Chapter 19
Disclaimer: If they belonged to me, Qui-Gon would have said goodbye a bit more often, and bigger fishes would be all over the thing! (Bigger fishes rock!)
oOo
„Good going, Ani!" Jar Jar squeaked.
Anakin had just come back from the race. The Gungan grabbed the boy and threw him in the air. Just when Anakin came back down, Jar Jar suddenly got distracted by Padmé who was approaching them and so failed to catch the boy. The only thing that prevented Anakin from crashing to the ground was Qui-Gon. He stepped forward and Anakin fell on him.
"Oh, where did you come from?" Qui-Gon exclaimed as Anakin landed on him. "Wow, since when is it raining Chosen Ones?"
The Jedi Master put Anakin down again, where he immediately got embraced by Padmé.
"We owe you everything, Ani," she thanked him.
Then, last of all, it was Shmi's turn to hug her son. "It's so wonderful, Ani. You have brought hope to those who have none. I'm so very proud of you."
Shmi kissed her son, who looked slightly uncomfortable. He didn't want to be kissed by his mother in front of Padmé, especially when he would much rather be kissed by her.
"Where are you going?" Anakin asked when he saw Qui-Gon edging towards the exit. "You're not going to leave me like all the other daddies I've had so far, are you?" Anakin looked up at Qui-Gon with huge, pleading eyes.
"No, no. I'm just collecting my winnings," Qui-Gon hurried to assure the boy.
Qui-Gon's heart clenched painfully at the sad, forlorn look on Anakin's face. No, Qui-Gon would never cruelly abandon someone who loved him like a father, he was sure of it.
Padmé looked like she had just swallowed something revolting. She heartily disagreed with the almost dismissive way this Jedi gambled not only with her ship which had all of her favourite clothes on board, but with the welfare of her planet and her people. And maybe the way he used this boy and treated his Padawan were just a tiny bit manipulative and unfair, but that was not her business because these two were not hers, although she ardently wished it were otherwise (well, at least partly, because she didn't feel nearly old nor mature enough to care for a child).
Before Padmé could voice her qualms, though, Qui-Gon hastily left.
He really didn't feel like another of her sermons which were even worse than his Padawan's.
oOo
Watto was furious. Not only had he lost, but apparently, a few kids had been crazy enough to actually bet on Anakin! Anakin, who had never even finished a race, let alone won one! It was incredible and also fairly impossible. The boy had somehow managed to beat the elite gamers of Tatooine and neighbouring systems, and against all odds at that.
So now Watto had to hand over five chocolate bars and two bags of sweets. That was more than he could afford, really. Now he would somehow have to manage the remainder of the month without any chocolate. Not exactly a comforting thought, that.
The kids took off with their newly won sweets, delighted that they had actually won something this time when they had only picked one of the racers at random.
Watto grudgingly sent them away.
Just then, Qui-Gon appeared. He was the last one Watto wanted to see at the moment. And Qui-Gon could certainly not be satisfied with some candies. He wanted a hyperdrive and, on top of that, he had also gained Anakin. Now Watto would lose the few extra wupiupis Anakin earned by cleaning the fans and their funny costumes.
"You!" the Toydarian spat. "You swindled me! You knew the boy was going to win. Somehow you knew it."
Watto pointed an accusing finger at the tall man before him. "I lost everything!" he finished accusingly, as if Qui-Gon was personally responsible for that (which in fact was not all that absurd, from a certain point of view).
"Whenever you gamble, my friend, eventually you lose," Qui-Gon replied calmly. "How often do I tell people to remember that there's always a bigger fish? And just how often does anyone ever heed my advice? Not even my apprentice, who should worship whatever I deem to teach him, wants to hear that. And yet, you see, there was once again a bigger fish, which would be me, in that case. There's always a bigger fish, after all."
Qui-Gon sighed happily. So much for Obi-Wan's opinion! As if his favourite saying was only applicable to actual fishes. In fact, it was almost always applicable, except to actual fishes.
After thoroughly enjoying his short moment of bliss, Qui-Gon returned to business.
"Bring the parts to the main hangar. I'll come by your shop later on so you can release the boy."
But Watto vehemently protested. "You can't have him. It wasn't a fair bet. Besides, he 'the boy' as you like to call him does have a name."
Watto's accusations were not just a suspicion. Watto knew that it was a fact, because naturally, his die had been tampered with. It practically never landed on blue. Ever. Due to that, though, he had expected to win, and not lose.
Watto had not been expecting what came next.
"Would you like to discuss it with the Hutts?" Qui-Gon suggested.
Now Watto had the ultimate proof that this man was definitely insane. Why in all the galaxy would the Hutts care if anyone cheated? It was one of their own favourite pastimes, and they did it all the time. Not to mention that someone who tried to keep out of trouble, as this man obviously did, was very bad advised indeed if he drew the Hutt's attention to himself. Not to mention the probe droid (sent out by Darth Maul, who was still rather insensible to the world) that was just flying past the man's head. If he had wanted to remain inconspicuous, he had failed spectacularly.
"I'm sure they can settle this," Qui-Gon continued.
Watto had no doubts that they could. And he had entirely too good an idea just how they would settle this: ultimately with two body bags which were a perfect fit for a certain Toydarian and a certain insane man.
Watto didn't want to end like this. He lowered his head and stroked the stubble on his chin, thinking. After a moment, he decided that Anakin was not worth all the trouble. He was just a little, if sometimes rather creepy, boy. Surely it would not mean the end of the universe if he let him go.
"Take him," Watto gave in.
The insane man just nodded, never knowing that he had just sealed Watto's fate. The Toydarian wouldn't be able to pay his rent anymore; he would have to sell Shmi to some gruff-looking moisture farmer to cover his debts and would eventually live on the streets, where Anakin would encounter him years later.
oOo
One million three thousand nine hundred and twenty-five, one million three thousand nine hundred and twenty-six, one million three thousand nine hundred and twenty-seven…
Obi-Wan was counting imaginary grains of sand. Not that there weren't enough real ones on Tatooine to count, it's just that there were none in the cockpit. He was incredibly bored, because he had not dared to leave the cockpit after the latest assault the handmaidens had launched on him. Apparently, they had managed to overcome their rivalry and had ganged up on him. When he had ventured out to the galley to grab something to eat, they had come in all at once, crowding the small room, and had demanded he take part in a romantic picnic.
Obi-Wan had somehow managed to talk his way out of this, though he really didn't know how he had succeeded in convincing the girls to prepare yet another fashion show he had no intention whatsoever of attending. They had left, an excitedly chattering crowd, to tear apart the Queen's wardrobe to find the one gown that would most flatter their complexion/figure/shade of their eyes' colour.
Obi-Wan had used the opportunity to flee. So he had spent the last eighteen hours in the cockpit, becoming increasingly hungry because the girls had kept him from getting something to eat and he refused to eat one of the protein bars every Jedi carried with him unless he starved. So he had meditated until he felt that if he meditated any more, he would probably become the only person to become one with the Force before his death, he had looked up all the things he had always wanted to know on the holonet until the screen blurred before his eyes and he had tried to sleep in the pilot's seat, which had seemed increasingly impossible as the hours went by. So he had started counting grains of sand, not that it helped any, either.
One million three thousand nine hundred and twenty-eight, one million three thousand nine hundred and twenty-nine, one million three thousand nine hundred and-
Obi-Wan spotted two tall mounts carrying three people and pulling a huge sled on the horizon. That must be Qui-Gon, and Obi-Wan strongly suspected that the bulky thing the beasts pulled was either their new hyperdrive or Qui-Gon had made an incredible bargain and bought ten years' worth of toilet paper. The Padawan fervently hoped it was the former, though the latter was not as impossible as it sounded, not with Qui-Gon.
The Padawan was greatly relieved that his Master was finally returning. It meant that they would shortly leave this place. Obi-Wan wouldn't be sorry if he never had to see it again.
And as far as he could tell, his Master had returned without picking up yet another stray. Jar Jar was already bad enough.
Obi-Wan was reluctant to leave the cockpit too soon. The girls were still lurking somewhere out there and he didn't want to encounter any of them.
He waited patiently until all the girls had frantically scrambled off to reinstate some semblance of order to the Queen's wardrobe, which they had effectively torn apart in their eagerness to find the perfect dress. Only then (and after applying some disguising measures) did he dare to walk out to meet his Master.
Regrettably, Qui-Gon had not lost Jar Jar somewhere on the way, so the Gungan greeted Obi-Wan with a cheerful "Hidoe!" as they walked past each other. Well, at least Jar Jar greeted him, at all, unlike some other people he knew.
And as usual, Qui-Gon greeted him rather less cheerfully. "Well, we have all the essential parts we need."
In person, Qui-Gon was just as bad (if not worse) than on the comm.
Then, he squinted down at his apprentice. "You look… different today," the Master remarked. "Did you do something with your hair?"
Obi-Wan smiled. "Yes, actually I did. I put the braid behind the left ear today."
Qui-Gon looked puzzled. That sounded rather like the random idea he'd have, no his apprentice. "What did you do that for?" he asked.
Obi-Wan's smile widened. "I know it's rather unorthodox, but this is a disguise," he explained.
Qui-Gon chortled. "Whatever. If you think that will work…" he said sceptically.
Obi-Wan, though, seemed rather unperturbed despite his Master's scepticism.
"I'm going back," Qui-Gon informed Obi-Wan. "Some unfinished business. I won't be long," he promised.
He still had to pick up his winnings, and then there were the 20,000 Republic credits he still had at his disposal. And he already knew exactly how to spend them. He had gotten that irresistible offer from Ben the real estate agent. It was a real bargain: a beautiful little timeshare hut out in the picturesque landscape of the Jundland Wastes for just 19,999 credits, and in only 15 years he could move in. That was exactly what he had in mind for his retirement.
But Qui-Gon couldn't fool his apprentice with his vague implications, except that Obi-Wan would never have guessed what his Master intended to do with their emergency allowance of 20,000 credits.
"Why do I sense we've picked up another pathetic life-form?" Obi-Wan asked with a slightly impish smile.
As if two of them weren't enough already. Now Qui-Gon needed a third one. Yes, two, because Obi-Wan by no means excluded himself from that category. In his experience, the more pathetic a life-form, the longer Qui-Gon allowed it to stay and the more of his attention it got. And Obi-Wan was perfectly aware that that made him, Qui-Gon's apprentice of almost thirteen years, the most pathetic one of them all.
Qui-Gon, though, disapproved of his Padawan's choice of words. "It's the boy who's responsible for getting us these parts," he scolded. "Get this hyperdrive generator installed."
Obi-Wan's expression instantly reverted from the teasing grin to a serious frown. Qui-Gon always took his teasing so personal. If ever he got an apprentice, he would make sure that his Padawan would understand sarcasm and teasing banter and could distinguish it from serious remarks.
"Yes, Master," he complied. "That shouldn't take long." Though I will make it last until you return. I just don't want to have another of these awkward discussions with the handmaidens, especially not since their Queen has now returned.
Hopefully, Obi-Wan looked up at his Master when Qui-Gon said "Come on!"
Maybe his Master would take him along this time and leave the installation of the hyperdrive to the pilots. His hopes were shattered when Qui-Gon added "Hup!" along with a tug at the eopie's reins. The Master rode off without another word. Yet again.
Despite his resolution not to mind his Master's lack of fundamental formalities, Obi-Wan couldn't help to sigh sadly before he trudged back to the machine room of the ship to install the hyperdrive, an activity that he was sure would be avidly watched by at least half a dozen handmaidens. When the bad feeling that had slumbered in a way Obi-Wan could only describe as "drunk" or "hung-over" re-awoke and returned with a vengeance, the Padawan could no longer ignore the impression that the Force must somehow hold a grudge against him. The ear-splitting scream that was ripped from Padmé's slender throat as she discovered the state her wardrobe was in only confirmed this suspicion.
oOo
"Goodbye! And it was nice meeting you!" a very cheerful Ben the real estate agent yelled after Qui-Gon.
"It was my honour entirely. Goodbye!" Qui-Gon yelled back. It was a lucky coincidence which might well help preserve Obi-Wan's peace of mind that he was not there to hear it.
"What did you do in there, Qui-Gon, sir?" Anakin asked. The Jedi Master had asked him to wait outside while he had some unfinished business to attend to.
"Oh, I just made some arrangements for my retirement."
They walked beside each other through Mos Espa, silent for now.
As they neared Anakin's home, Qui-Gon suddenly remembered something.
"Hey, these are yours," he said, pushing a handful of credits at Anakin. He did it in the middle of a street in a very seedy city on a planet that was well-known for its high crime rate, yet not even one of the seedy creatures around them seemed to be interested in such a seemingly easy target as a small boy and a simple farmer.
"Yes!" Anakin had never held that much money in his hands. "Where did you get that from?" he asked, slightly suspicious of the rather large and entirely unexpected amount of money.
"You see, I did some bargaining with Ben. He gave me a considerable discount because I offered him the fastest podracer ever."
"Wow, where did you get that?" Anakin wanted to know.
"I was talking about your podracer, of course!"
Anakin sounded sceptical. "What, mine? But that's just a heap of junk!"
Qui-Gon winked at the boy. "You did win the race, didn't you? So yours must have been the fastest podracer, from a certain point of view."
At that point, they arrived at the front door to Anakin's home, where Shmi was waiting for their return.
Anakin excitedly shouted: "Mom, we sold the pod! Look at all the money we have!"
Shmi was just as excited as her son. "My goodness! But that's so wonderful, Ani!" she exclaimed. That much money would almost suffice to buy herself. Maybe if she sold Anakin's annoying and useless droid, she would have enough to buy her freedom. After all, what good was a droid that could tell you the exact difference between a motet and a cantata but was simply unable to do something that was actually useful like sweep the floor?
That was when Qui-Gon dropped the bomb. "And he has been freed," he interjected.
Anakin was flabbergasted. "WHAT?" He couldn't believe his ears. He had been freed? When had that happened, and why hadn't Qui-Gon immediately told him? After all, one's freedom was not something one wanted to be told about eventually but rather right away!
"You're no longer a slave," Qui-Gon reiterated, a wide smile all over his face.
Anakin turned around to his mother, amazement and happiness shining from his eyes.
"Did you hear that?" he asked her.
"Of course I heard than. I'm not deaf, you know? Oh, maybe I should rather say something better suited to the moment, perhaps something along the lines of: Now you can make your dreams come true, Ani. You are free."
Anakin looked stunned. "Wow. Even the one where I dreamed I was a Jedi? I came back here and freed all the slaves. I also dreamed I was a slice of delicious pizza with extra cheese, and Jabba the Hutt ate me. That one was weird. But not as bad as the one where-"
Shmi interrupted her babbling son before he couldn't be stopped anymore.
"Will you take him with you?" she asked Qui-Gon. "Is he to become a Jedi?"
"Yes," Qui-Gon reassured her. "Our meeting was not a coincidence. Nothing happens by accident. Well, except for accidents, really, but they don't count because they make the statistics of what I just said look really bad."
Anakin still couldn't believe his good luck. "You mean I get to come with you in your starship? And we'll sail away into the west, to the eternal lands where the elves go? I've always wanted to see the elves, Mister Frodo." Suddenly, Anakin stopped. "Huh? What was that? Wrong movie, I guess. Sorry, that happens sometimes. Just ignore it."
Qui-Gon and Shmi exchanged a confused look, but then, the Jedi Master kneeled down and rested his hands on Anakin's shoulders.
"Anakin, training to become a Jedi is not an easy challenge and even if you succeed, it's a hard life."
"But I wanna go!" Anakin pleaded. "It's what I've always dreamed of doing. Besides being a slice of pizza and getting eaten by Jabba, that is."
Anakin turned around to his mother since his begging didn't seem to have the desired effect on Qui-Gon, which was rather unexpected because only five seconds ago, the Jedi had been more than enthusiastic at the thought of getting to take Anakin with him.
"Can I go, mom?" Anakin begged. He was diligently practicing his puppy-eyed look. Somehow he got the feeling that he would need it with the Jedi.
Shmi gently took her son's hand into hers. "Anakin, this path has been placed before you. And unless you want me to walk all over to walk it for you, the choice is yours alone."
Anakin thought about that for a moment. It felt nice, to be the one making the decisions.
"I wanna do it," he declared determinedly.
Qui-Gon stood up again. "Then pack your things, we haven't much time. I couldn't even tell you yesterday so you could properly say your goodbyes to your mother and your friends. But then again, I think that goodbyes are overrated, anyway."
Anakin immediately ran off to grab his things, shouting "Yippie!"
Just as he reached to the door to his room, though, he noticed that his mom hadn't joined in with his scream of joy. He turned back around.
"What about mom? Is she free, too?" he asked worriedly.
"I tried to free your mother, Ani, but Watto wouldn't have it. Well, I didn't try all that hard, obviously, mainly because I'm not very good at that kind of thing if I can't use mind tricks. Maybe I should have brought along Obi-Wan, he's really good with words and can be very convincing if he sets his mind on it."
Anakin wondered for a second who this OB-1 Qui-Gon was talking about might be. He thought that maybe this was the guy Qui-Gon had been talking to on the phone, the one who had called Qui-Gon "Master" and who had this precise accent and exact manner of talking.
Anakin wondered if this OB-1 was Qui-Gon's protocol droid and whether he was as annoying as C-3PO was.
Then, the reality of what was going on hit him, and all thoughts of droids were forgotten.
"You're coming with us, aren't you, mom?" Anakin once again gave evidence that he was not exactly the fastest thinker.
Shmi tried to console her son and encourage him to make a decision that would enable him to have a better life. Also, it was so much easier to find a husband if you didn't have a kid.
"Son, my place is here. My future is here. My future husband lives just around the corner. How am I supposed to meet him when I come with you? It is time for you to let go."
Yoda would have been ecstatic, had he heard that.
"I don't want things to change," Anakin whined. "I only want to marry Padmé, but she could move in with us, couldn't she?"
Now it was Shmi who bend down to talk to her son.
"But you can't stop the change any more than you can stop the suns from setting."
"I could stop the suns from setting if I blew them up, couldn't I?" he mumbled.
"Sure you could," Shmi comforted him. Then she whispered: "I love you." Then she tightly hugged her son. "Now hurry," she sent him off to pack.
As soon as Anakin was gone, she turned to Qui-Gon. "Thank you, for all you've done. I hope you will be a good daddy for him."
"I'll watch after him. You have my word," Qui-Gon promised her.
Shmi seemed sad, which was not all that surprising, since she was just giving up her son to an unknown destiny. Qui-Gon was concerned for her, because they had, after all, shared an intimate closeness that sometimes succeeded in making people care for each other.
He gently put a hand on her shoulder and asked: "Will you be all right?"
Shmi sighed a feeble "Yeah."
Then they both decided to spend the remaining time with something more enjoyable than saying farewell.
oOo
As soon as Anakin had entered his room, he switched 3PO on.
"Hello, Master Anakin," the droid stammered.
"Well, C-3PO, I've been freed and I'm going away in a starship," Anakin all but bragged.
"Master Anakin, you are my maker and I wish you well. However, I should prefer it if I were a little more completed. I mean, look at me. If I had genitals everybody could see them! As it is, no one can see anything because unfortunately there is nothing to see! Don't you think that is an abomination?"
"I'm sorry I wasn't able to finish you, 3PO, give you coverings and all the other, erm, important parts. I'm gonna miss working on you. You've been a great pal and an annoying blabbermouth. I'll make sure mom doesn't sell you or anything."
3PO was shocked. "Sell me?" he asked incredulously.
Anakin almost spat an exasperated bye. He, at least, had the decency to say goodbye to someone who called him "Master".
"Oh, my" 3PO sighed. Now he would never get his nice, golden coverings in this Episode. He would have to phone his agent about that. As a famous movie star, he simply couldn't work like that!
oOo
Edited on 11th Februay, 2011