Disclaimer: In no way at all do I own any of the original character, locations, ships, or anything else mentioned in Star Wars. They are all owned by George Lucas. I only own my OC. Any similarities between this story and another are purely accidental.

A/N: Thanks to Captain Jade Sparrow, who is my first reviewer!

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When the storm passed the next day, Anakin returned to Watto's junkyard. Lyra accompanied him, although with many misgivings. Lyra hated the blue winged creature more the Anakin and Shmi combined. Watto was fat, lazy, self-serving, and couldn't stop trying to convince her that she'd make a lot more money if she went into slavery.

Anakin protested, saying that while Watto was a crude, insensitive, lazy, self-serving blockhead, he actually took care of his slaves.

Their argument was interrupted by Qui-Gon's entrance. The Jedi approached the Toydarian, and unable to quell their curiosity, Lyra and Anakin walked over as well.

"The boy tells me you wanna sponsor him in the race," said Watto. "You can't afford parts. How can you do this? Not on Republic credits, I think." He gave a nasty chuckle.

If only Jedi mind tricks worked on that self-serving lout. Lyra couldn't help but glare.

Qui-Gon, however, only smiled. "My ship will be the entry fee." He pulled a small circular object out of his pocket and a hologram of a Nubian spaceship appears.

Lyra's eyes widened. I haven't seen a ship like that since… Her thoughts trailed off, not wanting to bring up the subject of her mother's death.

"Not bad…not bad," complimented Watto, studying the hologram, "a Nubian."

"It's in good order," Qui-Gon assured, "except for the parts we need."

"But what would the boy ride?" asked Watto. "He smashed up my Pod in the last race. It will take some time to fix it."

Lyra came quickly to his defense. "It wasn't his fault," she snapped. "Sebulba flashed him with his vent ports. He actually saved the Pod."

"Mostly," muttered Anakin sheepishly.

Watto smiled, showing off his blocky yellow teeth. "That you did." He turned back to Qui-Gon. "The boy is good, no doubt."

Since when does he compliment Ani? Lyra asked herself, surprised. Watto seldom praised Anakin for…well…anything.

"I have acquired a Pod in a game of chance," Qui-Gon explained. "The fastest ever built," he added, causing Lyra and Anakin to grin at each other.

Watto chuckled. "I hope you didn't kill anyone I know for it." He paced in front of Qui-Gon. "So, you supply the Pod and the entry fee, I supply the boy. We split the winnings fifty-fifty, I think."

"Fifty-fifty?" asked Qui-Gon. "If it's going to be fifty-fifty, I suggest you front the cash for the entry. If we win, you keep all the winnings, minus the cost of the parts I need. If we lose, you keep my ship."

Watto fell silent, thinking about it. It was only when Qui-Gon pointed out to him that either way he won did he agree to it. After sealing the deal, Qui-Gon left.

"Yo bana pee ho-tah, meedee ya," Watto commented to Lyra and Anakin in Huttese. Your friend is a foolish one, methinks.

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After returning to the hovel, Anakin, Lyra, Padmé, Jar Jar, and R2-D2 decided to work on the Podracer. Jar Jar accidentally turned on one of the engines while Lyra was fixing it, causing her to leap back in surprise. She bumped into a sharp part of the Pod, causing a large gash to appear on her arm from her elbow to her wrist.

"You should get that cleaned," Anakin said, wincing as he looked at her cut. "Mom can help you. She might have a salve or something."

"Here," said Padmé kindly, handing Lyra her handkerchief. "It should stem the blood flow."

Lyra thanked Padmé, took the handkerchief, and reentered the hovel, heading for the kitchen where she knew Shmi would most likely be. However, Shmi wasn't there. Lyra searched the small house and finally found her on the balcony with Qui-Gon, having a conversation.

I shouldn't listen in, Lyra told herself, holding the hanky to her wound. The urge to eavesdrop became too great though.

"You should be proud of your son," the Jedi Master said. "He gives without any thought of reward."

"He knows nothing of greed," Shmi replied fondly.

"He has special powers." Qui-Gon looked at her. "He can see things before they happen. That's why he appears to have such quick reflexes. It is a Jedi trait."

Shmi smiled sadly. "He deserves better than a slave's life."

Lyra closed her eyes. How true… She then clapped a hand to her mouth. She hadn't put up her mind shield, and no doubt Qui-Gon would have heard that."

Sure enough, an amused voice called out, "Come out, Lyra." It was Qui-Gon

Lyra stepped out, a sheepish smile on her face. "Sorry," she said. "I didn't mean to eavesdrop." In reality, her heart was hammering.

Shmi sighed, shaking her head in amusement, then her eyes alighted on the gash on Lyra's arm. "What happened?" she asked, dragging Lyra over to her and looking at the wound.

"The orange one turned on the engine while I was having a look at it," said Lyra bitterly.

Qui-Gon rolled his eyes. No doubt he was used to Jar Jar's messes.

"Come with me," Shmi ordered, pulling Lyra back into the house. "I'll clean the cut, but don't move the arm around or it'll start bleeding again."

Lyra acquiesced, entering the house and disappearing from sight.

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After Shmi had cleaned her wound, Lyra had gone outside again to help with the Podracer. She had returned Padmé's hanky back to her with a guilty smile, as the cloth was now soaked in blood. Padmé had only laughed and said she would wash it out on the ship.

Meanwhile, Anakin's other friends had come to watch them work on the Pod. There was Kitster and Seek, two boys of about his age. There was also Wald; a Greedo, and Amee; a six-year-old human girl.

"Wow, a real Astro-Droid," said Kitster wistfully, looking at R2. "How'd you get so lucky?"

"This isn't the half of it," bragged Anakin. "I'm entered in the Boonta Race tomorrow!"

"What?" Kitster asked incredulously. "With this?"

Wald laughed. "Ani, jesko na joka!" he teased. You are such a joke, Ani!

"You've been working on that thing for years," proclaimed Amee. "It's never going to run."

"Come on, let's go play ball." Seek gestured to the others. "Keep it up, Ani, and you're gonna be bug squash."

Lyra rolled her eyes at their retreating backs and squeezed Anakin's shoulder. "Don't let them get to you," she said quietly. "Qui-Gon believes in you." She then winked. "And so does Padmé."

A red blush crept up his cheeks. He turned to Jar Jar, who was fiddling with the energy binder plates on the Podracer. "Hey! Jar Jar! Stay away from those energy binders."

"Who, mesa?" the alien asked.

"If your hand gets caught in that beam, it'll go numb for hours," explained Lyra, smirking at Anakin's reaction. Who would've thought he'd fawn over a girl five years older than him? A strange look came over her face. That's disturbing.

"But you don't even know is this thing is gonna run!" exclaimed Kitster, who had stayed.

"It will," said Anakin adamantly.

Qui-Gon approached the group, handing Anakin a small battery. "I think it's time we found out. Use this power charge."

Anakin grinned. "Yes sir!" he stated, jumping into the little capsule behind the two giant engines and installing the battery. Everyone backed away, when Lyra noticed Jar Jar's tongue stuck in the afterburner.

How in the name of the Force did his tongue get in there!

Padmé apparently noticed this as well, as she moved over to them and finally freed Jar Jar. The engines start up with a roar, and the Podracer lifts a few feet of the ground.

Lyra looked back up to the balcony where Shmi was standing, observing them. She was smiling sadly.