After cleaning up the small R2 unit, Padme went back to her private quarters. She laid down in bed, for something had been bothering her, since they left Naboo and it had something to do with the two Jedi. While the handmaidens were scattered about the living area of the quarters, either talking amongst each other or playing cards or other games, Padme was in the sleeping quarters, laying there and trying to figure out what to do next.
" OH MY GODS!" Padme sitting up, as she remembered where she had seen the two Jedi.
Sabe` came running into the room. " Are you ok, Your Highness?"
Padme looked up at her best friend, as she saw a look of concern on Sabe`'s face. " Do you remember about the dream I told you about yesterday? You know, about those two guys, I told you about? Well, it came true: the dream. Those two Jedi are the ones from my dream."
" Are you sure, Padme? You know, most people would think you are witch, if you let it be known that you have seen things, before it happens." Sabe` came over to the bed, sat down on the edge and taking a hold of Padme's hand.
" I know, but what happened this morning was a little different from my dream is all. Sabe`, could you please get me some tea and something for a headache?" Padme said looking at her best friend and trying reassure her that everything was ok with her, and the dream that she had, was just that a dream.
Sabe` nodded, got up and went to get her Mistress what she asked for, to help her calm her nerves. Padme laid back down and closed her eyes, trying to relax some, before Sabe` came back with her tea and something to help ease her headache.
Sabe` came back into the room and let Padme know that they would be landing on the Planet. in about thirty minutes. So, she had to start getting ready in twenty minutes.
The Nubian ship landed in a swirl of dust, settling comfortably in place atop its landing struts. In the distance, Mos Espa glimmered faintly through the shimmering of the midday heat. Captain Panaka came into the Queen's quarters and saw that all the handmaidens were sitting around the Queen.
" Your Majesty, we have landed on the planet of Tatooine. The two Jedi are unloading the hyper drive." Panaka came up to the Queen and bowed.
" Thank you, Captain. Please take Padme, here and tell the Jedi Master that she will be going with him." Queen Amidala said, as she looked over to her handmaiden and nodded for her to go with the Captain.
" Yes, Your Majesty." Panaka said, before him and Padme left the Queen and other handmaidens behind on the ship.
They got outside and noticed that the Jedi Master and Gungan were already gone. They weren't that far off, so they took off running to catch up with the Jedi and his two companions. They saw the Jedi stop and waited until Captain Panaka and Padme caught up and they saw a frown come across his face. Padme looked over to Panaka and saw that he was sweating. " Her Highness, commands you to take her handmaiden with you. She wishes for Padme to give her own report of what you might ...." ,p> " No more commands, for Her Highness today, Captain," Qui-Gon interrupted quickly, and shaking his head in refusal." Mos Espa is not going to be a pleasant place for ..."
" The Queen wishes it" Panaka interrupted him right back, and his face was angrily set.
" She is emphatic. She wishes to know more about this planet."
Padme stepped forward and her dark eyes found Qui-Gon's. " I've been trained in self-defense. I speak a number of languages. I'm not afraid, and I can take care of myself."
Captain Panaka sighed, and looked over his shoulder, towards the ship. " Don't make me go back and tell her you refused."
Qui-Gon was just about to tell him to tell her, but something in Padme's eyes gave him an idea. With her with him, they could look like they are family in transit and present a less aggressive look. Qui-Gon nodded his head to the two people. " I don't have time to argue the matter, Captain. I still think this is a bad idea, but she may come." He gave Padme a warning look. " Stay close to me."
He started on his way again, with the others telling behind him. The small group walked down the main street of Mos Espa. They passed dangerous looking citizens of all types. Padme looked around the town in total awe. She finds this place very exotic.
" Tatooine is the home to Jabba the Hutt. He controls the bulk of the trafficking in it's illegal goods, piracy and slaver, that generate most of the planet's wealth" Qui-Gon was explaining to Padme. " He also controls the spaceports and settlements; all of the populated areas. The desert belongs to the Jawas, who are scavengers. They can find things to sell or trade to the Tuskens, who live a nomadic life and feel free to steal from everyone."
Padme just walked silently by Qui-Gon, taking in everything he was telling her about this desert planet. As she walked on, she also kept sharp eyes on everything around her. Speeders nosed by them, and droids of every size toiled in the service of the desert-garbed aliens. ,P>" There are a number of farms as well, outlying operations that take advantage of the climate-moisture farms. For the most part, they are operated by off-worlders, not a part of the indigenous tribes and scavengers, not connected directly to the Hutts." Qui-Gon eyes did a quick sweep of the street ahead of them. " This is a rough and dangerous place. Most avoid it. Its few spaceports have become havens for those, who do not wish to be found."
" Like us." Padme said ,as she glanced up at the tall Jedi Master next to her.
They traveled the main street of the spaceport to its far end and turned down a side street that led to a small plaza, ringed with salvage dealers and junk shops. Qui-Gon glanced at the mounds of engine parts, control panels and communication chips recovered from starships and speeders. They walked through the shop's low entry and were greeted by a pudgy blue creature, who flew into their faces like a crazed probe; tiny wings buzzing so fast they could barely be seen.
" What do you want?" it snapped in a frizzy, guttural voice, demanding to know their business.
" I need parts for a J-type 327 Nubian." he advised the small creature that he recognized as a Toydarian.
" Ah, Yes! Nubian! We have lots of that." The Toydarian's bulbous eyes flicked from one face to the other, ending with the Gungan. " What's this?"
" Never mind that." Qui-Gon said, as Jar Jar shrank behind him in fear. " Can you help us are not?"
" Can you pay me or not - that's the question!" the Toydarian regarded them with disdain. " What kinda junk you after, farmer?"
" My droid has a readout of what I need, " Qui-Gon said to the Toydarian, as he glanced down at the R2 unit that was beside him.
" Boy, get in here! Now!" the Toydarian yelled as he glanced over his shoulder.
A disheveled boy raced in from the salvage yard, coming to an uncertain stop, in front of them. His clothes were ragged and thick with grime. he had the look of someone about to be given a beating. He flinched, as the Toydarian wheeled back and lifted a hand in admonishment.
" What took you so long?" the Toydarian said angrily at the boy.
" I was cleaning out the bin like you..." the boy responded quickly, his blue eyes taking in the new comers with a quick glance.
" Never mind the bin! Watch the store! I've got some selling to do!" the Toydarian threw his hands up angrily.
Anakin Skywalker could not take his eyes off the girl. He noticed the moment he entered Watto's shop, even before Watto said anything, and he hadn't been able to stop looking at her since. He moved now, to an open space on the counter, hoisted himself up, and sat watching her, while pretending to clean a transmitter cell. She was looking back at him now, embarrassment turning to curiosity. She was small and slender with long, braided brown hair, brown eyes, and a face, he found so beautiful that he had nothing to which he could compare it. She was dressed in a rough peasant's clothing, but she seemed very self-possessed.
Padme looked at the young boy and gave him an amused smile.
" Are you an angel?" he asked quietly.
" What?" Padme just stared at him in total surprise.
" An angel." Anakin straightened up a bit. " 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 space pirate cry, like small children."
" I've never heard of angels before." Padme gave him a confused look.
" You must be one of them," Anakin insisted. " Maybe, you just don't know it."
" You're a funny, little boy," an amused smile returned to Padme's face. " How do you know so much?"
" I listen to all the traders and pilots, who come through here." Anakin smiled back and shrugged. " I'm a pilot, you know. Someday, I'm going to fly away from this place."
" Have you been here long?" Padme said, as she wandered to one end of the counter, before looking away from the young boy, then looked back up at him.
" Since, I was very little. Three, I think. My mom and I were sold to Gardulla the Hutt, but she lost us to Watto, betting on the pod races. Watto's a lot better master, I think." He said.
" Then, you're a slave?" Padme looked at him in total shock.
" I'm a person!" he glared at Padme, because of how she said the words to him. At that moment, he felt ashamed and angry.
" I'm sorry," Padme said quickly, looking upset and embarrassed. " I don't fully understand, I guess. This is a strange world to me."
He studied her intently for a moment, thinking of other things, wanting to tell her of them. " You're a strange girl to me" He said instead. He swung his legs out from the counter. " My name is Anakin Skywalker."
" Padme Naberrie." she said, as she brushed at her hair.
They were interrupted by Jar Jar, who picked up a stout little droid body, with a bulbous nose, and pushed at the nose with one finger. Instantly, armatures popped out from every direction, metal limbs swinging into place. Trying to grab onto the droid in effort to slow it down, the droid just continued marching through the shop, knocking over everything it came in contact with.
" Hit the nose!" Anakin called out, unable to keep himself from laughing.
Jar Jar did what the boy said and hit the droid on the nose and it went back to it's original state. Both Anakin and Padme were laughing now, and their laughter increased, as they saw the look on the unfortunate Gungan's long-billed face. Anakin looked at Padme and she looked at him. Their laughter died away. Padme reached up to touch her hair self-consciously, but she did not divert her gaze.
" I'm going to marry you." Anakin said suddenly. >p>There was a moment of silence. Padme began laughing again, and it was a sweet musical sound, he didn't mind at all.
" I mean it." he insisted.
" You are an odd one," she said, her laughter dying away. " Why do you say that?"
" I guess, because it's what I believe..." he said hesitated.
Her smile was dazzling. " Well, I'm afraid I can't marry you ..." she paused, searching her memory for his name.
" Anakin." He said. "
Anakin." she looked at him, with her head cocked. " You're just a little boy."
He gazed at her intensely, as he faced her." I won't always be." He said quietly. It was at this moment, Qui-Gon reentered the shop, just as Jar Jar pulled a part from a large stack and sent the entire arrangement tumbling to the floor.
" We're leaving." Qui-Gon announced to the girl, and moving towards the shop's entry. R-2 trundling along behind him.
Padme gave Anakin a warm smile. " I'm glad I met you, Anakin." she said, before hurrying off after her small party.
" I'm glad I met you, too." he called out.
Twenty minutes after leaving the junk shop, Qui-Gon and Padme noticed that Jar Jar was missing. It didn't take long to find out where he was. All they had to do, was follow the crowd of people, just by the outside cafe. They came up just, as Anakin was helping Jar Jar back up to his feet.
" Hi!" Anakin greeted cheerfully, and was happy to see Padme again so soon. " Your buddy here, was about to be turned into orange goo. He picked a fight with a Dug, especially a dangerous Dug."
" Nossir, nossir!" Jar Jar said, as he began brushing the sand off himself. " Me hate crunchen. Tis da last thing me want!"
Qui-Gon took the Gungan by the arm." Nevertheless, the boy saved you from a beating. You have a penchant for finding trouble, Jar Jar." he gave Anakin a nod. " Thank you, my young friend."
Anakin turned to look at Padme, just in time to see her give him a warm smile, in which caused him to blush with pride.
" Me doen nutten!" Jar Jar insisted.
" You were afraid," the boy told him. " Fear attracts the fearful. Sebulba was trying to over come his fear by squashing you." He cocked his head at the Gungan. " You can help yourself by being less afraid."
" And that works for you?" Padme asked giving him a wry look.
Anakin smiled and shrugged. " Well...up to a point."
Anakin persuaded the group to follow him a short distance down the street, to a fruit stand. A ramshackle affair formed by a makeshift ragged awning stretched over a framework of bent poles. Boxes of brightly colored fruit were arranged on a rack, tilted towards the street for viewing. A weathered old lady, gray-haired and stooped, her simple clothing patched and worn, rose from a stool to greet them on their approach.
" How are you feeling today, Jira?" Anakin asked her, giving her a quick hug.
The old lady smiled at him." The heat's never been kind to me, you know, Annie."
" Guess what?" he replied quickly and beaming. " 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. That should help."
The old lady reached out and stroked his cheek with her hand, as she smiled at him. " You're a fine boy, Annie."
He shrugged off the compliment and began scanning the fruit that was on display. " I'll take four pallies, Jira." he said as he glanced at Padme. " You'll like these."
He reached into his pocket, but only pulling out four truguts. He dropped one and the farmer next to him bent down and picked it up. As he did, the poncho opened just far enough that Anakin caught sight of the lightsaber hanging from the belt of the farmer.
" Whoops, I thought I had more." he said quickly, not looking up. " Make that three palLies, Jira. I'm not that hungry anyway."
A gust of wind whipped down the street, rattling the framework of poles and causing the awning to billow. A second gust sent dust swirling in all directions. The old lady rubbed her arms with her hands. " Gracious, my bones are aching. There's a storm coming, Annie. You'd better get home quickly." The wind gusted in a series of sharp blasts that sent sand and loose debris flying. Anakin glanced at the sky, then at Qui-Gon. " Do you have shelter?" he asked.
The Jedi Master nodded. " We'll head back to our ship. Thank you again, my young friend, for-"
" Is your ship far?" the boy interrupted hurriedly.
" It's on the city's outskirts." Padme answered, trying to turn away from the stinging gusts of sand.
Anakin took her hand and tugged on it for her to follow him. " You'll never reach the outskirts in time. Sandstorms are very, very dangerous. Come with me. You can wait it out at my home. It's not far. My mom won't mind. Hurry!"
The wind howled all about them and the air clouded with sand. Anakin Skywalker shouted good-bye to Jira and led his newly adopted charges down the street in a rush... The sandstorm raged through the streets of Mos Espa, in a blinding, choking whirlwind that tore at clothes and exposed skin with relentless force. They reached the slave quarters, which were a collection of jumbled hovels, stacked one on top of the other, so that they resembled anthills. Each of the complexes are linked by common walls and switchbacks stairways. The plaza fronting them, almost empty, as the sandstorm chased everyone under cover.
" Mom! Mom! I'm home!" he called out excitedly.
Anakin's mother entered from a work area off the one side, brushing her hands on her dress.
" Oh, my!" she exclaimed softly, glancing uncertainly from face to face. " Annie, what is this?"
" These are my friends, Mom." he smiled at Padme. " This is Padme Naberrie. And this is -" he stopped. " Gee, I guess I don't know any of your names." he admitted.
" I'm Qui-Gon Jinn and this is Jar Jar Binks." Qui-Gon stepped forward, and he pointed to the Gungan. Then, R-2 made a small beep.
" This is our droid, R2-D2." Padme finished.
" I'm building a droid," Anakin announced quickly. " You wanna see?"
" Anakin!" his mother's voice stopped him in his tracks. " Anakin, why are they here?"
" There's a sandstorm, Mom. Listen." he looked at her confused.
" Your son was kind enough to offer us shelter," Qui-Gon explained. " We met at the shop, where he works."
" Come on!" Anakin said grabbing Padme's hand once more and led her to his bedroom. " Let me show you my droid."
Finally, after a very long day, everyone went to bed. They just hoped that the sandstorm would be over tomorrow, when they get up in the morning.
Padme laid there in bed, thinking about everything that Anakin told her today. The one thing that kept coming back to her, was what he said about marrying her. Why did she get this feeling that he was telling her the truth?
She finally closed her eyes and fell asleep, as the storm howled all through the night.
* (pages 103-138 of Star Wars: Episode I: The Phantom Menace by Terry Brooks)