Race: "To recap, we've had a civil war break out over the course, new podracers show up, other podracers destroyed, and more excitement in one race that we've had all season. This Boonta Eve track was a late addition to the roster but it seems to have paid off as we've seen. In first place is Wantan Eiken followed by Toy Dampner in second with a close third with Elan Mak. After them are the two new mysterious podracers while nearby in fourth, fifth, and sixth or Neva Kee, Ark "Bumpy" Roose, and Ody Mandrell. It's shaping up to be an exciting race so far. Far back in sixth is…," began the announcer as his voice rambled off. On the track, Neva Kee, Bumpy, and Ody rocketed through the Mushroom Mesa as one cohesive unit, Neva the leader and Bumpy and Ody his wingmen.
"What do we do about Dampner and Mak?" asked Bumpy curious. Neva Kee shrugged, though the gesture was futile as neither racer could see it.
"It's still a race, do whatever you want," said the diplomat simply. Bumpy gave an evil smile.
"Excellent," he stated darkly, briefly rubbing his hands before immediately reaching for the controls again.
"So what's the plan?" asked Ody.
"Saddle up, lock and load," said the diplomat simply. "And we're going to do something stupid at the service ramp in the canyon dune turn. Until then, let's get as close as we can to them."
"Then quit talking let's move!" declared Bumpy as he slammed on his accelerator. Neva Kee followed suit after him but one thought lingered in his mind.
"Where is Zoda?" he couldn't help but wonder. "Or Keira for that matter…"
Sky: "AAAAHHHHH!" shouted Keira as she lost control of the craft. Zoda was slammed up on the other side of the windshield.
"Get off!" she shouted at him. The Jedi pushed himself off despite the g's and looked at her annoyed.
"Fine," he relented and vanished from sight. The next thing Keira knew he was sitting right next to her with his board.
"So why aren't you out there?" asked Keira immediately pulling the ship to the side as a Sepan fighter came hurtling down right past them leaving a trail of smoke.
"Meh, I'm not really getting anything done out there," said the Jedi disappointed as more laser fire erupted and fighters exploded. "I mean don't get me wrong I do like to have some fun now and then, but this is pointless because I'm just a leaf in the wind. Most warring factions I'm able to help give a common ground by having them both hate me but the Sepans don't seem to care."
Keira maneuvered the T-16 to follow the racetrack, while below Ben Quadinaros cautiously moved down the course, at a far slower speed than everyone else, and was nearly blown off the track by Ratts Tyrell. Seconds later, a piece of wreckage took out one of Tyrell's massive engines causing the pod to crash. Quadinaros stopped briefly to laugh only for Tyrell to chase after him as the Toong's racer limped along after he couldn't get it back into gear.
"So what do you suggest we do, contact Neva for a diplomatic solution?" asked Keira. Zoda looked at the Toong before waving his hand and Quadinaros's racer leapt into gear away from Tyrell. The Jedi smirked before pulling out his LCD and flipping through the screens to see Neva, Ody, and Bumpy in a triangle formation as they closed in on the two mysterious podracers.
"He's busy," stated the Jedi. "But let's get back to the stadium because I think Zobba can help us."
"If you say so," said Keira as she jerked the stick and the craft headed back the way it had come. Down below, Wantan Eiken raced by followed by Toy Dampner when Elan Mak's racer exploded from a blaster shot by one of the two new racers, flinging debris everywhere and nearly taking out Quadinaros. But before he could recover, Neva, Bumpy, and Ody raced past him again startling the Toong nearly to death. But still he slowly plodded on because although he was dedicated, he wasn't about to risk his life for a race.
"Man they are getting more agitated by the minute," Ody commented. "But if they seem to both want to take out Eiken…"
"I can't afford that," said Neva. "We have to take them out first before they get Eiken. So let's get going, we're making our move soon."
The three podracers continued onwards.
Stadium: Keira's T-16 landed as laser blasts tore up parts of the mostly empty grandstands blowing rocks everywhere. Some of the less reputable fans of the sport had begun using illegal weaponry and were taking down the various fighters that came too close.
"Keira, Zoda," acknowledged Zobba as the two approached him while a fighter arced across the sky like a roman candle behind them. Gasgano's pod limped into his pit belching smoke before giving out completely and slowly lowering to the ground. The Xexto hopped out and beat the pod frustrated with his four hands before kicking it and stalking off into the bay defeated.
"What's up?" continued the Hutt unabated. Zoda shrugged as Mars Guo and Bozzie Baranta scrapped against each other as they crossed the lap line before Guo's power coupling gave out and the engines flew off in different directions resulting in both pods being taken out of commission. The two racers got out and began yelling at each other loudly and almost came to blows if Slide Paramita hadn't nearly taken off their heads by rocketing past followed extremely closely by Bullseye Navior. The two pods vanished off into the distance.
"We need your ambassadorial skills," the Jedi stated. Keira eyed him doubtfully.
"Well aren't you just full of surprises," she stated sarcastically to the Hutt. Zoda looked at her in shock but Zobba just laughed.
"Yeah, I get that a lot," he agreed wiping a tear from his eyes. "But it's true, I was the only Nal Hutta ambassador sent to the Senate during a period where trade restrictions had gotten lax. I was there for six months before the Hutts basically cut off all formal ties with the Republic. But I still maintain quite a few contacts within the Republic to this day."
Keira looked at him surprised. "So you're like Neva?"
"Sort of," the Hutt answered. "But Neva's much more proactive. I now have a small shipping firm and when wars break out or something goes wrong for one of my workers I try and help out."
Ben Quadinaros's pod passed the lap marker still moving along at a relatively slow speed.
"Look, we're going to take you right where the action is and bring down the two lead Sepan ships and get them to communicate," stated Zoda. Zobba thought about it and nodded his head.
"Okay," he agreed. "Let's go."
The two headed for the T-16 and between them and Keira, all managed to squeeze in as the craft shakily took off into the air.
"So, head for Mos Espa?" Keira asked. Zoda shook his head along with Zobba.
"Then where?" asked Keira confused.
"Nowhere," said Zoda.
"Right here," clarified the Hutt pointing to the floor. Zoda was now reaching in his robe for something. Keira looked back out the window.
"Huh?" she asked. Zoda produced the same device from earlier that he'd plugged into Neva's pod.
"Here we go, recharged and ready to go," said the Jedi moving to the back. Keira remember what that'd done to the pod.
"You can't be serious," she said full of dread. "You can't possibly put a T-16 into orbit."
Zoda turned to face her. "I put a Nubian Bongo into orbit, this doesn't even compare."
"So saddle up!" declared Zobba as Zoda crammed the device into the vehicle's power coupler and everyone was slammed hard against what was behind them.
Race: Neva watched as the T-16 hurtled directly upwards and out of sight, its engine flame akin to a booster rocket.
"Good, that solves that problem," thought the diplomat pleased. But now was not the time for reflection, it was time for action.
"Follow me boys," said Neva as he moved his pod to the right of the track as Bozzie was slammed partway up the service ramp by one the mystery pods and his vehicle flipped over and crashed to the ground throwing flames everywhere.
"Up the ramp!" shouted Neva zooming straight up it.
"Are you nuts?" shouted Bumpy but he reluctantly followed suit.
"Awesome!" was Ody's response as the three pods roared up the ramp and then straight up into the open air. The pods arced through the sky and then slowly fell back to Tatooine.
"Alright I saw this done before at a previous Boonta E…previous podrace," Neva amended. "Hit your brakes!"
The three pods' engines cut out as the came closer and closer to the three pods, Wantan Eiken and the mystery racers, ahead of them.
"Boost now!" shouted Neva as the three pods rocketed forward and hit the ground directly between Eiken and the mysterious podracers. And then laser fire and thermal detonators started flying.
Space: "Cheer up Kay," said Zoda as he floated across the cockpit. "You're in the second T-16 to ever achieve orbit."
"Second?!" shouted Keira as she was holding onto her seat for dear life. Zoda nodded.
"I'd rather not go into what happened with the first," the Jedi continued before he began to realize he was starting to orbit Zobba.
"You need to cut down ZB," he commented. The Hutt blushed, embarassed.
"Well you used to keep me on my ummm…'toes' and I lost more weight hanging with you guys," the Hutt commented. Zoda nodded as Keira looked out at space beyond the windshield.
"I'm amazed we're still alive," she stated as in the distance two large dreadnaughts could be seen hammering each other.
"I think that every day," the Jedi agreed as he also saw the vessels. "Now here's where the fun begins."
"I have a bad feeling about this," Keira stated as they drifter ever closer to the fighting.
Ground: The six podracers jockeyed for position while blaster shots and thermal detonators rained everywhere.
"Ody spin left, Bumpy spin right," commanded Neva. The two podracers spun off in the different directions as Neva Kee also spun his pod around and burnt the forward engines of both pods behind him before slamming his accelerators along with Ody and Bumpy as they pulled away from the pods, further heating up the enemies' engines. But then all three had to split apart from the coming laser fire that that the Sepans shot at them.
"Oh I wish Zoda was here," Neva lamented. An explosion rocked his pod heavily and as the diplomat was getting his bearings, Zoda's lightsaber fell onto his lap. The diplomat looked at it curiously before an idea formulated in his mind and an evil smile crossed his mouth.
Space: The T-16 grew closer and closer to the fighter bay on the nearest dreadnaught.
"But I don't understand," said Keira. " Shouldn't they be able to detect us?"
Zoda nodded. "They should you're right. But the beauty of current sensor systems is that in order to ensure maximum efficiency, they're designed to not display things that shouldn't be there in the first place. There shouldn't be a T-16 in orbit so the radar will make a note of it and the person monitoring it can look at it if need be. But since we're flying in with no power because I'm using the Force, they'll think it's a bad echo reading. So we're safe."
"If you say so," said Keira doubtful. "But what about visual scanning?"
Zoda tapped his head with his finger. "The Force can be a powerful influence on the weak minded."
Keira turned to face Zobba.
"Has he ever tried this with you?" she asked. Zobba blinked and looked at Zoda who was waving his hands rapidly back and forth.
"…Yes," he said reluctantly. He really had no tact when it came to lying so he chose to tell the truth.
"And did it work?" Keira demanded, electricity seemingly emanating from her eyes. Zoda held up his three fingers on his left hand then two on his right.
"I plead the fifth!" declared Zobba crossing his arms.
Trial: "The fifth?" asked the Judge confused. "What's that?"
"Basically I can't testify against myself," the Hutt answered. The Judge looked at him perplexed.
"Never heard of that before," he commented. "So are you pleading the fifth now as well or…"
"I'll just continue with the story," said Zobba trying to avoid getting confused.
Space: "Oh look we're here," said Zoda cutting in. The T-16 slowly drifted into the bay and set down in a secluded corner. Zoda readied his lightsabers and headed for the exit.
"Be back soon," he declared. But before he could leave, Keira put herself in his path.
"I'm going with you," she stated. Zoda looked at her strangely.
"Get lost," he declared. Keira snapped her blaster out at and pointed it directly at the Jedi.
"I don't think so," she declared in response. Zoda was weighing his options about what to do when Zobba intervened.
"I think both of you going is a great idea," the Hutt said. "You'll both complement each other where there might be a failing and get the job done twice as fast."
The two looked at the Hutt and then each other and headed for the door. Zobba for his part pulled out his LCD monitor and continued to watch the race.
Race: Wantan Eiken raced past the stadium headed onto the third and final lap as behind him, Neva Kee raced through headed on his way followed by Ody and Bumpy raced through after him while the two Sepan podracers held back, biding their time for something.
"I don't like this," said Ody uncertain. "You ever get the feeling something bad is about to happen?"
"Every day," said Neva also looking around anxiously. And then a shadow fell over them and Neva's stomach settled. The Dreadnaught from one of the factions was now hovering over their heads.
"Neva?" asked Bumpy. Neva Kee closed his eyes and tried to meditate briefly before opening them.
"Yeah?" he asked. The guns on the Dreadnaught trained on them.
"This was a bad plan,"
The guns fired.
Space: Keira and Zoda moved cautiously down various corridors, hiding from the Sepans who appeared and moved when there were gone.
"All this sneaking around isn't really your style," Keira commented. Zoda seemed noncommittal at that.
"Depends on the situation," he commented. But before they could move, Zobba's voice came in over their earpieces.
"Guys we have a problem," he stated. "The other dreadnaught just appeared over the race and is hammering Neva and Eiken."
"That…complicates things," said Keira doing some calculations in her head. Zoda however was making different calculations.
"Actually it makes things easier," Zoda figured before noticing Keira's look. "During the Battle of Coruscant I saw the Chosen One expertly pilot a heavily damaged Providence-class carrier/destroyer from the upper atmosphere to the ground and landed on a specific spot to ensure minimal casualties. I think we can do that here."
Keira had no idea who 'The Chosen One' was, but she got the idea Zoda was trying to convey.
"You're going to get us both killed," she pointed out. Zoda pointed off into the distance.
"Escape pods that-a-way," he revealed before heading off. Keira angrily blew a stray strand of hair off of her face before following the Jedi. And then the Sepans found them and the fight joined.
Ground: Laser blasts ripped up everything as rocks and sand rained down everywhere. One rock in particular came crashing down on Ark's right engine taking it out…but not before he swerved into one of the two enemy podracers behind them taking it with him.
"Thanks Bumpy," Neva acknowledged. "I owe you a drink."
"You're darned right," said the other pilot. "But you'd better take out those other two first or there'll be hell to pay."
"Right," acknowledged Neva as he poured on the power and his pod moved faster than it had ever gone before with Ody in pursuit and the remaining Sepan podracer chasing after them. Given that the Dreadnaught was still peppering the area, it readily became apparent that the podracer was on the other side of the battle so to speak.
"What now oh fearless leader?" inquired Ody as they raced onto the canyon dune turn and now the Tuskens began firing at them.
"Immortality. Take it. It's yours," Neva quipped. Ody looked at Neva's pod curious and then hit the accelerator and slowly started to pull away towards Eiken. But slowly realization dawned on him about what he felt Neva Kee was really implying in his selflessness and slammed on the brakes, taking out the other Sepan podracer. Neva looked back at the flaming mass as Ody stepped out and ripped off his goggles before hauling the Sepan from the wreckage and to safety.
"I…know what it's like to be involved in a war without end," came the podracer's cryptic response. "So make sure it doesn't stay that way."
Neva nodded in response and made his way down the course after Wantan as the Dreadnaught lagged behind firing at them.
"Easier said than done," the diplomat realized as he weighed his options and realized he had none. Neva wasn't prone to despair but this was one of those rare instances where it was starting to seep in.
And then several things happened at once.
Wantan Eiken was so wrapped up in his arrogance over the fact that he was going to win this race that he didn't notice his pod was bearing down on the ever cautious Ben Quadinaros who was still a lap behind. Eiken had to jerk the stick and his pod rocketed to the side nearly scrapping against a side wall. It all caused the podracer to slow down and now found itself neck and neck with Neva Kee.
…And then an object streaked across the sky overhead on fire. It looked like a meteorite but behind the flames burned the six tale tell engines of a Rendili Dreadnaught were seen blazing brightly. The flaming dreadnaught plowed into the other Sepan dreadnaught and both slammed into the ground directly in front of Eiken and Neva throwing debris and damage everywhere.
"Will you do what is necessary?" declared Eiken, the first time he had spoken so far during this race. The two pods were now right next to each other and both racers could clearly see the other. A thousand thoughts flashed through the diplomat's head but in the end with one pure course of action ringing through his head. The diplomat turned his head and the two looked at each other eye to eye. And then a smile broke out across his face.
"Let's rock," he declared. The two podracers rocketed into the flaming wreckage.
Court: "I have to admit this is an engrossing story," the judge said. "But what is it's relevance to the issue at hand?"
Neva nodded. "Part of its relevance has already been revealed but you probably didn't think much of it. However, something else is going to come up that you won't think is relevant but is nearly the lynchpin of all that is to come."
Race: Flames and wreckage rocketed all around the two podracers as they raced through the wreckage of two exploding dreadnaughts while Sepans ran in different directions. The two podracers continued side by side as flames superheated their engines and smoke soon began pouring from them and both pods began to slow. Explosions still peppered the area as the pods slowly drew closer and closer together to avoid the flaming debris raining down everywhere.
"Tell me diplomat," came Eiken's strained voice. "Why do you care?"
"Because I feel it is the duty of every sentient being to help out those that are in need," the diplomat stated, something imparted to him once by a giant robot. Eiken thought about that before turning to the diplomat as a spiral of flames rocketed between them.
"And who is it that's going to help you?" the gun runner asked smugly. Neva tipped his head back behind him.
"They are," he said simply. Eiken looked at him curiously as Neva grinned and then the two podracers burst through the final bit of the flames and emerged into the open sun as the two dreadnaughts exploded throwing sand straight into the heavens. …And Ben Quadinaros simply covered his eyes in terror as his pod drove straight into it. And from the other end, a green blur raced across the sand dunes, a flying surfboard followed suit, and a T-16 entered into position with the podracer. Eiken growled at Keira, Zoda, and Zobba.
"This changes nothing!" he shouted. Neva shook his head disappointed.
"Ordinarily that may be true but you haven't realized one thing," he stated angrily. "I'm not in this to win; I'm here to see that you lose!"
Eiken's expression turned to horror as Zoda hopped into the air and launched the power core from earlier into Neva's hands as he leapt onto the flying surfboard that Keira was maneuvering as she kicked it away from the two podracers. Zobba then bravely flew his T-16 ahead of Neva and Eiken before slamming it down on its side, making a perfect ramp for Neva's pod as it took once more to the air.
…And came down right on top of Eiken's racer, taking out the gun runner's engines. Eiken's pod slammed into the ground and skidded to a halt. Neva's podracer only went a few more feet before the repulsors gave out and the pod unceremoniously crashed to the ground.
"Oh my head," complained Eiken bitterly. He looked up as a shadow fell over him and a pair of stuncuffs covered his wrists.
"By order of the Galactic Republic, you are under arrest," declared Zobba. Keira stepped out from behind the ambassador.
"Bet you never thought you'd hear a Hutt say that," she added wryly with an amused grin. Eiken groaned as Neva Kee and Zoda approached. The latter was hopping gingerly on his feet after having run barefoot at several thousand miles an hours across the blazing hot desert.
"You really need to wear shoes," Neva commented. Zoda looked down at Neva's bare feet and growled before his concentration broke and he continued hopping in pain.
"Well boys I'll…," began Zobba when a loud coughing noise was heard behind them. The group turned and saw a heavily charred four-engine podracer come to a halt. In the pod was a large mound of ash, which suddenly parted as Ben Quadinaros' ashy form pushed itself free. Quadinaros coughed heavily before removing his goggles, leaving two non-ashy circles on his face, and slumped over the edge of his pod exhausted.
"Oh," he said seeing the others for the first time. But he made no attempt to move and continued laying there as Zobba's LCD monitor crackled to life.
"Ladies and Gentlemen we are pleased to reveal that the winner of the perennial Boonta Eve Classic has been decided!" came the announcer's ecstatic voice. Everyone craned their heads to hear this, even Quadinaros who now sat up in his seat.
"Due to every other podracer either crashing or worse, the winner is effectively the last man standing and that individual's name is Ben Quadinaros!" shouted the announcer. Neva, Zobba, and Keira's jaws dropped at that while Zoda just looked insightful. Ben for his part elicited another 'oh' and then passed out in his pod.
"Well bye guys," said Zobba dragging off Eiken to the T-16. "I'll either be back at some point or I won't."
"Bye ZB," said Neva before turning to Zoda who was still pondering something.
"You know you're not as shook up about me loosing than I would've thought," the diplomat felt the need to point out. The Jedi grinned.
"I'm sure the shock'll hit me later," the Jedi said lightly. The diplomat nodded.
"So what now?" asked Keira now that the quartet was once more a trio.
"Well since Zobba just left with our only working transportation, we walk from here," said Neva Kee taking out his sunglasses and sliding them on. Keira watched with a sinking heart as the T-16 righted itself and vanished off into the distance. She looked back helpless as Zoda used the Force to place the pod on the surfboard as it sunk low to the ground but still barely hovered. Zoda and Neva affixed tow cables to it and began dragging the pod slowly across the ground Keira sighed and walked back to the pod and grabbed another tow cable and began pulling it with them.
"Like old times," Keira reminisced before wincing in pain at having to pull the heavy craft. The two others nodded in agreement and continued pulling when several silhouettes appeared from beyond the twin suns. The trio watched them cautiously before the silhouettes resolved themselves into Zoda's class.
"Need a hand?" they stated. Zoda nodded as the class grabbed their own lines and now the pod moved faster across the desert while behind them news crews descended on the hapless and unconscious Ben Quadinaros.
Later: "Muwahahaha," said Zoda counting his credits happily. He had just left the booking area and rejoined Keira and Neva.
"You cannot be serious," said Keira in clear disbelief. "You seriously put money on Ben Quadinaros?!"
"Yeah," said Zoda laughing hysterically. "And boy did it pay off. Money, money, money!"
"And you didn't bet on me because?" asked Neva feigning hurt.
"Because I was on your team and I couldn't really officially bet on you. Besides, even if I somehow could I'm not going to end up like Pete Ro-," began Zoda before Neva held up his hand.
"In summation, I knew your morals would cause you to loose," said Zoda tearing off away from them. Keira and Neva watched him leave in silence.
"So did he earn enough to get you off world?" asked Keira curious. The diplomat shook his head.
"No, Zoda usually only carries three truguts on him at all times and he only bets one of them," he answered. "He's got some, but not enough to do anything with them for now."
The two headed off back to the transport to return them to Tatooine U.
Trial: "And so it continues," Neva finished for this leg of the story.