Longest chapter yet, detail of pod race and everything.

Chapter 5

Qui gon walked into a large hanger. Sand and oil were everywhere. Pods were parked all over the place and you could hear the turning of screwdrivers and swearing.

"...I want to see your spaceship the moment the race is over." Watto said as if Qui gon would renege on the deal.

"Patience, my blue friend. You'll have your winnings before the suns set, and we'll be far away from here." Qui gon said with cool assurance.

"Not if your ship belongs to me, I think...I warn you, no funny business." Watto said with a smirk.

"You don't think Anakin will win?" Qui gon asked.

"Don't get me wrongo. I have great faith in the boy. He's a credit to your race, but Sebulba there is going to win, I think," the toydarion said, pointing to where the dug was being massaged by slaves.

"Why?" Qui gon said curiously.

"He always wins. I'm betting heavily on Sebulba." Watto said laughingly

"I'll take that bet." Qui gon said, as if gambling was something a Jedi did every day.

Watto suddenly stopped laughing and looked serious "What! What do you mean?"

"I'll wager my new racing pod against...say...the boy and his uncle." Qui gon said casually as if it sisnt matter to him one way or another.

"A Pod for slaves. I don't think so...well, poerhaps. Just one...the uncle, maybe...the boy isn't for sale."

"The boy is small, he can't be worth much." At wattos shaking head Qui gon continued, "For the fastest Pod ever built!" Watto continued to shake his head. "Both, or no bet."

"No Pod's worth two slaves...not by a long shot...one slave or nothing." Watto siad finally.

"With the odds given on Anakin winning, the pod should be equal to the two slaves, wouldn't you think?" Qui gon said threateningly.

"Fine, outlander, but he won't win the race, so it makes very little difference," Watto said as he stalked off. (did you REALLY think I was going to let Obi Wan stay on the planet? Honestly?)

Anakin and Padme entered the hanger on one of the eopies pulling an engine, Kitster and Obi Wan were on another pulling the other engine, 3PO walked along side, with R2 trundling behind with the pod. Watto flew over to them, "Bonapa keesa pateeso, o wanna meetee chobodd." (Better stop your friends betting, or I'll end up owning him, too.) and then flew off laughing.

"What did he mean by that?" Anakin said puzzled.

"I'll tell you later." Qui gon said evasively, but Obi Wan looked over to Qui gon, somehow knowing what he had done, and smiled.

"This is so wizard! I'm sure you'll do it this time, Ani." Kitster said to Anakin as he started setting up the pod.

"Do what?" Padme asked.

"Finish the race, of course!" Kitster said as if all girls were stupid.

"You've never won a race?" Padme asked, shocked to Anakin

"Well...not exactly…" Anakin said abashed.

"Not even finished!" Padme said, her voice going higher.

"...but Kitster's right, I will this time." Anakin said uncertainly.

"Of course you will." Qui gon said with all confidence as Padme gave him a dirty look.

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At the starting arena, Anakin came out to here one of the announcer saying, "Poo tula moosta, woe grane champio Sebulba du Pixelito! Splastyleeya
bookie ookie!" (On the front line the reigning champion, Sebulba from
Pixelito. By far the favorite today.)

Bode said, "And a late entry, Anakin Skywalker, a local boy." Anakin waved to everyone as they gave a great big cheer and then went back to his pod.
Fode said, "Wampa peedunkee unko" ( I hope he has better luck this time.)
Bode said, "I see the flaggers are moving onto the track."

Anakin could see a great big slug arrive to a box seat as Fode said, "O grandio lust, Jabba Du Hutt, amu intoe tah parena." (His honour, our glorious host, Jabba the Hutt has entered the arena.) Everyone roared, ore out of fear, than active pleasure at seeing them at the games.

"Chowbaso! Tam ka chee Boonta rulee ya, kee madda hodrudda du wundee. (Welcome!) Sebulba tuta Pixelito…" Jabba said to the waiting audience.

Next to Anakin, Sebulba waved to his fans, he seemed very conceited, Anakin just wanted to get started. Kitster attached the engines to the pod as Obi Wan came to talk to Anakin, "You'll be fine," he said, "You know what to do."

"You've trained me well enough," Anakin said with a small smile.

"...Mawhonic tuta Hok, Teemto Pagalies tuta Moonus Mandel, Anakin Skywalker tuta Tatoonine.…" The announcers continued.

The crowd yells, and Anakin waves at the crowd, smiling. Not noticing Jabbe moving over towards Anakin's engines. Kitster and JarJar unloaded the eopies and lead them away, R2 beeps that everything is ready and they all trundle away.

Padme came up and gave Anakin a hug in good luck, and kissed him on the cheek. Missing the fact that Sebulba pulled a piece off of one of Anakin's engine.

"You carry all our hopes." Padme told him.

"I won't let you down." he said as she smiled and walked away. As he turned he saw Sebulba edging his way with a sinister grin.

"Bazda wahota, shag. Dobiella Nok. Yoka to Bantha poodoo. (You won't walk away from this one, slave scum! You're Bantha poodoo.) Sebulba told him in a malicious tone of voice.

"Cha skrundee da pat, sleemo." (Don't count on it, slime-ball.) Anakin said more as if to show Sebulba that he was unafraid, rather than out of any real anger. They stared at each other, Anakin unmoved, Sebulba getting more jittery by the serene stare. As Qui gon approached Sebulba backed away, seeing someone not to be messed with.

"Ka bazza kundee hodrudda!" (...Let the challenge begin!) Jabba said, giving way to a wild cheer. Qui gon helped Anakin into his pod, helping him with the straps in the tiny racer.

"Are you all set, Ani?" Qui gon asked, noticing Anakins nod. "Remember, concentrate on the moment. Feel. Don't think. Trust your instincts." he said smiling.

"I know," Anakin replied.

"May the Force be with you." Qui gon said as he stepped away.

Anakin put his goggles on and switched his engines on. A great roar arose as every engine ignited.

Fode said, "Ya pawa culka doe rundee!" (The power couplings are being activated)
Bode said, " Hey, it looks like they're clearing the grid."

Qui gon entered the viewing platform to join JarJar, Obi Wan and Padme. Once the door closed the platform rose up for a better view of the race. Obi Wan held a viewing screen so that he could see Anakin's pod go round.

"Is he nervous?" Obi Wan asked.

"He's fine." Qui gon replied.

"You Jedi are far too reckless. The Queen…" Padme said, irritated at Qui gon's actions.

"The Queen trusts my judgment, young handmaiden. You should too." Qui gon interrupted.

"You assume too much." Padme said to a retreating back.

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The announcers said, "Start your engines.."

The engines started up to a deafening noise.

Jabba spit a frogs head at a gong, signalling the start of the race. When a green light on a bridge over the competitiors flashed the racers started off. Except Anakin. His engine coughed and died, and as he tried to get it started, the other racers swerved around him and disappeared, leaving Anakin struggling to get his racer started

Fode said, "An dare ovv!" (And they're off!)
Bode said, " Oh...wait. Little Skywalker has stalled."

Padme and JarJar looked disappointed, while Qui gon and Obi Wan looked at each other in concern. Finally Anakins engines start and he zooms off after the other racers receding from sight in the distance. Leaving one pod racer, still unable to get started.

Bode said, "And there goes Skywalker... He'll be hard pressed to catch up with the
leaders today."

The Podracers flew across the desert. Sebulba at the lead with Mawhonic, going round the first turn side by side. Pushing into his rival, Sebulba forces Mawhonic into a wall of rock, destroying the pod and gaining the lead. Anakin at the back, rapidly overtook the slower racers, but Gasagno, wouldn't let the slave boy overtake, blocking his access. Anakin backs off, only to accelerate madly when Gasgano went over a cliff, flying over the top of him. Tusken raiders started firing, causing a riccochet off Anakins pod, put luckily no damage.

Bode said, "Looks like a few Tusken Riaders have camped out on the canyon dune turn." to a waiting crowd.

Anakin powers round the corners and over the hills and cliffs, rapidly moving up the leader board, but had not yet caught up with Sebulba, who was being challenged by Xelbree. Sebulba slowed down to allow Xelbree to come along side him, only to cut a hole in the racers engine, making the engines explode as Sebulba veers away unharmed.

Anakin worked his way through a dense mass of racers over a dune sea, kicking up dust, as one of the racers caught his engines in the sand, making them explode.

Meanwhile, Qui gon meditated, as Padme and Obi Wan searched the landscape for the racers. The crowd screamed, and Watto laughed with his friends, confident about Anakins defeat.

Sebulba enters the arena, closely followed by several other competitiors.

Fode said, "Sebulba! Ka pa me cheespa wata!" (Here comes Sebulba in record time.)

Qui gon, Obi Wan and Padme, yelled excitedly as Anakin crossed the line, way behind the leaders.

Anakin came round the bend, gaining on the main pack. The crowd went wild.

Bode said, "It looks like Skywalker is moving up through the field. He's in…"
Fode continued, "Steeth pa nagoola!" (Sixth place, not bad.)

As Anakin gained, one racer stopped in the pits, one of the droids was sucked through the engine, irreparably breaking it, leaving him out of the competition.

As Terter gained on Sebulba, who throws part of his pod into his engines, causing it to break. He then cut the engine of Obitoki, sending the racer into a cloud of dust. Anakin followed closely behind through the dust, over the lap line.

Bode, "At the start of the third and final lap, Sebulba is in the lead, closely
followed by Skywalker…"

Anakin is now level pegging with Sebulba over rocky ground, causing Watto to worry, that he might lose his bet. Sebulba, tried using his side exhaust, but instead of disabling the pod, Anakin only swerved slightly off course.

Bode said, "Skywalker is forced onto the service ramp!"
Fode said, "Oh noah!"

Anakin flew up into the air, as he descended he turned his engines back on and flew in front of Sebulba.

Bode said, "Amazing... a controlled thrust and he's back on course! What a move!"

Sebulba stayed on Anakins tail, crowding him, and pushing him harder. Part of Anakins engine then falls off, it is the part that Sebulba tampered with. Anakin tries to switch to auxiliary systems, but as he is doing this, Sebulba races past him. Finally getting both his engines online, Anakin caught up to Sebulba, faking a move to the side, Anakin moved nest to Sebulba, racing side by side down the final straight.

Bode said, "He's catching Sebulba."
Fode said, "Inkabunga." (Incredible!)

Banging into Anakins pod, Sebulba managed to inadvertently hook the two pods together, at which point Sebulba laughed.

Bode said, "That little human being is out of his mind."
Fode said, "Punda tah punda!" (They're neck and neck!)
Bode said, "They're side by side!"
Fode said, "Bongo du bongu!" (Shoulder to shoulder!)

Nearing the end, Anakin manages to break free, making Sebulba's pod swerve and break, causing him to crash.Anakin fly's through to the finish. Padme and Jar Jar screaming joyously, Qui gon and Obi Wan smiling broadly, and kitster jumping up and down. Anakin won the race, and un known to him, his freedom.

Bode said, "It's Skywalker! The crowd are going nuts! Oh Ah Oh Ah" rocking hi head in tandem with his partner.

Anakin leaps out of the pod, everyone screaming and shouting, and really happy.

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Will Watto give up both slaves? Will Anakin be allowed to train, for that matter, will Obi Wan? Even I don't know really, so it'll be intereting to see how it goes.

As always reviews are most welcome.