Chapter 4: The Race:

"-All slaves have a transmitter placed Inside their bodies somewhere, even my friends and sisters have them. I've recently begun working on a scanner type device to try and Locate mine. But I'm having to be extremely careful." Anakin explained as he showed Qui Gon and the others his inventions, including C-3P0.

"Any attempt to escape... And they blow You up!" Amina muttered.

"Boom, that's how Gerald went." Tirana added with a sad frown.

"Who is dis Gerald?" Jar Jar asked, blinking at the name.

"He was a Wookie youngster slave. He tried to pry the transmitter out of his bare back and... his master caught him in the act." Shmi explained.

"I can't believe there's still slavery in the Galaxy. The Republic's antislavery laws.." Padme began.

"The Republic doesn't exist out here. We must survive on our own, nobody cares or even notices." Rivana replied with a shrug.

"Has anybody ever seen a Podrace?" Anakin asked, Trying to change the topic as everyone was getting uncomfortable. He could feel it.

"They have Podracing on Malastare. Very fast, very dangerous" Qui Gon nodded.

"Well I'm the only human who can do it. The only one on Tatooine at least." Anakin smiled.

"You must have Jedi reflexes if you can race such Pods. I've never heard of a regular human being able to before." Padme hummed.

"Qui Gon is a Jedi knight, aren't you?" Tirana pointed put, turning her head to look at him.

Qui Gon smiled softly. "What makes you think that?" He asked.

"We saw your Laser sword, Only Jedi's carry that kind of weapon." Amina stated.

"Perhaps I killed a Jedi and simply took it from Him."

"I don't think so, No one can kill a Jedi." Anakin stated confidently.

"I wish that were so. Recently, a mentor of mine. Master Sifo Dyas, left the plane of the living." Qui Gon revealed.

After a few seconds of silence, Anakin decided to continue talking. "We shared a dream recently, my sisters and I – we came back here and freed all the slaves."

"Have you come to free us?" Rivana asked hopefully, tilting her head cutely in childish innocence.

"I think you have. Why else would you all be Here?" Anakin concluded.

"I can see there's no fooling you, Anakin. You deserve the truth. We're on our way to Coruscant, the Central system of the Republic... we are all on a very Important mission. But, the force has brought me here. Not just for you Anakin, but your sisters. You all have great potential."

Anakin smiled, as did Shmi.

"I knew it!" The young boy exclaimed.

"We must be careful however, I worry this will not be as easy as I hope." Qui Gon hummed.

"You can say that again, Watto just won't let us go free for nothing. He's too stubborn and greedy for that." Shmi sighed.

"He must have a weakness." Padme argued.

"Gambling. Everything here revolves around betting on those awful podraces. Its how he won us from Gardula the hutt." Shmi told him.

"Hmm, Greed can be a powerful ally." Qui Gon noted, thinking it over.

"I told you I raced.. and I've shown you my newly built racer. It's the fastest ever. Well There's a big race tomorrow on Boonta Eve, You could enter my pod." Anakin suggested.

"Anakin, Watto wouldn't possibly let you." Shmi reminded him.

"Watto doesn't know I've built it. I may have...'borrowed' some parts from his shop." Anakin replied with a sheepish smile.

You could make him think it was yours..

And get him to let me pilot it for you.

"I don't want you to race. It's awful. And I die a little inside every time Watto makes you do it." Shmi told her son.

"But, Mom, I love it. And the prize money would more than pay for us all!" Anakin smiled.

"Anakin... I'm sorry but Your mother's right." Qui Gon said, not wanting to endanger the boy's life.

"Is there anyone friendly to the Republic who could help us?" Padme asked Shmi.

"No. Besides one or two people out there, this place is a hive of scum and villainy."

"Mom, you say the biggest problem in this Universe is nobody helps each other. Let me do this... please." Anakin begged.

Shmi looked into her son's eyes and knew she could not deny him this. So with a heavy heart she turned to face Qui Gon. "I may not like it, but he can help you. I feel like...He was meant to help you"

"Are you sure about this? Trusting their fate to a boy we hardly Know? The queen will not approve." Padme stated.

"The queen doesn't need to know." Qui Gon retorted with a small smile.

"Well, I don't approve" Padme muttered darkly.

The starfleet security officers lightly chuckled. This wasn't their business. But if anything looked like it was going sideways, they would intervene. They would not endanger the kids.

~ - ~ - ~- ~

"The boy tells me you want to sponsor him In the race, How can you do this? Not on the Republic credits, I think." Watto scoffed.

"No, but my associates have given me something I think you may like. It's called Gold Pressed Latinum, and According to their exchange rate, This large bundle here is probably worth... thirty thousand." Qui Gon smirked. ((I completely made that up, no shade please.))

Watto had a look at the small shiny pile of metal and licked his lips, this could make him rich... and so he was interested.

"Fine but What would the boy ride? He smashed up My only pod in the last race. It would take some long time to fix it..."

"I have acquired a pod in a game of Chance. Apparently it is The fastest ever built. I will supply that."

"I hope you didn't kill anyone I know for it. So, you supply the pod and the entry fee.. And I supply the boy. We split the winnings 50-50, I think, huh?" Watto suggested.

"If it's going to be 50-50..I suggest you front the cash for the entry. If we win... you keep all the winnings. However you will free Anakin. And if we lose, you can keep the money and Anakin. Either way, you win." Qui Gon replied.

After thinking it over, the Toydarian grinned. "Deal!" Watto grinned.

(The next morning, just before the race)

It was approximately five minutes before the race, and Watto had decided to meet Qui Gon and his group by the entry to the main field.

"I want my money and Anakin, the moment the race is over." He told the Jedi.

"Patience, my blue friend. You'll have your winnings before the suns Set. And we'll be far away from here." Qui Gon promised.

"Not if your boy loses, and I warn you, no funny business!" Watto snarled.

"You don't think Anakin can win?" Padme frowned.

"Don't get Me wrong, I have great faith in the boy. He's a credit to your race... but Sebulba There is going to win, I think." Watto chuckled, gesturing to the who was sat in his orange and black X shaped Pod racer.

"Why do you think that?" Qui Gon asked softly.

"He always wins! I am betting heavily on Sebulba, he never loses!" Watto laughed again.

"I 'Il take that bet."

"What?" Watto and Qui Gon's group exclaimed.

"I'll wager my new racing pod against, Say... the rest of his family." Qui Gon stated.

"No pod is worth five slaves, not by a long Shot!" Watto scoffed.

"I could always add more to the lithium... my friends aren't in short supply. Say another thirty thousand?" Qui Gon offered.

Watto grunted, annoyance obvious on his face until he remembered something. His dice!

"We'll let fate decide, huh? I just happen to have a chance cube here. Blue, The family goes with you and I get more Latinum. Red, The family stays but I still get Latinum. Sound fair?"

Qui Gon nodded, agreeing to the deal.

Watto smiled darkly and tossed the weighted cube, he always won these tosses due to his rigged dice. Red always won..

However this one time, for some reason, it landed Blue side up. And with Watto not wanting to risk embarrassment..

"You won this small toss outlander, but You won't win the race, So it makes little difference!" The Toydarian sneered.

(Later...)

"Mom, I did it! Yay!" Anakin smiled, tears streaming down his face.

"Good going, Ani!" Tirana exclaimed, proud of her older brother.

"Yeah you did awesome, Bro!" Amina added. With Rivana just hugging her brothers arm, too excited to say anything.

"It's so wonderful, Ani. You have brought hope to those who have None. I'm so very proud of you." Shmi whispered to her son, hugging him close.

(By the betting area)

"You! You swindled me. You knew the boy was going to win, Somehow you knew it. I lost everything... Even the money you still owe me. I bet too much and lost that also!" Watto growled out.

"Whenever you gamble, my friend, eventually you lose. Now release the boy and his family." Qui Gon said.

"You can't have them. It wasn't a fair bet!" Watto wined pathetically.

"Would you perhaps like to discuss it with the Hutts? I'm sure they can settle this." Qui Gon suggested with a knowing look on his face.

Watto scowled. "Fine...take them."

(End of chapter four, Sorry for the long wait! I've been busy with work, I got really sick recently and I'm only just feeling a bit better.

Also the reason I didn't write the Pod-Racing scene is because I have a TON more to write and reveal for this story, and the pod race was just...too much work for a short part of the story. Sorry if you enjoy that part of the movie, I do also! But I have more important things to add. Hope you enjoy and are ready for more soon! )