Star Wars - Destiny of the Jedi

Preparing for the Race

(Tatooine)

Back on Tatooine, while the sandstorm kept blowing through Mos Espa, Qui-Gon, Anakin, Jaden, Shmi and Padmé were all seated around a makeshift table, having dinner. Shmi started pouring milk on Qui-Gon's and Jar Jar's cups.

"All slaves have a transmitter placed inside their bodies somewhere." Shmi said. 

"I've been working on a scanner to try and locate mine." Anakin said.

"Any attempt to escape--"

"And they blow you up! Boom!"

Anakin slammed his hand on the table, while Padmé and Jar Jar looked horrified.

"How wude!" Jar Jar said.

"I can't believe there's still slavery in the galaxy." Padmé said. "The Republic's anti-slavery laws--"

"The Republic doesn't exist out here." Shmi said, sitting down. "We must survive on our own."

Suddenly, Jar Jar snatched an apple from the bowl with his tongue, causing everyone to look at him. Jaden was the only one giggling and found it funny.

Jar Jar gulped the apple down. "Xcuse me." He said.

"Has anybody ever seen a Podrace?" Anakin asked.

Padmé shook her head as a no, while Shmi had a concerned look ok her face.

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

"I'm the only Human who can do it." Anakin said, when he noticed his mothers look. "Mom, what? I'm not bragging. It's true. Watto says he's never heard of a Human doing it."

"You must have Jedi reflexes if you race pods."

Jar Jar attempted to snatch another apple from the bowl with his tongue, but Qui-Gon, in a flash, grabbed it between his thumb and forefinger. Jar Jar looked startled, while Jaden widened his eyes in awe.

"Don't do that again."

Jar Jar tried to acknoledge this, but he just yelped, before Qui-Gon let go of the tongue, causing it to snap back into Jar Jar's mouth, and he blubbered.

"You're a Jedi knight, aren't you?" Anakin suddenly asked.

Jaden's eyes widened again, while Qui-Gon now looked at Anakin again.

"What makes you think that?" Qui-Gon asked.

"I saw your laser sword." Anakin said. "Only Jedis carry that kind of weapon."

"You're a Jedi? Really?" Jaden asked.

Qui-Gon smiled and leaned back a bit. "Perhaps i killed a Jedi and took it from him." He said.

"I don't think so." Anakin said. "No one can kill a Jedi."

"I wish that were so."

"I had a dream i was a Jedi. I came back here and freed my Mom, brother and all the rest of the slaves. Have you come to free us?"

"No, i'm afraid not."

"I think you have. Why else would you be here?"

Anakin and Jaden looked back and forth between Padmé and Qui-Gon. Qui-Gon was thinking for a moment before he leaned forward, looking at the brothers.

"I can see there's no fooling you, boys." He said. "We're on our way to Coruscant, the central system in the Republic, on a very important mission."

"Coruscant... wow." Jaden said. "How did you end up out here in the Outer Rim?"