***Chapter 10***
The starting light turns green and the podracers shoot forward with high-pitched screams, all but two. Anakin and another racer, Ben Quadinaros, both stall out. Qui-Gon and the others watch, worry evident on their faces.
I knew this was a bad idea. These Jedi are indeed far too reckless. Padmé stews.
Anakin works feverishly to start his pod. Finally, after some adjustments, the engines ignite and he takes off with a blast. Jar Jar cheers wildly.
Anakin works hard to catch up with the other racers. Sebulba wastes no time sabotaging anyone who tries to pass him on the track. Qui-Gon studies the view screen with Padmé and Shmi. They listen to the two-headed announcer, but there is no sign or mention of Anakin. Qui-Gon stares out into the flats, searching for any sign of the boy. He then shifts his gaze to the crew pits where the droids and Kitster also wait for sign of Anakin. Watto, who sits in a private box near Jabba's, catches Qui-Gon's eye and gestures rudely to him.
Qui-Gon closes his eyes and blocks everything away, sounds and movements, and becomes one with the Force, disappearing into its flow, searching for Anakin. Sebulba's pod screams past, finishing the first lap, with others close on his tail. Qui-Gon continues to keep his eyes closed, searching. Padmé and Shmi exchange worried looks.
Qui-Gon's eyes snap open and he breathes a sigh of relief. A moment later Padmé exclaims, "Look! Here he comes!" Qui-Gon just smiles. Anakin is beginning to overtake the pack.
"Ok, Lexi, what's going on? That's the third drill I've beat you on. You aren't even trying," Bant Erin scolds. Bant was not only Tahl's Padawan, but one of Lexi's closest friends.
"Sorry, Bant," Lexi sighs, "I'm just…tired."
"Tired or not, I shouldn't be able to beat you. Not that easily any way."
"I just have a lot on my mind right now. I'm sorry."
"About?"
"It's nothing…let's go again. I promise I'll focus this time."
"Come on…you can tell me what's bugging you."
"Later, perhaps after we finish our drills."
"Does it have anything to do with Master 'Oru not observing our drills?"
"No…I don't think so anyway. Master 'Oru trusts me to complete the drills even when he's not around to supervise. Can we get back to them now?"
"Ok, I get it. You don't want to talk right now. But you know I will find out what's bugging you eventually."
"Bant…"
"Ok, I can take a hint…consider the subject dropped…for now."
"Well, can you take a hint that we need to get back to our drills?" Lexi smirks.
"What's the point? I'll still beat you," Bant teases.
"You wish," she laughs. The two stand a few paces apart, bow, and ignite their sabers.
At the beginning of the second lap, Anakin is in sixth place. One racer's pod is hit by Tusken Raiders, who hide in the rocks of the cliffs, and explodes. Anakin flies through the wreckage and quickly passes two other racers. Sebulba sabotages the racer closest to him and the racer's damaged pod slams into Anakin's. Anakin's left engine loses its binding, causing the pod to spin out of control.
Watching the action on a viewscreen, Padmé and Shmi wince at the site. Qui-Gon places a comforting hand on Shmi's shoulder.
It takes Anakin a few tries, but he manages to snag the engine line and reattach it. He quickly tries to catch up to Sebulba once again while the Dug's sabotage takes out two more racers.
"I've been looking all over the ship for you," Captain Panaka exclaims.
"Do you need something?" Obi-Wan asks curiously.
"Her Majesty was looking for you…"
I bet she was. "Do you know what for?"
"She wants to know if you have heard from the others yet."
"I told her when they contact me I will let her know." Obi-Wan tries not to roll his eyes or seem impatient.
"Yes, but the Queen is worried about her people. She wants to get to Coruscant as quickly as possible."
"As do we all, Captain," Obi-Wan assures. "You have my word, as soon as I hear from them, I will let the Queen know. Until then, there is really nothing we can do."
Panaka sighs, but nods his understanding. "Thank you."
Come on Qui-Gon. I'll lose my mind if I have to stay on this ship much longer!
At the start of the third lap Sebulba is in the lead, followed closely by Anakin. Sebulba is ready to be rid of Anakin once and for all. He tries flashing the boy with his vent ports, but Anakin knows that trick well. He avoids the trick, but is force off course onto a service ramp. He ends up leapfrogging over Sebulba and taking the lead, much to the Dug's surprise.
The two racers jockey back and forth for control of the lead position, with Sebulba trying every trick he can come up with to defeat Anakin. In his effort to sabotage the boy, his pod and Anakin's become stuck together. Shmi can barely watch the viewscreen. Padmé gasps. Qui-Gon closes his eyes in meditation, watching the race through the Force.
Finally, Anakin's pod breaks free. It takes a moment for him to stabilize his pod, but he is far better off than Sebulba. The release of tension sends the Dug's pod into an ancient statue. One engine explodes, then the other. Sebulba is amazingly unhurt, but his pod is destroyed.
Anakin races to the finish line, the youngest racer to ever win the Boonta Eve.
