Disclaimer for entire story: I do not own Star Wars, or anything related to this story.

Ramblings with Ranger: This is going to be a long-ish author's note, but there should be very few after this. This story has been in the works for a little more than a year now. I've seen similar story lines a couple of times, vaguely. However, I had already had this idea before I read the other stories, and mine is not like the others I have read. Therefore, I am not plagiarizing and I am not stealing someone elses work. I am definitely writing something original. Well, you know what I mean.

I never intended to actually finish this story or post it. Yet here we are. I have about 18 chapters written, and am still working on it. Personally, I think this is the best story I have ever written. It's a little darker than Overcome, for those of you have read my Inheritance Cycle fic. The writing style is a little different, I think. Or maybe it's just me. Be warned that I rarely say anything in a story that is unimportant - especially in this story. *hint hint*

I hope you enjoy! I enjoy reviews of any shapes, sizes and heat intensities. ;)

This fic is dedicated to the lovely, wonderful and completely awesome and amazing Chloes-Cheese, who has patiently waited for Heritage to be posted. She's stuck with me through my writers blocks and has been very understanding. Did I mention she's awesome? Yeah, she is. :) And a big thanks to Angel of the Night Watchers, my beta, who is also extremely awesome and without whom my stories would be incomplete. :)

I'll shut up now so ya'll can read. Thanks for patiently 'listening' to me ramble. :)

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Prologue

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A young girl pressed herself further into the damp walls of Jabba's palace, as if doing so would send her straight through the wall and into her freedom, into a life devoid of explosives strapped to her person, into a life devoid of chains. Adrina didn't care that she was getting all matter of slime and dirt on the rough material of her clothes; she just wished herself away from the life of slavery that she led.

The eleven year-old wrinkled her nose in disgust when Myla, Jabba the Hutt's favorite – and longest lasting – dancer brushed airily past her and onto the floor before Jabba's dais. Adrina averted her eyes from Myla's contorting figure. After a few minutes, Myla planted herself in front of her servant expectantly. Adrina wordlessly wiped Myla's light blue figure free of sweat and handed her a goblet of cold water.

Adrina stared down at the floor. She knew she had to endure just another hour that day before Myla would sway her hips back to her room and Adrina would see to her needs privately. Every day was much as the last: wait on Myla hand and foot. Occasionally, there would be the 'accidental' shoot out between rival bounty hunters to liven up the day, but that was only rarely. The surviving bounty hunter would then be temporarily out of Jabba's service; they were lucky to have that liberty. Adrina could only dream of freedom.

Then came the day when Myla was fatally shot during a scuffle. The shoot-out was followed by a spectacular explosion in which Adrina's best friend Aralyn was killed. The day after she died, Adrina was sold, lost betting on the podraces. She was now the property of Watto, a Toydarian junk dealer, perhaps to never see her father again.

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Chapter One

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A young woman, old beyond her years, stood up suddenly from behind the counter when she heard Watto curse in Huttese. In the process of pinning her hair back up, she dropped her hands from her hair. With a sigh, Adrina Skywalker made her way out into the courtyard filled with spare parts. Watto's Shop, which Adrina thought was a very original name, always seemed to have something that needed cleaning, even though she cleaned almost non-stop everyday.

Long black hair swung loosely from it's ponytail as Adrina bent low to retrieve the aeromagnifier Watto had dropped. After a quick inspection to make sure it wasn't damaged by the fall, she wordlessly handed it back to her master.

"Eh...uh...thank you." Watto muttered, not really looking at her. Adrina pursed her lips and returned to work.

Watto's Shop really wasn't that bad a place to be if you were a slave, Adrina thought, at least compared to the other places she could be forced to work. True, Watto was rather verbally harsh and demanding in the work his slaves were tasked with, but they always had enough food and their home was adequate. Also, he never beat them, which was a rarity among slave owners. Neither did he attempt to force himself on female slaves, an even greater rarity.

Adrina's head snapped up when she heard the steady hum of Watto's wings grow nearer. "We've got customers." Watto murmured in Huttese, pleased. Adrina instantly forced a bright smile on her face, preparing herself. Watto shooed her into the back room, however, reminding Adrina that she did indeed have to finish cleaning an air filter. From the back room, though, Adrina could hear all that went on in the front of the shop.

"Hi chuba da naga?" Watto greeted. Adrina shook her head, sighing internally. You couldn't accuse Watto of beating around the bush, that was for certain.

"I need parts for a J-type 327 Nubian." a male voice replied calmly. Adrina guessed that he was middle-aged based on the rich timbre of his voice; she had never met young man who had sounded as wise.

"Ah yes, ah yes. Nubian. We have lots of that." Watto replied gleefully. "What kinda junk?" There was a slight pause before Watto hollered for Adrina's adoptive younger brother Anakin to get into the store.

"My droid has a readout of what I need." the male customer responded smoothly. Adrina heard Anakin run inside, breathing hard.

"Coona tee-tocky malia?" Watto demanded of Anakin.

"Mel tassa cho-passa..." Anakin tried to explain. Watto cut him off.

"Chut-Chut! Ganda doe wallya. Me dwana no bata." Watto ordered. Adrina did sigh that time. Watto turned back to his customer. "So, let me take a-thee out back. Ni...you'll find what you a-need." Adrina shook her head, wiping her grimy hands on the nearby rag. She was nearly done with the filter.

"Don't touch anything." the customer instructed sternly, but Adrina wasn't sure whom he was speaking to. She heard a strange noise that she supposed was someone sticking out a his or her tongue; perhaps at the man? Adrina would have loved to listen to the rest of their conversation, but she remembered an order that needed to be picked up. Putting down the newly cleaned filter, Adrina slipped out the back door.

Watto was sure to be in a good mood if there were several customers, Adrina mused as she walked the streets of Mos Espa. Recently, the shop hadn't gotten as much attention as it usually did. Watto's Shop had ups and downs, though, and it always did well, in the end. For her, and her family's sake, Adrina sincerely wished that man got the parts he needed. Nubians definitely weren't the cheapest ships to buy for, but they held up well, and she knew that J-Type 327 Nubians were very expensive.

Parts, plural, meant a good deal of money, and more money meant there was a chance of a little spending money for the Skywalker household. Adrina smiled to herself. She knew that her mother loved muja fruit, and that she had been craving some for a few months know. But muja fruit was considered a luxury to slaves such as themselves, and they hadn't any money to spare. They had to settle for the cheap, yet still delicious, native fruit of Tatooine.

After picking up the new cooling unit, wrapped in coarse brown canvas, Adrina trudged the mile trek back to Watto's Shop. She watched the skies apprehensively. It looked like a storm would be rolling in shortly.

Adrina carefully sat the unit in the back room, informing her master of its arrival. Judging by Watto's mutterings, the man who had been in when she had left had not gotten the parts he needed, though Watto did carry them. It seemed that the man was from somewhere in the Republic, a rarity in and of itself, and only had Republic credits. Unfortunately, Republic credits were about as useless on Tatooine as a fishnet umbrella in a rainstorm. Not that Adrina had ever witnessed a rainstorm, but she had heard about them from the deep space pilots. Adrina longed to see rain. Sometimes she doubted water really could fall from the sky.

Watto informed her that Anakin had gone home about fifteen minutes prior, and that she could leave as well. However, one glance outside told Adrina that she would be spending the night in the shop. It had already started to storm, and though it was light, it promised to pick up, and Adrina knew that she couldn't make it home in time before the worst came. No, Adrina decided, she would just have to wait it out in Watto's Shop. She could only hope her brother made it to shelter safely.

~e~e~e~e~e~e~e~

Adrina awoke the next morning, very uncomfortable and acutely aware that she hadn't eaten since yesterday's lunch. She had slept on the counter, her arms her pillow. Adrina grimaced, sitting stiffly up and rubbing the back of her neck. Watto wasn't anywhere to be found, and it looked as if the sand storm was dying down. With any luck, she would be home for lunch.

The young woman had only to wait a few more minutes before the last of the winds finally died down. Jumping down off the counter and rubbing the back of her aching neck, Adrina dragged herself into the courtyard piled with so-called junk to inspect the damage. It seemed that Watto had managed to secure tarps tightly over the mounds of merchandise, and that little damage had been sustained. Not that there's much to damage. Adrina thought ruefully. Watto will certainly be happy about that.

Walking back inside, Adrina pulled her hair back at the nape of her neck and sighed. She had a gnawing feeling in her stomach that something important was going to happen that day. Adrina hated it when she had this feeling. The last time she had it, someone had tried, for some unfathomable reason, to rob Watto's Shop. Luckily, Anakin had not been present, and Adrina had managed to incapacitate the would-be burglar, but she had still managed to get herself shot in her right foot in the process. That had been two years ago, when she was fifteen.

Adrina straightened when Watto flew into the store. "Not much damage, sir." Adrina reported. "Things were pretty secure." Watto nodded.

"Good, good." Watto muttered. "Start cleaning up." Adrina nodded obediently and quietly began her work in the courtyard. She wasn't sure exactly how long she'd been working, but she figured it was about half an hour when an animated discussion drew her from her thoughts. Rising, Adrina dusted her pant legs off and picked up her cleaning cloth. She stepped inside the building just as a middle aged man with a young woman.

Watto fluttered over to them, laughing, leaving Anakin by the counter. Adrina regarded the customers. They were dressed like moisture farmers, with their plain, rough cloth. Adrina picked up the part nearest her, she didn't really look to see what it was, and began to 'clean' it, while still regarding the supposed moisture farmers. She studied the young woman's hands and frowned; she had never seen smoother hands. The young woman could not have worked on a moisture farm. Her hairstyle, also, was not conducive to the life of a moisture farmer. The women always had their hair pinned up, whereas this woman had a good deal of her hair plaited in intricate braids free falling down her back. Her clothes, also, were too pristine, even if they were new. The man, however, he looked like he could possibly be a moisture farmer, if it weren't for his companion.

"The boy tells me you wanta sponsor him insa race. You can't afford parts. How can you do this?" Watto began without pretense. "Not on Republic credits, I think." Watto laughed at his words. Adrina felt her heart plummet. Anakin race in the Boonta Eve? When did this happen?

"My ship will be the entry fee." the man said calmly. He pulled a small object out of belt and a hologram of a handsome ship floated above it. Adrina pursed her lips. It was an upscale ship. The pieces fit together in her head. This was the man from the other day, the one who was looking for parts for the Nubian.

"Not bad...not bad." Watto muttered. "A Nubian." The man nodded.

"It's in good order, except for the parts we need." The man added temptingly.

"But what will the boy ride?" Watto pressed, frowning slightly. "He smashed up my Pod in the last race. It will take some time to fix it." Adrina and Anakin were indignant at that.

"It wasn't my fault, really!" Anakin said emphatically, staring earnestly up at the man. Adrina nodded. It really had not been his fault. "Sebulba flashed me with his vents." Adrina nodded again.

"And he did save the pod." Adrina threw in softly, for the sake of her brother's reputation. She lowered her gaze when the man's gaze flickered to her. Anakin shifted uncomfortably.

"Most of it, anyway." Anakin amended. Watto laughed.

"That you did, that you did." Watto agreed. "The boy is good, no doubts there." The man cocked his head and studied Watto.

"I have acquired a pod in a game of chance." the man announced. "The fastest ever built." Adrina flicked her eyes to Anakin. That sounded suspiciously like something he had told her a few days ago.

"I hope you didn't kill anyone I know for it." Adrina rolled her eyes at that. "So, you supply the Pod and the entry fee; I supply the boy." Watto bargained. "We split the winnings fifty-fifty, I think." Adrina frowned. It wasn't the fairest deal she had ever heard. The man seemed to agree with her.

"Fifty-fifty?" The man repeated, obviously surprised. "If it's going to be fifty-fifty, I suggest you front the cash for the entry. If we win, you keep all the winnings, minus the cost of the parts I need... If we lose, you keep my ship."

Watto debated about this. It was a risky gamble on the man's part, especially considering Anakin had never won race before. Statistically, the odds were in Watto's favor. "Either way, you win." the man threw out.

"Deal!" Watto announced. The man looked pleased. Watto turned to Anakin. "Yo bana pee ho-tah, meedee ya." Anakin was indignant at that comment, but he didn't say anything. Watto, laughing, flew out into the courtyard.

"Anakin!" Adrina hissed, rushing over her brother. "What is going on? I'm away for one day and you decide to race in the Boonta? Mom'll have a conniption!" Anakin smiled up proudly.

"Mom's already agreed!" Anakin informed happily. Adrina's mouth hung open, shell-shocked.

"What?" Adrina breathed, horrified. "Mom's agreed?" Anakin laughed.

"Yep!"

"Don't sound so smug, Ani! This is serious! You could be killed in the Boonta!" Adrina exclaimed.

"Young Anakin has been gracious enough to offer up his services to help us." Adrina whirled around to face the man who had spoken.

"Pardon?" Her fiery eyes belied her even tone. The young woman at the man's side stepped forward.

"We would not ask Anakin if there was any other way." she assured. Adrina crossed her arms. The man nodded.

"They need my help, Rina." Anakin told her softly. "If I win, they can fix their ship and leave. They're stuck here right now." Adrina said nothing. "You know what Mom always says, Rina, that no one ever helps anyone else. I can help them." Adrina's shoulders dropped.

"I don't want to loose you, Ani." Adrina whispered. Anakin smiled.

"You won't." Adrina wished she had his confidence.

"And what about the pod?" Adrina demanded. "It's not even finished yet."

"We will help him finish his pod." the man said. Adrina regarded him cautiously.

"It seems to me that we have more to loose." Adrina stated. Fire sprung into the other young woman's eyes, but she said nothing. Neither Anakin nor Adrina didn't know how wrong she was. There was silence for a moment.

"My name is Qui-Gon Jinn." the man said. Adrina's face was neutral as she introduced herself.

"Adrina. I'm Anakin's sister." Adrina murmured, regarding them carefully.

"Padmé." the young woman begrudgingly said. Watto hollered at Adrina from the courtyard, followed by a string of obscene words. Adrina merely squared her shoulders and marched into the courtyard.

~e~e~e~e~e~e~e~

Adrina became instantly wary when she and Anakin came home to Qui-Gon and Padmé. She stepped between her brother and the newcomers. She eyed them coolly. Nothing seemed amiss, except for the fact that two strangers were in her house, and she did not know where her adoptive mother was. "Hello," Adrina greeted evenly. Shmi Skywalker popped her head around the corner, dish rag in hand. A smile blossomed on the older woman's face when she caught sight of her two children.

"Welcome home, you two." Shmi greeted warmly. She stepped forward and embraced Adrina. "I was so worried about you, Rina. I didn't know if you had been able to get shelter." Adrina smiled gently.

"I'm alright, really." Adrina assured quietly. "I was able to make it back to Watto's Shop before the storm got real bad." Shmi smiled with relief. Adrina's gaze flicked once again to Qui-Gon and Padmé and then back to Shmi.

"They are our guests here, until their ship is repaired." Shmi explained softly. "Qui-Gon is a Jedi Master, Rina. It's alright." Adrina continued to watch the two, nearly protesting when Anakin took Padmé by the hand and led her back to his room. Shmi gently placed a hand on her adoptive daughter's arm. Adrina's brown eyes narrowed, catching sight of Qui-Gon's lightsaber. Her posture eased slightly, but she did not quite trust him yet.

"Come," Shmi beckoned. "You are just in time for dinner." Shmi looked around and sighed. Adrina smiled, laughing quietly.

"I'll get Ani." Adrina called over her shoulder, already on her way. She stuck her head into her adoptive brother's room. Adrina bit back a laugh. Anakin, it appeared, was showing Padmé all of his various projects, and Padmé looked quite lost as she listened to Anakin's technical jargon. Anakin smiled when he noticed his sister.

"Mom's calling dinner." Adrina informed the room's two occupants. Anakin frowned.

"But I'm showing Padmé all of my projects." Anakin responded, pouting slightly. Adrina smiled gently, stepping into the room.

"They'll still be here, I promise." Adrina replied gently. Anakin looked at Padmé for backup, but Padmé remained silent with an apologetic smile to the young boy. Anakin sighed.

"Alright, alright. We're coming." Anakin mumbled. He brightened. "Oh, Rina, I forgot to show you this!" Adrina arched an eyebrow. Anakin bounced off his bed and began fidgeting with C-3P0. Padmé rose and stood next to Adrina.

"Has he already shown 3P0 to you?" Adrina asked quietly. Padmé nodded.

"He's a special little boy." Padmé whispered back. Anakin turned around and motioned for Adrina to step forward. Adrina's eyes widened.

"You got some of the covering!" Adrina murmured, pleased. She grinned at Anakin, giving him a side hug. "That's wonderful, Ani!" Adrina knew that Anakin was working hard on completely finishing the protocol droid.

"Here," Anakin handed his sister part of the gray metal arm covering. "Be careful, that edge is..." Anakin trailed off with a wince. Adrina had already cut her finger on the sharp edge. She inhaled sharply, pressing the injured and bleeding forefinger on her left hand into her thigh and quickly setting the metal down. "Sharp." Anakin finished lamely.

Padmé rushed forward. "Are you alright?" Padmé asked, concerned. Adrina managed to nod, still holding her finger tight against her thigh.

"Fine." Adrina muttered. She smiled down at her brother. "That's really cool, Ani. You just might want to keep it on 3P0." Ani nodded, biting his lower lip.

"I'm really sorry, Rina." Ani apologized earnestly. Adrina smiled.

"It's my fault. It's okay." Adrina assured kindly.

The three made their way out of Ani's room and to the dinner table. Adrina found herself sitting between Padmé and Qui-Gon. Adrina's finger still hurt very much. She looked at it discreetly under the table and found, to her dismay, that it was not quite a shallow cut, even if it was not very deep. Adrina held her finger in her lap, wrapping her right hand around the offending finger. She closed her eyes, earnestly wishing the pain would cease. A pale blue glow illuminated her lap. Adrina suppressed a sigh of relief when the pain, and the cut, disappeared. Adrina did not notice Qui-Gon's curious probing glance or the knowing look that creept into his eyes.

~e~e~e~e~e~e~e~

Later the same day, Adrina was at home, finishing up some cleaning. She hummed softly to herself with a small smile on her face. "The Force is unusually strong with him, that much is clear." Adrina heard Qui-Gon say. "Who was his father?" Adrina paused outside the doorway, eavesdropping.

"There was no father." Shmi said softly. Adrina felt a profound sadness. She had already heard the story, but it still saddened her. "I carried him, I gave him birth." Shmi paused. "I can't explain what happened. Can you help him?" Adrina waited with bated breath for Qui-Gon's answer.

"I'm afraid not." Qui-Gon said after a pregnant pause. Adrina hung her head. "Had he been born in the Republic, we would have identified him early, and he would have become Jedi, no doubt. But it's too late for him now; he's too old." Adrina may have been surprised to learn that Qui-Gon was a Jedi, but she sincerely hoped that he could help her little brother. She had observed the man over the past couple of hours, and Adrina's gut told her that Qui-Gon was a good man. She still did not quite trust him, but she knew that her mother and brother did. As much as she would hate to see her brother go, Adrina knew that Anakin was meant to be a Jedi, and while she had no desire to leave Tatooine, she knew that Anakin did not belong there.

Adrina rushed by, trying to fight the disappointment she was feeling. Anakin was young; he still had much life to live, and was not yet jaded by the ways of the world. He doesn't deserve this! Adrina's mind screamed. She threw the dirty rag into the kitchen sink.

"Adrina?" Shmi called softly from the doorway. Adrina turned around. "He's going to test the pod now." Adrina shared the agonized look with her adoptive mother.

"I'm coming." Adrina whispered. Together, they stood on the balcony overlooking the pod. A few long moments later, the pod racer roared to life. Adrina held on tightly to her adopted mother's hand, fighting back tears, blocking out the joyous cheers erupting from the courtyard below.

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Huttese Translations:

"Hi chuba da naga?" ~ "What do you want?"

"Coona tee-tocky malia?" ~ "What took you so long?"

"Mel tassa cho-passa..." ~ "I was cleaning the bin like you..."

" Chut-Chut! Ganda doe wallya. Me dwana no bata." ~ "Never mind. Watch the store. I've got some selling to do here."

"Yo bana pee ho-tah, meedee ya." ~ "Your friend is a foolish one, methinks."