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- ͙۪۪̥˚┊❛ 𝚂𝙸𝙻𝚅𝙴𝚁 𝙻𝙸𝙽𝙸𝙽𝙶 ❜┊˚ ͙۪۪̥◌
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𝗔𝗖𝗧 𝗢𝗡𝗘 ━━ phantom menace

CHAPTER TWO ━━ a boy in a junk shop

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          ATLAS PACED THROUGH THE ROOM AS SHE RECALLED HER CONVERSATION WITH QUI-GON. Her mother was still a sore subject. Even after six year, Atlas still felt her heart ache as her mother's name was spoken. It was a feeling that, she knew, was never going to go away.

"Atlas?" Padmé's voice said from behind her. "Are you all right?"

Atlas took a deep breath, put on a smile and turned around. "Yes, I'm fine."

Padmé frowned, eying her friend closer. "You do know I know when you are lying, right?"

Atlas' smiled fell from her face and she let out a sigh. "It's really nothing," she said. "I was just thinking of my mom."

"Ah," Padmé said. She didn't know much about Atlas' mother. Atlas never really talker about her much and Padmé didn't want to push her into telling her. "Well, I'm sorry to disturb you, but we are requested by Her Royal Highness."

"I'll be there in a second," Atlas replied, as she tried to get her act together. She had to be strong. For herself and for Padmé.

With that, Atlas went to join Padmé.

· ☬ ·

          ". . . AN EXTREMELY WELL PUT TOGETHER LITTLE DROID," Captain Panaka said once Atlas walked into the room and took her place next to Padmé. "Without a doubt, it saved the ship, as well as our lives."

During the escape, their ship had been hit and a R2 unit had managed to repare the damage.

"It is to be commended," Sabé, alias the queen, said. "What is its number?"

The little blue droid let out some series of beep, while Captain Panaka leaned over and scraped some dirt off the side of the droid so he could read its number. "R2-D2, Your Highness."

"Thank you, Artoo Detoo. You have proven to be very loyal . . . Padmé! Atlas!"

Both Padmé and Atlas moved closer to the queen before bowing.

"Clean this droid up the best as you can. It deserves our gratitude." The two girls nodded and the queen looked back at her Captain. "Continue, Captain."

Captain Panaka looked nervously at the two Jedi.

"Your Highness," Qui-Gon spoke up, "we are heading for a remote place called Tatooine. It's a system far beyond the reach of the Trade Federation. There we will be able to make needed repairs, then travel on to Coruscant."

"Your Highness," Captain Panaka piped in, "Tatooine is very dangerous. It's controlled by an alliance of gangs called the Hutts. I do not agree with the Jedi on this."

"You must trust my judgement, Your Highness," Qui-Gon added.

Sabé and Padmé exchanged a look before Padmé went to stand next to Atlas and R2-D2. Atlas had a feeling what her decision would be.

· ☬ ·

          PADMÉ AND ATLAS WERE IN THE MAIN AREA CLEANING THE LITTLE BLUE DROID. Atlas' feeling had been right and the spaceship had been set course to Tatooine.

"Hidoe!" someone exclaimed from behind them, making both Atlas and Padmé jump up. As Atlas glanced over her shoulder, she saw that it was the Gungan who had come with the Jedi.

"Sorry, nomeanen to scare yousa," the Gungan excused himself.

"That's all right," Padmé said while Atlas merely smiled.

"I scovered oily back dare," he said. "Needen it?"

"Thank you," Padmé replied. "This little guy is quite a mess."

The Gungan handed Atlas the oil can.

"Mesa Jar Jar Binks," the Gungan introduced himself.

"I'm Padmé and this is Atlas," her friend introduced themselves. "We attend Her Highness. You're a Gungan, aren't you?" Jar Jar nodded. "How did you end up with us?"

"Me no know . . . mesa day starten pitty okeyday witda briskly morning munchen. Den boom . . . getten berry skeered, un grabbed dat Jedi, and before mesa knowen it . . . pow! Mesa here," he shrugged, "getten berry berry skeered."

· ☬ ·

          "WAIT!" Captain Panaka yelled, as he, Padmé and Atlas dashed after Qui-Gon, R2-D2 and Jar Jar, who were going to buy the stuff they needed in Mos Espa. Qui-Gon stopped and they quickly caught up with the small group. "Her Highness commands you to take her handmaidens with you. She wishes for them to observe the local."

Qui-Gon glanced over Padmé and Atlas. "No more commands from Her Highness today, Captain. This spaceport is not going to be pleasant."

"The Queen wishes it," Captain Panaka argued back. "She is curious about this planet."

"I've been trained in defense," Padmé spoke up. "I can defend myself."

"And she has me," Atlas added, giving them a grin.

"Don't make me go back and tell her you refuse," Captain Panaka said.

"I don't have time to argue," Qui-Gon said, rather irritated. "But this is not a good idea. Stay close to me."

He gave both Padmé and Atlas a stern look, but as soon as he turned around, the two friends grinned victoriously at each other.

The little group walked down the main street of Mos Espa. They passed dangerous looking citizens of all types, making Atlas' hands glued to the vest of her blasters. Padmé, however, looked around in awe at this exotic environment.

". . . moisture farms for the most part," Qui-Gon explained, "but also a few indigenous tribes and scavengers. The few spaceports like this one are havens for those who do not wish to be found . . ."

"Like us," Atlas finished his sentence, looking up at the Jedi Master. "How did you know my mother?"

Qui-Gon looked down at her. Although she was quite young, he could tell she had already been through a lot.

"This is nor the place, nor the time to tell you that story," he said, "but I promise you, I'll tell you one day."

The group came to a little plaza surrounded by several junk spaceship dealers.

"We'll try one of the smaller dealers," Qui-Gon spoke up.

They headed for a little junk shop that had a huge pile of broken spaceships stacked up behind it. They entered the shop and were greeted by a pudgy blue alien who was flying on short little wings like a hummingbird.

"Hi chuba da naga?"

"I need parts for a J-type 327 Nubian," Qui-Jon told him.

"Ah yes, ah yes, Nubian," the alien repeated. "We have lots of that. What kinda junk? Peedenkel! Nana dee unko!"

"My droid here has a readout of what I need," Qui-Gon said, gesturing at R2-D2.

A young boy ran in from the junk yard. He was very dirty and dressed in rags. He and the alien had a conversation, something Atlas couldn't quite understand. When they were done, the alien gestured for Qui-Gon and R2-D2 to follow him, leaving Padmé, Atlas and Jar Jar alone with the boy.

Atlas was walking through the shop, looking at the strange things they sold, when the boy spoke up.

"Are you an angel?"

Atlas turned around and saw that he was talking to her.

"What?"

"An angel," the boy repeated. "I've heard the deep space pilots talk about them. They live on the Moons of Iego, I think. They are the most beautiful creatures in the universe. They are good and kind, and so pretty they make even the most hardened spice pirate cry."

Atlas blushed. No one had ever say something like that to her before and she certainly didn't know what to reply

"I've never heard of angels before," Atlas admitted, uncertainly.

"You must be one . . . maybe you just don't know it," the boy stated.

"You're a funny little boy," Atlas said, still blushing but shaking her head. "How do you know so much?"

"Since I was very little, three I think, my mom and I were sold to Gradulla the Hutt," the boy explained, "but she lost us, betting on the Podraces, to Watto, who's a lot better than Gradulla, I think."

So he's a slave, Atlas thought. "I lived on the streets for four years, had to steal for food to survive," she told him. "It was horrible."

"Where were your parents?" The boy asked, frowning.

"My mother died when I was six," Atlas said curtly, "and I never knew who my father was."

"I'm sorry," the boy said, "I don't want to imagine losing my mother."

"It's alright," Atlas said, clearing her throat, "it was a long time ago. I'm Atlas, by the way, Atlas Reef." She held out her hand for him to shake it.

"Anakin Skywalker," the boy said, shaking her hand. "It's nice to meet you."

"Likewise," Atlas said, looking around. "This is a strange world for me," she admitted. "I've never left my home planet before."

Their conversation was interrupted by Jar Jar who had pushed the nose on what appeared to be a little droid, and it instantly came to life, grew legs and arms, and started marching around, knocking over everything. Jar Jar held on but couldn't stop it.

"Hit the nose!" Anakin shouted.

Jar Jar hit the nose and the droid collapsed back into its original state, making Padmé, Anakin and Atlas laugh.

· ☬ ·

". . . WOULDN'T HAVE LASTED LONG IF I WEREN'T SO GOOD AT FIXING THINGS. I'm making my own droid . . ." Anakin was telling Atlas and Padmé as Qui-Gon hurried into the shop, followed by Artoo.

"We're leaving," the Jedi said.

Atlas gave Anakin a last look. "I'm glad I met you, Anakin Skywalker," she confessed.

"I'm glad I met you, too, Atlas Reef," Anakin replied, smiling.

Atlas followed the others to a quiet spot between two buildings. Qui-Gon was talking on his com-link, while Jar Jar nervously watched the street.

". . . Obi-Wan, you're sure there isn't anything of value left on board?"

"A few containers of supplies, the Queen's wardrobe, maybe. Not enough for you to barter with," Obi-Wan replied. "Not on the amounts you're talking."

"All right," Qui-Gon sighed. "Another solution will present itself. I'll check back."

Qui-Gon put his com-link away and started out into the main street, but Jar Jar grabbed his arm.

"Noah gain . . . da beings hereabouts cawazy. Wesa ne robbed un crunched."

"Not likely," Qui-Gon replied. "We have nothing of value, that's our problem."

The five of them moved out into the street, Padmé and Atlas were quietly talking to each other.

"You were rather cozy with Anakin," Padmé said, moving her eyebrows, smiling broadly.

"I was just being friendly," Atlas said, though there was something about Anakin that just seemed familiar. As if they had known each other all their life.

"I think he likes you," Padmé went on, grinning now.

"It's not as if I will see him again," Atlas replied, his voice wandering off as she stared into the distance.

"Hi!" a voice behind them said, making Qui-Gon, Artoo, Padmé and Atlas look back. Anakin was waving at them and next to him stood Jar Jar. "Your buddy here was about to be turned into orange goo. He picked a fight with Dug. An especially dangerous Dug called Sebulla."

"Nosir, nosir," Jar Jar exclaimed. "Mesa hate crunchen. Dat's da last ting mesa wanten."

"Nevertheless, the boy is right," Qui-Gon said, "you were heading for trouble. Thank you, my young friend."

Atlas glanced at Anakin and met his eye. He smiled at her, making her smile back. The small group started walking down the crowded street.

"Mesa doen nutten!" Jar Jar exclaimed.

"Fear attracts the fearful," Anakin explained. "He was trying to overcome his fear by squashing you . . . be less afraid."

"And that works for you?" Atlas asked, raising an eyebrow.

"To a point," Anakin grinned.

They walked further until Anakin stopped at a fruit stand ran by a jolly, but very poor, old lady.

"How are you feeling today, Jira?" Anakin asked politely.

"The heat's never been kind to me, you know, Ani!" the lady replied, smiling down at the young boy.

"Guess what? I've found that cooling unit I've been searching for. It's pretty beat up, but I'll have it fixed up for you in no time, I promise."

"You're a fine boy, Ani," Jira replied.

"I'll take four pallies today," he added, then turned to Atlas, "you'll like these."

Anakin reached into his pocket and came up with three coins. "Whoops," he said, counting the coins, "I thought I had more . . . Make that three, I'm not hungry."

The wind picked up and shop owners started to close up their stores, as Jira gave them their pallies.

"Gracious, my bones are arching," Jira exclaimed. "Storm's coming on, Ani. You'd better get home quick."

"Do you have shelter?" Anakin asked Qui-Gon.

"We'll head back to our ship," the Jedi Master replied.

"Is it far?"

"On the outskirts," Atlas said.

"You'll never reach the outskirts on time . . . sandstorms are very, very dangerous," Anakin explained. "Come with me. Hurry!"

The group followed Anakin as he rushed down the windy street. The wind was already blowing hard as the six of them walked down the street and into a slave hovel.

Atlas looked up as they entered a small living space.

"Mom! Mom! I'm home!" Anakin shouted.

"Dissen cozy," Jar Jar remarked and Atlas had to agree.

Anakin's mother, a warm, friendly looking woman who seemed to be around forty, entered from her work area and was startled to see the room full of people.

"Oh, my!" she exclaimed, looking around the room at all the people her son had brought home. "Ani, what's this?"

"These are my friends, mom," Ani explained, gesturing at the group. "This is Atlas and . . . gee, I don't know any of your names."

"I'm Qui-Gon Jinn, this is Padmé and that's Jar Jar," Qui-Gon replied. Artoo let out a little beep.

"And this is our droid, Artoo-Detoo," Atlas added, placing her hand on its head.

"I'm building a droid," Ani told her as his eyes lit up. "You wanna see?"

"Anakin! Why are they here?" his mother asked.

"A sandstorm, mom, listen." Everyone went quiet and Atlas could hear the wind howl outside.

"Your son was kind enough to offer us shelter," Qui-Gon explained.

"Come on!" Anakin exclaimed, pulling Atlas with him. "Let me show you Threepio!"

Anakin dragged Atlas into another smaller room. On the workbench was lying an Android, who had one eye in the head and the body, arms and legs had no outer covers.

"Isn't he great?" Anakin exclaimed. "He's not finished yet."

"He's wonderful!" Atlas replied, rather in awe as she eyed the droid closely.

"You really like him?" Anakin asked, beaming. "He's a protocol droid . . . to help mom. Watch!" He pushed a switch and the droid sat up. Ani rushed around, grabbed an eye and put it in one of the sockets.

"How do you do," the droid began, "I am See-Threepio, Human Cyborg Relations. How might I serve you?"

Atlas mouth fell open in amazement. "He's perfect."

"When the storm is over, you can see my racer. I'm building a Podracer!" Anakin exclaimed proudly.

Atlas smiled. "I can't wait to see it."

Published 28.01.2021

I hope you enjoyed it & tell me what you think of it!