The Fall | Star Wars Prequel Trilogy

Chapter Seven

Sylvie walked beside Qui-Gon as they, Padme, R2 and JarJar made their way towards the Toydarian, Watto's junk shop to bargain for Anakin and their pod driver. "Are you sure about this?" Padme asked suddenly as they neared the junkshop Qui-Gon turned to look at her "Trusting out fate to a boy we hardly know. The Queen will not approve"

"The Queen doesn't need to know" Qui-Gon said simply before turning and entering the shop with Sylvie behind him. "Well I don't approve" she heard Padme mutter as she sat outside the shop. 

When they entered Watto approached them with Anakin by his side while Alina sat on the countertop looking sulky. "The boy tells me you want to sponsor him" He said "How can you do this? Not Republic credits I think" The Jedi knight reached into his robe and pulled out a hologram of their ship "My ship will be the entry fee" Sylvie gave him a surprised look, their ship? How confident was he really in the abilities of a child? "Oh not bad! Not bad, huh? A Nubian, huh?" Watto said, she could tell that he was interested now.

"It's in good order except for the parts I need" Qui-Gon said, ignoring the look Sylvie gave him. "But what would the boy ride? He and his sister smashed up my pod in the last race it will take some time to fix it" The Toydarian said. "It wasn't our fault, really! Sebulba flashed us with his vents" Anakin defended "Yeah! and if anything, we saved it!" Alina agreed. "...Mostly"

"That you did... The boy is good, no doubts there, his sister isn't half bad either" Watto chuckled "I have acquired a pod in a game of chance. The fastest ever made" Qui-Gon said. Sylvie on the other hand was extremely doubtful. She wasn't sure why or how Qui-Gon had so much faith in the boy but she knew that she did not match it. "I hope you didn't kill anyone I know for it" Watto joked "So. You supply the pod and the entry fee. I supply the boy. We split the winnings 50-50"

"If we split the winnings 50-50 then I suggest you front the cash for the entry. If we win you keep all the credits minus the cost of the parts I need and if we lose you keep my ship" Qui-Gon bargained "Either way, you win" he added. Sylvie glanced uncertainly at Anakin who sat next to his sister, watching them. Watto took a moment to consider their offer "Deal!"

He shook hands with Qui-Gon before the two Jedi turned to exit the junk shop. Sylvie heard Watto mutter something to Anakin and Alina in Hutteese that she couldn't translate. She just hoped that the boy was as good as he claimed to be and that Watto would keep his end of the deal if they won, the fates of her, Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, JarJar, The Queen, Padme, the other handmaidens, guards, pilots and the whole of Naboo depended on it.

She decided to voice her thoughts to Qui-Gon as they headed back to the Skywalker's place. "Are you sure about this Master? This plan is risky. Not just for us, for the boy too" Sylvie murmured. "It is a risk we will have to take" He said. "What about Obi-Wan? What does he think about this?" She asked. "I have yet to tell him. I know you have your doubts about my plan but it seems to be the only way we can get the necessary parts. We must put our faith in him"

"Put our faith in a nine year old boy who we hardly know?" Sylvie challenged "With all due respect Master, we don't even know how good he really is. The fate of an entire planet and of us rests on this. I can't just put my faith in him" she said. "Is there nobody else who can drive the pod?" She questioned as they neared the house. Qui-Gon put a hand on her shoulder "Trust in the force young Padawan. We will make it out of this situation"

Sylvie sighed, resigned. She knew there was no convincing Qui-Gon now that he had made up his mind. She allowed him to go ahead, falling back in step with Padmé. "You have doubts about this plan too" The handmaiden stated. "I do... I don't know how he can have this much faith in the boy. I got one only wish I trusted him as much as Master Qui-Gon does..." She shook her head "I need to inform Obi-Wan about what happened" she said as they entered the house. She took her com and moved outside to a place that overlooked Anakin's podracer.
"Obi-Wan?" She asked, switching on the device.

"Sylvie? What happened?" Obi-Wan's voice came through the com. "Not a lot but we might have a 'plan' to get the ship parts that we need" She said. "Well then that's good news, how?" He asked. Sylvie sighed and explained Qui-Gon's idea. There was a few moments of silence from Obi-Wan's end. "What are you doing?" She turned her head to see Qui-Gon approaching her "Just filling Obi-Wan in on the recent events" She responded, handing him the com.

"What if this plan fails? We could be stuck here a very long time" Obi-Wan stated. "Well it's too dangerous to call for help and a ship without a power supply isn't gonna get us anywhere" Qui-Gon pointed out "And... There's something about the two children" Hearing footsteps, he quickly disconnected the com and handed it to Sylvie as Shmi exited the house, giving the two of them a smile which they both returned. "You should be very proud of your children" The Jedi knight commented. "They give without any thought of reward"

"Well, they know nothing of greed. They have a..." Shmi trailed off "They have special powers" Qui-Gon stated. "Yes" She nodded. "They can see things before they happen. That's why they have such quick reflexes. It's a Jedi trait" he continued "They can read the other's thoughts, sometimes even talk in their mind..." Shmi murmured. "That's a force sensitive trait" Sylvie said "Jedi can sense emotions through the force but the bond between siblings is strong, very strong"

"They deserve better than a slave's life" Shmi said softly. "Had they been born in the Republic we would have identified him early... The force is very strong with the girl, and unusually strong with the boy. That much is clear" Qui-Gon said "Who was their father?" He asked after a moment. "Alina's was a man from my Village, the Slavers killed him when he tried to stop them from taking us"

Sylvie's eyes softened "I'm sorry" she murmured. "But for Anakin..." Shmi took a pause "There was no father"

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