20 V.1-C.20│Phantom Menace VI│

The podracing event took place as normal just without the participation of Anakin, which would have originally led to Sebulba winning the race with his dirty tricks if there were not something waiting on standby to take his life.

"Target confirmed. Target is within sights, should the shot be fired?"

"Confirm, fire the shot."

And with the command Sebulba's life had come to an end in a very climatic but anti-climatic way.

While the podracing event is going on, Qui-Gon had been trying to haggle with the Queen back on the Naboo Royal Cruiser to give up on the ship and let them get a new one.

"Your highness, surely you must understand our current predicament."

"That is a no, Jedi Knight Qui-Gon. I will not trade in this ship, it would be too dangerous and I would not be able to recieve any transmissions from my people." The Queen replied.

Padme was with Qui-Gon watching this event take place. 'That is right, I believe it prudent we find another way but this Jedi is so insistent in trading with the kid and his mother. I admit I had thought he was cute at first, which he still is but it is besides the point.'

Padme was upset at the two for refusing to help even when she knows the reasoning behind their logic. 'My people could be dying!'

Logically Anakin and Shmi would not know that the group had travelled from Naboo to Tatooine to escape from and to put a stop to an invasion on that planet. But the real Queen, Padme was emotionally charged from the situation especially knowing that something wrong could have happened.

Every second counts, time is not money in this instance, times is the lives of her people.

It is true a few of her people had been killed but that was because a resistance had been formed and in retaliation the Trade Federation had replied in kind. They had not killed any hostages, the ones who had surrendered but the people who resisted their occupation.

The resistance was a bit dumb in this instance given the Neimoidian's from the Trade Federation would not hesitate to kill if they are deemed a hostile threat. Even more so that the droids programming is not perfect and could also see people who have weapons as dangerous.

The Queen on the other side of the communicator then asks Qui-Gon a question. "Would these two individuals be willing to talk about it more? Perhaps a negotiations of sorts where we could give them an I.O.U card type of situation."

"That is possible, but I am unsure that they would accept such an offer."

"We can promise then a great many things and I am sure if they are apart of the criminals on this planet they wouldn't mind having more money."

"While that may be true, I dont believe them to be born and breed the same way those on this planet usually are. In fact they used to be slaves."

"Slaves?"

"That is right, the boy and his mother were slaves at some point but had somehow escaped their situation and look at them now. Quite the achievement and from what I have heard alot of it has been done from the accomplishments of the boy, with a few addons from his mother."

"I dont care for this, we must get that replacement part." The Queen cuts off the communication device before Qui-Gon could say anymore.

Qui-Gon sighs before saying to his group. "It seems that are out of luck then, the Queen doesn't seem to like the idea of selling off the ship or even trading it in for another."

"We can try other avenues but I will be sure to ask the boy and mother if it would be possible if we give them a promise." Qui-Gon continues. "They did seem to calm down and trust us more after last night."

"Mesa thinks the two would listen. Theysa seemed like nice peoples."

"Yes Jar-Jar, thank you for your input." Qui-Gon says exasperated.

[]

Re-entering the store front Qui-Gon could not see the boy anywhere in sight but a droid working the counter. 'That droid seems like a protocol type.'

Walking towards the protocol droid Qui-Gon asks it if Shmi Skywalker is in. "I would like to speak to Shmi Skywalker please."

"Why yes. The madam is indeed within the building, would you like me to call her for you?"

The protocol droids walks off and Shmi approaches Qui-Gon. "So, have you guys figured out what you want to do?"

"Well, it is a bit complicated and it seems that negotiations have failed." Qui-Gon also thinks right after that. 'I seem to be failing negotiations alot recently. Is this some sort of sign that I shouldn't be sent on missions to do with diplomacy?'

"Well, that is unfortunate but if you have no other way, no other money or anything to trade then I would be unable to help you." Shmi says but feeling there is more to the story questions Qui-Gon for a more in-depth answer.

"Can you tell me more about your mission you have been sent on. The details of why your ship has been damaged because if I did not know any better I would say your were being chased."

Getting right to the point of her suspicions as she had seen the same types of situations before where she had to take in runaway slaves to shield them from any bounty hunters. Or worse slave hunters.

Slaves were only recently able to start making their way out of slavery in part due to Anakin's special invention to locate the chips implanted into them. With a way out why wouldn't they take it but actions have consequences.

This lead to the creation of slave hunters that would track down runaways and would kill them, not capture like a bounty hunter could do if the mission allowed it, but kill them simply because that is their only goal.

"Well, I really shouldn't but if you promise me that you do not inform anyone else I would appreciate it."

"Sure, I can promise you that."

"I have been sent from the senate on a mission to help protect the Queen of Naboo where at first it should have been a negotiation, it has now turned into a full on invasion of their people." Qui-Gon states. "Padme here is apart of this people herself and we are looking for some help so we could go to the senate."

"Please, I would be truly in your debt if you allow me to have the part we are looking for to repair our ship." Padme interjects with a little emotion seeping through her voice.

"It is possibly that delaying any longer could cause alot of death or destruction to the planet or the people living there." Qui-Gon continues to persuade Shmi.

Her conflict gone and her stance now changed, Shmi cannot allow a atrocity to happen simply because she was unwilling to help in a great time of need. Even if alot of her selflessness has been toned down at heart that is who she is.

"I-I guess I can help you guys then. I will give you the parts but I at least expect to gain something out of this in exchange, considering you guys are quite desperate I think I will just take what you originally offered."

Padme's eyes light up at what was just said while Qui-Gon smiles and says. "Thank you. I truly appreciate this."

"No, we truly appreciate this." Padme interjects.

"Right, do you guys need any help in getting everything you need to your ship? I have a few droids I could spare to help the process along."

"That would be most appreciated."

Knowing that lives are at stake, everyone doesn't waste any time and get to work quickly in transporting everything.

With everything that had taken place, it would take an entire day to get everything over and have everything properly repaired as it takes times to do so.

[]

While this is happening, Anakin was coordinating his own droids into stealthily boarding the droid control flagship of the Trade Federation.

'This will help me maintain and have a greater control over the droids.'

The Trade Federations flagship was not that easy to get around but by having his elite droid on the job they could enter one of the authorized ships that has access to the ship.

Through his droids, specifically his elite droids he would be able to sabotage the communications between those on the planet and on the ship to stop any information flow travelling between the two.

He is also able to use his own Force related abilities through them. The special connection he has allows him to do this and with multiple elite droid on the flagship he can speed the process up in taking it over.

He would use Mechu-Deru and slowly envelop the ship with his Force energy and alter the very being of the ship to work for him. He would also try and get and recall the transportation ships down on the planet when the time is right to escape with everything.

Whatever is leftover he will just buy from the Naboo in the future, preferably after the invasion attempt is thwarted.

'Status report.' Connecting to one of the living droids, Anakin asks for their current progress.

'Reporting to the Master. We have been successful in integrating ourselves into the network and have had no troubles so far in getting into the right places.'

'That is good. For now all you guys need to do is get in good positions that are in vital spots so I could take control of the internal systems.' Anakin mentally replies then continues. 'It is paramount that you guys for now remain undercover as the job you guys have will help me in saving the lives of others.'

'Yes Master.' The mental reply of multiple droids com back.

'It is good you guys know the value of life. Just as I had given you guys the life you live now and granted you the abilities you guys possess you should remember that others are similar to you.'

'Similar but different, different but similar in that you may not have a biological body in which to live with. but a mind and soul free to explore who you guys are.'

The droids were already starting to develop their own personalities and characters but weirdly enough, their ideologies are always in line with himself.

Anakin knew this was probably due to the factors of him creating them, infusing them with his own Force energy and their treatment and development but what he would not have figured out was the extent of their worship of him could become.

Anyway, Anakin had been using alot of energy, time and effort into acquiring the droid control ship knowing that it would not be an easy steal.

If possible he would like to take the entire fleet but he doesn't have enough training or what he considers Force power or energy to get through every single ship within a small timeframe. He would already be cutting it close with the flagship.

"Anakin? Would you mind coming down here for a second?" Shmi voice calls up to Anakin who is within his room meditating.

"Sure." Anakin replies and walks down stairs only to see that Qui-Gon is present and seems strangely happy.

'It seems my mother has given them what they want. Well it doesn't matter too much, I would have helped them one way or another simply for my own benefit if nothing else.'

"Ani, mister Qui-Gon here would like to conduct a test of sorts."

"A test."

"He says it is a small exam meant to see your potential as a Jedi, he is interested in having you join the order."

"Really?" Anakin says slightly surprised.

'I thought that without much evidence to go off of, no one would be any wiser about my capabilities but it seems Qui-Gon was able to pick up on the fact I am strange for a child my age. Even if I was to go off of one of my strange traits, like advanced intelligence and maturity or my body developing quicker than normal.'

"Yes. If you are interested in joining it would not be the same as the life you currently live. It would be similar in most aspects but it would be tough to pull through with it." Qui-Gon states. "Most children your age wouldn't be accepted but I am sure an exception could be made."

"I do have some interest."

"I think we should do the test first, we can talk it over after you do have the capacity to use the Force in full effect."

Sitting down to take the test, the usual events happen after that with Qui-Gon calling back to talk with Obi-Wan about the test results coming in over the normal limit that simple equipment is used to test for.

Even other devices dont go over the 20000 midi-chlorian limit so Anakin would not be able to determine his actual midi-chlorian account with this technology and would have to create his own to accommodate to his needs.

"It is quite late, I think we should talk about this more tomorrow."

"Yes, Ani I think you should head off to bed now."

"Ok, Goodnight mother. Goodnight mister Qui-Gon." Anakin says heading back upstairs. 'Should I join the Jedi? There is alot of things I could get from them, alot of people that could be 'led astray' so to speak and into my own academy I would set up.'

'This subject can be thought about at another time, for now some rest should do. Well, my version of rest anyway.'