Disclaimer: I own nothing from Star Wars. Star Wars belongs to George Lucas.
Chapter 1
It was the morning after a strong sandstorm had howled it's way through Mos Espa and the twin suns were already climbing high in the sky. Qui-Gon Jinn and Jar Jar Binks strolled into the main hangar of the Mos Espa Podracer arena, seeing quite a bit of activity going on around the different racing pods that were already there. They continued on through the hangar, hearing the clash and shriek of metal on metal echoing throughout the hangar from all the work that was going on. Halfway through the hangar, they were intercepted by a familiar flying Toydarian.
"So it must be understood that our bargain is sealed, outlander," Watto repeated himself for the third time in the last ten minutes. "I'll want to see your spaceship the moment the race is over."
"Patience, my blue friend. You'll have your winnings before the suns set, and we will be far away from here." Qui-Gon replied.
"Not if your ship belongs to me!" Watto snorted and then laughed. "I warn you, no funny business!"
Qui-Gon kept on walking, his gaze directed elsewhere. "You don't think Anakin will win?"
Watto flew in front of the two, bringing them to a stop in front a racer that had a distinctive X-shape. Wings beating furiously, he motioned to the pilot of the orange racer, a Dug, the same one that had attacked Jar Jar two days earlier.
"Don't get me wrong," Watto announced. "I have great faith in the boy. He's a credit to your species." His snaggletoothed mouth tightened. "But Sebulba there is going to win, I think."
"Why?"
"Because he always wins!" The Toydarian broke into a fit of laughter as a result of his own cleverness. "I'm betting everything on Sebulba!"
"I'll take that bet." Qui-Gon stated.
"You what?" Watto questioned in astonishment.
"I'll wager my new racing pod against..." Qui-Gon trailing off a little. "Against, say, the boy and his mother."
"No pod is worth two slaves! Not by a long shot!" Watto sneered. The blue wings were a blur as he flitted this way and that in outrage.
Qui-Gon stood there, trying to think of what he could do to get both Anakin and Shmi, but his thoughts were interrupted by a tap on his shoulder. He turned to see Jar Jar there, who was motioning to him, indicating that he wanted to discuss something with him. After Jar Jar had discussed his idea with Qui-Gon, and after thinking it through, he decided that it might work.
"I have new wager." Qui-Gon stated. "How about my new racing pod, along with my life and that of my companion life, against the boy and his mother."
Watto paused for a brief second. "Deal!" Watto clapped Qui-Gon's hand and flew off muttering something about 'foolish outlanders'.
They both turned to watch Watto fly down the hangar, when they caught sight of Anakin, riding an eopie with Padmé behind him, and towing one of the Radon-Ulzer engines. Right beside them was Anakin's friend, Kitster riding an eopie with Shmi, towing the other Radon-Ulzer engine. They, along with R2-D2 and C-3PO, stopped in front of their stall about twenty feet away from Qui-Gon and Jar Jar. Seconds later, Watto appeared beside them.
"Better stop your friend's betting or I'll be owning them for along time." Watto said laughing, before moving on.
"What did he mean by that?" Anakin asked when Qui-Gon was beside them.
"I'll tell you later." Qui-Gon stated before helping Shmi down. Anakin and Padmé just looked at each other with confusion in their eyes before shrugging their shoulders and getting off the eopie.
-A-
It was mid-morning and the arena was filled with thousands of beings, all of whom had turned out to watch the race. The stands were a sea of color and movement, while sound filled the desert air in and around the arena. Vendors had started walking up and down the aisles, stopping every once in a while to sell food and drinks to the spectators. All of a sudden, cheers sprang up from the crowd as the racers came out of the main hangar and started lining up on the track, along with their standard bearers, each carrying a flag that represented the pilot and the sponsor. During the process of lining up the racers, Jabba the Hutt and his entourage had arrived in the royal box at the top of the stands. Minutes later he lifted up his arms and greeted the crowd.
"Chowbaso!" Jabba rumbled. "Tam ka chee Boonta rulee ya, kee madd ahdrudda du wundee!"
The introductions of the pilots started, and Anakin was listening to the introductions waiting for his name to be called out. He turned back to his racer and saw his mother standing there in front of him, as calm and determined as she could be. She bent down to give him a hug and kiss, with a few words of encouragement.
"Be safe, Annie," she told him.
"I will, mom. I promise."
She smiled a warm and reassuring smile, then moved away. He went back to work on connecting everything saw out of the corner of his eye that Sebulba had wandered over and, as stealthily as possible, banged on a stabilizer before looking around. After confronting Sebulba, Anakin found Padmé behind (him?) an encouraging look in her eyes. She bent down and kissed Anakin's cheek, then hugged him while she whispered.
"You carry all of our hopes."
Anakin whispered back with confidence. "I won't let you down."
Padmé moved away, heading towards the viewing platform where his mother waited.. Anakin finished with the last of the connections and started to get situated in the pod, as Qui-Gon stood by to help.
"All set Annie?" the Jedi Master asked calmly. The boy in question just nodded his head, looking at Qui-Gon. "Remember, concentrate on the moment. Feel, don't think. Trust your instincts."
He then put a hand on the boy's shoulder and smiled. "May the Force be with you, Annie." He then moved away and towards the viewing platform. After a small confrontation with the young handmaiden, Qui-Gon watched as the podracers came to life and the start of the race was only moments away.
'Steady, Anakin,' he thought. 'Concentrate.'
The light over the starting line flashed green.
The race had begun.
-A-
As the viewing platform slowly lowered it's self to the ground, it's occupants saw the crowd surge towards Anakin's racer, hoping to congratulate the person who won the race mere moments before. The crowd hoisted the boy up and carried him away, chanting and shouting his name. The viewing platform settled and the occupants unloaded and rushed off towards the crowd, while Qui-Gon turned and headed towards where he thought he would find Watto. As soon as Watto caught sight of Qui-Gon, he became furious and flew at the Jedi Master.
"You! You swindled me!" He said shaking with rage. "You knew the boy was going to win! Somehow you knew it! I lost everything!"
"Whenever you gamble, my friend, eventually you'll lose." Qui-Gon replied calmly. "Bring the hyperdrive parts to the main hanger right away. I'll come by your shop later so you can release the boy and his mother."
At that, Watto got even more infuriated and flew right up to Qui-Gon's face. "You can't have them! It wasn't a fair bet!"
Qui-Gon just looked at him with an icy stare. "Would you like to discuss this with the Hutts? I'm sure they would be happy to settle the matter."
Watto jerked away quickly as if he had just gotten burned, and turned his hate-filled eyes onto the Jedi Master. "No! No, no more tricks! Take them both and be gone!"
Watto flew out of the box furious. Qui-Gon watched him leave, then left the box for the racetrack, thinking about things. If he had been more aware of his surroundings, he would have caught sight of the Sith probe droid that was trailing after him. As he entered the hangar, he found Anakin under the care of Shmi and Padmé, both of whom were wiping his face trying to get the dirt and smoke off, while complimenting him and congratulating him on his win. After a few more minutes, Shmi hugged and kissed Anakin's cheek, then moved away. Taking her place, Padmé also gave him a hug and kiss on his other cheek. It was during this that Qui-Gon returned, smiling as he watched the joy, happiness, and love that surrounded the small boy.
"Padmé, Jar Jar, let's go," he ordered abruptly. "We've got to get these parts back to the ship."
Padmé hugged and kissed Anakin one last time before climbing onto one of the eopies behind Qui-Gon, taking a hold of his waist. Jar Jar had gotten on the second one, without too much trouble, except almost slipping off at first.
"I'll return midday," Qui-Gon promised, before leaving with Jar Jar, R2-D2, and the parts trailing behind them.
The company rode out of Mos Espa into the Tatoonie desert with R2-D2 leading the way, rolling in front of them at a steady pace. They finally made it to the Queen's transport without any incident and unloaded the parts and passengers. Obi-Wan met them outside of the ship.
"I was getting worried," he announced.
"Start getting this hyperdrive generator installed," he ordered. "I'm going back. I have some unfinished business."
"Business?" Obi-Wan echoed.
"I won't be long." Qui-Gon stated, before turning and riding off before Obi-Wan could comment on it.
-A-
Anakin was approaching the connector to Mos Espa Way when a Rodian youngster, who was twice as big as he was, blocked his way. The Rodian youngster sneered and taunted him, claiming that Anakin had cheated and that there was no way aslave could win anything. At that, Anakin began to seethe, barely keeping his emotions in check, but he managed to steal himself away from the Rodian youngster and continued on towards the connector where he ran into Qui-Gon. Qui-Gon had seen what had happened and he put a hand on Anakin's shoulder and told him that he did well not starting a fight and walking away instead. They both continued towards the boy's home and, as the hovel came into sight, Qui-Gon brought out a pouch that was filled with credits.
"These are yours," he said. "I sold the pod." He paused here before continuing. "To a particularly surly and rather insistent Dug."
Anakin accepted the bag, grinning at Qui-Gon's description. He ran up the steps and burst through the door, while Qui-Gon followed silently.
"Mom, mom!" He said excitedly. "Guess what! Qui-Gon sold the Pod! Look at all the money we have!"
"Oh, my goodness," she said in disbelief. "That's wonderful, Annie!"
"Annie has been freed," he said.
"What?" His eyes going wide.
"You are no longer a slave."
Shmi was staring at Qui-Gon in shock, disbelief was written across her face. Anakin was jumping up and down, excited about being free. She reached out to Anakin and pressed him to her.
"Now you can make your dreams come true, Annie," She said. "You're free."
She released him and turned to Qui-Gon. "Will you take him with you? Is he to become a Jedi?"
The Jedi Master hesitated for a second. "Our meeting was not a coincidence. Nothing happens by accident. You are strong with the Force, Annie, but the Council will most likely not accept you. Now, go get packed."
Anakin turned to leave, before turning back. "What about mom? Is she free too? You're coming, aren't you, mom?"
Qui-Gon and Shmi exchanged a worried glance, but that soon disappeared. "Your mother is also free."
A minute after the shock wore off, both mother and son were jumping up and down, excited about their new-found freedom and the possibilites that lay ahead for them. Qui-Gon just stood there smiling, watching both of them. After a few minutes, he was finally able to get them to pack all of their things, before the three of them walked out the house, never looking back, leaving Mos Espa and their old lives behind.
-A-
A/N: I want to thank my beta reader MissCHSparkles, she has been amazing in helping me out with this. She makes me think about the different scenes and events that will pop in the story and how they will turn out. Oh, please post a review. It will only take a minute of your time to tell me what you think of the story so far.
