Herald of the Force
Author Notes: This chapter as been beta by LimerickChaos
Chapter 03: A Helping Hand
Harry walked with Qui-Gon, Jar Jar, R2-D2 and Padmé, who was under the guise of a handmaiden, towards the desert settlement of Mos Espa. As they enter the city Qui-Gon was explaining the settlement to Padmé and Harry.
"Moisture farms for the most part. Some indigenous tribes and scavengers. The few spaceports like this one are havens for those who do not wish to be found."
"Like us." Padmé said.
Harry walks up to where a woman was selling some fresh water.
"I would like to buy some water."
"We got plenty of that. How much?"
"A couple galleons."
"That would be twenty credits."
"I'm stranded here and need parts to fix my ship. Do you know anyone that sells a J-Type Nubian hyperdrive?" Harry asks as he gave the woman the money.
"Only Watto sells those parts around here. He's just around the corner. Careful with dealing with him. He's not exactly an honest seller."
"Thank you." Harry said as he took the water and walks away. Qui-Gon who overheard what was said smiled at Harry for his help.
It wasn't hard to find Watto's shop. They enter to see a Toydarian behind the counter.
[Good day to you.] He greeted in Huttese. [What can I help you find?]
"I'm looking for parts for a J-Type 327 Nubian." Qui-Gon said in basic.
"Awe yes, Nubian, we have lots of that." Watto said rather pleased. [Oh boy, get in here now.]
"My droid has a readout of what I need."
A small boy, about ten years old came in from the back and appeared before Watto.
[What took you so long?] Watto said to the boy.
[I was cleaning the fan switches.] the boy said.
[Watch the store, I got some selling to do.] Watto said as he turns back to Qui-Gon. "So… let me take thee out back, huh? I'll find what you need" Watto said in basic. Qui-Gon followed Watto out back, not before stopping Jar Jar from touching a droid and telling him not to touch anything. Jar Jar merely mocks Qui-Gon the moment his back was turn.
"Are you an angel?"
"What?" Padmé said surprise by the boy's bluntness.
"An angel. I hear the deep space pilots talk about them. I hear they are the most beautiful creatures in the universe. They live on the moons of lego, I think."
"You're a funny little boy. How do you know much?" Padmé said in a amusing tone of voice.
"I listen to all the traders and star pilots who come through here. I'm a pilot you know, and someday, I'm going to fly away from this place." The boy declared.
"You're a pilot." Padmé said in amusement. Harry hid a smile, he knew the boy was only trying to impress Padmé despite her being much older than him. Harry thought it was cute that he had a little crush on his girlfriend.
"Mm-hmm. All my life."
"How long have you've been here?"
"Since I was very little, three I think. My mom and I were sold to Gardulla the Hutt, but she lost us betting on podraces."
"You're a slave?" Padmé said in disbelief.
"I'm a person and my name is Anakin." Anakin said in an angry tone of voice.
"I'm sorry, I don't fully understand. This is a strange world for me." Padmé said trying to be polite.
A noise caused the three of them to turn to see Jar Jar wrestling with a pit droid.
"Hey, hit the nose." Anakin said.
Harry wanted to laugh seeing Jar Jar being clumsy as he was. Just as he hit's the nose, Qui-Gon comes back looking very annoyed.
"We're leaving, Jar Jar." Qui-Gon said as Jar Jar was trying not to be seen.
"Nice to meet you Anakin." Padmé said as she leaves the store.
"It was good to meet you too." Anakin said out lout.
Harry didn't have to hazard a guess to know what was wrong. Sure enough Qui-Gon was explaining the situation to the crew on the ship.
"Do we have anything we can sell, anything on board we can sell to get the parts we need?"
"A few containers of supplies. The Queen's wardrobe, maybe, but not enough for you to barter with. Not in the amount you're asking for Master." Obi-Wan said as he answered back.
"Alright, I'll try to find another solution. I also sense trouble is coming your way Obi-Wan, be on your guard."
"Yes master."
"Noah gain! Noah gain!" Jar Jar said waving his arms in protest. "Da beings hereabouts, cawazy! Wesa be wobbed un crunched!"
"Not likely, we have nothing of value, and that's our problem." Qui-Gon says in a stern tone of voice. "I fear that we may be stuck here for a long time. Unless we take advantage of a situation. The only question is what situation will arise."
"I agree, we'll do some scouting to find out what's going on. See if we can use it to our advantage." Harry said. Qui-Gon said nods his head and leads the group down the street.
It wasn't till they were a block away that the group became aware that they were missing Jar Jar. Doubling back, they find the young slave boy standing next to Jar Jar.
"Hi, your buddy here was about to be turned into orange goo. He picked a fight with a Dug, an especially dangerous Dug called Sebulba." Anakin said.
"Mesa haten crunchen. Das da las ting mesa want." Jar Jar said.
"Nonetheless the boy is right you are heading into trouble." Qui-Gon says. "Thank you my young friend."
"But, but… mesa doen nutten!" Jar Jar said as the group takes off again with Anakin tolling behind them.
"Storm is coming, you guys better get to some shelter." Anakin said.
"We'll head back to our ship." Qui-Gon answers politely.
"Is it far?"
"It's in the outskirts."
"You'll never make it to the outskirts in time. Sand storms are very dangerous. Come on, I'll take you to my place." Anakin said.
Apparently Anakin was right and the Sand Storm soon engulfed the entire settlement with powerful winds and sands that made movement sluggish and their visibility poor.
They were in luck as Anakin's place wasn't far and they enter a small apartment.
"Mom, mom! I'm home."
A woman walks in from what looks like a small kitchen and seem baffled to see so many people in her home.
"These are my friend's mom."
"Hello." Jar Jar said.
"I'm Qui-Gon Jinn. Your son was kind enough to offer us shelter from the storm." Qui-Gon said.
"I'm building a droid. You wanna see?" Anakin said. He grabs Padmé's hand and takes her to the back. "Come on, I'll show you Threepio." Anakin said. Harry soon followed them to Anakin's room where junk was filled up. It was clear Anakin loved to fix and create things.
"Isn't he great? He's not finished yet." Anakin said as he removed the cover on the droid.
"He's wonderful."
"You really like him. He's a protocol droid to help mom. Watch this." Anakin said as he activates C3PO.
"Where is everybody?"
"Oops. Here." Anakin says as he reaches for a eye and places it on Threepio.
"Oh, hello. I am C-3PO human-cyborg relations. How might I serve you?"
"He's perfect." Padmé said, but Harry knew she was only being polite to Anakin.
"When the storm is over, I'll show you my racer. I'm building a Podracer."
Harry couldn't help but smile at the thought of Anakin trying to impress Padmé.
It was at dinner Shmi Skywalker explain how they were slaves.
"All slaves have transmitters hidden somewhere inside their body."
"I've been working on making a scanner to locate mine, but I haven't had much luck." Anakin said.
"Anyone tries to escape…"
"And they blow you up." Anakin said as he hits the table with his hand and makes a explosion sound.
"How wude." Jar Jar said.
"I can't believe there's still slavery in the galaxy. The Republic has antislavery laws…" Padmé began but she was cut off by Shmi Skywalker.
"The Republic doesn't exist out here. We must survive on our own."
Silence filled the table as they took in what was said.
"Has anyone ever seen a Podrace before?" Anakin asks.
"I've done some racing in my younger years." Harry said but not adding it was Quidditch he did or that he raced on the brooms with his old teammates.
"They have Podracing on Malastare. Very fast, very dangerous." Qui-Gon replies as he takes in some food.
"I'm the only human who can do it." Anakin said.
"I wouldn't say that." Harry replied as he drinks his juice. Anakin look offended and angry at Harry's remark.
"You must have Jedi reflexes if you can race pods." Qui-Gon replies trying to avoid a fight with their host.
"You're a Jedi Knight, aren't you?" Anakin said in a bold tone of voice.
"What makes you think that?" Qui-Gon said when silence enter the table.
"I saw your laser sword, only Jedi's carry those type of weapons."
"Perhaps I killed a Jedi and took it from him."
"I don't think so. No one can kill a Jedi." Anakin declared.
"I wish that were so." Qui-Gon said in a somewhat cheerful voice.
"I had a dream I was a Jedi. I came back here to free all of the slaves. Have you've come to free us?" Anakin asks Qui-Gon.
"No, I'm afraid not." Qui-Gon replies sadly.
"I think you have. Why else would you be here?" Anakin says as he looks at everyone.
"I can see there is no fooling you. We're on our way to Coruscant, the Central System of the Republic on a very important mission."
"How did you get out here?"
"Our ship was damaged and we're stranded until we can repair it."
"I can help. I can fix anything."
"I believe you can. But first we must acquire the parts we need to fix the ship."
"We also don't have anything to trade to get the parts we need." Harry said.
"Is there any way we can persuade these junk dealers?" Padmé asks.
"Gambling. Everything is bet on those awful races."
"Podracing. Greed can both be a powerful ally, and a dangerous enemy."
"I built a racer. It's the fastest ever built. There's a big race in a month's time called the Boonta Eve. You could enter my pod, the deadline is tomorrow."
"Anakin! Watto won't let you race. Not after last time."
"Watto doesn't know I've built it. You could make him think it's yours and get him to let me pilot it."
"That won't work Anakin." Harry said as he lays down his fork. "We need to put the stack in our favor to get Watto to agree to our terms. If we just enter the pod, but he enters you and the entry fee, then he won't agree to it, no matter what we offer him. No, I will enter." Harry said.
"No fair, it's my pod." Anakin said.
"Your mother doesn't want you in danger, Hadrian is a better choice. He has won several races in his own right." Padmé said. This made Anakin look very angry and upset as he looks at Padmé in disbelief.
"How big is the prize money?" Padmé asks Shmi.
"It will be more than enough to cover the parts you need for you to repair your ship."
"Then tomorrow we'll see Watto and see if he can help sponsor us." Harry said. Nothing else was said as Anakin got up and went to his room to pout.
Author Notes: Well the chapter has been revisited and I hope you guys enjoyed.