The group sat the dining table, Anakin's mother Shmi was kind enough to cook for them.
Anakin sat on one side of the table with Jar Jar next to him with Athena and Padmè next to them, with Qui-Gon sitting across from the sisters.

" All slaves have a transmitter somewhere inside their bodies " Shmi says as she set some food down on the table.

" I've been working on a scanner to try and locate mine " Anakin says as they all began to eat.

" Any attempt to try and escape- " Shmi began to says as she sat down next to Padmè.

" And they blow up " Anakin finished " Boom ".

" How wude " Jar Jar says.

" I can't believe there is still slavery in the galaxy, The republic's anti-slavery laws- " Padmè says, Athena could tell Padmè was upset about this and she was too. It was Padmè and Athena's job to make sure these's laws were in place and enforced and It make Athena and Padmè feel like they were falling as the Queen and Princess of Naboo.

Even at ages thirteen and fourteen, Athena and Padmè carried the weight of the world on their shoulders.

" Surely, something can be done about this " Athena says.

" The republic doesn't exist out here " Shmi says cutting Athena off " We must survive on our own ".

Everyone turns to Jar Jar who loudly ate a piece of fruit from the table with his tongue as he said ' excuse me' . Athena rolls her eyes slightly as a silence fell upon the group.

" Has anyone ever seen a podracer? " Anakin asked breaking the silence, he look over at Padmè and Athena who shakes their heads.

" They have Podracing on Malastare, very fast, very dangerous " Qui-Gon says getting Anakin's attention.

" I'm the only human who can do it " Anakin says proudly.

" You must have Jedi reflexes if you race Padracers " Qui-Gon says as he grabbed Jar Jar's tounge stopping him from getting another piece of fruit of with it " Don't do that " he sternly says to Jar Jar and Jar Jar yelped in response as Qui-Gon let go of his tounge.

" You're a Jedi knight, aren't you? " Anakin asked as Athena and Padmè shared a look before they look at Qui-Gon.

" What makes you think that? " Qui-Gon asked.

" I saw your laser sword, only Jedi carry that kind of weapon " Anakin says.

" Perhaps I killed a Jedi and took it from him " Qui-Gon says

" I don't think so, no one can kill a Jedi " Anakin says to Qui-Gon.

" I wish that were so " Qui-Gon says.

" I had a dream that I was a Jedi, I came back here and freed all the slaves....have you come her to free us? " Anakin asked him.

" No, I have no " Qui-Gon says as he took a bite of food.

" I think you have, why else would you be here? " Anakin asked as he looked at Qui-Gon.

" I can see there's no fooling you Anakin, we're on our way to Coruscant, the central system in the republic on a very important mission " Qui-Gon says.

" But, how did you end up in the outer rim? " Anakin asked.

" Our ship was damaged and we're stranded here until we can repair it " Athena says to Anakin.

" I can help, I can fix anything " Anakin says.

" I believe you can, but first we must acquire the parts we need " Qui-Gon says.

" But we don't have money " Padmè says.

" These junk dealers must have a weakness of some kind " Athena says thinking out loud.

" Gambling, everything here revolves around betting on those awful races " Shmi says to Athena.

" Podracing, greed can be a powerful ally " Qui-Gon says as he looked at everyone.

" I built a racer, it's the fastest ever " Anakin says excitedly " There's a big race tomorrow on Boonta Eve, you can enter my pod ".

" Anakin, Watto won't let you " Shmi says scolding her son.

" Watto doesn't know I've built it " Anakin says " You can make him think it's yours and get him to let me pilot it for you ".

" I don't want you to race it's awful, I die every time Watto makes you do it " Shmi says to Anakin.

" But Mom I love it and the prize money would be more than enough to pay for the parts they need " Anakin says.

" Anakin " Shmi says sternly.

" your mother's right, is there anyone friendly to the republic who can help us? " Qui-Gon Asked Shmi.

" No " Shmi says as silence takes over the group.

" Mom, you say the biggest problem in this universe is that nobody helps each other " Anakin says to Shmi as she let out a sigh.

" I'm sure Qui-Gon doesn't want to put your son in danger " Padmè says.

" We'll find another way " Athena added.

" No, there is no other way " Shmi says to the sisters " I may not like it, but he can help and he was meant to help you "

Anakin gave them a smile as his eyes landed on Athena and she smiles gratefully at him. Anakin and Athena break eye contact as everyone one began to eat again.

⎯

It was the next day and Athena, Padmè, Jar Jar and Qui-Gon were approaching to Watto's shop.

"Are you sure about this? " Padmè suddenly asked as she stopped in her tracks causing Athena to accidentally bumped into her, Padmè glances at her sister to make sure she was okay before she continued "Trusting our fate to a boy we hardly know? The Queen will not approve ".

Qui-Gon stopped and looked at Athena's sister " The Queen doesn't need to know " he says before entering the shop.

" Well, I don't approve " Padmè says quietly to her sister, Athena giggled at her frustration as the sisters waited by the entrance of the shop.

" The boy tells me you want to sponsor him in the race " Watto says as Qui-Gon approached them " How can you do this? Not on the republic credits I think, Huh ".

" My ship will be the entry fee " Qui-Gon says as he took out a device that displayed a hologram of the ship. Anakin looked between Watto and Qui-Gon before his eyes met Athena's and gave her a her a smile and Athena smiles back.

" Oh, not bad " he says " Not bad Huh, a Nubian ".

" It's in good order except for parts I need " Qui-Gon says.

" What would the boy ride? He smashed up my pod in the last race, it will take a long time to fix " Watto says, clearly not sold on letting Anakin race.

" It wasn't my fault, really Sebulba flashed me with his vents " Anakin says defending himself " I actually saved the pod, mostly ".

" Mmmm, that you did, Huh " Watto says chuckling " The boy is good, no doubts there, Huh ".

" I've acquired a pod in a game of chance, the fastest ever built " Qui-Gon says.

" I hope you didn't kill anyone I know for it, Huh " Watto says laughing " So, you supply the pod and fee and I supply the boy. We'll split the winnings, um 50-50 I think, Huh ".

" If it's going to be 50-50,I suggest you front the cash for the entry "  Qui-Gon says as he and Watto paced around the room " If we win, you keep all the winnings minus the cost for the parts I need and if we lose you keep my ship, either way you win ".

Watto grumbled as he thought about what Qui-Gon said, it was indeed a situation where Watto would win no matter what and he really didn't have anything to lose. Qui-Gon and Anakin shared a look before Watto says " Deal ".

⎯

" What if the plan fail, Master " Obi-Wan Kenobi says to Qui-Gon through their communicator " We could be stuck here for a very long time ".

" Well it's to dangerous to call for help and a ship without a power supply isn't going to get us anywhere " Qui-Gon says signing, as he stood outside on the makeshift balcony of the Skywalker home " And- " Qui-Gon started to says as his gaze fell upon Athena and Anakin, who was showing the girl, where a part went on the pod as she tried to helped Anakin build it.

" There's something about this boy and servant girl " Qui-Gon finished his sentence before hanging up the communicator and put it back in his packet. He looked over at Shmi who had walked on the balcony and they share a smile as she stood next to Qui-Gon.

" You should be very proud of your son " Qui-Gon says to her " he gives without a second thought of reward".

Both he and Shmi watched as Anakin and Athena talked and laughed as they continued to work on the pod.

" Well he knows nothing about greed " Shmi says to the Jedi " he has a- " Shmi paused as she for the right words.

" He has special abilities " Qui-Gon says finishing her sentence as Shmi nodded in agreement " He can see things before they happen, that's why he appears to have such quick reflexes, it's a Jedi trait " He continued as they watch as Athena quickly catch something Anakin dropped " Much like young Athena ".

" He deserves better than a slaves life " Shmi says as she took in Qui-Gon's words in.

" Why certainly had he been born in the republic, we would of identified him early And with Athena it seems that the people of Naboo kept her abilities a secret, The force is unusually strong in Anakin do you happen to know who his father is? " Qui-Gon asked Shmi.

" There is no father " Shmi says as she looked him in the eyes, Qui-Gon could sense the honesty in her " I carried him, I gave birth to him and I raised him, I can't explain what happened can you help him ".

" I don't know " Qui-Gon says quietly " I didn't actually come here to free the slaves ".

Shmi looked at her son, who was so obviously happy working with Athena as more children walked to where Athena and Anakin were.

" You know, I've never see him so happy with the other children as he is with that young girl.....Please help my son "Shmi says.

after a few moments of silence Qui-Gon replies " I'll try my best to help your son ".