Just as promised, Qui-Gon came to fetch Anakin and me from Watto's shop maybe only a little over an hour after he had left. We made a quick trip back to the stadium and Anakin and I ended up selling the pod for an enormous amount of money. They had actually auctioned off our pod to the highest bidder so we came into contact with a good amount of money.

As we were walking down the street, Anakin and I were walking alongside the Jedi talking nonstop about the win. Qui-Gon then reached into his robes and pulled out the money we won from selling the pod and handed Anakin and I both a bar each to hold onto. "Hey! These are yours." He told us and I staring at the money wide-eyed in my hands. "Yes! " I practically grunted from excitement.

When we reached the house, Anakin punched in the code before rushing inside with me. Our mother was sitting peacefully inside at a desk tinkering away for Watto when we ran in. "Mom, we sold the pod!" Anakin called out to her as we rushed up to her.

"Look at all the money we have!" I exclaimed as the two of us spilled the bars onto the table and our mother's eyes practically bulged out of her head at the sight of all the loot. "My goodness! But that's so wonderful you two." She said as her face turned into a wide smile as she took the money from us.

"And they have been freed." Qui-Gon then spoke up as he too caught up to the rest of us. "What?" Anakin and I exclaimed. "You both are no longer slaves." Qui-Gon grinned at Anakin and me whose eyes were wide before we turned to look at our mother. "Did you hear that?" We asked our mother. "Now you can make your dreams come true, Ani,Timmy." Our mother told us with a soft smile.

"You both are free." She told both of us gently. She then lets out a sigh before she looked up at Qui-Gon. "Will you take them with you?Are they to become  Jedi?" She asked the Jedi. Anakin and I beamed at this suggestion, turned around and waited for the answer. "Yes." Qui-Gon then nodded as he crossed his arms. "Our meeting was not a coincidence.Nothing happens by accident." 

I listened to what I wanted to hear, and suppressed everything else. For me, the only thing that mattered was that now, with my brother, I had a chance to fulfill the hopes and dreams that I had cherished for so long.  "Jedi." I whispered in awe.

"You mean we get to come with you in your starship?" Anakin practically yelled still in shock of what Qui-Gon was telling us. And that mean I would be together again Padme! The thought hit me like a bolt of lightning and filled me with such anticipation that I could only listen with difficulty to what the Jedi Master said next.

"Anakin,Timothee." Qui-Gon said sternly as he got down on his knees to our level. "Training to become a Jedi is not an easy challenge, and even if you succeed, it's a hard life." He informed us and I looked like a hurt puppy. "But I wanna go! It's what Anakin and I have always dreamed of doing." I argued before turning to our mother. "Can I go and Anakin too, Mom? Can we?"

"Timothee. " She said a little sternly as she took my hand in hers before growing soft. "This path has been placed before you and your brother. The choice is both of yours to make." I was silent for a moment and before I decided for us, Anakin decided for us. "We wanna do it." He answered with confidence.

"Then pack your things. We haven't much time." Qui-Gon instructed and we both run toward our romm ready to pack. . The moment we rounded the corner, I halted in my tracks once realization hit me square in the chest. I grabbed Anakins arm and pulled him back.

 "What about Mom?"I asked as I turned back to look at Qui-Gon and our mother near the front door. "Is she free too?" Qui-Gon and our mother exchanged a worried look, and I knew the answer before the Jedi spoke it. 

"I tried to free your mother, Timmy, but Watto wouldn't have it." He informed me. I felt my throat tighten. "But you're coming with us, aren't you, Mom?" I asked her as I walked back over towards her.

"Son, my place is here. My future is here. It is time for you to let go." She told me in a stern but sympathetic tone but it didn't stop the tears already welling in my eyes. "I don't want things to change." I said in a quiet whisper as a tear escaped my eye.

"But you can't stop the change. Any more than you can stop the suns from setting." She said. I took a deep breath, bowed my head and looked at the floor. Everything inside me collapsed, all the happiness disappeared, the expectant excitement dissolved.

But then I felt my mother pulling me towards her and in her touch I found the strength I needed to do what I had to do with my brother. However, my eyes were still wet when I lifted my head again. "Now hurry." She told me gently as a smile came upon her lips and she then pushed me off back towards Anakin so we could pack.

 In our room, like Anakin, I stopped and looked around, completely dumbfounded. We were about to leave the planet, and I didn't know when we would ever return. We had never been to another place, knew no one except the inhabitants of Mos Espa and those who would trade with us.

We had dreamed of other worlds and other lives, of becoming pilots of a great starship and Jedi Knights.But now to actually stand on the threshold of the life Anakin and I had so often wished for was overwhelming.

Suddenly I thought of an old spaceman who had told us he wouldn't be a bit surprised if Anakin and I would one day be more than slaves.  We had wanted that more than anything, had hoped with all our hearts that it would happen. But never, never had I thought of the possibility that Anakin and I would have to leave our mother behind.

I wiped away tears and fought against new ones before  I went to the motionless C-3PO and turned him on.  ."Oh, hello, Master Timothee! Master Anakin!" He greeted us as we began to pack. We didn't have much to pack and quickly put all of our things into two backpacks to carry on our backs.

"Well C-3PO, we've been freed. " I told the droid ceremoniously, and Anakin nodded in agreement with a slight smile. " And we're going away in a starship!"" Oh! My goodness! Oh! Uh, Master Timothee,Master Anakin, you are my makers. " He replied as I took my necklace Anakin had made for me and put it on.

 It had our mother's name engraved in her handwriting on the back and Anakin's name on the front. Anakin had one too, but with my name on it. "And I wish you both well. However, I should prefer it if I were a little more completed."

My brother sighed and nodded. "Sorry we weren't able to finish you, 3PO, give you coverings and all. We're gonna miss working on you. You've been a great pal." He said before he  reached for his backpack and turned toward the door. "We'll make sure Mom doesn't sell you or anything. Bye!" As he ran out of the room, C-3PO looked plaintively after him. "Sell me?" "Bye, 3P0!" I said goodbye to him before  I left the room myself.

 By the time we actually made it out of the house and started making our way with Qui-Gon, we both turned back and saw our mother standing in front of our house all alone. Seeing her standing there was more than I could bear. For a moment, I remained standing, unresolved, and conflicting emotions tugged at me. Then my resolve, which had never wavered, broke down completely, and I ran back to her, followed by Anakin

When we reached her, she quickly wrapped the two of us in her arms and gave us kisses over and over again as she held us tightly like we were going to disappear, which in a way we sort of were. "I can't do it, Mom. I just can't do it." I exclaimed as I took off my backpack and started again tearing up. "Timmy." Our mother probed gently while tears started again streaming down my face.

"Will I ever see you again?"I asked her desperately, and with this I finally voiced my worst fear. "What does your heart tell you?" She then asked me. "I hope so.Yes. I guess." I replied with a soft laugh before another tear slipped down my face. "Then we will see each other again." She said gently.

I took a deep breath to calm down. I stopped crying now and wiped away my tears."I will come back and free you, Mom. I promise." I declared. Our mother smiled before stroking our faces. "Now,be brave . . . and don't look back. Don't look back."She whispered before turning us towards Qui-Gon's without any objections.

As we walked through the streets further and further from our house without looking back, I wrapped my hand around Qui-Gon's rather big hand for comfort. At first, he frowned and looked a little taken back as I gripped his hand but eventually he sent me an encouraging smile and squeezed my hand as we walked towards where his ship must be.

After a bit Qui-Gon quickly told us to run. I don't know for how long we ran, but for what had to have been over ten minutes, I finally caught sight of a silver metal ship waiting in the sand."Qui-Gon, sir, wait!" I wheezed out, begging the Jedi who was sprinting across the sand. "I'm tired!" Anakin complained as he too was slowing down growing quick with fatigue from the lack of fitness and heat of the sun.

Qui-Gon then stopped running to check on us and I saw a quick flash of fright cross his face before he was practically screaming at us. "Anakin! Timothee!" He yelled at us with desperation clear in his voice. "Drop!" He ordered and we didn't have time for questions as I grabbed Anakins arm and pulled him down to the ground with me.

Not even seconds later, a speeder whizzed over our bodies and headed for Qui-Gon as some figure jumped off the speeder whipping our a red lightsaber just as Qui-Gon intercepted the saber with his own green one. "Go!" Qui-Gon screamed again at us while Anakin and I scrambled to our feet. "Tell them to take off!" Qui-Gon barked as he continued to clash his lightsaber with the unknown threat.

We running across the sand towards the ship while the two fought with such ferocity. Green and red. They left colorful patterns in the air around them. Once we actually managed to make it safely onto the ship, we both started running across the ship like crazy people screaming and running everywhere since we didn't know our way around the ship trying to find someone in charge.

Padme suddenly emerged, with some buff dark man, with extreme concern across her face most likely since she recognized our voices and probably could hear our cries from a mile away. "Ani, Timmy? What happened?" She asked us with furrowed eyebrows and worry while I just waved the question away not in the least bit worried about the two of us.

"It's Qui-Gon! Someone attacked us and he's out there now!" I said to her all very fast a bit surprised she actually understood any of what I just said. Padmé then took off along with the man and Anakin and me on her heels to the cockpit. "Qui-Gon's in trouble." The dark man immediately announced to the people inside as soon as we entered the cockpit.

There were three more men standing in the cockpit, one dressed in an orange jacket looking like the pilot while the other men wore robes sort of like Qui-Gon's. One of the men had short dark brown hair, which was tousled, while the older one had a stubble hairstyle and   a very distinctive thin braid that fell on the right side of his face.

 "Take off." The man with the braid swiftly instructed as the pilot hastily followed the orders and set up the engines. "Over there, fly low." The man without the braid ordered as he pointed in the direction of where I could now see Qui-Gon and the still hooded figure fiercely dueling.

We still saw the Jedi fly up and we left the other figure standing while the ship took off and flew towards the sky. Anakin, the two men and I printed to the entrance, where we found Qui-Gon on the ground and a beeping R2-D2 and a beeping R8-D8.

"Are you all right?" Anakin asked as we squatted down to him and he retracted his lightsaber. He was breathing heavily and seemed to be thinking as his chest moved up and down. "I think so."  Qui-Gon answered   before he got to his feet and then leaned against one of the boxes. He was still breathing heavily.

"What was that, Master?" One of the men asked out of breath, just as shocked as the other man,Anakin, and me. "I'm not sure,it was well-trained in the Jedi arts."  Qui-Gon answered worriedly and  glanced at the droids as they gave an equally worried beep. " My guess is it was-" "-after the queen." The other man finished his sentence and Qui-Gon nodded in agreement.

"What are we going to do about it?" I asked Qui-Gon with wide-eyes ready to help while Qui-Gon just lets out a quick breath. "We shall be patient." He answered  before  he gave me a soft smile. "Timothee  Skywalker, meet Obi Wan Kenobi and Maven Palpatine. And Anakin Skywalker, meet Obi Wan Kenobi and Maven Palpatine." Qui-Gon introduced us as he motioned towards the men.

"Hi." Anakin quickly exclaimed as he grabbed Obi Wan's and Maven's hand for a firm shake and the men gave him a small smile. While Obi Wan and Maven were shaking Anakin's hand, I noticed that their robes exposed their belt and within their belt, they both had a very distinctive metal weapon like that of Qui-Gon's. I knew then that it were lightsabers and that these men were like Qui-Gon.

"You both are Jedi too?" I exclaimed excitedly with big eyes a little bluntly. "Pleased to meet you both!" I said with a wide grin as I too eagerly shook their hands while the men gave me a slight chuckle. Qui-Gon just smirked at me while he gave my shoulder a soft pat. The Jedi then scrambled to their feet before the three told Anakin and me to follow them, which we did after brief eye contact.

In the cockpit, the pilot was busy preparing the ship for the jump into hyperspace. Qui-Gon stood next to the pilot while Maven and Obi Wan stood next to Anakin and me. "Done." The pilot announced over his shoulder, raising a brow questioningly. Qui Gon nodded. "Let's hope the hyperdrive works and Watto doesn't end up being the one who laughs last."

We all stood behind the pilot and watched silently as he engaged the hyperdrive. A short, sharp howl sounded, and the stars outside the viewport turned from silver dots to long streaks as the ship jumped smoothly into hyperspace, leaving Tatooine behind.

It was already bedtime and everyone was fast asleep when Padme, in her fire-orange maid disguise, snuck into a strange room where I was wrapped in a thin blanket. My face felt like it had been dipped in ice for hours, and only my lower body was somewhat protected by the thin old blanket, which made me shiver.

 Padme walked past Jar Jar Binks, who was snoring away, and also past R2-D2 and R8-D8, who were in standby mode. She then arrived where she was going and pressed a button on a small console. A hologram of an elderly man appeared in front of her.

"The death toll is catastrophic! We must bow to their wishes!" He exclaimed. She stared spellbound at the recording. "You must contact me!" He added, and the hologram deteriorated until it went out. Padme looked down and blinked a few times until she saw me.

"Are you all right?" She asked me gently, stepping a little closer. "It's very cold." I stammered. Padme took the closest thing she could find. It was an orange cloth embroidered with white flowers. She stepped toward me, unfolding it as she did so, then covered me with it.

"You and your brother come from a warm planet,Timmy." She began, smiling warmly. "A little too warm for my taste." She smirked. I looked into her brown eyes, which to me were like the most beautiful eyes I had ever beheld before. "Space is cold." Padme said and looking into my eyes.

I directly felt myself getting warmer and my heart started beating faster again as I looked into her eyes. Then I realized that something was wrong. Padme didn't have the energy she usually had and I spotted a little worry line on her forehead.

"You seem sad." I said, looking at her emphatically to indicate that she could tell me what was wrong and what was causing her this worry. "The queen is worried. Her people are dying and suffering. She must convince the senate to intervene." Padme explained to me after pondering for a moment. "I'm not sure what will happen."

 "I'm not sure about what's going to happen with Anakin and me. So I made this for you." I said after a few minutes of silence. I took out the object I had been fiddling with earlier and placed it in Padme's hand.

 "So you'd remember me. I carved it out of a japor snippet." I said to her, who  looked at the pendant more closely. It was yellowish and in the shape of a square, except that the sides went a little inward. The front had an intriguing pattern.

 " It'll bring you good fortune." I smiled at her. "It's beautiful. "Padme said and looked up at me. "But I don't need this to remember you by." She added and smiled at me too. "Many things will change when we reach the capital,Timmy." She began, and probably paused to search for the right words. "But my caring for you will remain." She added and smiling at me again.

 That was enough for me. While I wished we could spend more time together, I was satisfied that at least she didn't forget me. At that moment, my mother popped into my head again. I didn't want to forget her, and I didn't want her to forget me or my brother.

"I care for you too, only I..." I looked down at the ground dejectedly and felt tears forming in my eyes again. " Miss your mother." Padme finished my sentence sympathetically and stroked my shoulder lightly. I looked up again and she discovered that some tears had already formed that just wouldn't roll down.

"Make sure you get some rest, Timothee. " She said now. "We have a big day tomorrow." I nodded. "I know." I said before I watched her leave the main room quickly and quietly. Now that I had a warm blanket , it wasn't much longer until I drifted back off to sleep.

By the time I actually woke up woke up, I'd like to say that the sunlight was pouring into the room and the birds were chirping, but of course, none of that happened. I mean we were in space , so I didn't get the so-called morning welcome I might have preferred on my first day far away from home.

Qui-Gon had entered my room and tenderly woken me up my gingerly shaking me until I was peering at him from my blanket with groggy eyes. "Time to get up you." He instructed me with a light voice and a welcoming smile which was a little disappointing, to say the least. No one looks that happy in the morning, whoever does is out of their right minds. I was not morning people. Never have been, never will.

I just let out a fatigued groan  as I shut my eyes again before I heard a soft chuckle and the blanket ripped off of my body. "We're almost here." Qui-Gon then exclaimed as I now gave him an irritated look for having taken the beautiful warm blanket off of me. "You can see the capital from here." The Jedi then told me in a whisper and I practically shot up into a sitting position.

 Qui-Gon then guided me out of the room I was in and down the hall to another room where Obi Wan was sitting at some computer doing who knows what and a big circular window while Maven stand beside him.

 Obi Wan stopped what he was doing for a moment to figure out who had entered after the suctioning sound of the door, but I ignored him and simply darted from behind Qui-Gon up to the big window where Anakin stood and stared outside.

I jumped up on the sitting bench in front of the window and facing the glass propped up by my knees. I pressed my hands and noses to the glass as I stared wide-eyed at the big round planet in front of us.

 "Wow." I exclaimed in a quiet voice as I was entranced by Coruscant. This was the first time Anakin and I had ever truly seen space. Sure we had looked at the sky and the stars for years now but it was nothing compared to actually being surrounded by the galaxy.

The sight was absolutely incredible. Anakin and I were practically dying in awe of the planet displayed before us. It was hard to believe that we were actually heading there. For the first time ever we were no longer tied down to Tatooine and we were exploring the galaxy.

I heard two slight chuckles coming from behind us but I was too awestruck by the planet Coruscant that I didn't turn around towards the sound. They were probably coming from Qui-Gon und Maven who were  just amused by Anakin and my fascination with the planet we were heading for.

 Qui-Gon,Maven and Obi Wan then brought Anakin and me along with them back to the control room as we were pulling into the capital. We could now clearly see the huge skyscrapers and busy city displayed in front of us. It was both exciting but also a bit frightening at the same time considering we were not used to any of this.

"Coruscant." The pilot announced to Anakin and I as we flew through the capital starring at everything and trying to take everything in at once. "The entire place is one big city." The pilot explained to us before he started pointing out specific locations. "There's Chancellor Valorum's shuttle. And look over there, Senator Palpatine is waiting for us." He told us as he directed the plane towards a landing pad in the city.

As we got off the ship, Anakin and I made sure to stick close to the Jedi. I didn't know where Padmé was but R2-D2 ,R8-D8 and Jar Jar were sure to stay with us. Astonished I looked around and could not believe what I saw here. There were other ships or speeder planes flying through the air, people and creatures everywhere.

"Very cool. " Anakin said with a grin. "Welcome to Coruscant! " Qui Gon replied, turning to the two of us and smiling slightly. He seemed to notice that we liked this planet or city and it obviously amused him. "This is incredible here! " I said and could hardly take my eyes off the life that was going on here. "Well, it is a powerful city. And hardly a day goes by without something exciting happening. " Maven replied me with a smile.

 My attention was now focused on a troop of soldiers in pitch black armor and with judge-like helmets on their heads. Qui Gon,Maven and Obi Wan headed straight for a man and Palpatine, who were standing at the end of the platform. Obi Wan, Qui-Gon and Maven bowed to the two men, and Anakin and I, of course, did the same. Then we stepped aside to let the kings and their handmaidens pass.

 Senator Palpatine bowed as the queen arrived before him, her face unchanged, a look of anger on her. "It is a great gift to see you alive, Your Majesty." Senator Palpatine greeted her. "With the communcications breakdown, we have been very concerned. I'm anxious to hear your report on the situation."

Padme looked to her right, where she spotted me standing just in front of Qui-Gon. We held eye contact for a few moments. Then my eyes fell on the chancellor, who was introduced by the senator. He already had white hair, some wrinkles and a cool expression.

"May I present to you Supreme Chancellor Valorum." Palpatine now looked at the chancellor as well."Welcome, Your Highness." He greeted her and his expression did not change at all - on the contrary, it had become even more rigid. "It's an honor to finally meet you in person." "Thank you, Supreme Chancellor." She said, her voice very monotone.

When the group started walking off so Anakin and I were quick to follow. The two of us were looking around again curiously until I realized Qui-Gon was not with us. I had a quick moment of panic as I turned around and noticed him still beside the plane along with Obi Wan,Maven and the Chancellor having a conversation.

When Qui-Gon looked over at Anakin and me, he motioned us to follow with the Queen. "Ani, Timmy, come on." We heard Padme say. I spared the men one last glance before we following Padme away. We sat down in a ship that was open on top before it quickly flew away with us. Jar Jar sat next to us complaint about how the Queen was being overly nice as they traveled.