Disclamer: I don’t own star Wars of firefly

Chapter 4 Getting to know you

River walked in and saw that the strangers were there too. As it turns out Anakin saved the Gungan, Jar-Jar from Sebulba. Then he invited them home to escape the sandstorm.

Soon dinner was ready, and the group took their places around the table- Qui-Gon and Padmè at the ends, with Shmi, River, Anakin and Jar-Jar around the sides. Anakin sat with Padme talking to her about his life. Shmi was following the conversation and clarifying when needed. River just sat there listening to the conversation and staring at the “man”. She was puzzled that he just did not seem to be oozing that much emotion according to her sixth sense.

“All slaves have transmitters placed inside their bodies,” Shmi explained.

“I’ve been working on a scanner to try and locate them, but so far no luck.” Anakin added.

“Any attempt at escape…” Shmi started. “…and they blow you up!” Anakin finished, adding an overly dramatic ‘Boom!’

River looked at his brother in confusion; any attempt of humor flew right past here. Anakin would say she took things to literal and analyzed things too much. She did not understand how the severity of slavery could be funny. It seemed Padme shared her same opinion except in it was in pity. River felt Padme feeling sadness for Anakin for being a slave and guilt for not being able to help. River did not like pity; to her it was an ineffective use of brainpower.

A loud slurping noise interrupted all the talking. Zat and everyone else looked at the Jar-Jar. Jar-Jar looked down in embarrassment as everyone else sighed.

Padmè turned back to Shmi. “I can’t believe slavery is still permitted in the galaxy. The Republic’s antislavery laws should-¬”

“The republic is governed by senators from all worlds within it. Each have their own opinion and goals, they also squabble like children wanting to play with the bright red ball.” River said calmly. “They are a waste of air and matter.” River stated, she continued. “It is said that if you listen to them, in a matter of days your brain will melt and drip out of every hole in your head.”

Huh, and they say she did not have a sense of humor.

Qui-gon broke the silence by laughing. Soon Padme followed including Jar-jar, who did not understand what was going on but followed. River just sat there with a confused look on her face. She seemed to have missed the joke, even though she was the one who said it. Shimi and Anakin laughed as well but did not understand either. A silence descended after the laughter subsided.

“Have you ever seen a Podrace?” he asked Padmè, trying to ease her embarrassment. She shook her head no, and a look at Shmi saw the concern set in on her weathered face. River too sported concern. In the meantime, Jar Jar launched his tongue at a piece of fruit in a bowl at the far end of the table, deftly plucking it out and swallowing it loudly. Everyone turned and looked as Qui-Gon’s disapproving look silenced the Gungan

“They have Podracing on Malastare,” Qui-Gon remarked. “Very fast, very dangerous.”

Anakin grinned. “I’m the only human who can do it!” A sharp look from his mother, and a glare from River , wiped the grin off his face. “Mom, what? I’m not bragging. It is true! Watto says he’s never heard of a human doing it.”

“Podracing is an insignificant use of your time Anakin,” River said sagely.

“IS not.” Protested Anakin hotly.

“Is too”

“Is not”

“Is too”

“Is not”

“Is too”

“Is not”

"Is not" River decided to use reverse pscylogy on Anakin.

“Is too.. wait a second, hey not fair.” Anakin protested when he realized he was tricked.

River stuck her tongue out at her brother as Qui-Gon observed the boy carefully. “You must have Jedi reflexes if you race Pods.”

Anakin smiled broadly at the compliment, and Jar Jar took the opportunity to try and snatch another piece of fruit from the bowl. However, this time Qui-Gon was waiting, and as the Gungan’s tongue shot out, Qui-Gon quickly moved to snatch it-

River too had grabbed the tongue.

“It seems you must have Jedi reflexes as well.” He remarked.

“I merely calculated when he would try again and the velocity, distance and time his tongue moved. Merely analyzing what is there and applying it to the situation.” River said calmly.

Anakin looked up at the older man’s face. “I…was wondering something…” he started hesitantly. Qui-Gon nodded at him to continue. The boy took a breath, gathered his courage, and spoke. “You’re a Jedi Knight, aren’t you?”

There was a moment of silence as the two stared at each other. Finally, Qui-Gon spoke.

“What makes you think that?”

“I saw your lightsaber.” Anakin said, still a bit nervous. “Only Jedi Knights carry that kind of weapon.” Qui-Gon continued to stare at him, then leaned back in his chair and smiled. “Perhaps I killed a Jedi and stole it from him.”

Anakin shook his head. “I don’t think so. No one can kill a Jedi.”

Not so, River thought sadly. A dream or memory resurfaced of a jedi being killed by a tattooed maniac.

Qui-Gon’s smile faded as a look of sadness crossed his face. “I wish that were so…”

“I had a dream that I was a Jedi.” Anakin said eagerly. “I came back and freed all the slaves. Have you come to free us?” he asked suddenly, his young face expectant.

Qui-Gon shook his head. “No, I’m afraid not…” he started, but trailed off. Anakin took that moment to press on.

“I think you have,” he insisted. “Why else would you be here?”

Shmi was about to say something, but Qui-Gon spoke first. “I can see there’s no fooling you, Anakin. However, you must not let anyone know about us. We are on our way to Coruscant, the central system in the republic, on a very important mission. It must be kept secret.” Anakin’s eye’s widened. “Coruscant? Wow! How did you end up out here in the Outer Rim?”

“Our ship was damaged,” the girl answered. “We’re stranded here until we can repair it.”

“I can help!” Anakin announced quickly, anxious to help them. “I can fix anything!”

“He’s right. He has a special touch with mecha.” River added. “He is even better than most mechanics at fixing droids and such.”

Qui-Gon smiled at the sibling’s antics. “I believe you can, but our first task, as you know from our visit to Watto’s shop, is to acquire the parts we need.”

“Wit nutten ta trade.” Jar Jar added sourly. Padmè looked at the Jedi speculatively. “These junk dealers have to have a weakness of some kind.”

“Gambling.” Shmi said at once. She and River both rose and started to clear the table of the dishes. “Everything in Mos Espa revolves around betting on those awful Podraces.”

Qui-Gon rose and stood by the window, looking out at the swirling sand. “Podracing. Greed can be a powerful ally, if it’s used properly.”

“I’ve built a racer!” Anakin declared, jumping to his feet, his face showing with pride. “It’s the fastest ever! There’s a big race day after tomorrow, on Boonta Eve. You could enter my Pod! It’s all but finished-”

“Ani, calm down” River said quickly, even as his mother said sharply, and not without concern “Anakin! Settle down! Watto won’t let you race!”

“I will turn Watto into a pile of sludge, I won’t let you race!” River added; concern on her face as well.

“Watto doesn’t have to know the racer is mine!” Anakin said quickly, working through the problems in his mind. He looked to Qui-Gon and smiled, the pieces falling into place. “You could make him think it was yours! You could get him to let me pilot it for you!”

River glared at the Jedi. For some reason she sensed something bad was going to happen. It did not help that the she was unable to “read” the man.

Shmi, who then turned to Anakin. “I don’t want you to race, Annie. It’s awful. I die every time Watto makes you do it, every time.” Anakin bit his lip. “But mom, I love it!” He then gestured towards Qui-Gon. “And they need my help. They’re in trouble. The prize money would more than pay for the parts they need.”

Qui-Gon walked over and looked down at Anakin. “You’re mother’s right. Let’s drop the matter.” Qui-Gon smiled at the boy, and then looked back to Shmi. “Do you know anyone friendly to the Republic who might be able to help us?” Shmi was silent for a moment, and then shook her head no. River knew that people in the outer rim look out only for themselves. There is no time for charity, it was a dog eat dog world. “We have to help them, Mom, River,” Anakin insisted, knowing that he was right, that he was meant to help these people. “Remember what you said? You said the biggest problem in the universe is that no one helps anyone.”

“He is right.” River muttered, thinking about her treatment by the Alliance and how no one helped her get out.

“I’m sure Qui-Gon doesn’t want to put your son in danger,” Padmè interjected, trying to ease the tension they had brought between the family. “We will find another way…”

Shmi looked at the girl and shook her head slowly. “No, Annie’s right. There is no other way. I may not like it, but he can help you.” She paused for a moment, considering. “Maybe he was made to help you.”

River narrowed her eyes and continued to glare at the jedi , trying to bore a hole through the weird man. Annie did not notice; his face had just lit up as if he had won the greatest thing in the world.

“Is that a yes? That is a yes!” he yelled, clapping his hands in glee. ________________________________________

Later that night, Qui-Gon Jinn stood in the doorway of the boy’s bedroom and watched him sleep. Padmè had taken Buffy’s room, while Jar Jar was curled up on the small sofa near the front door, and River was sleeping near the back door of the hovel in the kitchen.

However, Qui-Gon found that sleep was hard to come by due to the current dilemma he is facing. He told Shmi that Anakin was special, there was no doubt, and the strong force presence that emanated from the boy astounded him. He would need to talk to Obi-wan about this new development.

Then there was River- he seriously did not know what to make of her. At times, she was like any child, happy and burden less. However, at others she seemed shielded and a bit of a loner. There was the time he caught her glaring at him with such ferocity, he thought she was a sith. He dismissed the thought, the sith were gone for a millennia. Surely, the jedi would know when they came back. To him, her force presence was shimmering like silk, waving but erratic. She had a powerful force presence, if only they were found by jedi he thought sadly. Children were often missed by the jedi and grew up with powers that scared them. Sometimes the jedi would come across a person who feared their power so much they were admitted to insane asylums.

Qui-gon knew that he had a reputation for being reckless and erratic. The council did not like the fact he would disobey them due to his whims. His padawan would always remark that he would be on the council if he followed the rules. Obi-wan also bemoaned the fact that he would help insignificant life forms. Obi-wan also frequently disagreed with the fact that while Qui-gon focused on individual beings and present events, while Obi-wan was more adept on the larger picture. He also complained that Qui-gon did not mediate on the future, rather live in the present. He also knew that his ability to feel the force was dampened, his former master Yoda felt it too, as did the rest of the council. Something was coming, and when it arrives, it may destroy all that the jedi worked for.

Qui-Gon sighed, putting such thought aside and once again regarding the boy. The force did not bring them here, he had said. It was not luck that brought them into contact with two gifted children, but the will of the force. Only time would reveal the true reason for their meeting, of this he was sure.

Qui-Gon turned and headed back to the kitchen, but stopped short when he saw River staring directly at him. Her piercing gaze unnerved him. Deciding to ignore her for the moment, he continued into the kitchen and leaned on the wall, stretching himself out. As he closed his eyes, he heard her speak.

“This family unit has given me something I could never repay them back; I intend to keep them alive and happy as long as I can.”

Qui-Gon opened his eyes and turned his head, so that he was looking at the girl.

“I mean you or your family no harm, River.” He said evenly. River merely inclined her head.

“You Jedi are supposed to be the good guys; the goody two shoes of the universe. The bane of all darkness, but the dark- she stopped, then took a deep breath and continued. “I don’t want you to shatter Anakin’s dream. It is his hope and if goal in life.” She stopped again and nearly fell onto Qui-gon.

Qui-gon caught her and was concerned, he tried a mild mind probe, what he felt shocked him. He was overwhelmed by the voices and images that seem to stream from River. There seemed to be hundred of people there, other than one. He withdrew gasping, staring at River. She stared at him and he saw that underneath the stable woman, was a broken and shattered soul.

“Is there anything I can do to help?” Qui-gon asked concerned.

“The voices, the images, they aren’t mine, I don’t want them.” River said holding her head due to the sudden intrusion. She felt his cold hands touch her temple and a blanket seemed to have blanketed her and mostly nullified most of the voices. She looked at him and whispered,” How did you do that?”

“Jedi are taught to shield their minds.” Qui-gon said surprised. “I can teach you a rudimentary way of shielding before after we get off this planet.” He almost fell over, when she jumped and hugged him.

“Um, River…. need to breathe.” Qui-gon gasped as River slowly relinquished her hold on him.

She was jumping up and down and smiling. She giggled and pranced about.

“Thank you.” She said to the jedi beaming and she practically hopped away.True, the man was weird and a threat but he helped her.

Qui-gon chuckled slightly and closed his eyes willing himself to sleep. Although a nagging voice in the back of his mind wanted to ask River what she meant by the dark.

Meanwhile River dreamed of her brain being wrapped with a blanket, and a man with a glowing stick protecting her.

------------------------------------------ River got someone to help her. Yes!!!! Now for the pod race.