"𝐖𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐰𝐢𝐧, 𝐀𝐧𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧."
8 | THE PODRACE
THE NEXT MORNING, HERA RODE ON AN EOPIE WITH ANAKIN AND PADME as they pulled Anakin's pod race parts into the garage with many other pod racers and racers. Padme sat behind Hera, and Anakin sat in front of her as he held the reins. Watto flew over to them as he turned to Anakin with a smirk.
"Ouna bakeesa. Bonapa keesa pateeso, o wanna meetee chobodd. (Better stop your friends betting or I'll end up owning him too.)" Watto said and he let out a small deep chuckle before flying away.
Qui-Gon and Jar Jar, who had arrived earlier that morning, came up to them.
"What'd he mean by that?" Anakin asked Qui-Gon, as he slid off the Eopie.
"I'll tell you later. Goodmorning." Qui-Gon said as he walked over to Shmi and helped her down.
Hera slid off the Eopie, and she turned around and helped Padme off the Eopie. The two girls stood next to Anakin and Kitster, who came to support his best friend.
"This is so wizard Ani! I'm sure you'll do it this time." Hera and Padme overheard Kitster say to Anakin.
"Do what?" Padme asked, and she turned to them while Hera stood slightly behind her.
"Finish the race, of course!" Kitster said bitterly.
Padme's mouth dropped slightly in shock as she turned to glance at Hera, who was equally shocked. Padme turned back to the boys.
"You've never won a race?" Padme said in shock.
"Well... not exactly..." Anakin said sheepishly.
Hera took a couple steps forward, and she continued to stand behind Padme. Hera looked over Padme's shoulder at the two boys.
"Not even finished?!" Hera questioned in shock.
Anakin looked at her sheepishly, and he wrapped his arm around Kitster's shoulders, and Kitster wrapped his arm around Anakin.
"Kitster's right, I will this time." Anakin said in slight confidence.
Qui-Gon came up behind him and put his hands on Anakin's shoulders.
"Of course you will." Qui-Gon said with an encouraging smile.
Hera and Padme shared a concerned and shocked look with Qui-Gon. Of course Hera believed in Anakin, but that was before she found out he has never won.
~~~
Hera stood with Padme and Shmi on the viewing platform as she listened to the introductions from the two commentators, Fode and Beed. Qui-Gon and Jar Jar were helping Anakin set up. Kitster was down on the ground with R2-D2, and C-3PO was walking out with a flag to represent Anakin.
Eventually, Qui-Gon and Jar Jar joined them in the viewing platform.
"Is he nervous?" Shmi asked Qui-Gon.
"He's fine." Qui-Gon said simply.
"You Jedi are far too reckless. The Queen is not-" Padme started, but Qui-Gon cut her off.
"The Queen trusts my judgement, young handmaiden. You should too." Qui-Gon said, bending down slightly to meet Padme's height.
Shmi and Hera stood awkwardly between them, while Jar Jar moved to their assigned spot on the viewing platform.
"You assume too much." Padme said with a scowl.
They walked over to join Jar Jar as the viewing platform raised into the air like an elevator. The Podracers' engines fired up as the countdown began. However, Hera sighed when the Podracers raced off, and Anakin and another member had stalled.
"C'mon Ani!" Jar Jar exclaimed.
Moments later, Anakin races off after the rest of the leaders.
"Go Ani, go!" Jar Jar yelled as he punched a fist into the air.
Hera and Padme leaned over Sami's shoulders as they watched through a small device that tracked Anakin's pod racer. She watched as Anakin passed many other racers, and the announcers announced that there were Tusken Raiders that were camped out at a part of the race. The second lap came and left, and eventually the third lap begins with Anakin and Sebulba neck-and-neck, and Sebulba was in the lead.
Hera watches through the screen as Anakin is forced onto the service ramp, however he manages to stabilize his ship and land right in front of Sebulba. Moments later, Anakin's pod racer begins to smoke, and Sebulba eventually passes him and takes the lead again. Anakin manages to get his Podracer under control, and he races side by side with Sebulba on the final stretch of the race.
"Careful, Ani, careful, Ani!" Jar Jar called, yet Anakin couldn't even hear him.
Sebulba hooks his steering rod with Anakin's, as Anakin struggles to get away from Sebulba. Anakin unhooks himself from Sebulba, and the release f tension caused Sebulba to spin and crash into a nearby boulder. Anakin takes the lead as he flies into the stadium, and the crowd erupts into cheers for the young boy. Jar Jar screams in excitement. Qui-Gon and Hera share a look, and Hera smiles at him before turning back to the field. The viewing platform lowered and the crowd rushed to Anakin. Qui-Gon lifted Anakin onto his shoulders in celebration as the boy threw off his helmet and goggles to reveal the difference between his dirty face and clean eye area.
"Mom! I did it! Yeah!" Anakin yelled in happiness before screaming in excitement.
~~~
It was about an hour after the Podrace, and the group were waiting to receive Anakin's prize money. They were still celebrating. Jar Jar picked Anakin up and into the air.
"Great job, Ani!" Jar Jar told the young boy.
Hera dropped to her knee in front of the young boy, and she gave him and big hug before pulling away. Padme dropped down next to Hera and gave Anakin a hug as well.
"We owe you everything, Ani." Padme said softly, and Hera nodded with a smile.
"We are grateful for your win, Anakin." Hera said softly, yet respectively, and she held her smile.
Padme stood up and Hera stood up as well, with the help of Padme. Shmi fell to her knees and gave Anakin a kiss on the cheek.
"It's so wonderful, Ani. You have brought hope to those who have none. I'm so very proud of you..." Shmi said with a proud smile as she gave him another kiss.
She stood up as well, and Anakin let out a mutter of sarcastic disgust. Hera looked around for Qui-Gon, wondering were he had gone to. She expected him to tell her when he had the chance, but she wanted to know what he had planned.
~~~
Hera stepped off of the Eopie with the help of Obi-Wan, and Padme stood next to them. Demaia walked over to Qui-Gon, and Obi-Wan and Hera followed. Padme walked with Jar Jar and R2-D2 into the ship. Qui-Gon sat on the other Eopie they were given.
"Well, we have all the essential parts we need. I'm going back... some unfinished business. I won't be long." Qui-Gon said as Hera handed him the reins to the other Eopie.
"Why do I sense we've picked up yet another pathetic life form...?" Obi-Wan questioned, and he received an elbow to the gut from Hera.
"It's the boy who's responsible for getting those parts." Qui-Gon said, and Hera finally understood.
"So that's what Watto meant by you needing to stop your betting." Hera said, and Demaia looked at Qui-Gon in shock.
"You were betting?" Demaia asked in shock and a joking smirk, which earned her an eye roll from Qui-Gon.
"Get this hyperdrive generator installed." Qui-Gon told them seriously, yet annoyed.
"Yes, Master. It shouldn't take long." Obi-Wan said with a nod.
Qui-Gon led the Eopies back into the the town of Mos Espa. While the three other Jedi made their way into the ship. Obi-Wan was needed in the front of the ship, and Demaia and Hera were left to put the generator in. The two talked about Hera's mission and about the boy who would hopefully be joining them. The were beginning to screw the parts they had taken off to put the generator in, back into place.
Suddenly, panicked footsteps were heard, and the two looked up (as well as Captain Panaka who was in the room) as they noticed Anakin run in with a backpack on his back and panting heavily.
"Anakin?" Hera questioned, and she pushed herself out of the floor panel, being followed by Demaia.
"Qui-Gon's in trouble!" Anakin exclaimed quickly.
Captain Panaka, Hera, and Demaia rushed over to the cockpit door, with Anakin following close behind.
"Qui-Gon's in trouble!" Hera quickly said, as she took the seat she had claimed as her own.
Obi-Wan was sat in a rolling chair, and he rolled his chair to be situated in between of Hera and Ric Olie.
"Take off." Obi-Wan ordered before pointing to where you could see to blades of color green and red fighting with each other. "Over there. Fly low."
Hera and Ric Olie managed to pilot the ship above Qui-Gon, and Hera checked the cameras to make sure he had made it on. When he did, she nodded to Ric Olie and they piloted the ship towards Tatooine's atmosphere. Hera stood up, and Obi-Wan led her, Demaia, and Anakin out to the room to check on Qui-Gon. They ran into the main room to see Qui-Gon on the floor breathing heavily. They surround him, Anakin and Obi-Wan on one side, and Demaia and Hera on the other side.
"Are you alright?" Anakin asked in worry.
"I think so." Qui-Gon reassured the boy.
"What was it?" Demaia questioned.
"I'm not sure... but he was well trained in the Jedi arts. My guess is he was after the Queen and..." Qui-Gon trailed off as he glanced to Hera who tensed slightly in response.
"What are we going to do about it?" Anakin asked, noticed Hera slightly tense up.
Obi-Wan and Demaia share and confused look to the new boy, who just stared at them innocently.
"We will be patient. Anakin Skywalker, meet Obi-Wan Kenobi and Demaia Oldenburg." Qui-Gon said, gesturing to the two their Jedi in the room that Anakin had yet to meet.
"Hi. You're a Jedi too? Pleased to meet you." Anakin said, turning to Obi-Wan and shaking his hand.
Obi-Wan and Demaia only looked between Hera and Qui-Gon, who both chuckled at the interaction between the two.
~~~
A/N: I really wanted to write the full Podrace scene, but me being a lazy-bum, I decided against it and that you guys deserved two chapters due to my lack of updates.