"Do you have those schematics ready Anakin?"

"Yup!" He holds up a dataslate he'd been working on all morning.

"Good Job. Hand them here." Callera holds out her hand and Anakin hands it to her.

"Why did you want them?" The curiosity getting to the young boy.

"While I trust your piloting skills," Anakin preens under the praise, "having backup plans is second nature to me. If this works, you won't have to race, and we'll all win."

The rest of the group nods and ponders at the table through the byplay before Callera turns to the rest of the group. "Now the hard part. I need one of you to hurt yourself."

"What?!" Padme's eyes go wide, all sleep driven from them.

"Something, small, irritating but visible. A cut on the leg, a decent burn on the arm, something like that."

"Whys?" Jar Jar pitches in.

"I can touch the Force to accelerate the healing of minor wound like that. I'm not skilled enough to do more, but enough that I could be more selective with medical supplies when I helped out at refugee camps."

"And you want it visible so Watto can see the healing happen when we interrupt your conversation with him." Qui-Gon having already known the plan and had encouraged her to share it with everyone this morning.

"Correct. Between playing up Anakin's skills with machines, and the healing. I'm hoping to make us such an irresistible target that Watto has to keep Anakin from risking himself at all in the race so he has two slaves whose labor is priceless."

"I'll do it." Shmi's voice resonates through the room as she looks at Callera. "If you and my son are so set on risking everything for our freedom," she pauses, "I can do my part too."

Anakin struggles to find words as his mom circles around the table to hug him.

"Wait about ten minutes after I leave before you do anything." Shmi nods as she releases Anakin.

"Anakin when they do run ahead and make a fuss about one of us causing her to get hurt."

Qui-Gon then fills in, "And I then escort her to you because we feel responsible for her injury, and she shouldn't have to wait for you."

Padme chimes in, "But what if he does nothing in the face of your bait?"

"Then Anakin races tomorrow, with the same stakes it's always been."

The walk to Watto's was fairly quiet as Callera took in the environment, the same people of the last few days still wandering the streets of Mos Espa, but now she notices a floating black orb flittering around a crowd near a cantina farther down the street seeming intent on looking at everyone. 'Probe droid probably…sithspit.' Keeping one eye on the crowd, she makes her way to the junkshop.

"Come in, Come in! I didn't expect you back till after the race to be registered as mine!" Watto's gravelly leering voice greeting her as she enters the building.

"Nope I still have high hopes for the boy." Pulling the dataslate from behind her back with one hand and motioning Watto to come to take a look over her shoulder. As he starts to peer over she points at the racers engines. "Anakin's managed to overtune these safely to one-hundred and ten percent at normal maximum and one-hundred and thirty-five during a boost."

Watto's eyes widen and then narrow at the implications.

"And he's done that with all refurbished parts! The entire pod is basically second hand, yet he's able to pull such numbers reliably!" Callera's voice trembling on the edge of excitement. "I was right to bet on the boy for that skill alone, but add in I've seen a recording of his last race; some of the best reflexes I've seen out of a human! If no one cheats, he has the skill and a pod to be a true contender!"

Pulling away from Watto to look him in the eye again, "Which is a good thing because you win either way, right?"

His distracted grimace is the only answer she needs, as she fights a smirk.

"Callera! Callera!" Anakin's hurried and rushed voice breaks the silence. "Mom's hurt! Padme was trying to help mom clean the kitchen and dropped a knife through her foot!"

"Rancor Poodoo. I'll be right there." She starts to head to the door but is blocked by Qui-gon carrying Shmi into the junkshop, her right foot bandaged with the knife still in it.

Watto's anger echoes throughout the junkshop. "You hurt my slave! I'll have you before the Hutts for this!"

Raising her hand at Watto to stall the explosion, "Peace Watto, Peace. I'm a trained field medic remember? Let me take a look at the injury, and work with it."

Watto waves in Shmi's direction with an angry huff.

"Place her on the bench Qui-Gon." He does so and then stands slightly to the side.

Placing the schematics on the counter before kneeling next to Shmi making sure Watto can see everything, "Let's see how bad this is." Slowly unwrapping the damaged foot she sees a small serving knife imbedded in the woman's foot. "Doesn't look like it hit anything too vital Shmi, and I'm glad they left it in." Looks at Watto, "Less chance of bleeding out. Anakin come here and hold your mother's hand."

Shakily he does so and tries not to death grip her hand. Callera placing both hands around the wound, causes Shmi's body to relax some. Making eye contact with Shmi, Callera reaches out with the Force. "That's it, just relax. We'll get you fixed up in no time." One hand on the knife, and one on Shmi's foot, Callera slowly extracts the blade the Force numbing the injury as it slowly closes in the absence of the knife. In a few minutes the knife is fully removed from the wound, and all that's left is an angry red line.

A sweating Callera panting as she sags away from the bench, looking back she sees Watto's jaw hanging below his belly. 'Bait's planted, only time will tell if the hook sets.' Slowly standing up she looks around the room. "Okay that's more than I can normally handle that way," looking intently at Watto, "but I think that's enough to preclude any Hutt involvement."

Watto's dazed nodding is all the confirmation Callera needs. "Yeah, sure. Don't need to involve them."

The group leaves the dazed Toydarian to his ruminations and starts towards the Skywalker residence.

"Do you know the busiest ways back to your house?" Callera's voice is soft in the side street.

"Yes, why?"

"Use them to get home, blend in with people, and don't act with hurry. Saw a probe droid earlier, might be scouting podracer competition, but can't be too careful." Looking at Qui-Gon as she finishes, he gets the implications and his body shifts slightly.

"What about you?" Anakin chirps in.

"I'm going to have a lunch and a drink over there," motioning to the leather and cloth-covered food kiosk nearby, " and keep an eye on Watto for a while."

It took a few hours and a few cups of water before Watto left his shop. Wide-brimmed hat and poncho with holes for his wings as he floats out of his shop and into the crowd. Callera had started a tab and just let the owner have the rest of the one gem as a tip, as she slowly slips into the crowd behind the Toydarian. Down to the Sandworm Cantina, closer to the race arena, alive with music. Sliding in amongst the crowd, letting the Force project non-interest. Not hiding her directly, but making her uninteresting to any that saw her. The Toydarian was meeting with a human and talking earnestly with him, too much noise to make it out, but the clear passing of a circuit board in view as the blond human nods.

'Paydirt.'

Instead of heading back to report to the others, Callera stays to watch the human as Watto floats off with a greedy grin. The man stays in the cantina, till the suns set, and the cool night air blows to chill the heated room. As he gets up to leave, Callera settles her bill and starts her prowl. The man walked slow and meandering, seemingly to keep people from following him, but such a simple pattern made Callera long for a Horn or Katarn shadowing course. Even with his shifts his direction was always clear; the slave residences.

A very soft hum hits her ears and she freezes. Watching a probe droid come around the corner and lock on to the man she was following. 'This just has to become more difficult.'

Now trying to not draw the droids attention, but knowing that no matter what; her, the droid, and the man are all going to be at the Skywalker residence at once and the outcome was going to speed everything up. Eyes narrowing as she comes to a decision. A green knife slowly forms in her right hand, running it along her left palm and holding back any sound of pain, she lets the red fluid of life pool in her palm as they all approach the small hut.

As the droid starts to circle away from the man it had been following to explore the surroundings, Callera swings her left hand out, letting the Force throw her essence against the back of the droid as she lets the blade fade from her hand.

Silently drawing her S-5 and flicking the stun setting as she prowls into the back after the saboteur. Getting there, she stuns him just as he silently removes a panel from the podracer. The blue flash drawing the attention of the probe droid and it floats off as fast as its repulsorlifts can carry it.

Qui-Gon opens the backdoor, lightsaber in hand but unlit from the sound of the blaster. "I take it you were successful."

"Yes, but we're in trouble. Probe droid followed him and I couldn't risk destroying it if it would transmit its location when destroyed."

"Maul"

"Yes."

"There is no way we can get everything installed before that probe brings him here."

"I know." Callera sighs and moves towards the door to stick her head. "Everyone pack up now, just what you can carry! We need to leave!"

"What about us?" Anakin shouts panicked.

"Watto screwed up! You're free too!" Turning back to Qui-Gon, "Take everyone with you to Watto's. Shove the saboteur in his face and make him give us everything, now."

"What about you?"

Tearing her left sleeve Callera starts to bind her palm. "I can track the droid."

"How?"

"Techniques I know many Jedi would frown upon." Callera's certainty startling the master Jedi. "But I can follow the droid to Maul, and stall him at his ship. Best case scenario I kill him here and now. Worst case scenario I wreck his ship and stall him long enough for you to get clear of the system." Moving to podracer Callera pulls its dustcover off fully as Anakin steps outside.

"Where are you going?" His eyes wide as he sees Callera, checking the podracers status,

"Someone has shown up to kidnap the Queen, and someone needs to buy time for the Queen to leave."

"But, But.." Callera see's unshed tears in Anakin's eyes and moves from the pod to kneel in front of him.

"No buts Anakin." Her eyes sad and understanding. "I don't want to do it either, but I am the best suited to play decoy. Master Qui-Gon and your mother will still help you."

"You're not coming back?" his words a sniffle as Callera places a hand on his shoulder.

"I want to Anakin and I plan on it; but if the Force says it's my time, then it's my time. Freeing you and saving the queen before I go, means no regrets."

Padme comes out during the scene, having heard the earlier words. "Are you truly sure about this? Is the owner of the droid that much of a threat."

"Absolutely. And the best thing you can do is get moving to free your people, Amidala."

A stunned silence fills the air. "Yes, I knew but didn't protest since I knew Qui-Gon and I could watch over you. But now you need to listen to me, the owner of that droid can kill everyone here. You need to leave now."

"How will you follow him?" Qui-Gon rejoins the conversation.

Patting the podracer "I might not be racing quality, but I can at least pilot this hunk of junk at speeds to follow the droid."

Running in and grabbing a poncho and white shawl to protect herself from the sand. Anakin hands her the clear goggles from his helmet.

"I don't want you to go."

"I know Anakin, and if I could avoid doing this I would. But we can't let this guy get Padme, and he will kill you and your mother to distract Qui-Gon and me and make it easier for him to kill us." Anakin nods, eyes still teary.

Heading back outside she holds her hand out to Qui-Gon. "Your communicator please." He hands it to her without a second thought, and she flicks it on. "Obi Wan, are you awake?"

"Yes I am."

"This is Callera, I need you to plug your communicator into the ship. I'll keep the line open for you to record and track my location. Qui-Gon will be bringing the parts and two humans we've freed from slavery."

"And where will you be?"

"Hunting that hunter I told you about. He's here early."

"Does Qui-Gon agree with this?"

Qui-Gon responds, "Reluctantly, she's right we won't have enough time for repairs without a distraction."

"Understood, I'll get you patched into the ship Callera."

"Thank you, Obi Wan."

Turning back to the now gathered group. "Be safe everyone, and may the Force be with us all."