Chapter 7
The next morning, Qui-Gon went to Watto's shop, to strike a deal for the race. Watto dismissed Anakin to inspect the Pod.This he asked Jessica to do.
Some other slave children came around to watch. All but Anakin's best friend, Kitster, told him it would never work.
Jessica pulled Jar Jar away from the energy binders. "Your hand will go numb if it gets caught in those," she told him sternly. She silently contacted Padme. 'Could you come get Jar Jar? He's likely to break something.' Padme did as she was bid, leading the Gungan away from the Pod.
Kitster moved closer to the Pod as Anakin climbed into the cockpit. "You don't even know if this thing will run, Ani!"
"It should," said Jessica, straightening up from beside an engine. "You've done a good job, Ani. There's no reason why it shouldn't work."
"Well, why don't we make sure?" asked Qui-Gon. He had been talking to Shmi just before. "Here, use this power charge."
"Yes, sir!"
Everyone moved away as Anakin fitted the power pack into position and switched on the engines. Flames exploded from the afterburners, and the engine roared. "It's working!" shouted Anakin.
Jessica waited in the shadow of the doorway for Anakin to go inside. His mother had just called him to bed, so he knew it wouldn't be long.
He'd gotten a cut while working on the Pod, and Qui-Gon had offered to clean it for him.
Jessica knew he was trying to get a midi-chlorian count. She shook her head. Jedi put such stock in those things! Never mind what they said: trust the Force, trust your instincts. Qui-Gon knew the boy was special, yet he was determined to pin a number on him.
She listened as Qui-Gon contacted Obi-Wan.
Obi-Wan's voice came through the comm-link "The reading is off the chart! Over 20,000! Even Master Yoda doesn't have a midi-chlorian count that high!"
"No Jedi has."
"What does that mean?"
"I'm not sure." Qui-Gon put his comm-link away.
Jessica stepped out of the shadows and dropped her Force illusion. "I've got a fair idea what it means."
Qui-Gon jumped. "Would you stop doing that?"
"I'll think about it."
Then it registered. "You know what such a high reading means?"
Jessica shrugged. "I've got an idea. I think he might be the Chosen One, from that prophecy – the one who will bring balance to the Force."
Qui-Gon looked at her. "If that is true, he will have to be trained as a Jedi."
"I told you to leave this alone!" Jessica sighed, and sat down beside Qui-Gon. "Actually, I don't think he should become a Jedi. For a number of reasons."
"Well?" he prompted when she didn't continue. "What reasons?"
Jessica shook her head. "Look, Qui-Gon, this is just going to cause an argument. We'll go to the Jedi Council and discuss this with them, alright?"
Qui-Gon reluctantly agreed.
The next day, Jessica and Qui-Gon went to see Watto at the Podracing Arena.
"You don't think Anakin can win?" Qui-Gon asked Watto.
"Don't get me wrong. I have great faith in the boy. He is a credit to your race… but Sebulba there is going to win, I think," he replied, pointing to the Dug Jar Jar had offended earlier.
"Why?"
"Because he always wins! I am betting heavily on Sebulba."
"I'll take that bet."
"What?"
"I'll wager my new racing pod against, say… the boy and his mother."
Watto was outraged. "No pod is worth two slaves, not by a long shot."
"The boy, then."
Watto fluttered thoughtfully. "We'll let fate decide, huh?" He reached into a pouch hanging from his belt and produced a chance cube. "Blue, it's the boy. Red, it's his mother."
Watto cast the cube to the floor. As he did, Qui-Gon made a small gesture with his hand. So did Jessica. The cube turned up red.
"Huh! It is the mother!"
Qui-Gon rounded on Jessica. He hissed at her, "What did you do that for?"
She flicked her hand at him. "Settle down, Jedi," she murmured. Then she raised her voice slightly. "Watto, would you be willing to make another bet? Against me?"
Watto looked Jessica up and down. He thought about it, but he loved gambling…
"What is your offer?"
"The boy against… me."
Qui-Gon's gasp was audible.
"Deal!" cried Watto. He flew off in a good mood.
"That was foolish," Qui-Gon said to Jessica. "What if Anakin does lose?"
Jessica smiled. "I trust him to win. Besides, it was my choice. Oh, and sorry about the dice toss."
Qui-Gon was stopped from answering by the arrival of Anakin, Padme, Kitster, Shmi, Artoo, Threepio and Jar Jar.
Padme sensed something was up. She took Jessica by the arm and pulled her away from the others. "What have you done now, Master?"
"Nothing. Just a little gambling."
Qui-Gon had spoken to Anakin and Kitster. He had reassured the boys, but he was worried. He came over to Jessica and Padme.
"Anakin just told me he's never finished a race."
Both Padme and Qui-Gon felt a flicker of fear from Jessica. Padme gently reached out with the Force, trying to see what the truth was. She gasped. "You bet yourself!" she hissed. "How could you? Of all the stupid decisions, Master, this has to be the worst!"
Qui-Gon caught the slip. "Master?"
Padme stopped mid-rant. Her eyes widened. She looked to Jessica.
Jessica sighed. "You didn't think, Padme! If I've told you once, I've told you a thousand times: don't let your emotions control you. I thought you'd learnt that lesson; you're a politician, by the Force! I won't always be around to help you out!" She then turned to Qui-Gon. "I am to Padme what you are to Obi-Wan."
Qui-Gon nodded, amused. "I gathered that from your lecture. Now, we'd better go. The race is starting soon.
A/N: Thank you to Black's Pheonix. You are my first reviewer. I tried to keep your advice in mind as I was writing this chapter. Tried being the operative word. I hope it's better.
