MILLION REASONS. | I. 

( 'MASTER THIEF' )

Valara ran through the sand streets of the little settlement, sliding under vehicles and avoiding passersby as she tried to escape her pursuer. 

"You, street rat!" shouted the shop owner behind her. 

Valara simply stuck her tongue out at the large creature before picking up the pace. She laughed as the shop owner ran out of breath, slowing behind her. 

She was so distracted that she didn't even see herself run into someone in front of her. 

She fell to the ground, but the other person stayed standing. Valara looked up to see a tall man with long hair and a beard looking down inquisitively at her. Beside him, there was an older girl with intricate braids woven into her hair. And behind her was a Gungan. 

"Sorry, sir," she mumbled, getting back to her feet. 

"It's quite alright," the man mused. "Where are you going?"

"Far away from him," Valara pointed a thumb at the shop owner who was getting closer. 

"Stop, thief!" he shouted after her. 

"Sorry Calo!" Valara said urgently. "Gotta eat somehow!"

She went to run again but the man had grabbed her arm, snapping her back into view. 

"What are you doing, Mister?" she fumed, struggling against his hold. It didn't work. 

"Did you steal this?" the man asked her, taking the fruit out of her hands. 

"Hey, I worked hard for that!" Valara protested. "Give it back!"

The shop owner caught up and approached the group. "Quinn! You will pay for this!"

"I'm sorry, sir," the man said, releasing Valara. "How much will you take for it? Ten Republic Credits?"

"Republic Credits," the merchant scoffed. "Those don't work here."

Valara sighed and stepped in front of the man, digging a single golden Wupiupi coin out of her pocket and placing it in his hand. 

"I need five, Quinn," he sneered. 

Valara pointed at his hand. "There are five there. See?"

There was, in fact, only one coin in his hand. But miraculously, he seemed to be convinced as he nodded, cursing under his breath as he walked back to his stall. 

Valara took the melon from the man's hands and continued on her way. 

"Wait!" he called out. 

She turned slowly. 

"Where did you learn that?"

Valara shrugged. "My dad."

The man and the older girl shared an uneasy glance. That was a Jedi trick, and everyone knew that the Jedi were forbidden to have children. 

"What's your name?" the older girl asked. 

"Valara Quinn," the little girl said proudly. "Master thief, mechanic, and someday great traveler of the galaxy."

"Well, Valara," the man said. "I am Qui-Gon Jinn. Would you like to stay with us for a bit?"

"I don't know..." Valara trailed off. "I'd have to check with Watto."

"Who's Watto?" the older girl inquired. 

"My master," Valara answered. "He sells ship parts."

"We-sa looking for parts," the Gungan perked up. 

"Really?" Valara asked excitedly. "Well then, come on!"

Valara lead the three to a small building full of machines and trinkets. Stilled droids stood along the wall opposite the counter and tools were lazily strewn about the place. 

Inside, Watto sat at the counter. Valara waved, climbing to sit on the counter, "Cooah so chat ah!"

"Hi chuba da nago," Watto greeted as he flew up from his spot. 

"I need parts for a J-type 327 Nubian," Qui-Gon said. 

"Ah yes, Nubian!" Watto grinned. "We have lots of that."

"Peedunkel! Naba dee unko!" Watto called out behind him, and Valara snickered as she heard someone run towards the shop. 

"My droid has a readout of what I need," Qui-Gon told him. 

Anakin ran into the shop. Watto flew down to his level. "Coona tee-tocky majia?"

"Mel tassa cho-passa," Anakin defended, going over to sit on the counter beside Valara.

"Chut Chut," Watto rolled his eyes and pointed at  Valara and Anakin. "Ganda doe wallya. Me dwana no bata."

"So," Watto addressed Qui-Gon. "Let me see what we have out back."

Qui-Gon followed Watto out to the back storage area. 

Anakin turned to Valara and pointed at the melon. "Where'd you get that?"

"I borrowed it," Valara grinned, looking satisfied with herself. 

"Borrowing means you'll give it back," Anakin gave her a pointed look. 

"Fine, I aggressively borrowed it. Besides, I paid some of the price." she said. She hopped off the counter and went behind it to search for something to cut the fruit with. She found a curved blade and began cutting the melon. She looked at the older girl, "Do you want some?"

The girl looked around unsurely before nodding and taking a piece off the plate. 

"Are you an angel?" Anakin asked out of the blue. 

She paused. "What?"

"An angel," Anakin repeated. "I heard the deep space pilots talk about them. They're the most beautiful creatures in the universe. They live on the moons of Iego, I think."

"It must be so awesome to go there," Valara smiled wistfully. 

The older girl paused. "You're strange kids. How do you know so much?"

Anakin shrugged, wiping down a piece of metal. "We listen to all the traders and star pilots that come through here."

"He's a pilot, you know," Valara said. "And one day, we're going to fly away from this place."

"You're a pilot?" the older girl asked. 

"All my life," Anakin nodded. 

"How long have you been here?" she queried. 

"Since I was very little," Anakin pursed his lips in thought, "Three, I think. My mom and I were sold to Gardulla the Hutt, but she lost us betting on the pod races."

"And you?" she asked Valara. 

"My dad and I were flying around in space, next thing I knew we crashed out here in the desert. He's not around anymore, so Watto took me in."

"You're slaves?" the girl raised her eyebrows. 

Anger washed over Valara. She hated that word. It made her feel like an object, like something to use. She guessed Anakin felt the same because he furrowed his eyebrows and said, "We're people and our names are Valara and Anakin."

"I'm sorry," the girl apologized. "I don't really understand, this is a strange place to me."

Valara glanced at the Gungan, who was messing around with one of the droids. He tapped the knob on its head and the droid bounced up and started running. The Gungan chased it clumsily around the shop until Anakin told him, "Hit the nose!"

"Oh," the Gungan nodded. He tapped the droid's nose and it compressed back down on the ground. 

The older man from before walked into the shop from the back, clearly not ready to stick around. "We're leaving," he paused as his gaze settled on Valara for a moment. Thinking. "Jar Jar, come on."

"I'm glad to have met you, Anakin, Valara," the older girl said as she stepped backwards and out of the shop. 

"I was glad to meet you, too!" Anakin called out after her. 

Watto flew in, looking disgruntled. "Ootmians! Tinka me chasa hopoe ma booty na nolia"

Outlanders! They think because we live so far from the center, we don't know anything.

Anakin shrugged. "They seemed nice to me."

Watto shook his head and glanced between the children. "Go clean the tracks and you can go home for the day."

"Yipee!" Anakin jumped off the counter and began to run out. 

"Wait for me!" Valara shouted, quickly cleaning up the counter before running after her best friend.