Chapter Five

I opened my eyes and frantically searched around. I was in my room, dimly lit from the sunrise. I got dressed and went to look for my new Jedi friend. I had a very bad feeling. I found him in the same place I left him last night, only now he was sitting on the ledge with his feet crossed.

Before I could knock on the wall to announce myself he turned his head to look at me. "What is it Kida?" he questioned.

"I feel something. I don't know how to explain it. But it's powerful. I don't know what it means." I said frantically, making the light hanging outside shatter. "It doesn't feel like a peaceful presence."

He looked out in the distance, searching for what I felt, "It could be my apprentice. He is back on my ship waiting for me. However, he is as good as they come."

"I'm sorry if I disturbed you." I was ready to turn around and make breakfast but Qui-Gon stopped me.

"Not at all. Why don't you join me?" He invited me. He turned to face me as I sat in front of him, matching his position. "Close your eyes and take deep breaths, in and out, clear your mind of everything." He demonstrated as he closed his eyes, "This is called meditation. Jedi do this to relax and be one with the force."

I closed my eyes and followed his instructions. I felt like I was floating on a cloud. The uneasiness I felt was gone, the nervousness about the race. I didn't feel anything except calm. I saw myself holding a lightsaber, flying in a ship, and kissing someone with auburn hair and blue eyes. The man, Obi-wan from my dreams made me feel safe, almost like he's my anchor to this world. I saw a man, with short brown hair and a braid with a black leather vest kissing an older version of Padme. Suddenly, I was in a metal room with red beams. The man I kissed is behind me while Qui-Gon fights with the man from my nightmares. The one with a red and black face, horns on his head, and weird yellow eyes. He looked like someone who killed first and asked questions later. He made me feel nervous, except when I looked down, I had a lightsaber in my hand, except this time, it was blue and I felt angry.

I opened my eyes to Qui-Gon, looking at me proudly. I felt a lot taller and when I looked down, I was levitating in the air. I dropped to the balcony floor, losing my concentration, and Qui-Gon let out a chuckle. "Not many padawans can meditate on the first try. Well done."

"I thought I was dreaming until I felt you looking at me." I rubbed my legs and my butt from the hard bump.

"Those were visions. They are for your eyes only."

"But I saw you." I started to tell him, "You were fighting the man from my nightmare. I was holding a lightsaber."

He closed his eyes, "I saw something similar. I wouldn't worry too much about it. Sometimes visions are wrong. Right now, however, you have a race to prepare for." he stood and offered to help me down from the ledge. I smiled, feeling the need to let him help me after what I saw. We walked into the kitchen for breakfast. I only managed to eat a piece of toast and some juice. Something was nagging me about my new friend. I felt like things were going to get worse. A lot worse.

"Kida," my mother came to me, "please eat a little more. You barely had anything."

I shook my head, I never filled my stomach on race day. I'd end up quitting the race from being nauseous. Qui-Gon excused himself and walked out of the front door.

"Kida, it's race day!" Anakin rushed out of his room hugging me. "I saw you win the race! I know you are going to win. I'll make sure the pod is in the best shape of its life." He took a deep breath from talking too fast.

"Easy, Ani." I giggled, "Eat and then we can head over."

Padme, Anakin, my mother, and I arrived in the garage to get set up for the race. The people that were participating in the race were standing next to their pods preparing while others were doing last-minute maintenance on the pods. I looked around and spotted Watto flying towards us and looked very happy.

"Kida, better stop your friend's betting or I'll end up owning him too." he laughed as he flew away. I glared at him with daggers in my eyes, one of the pods near me made a sound and I saw a dent in the front. I turned to Anakin who looked at me confused and saw Qui-Gon walking toward us smiling.

"What did he mean by that?" Anakin and I asked simultaneously.

Qui-Gon announced he'd tell us after that race, and I walked to Ani's pod, putting it behind me for now. He helped our Mother off of the creature as Anakin helped Padme. Anakin decided to bring his droid C-3PO along with us to watch the race. I had to help Anakin finish covering 3PO, his wires were showing almost everywhere and I knew C-3PO didn't like it. I heard him talk to Qui-Gon's droid who beeped at him and waited for me to tow my pod to the starting lineup. Anakin's closest friend, Kitster, who was also a slave found me and stood next to me to wish me luck.

"I think I made Anakin's new friend mad." he looked down as if he just lost his best friend.

I looked down at him, "Why? what did you say?" I put my gloves and scarf over my neck.

"I told her you only finished one race before, and that was just your pod breaking as it crossed the finish line. Then she just stormed off."

I shrugged, messing up Kitster's hair as I smiled at him "She might just be nervous. They bet their ship I would win." I ruffled his hair more, "Go be with Ani. He's not racing today. I'll see you after I finish." I motioned for R2 to follow me to pull it to the starting line. I walked along with the cute droid I had warmed up to. He was a funny droid. I didn't need to tell him what to do most of the time, and he also made a friend in C-3PO.

I walked out into the sun, hearing the loud cheers from the audience in the stands. The announcers are heard from the speaker who narrated all the racers that were lined up. I rolled my eyes as I walked beside Anakin's pod double-checking that my gloves were fastened correctly. I wasn't dressed that differently today. I had my beige shirt on with my pants and boots on my feet. I only wore these for race day. Sebulba's name was called as he climbed up on his pod making the crowd cheer louder.

"Give me a break." I muttered as he blew kisses to the crowd.

The announcers began to name all the racers one by one. Looked like a lot of people came to this race. I started to feel nervous again, but I closed my eyes and took deep breaths to relax. I had to remember to meditate more, it really helped. Anakin and I were on auto-pilot, getting the pod set up with last-minute touches.

"Finally we have the late entry, Kida Skywalker. A local girl." the announcer stated. I looked up and waved to the crowd as I finished helping Ani. The crowd cheered loudly for me. It brought a smile to my face.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Ani asked me for the final time.

"Too late to back out now." I winked at him, "You don't think I can do it?"

"No, I know you can. I built this thing. Just bring it back in one piece ok?" He hugged me and walked off to where our mother was. Padme, Jar Jar, and Kitster were standing with her as well. I turned around when I heard my mother.

"Be safe," she hugged me tightly. "Pay attention to your surroundings and show your new friend you are a winner." She smiled and kissed my forehead. "Remember, you are a winner for even making it this far."

"I will. I promise Mom." giving her another hug, she walked back to Ani when I felt Qui-Gon standing behind me. I turned around and faced him, giving him my brave face. He opened his mouth to speak, but Sebulba interrupted him.

"You won't walk away from this one, you slave scum." he rubbed his face with one of his hands.

"Don't count on it, slimeball." I glared at him as he walked away then turned my attention back to Qui-Gon. "Don't worry he doesn't get under my skin. I'm not scared of anything." I proudly smiled.

"Are you all set Kida?" He asked instead. I nodded my head, getting ready to sit in the pod until he grabbed my hand to help me in. He handed me my helmet, "Remember, concentrate on the moment. Feel, don't think. Use your instincts."

I smiled, taking the helmet from him to put it on. "I will. You won't lose your ship, don't worry."

"May the force be with you." he rubbed my head as he walked away. What a weird saying. Is that a Jedi thing?

The horns blew as the announcers announced the race was about to start. As always, my previous owner, Jabba The Hutt, or as I call him, the Slug, slithered out welcoming everyone to the race. Mrs. Slug was standing beside him along with their translator. Finally, he announced the race was starting, making everyone, including me, start our engines. The pod immediately roared to life. So far so good. I felt the vibration in my hands from the handles and gripped them even tighter. You can do this. I can do this. You can win! The screen lit up with the engine status and the other pod's functions appeared. I sat waiting for the signal to start. I can do this. I heard the bell dong and immediately I put the handles in front of my head forward, only for the pod to stall.
"No no no no!" I released the handles to try and figure out what was wrong. I felt the other racers zoom past and it made my anger rise. My handles started to bend, I took deep breaths "Come on! I did not give up money for my freedom to not have you start!" I flicked some switches but nothing happened.

"Wait, young Kida Skywalker has stalled." The announcer's voice echoed over the speakers and I heard people laugh.

"Shut up!" I tried to control my anger and anxiety as best as I could. "Come on baby. Please work!" I flicked the engine switch on again and this time, I heard a loud boom but I ignored it as I talked to the pod as if it would understand me. "Come on you hunk of junk. I didn't race my pod because mine is still broken and you were in the best shape for this race. You are going to start, and I'm going to win by piloting you!" I kept trying to make the piece of junk start. An idea formed in my mind. I pulled down on the lever next to my left leg and heard my engine roar making me smile. I immediately gripped my handles pushing them forward and zoomed off. The other racers were far ahead of me, so I pushed down harder, hearing the engine roar louder going faster. I started to approach a racer and became more aware of my surroundings. I turned the pod to the left going around one racer and then moved to the right, gaining another position. I saw the large trench coming, I didn't press my luck trying to get ahead of the pod in front of me so I stayed behind him. I passed through the trench without a problem successfully avoiding the rocky walls. I took the opportunity to get ahead of the racer in front of me. I quickly moved to the left, cutting him off as I gained another spot. I noticed Anakin's pod was a lot faster. Thank you, Ani! I went through another trench and I knew a cave appeared right after. The caves were dark, with only some pockets of light. It was very easy to crash and die there, and sadly many racers do. I started to feel nervous again but I heard the Jedi's voice in my head, trust your instincts. So that's what I did. I avoided a rock sticking up from the ground but I saw an explosion in front of me. I quickly sped up, going through the flames as fast as possible. I felt the scorching heat on my face as I passed through, successfully making it out of the cave without scratches. I sensed raiders nearby and heard gunshots. I steered the pod from side to side to avoid their line of sight but the bullets still hit but ricocheted off the pod. I breathed a sigh of relief when I didn't sense them anymore.

I approached the starting line, making the first lap. My confidence was growing as I sped around the track. Sebulba was in first, three people were ahead of me which placed me in fourth. I pushed the pod faster, gaining on the next racer. I couldn't find an opening to get around him, he kept blocking me. I remembered we were approaching the small jump and pushed the pod to go faster. He went first, and I maintained speed as I zoomed off the edge to land in front of the racer. I smiled and gained speed to the next racer. I moved to the left to go around, but he moved in the same direction. The sound of metal clashed as he slammed his pod into mine. I grew angry, trying to shake him off me. Trust my instincts. He tried to slam into me again, but instead, I flipped the pod in the air to the right landing successfully, and sped off. I approached the trench again, realizing I was catching up to Sebulba. Only one racer was between us. I successfully passed through the trench again and worked on getting ahead of the guy in second. Before I could come up with a plan to get around him the pod in front of me suddenly caught on fire as the racer crashed. I quickly sped up and avoided the debris, moving left and right around the scattered pod parts. It was just me and Sebulba now. He played dirty, nothing I wasn't already used to. Sebulba was the only thing keeping me from winning. I can do this. Something hit the pod and I was suddenly spinning out of control. The screen in front of me blinked rapidly. The right engine line that hooked onto the pod was detached. I refused to panic as I pulled the magnet out from next to me and aimed it at the line to reconnect it. I heard some pods pass me but I knew I would be able to get back to Sebulba. The screen lit back up and I hooked it onto the side of the pod, fully in control now. I sped up and regained the distance I lost. I passed the racers without any issues. Moving left and right, I went around every racer until I was behind Sebulba again. The cave isn't an issue as I once again pass through it approaching the finish line again. The raiders shoot again, and another bullet ricochets off the pod, not fazing me. I was determined to win today. I pass the finish line, completing my second lap. Only one more to go.