Obi-Wan and Shmi meet on the balcony outside the homestead.

"You should know something," Obi-Wan begins, "I'm a Jedi. Padme and I are on an important mission and we are currently stranded on this planet. I wanted to stay a bit longer for a very particular reason."

"I see... This is about Anakin, isn't it?"

"So you know."

"His reflexes are much sharper than anyone I've ever known. And he has a level of intuition that almost seems as if he can read thoughts."

"These are Jedi traits. I can sense the Force is very strong in him."

"I'm not surprised, considering how he was born."

"Who was his father?"

"There was no father, that I know of...I carried him, I gave him birth...I can't explain what happened. Can you help him?"

Obi-Wan stands speechless and has no answer.

Outside the planet's atmosphere, a dark ship approaches. Darth Maul sits in the cockpit. The underside of his ship opens up and he launches a probe to the surface.

On the Naboo ship, Qui-Gon face a hologram of Obi-Wan who tells him, "The hyperdrive will be available tomorrow. I've come into contact with a young man, Master. The Force is very strong in him. Stronger than anything I've ever felt before. Even more so than Master Yoda."

"I was hesitant to tell you but I have sensed an unbalance in the Force since we landed."

"Master... This boy has no father. From all indication, he was born of the Force. It's... a miracle."

"Are you suggesting he is the Chosen One?"

"I see no other possibility. His mother wants me to help him but I'm not sure where to even begin."

"Trust your instincts, Obi-Wan. May the Force be with you."

First thing the next morning, Obi-Wan, Padme, and Anakin arrive at Wato's shop. He happily greets them with a large hovering case following him containing a hyperdrive.

"Ah, you're back. Here is the drive as you ordered."

Obi-Wan hands him the pouch of money, "Your payment."

Wato flaps his wings over to his counter and taps a button which shows a holographic image of a list of names, "Anakin, while you're here, the pod-race commissioner wanted me to ask you if you were interested in racing this afternoon? There is one more slot available and you are a crowd favorite."

"I told you, I'm not -"

"He'll do it," Obi-Wan chimes in.

"What?," Anakin gives him a confused look.

"And I will sponsor him," Obi-Wan continues, "If he wins, he'll receive the reward."

"My mother..."

"Last night she asked for my help. I wasn't sure how I could be assistance happen and now this morning... I think the Force destined this to happen."

"I'm not sure this is a good idea."

"Why not?"

"If you sponsor a racer, you must have an entry fee. For collateral," Wato explains.

"That's why it's a bad idea."

"I'll wager my ship," Obi-Wan explains.

"Our ship!," Padme protests.

"The queen trusts my judgement, perhaps you should too."

"You assume too much."

"I can take the hyperdrive back to the ship and meet the two of you later. Anakin, will you accept?"

"I'm in. Let's see what happens when this all-powerful Force is put to the test."

Wato chuckles knowingly. A probe passes by the shop, unseen, then turns and speeds through the marketplace. Not long after, it meets Darth Maul who stands on a plateau, overlooking the spaceport. He uses a pair of binoculars to spy on the area until the probe reaches him and sputters information in droid-speak. He silently puts the binoculars away, hops on a speeder-bike, then flies down the canyon.

Padme and Anakin make their way to a bay at the Lars homestead. "I built this pod with the few spare parts I was able to afford," Anakin explains, "It doesn't look like much, but it works." He opens the bay, showing an old, rusted pod that has been slapped together. "Although, it's seen better days," he finally blurts out, "The last time I raced, I went through a pretty nasty crash. A racer named Sebulba blinded me with his flashers." "It won't happen again," Padme tells him confidently.

Back at the ship, R2 and Captain Panaka install the hyperdrive outside. Inside, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan speak to one another. "I hope this plan is not too reckless," Obi-Wan admits, "But I can't help but to think there was a purpose to us being here," Qui-Gon places a hand on his shoulder, "If all you do today is attempt to free the boy from slavery, then you will have accomplished much."

The Mos Espa Race Arena sits in the desert outside the spaceport. Vendors sell various drinks and barbecue foods in the stands. On the left side of the tracks across from the grandstands, a line of Podracers emerges from the large hanger, surrounded by several crew members. Pods are pulled by a wide variety of creatures and are led by aliens carrying flags. The pilots stand facing the royal box where two announcers sit, announcing the racers. Padme holds Anakin's flag and smiles at him. He returns the smile. A gray alien with short legs and long arms (which he walks on) saunters over to Anakin. "Skywalker," he begins in Hutese, "You'll be bantha fodder this time. I'll see to it, slave-scum." Anakin responds, also in Hutese, "Don't count on it."

Once the announcers finish, a group of performers give a loud drum roll and the crowd lets out a loud cheer. Anakin gets into his Pod and Obi-Wan stands by it. The young man straps himself into the tiny racer.

"Are you all set, Anankin?," Obi-Wan asks.

"I'm ready."

"Remember, concentrate on the moment. Feel. Don't think. Trust your instincts. May the Force be with you."

"Thank you."

Obi-Wan steps away as Anakin puts on his goggles. The pilots flip switches, and powerful energy binders shoot between the engines. Anakin flips a switch, and his engine starts. The incredible roar of high-powered engines igniting echoes throughout the arena. One driver yells at a small droid to get away from the front of his engine. The crowd is tense. As Sebubla gets to his pod, he casually throws a tool from his crew into Anakin's engine and chuckles to himself, then he sits in his own pod and places a set of goggles over his eyes. "Without further ado," one of the announcer shouts, "Racers, start your engine!". A drummer hits a large gong and the crowd cheers again. A series of lights flash until the last one lights up, signaling the racers to go. They all take off in a flash.