The New Jedi Knights 2: Threat to the Jedi Order

Chapter 4: Pod Racing and the Sith's Return

By MagicMansion

Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars or Luke Skywalker. My characters are Jarrod, Josh, Kyle, Victor, Shawn, Mary, Abby, Shawn, and all of the Padawans.


Luke and Tiama landed on the surface of Tatooine. The X-Wing and Naboo Starfighter fit comfortably into one hangar in the city of Mos Espa. Luke paid the man to keep the ships there for two days, and the two Jedi headed outside.

"So, where's the arena Master Skywalker?"

"Hm. Well, I think we'll just find someone to take us to it instead of searching. I've never been to Mos Espa before. I just knew about it."

"Oh."

"Excuse me," Luke said to a droid sitting in front of a cart. "Do you know where Mos Espa Arena is?"

The droid nodded.

"Would you take us there?"

"Sure thing. Hop in."

The two Jedi fixed their robes and got into the cart. The droid pulled them through the city and, after a ride of about 10 minutes, stopped the cart in front of a huge stadium.

"There ya go. No charge."

"Are you sure?"

"Go ahead. I know who you are. No charge for Skywalker."

"Uh, thanks," Luke said as the droid rolled off with its cart.

"I thought you said you've never been here," Tiama said.

"I haven't. That's what makes me nervous."

"Maybe he's just heard of you."

"I hope so."

The two Jedi headed into the arena, where the racers were fixing up their pods for the next day. They walked around, looking at the different designs and paint jobs, as well as the varied species of drivers. Then Luke saw one pod that looked a little different. It was small compared to the others, and the cockpit was certainly not designed to protect the driver from flying debris. The engines were small, round cylinders, surrounded by three long, yellow prongs on each. Luke thought something was familiar about it, but he couldn't place it.

"Hey buddy, interested in buying a pod racer," the alien sitting near it asked. "I'll sell it to you cheap. It's pretty old, one of the oldest pods you'll ever find, but it still runs… I think. You can try it out first if you want."

"That's ok. We're just here to watch. Although, this racer does look familiar for some reason. I just can't place it."

"Well, it did place first in the Boonta Eve Classic a while ago, probably long before you were born though. A young kid actually won, he was only like 8."

"A young kid? Human?"

"Yes. I can't remember his name though. Uh, an older guy was with him. I think the kid's name was Ankin, Anan, something like that, I don't really remember."

"Was it Anakin?"

"Yeah! That was the boy's name. Anakin Skywalker. How do you know him?"

"He was my father."

The alien looked at Luke, confused. Then he got up and walked around Luke.

"My goodness, you're Luke Skywalker, the famous Jedi Knight I've been hearing about for the last four years. I never imagined that I would get to meet you," the alien said, shaking Luke's hand. "Hey listen, uh, if you want the pod, by all means it's yours."

"How much for it? I've always wanted something that belonged to my father."

"Don't worry about it. Just take it. I build pod racers, this one isn't really worth much to me. No one really believes that it won a race."

"Are you sure," Luke asked, fishing around in his pocket for some money.

"Absolutely. It belongs to you, think of me as just a messenger between you and your father."

"Thank you so much. I really appreciate this."

The alien nodded and walked away.

"So, this racer belonged to your father," Tiama asked.

Luke nodded. "I heard rumors that he had built one, but I was never exactly sure. I guess it was true though."

Luke walked up and admired the pod for a while. It was old, Luke was definitely sure of that. He wondered if it still worked. He hopped into the cockpit and found the startup.

"Well, here goes nothing."

Luke hit the startup switch and the engines started, humming loudly when they got up to speed. The engines lifted off the ground, floating in the air. Luke smiled.

"Now I know why my father liked this sport so much."

An alien walked by. "Hey buddy, is that thing entered?"

Luke and Tiama looked over at him.

"Excuse me?"

"I asked you if your pod was entered."

"Oh. Well, no, it isn't."

"Well, registration ends in an hour. Are you entering or not?"

Luke looked at his Padawan.

"Go for it Master." She smiled. "You should give it a try. It's in your blood."

"I guess so. All right, I'll enter."

The alien nodded and handed Luke a paper to fill out, and Luke paid the entrance fee after he was done.

"Good luck," the alien said. "You'll probably need it."

"Now you're going to get to do what your father did Master."

"Yeah. I just hope I can pilot this thing."

"I'm sure you'll do fine."

Luke nodded, and something caught his eye. Another pod was being entered across the arena. It was all black with red stripes along its square engines. The cockpit was also square shaped, with a curved screen to protect the pilot. Luke wondered how the pilot expected the pod to go fast at all, since it wasn't aerodynamic at all. Then he saw the pilot as he got in to test the pod.

The pilot was cloaked, none of his body showing. He wore gloves on his hands, and a hood was over his head, tied with a headband for some unknown reason. Luke couldn't see his legs or feet either, even as he stepped into the cockpit, they were covered by the cloak. Luke had a sudden suspicion of the pilot, but he wasn't sure why.

Luke shook it off, and turned off his own pod.

"Something wrong Master," Tiama asked.

"No. I don't think so."

Luke watched as the pilot of the square pod walked off awkwardly, as if something were restricting his leg movement.

The next day, the pod racers and pilots lined up at the starting line in the arena. Luke was in the back, just as the other late entry was. Luke felt confident that his father's pod could make it to the front though. He got into the cockpit, and watched carefully as the cloaked pilot got into his own pod.

"Here you go Master," Tiama said, giving Luke his helmet as he snapped out of his trance.

"Thank you Tiama."

"Master, what's wrong?" She looked over at the square pod. "You've been watching that pod ever since you saw it. What's wrong?"

"It seems so slow looking. And the pilot, I'm suspicious of him, but I don't know why. How could a pod like that expect to win unless he was going to cheat?"

"I don't know Master. But the important thing should be to stay away from him if you can, and not worry about the other racers. The pods are all safe, no one has been killed in a race for a long time, I asked the one guy."

"It's not the other racers I'm worried about. I'm kind of worrying about myself, but I don't know why."

"All personnel off of the track please. Pilots, start up your pods."

Luke started his pod, and heard the other pods come to life as well. The pilots revved the engines of the pods, anticipating the start. Luke looked over at the pilot of the square pod, but he was watching the lights. Luke turned his attention to them as well, and saw the first blue light go on.

Every pod jumped to speed, and they raced off through the course. The racers went on two different paths going through the first canyon. Some went high on the flat cliff, and others went low, weaving in and out of tall rocks protruding from the ground. Luke took the low path, dodging the rocks with ease. He saw the rectangular racer on the flat cliff above. The pilot eased the pod against the wall, and pushed another racer off the side of the cliff and into a rock. Luke quickly avoided the parts that had fallen in front of him.

As the racers continued, they came upon a large flat plain filled with deep holes. The racers assumed a large single line, avoiding the holes by following the leader. Luke jumped out of line quickly as the square pod attempted to push him into a hole. The pilot slowed a little, hitting another pod into the hole, where Luke could have been hadn't he seen the maneuver coming.

The racers went single file into a large canyon, with almost no space available to pass. After passing through the long and widening canyon, the racers came upon another flat plain before coming to a treacherous section of the course filled with arches made of rocks, most of the racers just small enough to fit through. Luke carefully maneuvered past one racer, getting in line just in time to squeeze through an arch. The square racer shoved another racer into an arch, destroying the other pod.

After making their way through the arches, the racers came upon a narrow canyon which led into a cave. Luke managed to pass two racers in the cave, but saw another pod destroyed by the square racer. Luke was starting to wonder if this pilot's sole goal was to eliminate every pod in the field.

The racers exited the cave and came out onto a wide, flat turn. A few sand people shot at the pods as they came around the turn, but only managed to dent one pod's engine. The racers came upon another canyon, where the square pod quickly shot ahead of Luke, and forced another pod into the canyon wall. Luke raced through the entrance to the canyon, without having to avoid the other pod's parts.

The remaining racers, now only eight, flew out of the narrow canyon and onto a flat stretch. The square racer and another racer flew onto each side of a third racer, and pushed in. The middle racer's engines touched and exploded. Luke dodged out of the way as the damaged racer fell to the ground.

The racers went through the Mos Espa Arena, and Luke saw the second light come on. The racers headed through the cliff area without incident, and flew across the flat area with only one racer being pushed into a hole. Luke was in sixth now, the square shaped racer following close behind. Luke positioned himself behind fifth, and drove his pod on the wall to pass on the left. He passed the next racer on the right as they went through the narrow canyon, using the same maneuver. Luke looked back and saw the square racer push seventh place into the canyon wall, and then sixth. Now only five racers remained, with Luke in fourth.

The racers came to the section of arches and separated, going through different arches and paths. Luke followed the path the leader was taking, and found himself in second when they came to the canyon leading to the cave.

Luke followed close behind the leader, listening for any explosions behind him. He heard two as he and the leader left the cave. Luke looked back and saw the square shaped pod exit the cave alone. The three racers flew around the large turn, and across the flat area leading to the arena.

The square pod quickly passed Luke and brought its power link under the cable connecting the leader's engine and cockpit. The cable snapped from the electricity, and the engine flew back and hit the cockpit. Luke narrowly avoided the exploding pod, and went on to chase his final opponent.

The two pods sped through Mos Espa Arena, the crowd cheering. Luke followed the square pod closely as they went over the flat cliff and into the flat, hole-filled plain. Luke went to the right of one hole, and did a quick thrust to move his pod to the front. He quickly filed in front of the square pod and led it through the narrow canyon. The square pod flew up along side Luke as they came out of the canyon and to the arches. The two pilots watched each other as they disappeared and reappeared behind archways. Luke quickly hit the brakes as the other racer tried to force him into the canyon wall.

Luke followed close behind as the two racers headed through the cave, and came out next to his opponent. Luke looked over at his opponent, whose headband flew off. The hood over the pilot's face fell back, and Luke looked at the pilot in surprise as they headed for the final stretch.

In the cockpit of the square pod racer was the android that had massacred the people on Coruscant. Luke couldn't believe that the android had somehow tracked Luke to the pod race, but sure enough, the android was there in a pod racer just 10 feet away from him.

The android reached down for something and brought out a blaster. Luke did a quick thrust to avoid the first shot. The second ricocheted off of the side of Luke's cockpit. He ducked to avoid the third shot, and grabbed his comlink.

"Tiama, get my lightsaber ready. We've got a problem."

"I'm ready Master."

Luke and the android piloted their pods into Mos Espa Arena; Luke's crossing the line just a few feet ahead of the android's. But Luke wasn't concerned about the race anymore. He wanted some answers, and this android was the only way he would get them. Luke quickly hit the brakes on his pod, and both he and the android jumped from their cockpits. The android's pod racer slammed into a wall, and the crowd panicked and began to scatter.

Tiama threw Luke's lightsaber to him, and he ignited it. The android ignited a red Sith lightsaber in its right hand. Tiama ran over quickly and ignited her own lightsaber, standing behind the android.

"What is it you want," Luke asked the android.

"Master Skywalker, the Sith only desire to be in control of the universe," the android told him. "I thought you knew that."

"I do know that," Luke said back. "What I want to know is your purpose in all of this."

The android "smiled." "Master Skywalker, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Darth AISA (pronounced I-ee-sa). I am a Sith Lord, and serve only under my master. I am programmed in the Jedi art of lightsaber dueling, and am equipped with weaponry designed to simulate the powers of the Force that you Jedi have. My mission is only to hunt down and destroy the Jedi."

"And why exactly are you telling us this," Luke asked.

"Because, I don't plan on letting you get away from this lightsaber duel alive."

"We'll see about that," Luke said.

Luke jumped at the android and attacked its neck. The android blocked the attack and pushed Luke's lightsaber aside, swinging down to attack Luke's legs. Luke spun to the side to avoid the attack, swinging his lightsaber at the android's side. The android bent backwards to dodge the attack and hit Luke's lightsaber up. Luke did a back flip to follow his lightsaber's momentum and swung upwards at the android. The android jumped over Luke, the Jedi's lightsaber right behind it. When the android landed, it turned and blocked Luke's lightsaber, which was held over Luke's head now.

Tiama watched for a little, and finally decided to help her master. She held onto her lightsaber with her right hand, and used her left to pick up some spare parts for the pod racers. She threw a decent sized part, about the size of a small dog, at the android.

Luke and the android's lightsabers hit in front of them, and they both turned to see the part coming at them. Luke jumped back, and the android attacked the part, cutting it in half. The android turned its attention back to Luke, but not before getting hit with another piece of metal, this one the size of a basketball. The android rolled after being hit, but quickly recovered and got to its feet.

"Your Padawan is very foolish," the android said. "She will be defeated easily if she can't use a lightsaber."

"Tiama, stay there. He's trying to intimidate you," Luke said as he held his lightsaber in front of him.

Tiama glared at the android, but stayed where she was.

Luke jumped back in at the android and attacked its legs. The android blocked this attack with its own lightsaber, pushing Luke's up over his head. The android spun around, attacking Luke's legs, but Luke brought his lightsaber down fast enough to block this attack.

Tiama watched carefully as her master and the android dueled in the open Mos Espa Arena. She stood about 20 feet away from the duel now, ready to jump in if she needed to. She was watching the android carefully, noting certain attacks it was using. She hoped Luke was keeping track of the frequently used techniques as well.

Luke blocked an attack aimed at his side, then sidestepped and spun around, attacking the android's back. The android brought its lightsaber up over its head and to its back to block Luke's attack. The android pushed Luke's lightsaber away and spun around, attacking Luke's side again. Luke blocked this and pushed the lightsaber out in front of him. Both duelists held their ground, neither of them showing any sign of weakness as they pushed on their opponent's lightsaber.

Luke sidestepped quickly, deactivating his lightsaber and rolling past the android. The android quickly followed through and attacked Luke, its lightsaber following the Jedi. Luke got up on one knee and ignited his lightsaber again, blocking the lightsaber that was following him. Luke pushed the android's lightsaber up high, using this opening to jump up, not only to his feet but back over the android.

The two lightsabers clashed twice as the Jedi jumped over his opponent. Luke and the android attacked high a few times, then once low. Luke hit the android's lightsaber aside on the left, but the android followed this motion, coming around and hitting Luke's lightsaber on the right side.

Luke pushed the android's lightsaber up over its head and stepped around the android's left side. Both opponents brought their lightsaber over their backs, blocking the other. Luke and the android both spun around counterclockwise and the lightsabers hit low. The android pushed Luke's lightsaber to the side and swung at the Jedi. Luke stepped back to avoid the attack, the lightsaber passing within inches of his body.

Luke now saw the opening the android had created and attacked the android's side, but the android had already planned for the move. Its arm quickly crackled with electricity and blocked the lightsaber. The android shoved Luke back and the two stared at each other, holding their lightsabers in front of them.

"So, you have the technology of an electro-staff in your arm. That's very interesting. It seems whoever made you took into consideration every possible attack."

The android moved its lightsaber to the side. "My master is a Sith Lord, and helped my creator in building me. My master took into consideration all of your possible attacks."

"I'd be willing to say he forgot one important thing," Luke told the android.

"Such as?"

Luke smiled. "Well, if you can't use the Force, you can't predict the future. So you won't see my Padawan attacking you."

The android looked at Luke, confused. It suddenly turned, but was too late to block Tiama's strike against its midsection. The android stepped back, and looked back and forth at the two Jedi.

"You haven't won yet. I'll be repaired and then I'll come back for you. Just wait."

The android shot a small missile into the air, which exploded. Luke and Tiama heard a ship flying towards them, and saw the android jump up, only to be caught by a small droid fighter.

Luke watched as the fighter flew away.

"Master Skywalker, why didn't you attack the android?"

"Because, I want this Sith Lord to know I'm still alive."

"Why?"

Luke looked at his Padawan and smiled. "Do you really want to face him? If I die, he'll reveal himself and kill all of the Jedi. As long as a Jedi Master is around, he will not reveal himself."

"How can you be so sure?"

"Trust me my Padawan," Luke said, looking up into space. "I just have a feeling."


That's it for this chapter, please review.