"The boy is dangerous. They all sense it, why can't you?" Paces ahead of Anakin, Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon were engaged in a heated argument over the youth. It was all he could do to keep from hanging his head in shame as he walked. Now, more than ever, he missed his mother. She would welcome him home with open arms, holding him and telling him how great he was, even if no one else believed a word she said. At least with her he could feel good for a little while.

Here, not only was he unwanted, but he was apparently "dangerous."

"His fate is uncertain, not dangerous," Qui-Gon argued, moving a few paces ahead of his padawan. They were on a landing platform, waiting to meet the queen and her ensemble to escort them back to Naboo.

"The Council will decide Anakin's future; that should be enough for you," Qui-Gon finished, leaving no room for discussion. "Now get on board."

Obi-Wan did as he was told, and Anakin slowly caught up with Qui-Gon, face starting to burn as thoughts formed into words on his lips. The older man looked down on him and for a moment Anakin wondered if he was pitied.

He decided he really didn't want to know.

"Master Qui-Gon, sir, I do not wish to be a problem," he said in a small voice. He was working up the courage to suggest the unthinkable—that he was too weak to be a Jedi and he should go home after their journey to Naboo. He knew the disappointment on the Jedi's face would be unbearable, but if he could just get the words out…

"You won't be, Ani," Qui-Gon assured the boy, cutting him off. "I'm not allowed to train you, so I want you to watch me and be mindful...always remember, your focus determines your reality. Stay close to me and you will be safe."

Anakin bit his lip. Was following a Jedi but never learning to become one really a decent substitute? The request on his heart died away for the moment, and he allowed himself to consider such a fate. Qui-Gon studied the boy, as if he knew what was yet to come out of his mouth.

Anakin realized this would be the perfect moment to ask his question about marriage to Master Qui-Gon. But glancing behind the man, he saw the queen and the others approaching, and he didn't want to risk anybody overhearing. Especially not Padmé, who had finally rejoined the ensemble.

Qui-Gon looked at him expectantly, and Anakin realized he had just swallowed up the only question he had planned to ask. If Qui-Gon were to be even a fake master, Anakin didn't want to make a fool out of himself in front of the Jedi.

"Master, sir...I've been wondering...what are midi-chlorians?" Anakin asked, thinking quickly.

Qui-Gon nodded, accepting the question. Anakin sighed with relief. Play the part of the student, he reminded himself. Do what you have to do to survive.

"Midi-chlorians are a microscopic life form that reside within all living cells and communicates with the Force," Qui-Gon answered, suddenly sounding even wiser than usual. But for all his wisdom, Anakin found himself caught off guard and more confused than he had expected to be.

"They live inside of me?" He asked doubtfully. If he concentrated really hard, he could hear the beating of his own heart. But as far as he was concerned the only thing alive inside of him…was himself.

"In your cells," Qui-Gon corrected. "We are symbionts with the midi-chlorians."

"Symbionts?"

"Life forms living together for mutual advantage. Without the midi-chlorians, life could not exist, and we would have no knowledge of the Force. They continually speak to you, telling you the will of the Force." The older man smiled at him kindly. "When you learn to quiet your mind, you will hear them speaking to you."

Again, Anakin thought of his beating heart and what he felt in moments in the dead of night when all was quiet, even his thoughts.

"I don't understand," he said sadly, feeling like he had failed another test of the Jedi. But Qui-Gon simply smiled at him again and patted him lightly on the shoulder.

"With time and training Ani, you will," he assured the boy, standing up from his crouch and leaving Anakin alone again.

The boy looked to the group, watching Qui-Gon and the others. He wondered if they would notice if he was gone.

He entered the ship without the others and didn't bother to hear if anybody asked after him.

During the journey to Naboo, Anakin did a lot of thinking on what Qui-Gon had said about the midi-chlorians and their interaction with life. From what he understood, Jedi were just people that had more midi-chlorians, or maybe people that understood midi-chlorians better. Did that mean Jedi understood life better?

If that was the case then he certainly wasn't meant to be a Jedi. But of course, that was just his train of thought at the moment.

Even if he didn't understand life, that didn't mean he couldn't appreciate its beauty. This was never truer as when he first set eyes on Naboo upon their decent. If Coruscant had left him wonderstruck, Naboo left him breathless. He had dreamed of other planets and other star systems before, but unfortunately he hadn't been able to picture them well in his mind considering he had never actually seen anything other than Tatooine. Everything on Naboo was so green and so vivid. It was like walking into a dream.

"Welcome to my home, Ani," Padmé said softly, sneaking up behind him. He turned to look at her smiling tenderly at him, although her face was ridden with sadness. He looked back out at the landscape. How could she be so sad in a place so beautiful?

But he could feel something menacing above them. Maybe this is what Qui-Gon meant about the midi-chlorians talking to him, giving him warnings of the bad things to come.

"Can you feel it too?" he asked quietly, hoping no one would overhear him. He looked up to the sky to specify his question.

Padmé just looked back at him, confused and frowning. "Feel what?" she asked.

He looked away from her. "Nothing."

She watched him for a moment and then moved wordlessly to join the others who were coming off the ship.

"She can't feel anything," a voice said softly, filling in Padmé's place only seconds after her departure. Anakin jumped, distracted from his thoughts and looked up to see Obi-Wan towering over him, stern look firmly on his face as usual.

"Only Jedi can, right?" Anakin asked, letting his eyes trail back to the girl. Obi-Wan followed his gaze for a moment before answering.

"Anyone who can touch the Force could feel it, not just the Jedi," he replied. "Remember the being that attacked Master Qui-Gon? He was no Jedi, but very in touch with the Force."

So where do I fit in? Anakin wondered, the question dancing on his lips and burning so powerfully within himself he could barely stand it. Obi-Wan sighed heavily.

"Be mindful of your feelings," Obi-Wan chastised him, startling Anakin. "I'll be completely honest with you: I have no idea where you fit in. Qui-Gon seems to have things better figured out, but I guess that's why he's the master and I'm the padawan."

Anakin sensed bitterness behind Obi-Wan's words but didn't comment. He was still blown away by the fact that Obi-Wan had essentially read his mind.

"You have a destiny before you," Obi-Wan said softly, gaining the tiniest bit of compassion. "As do we all. And in the end, no one can choose your destiny for you. It's entirely up to you."

The thought warmed Anakin's heart for a moment, and gave him back the hope he had lost as of late. "Thank you, Obi-Wan," he said politely, managing an ungraceful bow to mimic the other Jedi he had seen. Obi-Wan gave the briefest of smiles before leaving to join the others, and Anakin followed only paces behind.

It's my destiny, he reminded himself happily. It's what I want to do with my life. No one can control it. Not even the Jedi. He remembered those who had denied him training and frowned.

It is my destiny…right?