Chapter 2
/
I wasn't kidding when I said taking the mask on and off was a hassle… I had to unwrap it, unbundle the cloth, make sure the goggles and mouth piece didn't fall out, it was a pain in the ass, but due to the peoples looks, I decided that maybe my earlier statement of never taking it off was a bit… inaccurate.
Stuffing the wrappings and the rest of the mask in my bag, I follow the group of misfits towards Anakins home through the sanstorm. After rescuing Jar-Jar from Sebulba and speaking with the elderly woman, Anakin decided that it would be better for us to simply stay at his house.
Not that I was arguing. It gave me time to talk with Qui-Gon and the Queen.
The best part of being a Star Wars fan was knowing the characters. Qui-Gon was adamant that Anakin was the Chosen One. He would do anything for the boy. On top of that, he wants to protect the Queen due to his personal honor and code. If I could convince them that I had information that could help, Qui-Gon may be willing to take me with them.
The Queen on the other hand… she was easier to convince I think. She was naive, angry that Qui-Gon wouldn't listen to her, and highly protective of her people. If I could convince her I had important information or maybe a way to save her people, she should be able to convince Qui-Gon to trust me.
'Okay… maybe I shouldn't have taken off the mask' I thought as I guarded my eyes from the rising sandstorm.
As Anakin opened the door and let us in, I was once again grateful for Anakin and his willingness to help. It's kind of surprising how he ends up as Darth Vader… Who knows? Maybe with my knowledge, that won't happen.
Shaking the sand from my hair, I look up to see everyone look at me with varying states of shock.
"What? The mask was getting ugly looks. Didn't want to draw any more attention than necessary." I said with a shrug.
"C'mon, I can show you '3PO." Anakin was the first to react as he grabbed Padme's hand.
I guess they were expecting some horrifically ugly monster or something?
Shrugging, I finish dusting off the sand and follow where Anakin and Padme had gone.
/
It was after dinner when I was finally able to talk to Qui-Gon alone.
"You truly believe that you know who is behind the invasion?" He asks me before I even announce my presence.
"As awesome as that is, that's still creepy." I reply as I step outside onto the small porch like overhang they have. "The Trade Federation isn't stupid enough to invade a planet without someone promising them something in return or they were being threatened by someone who could seriously hurt their little empire."
Looking out at the lights of Tattooine, I sigh.
"But to answer your question, Master Jinn… I don't believe I know. I do know. I also know that you won't believe me until you have solid proof. It's why I haven't just told you and hoped for the best."
Glancing at me, he leans on the railing with a sigh. Normally he was a wall of steel. An unmovable opponent and an unbendable negotiator. Seeing him like this was weird.
Partly because he looked like Liam Neeson, but also because I was always a fan of Qui-Gon as a character.
I really hope I can save him.
"I sense no dishonesty in you, yet you claim to possess knowledge that no one else has. You knew that I was a Master Jedi and my name and yet, we have never met." he says. "I wouldn't be surprised if you also knew Padme's secret as well."
"That she's actually the Queen and not a handmaiden?" I ask.
Shaking his head as he chuckles at my reply, he looks at me with a curious expression.
"You may come with us as far as Corusant. Once we land… Whatever happens will depend on the Councils decision."
"The Councils… What would they be deciding on? I understand why Anakin would be seeing them, but why me?" I ask with uncertainty. Why would they…?
My knowledge. Duh.
Okay, never mind that question.
"The information you possess may be useful. It may not." he says with a shrug. "The Council will decide."
at that, we drifted off into silence.
"You think the boy is the Chosen One of the Prophecy?" I state more than ask.
"It's possible."
"Some advice then." I offer. "You know as well as I that the Council will refuse to train him. You will probably offer to train him yourself."
At his nod, I continue.
"Don't."
"What?" he asks in slight shock.
"You have a padawan. Obi-Wan still has so much to learn about the Force that only you can teach him. You may think he's ready for the trials, and he may be, but he doesn't deserve to be cast aside so you can train a boy who may or may not be the Chosen One." I say with a sigh. "Before you argue, i'm not arguing with your decision to train him. You would be the best option to teach him of the Living Force and how to keep him away from falling to the Dark Side. However, you need to understand that despite the Jedi's code preventing attachments, Obi-Wan see's you as a father figure. He will feel frustration towards you for dumping him by the wayside just so you can teach someone who may not even be that special. Midichlorians be damned."
With that, I turn from Qui-Gon and start to head back inside.
"You are not a Force user, yet you've seen visions of the future… haven't you?" he asks, still looking towards the lights of town.
"I know what might happen if I had never interfered. At this point however? Nothing is assured..." I replied simply.
"Who are you?"
"Alan Warren, but I guess that doesn't mean much anymore..." I say with a shrug before heading to where Shmi had set up my sleeping quarters.
Okay… so not how I expected that meeting to go, but he needed to hear that.
I just hope I haven't really screwed up.
/
As it turns out, after that conversation, Qui-Gon wouldn't leave my side.
Or at the very least was very insistent that I stay nearby.
Which is part of the reason I was able to join him in the Hanger before the race and witness his attempt to free Shmi Skywalker.
"I wanna see your spaceship, the moment the race is over!" Watto says with some force.
"Patience, my blue friend. You will have your winnings before the sun sets." Qui-Gon replies. "And we will be far away from here."
"Not if your ship belongs to me, I think? Huh?" Watto chuckles. "I'm warning you, no funny business."
"You don't think Anakin can win?" Qui-Gon asks the Toydarian.
"Don'ta get me wrong. I have faith ina the boy." Watto replies with a sick smile. "He's a credit to your race. But, uh, Sebulba there is going to win, I think."
"Why do you think that?" Qui-Gon asks the flying alien.
"Because he always wins!" The Toydarian laughs. "I'mma betting everything on Sebulba!
Before Qui-Gon can pipe in, I pipe up.
"We'll take that bet."
"What?"
"His new pod against the boy and his mother."
"No pod is worth two slaves. Not by a long shot!" Watto growls.
"I wasn't finished." I reply. "I bet that not only does Anakin win, but Sebulba doesn't even finish the race."
"You what?" Watto asks in shock before he bursts out laughing. "You bet a fools gamble. That is impossible! Sebulba always finishes, and always wins!"
"Then you don't mind taking the bet?" I ask the Alien in front of me.
Qui-Gon, unsurprisingly doesn't look worried in the slightest.
"The pod is still not worth two slaves." the Toydarian asks.
"Then how about the Bantha of a Tusken Chieftain and his personal Gaffi Stick?" I ask the Toydarian.
Was it the actual Bantha and Gaffi Stick of a Tusken Chieftain? Probably not. Did Watto know? Hopefully not.
"hmm..." Watto contemplated before sticking a hand out. "Deal."
Shaking his hand, Watto buzzes off to harrass Anakin.
"How did you know he's take the deal?" Qui-Gon asks as we walk back over to where Anakin and the rest were riding up.
"I didn't, but he's obsessed with material wealth and status symbols. Its why he wants to keep either Shmi or Anakin. The Bantha and Gaffi Stick of any Tusken Raider is highly customized to the owner, so if he were to get the weapon and steed of a Tusken Chief? It'd boost his ego… Now I just hope my predictions go as planned, because otherwise we may never get off this dustball."
/
Thank any and all dieties that exist in this universe for their graciousness in allowing things to follow the script.
Not only did Anakin win like we planned, Sebulba tried to pull the same trick on Anakin that he did in the movie, causing one engine to lose its stability and crash into the other engine.
The fact that Sebulba survived was a bit shocking, but not really surprising considering thats what happened the first time around.
"No… You can't have them..." Watto sighed half heartedly. "It wasn't a fair bet."
"We can always discuss this with the Hutts." I reply before turning to the Jedi. "I don't think Jabba has left yet, I'm sure he'd be willing to help us out?"
With another sigh, Watto waved his hand at us. "Take them..."
And so, we did.
/
When Anakin and Shmi realized they were both free, they celebrated.
Or at least, Anakin jumped around in joy while Shmi looked like she was trying not to cry.
Helping them pack was relatively simple, the hardest part being Anakins room. Who knew he had that many tools…
But after finally strapping Threepio to my back, we started hiking back to the ship.
I say hike, but in reality, we just used my Bantha.
"Master Qui-Gon, Sir? Are we there yet?" Anakin asks.
"Patience, Anakin." was the only reply.
Wait… didn't Anakin complain in the Phantom Menace right before Maul showed up?
Glancing behind us, I see a speeder in the distance, quickly catching up.
"Qui-Gon!" I yell as I jump off the Bantha and aim the rifle.
Seeing what I saw, his eyes widened before he schooled his features into one of calm.
"The ship should be just over that sand dune." He tells Shmi. "Get aboard and tell the pilot that we may need some assistance."
With that, he jumps off and stands next to me.
"I'd suggest readying your lightsaber." I advise. "You're about to be the first Jedi to fight a Sith in a Mellinia."
Looking at me curiously, he activates his lightsaber and focuses on the Force, or at least… I think thats what he's doing.
Aiming my rifle, I can see the speeder get in range of a first shot, and since the rider was Maul himself… I needed to make this count.
Steadying my breathing, I carefully put my finger on the trigger.
BOOM!
My aim was steady and true as the slug shot through the air and…
...Completely missed as Maul sensed it coming and leapt out of the way
Thank God that the Tuskens used similar weapons to what humans used… It only sucks that the speeder didn't explode.
Reloading the rifle, I take aim again only for Maul to use the force to yank my weapon away.
Pulling out the Tusken Raiders Gaffi Stick, I prepare to die.
Unless the ship pulls over the dune in the next few moments, i'm just going to die. There is no other way about it.
With a leap, Darth Maul launches himself at us with only one side of his lightsaber activated, cleaving his way through the air to slam his blade against the ready Qui-Gon's.
Well shit.
I'm not saying its impossible to kill a Jedi or a Sith, but you need training. I don't have any training at all.
I may as well just tackle him and hope for the best.
Grabbing a hand full of sand, I quickly get his attention.
"Qui-Gon!" I yell after they break a saber lock.
Glancing at me and the sand in my hand, he leaps backwards so I can throw the sand at Maul.
Which of course does a whole lot of nothing.
Swinging my Gaffi Stick at his head, Maul was quick to cut the weapon into thirds before using the Force to simply throw me aside.
Honestly, I should have expected that to happen.
Getting up from where I was thrown, I notice that the ship had just taken off with the ramp still open.
Hmm…
Running away from the fight, I rush over to Mauls speeder. If I can't injure him with what I have, i'll injure him with his own shit.
Hopping on, I start the engine. A surprisingly easy task considering the fact that its a floating motorcycle. Hitting the gas, I drive straight at Maul and Jinn.
"QUI-GON"
Leaping off the speeder at the last moment, Maul was hit by the speeder, though all it seemed to do was disorient him and knock the lightsaber from his hand.
So obviously I grab the Lightsaber and my rifle and book it to the ship.
No way in hell was I staying after that.
Qui-Gon was quick to follow as he grabbed me with the force and basically threw me into the ship, with him following shortly after.
"Well that was fun..." I pant. "I even got a souvenir."
Looking at me from the corner of his eyes, The older Jedi started to chuckle.
This was going to be interesting…
/
Tada! Yeah. I'm going to continue the story. Alan was able to successfully free Anakin and Shmi using bullshit odds that should have been impossible for him to win. And yet he did.
They met Maul. He ran over Maul with his own speeder bike. For those who say that Mul should have sensed it as he sensed the bullet, I say that he was too busy fighting Qui-Gon to sense it. He is technically just a Sith Assassin and isn't fully trained in the Force. He was trained as an assassin to use the Lightsaber. So technically this could have happened…
Anyway. Hope you enjoy!
The Nameless Scribe!
