The Phantom Menace (AU)/Chapter 18

After a stop at Watto’s to have the transmitter deactivated, Anakin pleaded with Qui-Gon to say goodbye to the fruit seller Jira. He placed some credits on the counter with a sad smile.

“These are for you, Jira,” he said proudly. “I've been freed and they’re for the cooling unit I've promised you.”

“You’re the nicest boy in the galaxy, Annie,” she said, her rough hand stroking his cheek. “I’ll miss you, you be careful.”

“I will,” Anakin promised, running after Qui-Gon.

They walked on in silence for a few moments, Anakin absorbed in the sights of the familiar city, Qui-Gon absorbed in his own thoughts. It wasn’t until it was right upon them that Qui-Gon noticed the probe droid.

He reacted quickly, igniting his lightsaber and slicing the droid in two. Just as quickly he stowed it back under his cloak then examined the droid.

“Wow!” Anakin said with wide eyes, even though the Jedi ignored him. He peered over Qui-Gon’s shoulder. “What is it?”

“Probe droid,” Qui-Gon said quietly, “nothing like I've ever seen.” He scanned the street, searching through the Force. “I've got a bad feeling about this.”

“Huh?” Anakin looked at him curiously.

“We have to get going,” Qui-Gon urged, pushing the boy forward gently.



He forced Anakin through the outskirts of Mos Espa at a frantic pace, the boy pleading with Qui-Gon to slow down but the Jedi knew that their time had run out. The dark assassin that Padmé had encountered on Naboo was here, that couldn’t be denied. The first thing was to get Anakin to safety, and then…he would deal with what he had to.

Once out of the city he picked up the pace further, the Queen’s transport came closer and closer. Yet an unmistakable tremor in the Force caused Qui-Gon to turn. Behind them was a lone black figure on a speeder bike, heading straight for Anakin.

“Anakin, drop!” he shouted.

The boy threw himself facedown a moment before the black speeder bike whipped over him. Yet the target was Qui-Gon, the bike’s passenger flew off in a fury of black. With one hand the figure threw back a hood revealing a scarred face with black hair twisted into braids. She—and it was clearly a she—smiled at Qui-Gon as she landed and ignited a long-handled red-bladed lightsaber.

“Hello Jedi,” she said in a low voice, “would you care to dance?”

In response Qui-Gon ignited his lightsaber and adopted a defensive position.

“Fine then,” she replied, “I’ll lead.”

She attacked with surprising strength and ferocity, he responded instantly, blocking her blow and following it through with a counter-attack. But she was ready for this, swerving as if her limbs were boneless and attacking him from above.

Anakin was on his feet by now, watching open mouthed at Qui-Gon repel his assailant. The Jedi saw him standing there.

“Anakin, run!” he urged, he was sure this…thing had killed at least one Jedi and it was even taxing him. “Get out of here! Get to the ship!”

The boy didn’t need to be told twice, he ran towards the ship with his heart thudding in his ears.

“Tell them to take off!” Qui-Gon shouted through clenched teeth as he repelled another of the assassin’s blows. “Go, go!”



Anakin raced up the ramp of the ship and ran straight into Padmé.

“Annie?”

“Qui-Gon’s in trouble!” he told her all at once. “He says to take off!”

“Come on,” she pulled him towards the cockpit, ignoring any stares and questions as they passed.

Ric Olié was there, going through the last of the details with Obi-Wan. But they stopped as Anakin and Padmé entered.

“Qui-Gon’s in trouble,” Anakin said without preamble, “he says to take off.”

“Where is he?” Obi-Wan asked, jumping up and looking through the viewport.

Ric was beside him. “I can’t see him,” he admitted.

“There!” The younger Jedi pointed to two figures fighting some distance away, Ric acted immediately, powering up the ship. “Fly low,” Obi-Wan ordered, leaving the cockpit followed closely by Anakin and Padmé.

Padmé put out a hand to steady herself as the ship banked and grabbed Anakin or he could have fallen through the open hatch. Obi-Wan didn’t need to, he still kept his balance, his hand near his lightsaber in case his Master needed him.

Suddenly Qui-Gon appeared on the ramp, and his attacker soon followed him. Qui-Gon looked spent, yet he still managed to throw the assassin off the ramp with a two-handed blow. She lost her balance and slid off the ramp, catching her fall with one hand on the edge. Qui-Gon stomped on her hand and slipped back into the ship just as the ramp retracted.

It took a few moments for him to get his breath back, but as soon as he did he looked at Padmé. A slight nod was all the confirmation needed, what he had just fought was in fact the assassin on Naboo who had killed her Master.

Would he face her again? It seemed likely, yet Qui-Gon was not looking forward to that. Facing someone that young and hale reminded him how old he was.

“Are you all right?” Anakin asked.

“I think so,” Qui-Gon said, he nodded to Padmé, “I think I understand what you meant now.”

“But what was it?” Padmé asked.

“I’m not sure,” Qui-Gon said, “she was certainly trained in the Jedi arts, but my guess is that she was after the Queen.”

“Then she’ll be back,” Padmé said with a tremor of fear in his voice.

“What are we going to do about it?” Anakin asked, he would have gone on if Obi-Wan had no given him such a black look that made him shut up.

“We will be patient,” Qui-Gon said, brushing the matter aside for the moment. “Anakin Skywalker, meet Obi-Wan Kenobi.”

Anakin brightened as he shook hands with the younger Jedi. “Pleased to meet you. You’re a Jedi too, aren’t you?”

A depreciating look at his Master was all Obi-Wan could offer.

They left the entry way for the cockpit, Anakin sticking close to Padmé. Yet when he saw how far they were from Tatooine he wanted to look closer but Padmé held him back.

“But I wanna see!” he protested.

“Later, Annie,” she promised.

Qui-Gon made the necessary introductions as Ric Olié finalised their coordinates. When he finished he looked up at the Jedi Master. “All set,” he said expectantly.

“Punch it,” Qui-Gon said, “let’s just hope it works and Watto doesn’t get the last laugh.”

Ric engaged the hyperdrive, there was a long, sharp whine then the ship disappeared into hyperspace.