Tatooine
Orbit
USS Enterprise
"Weather patterns indicate a sand storm growing in the vicinity of settlement the Captain and the rest of landing party are in." Chekov reported.
"I'll try to contact them…" Uhura replied but stopped. "Hold on. I am picking up a transmission on the Naboo ship's frequency."
"Can you receive it?" Sulu asked.
"I can try. It's garbled." Uhura replied, clearing the static enough for the transmission to be heard through the speakers.
"…cut off all food supplies until you return...the death toll is catastrophic...we must bow to their wishes, Your Highness...Please tell us what to do! If you can hear us, Your Highness, you must contact me..."
"That's all I can get." Uhura said as the transmission ended.
"Can you verify if it was received by our guests?" Sulu asked.
"Hold on…" Uhura replied, opening a direct channel to the Naboo in the shuttle bay. "Bridge to Naboo ship. Can anyone hear me?"
"This is Obi-Wan." Obi-Wan's voice replied.
"We intercepted a transmission on your ship's frequency. Did you receive it?" Uhura asked.
"We were just listening to it now. It's a trick. I told the Queen and her staff to send no reply." Obi-Wan stated. "You should do the same or the Trade Federation might trace it to here."
"Understood, Mr. Obi-Wan. I'll have to inform the captain of this decision." Uhura said.
"Very well." Obi-Wan said before the call ended.
"A little bit paranoid, this one." Chekov commented.
"Considering what they are running from who can blame him?" Sulu replied.
Anakin had noticed Padme eyeing some fruit while chatting with a kind lady named Jira. "How are you feeling today, Jira?"
"The heat's never been kind to me, you know, Annie!" The elderly woman said.
"Guess what? I've found that cooling unit I've been searching for. It's pretty beat up, but I'll have it fixed up for you in no time, I promise." Anakin said cheerfully.
"You're a fine boy, Annie." The woman said gratefully.
"I'll take four pallies today." He then whispered to Padme. "You'll like these..."
Anakin reached in his pocket and comes up with three coins. He dropped one and Qui-Gon picked it up, revealing for a moment, his lightsaber.
"Whoops, I thought I had more...Make that three, I'm not hungry." Anakin said.
The wind suddenly picked up and shop owners were starting to close up their shops as Jira gave them their pallies. "Gracious, my bones are aching...storm's coming on, Annie. You'd better get home quick."
"Do you have shelter?" Anakin asked Qui-Gon.
"We'll head back to our ship." The Jedi Master said, deciding better to keep the exact location secret.
"Is it far?"
"On the outskirts." Padme answered, playing along.
"You'll never reach the outskirts in time...sandstorms are very, very dangerous. Come with me. Hurry!"
The wind was blowing hard as they followed Anakin down the street and into a slave hovel. The notably taller ones such as Qui-Gon and Spock had to duck when they walked in through the front door.
"Mom! Mom! I'm home." Anakin called out.
"Dissen cozy." Jar-Jar said.
Anakin's mother, a warm, friendly woman of forty, entered from her work area and is startled to see the room full of people. "Oh, my! Annie, what's this?"
"These are my friends, Mom." Anakin told her. "This is Padme, and...gee, I don't know any of your names."
"I'm Qui-Gon Jinn, and this is Jar Jar Binks." Qui-Gon introduced himself and Jar-Jar.
R2 let out a little beep.
"And our droid, R2-D2." Padme said.
"I am James T. Kirk." Kirk was next. "With me are Spock and Dr. Leonard McCoy."
Spock raised his hand with his fingers spread out. "Greetings and long life."
Anakin wasn't really interested in continuing the conversation from the way he spoke eagerly to Padme. "I'm building a droid. You wanna see?"
"Anakin! Why are they here?" Anakin's mother asked sharply.
"A sandstorm, Mom. Listen." Anakin replied and sure enough the sound of howling wind from outside increased in volume.
"Your son was kind enough to offer us shelter." Qui-Gon told Anakin's mother.
"Come on! Let me show you Threepio!" Anakin led Padme into the other room with R2 following, beeping all the way.
Qui-Gon took five small capsules from his utility belt and handed them to Anakin's mother. "I have enough food for a meal."
"Oh, thank you. Thank you so much. I'm sorry if I was abrupt. I'll never get used to Anakin's surprises." The woman said thankfully.
"He's a very special boy."
She looked at him as if he's discovered a secret. "Yes, I know."
Qui-Gon's comlink beeped he quickly excused himself.
Anakin dragged Padme into his room to shows off his droid, which was lying on his workbench. There was one eye in the head; the body, arms, and legs have no outer coverings.
"Isn't he great?! He's not finished yet." Anakin said proudly and yet unsurely.
"He's wonderful." Padme said to reassure him.
"You really like him? He's a protocol droid...to help Mom. Watch!" Anakin pushes a switch, and the droid sat up. Anakin rushed around, grabbed an eye and put it in the empty socket.
"How do you do, I am C-3PO, Human Cyborg Relations. How might I serve you?" The droid spoke in a prim and precise voice.
"He's perfect." Padme said delightfully.
"When the storm is over, you can see my racer. I'm building a Podracer!" Anakin continued.
Padme simply smiled at his enthusiasm.
R2 let out a flurry of beeps and whistles. "You are aware you are naked?"
"I beg your pardon...what do you mean I'm naked?" 3PO asked the astromech droid.
R2 beeped. "Your parts are showing."
"My parts are showing? Oh, my goodness. How embarrassing!" 3PO cried shamefully.
Obi-Wan sat in the cockpit of the Naboo ship, relaying what he heard from the message to his master. "The Queen is upset but absolutely no reply was sent. Not from us or from the Enterprise."
Qui-Gon had stepped outside to hear what his apprentice had to say. "It sounds like bait to establish a connection trace."
"What if it is true, and the people are dying?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Either way we are running out of time."
Night had fallen over the planet as two men in dark cloaks looked out over the endless city.
"Tatooine is sparsely populated. If the trace was correct, I will find them quickly, Master."
"Move against the Jedi first...you will then have no difficulty taking the Queen back to Naboo, where she will sign the treaty."
"At last we will reveal ourselves to the Jedi. At last we will have revenge."
"You have been well trained, my young apprentice, they will be no match for you. It is too late for them to stop us now. Everything is going as planned. The Republic will soon be in my command."
Dinner was off to a good start. It turned out Anakin's mother who was named Shmi made an excellent soup. They were all seated around a makeshift table, having dinner as the wind howled outside.
"All slaves have transmitters placed inside their bodies somewhere." Shmi said, answering a question from Padme regarding slavery.
"I've been working on a scanner to try and locate them, but no luck." Anakin spoke up.
"Any attempt to escape..." Shmi continued.
"...and they blow you up...poof!" Anakin finished.
Padme and Jar-Jar were horrified while McCoy barely was able to keep calm despite how outrage he might have looked.
"How wude." Jar-Jar said.
"I can't believe there is still slavery in the galaxy. The Republic's anti-slavery laws..." Padme said.
"The Republic doesn't exist out here...we must survive on our own." Shmi replied sharply.
"It seems the Republic isn't very interested in doing much for the people if they allow this to exist." McCoy scoffed.
"Or perhaps the locals refused membership into the Republic due to their anti-slavery laws." Spock surmised.
"And that justifies slavery?" McCoy asked sharply.
"I was not defending the moral questioning of the laws on this planet, Doctor. I merely pointed out that this world and others like would logically refuse membership into the Republic as it would mean giving up their main source of income." Spock stated.
"Of course. Logically." McCoy rolled his eyes.
"Let's not get into a debate during dinner." Kirk said, halting the likely argument between the two.
There was an awkward silence before Anakin attempted to end the embarrassment. "Have you ever seen a Podrace?"
Padme shakes her head no but she noticed the concern of Shmi. Jar-Jar snatched some food from a bowl at the other end of the table with his tongue. Qui-Gon and McCoy gave him a dirty look for that.
"Goddamn it if you want food then just ask for it. This is someone's home not a swamp." McCoy said angrily.
"They have Podracing on Malastare. Very fast, very dangerous." Qui-Gon answered.
"I'm the only human who can do it." Anakin boasted.
Shmi gave her son a sharp look.
"Mom, what? I'm not bragging. It's true. Watto says he's never heard of a human doing it.
"You must have Jedi reflexes if you race Pods." Qui-Gon said.
Anakin smiled, even as Jar-Jar attempted to snare another bit of food from the bowl with his tongue, but Qui-Gon, in a flash, grabbed it between his thumb and forefinger, startling the Gungan. "Don't do that again."
Jar-Jar tried to acknowledge with some silly mumbling. Qui-Gon let go of the tongue, and it snapped back into Jar-Jar's mouth.
"I'd recommend washing your hands before you eat anything else." McCoy suggested to the Jedi Master.
"I...I was wondering...something..." Anakin started hesitantly.
"What?" Qui-Gon asked.
"Well, ahhh...you're a Jedi Knight, aren't you?" The boy asked.
"What makes you think that?" Qui-Gon questioned..
"I saw your laser sword. Only Jedi carry that kind of weapon."
Qui-Gon leaned back and slowly smiled. "Perhaps I killed a Jedi and stole it from him."
"I don't think so... No one can kill a Jedi Knight." Anakin said positively.
"I wish that were so..." Qui-Gon said sadly.
"I had a dream I was a Jedi. I came back here and freed all the slaves...have you come to free us?" Anakin asked.
"No, I'm afraid not..."
That didn't appear to be the answer Anakin wanted. "I think you have...why else would you be here?"
Qui-Gon thought his answer over for a moment. "I can see there's no fooling you, Annie. 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...wow...how did you end up here in the outer rim?" Anakin asked.
"Our ship was damaged, and we're stranded here until we can repair it." Padme answered.
"I can help! I can fix anything!" Anakin said excitedly.
"I believe you can, but our first job is to acquire the parts we need..." Qui-Gon replied.
"Wit no-nutten mula to trade." Jar-Jar added.
"These junk dealers must have a weakness of some kind." Padme said.
"Gambling. Everything here revolves around betting on those awful races." Shmi replied.
"Podracing... Greed can be a powerful ally… if it's used properly." Qui-Gon said thoughtfully.
"You're not suggesting to actually use gambling as a way to get those parts are you?" McCoy asked. "I don't need to be born here to know that the rules won't be in your favor."
"I've built a racer! 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 offered.
"Anakin, settle down. Watto won't let you..." Shmi said.
"Watto doesn't know I've built it." Anakin interrupted and turned to Qui-Gon. "You could make him think it's your's, and you could get him to let me pilot it for you."
"Out of the damn question." McCoy barked. "Gambling is one thing but putting a boy in the middle of a race that likely has no rules or compassion for its competitors? No one here is that desperate or that insane."
"He is right and I don't want you to race, Annie...It's awful. I die every time Watto makes you do it." Shmi said stiffly.
"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." Anakin protested.
"Wesa ina pitty bad goo." Jar-Jar agreed.
"Your mother's right. Is there anyone friendly to the Republic who might be able to help us?" Qui-Gon asked.
Shmi shook her head. "No."
"We have to help them, Mom...you said that the biggest problem in the universe is no one helps each other..." Anakin insisted.
"Anakin, don't..."
Jar-Jar belched and after that there was silence for a moment as they ate.
"I'm sure Qui-Gon doesn't want to put your son in danger. We will find another way..." Padme said.
Shmi sighed. "No, Annie's right, there is no other way... I may not like it, but he can help you...he was meant to help you."
"Is that a yes? That is a yes!" Anakin demanded.
"You have got to be kidding me." McCoy shook his head. "I'd actually rather you steal the parts than do this."
"It is illogical." Spock actually agreed.
Kirk and Padme shared a look, making a mental note to speak with Qui-Gon later while the storm continued to rage outside the slave hovel.
Captain's Log Supplemental: Our first day on the first we planet we found in this new universe is almost over and I find myself on the sidelines now, watching as a desperate plan to gain enough money for the parts our friends need to repair is made and wondering if it would be worse to them proceed or stop them.
"Jim, of all the asinine plans I've seen in my life this has to be absolute worst."
The storm had passed; vendors and street people were cleaning up the mess and rebuilding their food stalls. Jar-Jar sat on a box in front of Watto's parts shop, watching all the activity with growing nervousness with R2 standing next to him.
"I agree with Dr. McCoy." Padme stopped Qui-Gon as he was about to enter the shop. "Are you sure about this? Trusting our fate to a boy we hardly know. The Queen will not approve."
"The Queen does not need to know." Qui-Gon replied simply.
"Well, I don't approve." Padme said, sitting on a barrel just outside the shop door.
"Neither do I for that matter." McCoy agreed, turning to the Jedi Master. "Not to mention possibly putting said boy in danger. For someone who seeks to protect life you have little trouble putting that life in danger."
"Logic forces me to agree with Dr. McCoy, Master Qui-Gon. Whether the boy is gifted or not, it is not a question of whether or not he can help us. It's a question of putting said boy through a race were full grown adults would be killed." Spock stated. "This is not only logical it is desperate."
"Unfortunately I see no other option." Qui-Gon turned and starts into the shop.
"Jim, you've got to see the madness in this." McCoy turned to the Captain who had been silent.
"There's nothing I can say that no one here hasn't already said." Kirk sighed. "I approve as much as Miss Padme does but it seems Master Qui-Gon and Anakin are adamant. The only thing left is to try make sure this doesn't get the boy killed."
"Patta go bolla!"
"No batta!"
"Pedunky. Maa kee cheelya."
"Bayno, Bayno!"
Watto and Anakin were in the middle of an animated discussion in Huttese as Qui-Gon walked in and the two turned to him.
"The boy tells me you wanta sponser hi insa race. You can't afford parts. How can you do this? Not on Republic credits, I think." The junk dealer laughed.
"My ship will be the entry fee." Qui-Gon pulled a small object that looked like a watch out of his pocket, and a hologram of the Naboo spacecraft appeared about a foot long in front of Watto who studied it.
"Not bad...not bad...a Nubian."
"It's in good order, except for the parts we need." Qui-Gon said.
"...but what would the boy ride?" Watto asked. "He smashed up my Pod in the last race. It will take some time to fix it.
Anakin was embarrassed and stepped forward. "Ahhhh...it wasn't my fault really...Sebulba flashed me with his vent ports. I actually saved the Pod...mostly."
Watto laughed. "That you did. The boy is good, no doubts there."
"I have...acquired a Pod in a game of chance. The fastest ever built." Qui-Gon said blandly.
"I hope you didn't kill anyone I know for it." Watto laughed again. "So, you supply the Pod and the entry fee; I supply the boy. We split the winnings fifty-fifty, I think."
"Fifty-fifty?" Qui-Gon scoffed. "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 hesitated. "Either way, you win."
"Deal!" Watto said at last.
"What if this plan fails, Master? We could be stuck here a very long time."
"Well it's too dangerous to call for help. A ship without a power supply and another ship without a hyperdrive isn't going to get us anywhere and…there is something about this boy."
Qui-Gon put the comlink away as Shmi and Kirk came onto the porch, watching Padme, Aankin, Jar-Jar, Spock and R2 work on the engines of the Podracer in the courtyard below. "You should be proud of your son. He gives without any thought of reward."
"He knows nothing of greed. He has..." Shmi trailed off.
"He has special powers." Qui-Gon finished.
"Yes..."
"He can see things before they happen. That's why he appears to have such quick reflexes. It is a Jedi trait." Qui-Gon continued.
"He deserves better than a slave's life."
"I think everyone deserves better than a slave's life." Kirk commented.
"The Force is unusually strong with him, that much is clear."Qui-Gon murmured, looking at Shmi. "Who was his father?"
Shmi looked away. "There was no father that I know of..." She said slowly. "I carried him, I gave him birth...I can't explain what happened. Can you help him?"
"I'm afraid not. Had he been born in the Republic, we would have identified him early, and he would have become Jedi, no doubt...he has the way. But it's too late for him now, he's too old."
Kirk had a thoughtful look on his face as he glanced at Shmi.
Anakin happily sat on the balcony rail of his hovel as Qui-Gon tended to a cut. The boy leaned back to look at the vast blanket of stars in the sky.
"Sit still, Annie. Let me clean this cut."
"There are so many! Do they all have a system of planets?" Anakin asked.
"Most of them." Qui-Gon replied.
"Has anyone been to them all?"
The Jedi Master laughed. "Not likely."
"I want to be the first one to see them all... Ouch!" Anakin said but then flinched when something pricked his arm.
Qui-Gon wiped a patch of blood off Anakin's arm. "There, good as new..."
Shmi yelled from inside the hovel. "Annie, bedtime!"
Qui-Gon scraped Anakin's blood onto a comlink chip.
"What are you doing?" The boy asked.
"Checking your blood for infections."
Anakin cast suspicious look. "I've never seen..."
"Annie! I'm not going to tell you again!" Shmi yelled again as Kirk, Spock and McCoy stepped out onto the porch.
"You better hurry, little man. A mother does not ask a third time." McCoy said amusedly.
"Go on, you have a big day tomorrow. Good night." Qui-Gon said.
Anakin rolled his eyes and ran into the hovel. Qui-Gon took the blood stained chip and inserted it into the comlink and then called his Padawan. "Obi-Wan..."
"Yes, Master."
"Make an analysis of this blood sample I'm sending you."
"Wait a minute..."
"I need a midi-chlorian count."
"All right. I've got it."
"What are your readings?"
"Something must be wrong with the transmission."
Qui-Gon pressed the test button on his comlink. "Here's a signal check."
"Strange. The transmission seems to be in good order, but the reading's off the chart...over twenty thousand."
Qui-Gon whispered almost to himself. "That's it then."
"Even Master Yoda doesn't have a midi-chlorian count that high!"
"No Jedi has." Qui-Gon murmured.
"What does it mean?"
"I'm not sure."
The Jedi Knight looked up and saw Shmi in the doorway watching him. Embarrassed, she went back into the kitchen while Qui-Gon pondered the situation.
"Master Qui-Gon, if I'll allow me I would like scan the sample myself." Spock said, holding his tricorder.
Qui-Gon obliged, presenting the blood stained chip for Spock to scan. "Do you plan to stay the night?"
"I think we'll be heading back up to the ship. I don't want to overcrowd Miss Skywalker's home." Kirk threw a look around as he pulled out his communicator. "Kirk to Enterprise."
"Sulu here, Captain."
"Lock onto mine, Spock and Dr. McCoy's life signs for beaming." Kirk said once the coast was clear.
"Ready sir."
"Energize."
Qui-Gon watched as the three men vanished in a pillar of blue light, fascinated by how they vanished and reappeared back on the ship. Once they were gone he leaned back and looked up at the stars.
Tatooine
Orbit
USS Enterprise
Bridge
"Captain on the bridge." Uhura called out as the turbo lift's doors opened.
Kirk and Spock stepped off the turbolift with the latter moving towards the science station. "Status?"
Sulu stood up from the captain's chair. "All quite up here, Captain. Systems fully functional."
"Very well. We're just here to check on the ship's status. I'll be turning in for the night. There's going to be a big race tomorrow." Kirk nodded in satisfaction.
"Captain, sensors are detecting a ship emerging from what it is likely hyperspace. It is approaching the planet." Spock called out.
"Let's see it." Kirk looked to the view screen.
The ship in question was long and sinister looking with folded wings around a spherical cockpit.
"One life form aboard and it appears to be armed." Spock said as the sensors locked onto the ship. "Six ion based laser cannons, a torpedo launcher for what appears to be proton particle based warheads and minelayer."
"Someone has come armed." Kirk mumbled.
"The ship appears to be powered with an ion reactor similar to the Naboo ship but I am reading solar panels along its wings for collecting solar radiation…" Spock trailed off as the ship vanished from the view screen. "Captain, I believe the ship is equipped with a cloaking device."
"I can see it. Signal Yellow Alert." Kirk remarked once the ship had vanished and a second later klaxons rang across the ship.
"Energizing defense fields." Defalco replied.
As part of the Enterprise's refit, defense fields were a type of deflector shielding that were raised during yellow alerts and protected the bridge area of the ship.
"What'd you make of it?" Kirk asked.
"As far I could tell before the ship cloaked its design was different from what was used by the Klingons or the Romulans. I believe it is possible to locate the ship using an algorithm that was made during the Federation's early war with the Klingons for detecting ships with invisibility screens." Spock surmised. "I am attempting to use it now…"
"Mr. Chekov, ready phasers in case our friend decides to be unfriendly." Kirk ordered.
"Aye, Keptain." Chekov complied.
"That will not be necessary, Captain. The algorithm has located the ship. It is landing on the planet." Spock spoke up. "The cloaking screen is similar but primitive compared to the cloaking technology we have seen."
"Location?" Kirk asked.
"Settling down in a desert close but far enough from Mos Espa that it won't be seen." Spock answered. "I surmise this might be someone is does not want to be found but is looking for something."
"Captain, a while ago we intercepted a distress transmission seemingly from Naboo. Mr. Kenobi warned us it was a trick to establish a connection trace." Uhura spoke up. "Perhaps they managed to establish enough of a trace to know the Queen's ship is here."
"If so then they are tracking the Queen." Kirk stated.
"A logical assumption." Spock agreed.
"Uhura, have Mr. Kenobi meet us up here and inform of what we saw."
"Aye sir."
"It's a Star Courier. It's manufactured by the Republic Sienar Systems for diplomats and business executives." Obi-Wan said, looking at the recording of the ship as it vanished. "But I've never seen armed with a cloaking device before. They would need to have gained hibridium or stygium crystals for to power it."
Spock made a mental note to ask more on the details of what hibridium and stygium crystals were later. "We have pinpointed its location to be on the outskirts of the settlements, including Mos Espa. Sensors also detected power signatures consistent with droids being launched from the ship."
"They must be looking for the Queen." Obi-Wan frowned. "It's a good thing her ship is here in orbit and not on the surface. Those droids are probably probe droids, sent to find us."
"So you think they are from the Trade Federation." Kirk surmised.
"I don't know for sure…but I know my Master will want to know." Obi-Wan said as he looked at the Star Courier again…
That ship was literally alive with the dark side.
Sickbay
It was morning when Kirk and Spock entered sickbay, seeing McCoy at his desk and looking at the readings he took of Anakin's blood.
"You had something to show us, doctor?" Kirk asked.
"Yes, there is something I need to show you." McCoy answered. "You remember Qui-Gon making a scan of that strange bacterium in the boy's blood?"
"Master Qui-Gon referred to them as midichlorians. A microscopic life form that is somehow located in each and every life form in this galaxy as a form of symbiosis." Spock clarified.
"Well, I just scanned Anakin's blood for them. At first glance they look like ordinary bacteria." McCoy brought up a display, showing the outline of some kind of blood cell. "A single blood sample contained millions of life forms, each with their own DNA they live, breath and reproduce like any other life form. I compared his scans with few crew members of the Naboo ship and they all had similar readings but significantly lower. As far I can these life forms are what gives people Master Qui-Gon and Mister Obi-Wan their powers. The best example would be similar to how Platonians gained their powers when they settled on Platonius or how the Thasians gave Charlie his powers."
The Thasians were a race of non-corporeal beings with extremely powerful psychokinetic abilities, native to the planet Thasus. They were once corporeal, being humanoid in form, but they eventually evolved into their present form. Once believed to be only a myth, Thasians were finally encountered by the Enterprise in 2266. In 2252, a ship crashed on Thasus, with a young boy, Charles Evans, the only survivor.
The Thasians found Charlie and granted him their psychokinetic powers so that he could survive. In 2266, Charlie was rescued from Thasus and transferred aboard the Enterprise from the survey vessel Antares for transportation to Colony 5, where he could be reunited with his closest living relatives. The Thasians did not realize Charlie was gone until it was too late, however. Charlie's great psychokinetic powers, combined with his immaturity and petulance, made him a great threat to others he encountered. He took control of the Enterprise and even destroyed the Antares before the Thasians could intervene.
Eventually, the Thasians did arrive, and were able to reverse all of the changes Charlie made aboard the Enterprise, but were unable to save the Antares. Reluctantly agreeing, Captain Kirk allowed the Thasians to take Charlie back to Thasus, despite Charlie's protestations. As for the Platonians they gained their power through the planet's kironide rich food.
"I ran some tests to see if these life forms could infiltrate our bodies but from the looks of it we're not compatible with them. Our immune systems would immediately kill any that somehow found a way into our bodies." McCoy continued. "As for what Mast Qui-Gon said about these midichlorians the key to communing with that 'Force' of theirs I found something. Each cell is emitting a form of psionic energy similar to you would see in telepaths but lower and at a different frequency. It'd be more like how computer chips pass data through each other when processing information."
"So everyone in this entire galaxy has these life forms in their bodies. Almost sounds like a collective" Kirk mused.
"Quite possible and it is how the Jedi recruit new members in their ranks. Beings with low numbers are unable to harness the Force but ones with higher levels are capable. The Jedi recruit them at a young age to teach them how to control this power, much like how Vulcans are taught to control and suppress their emotions at a young age." Spock spoke.
"You make them sound like a cult, Spock." McCoy commented.
"They share many characteristics as one, doctor. Master Qui-Gon himself acknowledged this when we spoke prior to our arrival here." Spock replied. "In fact I worry that Qui-Gon's sudden interest in the boy is because of this."
"You think he wants to recruit the boy into his order?" Kirk asked.
"It is possible but I doubt his leaders would allow it. The boy would be considered too old in their eyes to be trained but Master Qui-Gon is somewhat of a…maverick in the eyes of his fellow Jedi. I do not believe he will take no for answer." Spock answered.
"And that all depends if the boy not only wins today's race but also survives it." Kirk noted. "Spock, you had the chance to examine the boy's podracer. You know how fast it might go and what the chances of the boy winning are."
"The podracer in question is a one man craft with its cockpit attached to a series of burnt out turbine motors linked by binders made of plasma energy. The maximum speed would be eight hundred kilometers per hour." Spock noted.
"That's suicide for a human, let alone one boy." McCoy said, still unhappy with Qui-Gon going through with it. "Whether he's got special powers or not it's reckless, irresponsible and borders on complete insanity."
"Correct but the boy's power is what gives Master Qui-Gon faith." Spock said. "He believes this boy may be the answer to a larger puzzle than the current situation. As for the boy himself he enjoys the idea of Podracing because it gives him something he has craved possibly since he was an infant. Freedom."
Kirk glanced over at Spock. "As in he is able to forget he is a slave."
"The boy himself said he loves podracing. I believe it brings him a choice he has not likely had through his life as a slave. The freedom of choice, whether he wins or loses in the race is decided through his actions and his alone. Not of his master or even his mother." Spock explained. "That is the reason why he was adamant on helping and why he suggested being the pilot."
"So not entirely as selfless as he spoke at dinner." Kirk mused with a smile.
"It also sounds a bit suicidal." McCoy pointed out.
"Many who are enslaved would prefer death over living the rest of their lives without freedom, doctor." Spoke replied.
"Then we better make sure it doesn't come to that." Kirk stated, knowing that today's race would be messy.
"And how do you plan on doing that, Jim?" McCoy asked skeptically.
"I plan on having the transporter locked onto Anakin's vitals during the race. If it appears he is about to crash and be killed he'll be beamed out." Kirk explained.
"I would not advise it, Captain. Anakin and his mother are tagged with transmitters programmed detonate if they try to flee. If he is beamed up the transmitter would undoubtedly detonate as soon as he appeared on the transporter pad." Spock cautioned. "And wouldn't it be a violation of the Prime Directive?"
"The Prime Directive keeps us from interfering in civilizations that have not developed FTL or refuse our help. Plus we can use the transporter filters to deactivate the boy's transmitter. " Kirk replied with a small smile. "This may be a new galaxy but even without warp travel they still have developed to the point we can make an offer such as finding a way to shut down the transmitters in Anakin and his mother. Bones, did you a good scan of the boy when you had the time?"
"I did and I ran a quick scan of the mother too. I know where both transmitters are located." McCoy nodded.
"And it is likely Watto keeps a scanner that is programmed to monitor the proximity of his slaves at all times and what he can use to detonate the explosive chips." Spock conceded.
"Then it would be possible to somehow block the scanner and maybe even use its frequency to deactivate the transmitters." Kirk proposed.
"Highly possible. All that is needed is a deep scan of the transmitters in either the boy or his mother and I can discover the communication frequency that would trigger the detonation." Spock nodded. "Fortunately the doctor already has a scan of the transmitter. I believe I can discover the frequency from there and learn the code that would deactivate the transmitters."
Kirk smiled. "Then we better get to work. If the plan to win the race somehow fails we'll need a new plan."
Xxx
The hanger was a large building with a dozen or so Podracers being readied for the race. Alien crews and pilots rushed about, making last minute fixes on their vehicles. Watto, Qui-Gon, Kirk and Jar-Jar walked through the activity.
"...I want to see your spaceship the moment the race is over."
"Patience, my blue friend. You'll have your winnings before the suns set, and we'll be far away from here." Qui-Gon said dismissively.
"Not if your ship belongs to me, I think...I warn you, no funny business." Watto jabbed at the Jedi Master.
"You don't think Anakin will win?"
Watto stopped before an orange racer. Sitting to one side, having his shoulders and neck massaged by twin Yobanas, was Sebulba. "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."
"Why?"
"He always wins." Watto laughed. "I'm betting heavily on Sebulba."
"I'll take that bet."
Watto suddenly stopped laughing. "What?! What do you mean?"
"I'll wager my new racing pod against...say...the boy and his mother."
"No pod is worth two slaves. Not by a long shot." Watto protested.
"The boy then." Qui-Gon said, knowing how much Shmi wanted her son to be free.
Watto pulled out a small cube from his pocket. "We'll let fate decide. Blue it's the boy, red his mother..."
Watto tossed the cube down. Qui-Gon lifted his hand slightly and it turned blue.
Kirk managed a small smile as Watto glared at the Jedi Master. "You won the small toss, outlander, but you won't win the race, so...it makes little difference."
Anakin and Padme entered the hanger on one of the Eopies, pulling an engine. Kitster, on the other Eopie, was pulling another engine with 3-P0 walking alongside and R2 trundling behind, pulling the Pod with Shmi sitting on it while Spock and McCoy followed them in.
Watto passed Anakin as he left and spoke in Huttese. "Better stop your friends betting or I'll end up owning him, too."
Watto then flew off, laughing.
"What did he mean by that?" Anakin asked with a scowl as he dismounted.
"I'll tell you later." Qui-Gon answered, deciding to not put any more pressure on the boy.
"This is so wizard! I'm sure you'll do it this time, Annie." Kitster said, pulling up the second engine.
"Do what?" Padme asked.
"Finish the race, of course!" Kitster answered.
"You've never won a race?" Padme looked at Anakin.
"Well...not exactly..." Anakin answered, looking sheepish.
"Not even finished?!" Padme was now horrified.
"...but Kitster's right, I will this time." Anakin said defiantly.
"Of course you will." Qui-Gon said soothingly.
"Famous last words." McCoy muttered with him and Padme throwing a glare at Qui-Gon as they helped put the pod together.