Chapter 8 The Plan

During supper, Anakin complained to his mom about his day at the junk shop.

"So, why don't you run away?" Jesse asked.

"All slaves have transmitters placed inside their bodies somewhere." Shmi explained.

"I've been working on a scanner to try and locate them, but no luck." Anakin added.

"Any attempt to escape..."

"...and they blow you up! Poof!" Anakin finished dramatically.

"How wude." JarJar muttered between slurps of soup.

"I can't believe there is still slavery in the galaxy." Padme said. "The Republic's anti-slavery laws..."

"The Republic doesn't exist out here." Shmi interrupted gently. "We must survive on our own."

There was an awkward silence.

"Have you ever seen a Podrace?" Anakin changed the subject.

"They have Podracing on Malastare. Very fast, very dangerous." Qui-Gon said.

Jesse remembered Anakin saying he was building a racer. "Do you race?" he asked.

Anakin nodded proudly. "I'm the only human who can do it." He noticed his mother's look. "Mom, what? I'm not bragging. It's true. Watto says he's never heard of a human doing it."

I bet a Jedi could do it. Jesse thought. I bet Obi-Wan or Qui-Gon could.

"You must have Jedi reflexes if you race Pods." Qui-Gon remarked, grabbing JarJar's tongue without even looking as the Gungan attempted to snatch some food from across the table. "Don't do that again." He sternly said, releasing the tongue.

"Mesa no do nothing." He muttered.

"I... I was wondering... something..." Anakin fiddled with his hands.

"What?" Qui-Gon asked.

"Well, ahhh... you're a Jedi Knight, aren't you?"

Master. Jesse mentally corrected.

Qui-Gon didn't miss a beat. "What makes you think that?"

"I saw your laser sword." Anakin admitted. "Only Jedi carry that kind of weapon."

Qui-Gon leaned back in his chair. "Perhaps I killed a Jedi and stole it from him."

"I don't think so. No one can kill a Jedi Knight." Anakin declared stoutly.

Qui-Gon smiled sadly. "I wish that were so."

Anakin rambled on, "I had a dream I was a Jedi. I came back here and freed all the slaves. Have you come to free us?"

"No, I'm afraid not." Qui-Gon told him.

"I think you have." Anakin replied in the same tone with which he'd said Padme was an angel. "Why else would you be here?" he demanded.

Qui-Gon remained silent for a minute, studying the boy who had figured out their secret. I can see there's no fooling you." He finally said, leaning forward slightly, "You mustn't let anyone know about us... we're on our way to Coruscant, the central system in the Republic, on a very important mission, and it must be kept secret."

"Coruscant, Jesse said you were from there." Jesse flinched. "How did you end up here in the outer rim?"

"Our ship was damaged, and we're stranded here until we can repair it." Padme explained.

"I can help!" Anakin said eagerly. "I can fix anything!"

"I believe you can, but our first job is to acquire the parts we need." Qui-Gon told him.

"We were hoping to get the parts here." Jesse added.

"Wit no-nutten mula to trade." JarJar stuck in.

"These junk dealers must have a weakness of some kind." Padme insisted.

Shmi nodded, joining in the conversation, "Gambling. Everything here revolves around betting on those awful races."

"Greed can be a powerful ally if it's used properly." Qui-Gon mused. Everyone looked at him.

"I've built a racer!" Anakin burst out, "It's the fastest ever! There's a big race tomorrow, on Boonta Eve. You could enter my pod. It's all but finished!"

"Anakin, settle down." Shmi looked worried, "Watto won't let you..."

"Watto doesn't know I've built it." Anakin was really getting into the spirit of things now. He turned to Qui-Gon, "You could make him think it's yours, and you could get him to let me pilot it for you."

"I don't want you to race, Annie. It's awful. I die every time Watto makes you do it." Shmi protested.

"But Mom, I love it, and they need help. They're in trouble. The prize money would more than pay for the parts they need."

"Wesa ina pitty bad goo." JarJar mumbled.

Qui-Gon shook his head, "Your mother's right. Is there anyone friendly to the Republic who might be able to help us?"

Shmi shook her head no.

"We have to help them, Mom." Anakin persisted, "You said that the biggest problem in the universe is no one helps each other."

Shmi raised a hand. "Anakin, don't."

A long silence ensued. Ideas whirled through Jesse's mind, but the only one that seemed plausible was Anakin's.

"I'm sure Qui-Gon doesn't want to put your son in danger." Padme said to Shhmi, "We will find another way."

"No, Annie's right, there is no other way." She said, "I may not like it, but he can help you." She sighed heavily, "He was meant to help you."

"Is that a yes?" Anakin asked, and then broke into a wild grin, "That is a yes!"

"Well, now that that's settled," Qui-Gon stood up. "Let's see the racer."

"It's too dark now." Anakin protested. "I'll show it to you tomorrow."

"Anakin, you and Jesse will sleep on the floor, so Padme can have your room." Shmi stood up and began clearing the dishes.

"Oh, I don't mind…" Padme began.

"It's alright." Shmi said. "You don't mind, do you?"

"No." Anakin shook his head. "I'll go get some more blankets."

Jesse watched as the members of the party dispersed, and then he sighed and went out to where Qui-Gon was looking at the stars on a small balcony.

"Um, Qui-Gon?" he asked timidly.

Qui-Gon turned. "What's on your mind?"

Jesse leaned against the railing. "I'm sorry if I blew our cover. You know, when I said we were from Coruscant. It just slipped out."

"Not a problem. You're still learning. And I'm proud of the way you handled the situation with Sebulba."

Jesse blinked. "You are?"

Qui-Gon smiled. "You used your head and tried to avoid a fight, but you weren't afraid to hit back."

"I could've squashed him with the Force." Jesse said ruefully.

"I know. But I'm glad you didn't reveal anything then. It was very brave. And I'm also glad you were able to avoid jealousy."

Jesse flushed. "Well, I'm just an outsider anyway."

Qui-Gon smiled.

Jesse looked up. "It's really different looking at them from another planet, isn't it?"

"Each planet has a different view." Qui-Gon said.

"I want to see them all." Jesse looked back at the Jedi. "Do you think this plan will work?"

"I'm trusting the Force."

"I have a hard time doing that. I always want to take action."

"Patience and wisdom come with experience. Obi-Wan used to be the same way."

"Yeah." Jesse looked down. "Sorry if I've been a bother on the mission."

"You haven't." Qui-Gon assured him. "You've behaved very admirably; as a Jedi would."

"Really?"

"Really. Now, it's getting late."

"Am I supposed to take a hint?"

"Yes."

"Ok. Goodnight." Jesse turned and went back inside, feeling about a hundred pounds lighter. Qui-Gon's praise had gone straight to his heart, and Anakin was turning out to be a very good friend.

A pillow hit him as he lay down on the bed of blankets they'd created.

"Hey!" He picked up his pillow and stood, ready for battle.

"No using the Force." Anakin quickly said.

"Fine, I can whip your tail without the Force anyway."

"Oh really?"

"Really."

Anakin swung at him and Jesse ducked and landed a hit on Anakin's stomach.

"Ooof!" Anakin jumped to the side to avoid another blow. Pretty soon they were running around the room, ducking, dodging, and hitting. Anakin swung at Jesse and he jumped back, tripping over a chair. Anakin landed on top of him, and the pillow fight quickly turned into a wrestling match.

"Boys, cut it out up there!" Shmi called. "Go to sleep!"

"Right sleep." Jesse panted. "Hope you don't snore."

"If you snore I'll just kick you." Anakin retorted.

"Only if you want a sample of what I gave Sebulba."

"Yeah, that was great. He'll probably have a black eye. You'd better watch out though. He's not a very good loser."

"Like you said, he's a coward. I don't think he'll take on you and me." Suddenly Jesse burst into a spasm of laughter.

"What?"

"Master Yoda!" Jesse hooted.

"What?"

Jesse took a few deep breaths. "Imagine Sebulba trying to take on Master Yoda!" he laughed at the thought.

"Who's he?" Anakin demanded.

"A three and a half foot tall green Jedi Master that's about five-hundred years old."

Anakin laughed along with Jesse.

"Boys, go to sleep!"

"No snoring."

"Right." Jesse agreed, rolled over on his side, and was out like a light.