Chapter Two
"All slaves have a transmitter placed inside their body somewhere," Shmi said, pouring a drink for everyone.
"I've been working on a scanner to try and locate mine," Anakin said.
"Any attempt to escape," Shmi began.
"And they blow you up. Boom!" Anakin finished, slapping his hand on the table.
"How wude," Jar Jar commented.
"I can't believe there's 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 said to her.
Suddenly, Jar Jar shot his very long tongue out and swallowed one of the fruits from the communal bowl. "'Scuse me," he said, smiling awkwardly.
Sarali turned to look at Padme and said, "Even if it did, that would not stop the Hutts. It certainly hasn't stopped them on Coruscant."
That comment certainly left an awkward silence in its wake. Anakin spoke up first by asking, "Has anyone ever seen a podrace?"
"They have podracing on Malastair. Very fast, very dangerous," Qui-Gon said before biting into a bit more of his food.
"I'm the only human who can do it," he said confidently.
"You must have Jedi reflexes if you race pods," Qui-Gon commented.
Just as suddenly, Jar Jar's tongue lashed out again to take a fruit. However, Qui-Gon grabbed it on its way back to the mouth and said calmly, "Don't do that again."
"You're a Jedi Knight, aren't you?" Anakin said, looking pointedly at Qui-Gon.
"What makes you think that?" Qui-Gon asked. He appeared calm, but the Jedi were legendary for that very same calm.
"I saw your laser sword. Only Jedis carry that kind of weapon," Anakin said.
"Maybe I killed a Jedi and took it from him," Qui-Gon suggested.
"I don't think so. No one can kill a Jedi," Anakin said.
"Don't be ridiculous, Anakin. They are as much flesh and blood as you and I. They can be killed, though I'll not disagree on the point that he is a Jedi," Sarali put in.
"And what proof do you have?" Qui-Gon asked her, turning his gaze to her.
"I can sense it," she said simply.
"I had a dream I was a Jedi. I came back here and freed all the slaves. Have you come to free us?" Anakin said, jumping back into the conversation.
"No. I'm afraid not," Qui-Gon said, his voice laden with regret.
"I think you have. Why else would you be here?" Anakin said confidently.
"I can see there's no fooling you, Ani, nor you, Sarali. We're on our way to Coruscant, the central system in the Republic, on a very important mission," he said, looking between the two of them.
"How did you end up on the Outer Rim?" Sarali asked, her voice seemingly calm.
"Our ship was damaged and we're stranded here until we can repair it," Padme said gravely.
"I can help. I can fix anything," Anakin said confidently.
"I believe you can," Qui-Gon said as Shmi and Sarali exchanged amused glances. "But first we must acquire the parts we need."
"No not in mula to trade," Jar Jar said, looing down at the boy.
"These junk dealers must have a weakness of some kind," Padme said.
"They have two, but only one will serve you with Watto: gambling," Sarali said knowledgeably.
"Everything around here revolves around betting on those awful races," Shmi finished, explaining the specifics.
"Podraces. Greed can be a powerful ally," Qui-Gon said.
"Only if you know you'll win," Sarali said darkly.
"I built a racer. It's the faster ever. There's a big race tomorrow on Boonta Eve. You could enter my pod," Anakin said.
"Anakin," Shmi said exasperatedly. "Watto won't let you."
"Watto doesn't know I built it. You could get him to think it's yours, and get him to let me pilot it for you," Anakin said, coming up with a plan.
"I don't want you to race. It's awful. I die every time Watto makes you do it," Shmi said seriously.
"But, Mom, I love it," Anakin insisted. "The prize money would more than pay for the parts I need."
"Anakin," Shmi said in the same tone.
"You're mother's right," Qui-Gon said. "Is there anyone friendly to the Republic who can help us?"
Shmi glanced at Sarali before saying, "No."
"Mom, you say the biggest problem in this universe is no one helps each other," Anakin said, trying to convince her.
"I'm sure Qui-Gon doesn't want to put your son in danger," Padme assured her. "We'll find some other way."
"There is no other way. I may not like it, but he can help you. He was meant to help you," Shmi said.