but she must follow our judgment, and listen when we tell her something." Jazmine said with an air of pleasantry, but both Panaka and Padme shuddered at the dark feeling rolling off of her, daring them to defy her and her sweetness.

"Of course, Madam Jedi." Padme said quickly with a bow as Huey turned from then and scoffed.

"Where is the Padawan? I thought he'd be here by now." Ming commented as she crossed her arms.

"There he is." Cindy said as she looked back to the ship, seeing Obi-Wan finally joining them at the bottom of the ramp.

"Took you long enough, Padawan." Ming said, with a downward gaze at the shorter Jedi.

"Sorry, Madam Ming. Master Qui-Gon and I had trouble getting to the hyper-drive to get it's markings." Obi-Wan said as Ming only nodded to him and made her way next to Huey, both looking like they irritated at just being on the planet more than anything else.

"You may leave us, Panaka. Rest assured, we have your handmaiden in good hands." Cindy said with a wink at Padme, who only looked confused at what the blonde Jedi was implying. Panaka didn't seem to catch anything odd as he simply nodded and walked back onto the ship, making the boarding ramp going with him.

"Ben, check the R2-unit and have it locate any junk dealers that may have the parts we need. Also check to see if there are any farmers nearby that have herbs and other plant life." Jazmine commanded gently as Obi-Wan gave a start at the order but nodded and smiled as he and R2 moved off to the shade of the ship to complete the task.

"Now that the Padawan is out of hearing, does Your Highness have an explanation as to what games your playing at?" Ming said as her and Huey turned toward Padme. It was only then that Padme realized that the four Master Jedi had her boxed-in from the very beginning.

"What…? But I'm not… How?" Padme sputtered out quickly until she took in their serious looks and paled.

Ming smirked at her like she was showing a child how to properly perform a trick, wagging her finger as she let her other hand rest on her hip, "We've suspected it since the moment we saw the Queen's reactions back on Naboo, and how you were the first to speak up, as if coaching her through her job."

"I must admit though that we were a little surprised the Naboo would be crafty enough to pull off a decoy situation as you have done, but it's worked well enough so far. This isn't the first time we've dealt with decoys, Padme, but we didn't think people still used them in Known Space." Jazmine said gently as Padme sighed.

"You aren't going to say anything… are you?" Padme asked as Huey scoffed, his arms still crossed as he gave Padme a stern and impassive gaze.

"No, we're not. We are here to protect you, not rat you out so people can kill you. All of us here have used decoys before, and have dealt with them in use for others as well. Back on our home-world and the one we were raised on before becoming Jedi, it is a standard practice for many people to use a double, or in some cases, multiple ones." Huey said as Padme looked a bit confused.

"The reason he said multiple body-doubles is because any of your servants could pass as you when the make-up is on." Cindy explained as Padme nodded in understanding, seeing how that was the point of her handmaidens.

"Anyways, we'll keep this under wraps… but you will stay close to one of us while we're here. We can't afford anything happening to you while we're here, or the chance of someone discovering you." Huey said as Padme glared down at her hands like a scolded child that didn't like what they were being told.

"What about Obi-Wan…?" Padme asked quietly as Huey and the others exchanged looks with raised brows. They said nothing on or against it as they were soon joined by the flustered looking Padawan and R2-D2.

"Here are the farms you asked for, Madam Jazmine. The farms around here are all listed in the Republic registry. The junk yards however… were not." Obi-Wan said, looking down slightly as if afraid to disappoint Jazmine. Jazmine smiled at him and patted his shoulder before she turned about.

"That's fine, Obi-Wan. It just means that you'll have to look for the dealers yourselves. Well then, I'm heading off to see if I can get a good deal at a moisture farm, so I'll meet you all back at the ship later." Jazmine said as she began walking off.

"I'm going with you. I don't particularly want to go junk-diving for deals." Ming said as she scowled in disgust at the thought, stepping to Jazmine's side as Huey gently placed a hand on Jazmine's shoulder.

"Be careful, Jazmine. We're in Hutt-territory." Huey said softly with a steady gaze into her eyes as Jazmine nodded.

"I know. You be careful too." Jazmine said before she and Ming (who made low gagging noises at their exchange) walked off completely, disappearing in the crowds of dirty refugees and smugglers.

Huey and the others watched the two female Jedi Masters go without a word before Huey sighed.

"Well, let's go. After we deal with getting the parts, we'll find my wayward little brother and moron of a best friend/stupid elder half-brother." Huey said, though muttered the last part quickly.

"How are we going to find them, Master Huey?" Obi-Wan asked, actually quite curious on how the Jedi duo would be found.

"It's simple really. We'll just follow the winding trail of destruction, mayhem, and/or debauchery." Cindy said in a far too chirper tone as she clasped her hands together while Huey scowled with a nod, leading them away from the spaceport.

"Yeah, plus if all else fails, I'm sure they'll just signal us the old fashion way." Huey said as Obi-Wan and Padme exchanged worried looks.

"The old fashion way?" Obi-Wan asked, blinking owlishly in confusion.

"Yeah, you know, by blowing crap up and causing people to run in the opposite direction of them for miles upon miles." Huey said casually as Obi-Wan figured a mile was a long measure of distance.

"Oh… that's reassuring…"

---

Traban sighed as he and Riley stepped off their civilian transport and into the sun, shielding their faces from the unforgiving heat with their tunic sleeves.

"Nearly as bad as Egypt in the summer when God has a magnifying glass pointed down at ya." Traban said as Riley only muttered under his breath while wiping the already forming sweat beads from his brow.

"It's hotter than yo breath, nigga, and that's sayin' something…" Riley said as Traban looked at him with a raised brow.

"The heat must already be frying your brain if that's the best you could come up with." Traban said as he lowered his arm back o his side, his eyes slowly adjusting to the brightness of the sun while he allowed the Force to cool his body temperature.

"So what do we do now?" Riley asked, not caring for anymore witty banter while in the heat.

"We find Huey and the others. Though I'm not sure if they'd come to this new spaceport instead of going to Anchorhead. Mos Espa is new, but it's from here that the closet junkyards are in all the planet." Traban said as Riley slowly placed his arm down as they walked.

"Wait, didn't you tell them we'd be a day late?" Riley asked as Traban stopped for a second, but shrugged as they kept moving.

"And I thought we would, but thankfully we didn't need to stop at that pass-off on Ohann. That put us a day ahead of our scheduled trip." Traban explained as Riley nodded, remembering the pilot announcing that but not caring at the time.

"So what do we do with the day?" Riley said as Traban grinned that grin which meant they'd be doing something they really shouldn't and that would be truly dangerous.

If Riley were gay, he'd have totally fallen in love with Traban every time the older male had that grin on his face.

"We're going do something I've always dreamed of doing, and have done before! Dragon hunting, killing, and treasure taking!" Traban exclaimed as Riley sighed a loving sigh.

"Have I ever told you that if I was a girl, I'd be all over you?" Riley said as Traban's grin turned into a smirk.

"Yes. Yes, you have. Have I ever told you that if you were a girl, you'd be in my bed right now screaming my name for everyone in the galaxy to hear?" Traban said conversationally, though with a hint of smugness and amusement.

"Y-Yes. Yes, you have." Riley said, blushing slightly at the Traban's words.

"Then let's go, but first the Hunter's Den!" Traban said, running off with Riley right at his heels bursting with excitement.

Hey, it wasn't everyday he got to slay a dragon and get rich off it. It was only the days he and Traban worked together that it happened.

---

Huey, Cindy, Obi-Wan, and Padme walked down the main street of Mos Espa while R2 moved between them. Huey was trying to ignore all the dangerous-looking citizens of numerous species that passed them with a passion, but Padme, however, was in awe of the exotic environment and many different life-forms she had never encountered on Naboo.

"I don't see why you're so excited. This place is moisture farms for the most part. There are also a few indigenous tribes and scavengers, but nothing worthwhile." Huey said with a dispassionate roll of his eyes when Padme asked about the numerous species and places, "The few spaceports like this one are practically havens for those who don't want to be found in the better parts of the galaxy."

"Sort of like us." Padme countered with a mocking nod as Huey gave her a sparing glare before he continued watching for threats.

R2 whistles sound like chuckles as Cindy moved beside the small droid, Obi-Wan listening to the banter between the Handmaiden and Master Huey as well while his eyes roam in constant motion.

"What's up, Ben? Sensing something?" Cindy asked as Obi-Wan was startled for a second, but recovered with an embarrassed chuckle.

"It's just that, you and Master Huey will have your hands full with getting the parts and getting a good deal for them, and whatnot. I just decided that since you'd be doing that, I'd be put to better use protecting the Queen's handmaiden myself." Obi-Wan said as Cindy giggled at him.

"Oh, Benny-boy. Well, aren't you a regular Casanova, a knight in shining armor for this little lady." Cindy said as she put her hands on Padme's shoulders. Padme blushed at what was insinuated by the blonde Jedi Master, and sputtered out a weak protest, but she couldn't deny that Obi-Wan was very handsome for 25 year-old man, but she was merely a 14 year-old young woman and was not looking for a relationship while her people were suffering.

"T-Thank you for watching over me, Master Kenobi, but I can't pursue a relationship at this point. Not while my Queen's people- my fellow people on Naboo suffer." Padme said as Obi-Wan grew wide-eyed and flustered that the girl would actually take Master Cindy's teasing to heart.

"I'm sorry, Miss Padme, but I'm… at least ten years older than you. It would never work out. Besides… there's another who has my heart…" Obi-Wan said, though he muttered the last part as Padme turned on him in a huff.

"Are you trying to say I'm not good enough for you, Master Jedi? Because as you should know, it is not uncommon for there to be even a fifty year age-gap between two spouses within the galaxy." Padme said heatedly, finding Obi-Wan's dismissal of her as a child (at least the way she saw it) as an affront to her pride and maturity.

"What? No! I'm not saying anything like that at all! Listen, Miss Padme, you're very beautiful. Any man with eyes to see you and ears to hear would be more than lucky enough to have you. It's just that-" Obi-Wan tried to placate her as they walked through the streets. Huey wasn't even looking back and Cindy looked far too amused by the whole thing to help him, and R2... Wait, was R2 grinning at him? Could droids with no faces do that, or was the heat playing tricks on him?

"What is it then, Master Kenobi? Am I not woman enough for you? Am I not of high enough standing for a Jedi? Please, tell me so that I might cry." Padme said, not knowing any longer if she was angry or actually curious as to why he wasn't interested in her. Though none of that stopped the sarcasm from rolling off her tongue. She heard Huey chuckle lightly at her, but he still wasn't looking back at any of them.

"It's none of that at all! You're very… umm… womanly, and your maturity speaks for itself as does your bravery and loyalty toward your Queen's people and their plight. Status has nothing to do with it either. I just… haven't thought of you in that way. Okay? Before now, I had given not a single thought to you any manner other than the professional. Though if I had to say now, like I just did a minute ago, I would still say that any man you choose to love would be very lucky to have you, Miss Padme." Obi-Wan said, trying very hard to appease the young woman while still being truthful.

Padme seemed to stop glaring at him as a blush crept onto her cheeks as his compliments finally reached her. She gave a soft giggle as she turned from him and continued to walk beside Master Huey, who had a small smirk on his face as he glanced back at Ben.

Was the boy a smooth operator or what?

"T-Thank you, Master Kenobi." Padme said as she finally got control over herself. Obi-Wan only sighed as his shoulders slumped in relief.

Women… All of them proud, strong, and crazy as hell…

---

It wasn't very long (though the witty banter passed between Huey and Padme made it seem that way) before they entered a sort of shopping center or plaza, surrounded by several junk and spaceship dealers.

"I think we'll try one of the smaller dealers first. They'll be happy for the business, and may even give us a bit of a deal to both help get rid of their junk and feed themselves. That is, if Tatooine is still as poor as I remember it being while under the rule of a Hutt." Huey said with his arms behind his back in a manner to project his wisdom after having scanned the plaza with a practiced ease of experience. These people really were too poor to not scowl upon. He hated the Hutts with a passion…

"Why don't we start with that one there?" Cindy suggested, pointing to one shop that looked small, yet had a huge pile of broken spacecrafts and junk stacked behind it.

Huey and the others nodded as they moved toward the shop, Cindy falling into step beside Huey as they never glanced at one another.

"All we have are Republic credits, Huey. You know how Tatooine is about the Republic and how they work, they may not take the credits." Cindy whispered as Huey's scowl deepened.

"I didn't bring anything too worthwhile with me. Just a few lightsabers, my cell phone, a Republic credits card, and a pack full of clothes. Oh, and a few capsules of supplies. You?" Huey said as he glanced at Cindy, who sighed and shook her head.

"A blaster and an extra lightsaber. Jazmine or Ming might have something we could trade though, and if not then we'll have to search the ship." Cindy said as she frowned at the tight spot they might be in.

"I'm sure that when Traban and Riley get here they'll have some gems or expensive crap that we could barter with." Huey said as Cindy glanced over at him and nodded.

"You contact Qui-Gon while I handle the dealer. If push comes to shove, I'll Mind Trick 'em." Cindy said with a small smirk as Huey scoffed and smirked back.

The group and droid entered the junk shop, looking around a bit before they were greeted by a pudgy blue alien, who flew toward them on two wings with a data-pad in hand. He began speaking in an alien language as Cindy stepped forward to deal with him.

"Hi, chuba. Da naga?"

"What did he say?" Padme asked as she tugged at Huey's cloak while Huey only rolled his eyes.

"He's speaking Huttese; the language of the Hutts. It figures though… He said, "Good day to you, and welcome. What can I do for you?" Now I'm not translating anymore, so I suggest you look for the subtitles." Huey said, tugging his cloak from the girl's grasp as Padme blinked in confusion.

What the hell was a subtitle, and how would it help her understand the language?

"Hey, we need parts for a J-Type 327 Nubian Space-cruiser. Do you have any?" Cindy asked politely in English (or Basic as it was called) as the being gave a toothy grin.

"Ah yes, yes. Nubian. We have lots of that." the alien said in Basic as Cindy smiled at him, trying to seem like a good and polite customer so they could probably get a deal off the little blue grease-wad.

"Pendake! Naba dee unko!" the alien shouted He then turns to the empty doorway leading to the back room.

"Pssh… Obi-Wan." Padme said as she poked the Padawan. Obi-Wan looked over to her as she gave him a cute and innocent, yet still curious look.

"Yes, Miss Padme?" Obi-Wan asked, trying hard not to start another scene with her.

"What did he say?" Padme asked as Obi-Wan sighed in defeat, resigning to not fight with her and simply obey.

He had learned now that it was best for men to simply do as told when dealing with women…

"He said, "Boy, get in here now!", and might I add that he was being rather rude at having shouted so in front of us." Obi-Wan said as Padme nodded, fully agreeing with how rude it was to shout in front of guest.

"Our droid here has a readout of what we need." Cindy said, ignoring the banter behind her as she motioned toward R2, who rolled up beside her at the sound of his name.

Huey wasn't much paying attention, but when a disheveled looking boy came rushing in from the junkyard, his scowl only deepened at the sight of the slave. He knew there was something about the whole scene he should have picked up on, but he couldn't for the life of him place it.

He did, however, know that it had something to do with movies…

Cindy, however, narrowed her eyes at the alien, who raised a hand to the little boy, the boy flinching away from it. She sighed when the pair started conversing in Huttese.

"Coona tee-tocky malia?" the alien snarled at the boy, who looked indignantly at him.

"Obi?" Padme called cutely with puppy-dog eyes as Obi-Wan sighed with a roll of his eyes.

"He asked what took the boy so long?" Obi-Wan repeated in a bored drawl.

"Mel tassa cho-passa…" The boy answered, his eyes finding his feet more interesting than anything else. Before Padme could ask, Obi-Wan was already whispering to her.

"The boy said that he was cleaning the bin like he was told."

"Chut-Chut! Ganda doe wallya. Me dwana no bata." the alien said as he turned back to Cindy.

"He told the boy never mind that, and to watch the store while he does some selling to us." Obi-Wan whispered to Padme, who glanced at the boy in fascination.

"So… let me take ya out back, huh? There we'll find what ya need." the being said as he flew toward the back of the junk shop with Cindy and R2 following along, leaving Huey with Ben, Padme, and the little boy.

Cindy gave a glance at Huey as he moved to the center of the shop, grabbing Padme's hand as she picked up a piece of unknown junk she had looked at curiously.

"Don't touch anything." Huey said sternly to her, stilling holding her hand as she looked up at him and met his stern gaze. She wasn't even aware of his hand gripping hers as she got lost in his eyes. They were so… maroon… She blinked herself from his unwavering gaze as she jerked her hand from his hold, both embarrassed that she had gotten lost in his eyes and angry that he was getting to her.

"I'm not a child." Padme stated indignantly as Huey scoffed at her.

"To me; you are." Huey said as he crossed his arms.

Padme rounded on Obi-Wan, hoping for some support when she saw the Padawan lightly wandering around the shop. He was keeping his hands to himself, already knowing that anything around them could spell disaster. That, and he certainly didn't have the currency to pay for any of it. Then there was the point that he figured Master Huey wouldn't take to kindly to any of them touching things and when he heard the afro-headed Master's warning to Padme, he put his hands behind his back to further resist the temptation.

Huey raised a brow when Padme turned from both him and Obi-Wan, but his brow rose further when he saw the boy sitting on the counter. The boy was pretending to clean a part, but his eyes kept drifting to Padme as if he had a… crush… on… her…

Oh no…

Padme seemed to catch the boy's staring at her as well, her cheeks colored in embarrassment by his stare. She did manage not to get as flustered as she had with Obi-Wan or Huey as she mustered up an amused smile at the boy's obviousness and obliviousness to the fact that both Obi-Wan and Huey had caught him as well. Obi-Wan and Huey smirked when the kid finally got up the courage to talk to Padme, though she glared at both of them for their obvious amusement at the kid's discomfort.

"Are you an angel?" the boy asked as Padme blinked, not having expected that to come from the boy who looked almost three to five years younger than herself. Glancing to her sides she saw that Huey scoffed at the both the idea and her (she shot him a glare for that), and Obi-Wan grinning somewhat in a teasing way (she smacked him for that since he was closer and because he was cowed by her from earlier).

"What?" Padme asked, an amused smile on her face as she moved closer to the boy.

"An angel." The boy repeated as he saw she wasn't taking offense to him (a lowly slave) speaking directly to her (a customer), "… I've heard the deep space pilots talk about them. They're said to be the most beautiful creatures in the whole universe. They live on the moons of Iego, I think."

Obi-Wan turned away, trying to politely control his laughter at the boy's attempts at fluttering, but Huey didn't see to have any quarrels with chuckling out right in front of them. Padme's look cowed him again, and when she glared at Huey he only raised a brow in challenge as she quickly sighed aloud in irritation at him and his not doing as she said. He was just so… ugh…

"I've never heard of angels before." Padme confessed as she stood in front of the boy with a shrug.

"You must be one, and just not know it." the boy said with a shrug as Huey rolled his eyes while Obi-Wan's muffled his snickers with his tunic sleeve.

"You're a funny little boy. How do you know so much?" Padme asked, humoring the boy since he was probably gonna be her only entertainment for however longer they were there.

"I listen to all the traders and star pilots that come through here." The boy said with another shrug as he smiled at her slightly, "I'm a pilot too, you know. Someday, I'm going to fly away from this place."

"Aww look, now he's trying to impress you." Huey said as he leant down and whispered into Padme's ear. Padme blushed when she realized he was so close to her, his heated breath in her ear sending shivers down her spine.

Trying to gain some control over herself and the situation she looked directly at the boy and grinned lightly, "You're a pilot?"

"Yup, all my life." the boy said with a nod.

"How long have you been here?" Padme asked as the boy's face took on a more sober look. Obi-Wan stopped chuckling as Huey's smirking face went back into his light Freeman-scowl.

"Since I was very little. Three, maybe four years-old, I think. My mom and I were sold to Gardulla the Hutt…" the boy said, pausing as if reflecting and remembering that time before he shivered slightly, "But she lost us betting on the pod-races to Watto here. He's a much better master than Gardulla… Well, I think anyways."

"You're… a slave?" Padme asked in shock before sending a look to Huey, who for some reason couldn't meet her gaze. She rounded on Obi-Wan, who too couldn't meet her gaze, but both Jedi nodded solemnly as to answer her.

When Padme turned back to the boy, she saw that he was glaring at her with a look of pure defiance and indignity in his eyes. It was like he was telling her that he'd rather die than hear her utter his existence and the word "slave" in the same sentence.

"I'm a person, and my name is Anakin." the boy said forcefully as he slammed down the part he was cleaning on the counter he was sitting on. Padme for her part was shocked at just how furious the boy got at her for the little incident. Huey scowled at him, already seeing that the boy's bitterness and anger were at dangerous levels for one so young while Obi-Wan merely raised a brow as he felt the boy's bitterness and rage through the Force.

"I-I'm sorry… I didn't… I don't fully understand." Padme said, looking from Huey to Obi-Wan for help but found none from either, "This… all of this… It's all strange to me. This world is so strange to me." Padme admitted as young Anakin looked at her intently, his eyes studying her with an intensity that she somehow likened to that of the afro-headed Jedi Master next to her.

With his beautiful maroon-red eyes…

"And you are a strange girl to me." Anakin said as Padme blinked, but blushed when she realized that she had been day-dreaming slightly about Jedi Master behind her and his eyes while Anakin had been upset.

Obi-Wan was chuckling right along with Huey as they saw the embarrassed blush on Padme's face from what little Anakin had said. Obi-Wan's elbow went back as he tried to lean on the square box-like droid next to him for support, but in turn bumped his elbow into the nose of what looked like small maintenance droid instead.

The thing instantly came to life spreading it's arms and legs from it's torso before it started moving about, knocking over everything it touched. Huey's eyes darted to the thing as he was about to reach for his lightsaber and slice it in two, but remembered abruptly that they had no money to pay for it while Obi-Wan panicked and tried to grab it. The droid laughed at him while he got a scowl on his face that Huey raised a brow to. Obi-Wan shot to his feet before he snatched the droid into his hand by it's thin metal neck while Huey sighed and rolled his eyes, crossing his arms.

Anakin, taking some small amount of pity on poor Obi-Wan, spoke up from his spot on the counter, "Hey!"

"Yes?" Obi-Wan said as the droid lightly kicked him in the groin. To his credit, only his eye twitched at the pain of a droid's metallic foot kicking his junk with any amount of strength.

"Hit the nose!" Anakin said as Obi-Wan nodded at him with a look of realization. He did so, and saw the droid collapse back into itself while he looked up sheepishly at Master Huey's stern, yet slightly amused face. He glanced over to the others only to see and hear Anakin and Padme laughing at him.

"She's got a nice laugh…" Obi-Wan said before he knew it, slapping his hands over his mouth as Padme blushed, even more so when she felt Huey's strong hand ruffling her hair lightly.

"Yes she does. She should try doing so more often." Huey said, and even though his tone didn't show, Padme thought that the mirth in his eyes did all the talking. Her blush only grew more when she saw that both Obi-Wan and Anakin were watching her. She quickly batted away Huey's hand as she collected herself, straightening and smoothing her hair out as all three males watched her in content.

---

Meanwhile, out behind the shop in the junkyard, Watto and Cindy were strolling far into the junkyard while Watto read off details from a datapad in his hand. They finally came to a stop in front of a dirty, dust and dirt-covered old hyper-drive which Cindy grimaced at.

"Ah, here it is, my friend! T-14 hyper-drive generator! You be in luck, I'm just about the only one around who has one…" Watto said before he broke into a small smirk, "But ya might as well buy a new ship, it would be cheaper." Watto joked with a small laugh before his face became more serious as he gave Cindy a look over, "Speaking of which; how is ya going to pay for all this?"

Cindy sighed before giving a small smile. This was the moment of truth…

"I have 20,000 Republic dataries-" Cindy said before Watto cut her off.

"Republic credits?" Watto asked as she nodded, though mentally she knew they would have to go with their other plans before Watto even continued, "Republic credits are no good out here. I need something more real…" Watto finished as he shook his fist.

"Listen, we don't have anything else at the moment, but how much would it cost us anyway? I need to know for when we get the amount, which can be very soon." Cindy said, making her words sound like it was no big deal when in fact it was a huge problem.

They were fucking stuck on the desert hellhole until they bought the damn engine!

"It'd be about… 50,000 credits… some where in that range…" Watto said with a rub of his chin while Cindy gaped at him in disbelief.

"50,000! Are you fucking insane! Look at this damn thing!" Cindy yelled in outrage as she gestured to the engine, "It's covered it dirt and dust, riddled in sand and heat, and who knows if the damn thing even works! 20,000!"

"No! It works just fine because I tested it last season, and the dirt and sand are only superficial. 50,000!"

"You must have lost yo natural damn mind! 25,000!"

"No, deal! 45,000!"

"Are you out of your little blue-ballin' head! Just look at it and tell me if you'd buy it for that much!"

"… 35,000… and that's as low as I'll go." Watto said as Cindy glared at him while he crossed his arms.

"30,000 and that's as high as I'll go." Cindy said firmly as she too crossed her arms. If the fool wouldn't sell, then she'd just Mind Trick him.

"Look, you're the one who needs it, so you'd do good to simply pay up. 33,000 and that's my final deal." Watto said calmly and confidently as he gave Cindy a cool look.

"Urgh! 30,000!" Cindy yelled before she took a deep breath and calmed herself. She was in control, she was the customer, "It's still 10,000 more than you would have initial got, and you'd "do good" to sell to us because when's the next chance to get rid of it gonna come up? How long's it been sitting here? Looks like a while to me…" Cindy said nonchalantly as she ran a finger across the top of the engine and showed Watto the thick layer of dirt before she dusted off her hands.

Watto growled at her as he knew she was right. The specific hyper-drive generator engine was very rare and even though Nubian ships came through to their sector and his shop a lot for spare parts and whatnot, he had the engine for longer than he had Anakin as a slave, and that was saying something. Watto sighed in defeat as he looked her in her smug face. Though some part of him was rather impressed by her bargaining skills and tenacity… even if it was being used against him…

"Fine, fine, fine! You drive a hard bargain, but you're right. 30,000 will do fine." Watto said as Cindy smiled brightly, "Ya know, you're pretty good at the game of haggling."

"Thanks, I always try to get the best deal for my money." Cindy said as she shook Watto hand.

"So… Ummm… Listen, we're trying to get off this rock as fast as possible, so could you just take the credits for now and we'd be back to pay you with someone more you could use?" Cindy said raising her hand and using the Force on Watto. She didn't like it, but they needed to reach Coruscant as fast as possible, "Credits will be fine."

"Umm… No, they won't." Watto said with a shake of his head. He liked her as a tough customer, but now she was just trying a little too hard to drive a bargain.

Cindy sighed at the stubbornness of the guy. She would keep her word and pay him, or else Huey and the others would kill her. She tried using the Jedi Mind Trick again, this time using just a little more power behind it as she waved her hand subtly once more.

"Credits will do fine." Cindy said as Watto glared at her. What did she think she was? A Jedi? If she was then she would know Mind Tricks didn't work on his race!

"No, they won't! What you think you are; some kinda Jedi, waving your hand around like that?" Watto said as he mocked her harshly, "I'm a Toydarian! Mind tricks don't work on me, girlie. Only money works here! No money, no parts, no deal! And no one else has a T-14 hyper-drive! I promise ya that."

Cindy cursed their luck under her breath. Why did she have to get one of the few species that the Mind Trick didn't work on. She knew if Traban was there that he could have made it work, but… that might have left the poor guy brain-dead afterward…

"Fine, you grouch! We'll get you something to equal the amount, so just keep you're pants on!" Cindy said, stomping her petite foot as she turned on heel and stormed back toward the shop. Watto only chuckled at her childish dramatics.

He needed more customers like her. At least she was funny…

---

Back in the shop, Anakin was talking with Padme while Obi-Wan listened. He decided to do like Master Huey was doing, and silently listen in and absorb what was being said.

"… I wouldn't have lasted so long if I weren't so good at fixing things… I'm making my own droid, ya know." Anakin said as Padme smiled. The kid, although a few years younger than herself, was really talented with mechanics.

Huey glanced off to the side as he saw Cindy come from the back with an annoyed expression on her face while grumbling under her breath about something, little R2-D2 struggling to keep up with her stride. Watto came flying up behind her with an amused expression on his face as Huey raised a brow.

What the hell had happened out there?

"We're leaving." She said shortly as Obi-Wan, Padme, and Anakin looked startled at her clipped tone. Obi-Wan moved quickly to follow as Huey's brow only rose further when he saw Cindy stomp out of the shop and wait for them, her arms crossed below her chest as her foot tapped at the sand beneath it impatiently. Huey shrugged as he pushed off the wall he was leaning on to get to her while Padme paused at the doorway, looking back at Anakin.

"I'm glad to have met you… Umm…" Padme said, having forgotten the boy's name already.

"Anakin." the boy said with a small smile as Padme nodded.

"Anakin." Padme said with a smile as the boy shook his head with a chuckle while Watto looked on.

So the boy had a crush, huh? Go figure…

"Anakin Skywalker." Anakin said, being sure to impress on her his name while Watto chuckled in the background.

Padme hesitated as Cindy gave her a look she recognized from her mother as "the Look". Padme turned back to Anakin with another bright smile , showing all of her perfectly white teeth.

"Padme… Padme Naberrie." Padme said before she turned away and walked off with the others.

Anakin watched her go sadly, felling his little heartbreak at the thought of never seeing a girl as beautiful as her again.

"I'm glad I met you, too…" Anakin called out with a forlorn tone in his voice as Watto came up beside him, patting his shoulder with a shake of his head.

The boy's first crush and she was only a customer he would probably never see again. How sad…

"Outlanders… They think they everything, and we know nothing. Though I gotta admit that the blonde one was amusing." Watto said in Huttese with a small smirk on his face as he crossed his arms. Anakin looked up at him with a shrug, trying to mask his sadness.

"They seemed pretty nice to me." Anakin replied as Watto looked down at him, seeing unshed tears in the boy's eyes.

"Go clean the racks. Afterward, you can go home." Watto said as Anakin smiled brightly and happily. It wasn't very often that he could go home early. Especially when not even half the day had pasted!

"Yay!" Anakin cried in joy as Watto watched him rush off to work with a small smile and shake of his head. After so long, the kid was starting to grow on him. Maybe he'd set the boy and his mother free and have them work for him with a little pay…?

Nah…

---

"That is quite the load you got there, Madam Jazmine, Madam Ming." Qui-Gon said from the landing ramp as Jazmine and Ming came up the ramp with three men creating their crates for them.

"Yes, I found this exceptional moisture farm that had all the things I was hoping for and more. They even had Bota plant, though I'm not sure how…" Jazmine said as she walked onto the ship.

Before Qui-Gon could say anything, however, his com-link started beeping as Jazmine directed the men with her crates, paying them as they finished.

Thankfully, they took Republic credits due to the moisture farm being a Republic facility.

"This is Qui-Gon, go ahead." Qui-Gon said as he closed the ramp after the men left. Ming and Jazmine came near him to listen as they both knew the only people with his com-link channel was Huey and the others.

"Qui-Gon, they won't take Republic credits. We need something of value to exchanged for the engine, and whatever it is better equal 30,000 credits worth." Cindy's voice said over the link as Jazmine and Ming exchanged looks.

"30,000? What herbs are they smoking?" Ming said as she heard Huey sigh over the link.

"Never mind that, just tell us if there is anything of value left on board." Huey said as Jazmine and Ming went through the things on board the ship, coming back five minutes later only to shake their heads.

"A few containers of supplies… The Queen's wardrobe, maybe, but not in the amount you're talking about." Qui-Gon said as a curse was heard over the com-link.

"Alright then. We'll just have to wait for another solution to come along. Traban and Riley might have something of that much value they'd be willing to part with… under the promise of death. Come meet us in the town in an hour. Jazmine and Ming will be more than enough to keep an eye on the Queen there." Huey said over the link as Qui-Gon sighed. He was rather enjoying the cool air inside the ship.

Damn did he hate the heat…

"Alright, see you then." Qui-Gon said before he turned the com-link off before turning to the two female Jedi Masters, "You two will be already here, right?"

Jazmine gave Qui-Gon a smile as she patted his arm while Ming merely scoffed and crossed her arms.

"We'll be fine, Master Jinn." Jazmine said as Qui-Gon smiled lightly at her.

"Please, call me Qui-Gon. I think formalities are well out of the way with this mission." Qui-Gon said as the boarding ramp went down.

"Alright then… Qui-Gon." Jazmine said as she and Ming watched the man go as the ramp came back up.

---

Huey sighed as Cindy put the com-link away.

"Well, I'm sure Traban and Riley have arrived on the planet by now at least. Let's go see if we can't find some place better to wait for Qui-Gon." Cindy said as she and Huey moved to walk out onto the main street, but Padme grabbed her arm with a panicked look as she glanced off to see two big-looking alien fighting over a fish of some kind.

"Umm.. Is that such a good idea? We could be robbed or… assaulted." Padme said as she kept glancing at the fight. Cindy and Huey followed her gaze and shrugged off her arm as Obi-Wan looked to agree with Padme.

"Not likely, Padme. We have nothing of value." Cindy said lightly as she and Huey walked with the others following.

"Unfortunately, that's the problem." Obi-Wan muttered under his breath while Cindy chuckled at him.

"Someone's been around Master Huey here too long." Cindy said mockingly as Huey only scowled at her and then at Padme's amused expression.

They were walking into the market (a place Huey suggested Qui-Gon would find them in easily) when they found Traban and Riley arguing with an alien.

"It's a Dug, and a nasty one at that. Masters Riley and Traban had better be careful." Obi-Wan observed as the Dug flipped the table that the three were sitting at and tried to assault Traban and Riley.

The Dug never even got the chance to do anything more than raise his leg to strike them when he was suddenly slammed against the wall behind. Traban was still seated in his chair calmly while Riley was smirking up a storm as he had the barrel of his a silver-plated pistol-class blast-rifle digging into the cheek of the Dug's sneering face. Huey and the others couldn't hear what Traban was saying or whatever Riley whispered to the Dug right afterward, but when the Dug turned a ghostly pale, that was when they stopped gawking and moved toward the scene.

"Riley, put the scruffy little alien down. We can't afford to be wanted on this rock, too, like we were on Nar Shadda." Cindy said as Riley glanced at her, his smirk gone as he dropped the short stacked alien, who scurried away behind a food stall to glare hatefully at them.

"That was so wizard…" a voice said behind them all as they turned to see Anakin staring at them like they were superstars.

"Maybe, but dangerous none the less." another voice said in a calm tone as they all turned to the side to see Qui-Gon standing there, "He could be well connected in these parts and you should act with a little more caution, Masters."

Anakin obviously didn't hear the "Masters" comment as he nodded quickly to what Qui-Gon had said about the Dug.

"This guy's right, ya know. You guys were headed into some serious trouble. You picked a fight with a Dug; a really dangerous one, at that. He's called Sebulba, and he is well connected." Anakin said as Huey raised a brow while Cindy turned on heel to give her husband and occasional swapping-partner a stern look.

"You two just can't stay out of trouble, can you? You just get here and already picking fights." Cindy said as Traban finally stood from his chair, dusting himself off as he set the table back up using his hands.

"Us? Not at all. Vendors tried to rip us, and then told us to talk to the little guy Dug. Little guy Dug tried to intimidate us and said he'd throttle Riley, so Riley here had a practical lesson for him while we shared a few words of disagreement." Traban sad with an air of innocence as Cindy sighed.

"It seems to me that you can find trouble with your eyes closed." Obi-Wan mused with a shake of his head at the two Jedi Masters. Traban only shrugged as Riley grinned and put away his pistol.

"Regardless, the boy was right in one way." Huey, speaking for the first time with his arms crossed.

"Oh? How so?" Traban asked, raising a brow at his long-time friend/half-brother.

"You two were heading into trouble. You didn't contact us when you got planet-side and were probably doing Skiff knows what for a while before we found you." Huey said with a look that showed he had a guess of exactly what they were doing. Cindy had the same look as Traban scowled lightly at them while Riley did the same.

Obi-Wan and Padme exchanged smiles and knowing looks as they watched two Jedi Masters being scolded like children by their fellow Masters. Right when Traban was about to say something, a loud grumbling sound came from Obi-Wan's stomach. Everyone paused for a second before they all look at him like he had grown an extra head while he chuckled sheepishly.

"Well then, I guess that means I'm hungry." Obi-Wan said as Qui-Gon chuckled at his lame attempts to stop the others from staring.

"Fine, let's find a food stand or something to get something to last until we have dinner. Besides, I'm kind of hungry too, and you're buying me something." Cindy said as she wrapped herself around Riley's arm and started walking the crowded street with the others not far behind.

Huey, Traban, Obi-Wan, and Qui-Gon all seem to notice that Anakin was following them as they made their way through the streets to find a fruit vendor. Anakin had to admit that he thought he'd never see any of them again, but now he was really curious about the strange outlanders who had both upset and amused Watto. Anakin's eyes kept drifting toward Padme, and then to Cindy who had stopped hanging off of Riley as they walked. Now that he was looking at them, both women were very much beautiful to him. The most beautiful women he had ever seen…

They stopped at a fruit stand run by a jolly, but very poor-looking old lady that Anakin directed them to. He moved forward, speaking to the kindly old lady as the others watched on.

"How are you feeling today, Jira?" Anakin asked as the old woman smiled at him and his new friends.

"The heat's never been kind to me, you know that Annie." Jira said from beneath her shaded chair.

"Well, guess what? I've found that cooling unit I've been searching for in Watto's junkyard. It's pretty beat up, but I'll have it fixed up for you in no time, I promise. Watto even said that I could give it to you free of charge since you're always so nice to him and me." Anakin said as the lady got an excited look on her face while she smiled at him.

"You're a fine boy, Annie. A fine boy, indeed." Jira said as she patted his hand in her own.

"I'll take ten pallies today. Watto let me go early and gave me some money for food." Anakin said before he looked up at Padme with a bright smile, "You'll like these. Jira has the best fruit in all of Tatooine, and they're always so juicy."

"Oh, Annie, stop! You'll make an old woman blush!" Jira said with a small chuckle as the others cracked a smile at her.

Anakin reached into his pocket, getting some coins out as he counts them. He dropped one by mistake and Obi-Wan picked it up, revealing his lightsaber under his cloak for a second as Anakin's eyes widened upon seeing the legendary weapon of the Jedi. Huey and Traban didn't miss the scene as they exchanged looks for a second before deciding not to say anything.

"Seven… eight… nine… Aww, nerf herd! I thought I had more than nine." Anakin said as he counted his coins.

Jira merely chuckled as she waved him off, handing the fruit out anyway as they all smiled at her; even Huey. Cindy looked it over before taking a bite of it. She smiled as she looked at it again, but without the critical gaze.

"It really is sweet and juicy, like a pear." Cindy said as Huey and Obi-Wan gave her a look before they shrugged and took bites of their own like Riley and Padme were doing. Traban, Huey, and Qui-Gon simply stuffed their's into their utility belts for later, but Anakin saw Qui-Gon's lightsaber as well when his cloak went to the side.

Cindy stopped eating, digging into her supply pouch as she took out some Republic credits she had on spare. She looked at Jira, feeling a little guilty that they hadn't paid her.

"Listen… I know that Republic credits aren't any good here-"

"Wait, they're not? How so?" Traban asked as he looked at Cindy in surprise.

"Don't you all know? Most people here in the Outer Rim predict a war will come from that Blockade on Naboo. Planets have already started leaving the Republic due to their concerns not being heard or met by the Senate. Everyone around here uses the Hutts currency, feeling that Republic credits might become useless any day now." Jira said as Traban and the others looked at her in surprise. Huey and Cindy glanced off to Padme's worried face while Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan shared a look.

"Well then, here, Granny. This should be accepted any damn where." Riley said as he reached into his utility belt and pulled out a precious gem while everyone's eyes widen at the size of the thing.

The thing was as big as an eyeball!

"Where the hell did you get that pearl?" Cindy asked as Riley handed it over to Jira, who accepted it with a gaping mouth and shaking hands.

"We're brave knights and we slew a dragon." Traban said as if he were mocking Cindy for her question. It was only Huey and Cindy that knew he wasn't joking while Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon shared amused smiles.

"That should get her a few years worth of money." Traban said as he put his arms together inside of his sleeves.

"Or get the old woman shot…" Huey muttered as Padme gave him a shocked look.

Could it…?

Traban merely shrugged, having heard Huey as he handed over some of the Outer Rim currency he had.

"Oh, did I mention that we also got into it with a few of the local Hutt's guards? Their weapons were so poor that we didn't keep most of them. We chucked their bodies into the nearest dumper out behind a bar, and took their money. We also got a ruby, Riley's new blaster, and some other stuff." Traban said as Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan gaped at him and Riley, who was grinning as he remembered fighting the pig-human hybrids in the bar earlier.

"You k-killed them so needlessly…?" Obi-Wan said in a frightened tone as Traban looked at him in shock.

"What? No, of course not! We stunned them with their own blasters. Killing them would have gotten us into trouble with the bratty Hutt controlling this rock. And we don't want that, do we?" Traban said as if it were common sense.

Qui-Gon didn't even bother with it as he sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose while he calmed himself in the Force. They were Jedi Masters far older and more experienced than him. He was only their guide and a watchful eye; he couldn't make judgment calls, that was not the Jedi way.

"Well… at least now we have some currency that will work here." Qui-Gon said in a small attempt to stay positive.

Whatever smart-mouthed response Riley was about make was cut off as they all felt a change in the weather. The winds picked up speed and power quickly over the deserts while Cindy and Traban looked out at them. Huey and the others were watching as shop owners started to close down and board up their stands.

"Oh, gracious me… My bones are aching… A storm's coming on, Annie. You'd better get home quick." Jira said as she rubbed at her arms like she were cold. Anakin looked up at Cindy and Qui-Gon as Traban, Obi-wan, Riley, and Huey moved to help the old woman close down her stand while she thanked them for doing so.

"Do you guys have shelter?" Anakin asked as Qui-Gon and Padme looked down at him.

"We'll just head back to our ship." Qui-Gon said after exchanging a look with his fellow Masters.

"Where is your ship?" Traban asked as they finished helping the old woman and moved down the street, the winds and sands kicking-up even more.

"It's in the spaceport not far from here. Mos Espa is the name of it. It's near the northern outskirts at the edge of this place." Qui-Gon supplied as Traban and Riley nodded.

"You'll never reach it in time. Sandstorms around here are very, very dangerous." Anakin said, stressing the level of danger while Traban and Huey exchanged looks.

"Little man's right. Remember that time at the Great Dune Sea when we were meeting the local Hutt? Us and the ship got buried after only five minutes!" Riley said as Huey nodded in remembrance. That was a bitch to get out of, and even worst was that he had sand in places he didn't know existed…

"Come with me if you don't wanna get caught in this." Anakin said as he moved at a quick pace, "Hurry!"

---

The group followed the boy as he rushed down several windy streets, their robes blowing as sand hit their faces. Huey pulled his hood over his afro in a vain attempt to stop the sand from getting into his 'fro. Cindy was spitting out sand every now and then as Traban rubbed at his eyes to get the sand out. Riley looked at Cindy as he shook the sand from his braids, the storm already having made seeing down the street they were going a problem.

"Who is this kid?" Riley asked as Cindy spit out sand.

"I'll tell you later." Cindy said, each word letting sand in her mouth as she spit it out in disgust.

They all followed Anakin down another street and into a hovel of a home which must have been where the boy lived. The kid opened the door to reveal a small living space as they all hurried inside.

"Mom! Mom! I'm home!" Anakin yelled out as Traban scowled at him for being rude while he rubbed at his eyes.

Riley looked around the hovel with his arms crossed and a scowl on his face as he shook his head; both to get the sand out, and in contempt for the warmth and love he could feel from inside home through the Force.

Really, could these people get any cheesier?

"I'd rather be in the sandstorm than this fucking white-ass place…" Riley muttered under his breath as Huey nodded. They had never gotten a cozy home with a parent; all they got was Granddad, and his old ass was still just as old and grouchy as ever.

"Both of you behave, or else." Cindy threatened as Huey scoffed at her while Riley simply turned away just before a woman who looked to be in her early forties came from further in the home to greet them in the living space. Upon seeing the ragtag group in her home, amongst them her own son, the woman looked to have been startled by their presence before she smiled at them.

"Hello… Umm, Annie… What is the meaning of this?" the woman said as she walked over to them.

"These are my friends, Mom. This is Padme, and… umm… I don't know the others…" Anakin said as he looked up at his mom, then down at his feet as he realized that he didn't know the names of the others.

Traban raised a brow at the boy while Riley snorted in amusement. Padme glared over Obi-Wan.

"Well now, someone's gotta crush on you, Miss Padme." Obi-Wan whispered teasingly to Padme, who politely elbowed him in response.

Huey rolled his eyes, but was amused none the less as he, Qui-Gon and Cindy stepped forward and greeted the woman well Traban had Obi-Wan fill him in on the day's experience.

"Hello, Ma'am. I'm Cindy McPhearson and this one," Cindy said as she grabbed onto Riley, "is my husband Riley Freeman. These are his two brothers; Huey Freeman and Traban Tousen. These two are Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi."

R2-D2 whistled in protest at having been forgotten as Riley noticed the droid for the first time. Cindy and the others smiled at the little droid as she gestured toward it.

"I was getting to you! This, of course, is our droid; R2-D2." Cindy said as the woman smiled at it as it beeped in approval.

"I'm building a droid! Do ya wanna see?" Anakin piped in excitedly as he turned to Padme while Traban raised a brow. The kid was easily excitable and crushing on one of the Queen's handmaiden. How fun…

"Anakin…" the boy's mother said slowly as she turned her gaze to him, "Why are they here? You know you have to ask permission to bring friends over first."

The boy was about to answer when the winds outside raged loud enough for them to hear. Huey patted his afro, knocking sand out of it as the boy looked up at his mother.

"A sandstorm came, Mom." Anakin said with a shrug as if it were obvious.

"Your son was kind enough to offer us shelter from it, and we are very much thankful." Qui-Gon said as he stood beside Huey and Cindy in front of Anakin's mother.

"Come on! I'll show you 3PO Threepio!" Anakin said enthusiastically as he grabbed Padme's hand, leading the teenaged girl into another room as R2 and Obi-Wan followed.

Cindy looked to Huey, who was frowning at nothing in particular. She elbowed him and gestured for him to give the woman, Shmi Skywalker, something. Huey grumbled as he dup into his pants' pocket and pulled out a capsule labeled "food" on the side of it. Huey looked around, finding Traban leaning against a wall and tossed the capsule to him.

"Catch." Huey said before he heaved the small metal pod. Traban caught it easily, but glanced between it and Huey in confusion for second. Huey rolled his eyes as he saw Traban finally understand as he walked up to Shmi and bowed slightly.

"Please, Madam Shmi, allow me prepare dinner for all of us. We have more than enough supplies here, and it will be no trouble at all for us to do this, considering you're allowing us to stay here until the storm dissipates." Traban said with a smile on his face as Shmi blushed from his charming smile and kindness.

"Oh… Umm… Well, thank you." Shmi said in surprise as she looked over the group of Jedi Masters unknowingly, "I'm sorry if I seemed abrupt and all before. It's just that my son brings home so many surprises. I don't think I'll ever get used to Anakin's surprises…"

"He sounds like a handful." Cindy commented with a smile as Shmi returned it. Cindy could still remember raising children of her own, and then her first set of grandchildren. She sort of saw why Mr. Freeman was always so grouchy, especially with badass kids like Riley running around with advanced technology such as lightsabers and blasters.

"He is, but my little Anakin is a very special boy to me." Shmi said as Cindy's smile only grew fonder.

"I know the feeling…"

"Huey! There's only vegetables in this thing! Where's the meat, you damn carrot-nibbler?" Traban's voice came from what must have been the kitchen of the Skywalker home.

"We don't need any!" Huey yelled back as Traban's scoff was heard even from where he was. Riley and Cindy looked at Huey like he was crazy and Huey crossed his arms and glared back defiantly.

"Yes, we do! Now get in here with the meat capsule, or else!"

Huey grumbled as he jammed his hand into his pocket and took out another capsule. Shmi moved into the kitchen, fully prepared to help cook the meal when she froze at the door while Huey handed Traban the pod.

"Here." Huey grounded out as Traban thanked him. Huey turned to leave the kitchen when he saw Shmi's state of shock. He tapped Traban, who turned and like Huey raised a brow to her gaping and wide-eyed expression.

"So many green and exotic vegetables… So much food…" Shmi said breathlessly as she saw the large pile of veggies on her kitchen table. Traban shrugged as he pressed the top of the capsule in his hand before tossing it onto the table as well. Shmi watched in amazement as it exploded in a show of bright green smoke before revealing a large metal cube that had several drawers with labels on them ranging from chicken to beef, and fish to pork. Shmi wasn't sure what a cow or a chicken was. Hell, she didn't know what pork was either, but her mouth watered at the mere thought of the exotic tastes and favors of the foods that could be prepared from them and the strange vegetables.

"What'll we cook today?" Traban asked as Huey shrugged.

"Ask her, it's her house." Huey said as he gestured to the still partially stunned woman. Shmi shook her head to clear her thoughts from the awe of the food as she realized that Traban had asked her.

"I don't know. Even uncooked it all looks so good. Anything will be fine. This is still more than we'd eat in a month, so I'm not picky about it." Shmi said as Traban chuckled.

"Well then, tonight, my dear lady, you shall feast like a Queen and your son a Prince. I will make a feast to end all feasts!" Traban declared as a fire of passion burned in his eyes. He loved a good challenge; especially when either fighting or cooking, "Now both of you out. Go on, shoo."

Huey only rolled his eyes with a sigh as he came up to Shmi, "See what you've started now? He'll never stop cooking now until he's used everything to some extent. He'll be in there for hours and you'll be made to tell him where everything is."

"I said to go! Both of you! Gossip, go chat about your hair-styles. I don't care, just do something away from my kitchen." Traban said as he pushed them out while Shmi sputtered out protest about how it was her kitchen, "I don't want to see either you in my kitchen unless called upon. Now go, shoo. Away with you!" Traban finished, ushering the two far out the kitchen before he turned on heel. Shmi turned back to him (since Huey was used to this sort of behavior from Traban) only to see that he was already back inside the kitchen, happily slicing and dicing at vegetables before moving to take out several pots.

Shmi didn't know why, but right then she thought about marrying the guy simply because he enjoyed cooking while she did not. This man was about to truly make a feast for her and her boy simply because of a few unknowing words and a kind favor.

---

In Anakin's bedroom, the young lad was showing off his droid, which was lying on his workbench, to his newfound friends. Despite the fact that there was only one eye in the head and that the droid's outer coverings had yet to be adhered to the droid's frame, Obi-Wan and Padme were impressed none the less.

"Isn't he great? He's not finished yet, though." Anakin said as he looked up at Padme, who let her approval show while Obi-Wan only nodded.

"He's wonderful." Padme replied, smiling lightly at his talent.

"You really like him? He's a protocol droid… I'm making him to help my mom." Anakin said as he glanced down at his droid, but back up at Padme with a bright expression, "Watch this!" Anakin said as he pushed a switch on the droid's neck, a low hum filling the room as it sat up quickly.

"Oh dear me… Where is everybody? I can't see!" the droid whined as it swung it's legs over the edge of the table.

"Whoops!" Anakin said as he quickly went to get the droid's other eye, placing it into the empty socket while the eye began to glow. The droid's head lit-up slightly as Padme and Obi-Wan could see it's processing core and spark chambers. It was then the protocol droid seemed to notice them all staring at him.

"Oh... Oh my! Hello there. I am C-3PO, Human-Cyborg Relations droid. How might I be of service?" the droid, C-3PO, asked as it bowed slightly to them.

Obi-Wan raised a brow at the more humble and much more polite nature of C-3PO compared to most other protocol droids. It seemed to him that the droid would have been great with the Jedi Order had they used such things. Padme was just as taken with the courteous attitude of the droid, seeing that it had more of a personality in just those few moments than most droids did.

"He's perfect." Padme said absently as she looked at 3PO, but turned to Anakin's ecstatic face when she realized she had spoken aloud.

"Oh my… Thank you, Miss…?" 3PO said, but trailed off as he didn't know her name.

"Padme."

"Miss Padme. Thank you, Miss Padme." C-3PO said as he gave another stiff bow while still sitting on the work table..

"When the storm is over, I'll show you my racer. I'm building my very own pod-racer." Anakin said proudly, puffing out his chest a little while Obi-Wan quietly snickered from beside Padme, though the elbow to the gut told him he wasn't doing it quietly enough.

Padme smiled at young Anakin's enthusiasm. Even though she was only five years old than him, she felt that in maturity, they were light-years apart. His childish nature was refreshing to her since the most child-like people she dealt with now a days were her ever-loyal Handmaidens that were ready to die for her at any moment. Anakin's maturity for his age was still shown though. He was a great kid. He was kind, light-hearted, and sweet, but he was trying just a little too hard to gain her attention and approval. He reminded her of a little brother who looked up to his big sister, or a son wanting his mother's approval on the things he liked. He even made her think of a kid with no friends trying to fit in at a new Academy.

Like she had when training to be Queen…

But none the less, Anakin was a great kid. She suspected he had never dealt with a crush before, and that such feelings outside of love for his mother had only been of hate, anger, or contempt for life. He was a slave after all, so it made some sense. He loved his mother, put-up with having Watto as a slave master, probably had a few friends he could rely on, and then everything else was just hate for the world (and galaxy) in general for making his life suck.

She really hoped Anakin learned to look pass the negative and see that life wasn't as bad as it could be or as he made it seem.

Padme glanced to her side as she saw Obi-Wan grinning at her with mirth twinkling in his eyes. Obi-Wan was starting to grow on her as well. He seemed so nice, a bit clumsy and goofy, but sweet and naturally charming. Obi-Wan had that sort of personality she thought of as brotherly or one of the male best friend she could easily fall in love with. He was sweet and always seemed ready to turn what could be an awkward or tense moment into a more light-hearted affair. She kind of wished he'd be around her more often in times like these. He made her feel a lot less anxious and worried with his ways. If he wasn't by her side now, then she wasn't sure how she'd feel. She'd probably would look to Anakin with more attention and less humor than she was. She'd probably see the young boy as more interesting and serious, a "true credit to his age" or something like that. Hell, he'd probably be her only outside friend while she was a nervous wreck.

Then there was him. Jedi Master Huey Freeman, as she had learned on the ship, was a stern and slightly pessimistic man who couldn't be paid to be any different. He… irked her in ways that she couldn't express without shouting. He treated her kindly enough and was a very pleasant man, don't get her wrong, but he was just so… ugh! She just didn't know! He treated her like he did all others; sarcastically. The only people that didn't get the biting sarcasm were his fellow Jedi Masters, but even then Master Qui-Gon Jinn got it. He talked to her like she was a child, and she hated it! She wasn't a child! She was a Queen dammit! It surprised her later, however, that only he could make her think that her status as a Queen was for anything other than to help her people. He teased her one moment, and the next it was like he was her father telling her to hold his hand as they crossed the streets of Theed. She hated it, and she hated him for it! She surprised herself later (once again) that he could both bring such extreme emotions of annoyance and anger out of her, and that he could make her claim to "hate" anything at all that wasn't an injustice to people everywhere.

However, when she would meet his stern gaze with a glare, and gaze so deeply into those maroon eyes of his… Or when he would scowl at her in challenge against his way of doing things… The feeling of his gaze upon her, looking down at all of her naiveties and innocence… Oh, it made her shiver and shake in a strange un-disgusted way she had never expressed before.

Padme was brought out of her thoughts of Jedi Master Huey Freeman when her attention was drawn to R2-D2, who was letting out a series of beeps and whistles while conversing with C-3PO in a strangely amusing robot way.

"I beg your pardon! What do you mean I'm naked?" C-3PO said, a little more than slightly offended as R2 started beeping again, "My parts are showing? Oh my goodness! How embarrassing!"

---

Cindy sighed peacefully with her head in Riley's lap as Huey rubbed her legs absent-mindedly. She was rather enjoying her time in the cozy development of the Skywalker home while talking to Shmi, passing the time. Huey seemed to be in his own little world while he kept glancing off to the room that Anakin and the others disappeared into. Riley wasn't paying attention to anything really as he gently ran his finger through her blonde hair.

Qui-Gon, however, seemed to be mediating when his eyes suddenly opened, his com-link beeping as he reached into his pocket. He bowed out of the room with some grace and politeness.

"If you'll excuse me." Qui-Gon said softly as he bowed out of the room and went towards an upper level, stepping into the overhang. He saw that it was blocked off from the actual outside by a greenery glass of sorts. He watched as the sandstorm raged outside the glass for a moment before he answered his com-link.

"This is Qui-Gon. Go ahead." Qui-Gon said as he brought the com-link to his face.

His eyes narrowed as listened intently while Jazmine and Ming explained the message that the ship had received from a supposed Bibble before they talked about the Queen's reaction.

"We've kept them from sending a reply. It's such obvious bait to try and establish a connection trace." Ming said while Qui-Gon nodded to himself in thought.

"If we never accused the Trade Federation of being sneaky before, then we most certainly can now. These Nemodians that are in charge are bent on capturing the Queen more so than we initially thought." Jazmine mused, her voice a tone between worry and weary.

"I sense that it is true. However, what you said about her people is true. The people of Naboo are dying… and slowly at that." Qui-Gon said sorrowfully while he heard Jazmine and Ming sigh sadly on the other end of the link.

"Either way, Qui-Gon, we're running out of time." Jazmine said as Ming nodded beside her.

"I know… I'll check back after the storm has passed. Qui-Gon out." Qui-Gon said before shutting off his com-link.

Qui-Gon turned back into the house, intent on getting some must needed rest after a meal. It was when Qui-Gon raised his weary eyes to the room he was entering back into, did he realize it was the kitchen. The only reason he came to this realization was because his mouth dropped agape and drooled at the sight of a king's feast while his eyes bugged out of his head. He vaguely noticed Shmi watching Traban put the finishing touches on the dinner he had been working on for hours on end as well before he realized with a start that Traban was talking while he worked.

"… and so I cook anything and everything that isn't easy-go or processed. None of the others can cook to save their lives, not even Huey. I mean, simple things that anyone else could do by reading off a box, yes, but I'm the true chef of the kitchen while we're all together." Traban said as he sprinkled some sort of spice over one of the many delicious looking dishes that he had prepared. Traban grinned as he glanced from Shmi to Qui-Gon like he was about to share with them a secret of sorts, "In fact, there was this one time when Cindy, the great woman and Jedi Master that she is, burned water on a stove and set the kitchen a flame. I wasn't there that day, but thankfully Huey wasn't to keen on our home going up in flames, so he had a extinguisher handy that day. I mean, Cindy, Ming, Jazmine, Huey, and Riley are all great at many, many thing, but cooking is not one of them."

"Give Ming an opponent or a physical challenge and she'll leave your jaw on the floor; in more ways than one. Give Riley a target to shoot or a capture mission and he'll shoot sharp each and every time. Give Huey a situation and he'll have it figured out before you could finish. Give Cindy a prisoner to interrogate and she'll get answers and a deal out of them faster than you can make it to the door. Give Jazmine a patient and she'll fix them up better than they were before. Now give any of those five something mechanical to fix and they'll be fine. But, put any of them in a kitchen and tell them to cook something that isn't from a can or box, and you'll need a new kitchen in under five minutes. I promise you the old kitchen will need to be declared a public hazard if you don't stop them by a ten minute mark." Traban said as he washed his hands and dried them before moving to the table and setting the food and table. Shmi and Qui-Gon moved to help him as he gave them a smile for doing so.

"Is it really that bad?" Shmi asked in a mirthful tone while Traban gave her a deadpan look.

"Cindy, Ming, Jazmine, and Riley once cooked for my birthday. I was on a mission at the time, and so they sent the food through an instant-port transporter so I could try it. The mission involved stopping a group of pirates, and I was captured with their meal in my hands. The pirates locked me in their brig and took the food, saying that they'd be sure everyone on board would get a bit; all except for me. I begged and pleaded with them, but they wouldn't listen. They ate the food anyway. Ten minutes later I wept for the poor souls as they slowly died painful deaths; only one survived to be jailed. After the mission when I reported to the Council about it, they declared anything that dangerous as an agent of chemical warfare." Traban said, not once grinning or smirking, but looking rather somber as his head bowed slightly. Shmi and Qui-Gon exchanged looks of disbelief as Traban sighed sadly, though when he chuckled afterward they both sighed in relief that he was joking.

Or was he…?

"So, how long have you been a Jedi?" Shmi asked as Traban glanced at her, his eyes showing some respect for her having caught on to his slip of words. It wasn't like she could do anything, or that they were really hiding. They just needed to be sure no one learned of the Naboo Queen being with them.

"As long as Master Yoda, which is… over eight hundred years. I think it's been eight hundred and nine, but I could be wrong on that." Traban said, putting some serious thought into just how long he had been doing the Jedi thing while Shmi regarded him with a look of shock.

"H-how is that possible? You and your friends don't look any older than an 18 years-old, 21 at the most." Shmi said as Traban grinned at her.

"Me and my fellow companions that I've named come from a species of Near-Humans with borderline immortal longevity. We can appear as any age under thirty years-old that we want to, but some of us completely stop aging at a specific age." Traban explained as Shmi looked speechless.

"I myself am curious to your race as well, Master Traban. I was there when Master Huey arrived to the Temple, and I read a data-pad summary of your people. They seemed quite well in all aspects of their time those few years before their destruction. I am glad that you and the other Master were able to revive your people." Qui-Gon said as Traban nodded.

"Yes, it was a little hard at first. Being Jedi, raising kids, the girls being pregnant, but I think it got better with time. After the first three children, we stopped and let our kids grow up. They became Jedi, Senators, or whatever they wanted to be before they too had children. Then their children had children and so on and so forth. We've had more children throughout the years. We've had more spouses too, but I think it's our love for one another that keeps the six of us together as a main connection." Traban said as he smiled into the air, seemingly gazing into his thoughts with that warm smile.

Qui-Gon was about to say something when they heard Anakin's muffled voice from behind a walk that Qui-Gon noticed must have been the room that the boy had brought Padme and Obi-Wan into. Shmi turned to the wall with smile before she looked back to Traban and Qui-Gon.

"He's just so proud of his droid. He found it and put it back together, and I'm so proud of his talents." Shmi said as Traban patted her shoulder fondly.

"I know how you feel. Watching my sons, daughters, grandchildren, and descendants grow up and discover their talents was and still is a beautiful thing to behold." Traban said fondly as he turned to Qui-Gon, "I'm sure you feel the same way about young Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon."

"Yes, Obi-Wan is like a son to me, and I'm proud to say that I foresee him becoming a powerful and noble Jedi in the future." Qui-Gon said with a smile as he felt his somber mood completely lift while he recalled memories of training Obi-Wan and their time together as Master and Apprentice.

"Not much longer until he takes the Trials. Perhaps even after this mission is through. There is nothing more I can teach him, and he's grown into a fine young man. I'd be proud to call him Knight Kenobi, and have him stand alongside me as a colleague and brother Jedi Knight." Qui-Gon thought right before a noise gained all of their attention. It was right when they were about to get up and see what had happened did Ben's voice sound after a droid's calling for it's master.

"It's alright! We've gotten everything under control!" Obi-Wan yelled as Shmi looked worried for Anakin's safety. Traban merely chuckled with a shrug when the other two adults looked at him.

"Kids, they are just impossible to ignore. Kids, with their crazy music and their rock-and-roll! Why can't kids be like we were; perfect in everyway. What's the matter with kids today?" Traban sang lightly as Shmi and Qui-Gon were both deeply confused by the sudden song, but after thinking about it, both burst into laughter at it.

---

Meanwhile on Coruscant, amongst the ever-present sky-traffic walked two cloak-clad figures, conversing with one another as they reached a railing which over-looked out over the sprawling cityscape and setting suns of the Core World and Galactic Republic capital.

The light reflected off a passing sky-car, revealing the red and black tattoos covering the Zabrak's face while he had turned to regard his Master; the Dark Lord of the Sith.

"Tatooine is sparsely populated, Master. If the trace was accurate, I will find them rather quickly." the Sith Apprentice said with a small nod of his head in respect to his Master, whose only show of having heard and listened to him was a small incline of his head before he spoke. His voice rasped out in a high cold whisper, as if speak was beneath him like all other positives in life.

"Move against the Jedi first, Maul. Once you have dealt with them, you will have no difficulty in taking the Queen to Naboo to sign the treaty." the Sith Lord said as the Zabrak Sith named Maul nodded.

Maul looked out at the skyline, a smirk appearing on his face as he thought over killing the Jedi. They were so weak, so arrogant in their complacence's of power and peace. They would soon learn that their age old enemy; the Sith, had not been gone for a so long without reason.

They were coming back to take over, bitches!

"At long last, we will reveal ourselves to the Jedi. At last, we will have revenge." Darth Maul said with a feral smirk on his face while still looking out over the cityscape.

Darth Sidious, the Dark Lord of the Sith, looked out city as well. The ignorant fools were so unaware, it sickened him deeply. Going about their daily lives, blissfully unaware of their own impending doom. Sidious looked to Maul with only the faintest hint of a smile on his face, and Maul grew a bit fearful. His Master only smiled like that either when he was punishing (or about to punish) someone, or when he was enjoying the pain and ignorance of others. Maul held his breath until he knew which one it was, because he didn't want his lungs fried if his Master suddenly decided to strike out at him with Sith Lightning or such.

"You have been well trained, my apprentice. They will be no match for you." Sidious said as he laid a hand on the railing, his eyes glancing to Maul as a fire lit in the young Apprentice's eyes.

It was now time, for the Phantom Menace to spring forth from the shadows and strike at the hearts of the Good and the Jedi Light.

---

The storm outside in the world of Tatooine continued to howl as everyone gathered around the table for a rather large home-cooked meal. Anakin, Obi-Wan, and Padme's eyes all widened at the mere size of the feast sat before them. Traban stood behind his chair, leaning on it coolly as he gestured a graceful hand toward the meal.

"I present, your dinner. Le' Bon' Appetite'…" Traban said in a French accent that was off, but no one cared as they began to sank into the meal with gusto.

It wasn't look before they calmed themselves enough to make some small talk while still enjoying their meal. Traban was serving up food while the droids had prepared to power down until they were needed.

"This meal is amazing, Mr. Tousen! So many flavors and meats, and flora! It's just… wow!" Shmi said as Traban took a sit, chuckling as he did.

"My dear Shmi, this is nothing. I don't brag much, but cooking for my friends turned family over the many years has made this sort of meal seem easy. Please, just enjoy it while it lasts. And you may call me Traban if you'd like." Traban said with a dismissive wave of his hand.

"So, what's this about slaving? Anything we should know?" Riley asked suddenly as four sets of eyes darted to him before they landed on Shmi to see if she or Anakin had taken offense. Neither did, but Anakin seemed to glance at Padme while Padme and Obi-Wan were confused about the topic change.

"Well… All slaves have these transmitters placed inside their bodies somewhere-" Shmi was saying before Anakin butt in suddenly.

"I've been working on a scanner to try and locate them, but so far I haven't had any luck." Anakin said with a look at Padme, who seemed impressed that he could built something she barely knew how to work.

"And, if you ever made any attempt to escape-" Shmi was saying, but once again Anakin cut in.

"-and they blow you up… BOOM!" Anakin said as he raised his height to better express his point.

"Anakin, it's rude to interrupt." Traban scolded lightly as he sipped his drink, giving Anakin a sharp look over the rim of his cup.

Padme, however, looked horrified at the mere thought of people exploding, and even more so at the thought of slavery.

"I can't believe there is still slavery in the galaxy. The Republic's anti-slavery laws-"

"We learned a long time ago that the Republic doesn't exist out here." Cindy said with her eyes closed as she drank from her own cup while Padme and everyone else more or less turned to her, "The people of the Outer Rim must survive on their own."

"Add in if your wealthy enough, you can do pretty much anything. Even on Coruscant, the wealthy have slaves. Twi'lek females are prime examples." Huey said as he put his hands together before him with his elbows on the table. Obi-Wan nodded as he thought of several of his fellow Padawans who escaped a similar fate by being found and taken in by the Jedi Order.

"True, but don't forget that many of the Twi'leks go into such businesses of their own choice; whether cultural or otherwise." Traban said with hand gesture that made his argument more casual than anything.

"Yes, and I'm afraid we can't dive any further into that debate around our present company." Huey said as he leaned back in his chair. Traban nodded as he cast a quick glance at both Cindy and Riley who sighed and nodded. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan exchanged looks from across the table, and Padme seemed just as confused as Anakin. Shmi, however, seemed to change onto whatever they were playing at as she shook her head and gave them all a smile.

"I don't hold it against any of you." Shmi said as Traban and Cindy smiled back at her. Huey and Riley merely nodded as Qui-Gon quirked a brow.

"Umm… Has anyone seen a pod-race?" Anakin asked, filling in what he thought to be an awkward silence, and a change to something he could talk about without feeling small or dumb.

Padme shook her head no, while Shmi looked at Anakin in concern, almost as if he'd burst into flames on the spot if she wasn't watching him.

"Well, Riley here used to swoop race in his younger days. Isn't that right, Riles?" Traban said while an amused smirk as Riley gave him a glare from the other side of the table.

"I hate yo ass…" Riley mouthed to Traban as Anakin turned to him with curiosity in his eyes along with Shmi.

"Swoop racing? What's that?" Anakin asked as Riley sighed.

"It's well before your time, little man." Riley said with a grin as he settled back in his chair, "It's like this pod-racing, but before they added those big engines. Back when it was more about skill and cunning, rather than the power of some damn engine."

"I too once witnessed a pod-race, along with Qui-Gon Jinn here. They have pod-racing on the planet Malastare. I've always believe it was very fast, and very dangerous." Obi-Wan spoke up, hoping to join in on the conversation. Padme looked at him, and shrugged, not having anything to offer to the discussion.

"I'm the only human who can do it." Anakin boasted as Shmi looked at her son with narrowed eyes. Riley seemed interested now as he leaned forward in his chair while Qui-Gon quirked a brow. Anakin finally seemed to catch the look his mother was giving him as he raised his hands in defense.

"Mom, what? I'm not bragging! Its true! Watto says he's never heard of a human doing it before." Anakin said in his own defense as Riley scoffed and Cindy stomped his foot under the table.

"You must have Jedi reflexes if you race pods." Cindy said with a smile as Riley's eye twitched in pain.

Anakin's face lit up like Christmas had come. He was about to go into an excited rant of some kind, but when he was bringing his hands over his head to yell happily he knocked over his cup. Huey rolled his eyes as he snatched the cup out of the air easily, and placed it back on the table; all without spilling a drop of the blue milk inside. Anakin looked at him in amazement as Huey shrugged.

"I could do things like that, years before I even knew the Jedi existed." Huey said with a casual shrug, his words careful not to reveal anything to the child.

Kid might go blabbing about them to the whole planet and then their cover would be blown.

"Yeah, because Huey here was a martial arts master at around your age, Anakin. He was self-taught, too. Had reflexes like a ninja." Traban said with a wink as he shot Huey a grin while Huey gave him a hard look.

Anakin looked between Traban and Huey before he turned to Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon looking somewhat conflicted. Cindy and Riley both twitched at just how easily his feeling were felt through the Force. All the Jedi at the table could feel the boy's conflict between being polite and his own curiosity. Finally, the boy took a deep breath and calmed himself as he looked up at Obi-Wan, who only raised a brow in response.

"I was w-wondering…" Anakin began nervously as Cindy smiled at him. The boy was just so cute, all flustered and nervous like he was.

"What is it, little Annie?" Cindy asked with an encouraging smile as Anakin gave her an annoyed look.

"You're a Jedi Knight, aren't you?" Anakin said, looking directly at Obi-Wan as he spoke, but everyone could tell the question was directed at the others as well.

"And what makes you say that?" Obi-Wan countered coolly as he leaned back in his chair while Qui-Gon gave him an approving look.

"I saw your laser sword earlier. Only Jedi carry that kind of weapon." Anakin said as he cast a glance at Qui-Gon as well, that one look saying that he had been caught as well.

Qui-Gon leaned back in his seat just as Obi-Wan had, a small smile on his face as he shared a look with his Padawan.

"Perhaps we've killed Jedi, and stole the weapons from them." Qui-Gon said with a smooth gesture of his hand.

Oh yeah, he was smooth…

Anakin shook his head in disagreement quickly, as if the very thought of that was so very wrong, "I don't think so. No one can kill a Jedi Knight." Anakin said with conviction. Huey wasn't sure if to scoff at him, or be amused by the young boy's strong idol-worship beliefs.

However, that moment of ironic confusion soon faded as he recalled nearly every Jedi he had ever seen die in front of him. So many of them… it was almost unbearable for him, so he could only imagine how Cindy, Traban, and Riley were handling the waves of the Force reminding them that they weren't infallible nor un-killable.

"I wish that were so…" Qui-Gon said quietly with a far away look in his eye. He had never felt the Force react so stronger to such a simple comment as he did just then with Anakin's words. Traban wasn't looking at anyone and Riley was staring at his hands on the table while Cindy looked to be near tears.

Anakin, unaware that there was an awkward silence in which he helped to create, moved on with his own agenda.

"I had a dream I was a Jedi. I came back here, and freed all the slaves. Have you come to free us?" Anakin said as all the present Jedi looked startled for a second. Traban and Cindy found their cups quite interesting while Huey leaned back and crossed his arms coolly. Riley and Obi-Wan looked at each before everyone looked at Qui-Gon.

Qui-Gon seemed to not even think about whether or not he wanted to be direct. Qui-Gon leant back once again and shook his head, "No, I'm afraid not-" Qui-Gon started, but Anakin cut him off.

"I think you have. Why else would you be here?" Anakin said, almost demanding the answer as some unknown emotion burned in his eyes.

"Anakin, it's rude to interrupt." Shmi said firmly as Anakin turned on her quickly, but looked sheepish as she gave him a motherly glare that said she was to be obeyed. Anakin looked down at the table in front of him as Riley and Cindy watched him closely while Huey and Traban shared a look. Qui-Gon glanced at Obi-Wan, who nodded while Padme felt a little awkward sitting in the silence.

Qui-Gon seemed to rethink his approach as he leaned forward with a smile and sipped from his cup.

"I can see there's no fooling you, Anakin. You can't let anyone know about us. We're on a diplomatic mission to Coruscant, the central system in the Republic. It's a very important mission, and must be kept a secret." Qui-Gon said as Traban and Huey glanced quickly at him with frowns in place. He hadn't revealed anything truly important, but revealing just about anything at all on a mission as sensitive as theirs was not a very good idea.

"Coruscant? Wow!" Anakin said, his eyes widening in amazement at the mention of the Galactic Capital, "But… how did you end up here in the Outer Rim?"

"Anakin." Shmi said, not wanting her son to be nosy about their mission.

"Our ship was badly damaged." Padme said, getting a look from all the present Jedi. She didn't care though as she continued on, "And we're stranded here until we can repair it."

Huey narrowed his eyes at Padme while his scowl depended. Was this girl trying to get herself killed? Cindy and Obi-Wan seemed to be thinking along the same lines as they were both sending the young girl disapproving looks and frowns.

"I can help! I can fix anything!" Anakin said excitedly as Shmi seemed to be losing her calm with Anakin's outbursts.

"Anakin!" Shmi admonished as Anakin went back to looking at the table.

Traban shot Huey a look and Huey returned it with a subtle nod toward Padme. Traban raised a brow and inclined his head toward her with Huey nodding his confirmationan. Traban rolled his eyes as Huey shrugged.

"I believe you can." Qui-Gon said to Anakin, a twinkle in his eye as he gazed across the table at the young blond boy.

"But we still need to acquire the parts in order to fix it." Obi-Wan said as Qui-Gon quieted him with a look.

"And nothing to trade." Padme said with a sigh, oblivious to the looks she was getting from the four unconventional Jedi Masters and Obi-Wan, "These junk dealers must have a weakness of some kind."

"That would be gambling, my young friend." Traban said as he swirled his cup in his hand, looking pointedly at Padme. The girl shivered from the cold look in his eyes while Shmi nodded in agreement to his statement, oblivious to the look.

"Yes, he's right." Shmi said with a frown, "Everything around here revolves around betting on those awful races." Shmi finished with a look as Cindy quirked a brow at the look on the woman's face.

"Greed can be a powerful ally." Qui-Gon said as Riley nodded.

"If used properly." Huey said while leaning back coolly as Cindy nodded. Qui-Gon frowned at him, getting the feeling that he was on a mission with Master Mace Windu instead. The scowl on Huey's face as he held Qui-Gon's gaze only helped to reinforce the feeling.

"I've built a racer!" Anakin blurted out as Shmi quickly sent a look at him.

"Anakin!" Shmi said sternly in warning, but the boy didn't seem to notice her tone.

"It's the fastest ever… and there's a big race day after tomorrow, on Boonta Eve! You could enter my pod! It's nearly finished-" Anakin pressed on as Traban quirked a brow.

"Then how could it be the fastest if he hasn't even finished it." Traban muttered to Huey, who smirked a bit.

"Anakin, settle down, and you know Watto won't let you." Shmi said, trying to remain calm while the Jedi and Padme were merely watching.

"Watto doesn't know I built it." Anakin said, looking at Qui-Gon with pleading eyes, "You could make him think it's yours, and you could get him to let me pilot it for you."

Cindy laid a hand on Qui-Gon's arm, to stall his answer while Traban observed the frown that had formed on Shmi's face at the mere mention of Anakin in a pod-race.

"I don't want you to race, Annie… it's awful and dangerous. I die a little every time Watto makes you do it." Shmi said, baring her true emotions on the subject at hand. Anakin didn't seem to catch on, or he was too wrapped up in his own thoughts to care.

"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 said, pleading with his mom as Cindy had Huey touch the boy on the arm. Anakin looked up at Huey, who motioned to a smiling Cindy.

"That's enough of that, squirt." Cindy said as she raised her cup, "And besides, we're not in that much trouble."

Traban stood up and bowed gracefully to Shmi, "I'm sorry if our discussion has caused you any pain." Traban said, his tone respectful and somewhat sincere. Shmi was sure he was, if only a little, as he sat back down.

"But-" Anakin said and then looked at his mother.

"Your mother is right, Anakin." Huey said firmly, cutting the boy off as he looked at Huey with wide eyes and a fearful expression.

"Do you know of anyone friendly to the Republic out here who might be able to help us?" Padme asked as Huey scoffed at her while Riley and the others nearly did the same.

Shmi shook her head as Padme sighed.

"Mom, we have to help them! You said that the biggest problem in the universe is that no one is willing to help each other." Anakin whined, more for his chance to race than their problem.

Hey, if you can kill two Sand-people with one blaster, why not?

"Anakin… don't…" Shmi began.

"We don't want to put your son in any danger. We'll just find another way." Padme said, seeing the look on Shmi's face and Anakin's whining.

Shmi sighed tiredly while thinking hard on the subject. It was minutes of long silence as everyone watched her think before she turned to Traban specifically, "Annie's right, there is no other way. The Hutts control everything here. I may not like it, but he can help you." Shmi said before she muttered to herself, but they all heard her, "He was meant to help you."

"Is that a yes? That is a yes!" Anakin said before he started whooping in excitement. The young boy didn't bother to excuse himself as he ran to his workroom. The others stared after him as Shmi sighed, putting her head in her hands.

"We'll try to keep him as safe as possible, ma'am." Qui-Gon said respectfully as Shmi looked up at him.

"Please do…"

---

"How did thinks get to this?" Traban asked as he sat on the outside terrace watching the sand and winds rage from behind the safety glass.

"I don't know, but I do know that some people shouldn't have opened their mouths." Huey said, shooting annoyed looks at both Qui-Gon and Padme.

"What do you mean? As I see it, we now have a way of securing the funds we need to complete our trek to Coruscant." Qui-Gon said calmly, though his tone held the lightest of edge to it for having his actions questioned.

"Yes, and now you've endangered these two people and perhaps this planet in the process." Traban pointed out as he didn't even turn to the others while he simply continued to gaze out at the storm.

"I was merely doing the will of the Living Force. It seems to converge on the boy. I sense that he will play a major part in fate of the galaxy." Qui-Gon said, stepping toward his fellow Masters with a narrowed gaze.

"But there were other ways to get the money. We could have gone out into the deserts and got a few pearls off a dragon." Riley said from his spot leaning against a wall, his arms crossed as Qui-Gon turned to him.

"And you, girl." Huey said, his stern gaze on Padme as she turned to him, "You had no place in commenting on the subject. We're here to protect your Queen, and you have just placed her in even more danger with that. Telling them we had no money only led us to this point we're at now; having to protect you, your Queen, the ship, and now the Skywalkers." Huey said as Padme glared at him.

"I'm sorry, okay? I thought we could use some help!" Padme said as Huey glared at her, making her fall silent.

"Help needed or not, we are the ones running this mission. Any slip of the tongue in situations like these could cost us more than just our lives." Huey practically hissed in anger at her as Cindy stepped between them.

"Enough! Look, we've got a hand in this game, so let's play it. When the storm dies down, Traban will contact Jazmine and Ming on the ship and tell them what's going on here. Riley will go with Traban, Huey, and me to see if we can't help in the finishing of this pod-racer. Qui-Gon you'll watch over the Skywalkers and Padme here." Cindy said as Padme glanced at Obi-Wan.

"What about Obi-Wan?" Padme asked as Huey gave her another look.

"That's your problem, girl. Don't worry about him, us, or anyone else. Just worry about your Queen's problems and let us handle this mission." Huey said as Padme glared at him, but Cindy put a hand on her shoulder. Padme looked up to the older woman, and saw that she was not amused in the least.

"He's right Padme, your Queen's problems should be most important to you right now. For her people, you can't afford to lose focus. She needs you, her people need you, and you don't need other worries distracting from that nor them." Cindy said as Padme sighed and nodded, knowing that Cindy was right, but hating the fact that it was probably exactly what Huey was trying to say.

"Umm… What about me, Madam Cindy?" Obi-Wan asked as Cindy quirked a blonde brow.

"You'll head back to the ship when the storm clears. I'm sorry, Ben, but we can't afford to worry for a Padawan-" Cindy said as Traban finally looked at the others.

"No, allow Ben to stay." Traban said as he rose from the bench near glass, "He can help Qui-Gon protect this young girl and the two Skywalkers. It'd be better that way since bringing either Ming or Jazmine off the ship could decrease the ships protection. If Jazmine leaves then they won't have a medic on hand in case of attack, and if Ming leaves, then there goes a major hitter for the ship's protection and defense." Traban finished as he walked over to the others.

"Fine then, that's the plan. We fix the racer, Ben and Qui-Gon protect the civilians, and Jazmine and Ming remain on the ship to protect the Queen." Cindy said as her fellow Jedi Masters nodded.

---

"Well? What do ya think of it?" Anakin asked as he showed them the pod-racer he was working on.

It was the next morning and they had immediately set out on their plans right after the sandstorm passed. Traban had went off to make contact with Ming and Jazmine in person while Cindy and the others were crowded around Anakin's racer.

"This is gonna suck so hard…" Cindy muttered to herself, looking at the pod with a groan before she decided the sky was far more interesting than the heap of junk in front of her.

Riley looked at the racer, scratching the back of his head in confusion before he turned to his brother, "What the hell is this?"

"A pod-racer…" Huey said unsurely, "Apparently…"

"Esco" Cindy called as Riley looked at her.

"Yeah, C-murph?" Riley said as she turned to him.

"Do you have a grenade on you?" Cindy asked as everyone froze.

"Yeah." Riley replied as he pulled out a thermal plasma-grenade, "What? You want me to ice little man, here?" Anakin looked up at Riley in surprise and fear while Cindy shook her head. Padme, Obi-Wan, and even Qui-Gon all had breathed sighs of relief they didn't know about.

"No, but if things don't go as planned, you're going to meet Watto as a mad terrorist. You get in and out with the engine stored in a capsule." Cindy said, giving Riley a serious glance as he nodded with a grin.

"Yes, ma'am!" Riley said with a mock salute, his joy of blowing things and people up rising at the mere thought that he might be able to.

"Traban is back from… wherever he was." Shmi told them as Traban came to them a few minutes later looking quite annoyed.

"Ming is a little… annoyed at the fact she has been made to stay on the ship. Even Jazmine too is growing impatient with their time there and in the presence of the Queen." Traban said, his eye twitching as Huey shrugged.

"I'll talk to them later." Huey said as Traban sighed and nodded.

"Alright, we have work to do people. Qui-Gon and I can go talk to Watto, while you all stay here and work on this… pod-racer." Cindy said, giving the thing an undefined look, "If all goes as planned, we'll be off this planet right after the Boonta Eve. Come along Anakin."

"Right, well then…" Traban said as he, Riley, and Huey pulled off their robes. Each of them standing there in tunics, though Riley's was sleeveless showing his arms up to his shoulders, "Let's get to work."

"I'll start on the engine. You and Huey can handle the two turbines and the hover-tech faster than I can." Riley said as he took out a capsule from his pocket.

Riley pressed the top of the capsule before tossing it to the ground ten meters away from him. It exploded in a cloud of smoke before revealing an entire auto-shop with tools and everything inside. Padme and Obi-Wan were amazed by it as they wandered inside along with Shmi.

"Alright then, let's get this thing inside." Huey said as Traban nodded, using the Force to lift the pod with Riley and Huey's help while they levitated it inside the garage part of the portable auto-shop.

"You know, I could make an AutoZone joke right now." Traban said before he pulled a face, "But I'm not sure it'd be in good taste."

---

Entering the shop, Cindy sighed as she saw the Toydarian hovering by the counter while he was arguing with Anakin in Huttese. Watto must have noticed her and Qui-Gon enter as he flew over to them quickly and gave them a narrow-eyed look while Anakin remained at the counter.

"The boy tells me you wanna sponsor him in the race. You can't afford parts for your own ship, so how is it you can do this? Not on Republic credits, I think." Watto said with a small humorless laugh.

"Two of my favorite boys in the whole galaxy have already acquired enough for the entry fee doing some… odd jobs." Cindy said with shrug as Watto looked a bit nervous at the mention of "odd jobs", though the alien hid it well.

"Besides, if that's not enough for the entry fee, then our ship will be used." Qui-Gon said as he pulled out a small holo-pad from his pocket.

Traban had gotten the holo-image of the ship while he was talking to Jazmine and Ming before he handed it off to them while they were leaving. Qui-Gon pressed the button on the side of the holo-emitter, and a hologram image of their Naboo spacecraft appeared. Watto studied it critically before he gave a cool, uncaring shrug.

"Hmm… Unless your… boys are Jango Fett or something, then they won't get enough credits in time to matter from their… odd jobs." Watto said before his boy yellow eyes narrowed in on the holo-image of their ship again, "This however… not bad, not bad… Nubian…"

Qui-Gon and Cindy almost smirked at the greed in the gruff alien's eyes.

"It's in good working order, except for the parts we need." Cindy said as Watto looked at her before he started thinking with his brain and not his wallet.

"Hmm… but what would the boy ride in the race? He smashed up my pod in the last race. It will take some time to fix it…" Watto pondered as Anakin looked a bit miffed as he walked over to them.

"It wasn't my fault, really!" Anakin said, trying to defend his slate and skills in racing, "Sebulba flashed me with his vent ports. I actually saved the pod… umm… mostly."

Cindy and Qui-Gon exchanged looks while Watto laughed at the boy's pride in his racing skills.

"That you did, eh." Watto said as he looked down on Anakin with almost a kind smile before he looked to Cindy and Qui-Gon with pride in his eyes, "The boy is good, no doubts there, eh?"

Cindy nodded in agreement, if only to keep the ploy going.

"We have… acquired a pod in a game of chance." Qui-Gon said as he exchanged a glance with Cindy and Anakin, "We're told it's the fastest ever built."

Watto looked thoughtful and leaned back into the air and tapped his finger-tips together, " Well… I hope your… boys didn't kill anyone I know for it." Watto said with a nervous laugh before continuing, "So, you supply the pod and the entry fee; I supply the boy, we split the winnings fifty-fifty. Right, me thinks?"

Cindy mentally rolled her eyes at the hustle the blue alien was trying to get away with. She was used to Traban's double-talk, Huey's aggressive/sarcastic negotiations, and Riley's cutting ways of business, this guy was a joke compared to her three boys.

"Fifty-fifty? If its going to be fifty-fifty, then I suggest you front the money for the entry fee. If we win, you keep all the winnings; minus the cost of the parts I need. If we lose, then you keep our ship." Cindy said, walking in a calm manner around the alien as he watched her closely.

Watto hovered in the air while thinking the deal over with narrowed eyes. Anakin was standing slightly behind the Toydarian, trying hard not to fidget nervously. Qui-Gon seemed to catch the same thoughts as Cindy as he stepped forward.

"Either way, you'll end up winning." Qui-Gon said as Watto's eyes filled with greed.

"Deal." Watto said quicker than he wanted to. He slapped hands with Qui-Gon and nodded to Cindy as they quickly turned and left from the shop to see how the pod-racer was coming along.

Watto looked at Anakin as they leaving, unaware that the two heard him when he said, "Your new friends are foolish ones, me thinks." in Huttese.

---

Late in the day, Obi-Wan approached Qui-Gon and the other Masters with Padme outside the Skywalker home while in the shade of the capsule-model auto-shop.

"What if this plan fails, Masters? We could be stuck here for a very long time then." Obi-Wan said as Riley looked at him while Huey raised a brow. Traban and Cindy weren't paying very much attention as they were fixing up the pod-racer.

"Ben, a ship without a damn engine ain't go work." Riley reminded the Padawan.

"Besides, there's something about this Anakin boy…" Qui-Gon said as Obi-Wan looked to him, but didn't say anything as all of them saw Shmi come from the house with Anakin and R2-D2 to help on the engines of the pod-racer.

"You should be very proud of your son. He gives without any thought of reward." Qui-Gon said with a small smile as he and the others watched Obi-Wan, Padme, Anakin, and R2-D2 go over to help Traban and Cindy.

"He knows nothing of greed, despite being surrounded by it. He has…" Shmi said, trailing off as Qui-Gon glanced at her.

"He has special powers." Qui-Gon said as Shmi nodded.

"Yes." Shmi answered as Huey and Riley glanced over at the her and Qui-Gon.

"He can see things before they happen. That's why he appears to have such quick reflexes. It is a Jedi trait." Qui-Gon said as Huey rolled his eyes.

"He deserves better than a slave's life." Shmi said softly as she watched her son with a mix of emotion.

"The Force is unusually strong with him, that much is clear to anyone. Who was his father?" Qui-Gon said as Shmi looked embarrassed for some reason. Cindy was coming over while she wiped her hands clean with a rag.

"There was no father that. None that I know of." Shmi said while looking down at the sand beneath her feet, "I carried him, I gave birth to him… I can't explain what happened."

"A miracle birth." Huey said while his eyes stayed locked on Anakin's work, "It's rare, but not unheard of. There was supposedly another from the planet I and my friends were raised on. He was born with from no biological father. He helped many people when he discovered that he was born of a higher power, but his death was what had the most impact. He helped change the way of the planet… supposedly." Huey said as Riley scoffed lightly and Cindy elbowed him.

Shmi looked from Huey to Qui-Gon with pleading eyes, now seeing Anakin could have a much better future if what Huey was saying was true, "Can you help him?"

Qui-Gon sighed tiredly as he looked back at Shmi.

"I'm afraid not. You see, had he born in the Republic-"

"Or around our time." Cindy said, as she placed a hand on Shmi's shoulder.

"Then the Jedi would have identified him early, and he would have become a Jedi, no doubt about it. He has the aura about him. But now…" Qui-Gon said, trailing off as Huey rolled his eyes.

"Now its too late for him. By the esteemed Council's standards and the way of the new Jedi Code, the boy is too old." Huey said, his arms crossed as Qui-Gon looked away.

"Blind fools…" Qui-Gon muttered quietly as Shmi looked away while Cindy patted her shoulder comfortingly.

"You see, we've seen several kids around Anakin's age. Hell, sometimes even older, that grow up to have incredible abilities; abilities that sometimes far surpassed the ones who grew up sheltered and trained from young age inside the Jedi Temple. Even we were taken in older than he is, but that was a long time ago when things had been different. If only-" Cindy was saying, but stopped short as she and the others felt Anakin's emotions through the Force.

"Excuse me, Shmi." Cindy said as she patted Shmi's shoulder one last time and rushed down into the auto-shop with the others hot on her heels.

"You little son of a Took!" Traban said, or more like coughed out, as he waved away the smoke coming from the engines while Anakin was busy wheezing and coughing along with the others.

"W-What… ack… What happened in here?" Cindy asked as she used the Force to drive out the smoke along with Huey's help.

"The little brat was running off at the mouth and making smart-ass comments while I was the one rebuilding the engines. Then he had the nerve to tell me I was doing it wrong, and he went back and fucked up the engines right when I was turning them on." Traban said, trying to regain his calm, but failing miserably, "His ass needs a good belting, that's what I think!"

The others just stood there in shock at the fact that the normally laid-back and calm man was in a rage as he glared down at Anakin, pointing at the boy as the kid tried to hide behind his mother while glaring back at Traban.

"Oh sure, he's good for his age, but I've been putting together things since before the name Skywalker was even thought up!" Traban raged as Huey smirked a bit, finding it highly amusing that a small boy had gotten Traban into such a fit. Traban was muttering to himself as he wiped his face clean and his hands before he shrugged on his robe.

"I'm sure Anakin didn't mean any of it-" Padme tried, but Traban's glare made her words die in her throat.

"Oh no, the brat meant it! Telling me that I'm not allowing enough power to the main thrusters. How dare he!" Traban muttered darkly to himself as he looked at the pod-racer in disgust and then Anakin.

"I'm going inside, taking a shower, and then I'm going to cook lunch. You Anakin, will be going to your room and staying there for the remainder of the day until I say otherwise." Traban said firmly as Anakin jumped from behind his mom.

"You can't do that!" Anakin yelled before he looked to his mom, "He can't… right, Mom?"

Shmi closed her eyes as she took a deep breath. Her gaze fell on Traban as he stood there giving her the same look of a father that expected her to discipline her child the way he had done with her. She now knew that the young-looking man before her had a lot more experience raising children than she did, and if he felt that Anakin needed a time-out, then she agreed with his judgment.

"Yes, Anakin. Yes he can. You were out of line disrespecting our guest like that, especially when they're trying to help you with your racer. Go to your room until he tells you to come out." Shmi said sternly as she placed her hands on her hips, looking down at her stuttering son.

"B-But it's my ship!" Anakin said as Shmi didn't budge.

"Go to your room, Anakin. And stay there." Shmi said firmly as she nudged him to go. Anakin looked around the room, seeing that the others were avoiding his gaze. Even Qui-Gon looked away from him when he sent a glance for help.

Anakin, seeing that no one was coming to his side, glared at Traban as he threw down his wrench and stomped out of the auto-shop and out of sight.

"I'm sorry that I made you do that, but the boy needs a firm hand on him. His emotions are too wild if we're to help him." Traban said with a sigh as Shmi shook her head.

"No, no, it wasn't your fault. I always told him that freedom was a blessing, and I allowed him too much of that. I should have been more firm on him instead of letting him enjoy the wilds he does. He's normally such a good boy that I never have to punish him, but when he gets overly emotional…" Shmi said, trailing off as she sighed tiredly.

Qui-Gon laid a hand on her shoulder as Cindy did the same to the other. She sent both of them a smile before she heard shouts coming from the house while Traban had gone inside to wash up.

She was getting too old for it all…

---

Huey sighed in relaxation as he stepped out onto the enclosed-terrace room he was forced to share with Riley and Traban while Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan were made to share Anakin's workroom as quarters. Padme and Cindy, however, were "lucky" enough to have gotten the only actual spare room which Shmi helped fix up for them. Huey rolled his eyes at the thought as he saw Cindy coming out of the bathroom, fully-clothed while she used a towel to dry her face and clean behind her ears. She gave him a look as Padme quickly ducked into the bathroom to take her own shower while Traban was cooking and Shmi was working hours. Riley had gone out "hunting" while Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan were meditating on the living room floor.

Cindy glanced back at the bathroom door as she walked up to Huey, standing on her tip-toes to whisper into his ear.

"Traban's cooking, so he can't watch Anakin or the others, but I want you to guard and watch that door while Padme's taking her shower." Cindy said as she pointed at the bathroom where Huey could hear water running faintly, "If any of those boys try to sneak a peek at her, I want you to hang them by their toes and beat them with a rusty spoon repeatedly."

"How is that a punishment?" Huey asked with a raised brow.

"Because it'll give me enough time to plan how their deaths were terrible and tragic accidents that no one foresaw happening." Cindy said darkly, giving Huey a look that made him fear her a little. Then he remembered who was she and nodded quickly.

He had good reason to fear her…

Cindy sighed happily as she gave Huey a peek on the cheek, and skipped away as if all was merry with the galaxy. She moved over to her bag which Riley had bought to her earlier from the ship, and took out a hair-brush. Taking the brush in hand, she glanced off to the kitchen and saw Traban was in the middle of cooking. She huffed in childish anger as she wanted one of her boys to brush her hair for her. It always made her feel calmer and more at peace when she could just give herself over to one of them. With a growl of annoyance, Cindy began brushing her own long blonde hair while cursing the planet for it's effects on her beautiful crown of sun-kissed blonde hair.

"Ms. Cindy, can I come out now?" Anakin asked as Cindy frowned a bit from her spot in front the mirror.

"No, only Traban can let you out. Besides; you're grounded for the day anyway, little man." Cindy said as she heard Anakin's huffing and puffing.

Cindy shook her head lightly with a chuckle as she began to braid her hair. She sighed, noticing it wasn't as good as when Traban had done it before the mission. Her eyes glanced off toward Anakin's room when she saw the door creak open, but she didn't even get a word out when she saw Traban coming from the kitchen while drying his hands. Traban's eyes snapped toward the door, both he and Cindy seeing Anakin's eye peek out at hem before it widened upon seeing who was looking at him.

"Get the hell back in that room!" Traban said sharply as the young boy jumped and slammed the door shut.

Cindy looked up to see Traban rake a hand through his short black hair with a sigh.

"The brat needs a good spanking… and some structure to go with it." Traban muttered to himself, unaware of that Cindy was watching him.

"Hey, come do my hair for me." Cindy said as she waved Traban over. He looked over at her, surprised she was there before he flashed her a small smile.

"Sure." Traban said before he settled down behind her and began to braid her hair peacefully.

"I need a vacation." Traban said with a sigh as Cindy giggled.

"Then how about this perfect little spot on Naboo that we came across. It's in the capital city of Theed…" Cindy began as Traban chuckled a bit, hearing all about their mission and what had happened to them all so far.

---

Padme sighed as she allowed the cool water to rush down her naked body. It was so refreshing after having to play handmaiden to her own double/handmaiden. After the long day and night, it felt like all her worries were washed away along with the water.

She didn't even bother with feeling down about the whole situation, especially when she reached for clothes and realized they weren't there.

"Oh, crap…" Padme said, picking up the word from Jedi Master Traban Tousen when he had seen the engine about to blow.

"I must have forgot about them while I was trying to feel not so… exposed about showering in another person's house." Padme said aloud to herself as she bit her lower lip.

"Well, there's only two things to do in times like this…" Padme began to herself, "I can either run out of here stark naked as the day I was born with only a towel covering my modesty and pride. That on, one hand, would have gotten me popular in school, but on the other; I'd be mortified and everyone in the house might see me. The other option is…" Padme said, her gaze drifting off to the door where she knew someone was standing right outside.

Padme took a deep breath before she tightened the towel around her body. She knocked on the door twice before she cracked it open for only one of her eyes to peek through. She couldn't see who was outside the door, but that also meant they couldn't see her. At least… she thought that was how it worked…

That was how it worked, right…?

"Umm… can you please get me my clothes." Padme said and paused, but the figure only moved slightly, "You see, I left them in my room on the bed, and… Well, I need you to get them for me. Please…?" Padme said sweetly as the figure let out a barely audio sigh of annoyance before going.

Padme watched with the door still cracked as wide as for eye as the figure's shadow moved away. She sighed in relief as she moved from the door, realizing that her hair was still dripping wet. She took the towel from her body and began drying her hair while she let her thoughts wander. Padme didn't know why, but her mind went back to her and Obi-Wan's conversation about the Jedi's Way of Life. She simply couldn't comprehend all the things the Jedi were made to give up in order to keep the peace of the entire galaxy. To give up a normal family, a normal childhood, normal friends, and relationships? Emotions, attachments, love, and desire…? She didn't know if she could-

Having been so deeply lost in thought, it stood to reason why Padme's eyes were as wide as saucers when she turned around and took in a sharp breath as she saw the creak-opened door swing wide open. In her surprise, she had only been able to process freezing up on the spot as a main function in her mind while Jedi Master Huey Freeman (she wished it was anyone but him!) walked in looking down at her clothes in his hands. Her hands (and towel) were still wrist-deep in her hair as Huey took one annoyed glance at her before doing a double-take. She was still frozen as if she would die any minute when Huey's eyes roamed over her body from head to toe and then back up, drinking in every inch of her frame to commit to memory. Her entire body went red when her mind started to slowly come out of it's one-function mode, but by then she could practically feel his eyes upon her in ways she never felt from anyone before.

Would she be wrong in saying that it made her feel… kinda proud of her body? That his gaze on her made her feel… beautiful? Maybe even… sexy?

"Here's your clothes, girl. Now get dressed and get out, others have to use the shower too." Huey said, his tone completely unaffected by her nudity though his eyes lingered when he turned away slowly and walked out of the refresher.

Huey closed the door gently while Padme's mind started up all of it's processing like a droid that had been re-booted as she gaped in silent embarrassment at the closed door. Her body blushed heavily as she hurriedly dried her hair and body before getting dressed in record time and rushing out like death was hanging over her.

Cindy and Traban raised a brow and exchanged looks when they saw Huey enter the bathroom, stand there for two minutes, then say something before he slowly turned around, and walked out. It wasn't even a full minute before a fully-clothed Padme burst out of the bathroom at top speed and raced into the room she shared with Cindy, all the while her face was as red as a tomato.

Traban blinked in confusion, having no clue why the girl was so flustered while Cindy was dying of laughter as she leaned into his lap for support before she fell over.

"I don't get it. What's so funny?" Traban asked as Cindy stopped laughing long enough to give him a look.

"You are so damn oblivious!" Cindy said right before she went into more bouts of laughter. Traban merely frowned at her as he finished with her hair, standing up as she fell to the floor with a pointed glare at him.

"Well, now that I'm through with cooking and everyone has cleansed themselves… for no reason, we can go work on the racer. We still have that engine to finish, all thanks to that brat. We'll need to get any money Riley has for new parts… because of that brat. So let's get a move on; that Boonta race won't be run by pushing the damn pod… thanks all in whole to that brat!" Traban raved as he stormed out of the house while Cindy only giggled at him for his antics. Before leaving with Traban, Cindy stopped at Qui-Gon, as Huey left to go with Traban as well; who had fallen asleep during his meditations along with Obi-Wan. Though Qui-Gon wasn't the one to fall over and curl up to a rock for a pillow…

"Qui-Gon, be sure to watch over little Anakin and the others while we're out. Huey, Traban, and I are going to secure more parts for the pod-racer, and Shmi is out working." Cindy said as Qui-Gon shook himself free of sleep and nodded, getting up and stretching while Cindy told him what he needed to know.

"They'll be safe in my care, Madam Cindy." Qui-Gon said as Cindy smiled.

"Just Cindy, Qui-Gon. You look older than me anyway." Cindy said as she patted his shoulder before rushing out the door.

Once they were gone, Padme came out of her room and rested her body against the door frame with a blush on her cheeks. Her thoughts kept lingering on how Huey had seen her naked and looked her up and down as if comparing her body to that of another woman. Obi-Wan, who was completely oblivious to this had walked up to her groggily and looked her up and down. She almost screamed and called him a perv (a word she didn't even know she knew) before his eyes went wide and his face colored.

"What?" Padme snapped womanishly, placing her hands on her hips and her chin high with pride as she stuck out her chest.

"Your robes are undone… and so are your undergarments…" Obi-Wan said before he fainted with a dark red face. Padme looked down and saw that the ties and bows she had done hurriedly in the bathroom had come undone on both her outer and inner dressings, exposing her frontally nudity to Obi-Wan while Qui-Gon looked her straight in her eyes with a raised brow.

"Are you going to fix those before Anakin comes out to peek?" Qui-Gon asked coolly as Padme gave a cry of embarrassment and darted back into her room. Qui-Gon only chuckled as he picked Ben up from the floor and placed him on the couch.

Kids… so hormonal, and yet so shy about their bodies… Thank the Force he was raised as a Jedi and that he was getting old…

---

"Thanks, Reezy!" Cindy said, waving as she, Huey, and Traban walked away from Riley, who looked highly confused.

"The fuck?" they heard Riley ask aloud as they walked away, into the market-plaza of Mos Espa.

"So what now?" Huey asked as Traban shrugged while Cindy was scanning the area. They couldn't go to Watto for the parts they needed, mostly because Cindy thought the Toydarian junk dealer was already costing them too damn much.

"We'll look for some cheap deals, I suppose. We don't need anything expensive. All the parts have to do is last throughout the race. After that, I don't really care what happens to them." Traban said as Huey glanced at him and raised a brow.

---

Cindy, Huey, and Traban had gone through at least seven of the nine junk-shops in the area, buying parts while Cindy's annoyance only kept rising higher and higher.

"Damn junk dealers. Its junk, not diamonds!" Cindy grumbled irritably as she stomped her way toward the Skywalker home while Traban and Huey carried the purchased parts behind her, both not even fazed by their friend's annoyance.

"But its junk that people in this area need, thus makes it valuable." Traban said politely, though his smirk was furthering Cindy's anger spoke volumes. Cindy turned on heel and gave Traban a look of annoyance that made him chuckle while Huey was smirking coolly.

"Shut up, you! On any other planet, they'd be shot for this bullshit!" Cindy snapped as Traban looked a little shocked at her level of anger while Huey raised a brow to it. Huey was about to make a snide comment, but before he could Cindy turned back around and continued storming.

"We're rushed for time, so fuck the revamping of the thrusters; we'll just have to go and bypass the main reactor." Cindy said as Traban and Huey exchanged looks.

"Yes ma'am, Captain McPhearson!" Traban and Huey said with a salute. Cindy looked back at them and glared, though she did so with a ghost of a smile on her lips.

"Shut up, assholes." Cindy said while Huey rolled his eyes.

"Why do we need to bypass the main reactor anyway?" Huey asked as Traban's face darkened.

"Because that brat was trying to show off for those little friends that had come by earlier in the morning. He started the engines up this morning without our being there and broke the main reactor in the engines, causing a shortage in both thrusters." Traban explained as Huey scowled deeply.

"Wouldn't that mean one of the engines is cracked?" Huey asked as Traban frowned in thought.

"And the other set a flame. Though Cindy here was able to repair the crack and the fire damage." Traban said as he sighed and raked his hair back with a hand, "Give me a lightsaber, blaster, or even a computer, and there's no problems. Ships and racers… Now those are hard."

"That boy is really cocky." Cindy said suddenly as she narrowed her eyes in the direction of the Skywalker home, "I mean, he has no safety measures, he shows off at the price of others, and he's beyond reckless."

"He's got some skill and power." Huey said as they started walking again, "The problem is that he has no discipline or control. That makes him a menace to not only himself, but those around him as well; including those he'd care for. I can tell he hates being owned and being thought of as a slave or property."

"But his emotions are the worst part, I think. He allows them to show so clearly, so strongly. I think Force-users planets from here could feel them in the Force. The boy is just so… ruled by his feelings. It's… unsettling…" Traban said with a shake of his head while Huey and Cindy looked grim.

"If we just leave him here, he might kill off everyone he comes in contact with on the planet; his mother being the first to suffer his unintentional wraith." Traban said as Cindy looked away.

"But if we take him with us, he might kill off the galaxy…" Cindy said as Huey and Traban both frowned in thought, arriving at the house and going around to the back.

"We'll talk about this later… when we're all present and each have been around the boy." Huey said firmly as Traban and Cindy nodded.

---

"Jazmine…? What are you doing here?" Huey said as Jazmine moved toward him and the others with grace and elegance. She gave a small wave to the others as she focused on Huey.

"Riley came to the ship covered in blood… both his own and that of a creature. He said he was done with this planet, and I came here for the reminder of the day. I thought it'd be good to stretch my legs and see what kind people had taken you all into their home." Jazmine said as she glanced over at Shmi.

"Oh, we were only doing the right thing." Shmi said with a smile as she lightly shook Jazmine's hand, "Hello, I'm Shmi Skywalker, and that's my son; Anakin." Shmi said as she gestured over at the blond halfway inside the pod-racer.

"Hi, I'm Jazmine Dubois. I'm Huey's wife." Jazmine said as Huey wrapped an arm around her shoulder. Shmi didn't seem surprised as she smiled at them and their love.

"Oh my, you two make a lovely couple." Shmi said honestly as Jazmine blushed lightly.

"Thanks." Jazmine said as Huey rolled his eyes.

"Ow!" Anakin's voice rang out as Huey and Jazmine hurriedly turned toward the house.

"That damn boy is gonna be the death of one of us…" Cindy muttered as she and the others followed Huey and Jazmine.

---

Anakin sat on the balcony rail inside the greenhouse terrace while Jazmine tended to the long cut on the boy's arm.

"You need to pay attention to what you are doing, Anakin." Jazmine said as Anakin sighed, leaning back and looking up at the vast darkness of the sky with only the stars for light.

"Keep still, Anakin. I have to clean this wound, or else it might get infected." Jazmine said calmly as she started to dab at his cut with a cotton ball that had some kind of green salve on it.

"But there are so many." Anakin said, referring to the stars above them, "Do they all have a system of planets?"

"I see you were paying attention to young Ben's tales during lunch." Jazmine said as she tossed the cotton pad in the trash before grabbing some gauzes from her medical bag, "Yes, most of them have their own system, or they used to at any rate."

"Has anyone been to all of them?" Anakin asked as Jazmine giggled at his innocence.

"No, not likely, little Anakin. Well… not unless they're living a very long life." Jazmine said as Anakin suddenly gained a huge smile.

"Then I want to be the first one to see them all!" Anakin proclaimed as Jazmine shook her head with an amused smile on her face.

The boy was simply too much of a little adventurer.

"There you go, Anakin. Good as new." Jazmine said, putting her supplies away. Using normal healing methods always took so long, but she didn't want to reveal too much to the boy just yet.

"Especially with what he'll turn into later on in life… Though I guess the reason the others hadn't brought it up is because they hoped to change that. I do, too, but-" Jazmine thought before she heard Shmi's voice from inside.

"Annie! Bedtime!" Shmi called as Jazmine sighed, looking out the glass domed-terrace to the darken hovels outside.

It was already dark and they had barely made any real progress with that pod-racer. Jazmine sighed again as she wiped the bloodied wipe onto a data-chip without remembering that Anakin was still there.

"What are you doing?" Anakin asked curiously, his head titled with childish innocence. Jazmine jumped slightly as she looked to him, a small frown upon her face from being caught up in her thoughts.

"Didn't your mother call for you to go to bed?" Jazmine shot back as Anakin grinned.

"Yeah, but what'cha doing?" Anakin said as Jazmine rolled her eyes.

"As a healer, I'm just checking to see if your blood has any infections in it." Jazmine lied with ease, though most people would have been able to catch her in that lie.

Thankfully, Anakin Skywalker wasn't like most people.

"Okay. But I've never seen any-" Anakin began, but was cut off by his mother's voice.

"Annie! I'm not going to tell you again!" Shmi yelled from inside as Jazmine giggled softly, nudging the young Skywalker toward the terrace entrance.

"Go on, Annie. You have a big day ahead of you tomorrow. Goodnight." Jazmine said as Anakin rolled his eyes before he ran into his home.

As soon as she was sure Anakin was fully in the house and far away, Jazmine put the bloodstained data-chip into her com-link before she called Ming and Riley.

"Yo, this be Young Reezy. Who this?" Jazmine rolled her eyes as she sat along the stone railing of the terrace overlooking the night.

"Riley, how many times do we have to tell you. You're over 800 years old. You're not young anything." Jazmine said as Riley scoffed. Jazmine chose not to start an argument with Riley over his moniker, so she pressed on before he could counter, "Anyways, I need you to make an analysis of the blood sample I'm sending you. This is serious."

"Ming's here too, so we ready." Riley said as Jazmine heard shifting over the com-link.

"What do you need?" Ming asked as Jazmine sighed.

"A midi-chlorian count." Jazmine said as she heard typing and then a pause.

"Alright, got it." Riley said as Jazmine raised a brow. Had Riley or Ming grown better with computers over the last hundred years?

Somehow, she doubted it…

"What are the readings?" Jazmine asked as she heard her two friends humming in thought and muttering before more typing.

"Something must be wrong here." Ming said, though to herself or to Jazmine, Jazmine didn't know.

"What is it?" Jazmine asked as she shifted her weight on the railing.

"The count… it's nearly off the charts. It's over 20,000. It's just barely over Riley, mine, and yours. It's nearly as large as Traban, Huey, and Cindy's counts were last time we checked." Ming said as Jazmine bite down on her lip hard enough to draw blood. She placed her lip to a new chip and kissed it.

"Try this one." Jazmine said.

"Whose is this?" Riley asked.

"Mine. The last time we checked was well over a hundred years ago." Jazmine said as Riley grunted.

"Alright… the count is just a bit higher than that first one you sent us. Not even an entire hundred higher." Riley said as Jazmine sighed.

"Then Huey and the others' counts have grown higher as well along with you guys." Jazmine said with a sigh of relief.

"… That first one was Anakin Skywalker's count, wasn't it?" Riley asked after a short pause.

"Yeah…" Jazmine admitted somberly before she straightened up, sanding from the railing, "Listen, I'll come to the ship at first light tomorrow so Riley can get back to helping with the racer. Both of you get some sleep. Jazmine, out."

"… You do know you don't have to say "out" and shit when you end a com-call, right?" Riley asked as Jazmine huffed.

"I just wanted to be all cool and mysterious!" Jazmine said as Riley snorted at her while Ming scoffed.

"Jazmine, you are a healer, and we know you." Ming said slowly as though she were making her point perfectly clear, an air of smug mirth to her tone, "Though nice try." Ming said as Jazmine growled.

"Good-bye, meanies." Jazmine said before ending the transmission on her laughing friends.

The Jedi Healer sighed as she turned to go back inside, but paused in shock as she saw Shmi Skywalker standing in the doorway while watching her, an embarrassed look on the young mother's face before she turned and headed back to the kitchen. Jazmine looked up at the stars above, wondering what the future had in store for them.

And she hoped it was as peaceful as the night sky above her…

---

Padme exited the Skywalker hovel, stretching and yawning as she looked out over the city.

"It looks so peaceful…"She thought, as she looked down to see R2 putting the finishing touches on the paint job to the pod.

"Nearly finished?" she asks the astromech droid.

The astromech-droid whistled positively as Padme turned and saw that Anakin must have snuck out during the night. The young boy was laying against one of the repaired engines, fast asleep.

"He's been like that for at least three hours." a voice said behind her as she turned on heel to see Huey and Obi-Wan coming over to her.

Obi-Wan came up to her and touched her shoulder lightly before he jabbed a thumb toward where the boy, Kitster (a boy of Anakin's age that Anakin had introduced them to yesterday), was riding toward them on a strange camel-like creature while leading a second behind him.

Padme moved toward Anakin as she noted how he vulnerable he looked as he slept. He was like an innocent little child, instead of the impulsive and reckless little devil he really was. She studied him for a moment in silence before she reached out gently, hesitantly, and stroked his cheek. Padme jumped in surprise as the boy's eyes snapped open and he jerked awake at the contact. He looked so alert, so focused for that spilt second before he blinked his eyes, yawning and stretching while he gave her a puzzled look.

"You were in my dream." Anakin said as Padme raised a brow. She hoped he wasn't having any of those "big boy" dreams about her, or it would be a very awkward conversation, "You were leading a huge army into battle." Padme gave a sigh of relief before she shook her head at his words.

"I hope not; I hate fighting." Padme said honestly, "You better go inside. Your mother was looking for you. Best clean up, cause we have to leave soon."

Anakin stood to his feet after nodding to her before he stretched even more and turned just as Kitster arrives.

"Hook 'em up, Kitster." Anakin said before he looked back at Padme while Obi-Wan went to help Kitster, and Huey went back toward the Skywalker home with a sigh, "I won't be too long. Where are the others?"

Padme smiled as she rose to full height, dusting off her robes as she did so, "They've left already. I think they went to meet with Watto at the arena."

"Okay." Anakin said before he rushed toward the house, slipping in just before Huey, who scowled at the boy's early morning energy.

He needed his damn morning coffee…

---

Riley grunted as he stifled yet another yawn that threatened to escape him. Damn Cindy for waking him so early in the morning just so they could figure out another plan of action just in case Anakin failed them. Like her and Huey asses weren't enough to deal with anything that went down, but they asses had Traban too. He wanted some sleep, some good all-day long hours of sleep. His eyes, though heavy and tired, were still rather alert as he scanned the area. Racing crews were mill about the large building with over a dozen pod-racers being readied for this enormous race. Alien crews and pilots were rushing around while making last minute adjustments on their vehicles.

Riley turned his attention to the woman who was making powerful strides in front of him. Cindy's ass would looking amazing… that was, if the damn heavy robe wasn't covering it. Riley then turned his head to where Traban was walking beside him, looking so rested and at ease with the early morning wake-up Cindy and Huey had given them, that it sorta pissed Riley off. He hated niggas that were so calm and collected, it made him feel like a nervous wreck compared to them, even though he didn't show it.

Riley's thoughts on the matter were interrupted, however, as through the background activity, Watto came up to Cindy and began flying near his wife's shoulder. Riley didn't catch what the little blue bug was saying, but decided that he should actually pay attention since the thing looked pretty excited and greedy about something.

"… and then I want to see your spaceship the moment the race is over." Watto said as Cindy sighed, running a hand to smooth out her blonde hair atop her head that wasn't in the two braids.

"Can you chill out, Watto? Damn, I promise you that you'll have what you want before the suns set… and we'll be far away from here." Cindy said as Watto snorted at her words.

"Not if your ship belongs to me, I think…" Watto said before he gave her a serious look, "I warn you now; no funny business."

"Of course not." Cindy said, looking mildly offended as she stopped, "By the way, have you met my boys here."

Watto looked over Traban's overly calm profile to Riley's one of slight annoyance. The two didn't seem like much, but then again they were all on Tatooine; no one looked half as dangerous as they truly were. Watto gave them a small nod of acknowledgement before he turned back to Cindy, his look even serious.

"No fun business." Watto stated firmly as Cindy quirked a blonde brow.

"You don't think Anakin can win?" Cindy asked as she gave pause for the Toydarian to answer while looking him over.

Watto paused himself at her line of questioning before he cleared his throat, "Don't get me wrong; I have great faith in the boy. He's a credit to your race. But… Sebulba is going to win." Watto said, jabbing a thumb over at an orange pod-racer off to one side. Riley and the others turned to see it was where a Dug having his shoulders and neck massaged by another Dug that looked like the first's twin.

"You're betting on the Dug to win, ain't you?" Riley questioned as he narrowed his eyes at the floating little motherfucker, who looked smug at the question.

"Yes, I am." Watto said simply with his fat chin held high while Traban raised a brow.

"Why?" Traban asked as Watto laughed.

"Because Sebulba always wins." Watto said with a shake of his head in amusement, "I'm betting heavily on Sebulba."

"Well then, in the honor of faith in our only hope of getting off this rock, I think we'll take that bet." Traban said with his hands together inside the sleeves of his robes.

Watto no longer looked amused. In fact, he looked rather suspicious as he frowned at Naruto, "What? What do you mean?"

Traban stepped forward as he pulled a small pouch from the inside of his sleeve. He opened the pouch and pulled out a small pearl the size of a hubcap back on Earth.

"You heard me, my good Toydarian. We'll wager this shiny Dragon's pearl against… say… the boy and his mother."

Watto's eyes had went impossibly wide upon seeing the pearl in Traban's hand, as did Cindy's eyes before she narrowed as she realized that Traban had been holding out on them, having jewels and such when they could have used those bargaining tools.

Though she couldn't argue since he was using the pearl for just that purpose; bargaining.

"I don't know…" Watto said slowly with a very greedy, yet still contemplative look on his face, "Perhaps just one… the mother maybe… the boy isn't for sale."

Traban shook his head, a small pleasantly polite smile on his face.

"The boy is small, my good man. He can't be worth much." Traban said coolly as Watto paused for only a second before he shook his head.

"Now see reason, Mister Watto. I had this pearl appraised. It is apparently worth more than a starship; well… more than the Nubian we currently have, at least. Surely that has to be enough for the two." Traban said, and Riley could see that Traban was trying hard not to frown as the edge of his mouth were twitching downward.

Watto's only response of another shake of his blue Toydarian head again.

"Fine then. This Krayt-Dragon pearl for both, or no bet." Traban said, scowling freely as his eyes narrowed while Watto only sighed.

"One jewel; one in which I have not seen appraised, is worth two slaves? Not by a long shot. One slave or nothing." Watto said, the greed in his eyes giving him away to the three unknown Jedi around him.

Before Traban said anything he exchanged glances with Cindy and Riley.

"The boy, then." Cindy said as Watto shot her a glance. He then glanced at all three of them before he sighed and pulled out a small cube from his pocket.

"We'll let fate decide." Watto said, showing them the cube as Cindy stared at him.

"You carry dice around in your pocket…? Why exactly?" Cindy questioned, blinking as Riley raised a brow and Traban looked at Watto oddly.

"During the Bounta, you never know when a game of chance is to happen." Watto said with a light chuckle before getting serious once more, "How about this; if it lands on Blue, then you can have the boy and his mother, but if it lands on Red, then just the mother. Do we have a deal?"

"There are more red spots on that cube than there are blue… I'm sure that this pearl-" Traban tried, but Watto only shook his head once more as he glared at Traban.

"I said a jewel not appraised in my presence is not worth two slaves." Watto said fiercely as Traban grit his teeth before huffing as he pulled out a second pearl, making Cindy's eyes boggle, and Riley roll his eyes. Watto, meanwhile, was nearly salivating with avaricious greed as he wiped at the corners of his mouth.

"Fine then, my blue friend. If you aren't happy with one, then maybe two will make you more agreeable." Traban said, an annoyed look in his eye, "We land on Blue, we get both mother and son… We land on Red… we get neither and you walk away with both these pearls; no questions asked, and no protests raised. All winnings are collected upon that boy winning the race."

Watto seemed to become putty in their hands. First he needed to shake himself free of his stupor before putting on an act of looking vaguely interested and conflicted. They could all see he was, if only a little bit, guarded and suspicious. But then again, who wouldn't be? A deal as good as they were offering? And with Krayt-Dragon pearls on the line? It was enough to make even a Hutt lose their composure and brains to the intensity of greed.

And that was exactly what Traban was hoping to play upon… greatly…

"Hmm… I don't know… But, hey, I'm a gambling man and it's just the setting for such a thing. You drive a hard bargain, but you've got yourself a deal." Watto said as he gave them a grin, shaking on it with Traban as the two nodded to each other before Cindy gestured for Watto to toss the cube.

They all watched as the cube fell through the air before it skittered across the floor, spinning and flipping on its' rounded points as all eyes were locked upon it. Riley and Cindy exchanged glances before both looked at Traban, who was stifling a yawn with his hand to his mouth.

Curious how his hand was moving slightly to the left as he did so…

Riley and Cindy both turned their eyes back to the betting-cube as it slowed along the floor, barely rotating any longer. Cindy, Riley, and Watto held their breath as they watched the cube totter on its rounded side…

…before landing on blue.

Cindy and Riley's eyes were only slightly wide at the level of concentration Traban had to have used to make it seem like he wasn't cheating, but their thoughts weren't on mind for long as they heard Watto cursing in Huttese.

"This is impossible! How could you have won! You must have cheated!" Watto whispered harshly at them.

"Cheated? But how would we? There were more red spots than the single blue. Plus…" Cindy said, trailing off as she gingerly picked up the cube, tossing it in the air a few times, "this cube is weighted. Having five sides weighted will eventually cause the unhampered side to end face-up. Thankfully, we were betting on a good day."

"Might wanna get yo'self some new dice, nigga." Riley said as Watto glared at them all, especially Traban as he nodded innocently.

"Normally, cheating on this level would be taken to the Hutt; won against or not." Traban said, tapping at his chin as Watto seemed to turn less… blue, "But considering we were fortunate today, we won't report this matter. That is, unless you get rowdy. In which case, we just may need to speak with the local Hutt leader and explain all of today's events, including this little… incident."

Watto could do no more than glare at the trio as he pointed a stubby, pudgy finger at them threateningly, "You might have won the small toss, outlanders, but you won't win the race, so it makes little difference." and with that said and made clear, the Toydarian huffed with one final poisonous glare before fluttering away in a hurry.

As soon as Watto had flown away, Cindy released a sigh of relief as she stomped on Traban's foot as though she didn't even notice she had done so, nor Traban's yelp of intense pain while Riley sniggered.

Ow! What the hell, Cin-" Traban never got to finish as the blonde grabbed him by the front of his shirt and pulled him down to her level as she glared deeply into his soul.

"What and where the hell did you get not one, but two Krayt-Dragon pearls?" Cindy whispered deadly in his face as Traban and Riley both quivered in fear of the pissed-off blonde bomber known as Cindy "Fearsome" McPhearson.

"Oh, well… Funny story about that- Oph!" Traban said, close-eyed and scratching at the back of his neck before Cindy punched him in the stomach, causing him to fall to his knees in pain and collapse into the fetal position as he clutched his attacked middle.

Cindy turned to Riley with the same gleam in her blue eyes as Riley held his hands up in surrender, "Aye, babe, don't look at me. It was all that nigga. I promise you."

"T-they're fake…" Traban gasped from the floor as he rolled onto his back and sprawled out, gasping for breath as he did so, "They're just smoothed and polished Cassin-rocks from the Coruscant Underground… I got them for Ming about a few hundred years ago, thinking they were real Krayt-Dragon pearls, but I had been ripped off and never saw the dealer again… I kept them when Ming gave them back to me when we parted… I found them again when we were in my hidden vault on Nar Shadda…"

"Oh, that all?" Cindy said, looking as though he had explained a whacky situation before she gave him a swift kick to the ribs, causing the downed Jedi to groan in pain, "Next time, don't make me think that you had the means to get us off this fuckin' rock all along and were about to gamble it away because you wanted to save a few people we could come back and pick up. I swear to the Force if you ever do again, I'll skin you alive with my lightsaber… at half power."

"Yes, Ma'am… Sorry, Ma'am…" Traban moaned as he went back to the fetal position. Cindy huffed, flipping a bang of her out of her face as she turned on hell and walked away.

"C'mon, Reezy. Let's bounce." Cindy said, striding away while Riley whistled.

"Damn, yo ass is grass. Later, nigga!" Riley said, jogging to catch up to Cindy as Traban picked himself off the ground and dusted off his robes, "Yo, C-Murph! Wait up!"

---

"Need some help up, my friend?" Qui-Gon's voice asked as Traban peeked past his huddled shoulder. Jumping to his feet, Traban brushed himself off as Qui-Gon continued to give him an amused look, "I saw everything. I suppose you'd want to have some of your pride left from the crumbled heap of it on the floor."

"Yes, well sweep it up for me then, won't you?" Traban said as he held his head up high.

"Of course, I'll just do that after we've completed the mission." Qui-Gon said as Traban's show of antics faltered a bit.

"Where are the others? I'm sure they'd have no problem gathering my pride from the floor and taping it back together." Traban said as Qui-Gon chuckled.

"They're on their way as we speak. They told me to go ahead as Obi-Wan goes aboard the ship along with Masters Ming and Jazmine. They also said to give you this." Qui-Gon said as he reached into his robes and handed Traban a folded-up scrap of paper. Traban unfolded it and scanned it quickly, his eyebrow quirking as he did.

"Interesting…" Traban muttered as he turned on heel and, with Qui-Gon at his side, began to move toward where Cindy and Riley were waiting.

"What's that?" Riley asked as Traban handed the scrap of paper to him, "Oh hell naw!"

"What is it, Reezy?" Cindy asked as Riley handed her the message, "The fuck is this?"

"Our parts in this little drama, per Huey Freeman; the greatest playwright of our age." Traban said praisingly as he stretched a hand toward the ceiling like an actor.

"More like the greatest dumbass of our time." Cindy said with a furious scowl, "I ain't doin' this shit."

"Neither am I. This shit fucked up, man!" Riley said, stomping his foot, "How come Qui-Gon ain't got no part?"

"Because Qui-Gon's job is only to stand there and look pretty." Huey's voice came flippantly from behind them as they all spun to see him walking toward them with Jazmine, Anakin, and Padme all not far behind, "The dangerous parts are mostly up to Traban, Anakin, and myself. Just do what I asked and we'll be off this planet in no time."

Cindy and Riley exchanged long debating looks before both finally conceded to Huey's demands. Moving to gaze behind Huey, they all could see Anakin, Jazmine, and Padme entering the hanger with one of the hover-dollies carrying the pod-racer's engine along.

"Who's that kid with them, though?" Cindy muttered as Riley nudged her.

"That's Annie's little homie, Kitster. Way I hear it, they been cool since the sandbox." Riley informed as Cindy smiled lightly, waving to the young boy chatting alongside Anakin and C-3PO.

"Isn't that R2-D2 with them, pulling the racer?" Riley said, squinting to see past the bare droid to see the smaller trash-can like one, "Off the fuck on; isn't that Shmi sitting on the damn pod-racer?"

"Probably." Traban shrugged.

"We needed to be sure everyone was being watched at all times. We don't need anyone getting kidnapped and forcing Anakin into forfeiting the race." Huey explained as he cast a glance at his younger brother.

"Nigga, you need to stop watching all them damn detective shows." Riley said with a smirk as Huey scowled at him.

As they watched the parade of people come toward them, Cindy, Riley, and Traban all held their breath when Watto passed Anakin while leaving the hanger.

"You had better stop your friends' betting, or I'll end up owning them, too." Watto said in Huttese loud enough for all to hear before fluttering off with a laugh.

As soon as he reached them, Anakin asked about it as he continued to give Watto's retreating form curious glances, "What did Watto mean by that?"

"I'm sure it was nothing. We simply pointed out a flaw in his gambling ways with our superior ones." Traban said with a smirk as Cindy scowled.

"No, this jackass wanna play around. So remember this Annie; don't fuck with women, because you'll get fucked up." Cindy said as Traban's chuckled weakly, edging away from Cindy and Riley as he hid slightly behind Huey and Qui-Gon.

"Huh?" Anakin asked in confusion.

"Trust me, Anakin; you'll learn later in life." Qui-Gon said jovially.

While Anakin was learning the ways of women, Padme was looking at Kitster in disbelief when he let it slip that Anakin had never won a race before, and hadn't even finished one either. Jazmine placed a reassuring hand on Padme's shoulder, keeping her from saying anything while Kitster gave Anakin an approving and confident look, complete with a thumbs-up and smile.

"You'll do it this time. I just know it, Annie!" Kitster said full of belief as Anakin nodded back to him with a confident smirk.

"Yeah, I will." Anakin replied as Qui-Gon clapped a hand to his shoulder and his mother knelt to his level for a hug.

"Of course he will. We all have faith." Qui-Gon said.

Meanwhile, Cindy and Riley were shooting Huey's calm façade many curious and worried looks. They, like everyone else that knew the afro-headed Freeman, wondered he had in store for the race. Though knowing Huey Freeman, it would be something worthy of an Academy Award in the categories of Chaos and Disaster for just about anyone who got in their way.

"Well then, let's get started, shall we?"