***Chapter 9***
Qui-Gon strolls through the main hangar of the Mos Espa podracer arena with Jar Jar and Watto. Crews and pilots rush about, making last minute adjustments and fixes on their pods.
"I want to see your spaceship the moment the race is over!" Watto demands.
"Patience, my blue friend. You'll have your winnings before the suns set, and we'll be far away from here."
"Not if your ship belongs to me, I think. I warn you, no funny business."
"You don't think Anakin can win?"
Watto turns to face Qui-Gon. "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." He motions to the Dug, who is relaxing while getting a shoulder massage from a pair of Twi'lek girls.
"Why do you think that?" Qui-Gon asks.
"He always wins," Watto replies with a laugh. "I'm betting heavily on Sebulba."
"I'll take that bet."
Watto suddenly stops laughing. "You'll what?"
Qui-Gon steps toward Watto. "I'll wager my new racing pod against…say…the boy and his mother."
"No pod's worth two slaves, not by a long shot!"
"The boy then," Qui-Gon replies, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Well, we'll let fate decide." Watto pulls out a small cube from his pocket. "I just happen to have a chance cube here. Blue, it's the boy. Red…his mother."
Watto tosses the cube to the floor. Qui-Gon gives a slight wave of his hand, following the cube. The cube comes to a stop on blue. Watto glares at Qui-Gon, who simply shrugs and smiles.
"You won this small toss, outlander, but you won't win the race! So it makes little difference!"
Two eopies enter the hangar. The first one carries Anakin and Padmé and pulls a podracer engine. The second eopie carries Kitster and Shmi, pulling the second podracer engine. 3PO and R2 travel beside the group. Watto passes by as he is leaving the hangar and warns Anakin to stop Qui-Gon's betting or he will end up being a slave as well. He then flies off laughing.
"What did he mean by that?" asks Anakin in confusion.
"I'll tell you later." Qui-Gon replies as he helps Shmi down from the eopie. "Good morning," he smiles politely.
The droids have a conversation about space travel. 3PO comments on how perilous it sounds. "I can assure you they will never get me onto one of those dreadful starships."
Kitster is very excited about the race. "This is so wizard, Annie! I'm sure you'll do it this time."
"Do what?" asks Padmé.
"Finish the race, of course," Kitster replies as if it were obvious.
Padmé gives the boys a look of disbelief. "You've never won a race?"
"Well, not exactly," Anakin admits.
"Not even finished?"
Anakin and Kitster put their arms around each other's shoulders. "Kitster's right. I will this time."
Qui-Gon walks up behind the boys and puts his hands on Anakin's shoulders. "Of course you will," he says confidently. Padmé's face shows she doesn't believe it and is even more upset with the Jedi for risking everything on this boy.
As the beings of Mos Espa head toward the arena for the impending race, one of Darth Maul's probe droids slowly floats down the main street. It looks in shops and studies passer bys as it searches for the Jedi.
Over a hundred thousand beings fill the arena by midmorning. The pilots move their racers into place and do their last minute preps. A two-headed announcer excites the crowd, introducing each of the racers as flag carriers march out onto the field. Shmi stops by to tell Anakin to be safe. He promises he will and while he is distracted with his mother, Sebulba messes with Anakin's pod. When Shmi leaves, Sebulba passes by Anakin, promising the boy he will not walk away from this race.
"Are you all set, Annie?" Qui-Gon inquires as he walks up to the boy.
"Yep."
"Alright," Qui-Gon says as he lifts Anakin into the pod. "Remember, concentrate on the moment. Feel, don't think. Use your instincts."
"I will."
Qui-Gon hands Anakin his helmet. "May the Force be with you." He steps away as Anakin puts the helmet and goggles on and gets ready to start his pod.
Qui-Gon moves through the crowd to the viewing platform where the others are waiting.
"Is he nervous?" Shmi asks.
"He's fine," Qui-Gon assures as they move into the platform so it can lift into position for the race.
Padmé glares at the Jedi Master. "You Jedi are far too reckless. The Queen is not…"
Speaking for the Queen again, are we? Qui-Gon bends down and meets her angry stare with a calm, but firm, look. "The Queen trusts my judgment, young handmaiden. You should too." He turns and moves further into the platform.
"You assume too much," Padmé says to Qui-Gon's back. He does not reply, but again his suspicions are aroused concerning this young handmaiden, always so ready to speak boldly for the Queen, and Obi-Wan reporting that, without the handmaiden, the Queen seems to be very unsure and nervous.
Jabba the Hutt bites the head off a frog and spits it at a gong to signal the start of the race.
Aboard the Queen's transport in the cockpit, Obi-Wan paces like a caged animal. He is anxious to find out the results of the race, to know if they will finally be able to leave this miserable planet. Suddenly, he is aware that he is not alone in the cockpit. He turns to see the young Queen staring at him.
"Did you need something, your Highness?"
The young girl steps further into the cockpit with a shrug. "I was curious to see if you had heard from your Master or Padmé yet."
"Nothing yet…I'm sure it will be some time before the race is over."
She steps even closer. Obi-Wan's hands are resting on the back of the pilot's chair. The Queen strokes Obi-Wan's right hand with her index finger. "Must be lonely…being a Jedi."
Obi-Wan clears his throat and casually pulls his hands to himself, crossing them over his chest. "No, not at all."
"Really? But you don't ever see your family, do you? And you certainly can't have time for friends when you are always off protecting the galaxy."
"The Jedi are my family," he replies, walking past her toward the door. "And we don't spend all our time on missions. Between missions, training, and my girlfriend, I really don't have time to be lonely."
"Oh?" she replies, with a mix of surprise and disappointment.
"I will let you know the moment I hear from Master Qui-Gon," Obi-Wan says with a slight bow. He then turns and heads out of the cockpit. The Queen watches him go, and then plops down in the pilot's chair with a heavy sigh.
