Chapter 4

Well, this is the chapter where you'll see an F-Zero race! I just want to get to the main point.

A/N 21/6/2016: This chapter contained some OOC moments for some of the characters, so I changed that a bit. I also found out that Don Genie is a very talented racer, and that Grip didn't affect the ability to win (Maybe it was my skills in F-Zero back then, when I couldn't handle anything under a 'B', but now, I can drive the Blood Hawk with an E level grip and still win). This chapter also contains the usual grammar and word changes.

Ahsoka woke up in her Orange Eagle, it was now coloured orange, and the cockpit was closed. She nodded her head groggily, as she remembered the big race that was going to happen, the Serial Gaps circuit.

It had been one week since she and Obi-Wan had been kidnapped. True to Genie's condition, Obi-Wan had been freed, but he chose to stay for Ahsoka, but Genie had promised, that if Obi-Wan revealed his slaves to the anyone, his life would forfeit.

"Are you awake yet?" Genie sternly asked, his voice was muffled by the Orange Eagle's window, which Ahsoka immediately opened after hearing his voice.

"Yes." Ahsoka answered, tone neutral.

"The race begins at 12:00 pm." Genie noted, Ahsoka glanced at her watch, and saw that she had two hours to prepare, it was 10:00 pm. "Be there!", he ordered

"I'll be there, don't worry the kriff out of yourself" Ahsoka sniped, Genie immediately left, and closed the door, Ahsoka sighed.

F-Zero racing was harder than she thought, mostly due to Genie being not fair in the races. But due to her enhanced reflexes and use of the Force, she was able to modify her machine to suit her needs, the stats were the same, but the way the machine handled was different.

But, she still didn't mind anything, she knew that he would let Obi-Wan go, and plus, even with Don Genie trying to almost kill her, it was fun, most of the time.

Ahsoka had watched, or been forced to watch, videos of previous Grand Prix, mostly F-Zero X, which was the second-generation F-Zero racing after a seven year hiatus due to a very big racing accident, the Horrific Grand Finale.

Ahsoka learned that this was the eighth-year F-Zero X Grand Prix. She checked the G-Diffuser system, a gadget in the vehicle which reduced gravitational forces, thus making it safer to drive on the fast vehicles, and it also allows anti-gravitational driving.

Time had passed as Ahsoka quickly worked through and scanned her vehicle completely. She hopped on and closed the cockpit window, she then put the car key on the keyhole and flicked it like a lever so it's side was facing Ahsoka, she saw a red button, which she pressed.

The G-Diffuser hummed, and the jets whooshed, as the vehicle lifted itself and the orange wings extended.

Seeing that the machine worked, she turned off the machine. It quickly lowered itself down, and the key ejected itself, which Ahsoka caught with her left hand. She smiled, she now needed to actually race.

Right then, Genie stood, with Obi-Wan behind him. Ahsoka briefly smiled at Obi-Wan, who smiled back, Genie frowned, as Ahsoka's smile faded. Genie walked two steps towards Ahsoka, as she hopped off her vehicle.

"Get on, and drive to the transport just to the left of this corridor" Genie ordered

"I will." Ahsoka obeyed, getting on the Orange Eagle, the garage door next to the doors Genie entered from slid up, opening itself, as Ahsoka started the vehicle once again, and driving to the specified transport.

Genie had already put his vehicle, the Fat Shark, in it. Ahsoka parked the Orange Eagle next to the Fat Shark. Ahsoka smiled, as the transport started moving the exact second Genie and Obi-Wan set foot in it.

The ride took a few hours, but they got there, Genie had registered the both of them earlier, and they were both on the race, Ahsoka was on 12th place while Genie was at 11th place at the start. There were 30 possible places.

Ahsoka and Genie were on their vehicles, Ahsoka made a nervous smile, she was ready, but nervous for the race. She wondered what kind of opponents would she be facing. She looked at the audience, and spread her senses to the audience, she sensed Obi-Wan in the crowd, who gave her reassurance through their bond.

The announcer started filing through the names, with a caption on them. Ahsoka didn't pay much attention to it, but Obi-Wan did. The announcer already had went through races like Dr. Stewart, Pico and Samurai Goroh.

"The Trader, Don Genie!", was announced, everyone cheered at that, at the exact same amount as previously, "The newbie, Ahsoka Tano!", everyone loved newbies at the race, so the cheering increased, all the fans were interested at knowing whether this one was good or not. Obi-Wan briefly clapped, few more names were announced, as two names came that he recognised, "The Bounty Hunter, Captain Falcon!", everyone went wild at that

Obi-Wan hummed in recognition, "So, he's a Bounty Hunter."

"The Knight, Anakin Skywalker!" The announcer exclaimed, Obi-Wan gasped in shock, as the world went dull around him.

He could still hear the cheering, which had increased, but Anakin? The one who had been lost for the last five years, was here? In another Realm?

Obi-Wan suddenly had many questions, as he looked at a cheering woman next to him, wearing a hat with a picture of Captain Falcon.

"Excuse me, miss?" Obi-Wan tapped the shoulder of the woman, who stopped cheering and looked at Obi-Wan

"Yes?" She politely asked

"Am I hearing wrong or did they say Anakin Skywalker?" Obi-Wan asked, just to make sure

"Yeah! Mr. Skywalker's like… the coolest racer in the entire universe!" The woman continued cheering along with the audience, leaving a confused Obi-Wan.

The cheering was continued for a bit, as a very calm Ahsoka noticed that her announcer screen had changed to the announcer himself, and not saying the names of the racers, that meant the race was going to start.

Her nervousness grew tenfold when the announcer said, "Ladies and Gentlemen, start your engines!"

Ahsoka did the gesture she's been doing for the past few weeks, turning the key and pressing the button. She did that, and her engine activated and her vehicle floated in unison with the others.

It was a while until screens floated in front of the racers… "3… 2… 1… Go!" The announcer shouted, as the racers started to accelerate, very fast.

The race had begun, and Obi-Wan was not surprised, when Anakin, who was in 30th place, had zoomed past half the racers already. He was a good pilot, and piloting alone without any complaints was something Anakin always wanted, Obi-Wan somehow knew that Anakin was having fun, despite their bond being muted for some reason.

Obi-Wan's musings ended as he heard the announcer, music started to play on the speakers as the racers raced in apparent tempo to it.

"Don Genie is gradually coming ahead of the other racers! With Ahsoka Tano behind him!" the crowd cheered, Obi-Wan smiled, as the announcer continued, "As always, Anakin Skywalker and Captain Falcon are brushing past the other racers with no effort!"

The racers couldn't hear the announcers, it would break their concentration if they did that, but they had the capability to connect to other racers with private lines requested at the beginning of the race, Ahsoka and Genie had one to connect to each other.

"Keep up! We need to beat Falcon!" Genie's voice barked at Ahsoka.

"Okay, Okay!" Ahsoka exclaimed back, as she began to speed ahead of Genie.

The announcer widened his eyes, at this race, which was very different from the others, Lap 2 started as Samurai Goroh went past the line first.

"The racers now have Boost Power." The announcer stated, Ahsoka had trained for this, she pressed a pedal next to the acceleration pedal, the boost pedal.

Ahsoka's vehicle raised speed, as the flames on the back of her vehicle expanded, Anakin followed closely behind, and none knew of each other's identities.

In his vehicle, the Sky Lion, Anakin nodded his head, noting that the racer in front of him, he didn't remember her name, yes, he did get her gender, she was good. Though not as good at him. He had activated his limiter, so his machine didn't go at too much speed, for now. He stayed behind the Orange Eagle, scanning her skills.

The racers went through a corner, Anakin and Falcon were now placed second and third, just before Ahsoka, who had gotten first. Genie was struggling to stay fourth, as many racers tried to take his place, as the racers in front of him were using strategies that made advantage of using his cornering ability, an E, against their competitors, by forcing him to drift many times, which slowed the speed of the vehicle by a lot, due to the bad grip.

Genie decided to do something, Skywalker and Falcon were packed closely together, he could easily make them crash. So he pressed his boost pedal, increasing his speed by a lot.

Warning flared in the Force, as Anakin sensed someone trying to ram both him and Falcon, so he activated the private line between him and Falcon.

"Falcon! Behind you!" Anakin warned shriekingly, as he quickly swerved left, Falcon swerved right, as Genie shot past them.

"Thanks, I could have crashed, but now, we need to catch up!" Falcon noted

"I have a plan, just stay behind Genie for now and try to stay one place behind me." Anakin ordered, as Falcon did that.

Obi-Wan had sensed the warning, and was relieved that Anakin had swerved at the right time with his vehicle… the Sky Lion. But Anakin didn't try to regain the place he had, and Obi-Wan knew that meant something.

"Amazing, Don Genie is in the top three!" The announcer exclaimed, as they all wondered how Falcon was going to beat him, except Obi-Wan, he wondered how Anakin would beat him, well, he didn't mind as long as either Ahsoka or Anakin won. He had faith in both of them and their piloting abilities.

Ahsoka was in first place. This was not something she expected, and she was not resting, she needed to keep this place, or punishment was imminent, and from her former Master, Anakin's stories, that was something she didn't want.

"We've got it easy today, I am in second place" Genie boasted, his voice reached the Orange Eagle through the connection in their vehicles. Ahsoka wondered, why Genie did enslave her if it was that easy.

The four went through the small tunnel, and the third lap began, and the music that was playing changed to a similar music, but a lot faster. Anakin half-smiled, it was time he executed his plan.

"Falcon, go ahead of me and try to beat Genie." Anakin ordered, Falcon widened his eyes in happiness.

"I get you now!" Falcon realised Anakin's plan, as he went ahead, and pressed the boost pedal, twice.

His vehicle spun, as everyone gasped, it was a lucky shot, as Falcon's machine, the Blue Falcon, hit the Fat Shark, which swerved out of control, though the vehicle which received the attack was grounded by it's strong body and heavy weight, but it's bad grip made it slow down a lot while trying to recover, Falcon and Anakin sped ahead.

Anakin turned off his limiter, and the vehicle went at it's full potential, he had based the Sky Lion off his old pod, despite it's shape and structure was similar to a N-1 Starfighter, except sky blue, hence the name Sky Lion. So it's acceleration was very quick, though not as quick as Stewart's Golden Fox, which had acceleration in mind when it was first built. This acceleration was slightly slower than the Blue Falcon's

Anakin and Falcon both boosted ahead, so they were in tie, right beside each of Ahsoka's sides.

Genie tried to find a way to get past. He didn't want to kill a slave that was doing so good. Skywalker and Falcon were making this impossible! In anger, he boosted again, wasting his energy, so it went to the red level of the bar, Anakin sensed him trying to ram into him, he did a spin attack, and Genie's vehicle was pushed back.

Because of the lack of energy, Genie's vehicle could not boost anymore, and he was stuck at 4th place, which Ahsoka was trying to get back to 1st place, but the two pilots were making this impossible!

She realised that she had fallen into a trap, the two racers beside her had been toying with her, a toy to be played with until broken.

The Sky Lion boosted, so did the Blue Falcon, leaving the Orange Eagle in 3rd place, as the Sky Lion went to the finish line.

"Finish! Anakin Skywalker wins!" The announcer exclaimed, as the results showed up on an overhead screen.

Anakin was 1st, Falcon was 2nd, Ahsoka was 3rd, Goroh was 4th and Genie was 5th.

"The medals will be presented in 10 minutes, races Anakin Skywalker, Captain Falcon and Ahsoka Tano are to stay, in order to get their trophies." The announcer calmly said, as the vehicles parked at the locations where the machines would start, except on the placings they finished on, most machines that is, because four machines had crashed in-race.

All the racers got out of their vehicles, as the break started, the immediate moment Ahsoka had stepped off her vehicle, she was grabbed the the collar of her racer's outfit and pulled outside the road, to the side of where the audience watched.

And immediate pain jolted through her, as she was slapped by a big hand, Genie, unfortunately.

"You let two racers pass you! And you let them crash me!" Genie hissed at Ahsoka.

"It is not her fault Genie! Let her go!" Anakin shouted from behind Genie.

"Anakin Skywalker. Falcon's partner!" Genie exclaimed, Ahsoka suddenly experienced shock, as Genie let go of her arm, and she dropped to the floor, Genie turned around to face the angry 28 year old.

"Anakin?" Ahsoka whispered, surprised at his appearance.

"Genie, so you just had to grab a slave yourself when I didn't? Is this what you wanted me to do? Give you a slave that can beat me?" Anakin asked, then he continued, "I would never do actions to my own demise!"

"The strong rules over the weak! It's the rules of nature." Genie argued, Anakin frowned further.

"No one is weak, inside everyone is true strength, people like you are weak, as you try to break the people's strength inside them to make yourself feel better." Anakin explained, Genie rolled his eyes, as Anakin put himself on the grip of the force, as his left arm shot out and made Genie float, Anakin then slowly made the motion of clutching it into a fist.

Ahsoka widened her eyes, as she saw her former Master use the dark move, Force choke, Genie clutched his neck, as invisible fingers pricked on his neck, suddenly, he was let go, as he dropped to the floor, and Anakin walked over to him.

"I can kill you as easily as Deathborn. Lucky he died just before I arrived." Anakin threatened, Genie didn't believe that Skywalker was as powerful as Deathborn, but the rich man did believe that the Anakin Skywalker was very powerful in his own right, "Your new slave is now in my custody, go before I change my mind of letting you live."

Genie quickly picked himself up and ran, in fear of his own life. The reason he tried to hire Anakin to capture a slave was because of his intimidating air, and he didn't want to get on the man's bad side.

Anakin stopped looking at Genie, then turned around saying, "Don't worry, I won't hurt…" he then looked at Ahsoka, and gasped, Ahsoka's eyes widened at seeing Anakin for the first time in almost six years, his eyes widened in shock as he whispered, "Ahsoka?"

"Master." Ahsoka stated, as Anakin got her to stand up.

"I… It's… been… a while" Anakin stuttered.

"Yes. It has. It's good to…" Ahsoka ran towards Anakin, and did something he didn't expect, she hugged him, she then cried, "It's good to see you again."

"Ahsoka… don't cry…" Anakin tried to calm her down, as he softly held her tighter to him, it felt good.

"But… it's been hard without you, when I returned to the Jedi Order and found that you were gone… it was very hard for me, I searched for you every mission I was sent to." Ahsoka sighed, leaning her face against Anakin's chest as she tried to calm her emotions.

"And now, I'm here! Sorry for making you emotional, Snips." Anakin joked, Ahsoka giggled at that.

"Hey, Anakin! They're giving the medals out now!" The two heard a voice, Anakin turned and stepped a bit to the right to see his best friend, Captain Falcon.

"Yeah sure, oh… Falcon." Anakin called, Falcon stopped, and turned

"Yes?" He asked, curious on why Anakin called

"Meet Ahsoka Tano, my old pupil… from the other realm, and the pilot of the Orange Eagle." Anakin introduced as Ahsoka smiled, forgetting about her show of emotion earlier.

"Oh, so you're that pilot. You were pretty good for a first-timer, I can see where you got that skill, if you are Anakin's pupil." Falcon praised, winking, as the three walked beside each other, to the place where the trophies were handed out.

Anakin stood on a floating platform that said '1', Falcon stood on a platform that floated a bit lower than Anakin's, it said '2', and finally, Ahsoka stood on the lowest-flying platform that said '3'. There was cheering, as Ahsoka got handed the bronze cup, she held it on her shoulder with her two hands. It was small, there was cheering.

Then Falcon was handed the silver cup, the cheering increased, as he held it up to his face level with one hand. The cheering increased even more, as Anakin finally got handed over the gold cup, he raised it as high as he could, the moonlight was caught on the gold cup, making it shine.

Ahsoka smiled, as she glanced briefly at Anakin, all was good. She had her former Master back, and she was free, despite she had no problem being a slave, but that was before she found him.

She saw Obi-Wan in the crowd, cheering for both Anakin and Ahsoka. Now, all was good, and she hoped it stayed that way for a long time.

Well, that was the chapter itself! I hope I've detailed the race good enough. Anyway, this is far from the end of the fanfiction, it will be short. The next chapter will be when Obi-Wan and Anakin meet again in person. May the Force be with you!