𝐑𝐄𝐃𝐄𝐌𝐏𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 | A. SKYWALKER

2.

Anakin and I had finally finished our day at Watto's junk shop. True to his word, Watto had let us go, and now we were on our way back home. The day had dragged on, but there was a certain relief in the air now that the work was over. Still, my thoughts lingered on the four strangers who had walked into the shop earlier.

It wasn't unusual for interesting people to pass through Watto's place, but something about them had caught my attention. The customers who visited always had something that intrigued me—especially when they came to buy parts for ships. The man earlier, for instance, had tried to buy parts for a podracer. Ships, podracers, anything that could take someone off this dusty planet. It made my heart race just thinking about it.

The thought of being on a starship, flying through the stars, seeing new planets, and escaping the confines of Tatooine... It was a dream that seemed so far out of reach, yet I couldn't help but long for it. The galaxy was so vast, so full of possibility. The idea of going anywhere I wanted, of finding a life beyond the harshness of slavery, was a fantasy I couldn't quite let go of. But deep down, I knew it was just that—a dream.

I was pulled from my thoughts when Anakin called my name, his voice full of excitement. I turned to him, raising an eyebrow.

"Look, it's the Gungan from earlier, Ria!" he said, pointing ahead.

I followed his gaze and saw the Gungan—the one who had been knocked to the ground by Sebulba. Without a word, Anakin grabbed my hand, pulling me along as he hurried toward the two figures. As we approached, Sebulba, who had been standing nearby, noticed us.

Anakin's voice broke the tension, and I could already sense that something was about to unfold.

"Because you're afraid," Anakin said, his voice steady but laced with warning. "Careful, Sebulba... This one's very connected."

Sebulba's eyes narrowed as he shifted his attention back to us, his grip on the Gungan loosening. His lip curled in disdain as he regarded Anakin and me, clearly unconcerned with the threat Anakin had just made.

"Whada you mean, slave?" Sebulba sneered, his thick accent dripping with mockery.

Anakin didn't flinch, his voice cold but with a hint of something dangerous beneath it. "As in Hutt... big-time outlander, this one..." He paused, his gaze unwavering. "I'd hate to see you diced before we race again."

The tension between them thickened, but I couldn't shake the unease crawling up my spine. Sebulba had always been a cruel, spiteful figure, a menace on the tracks and off. But today, his anger seemed sharper than usual, directed at Anakin and, for some reason, me.

I wasn't sure why I was even part of this. I hadn't done anything to provoke the Dug—nothing except stand beside Anakin, who had dared to challenge him. Yet Sebulba's wrath was all-encompassing.

The Dug turned away with a snarl, glaring at us one last time before speaking to the Gungan. "Next time we race, wermo, it will be the end of you!" Sebulba spat, his voice dripping with venom. "And you too, girl!" His eyes flicked to me, a cruel glint in them. "If you two weren't slaves, I'd squash you right now."

I felt a chill run through me. His words were sharp and cold, but they were also hollow. He was all talk, a bully on a power trip. But even still, something about the way he spoke made me uneasy.

Anakin, undeterred by Sebulba's threats, clenched his fists at his sides. "Yeah, it'd be a pity if you had to pay for the two of us," he shot back, his voice dripping with confidence and defiance.

As he spoke, I noticed the familiar figures approaching from behind—the man, the girl, and the droid. A sense of relief washed over me. Their arrival would hopefully disrupt this tense standoff. I turned to them, offering a welcoming smile, though I could still feel the weight of Sebulba's malice lingering in the air.