***Chapter 6***
It is nearing mid afternoon when Qui-Gon, Padmé, Jar Jar, and R2 reach Mos Espa. They pass all sorts of dangerous looking beings. Padmé looks around in awe at the exotic environment while Qui-Gon keeps a close watch for trouble. His group seems to blend in nicely.
As they walk through the streets Qui-Gon speaks in a low, conversational tone, explaining to Padmé about the planet.
"There are a number of farms. Moisture farms for the most part. Some indigenous tribes and scavengers. The few spaceports like this one are havens for those who don't wish to be found."
"Like us," Padmé adds.
Jar Jar is in a constant state of panic, whining about everything. R2 whistles along confidently. The group travels along the main street of the spaceport to its far end and turns down a side street that leads to a small plaza ringed with salvage dealers and junk shops. Qui-Gon glances around.
"We'll try one of the smaller dealers," he advises, and nods toward a little junk shop that has a huge pile of spaceships stacked up behind it.
They enter the dingy junk shop and are greeted by Watto, a pudgy blue alien who flies on short wings. Watto asks in Huttese what the group wants.
Qui-Gon recognizes that Watto is a Toydarian, but he doesn't really know much about the species. "I need parts for a J-type 327 Nubian."
"Ah yes, Nubian. We have lots of that," Watto replies in basic. Then he yells for his helper in Huttese.
"My droid has a read out of what I need," Qui-Gon informs the junk dealer, indicating R2.
A small boy with ragged, grime covered clothing, runs into the shop. Watto tells him to watch the shop while he works with the customers. He then turns and tells Qui-Gon to follow him out back. As Qui-Gon and R2 follow, Qui-Gon pauses next to Jar Jar, who is already knocking things over.
"Don't touch anything." He commands.
Jar Jar waits until Qui-Gon is nearly out the door, then sticks out his long tongue at the Jedi. Anakin hops up on the counter and begins cleaning spare parts. He turns and asks Padmé if she is an angel. The question takes her by surprise. He explains what he's heard from the deep space pilots about angels and how he's sure she is one. He also tells her that he is a pilot.
"You're a pilot," she asks, surprised yet again by this funny little boy.
"All my life."
She smiles, amused with his reply. She asks him how long he's lived on Tatooine. He tells her he thinks he was about three when he and his mom came because they had been sold to Gardulla the Hutt.
"You're a slave?" she asks with concern.
"I'm a person, and my name is Anakin!"
Padmé apologizes and is a bit thankful when Jar Jar's clumsiness breaks the awkwardness of the situation. He accidentally activates a pit droid, which keeps bumping into things and knocking them over. Anakin tells Jar Jar to hit the nose of the droid. When he does, the droid folds up and shuts down.
Outside the shop Watto has located the part Qui-Gon requires. He asks what the 'farmer' has in the way of payment.
"I have 20,000 Republic dataries."
"Republic credits are no good out here. I needa something more real,"
Watto grumps.
"I don't have anything else, but credits will do fine," Qui-Gon replies, waving his hand to try and persuade the Toydarian.
"No they won'ta"
"Credits will do fine," Qui-Gon repeats, again summoning the Force to try and mind trick Watto. When Watto again tells him they won't, he realizes (and Watto confirms) that Toydarians are immune to mind tricks. Watto is too arrogant to realize that Qui-Gon is indeed a Jedi. The Toydarian informs Qui-Gon that he is the only one around with the hyperdrive part necessary to fix his ship. Qui-Gon sighs, nods, and turns to leave. He reenters the shop, followed closely by R2, and announces, "We're leaving."
Padmé and Anakin exchange goodbyes and the four leave the shop. Qui-Gon leads the way back through the little plaza of salvage shops toward the main avenue. He finds a quiet spot between two buildings for them to be out of sight while he contacts Obi-Wan on his comlink.
When Obi-Wan responds to his comlink's pulse, Qui-Gon quickly fills him in on the situation. Obi-Wan had spent his down time going through the ship, and already knows what is on board. He tells Qui-Gon there isn't anything useful on the ship.
"And you're sure there is nothing left on board?" Qui-Gon asks.
"A few containers of supplies, the Queen's wardrobe, maybe. Not enough for you to barter with. Not in the amounts you're talking about."
"All right. I'm sure another solution will present itself. I'll check back later." Qui-Gon puts the comlink away and heads back out into the street, signaling the others to follow.
Jar Jar doesn't want to go anywhere. He's convinced they will be beat up and robbed.
"Not likely." Qui-Gon assures him. "We have nothing of value, that's our problem."
Obi-Wan sighs when Qui-Gon cuts the communication. He wishes he could be of more help, and he can't stop thinking about Lexi. He had been sure when he left for his mission that he'd be able to contact her and find out what had terrified her. Now he was stuck on a desert planet with no off-planet contact permitted. To top it off, he has to try and keep the Naboo from contacting their home world. He understands their concern, and shares it, but they can't risk the Federation finding out their location.
His train of thought is interrupted when he notices the Queen staring at him from the other side of the room. He had been so deep in thought he hadn't even noticed her come in. Something about the way she is staring at him makes him a bit uncomfortable. He quickly decides it's a good idea to get off the ship for a bit.
As Qui-Gon and the others travel through the streets of Mos Espa, Jar Jar begins to lag behind. Always thinking with his stomach, he spots a tasty treat. He uses his long tongue to grasp the food, but is busted by the vendor. When the vendor demands payment, Jar Jar quickly spits the treat out and it goes flying right into the soup of a Dug named Sebulba. The Dug quickly pounces on Jar Jar, knocking him to the ground and grabbing him by the throat.
Anakin happens upon the scene and steps in to rescue Jar Jar, telling the Dug that the outlander he is about to pound is connected with the Hutts. Sebulba is Anakin's biggest competition in the local podraces and the two have quite a rivalry going. Anakin and Sebulba exchange words and finally Sebulba leaves, telling Anakin he'll get even the next time they race.
Qui-Gon, Padmé, and R2 have just made their way back to Jar Jar when Sebulba walks away.
"Hi," Anakin says cheerfully.
"Hi there," Qui-Gon replies.
"Your buddy here was about to be turned into orange goo. He picked a fight with a Dug. An especially dangerous Dug called Sebulba."
Jar Jar protests, insisting he didn't start the fight at all.
"Nevertheless, the boy is right…you were heading into trouble. Thanks, my young friend."
The group takes off again, this time with Anakin tagging along. A little ways down the street, they stop at a fruit stand run by Jira, a sweet, elderly lady that Anakin helps out when he can. Anakin asks her for some pallies for his friends to try. Pallies are sweet, juicy fruits that are grown underground on Tatooine.
"You'll like these."
Jira hands him four and Anakin turns and gives them to Qui-Gon. Qui-Gon takes them and tucks them into his belt, briefly revealing his lightsaber. Anakin is surprised, but says nothing.
As the wind begins to pick up, Jira warns that a storm is coming. Anakin turns to Qui-Gon and asks if he has shelter.
"We'll head back to our ship," Qui-Gon replies with a nod.
"Is it far?"
"On the outskirts," Padmé offers.
"You'll never make it in time. Sandstorms are very fast and very dangerous. You can stay at my place. Follow me!"
He takes off and the others follow.
Obi-Wan stands in front of the Naboo spacecraft as the wind picks up and begins to whip at his robe. His troubled eyes look off into the distance where Mos Espa is beginning to disappear behind a curtain of sand. Captain Panaka exits the ship and joins him.
"This storm will slow them down," Obi-Wan comments.
"It looks pretty bad," Panaka agrees. The Captain's comlink beeps and he answers with a "Yes."
"We're receiving a message from home," Ric Olié informs him.
Obi-Wan and Panaka exchange glances. "We'll be right there," the Captain advises.
They go up the ramp quickly, sealing it behind them. The transmission had been received in the Queen's chambers. As Obi-Wan and Panaka enter with Ric, they find Amidala and her handmaidens watching a hologram of Sio Bibble. The holo is weak and keeps breaking up.
"…cut off all our food supplies until you return…death toll rising, catastrophic…must bow to their wishes, your Highness…" the image of Bibble fades and returns, begging the Queen to contact him and tell them what to do. The holo then flickers once more and disappears completely.
The Queen looks over to Obi-Wan. He shakes his head quickly. "It's a trick. Send no reply, your Highness. Send no transmission of any kind."
The Queen watches as the Jedi leaves the room. Obi-Wan desperately hopes that he has made the right decision. A brief thought plays through his head, wondering if Lexi had a vision of what was happening on Naboo. What if the people really are dying? Has he made the right choice?
