Chapter Four

The Jedi had taught Qui-Gon to trust his instincts, often without reason. That was what he was doing now as he ran through the desert, the queen's ship in view. He could hear Anakin chasing after him, struggling to keep up with Qui-Gon's long strides, but something told the man that they couldn't stop. Suddenly he felt a wave of emotion come over him, and he stopped and spun around.

"Anakin, drop!" he ordered. The boy obeyed immediately, and a black speeder bike flew over him carrying what looked like a creature straight out of a nightmare. Qui-Gon recognized it to be a Zabrak, but there were black stripes that covered his blood-red skin and laced around the horns on the top of his head.

In a second Qui-Gon had taken his lightsaber from his belt and ignited it, and the Zabrak took out a red one of his own to clash against the Jedi. Already winded by the run, Qui-Gon had to struggle to find an energy source for this particular fight. The Zabrak warrior was as fierce as his appearance, and a very worthy opponent.

"Ani, get to the ship! Take off! Go!" Qui-Gon yelled over the hum of the lightsabers. Looking both terrified and awed, Anakin ran, his small voice heard above the noise as he ran up the entry ramp.

The fighting was wearing Qui-Gon down, and he desperately hoped that at least the boy would tell Obi-Wan of his plight and he could receive back-up. Suddenly the ship started moving, and it swept low toward the fight between Qui-Gon and the Zabrak. He leapt onto the still extended entry ramp, and raced into the ship, luckily not followed. He collapsed on the floor.

"Are you all right?" Anakin asked anxiously.

"I think so," Qui-Gon panted. "That was a surprise I won't soon forget."

Concerned for his master, Obi-Wan peered closer. "What was it?" he asked.

"I don't know," Qui-Gon admitted. "But he was well trained in the Jedi arts. My guess is he was after the Queen." He and Obi-Wan shared a knowing look, one that conveyed their biggest fear. They both looked to Anakin.

If he was to bring balance to the Force… did that mean there had to be Sith for him to destroy?

"Do you think he'll follow us?" Anakin asked anxiously.

"We'll be safe enough once we're in hyperspace," Qui-Gon assured him. "But I have no doubt he knows our destination." There was sadness in Qui-Gon's voice. The boy was so young and so innocent… up until now his biggest adventure in life had been winning a podrace on a backwater planet. Now he was on his way to fulfill his destiny, and hardly a second had passed.

The Force's ways still mystified Qui-Gon after all his decades of being a Jedi.

"Obi-Wan Kenobi," Qui-Gon said, remembered formalities. "I'd like you to meet Anakin Skywalker."

Anakin's eyes widened. "You're a Jedi too! Pleased to meet you!"

Padmé could not sleep on the ship. She was too restless. Though only a select few around her knew her secret, the rest of the ship was completely unaware that she carried the weight of a world on her shoulders.

The world of Naboo.

Because she, disguised as the handmaiden Padmé Naberrie was actually Queen Amidala of Naboo.

There was a lot on her mind at the moment.

She wandered about the ship, and her attention was caught by a huddled figure in the corner, shivering and clearly upset. Poor little Anakin appeared to be crying.

"Are you alright?" she asked him softly, moving over to be near the boy.

"It's very cold," he answered her, shivering to demonstrate. She nodded, and moved to fetch him a blanket. She had never approved of getting Anakin involved in their affairs in the first place. The boy wasn't even ten years old, and he was now being taken away from his mother and put in a very dangerous situation along with the Jedi and her Naboo assembly. She could only pray that he would stay safe until they could get him to the Jedi Temple.

Padmé knew the life of a Jedi was also dangerous, but it would give him a bigger purpose than the life of a slave had ever given him on Tatooine.

It still outraged her to know that there was slavery in the galaxy. She desperately wanted to do something… but she didn't know what there was to do.

She returned with Anakin's blanket.

"You're from a warm planet, Ani," she said softly, setting her other thoughts aside. "Too warm for my taste. Space is cold."

Anakin gave her one of his looks. It was as if he were peering into her very soul, her very being. She shivered. Even she could sense his power, and she had no Force sensitivity whatsoever. Qui-Gon had not been mistaken when he said there was something special about him.

"You seem sad," he said, turning his head slightly. She lowered her eyes.

"The Queen is worried," she said quietly. "Her people are suffering, dying. She must convince the Senate to intervene, or I'm not sure what will happen."

Anakin seemed to consider this for a moment, his nine years of wisdom working hard in his brain. When he seemed unable to come up with a comforting answer for her, he reached into his pocket.

"I'm not sure what's going to happen to me," he said sadly. "And I don't know if I'll ever see you again. I made this for you, so you'd remember me. I carved it out of a japor snippet. It will bring you good fortune."

Padmé took the charm, studying it for a moment and then placed it around her neck. She smiled at Anakin.

"It's beautiful, but I don't need this to remember you," she assured him. "Many things will change when we reach the capital, Ani. My caring for you will always remain."

She could tell her words made him happy, but then his smile faded again.

"I care for you, too," he said, stumbling a little over the words. "Only I miss…"

"You miss your mother," she finished softly for him. He nodded. Padmé watched him cry for a moment, and then leaned forward to hug him.

Even after she left Anakin to try and sleep, she wrapped her hand around the pendant on her neck. There was something special about Anakin Skywalker… she couldn't deny that.