Interlude (Part 3): Freedom comes at a Cost
32 BBY
Tatooine
Mos Espa
"So this is the Boonta Eve Classic, huh?" Theron ponders at his surroundings while sitting in the crowd booths. "What I don't get is how the hell can Anakin - at this point in his childhood - pilot one of the most fastest and most dangerous vehicles in the Galaxy."
The Boonta Eve Classic was the most dangerous race Anakin had ever flown in. Vicious, free-for-all competition, and more than one racer became victim to the high-speed turns, rocky obstacles, and dirty tricks of their dastardly adversaries.When the announcers finished introducing the racers, who are finishing getting their pod racers on the starting grid, they mention the race's main spectator and Tatooine's vile crime lord, Jabba the Hutt.
Looking up at a monitor screen, Theron sees the Hutt at the balcony of his own booth.
"I know that he's a crime lord and all, but a spectator for one of the most dangerous sports in the Galaxy? I really find that hard to believe." The boy comments with a deadpan.
"Welcome." Jabba, the talking space slug, says to the large crowd in his native Huttese language. "Begin the race!"
Immediately, the racers have started their engines and their pod racers roar to life as the pit crews clear the starting grid. Meanwhile, Anakin presses a few buttons to make several adjustments to his pod racer while gripping the two control handles tightly.At the sound of the starting signal, Anakin guns his engines like the other racers but his pod racer's turbines suddenly went dead. The boy peers through his goggles to see the other pilots blasting off of the starting grid towards the Starlite Flats, leaving him gasping in their dust.
"Ho, ho, wait! Little Skywalker has stalled!" The Basic Announcer comments with a snicker, earning a few laughs from the crowd.
"Goddamn it." Theron facepalms at the unexpected moment.
Theron then notices another pilot having engine trouble as well. He paid no mind to it but keeps his focus on Anakin, who finally got his engines to work again and launches him and his vehicle out of Mos Espa Arena at top speed."And there goes Skywalker." The Announcer says. "He'll be hard pressed to catch up with the leaders."
"Thank God." Theron sighs in relief. "It might've been a short race if he didn't get going quickly."
Soaring through the twisting chasms and over broad flats, Anakin managed to catch up with the othrt Podracers during the first lap. As the towering rock formations that dotted Mushroom Mesa whipped past him, he caught the scent of burning fuel a split second before he saw the scattered, smoking remains of the green-engined Pod that had been piloted by a Gran. Somehow, he knew in his gut that a Dug named Sebulba was responsible for the crash, and had no illusions that the poor Gran had survived.
After passing through a few obstacles, Anakin enters a complex cave with the other pilots and managed to get out of there in one piece. On the canyon dune turns, Anakin and the pilots are being shot at by Tusken Raiders in the distance with their dramatic rifle raising-in-the-air posing.
...
"I still don't get why Tuskens are doing that pose so dramatically with their rifles." Theron comments, shaking his head.
Meanwhile, as for the other pilot have engine trouble, one of the turbines explode and sends him flying up in the air. Theron had to sweatdrop at that.
"That's definitely not gonna come out of my allowance." He says.
Moments later, the Podracers fly past the starting grid and another pilot pulls into the pitstop, which led a pitdroid getting sucked in by one of the Podracer's engines explodes. Somehow, the droid survived and was in perfect condition.
"Annnd there goes another one." Theron says. "Jeez, this race is turning into a joke fest for everyone."
Finally, Anakin's Podracer arrives and hurtles past the crowds, already entering the second lap of the race.
"Only two laps left. Got a lot of catching up, Anakin."
...
As Anakin's Pod shot out of Beggar's Canyon, he caught sight of another Podracer behind Sebulba's. Suddenly, one of the racer's engines exploded, and a moment later, his Pod was flying in all directions. Anakin plunged his own vehicle dangerously close to the ground in a desperate effort to evade the fiery, airborne debris, but one large chunk of stray metal struck the steelton control cable that linked his Pod to his starboard engine. The control cable broke free, and Anakin's Pod - now linked only to the port engine - began spinning out of control.Straining against the belts of his cockpit, Anakin tightened his neck muscles and clenched his teeth to prevent his head from snapping back. He sensed he was still traveling forward, and knew that the only reason he hadn't crashed so far was because the energy binder arc between the two engines had not yet failed.
As the Tatooine surface blurred and spiraled around him, he punched at his controlsto stabilize the Pod, then reached for his extendable magnetic retriever. He reached out with the tool, aiming its tip at the metal end of the starboard control cable that whipped and flailed alongside his cockpit. There was a satisfying clank as the retriever locked onto the cable's end. Anakin felt his arm strain as he pulled back on the cable, then thrust the toold directly into the starboard cable socket. An instant later, he'd regained control of his Pod.
However, his momentary loss of control allowed the remaining other pilots to pass him, and Sebulba was still in the lead. Anakin then picks up his speed, going faster.
Eventually, he finally caught up with the cruel Dug, but he flashed his engines directly in front of the human boy. Anakin's pod fell back, but he was still in second place as he followed Sebulba again through Mos Espa Arena.
...
"One more to go." Theron says as he smirks. "Never thought Anakin had this much potential as a pilot. Color me impressed."
...
On the final lap, Anakin kept on Sebulba's tail through the course, and was almost directly behind him when they began swerving through the narrow confines of Beggar's Canyon. Sebulba swung hard to the side, forcing Anakin onto a service ramp.
His Pod is sent flying upwards out of the track. Luckily, Anakin brought it back down to ground level and even managed to get in front of Sebulba, now in second place.
However, it was short-lived when Anakin's left engine over-heated and began billowing smoke. The boy's nimble fingers quickly adjusted the controls to correct the malfunction, but as the two Pods blasted out of Devil's Doorknob and over the final stretch of Hutt Flats,Sebulba began ramming Anakin from the side in a last nasty effort to force him out of the race.
The Dug slammed into him again, but instead of knocking the boy off course, the two Pods' steering rods became tangled and locked onto each other. Anakin glanced at Sebulba and saw the Dug frowning. If they remained locked in this position all the way over the finish line, the race would be a tie, Anakin knew that would never happen.
And so, Anakin jostled his throttle levers back and forth, hoping to break free. Then came a loud snap as Anakin's Pod breaks free from Sebulba's, and then the Dug's engines exploded.
Sebulba shouted as his shattered Pod began crashing through the sand; Anakin swerved to avoid the debris then accelerated for the finish line.
...
"The crowds are going nuts!" The announcer exclaims as he and his co announcer chant in unison.
The whole crowds chants with excitement as Anakin's Pod pulls up and the boy gets out of his cockpit to see the crowd all gathered around him, chanting in unison for winning the race. Qui-Gon was in the crowd who smiled proudly at the boy and lifts him up onto his shoulder and Anakin whoops loudly, excited that he won.
Meanwhile, Theron was smiling in the booths.
"He did it." He proudly grins before he realizes something. "Wait. Not only that Anakin is the first human to pilot a Podracer, he's the very first human to win a Podrace. And survived! Holy shit! Why didn't I hear anything as cool as this before?!"
His moment was short lived again when the vision goes white, changing the scene once more.
...
The vision changes to Anakin talking to a few kids his age about him winning the race. No doubt he's boasting about it. But then a young Rodian, speaking Huttese, said, "Too bad you didn't win fair and square."
Anakin glared at the Rodian and said, "You're calling me a cheater?"
"Yeah." The Rodian answers. "No other way a human could've wpn. I'm guessing you probably-."
Before the Rodian could say another word, Anakin had knocked him down into the sandy street. The other kids began shouting as Anakin straddled the Rodian and began punching him.
"And THIS is why I learned to tolerate racism and accusations from other species." Theron facepalms at the scene he's witnessing.
Only a few blows had been exchanged before a long shadow appeared over both boys. Distracted, Anakin glanced up to see Qui-Gon standing beside him. A moment later, the Rodian shovshoved Anakin off of him.
Gazing down at Anakin, Qui- Gon flatly says, "What's this all about?"
"He said I cheated." Anakin glowered.
Keeping his eyes fixed on him, Qui-Gon raised his eyebrows slightly. and said, "Did you?"
"No!" Anakin snaps at the Jedi Master.
"Anakin, people have different opinions about one thing or the other. You have to learn to man up and tolerate it." Theron comments in annoyance at the stupidest reason Anakin started the fist fight, even though Anakin can't see and hear the teen that's watching the past. "So much potential, yet so dumb. At least use your brain for once."
Unruffled, Qui-Gon looked to the Rodian and asked, "Do you still think he cheated?"
"Yes, I do." The Rodian nods.
As Anakin pushed himself up from the ground, Qui-Gon said, "Well, Ani. You know the truth. You'll just have to tolerate his opinion. Fighting won't change it."
"Told ya so." Theron gloats proudly at the vision.
...
As they walked back to Anakin's home, Qui-Gon explains that repairs were already underway to Queen Amidala's ship, and that he'd sold Anakin's Pod.
"So they finally got the parts, huh?" Theron deduces. "Good for them. Wait. What about Anakin? How'd he get out of slavery and became a Jedi that I use to idolize?"
Handing a small pouch filled with credits to Anakin, Qui-Gon says, "Hey. These are yours."
"Yes!" Anakin exclaims, feeling the weight of the pouch full of money.
The two enter inside Anakin's home and the boy finds his mother sitting at her worktable.
"Mom, we sold the Pod!" He cries out with joy. "Look at all the money we have!"
"My goodness!" Shmi says as her son reveals pouch's contents to her. "But that's so wonderful, Ani!"
"And he has been freed." The Jedi Master added.
"What?!" Anakin questions, wondering if he'd heard right.
"You're no longer a slave." Qui-Gon elaborates.
Slightly stunned by this unexpected news, Anakin looks back to his mother.
"Did you hear that?"
"Now you can make your dreams come true, Ani." She says with a sad smile. "You are free."
She then sighs and looks down at the floor.
"At least Anakin gets to be happy as a freed man. But what about Shmi? Is she freed as well? She should be a bit more happy."
Theron's question is answered as Shmi turns her gaze to Qui-Gon.
"Will you take him with you? Is he to become a Jedi?"
"Yes. Our meeting was not a coincidence. Nothing happens by accident."
"You mean, I get to come with you in your starship?" Anakin excitingly asks.
"Anakin," Qui-Gon begins after kneeling down to the boy's level. "training to become a Jedi is not an easy challenge, and even if you succeed, it's a hard life."
"True that." Theron agrees with his words before muttering to himself. "Except that becoming a Jedi - in their Order, not mine - means suppressing and disregarding your emotions and attachments. Really kriffing stupid and annoying as balls."
"But I wanna go!" Anakin says. "It's what I've dreamed of doing." He then looks at his mother. "Can I go, Mom?"
Shmi smiled.
"Anakin, this path has been placed before you. The choice id yours alone."
Anakin hesitates for a moment, then says to Qui-Gon, "I wanna do it."
"Then pack your things. We haven't much time."
"Yippee!" Anakin shouts as he head for his room, but stopped dead in his tracks. "What about Mom? Is she free, too?"
"I tried to free your mother, Ani, but Watto wouldn't have it."
"Oh." Theron looks down in disappointment. "Guess we can't always have everything, eh."
"You're not coming with us, aren't you, Mom?"
Still seated beside her worktable, Shmi reached ot and took Anakin's hands in hers.
"Son, my place is here. My future is here. It is time for you to let go."
Anakin frowns.
"I don't want things to change."
"But you can't stop the change," She says. "any more than you can stop the suns from setting." She then pulls her son closeand hugs him tightly. "Oh, I love you." She says before letting go of him. "Now hurry."
Anakin trots off into his room, leaving her and Qui-Gon alone.
"Thank you." She says to the Jedi Master.
"I'll watch after him." He promises. "You have my word." Qui-Gon then places hand on her shoulder. "You gonna be alright?"
"Yeah." She answers.
...
In his room, Anakin reactivates an endoskeleton of a protocol droid and a moment later, the droid's eyes winked on."Oh!" He says, wobbling slightly as if he were surprised to find himself in a standing position. "Oh, my. Oh! Hello, Master Anakin."
As Anakin gathered up some of his belongings, he says, "Well, Threepio, I've been freed, and I'm going away in a starship."
"Master Anakin, you are my maker, and I wish you well." The droid named C-3PO says. "However, I should prefer it if I were a little more... completed."
"I'm sorry I wasn't able to finish you, Threepio, give you coverings and all." Anakin says as he stuffs some things into a travel sack. "I'm gonna miss working on you. You've been a great pal." Anakin then slung the pack over his shoulder, then added, "I'll make sure Mom doesn't sell you or anything."
C-3PO's head recoiled slightly.
"Sell me?!"
"Bye." Anakin says he left the room.
"Oh, my!" The droid exclaims from behind."
Heh, heh, heh." Theron snickers to himself at the comedic moment. "At least the protocol droid's still naked with wires showing and all."
...
Outside of the hovel, Shmi watches her son off with Qui-Gon until the boy stopped walking. He then turned and ran back to his mother. Shmi dropped toher knees and held Anakin tightly.
"I can't do it, Mom." He cries, failing to fight back his tears. "I just can't do it."
"Ani." Shmi says, holding him at arm's length so she could see his pained face.
"Will I ever see you again?" He sobbed.
"What does your heart tell you?"
Anakin tried to listen to his heart, but all he sensed was its ache.
"I hope so." He says, then added, "Yes... I guess."
"Then we will see each other again."
Anakin swallowed hard.
"I will come back and free you, Mom. I promise."
[The Force theme (The Phantom Menace variant) plays]
Shmi smiles at his son.
"Now be brave, and don't look back." She says. "Don't look back."
Anakin did as his mother instructed, lowering his gaze to the sandy streets as he follows Qui-Gon away from the hovels. He trudged forward, trying to keep up with Qui-Gon's measured strides. He choked back a sob as his mother watches his son off.
Meanwhile, Theron held back a few tears of his own as he watches on the sidelines.
"Why do I get the feeling that their reunion wouldn't be a pleasant and happy one?" He wonders. "Still... I never really knew my parents. I was only an infant when my master took me in and practically raised me. I still wished he was alive though. Could really use his advice right about now."
The scene changes again as his vision goes white.
...
Theron is now in the middle of the desert as he now sees a long, sleek ship in the distance.
"That must be the Queen's ship." He deduces. "A Nubian type. Guess I was right about her being from Naboo, alright."
Theron turns around and sees Anakin and Qui-Gon in the short distance running towards the ship. However, Anakin was lagging behind.
"Qui-Gon, sir, wait!" He yells. "I'm tired!"
Qui-Gon spun around and shouted, "Anakin! Drop!"
Theron looks to the side and he jumps a bit when a black hooded figure jumps out of his scythe-shaped speeder bike and ignites a red blade from his long, length lightsaber hilt while back flipping over Qui-Gon who blocked just in time with his own green bladed lightsaber.
"Go!" The Jedi Master shouts at Anakin while focusing on blocking and parrying the dark assailant. "Tell them to take off!"
Anakin obeys the Jedi without question and ran towards the ship in the short distance.
"What the hell just happened?!" Theron questions himself, confused and surprised by the attacker that came out of nowhere.
Theron got a good look at the hooded figure's face though. His face is covered in red and black markings as they're literally tattoos on his own face along with glowing yellow eyes with red bloodshot around the rims of the eye color that symbolizes the figure who uses the dark side of the Force.
"They're Dathomir in origin." Theron analyzes. "A Nightbrother Zabrak. But this guy's well-trained with the dark side. Too well-trained."
Theron was correct as the hooded assailant attacks Qui-Gon with ferocious speed and power. The Jedi Master was having difficulty of defending himself as it isn't his strong suit in lightsaber combat.
...
Meanwhile onboard the Queen's ship, Anakin along with Padme and a man in a leather tunic entered the ship's cockpit and bridge.
"Qui-Gon's in trouble." The man says.
A young man in a Jedi robe hunkers down beside the pilot.
"Take off." Then he peered through the ship's viewport, and pointed, "Over there. Fly low."
The young man was confused and curious about who is attacking his master outside the ship.
...
Instantly, the ship begins taking off and flies toward Qui-Gon's position.
"Uh oh." Theron says as he notices the ship leaving. "Now's the best time for me to leave."
Theron Force jumps onto the ramp and enters inside the ship's cargo hold. But then, he turns around and lools outside to see Qui-Gon still fighting off the black hooded figure. This worried Theron.
"Come on, old man." He mutters.
Qui-Gon finally notices the ship over him and he quickly jumps on the ramp before running inside the ship's cargo hold and collapses on the floor as the ramp and airlock closed up.
"He made it." Theron sighs with relief.
Outside, the hooded figure looks on as the Queen's ship flies away, making for Tatooine's orbit. No point in following them due to failing his task, the figure deactivates his red lightsaber blade and looks onward at the blue sky.
...
On the floor, Qui-Gon pants from exhaustion as he deactivates his lightsaber while on the floor next to the blue domed R2 unit. Just then, Anakin and the young man in brown Jedi robes over a white tunic runs in the cargo hold and crouched down.
"Are you alright?" Anakin asks with concern.
"I think so." Qui-Gon nods while catching his breath.
"What was it?" The young man asks about who that figure was.
The young sports short hair tied into a small ponytail and a Padawan braid on his right side, along with blue eyes and a handsome young face.
"Hey. That's Obi-Wan." Theron says, immediately recognizing him. "I didn't recognize him without the beard, though."
"I'm not sure," Qui-Gon answers. "but it was well-trained in the Jedi arts. My guess is it was after the queen."
"What are we gonna to do about it?" Anakin asks.
Qui-Gon looks at the two as he's still unsure.
"We shall be patient." He says before introducing Anakin to his own Padawan learner. "Anakin Skywalker, meet Obi-Wan Kenobi."
"Hi." Anakin greets the young Padawan in his 20s with happiness as he shakes hands with him. "You're a Jedi too? Pleased to meet you."
Obi-Wan smiles at the boy as he shakes his hand while Qui-Gon looks on.
...
Present Day
Theron's eyes open up as he is meditating with his legs crossed and his lightsaber hilt in front of him.
"Well... that was interesting." He comments with a dry sense of humor.
Just then, the door to his bedroom opens and R4 stands outside.
"Meatbag." R4 says. "That girl's at the door."
"Take the kid and hide him." Theron orders. "I don't need her to see him."
"Copy that." The droid beeps as he rolls away and the room door closes.
To be continued...