Lone Territory || Episode 1 ||

[4] FOUR //

A vast arena with a semi-circular formation towered over the racers, and even more so over Orabelle and Anakin. She had never seen anything like a pod race before, or anything quite like the boonta eve race. The announcer's voices drowning out in among the noise, particularly noise Orabelle didn't pay attention too. She was rather content helping Anakin, whatever it was he wanted her to do.

Everything was in order, the crowd was ready and so were the racers. Catching a last glimpse past the arena and seeing the dangerous terrain only kilometres away gave Orabelle an unnerving feeling, she often said that she was always afraid of what she couldn't see. However that all changed to she was afraid of what she couldn't feel.

"I'll be fine, I won't let you down." Anakin's voice interrupted the young girl's thoughts. She looked away and turned to the boy, smiling weakly she certainly believed in him and if there were anyone in the galaxy who could win the race it were the young boy who could grow up to be the most powerful Jedi.

"I know you won't Ani, You're the best pod-racer out there." Her smile grew as she referred to Anakin's comment merely a day ago, about her being 'the coolest Jedi.' Anakin smiled nonetheless, happy that she could see him in action, "but you haven't seen me race before." She ruffled the boy's hair, "I don't have to see to know," she bent down and kissed him on the cheek for good luck before joining Padme and Shmi in the viewing tower.

All seemed in order and the crowd grew tense, as they eagerly awaited for the race to begin. Qui-Gon shortly joined the others as they could over-look the race together. "Is he nervous?" Shmi asked anxiously, she had never liked watching her son race because there was always that chance that he could die, given the nature of this type of sport, it wasn't an overreaction. 

"He's fine," Qui-Gon answered without turning, his eyes glued to the starting grid, overlooking the race. "You Jedi are far too Reckless. The Queen-." Padme started, only to be cut off by Qui-Gon.

"The Queen trusts my judgement, young handmaiden. You should too."

"You assume too much." The handmaiden murmured, Orabelle glanced at her, "us Jedi tend to get these feelings, it's the force within us that tells us Anakin is destined for greatness, we believe in him." Qui-Gon looked down as the girl spoke, so fluently and wise. Perhaps even wiser than Qui-Gon himself, but that wont be until long after he has passed. 

As the tense air reached its peak, the racers sped off, only Anakin remained as his engine stalled. The group watched on, their breath hitched in the back of their throats. "Come on Anakin," Orabelle whispered almost desperately. Almost like he had heard her words of encouragement, his engine began with a high pitch squeal and he sped off, joining the large group of competitors.

Soon, young Anakin's pod was out of sight and the group had to look on through a handheld screen, hoping that he'd make it out alive as two pods had already combusted in a spectacular show of flames and smoke. Orabelle noted that the planets situated in the outer rim seemed to have no law, it was all barbaric, deathly races were a highlighted part of their society and the decree to abolish slavery from the republic hadn't reached this far out.

Anakin caught up tremendously, weaving in and out of the mass of competitors along the dangerous terrain. Then like a firework display, pods with their racers in them began blowing up, or crashing, unable to quickly adapt to the ever-changing desert terrain. While Orabelle, Padme, Jar Jar and Shmi all looked onto the screen, Qui-Gon began meditating peacefully. There was nothing he could do and he took the time to relax and let the force flow through the boy.

Ignoring the fuss behind her, Orabelle eagerly watched as the racers entered the arena, ready for lap two, some making a quick pit-stop, others zooming straight through. Having not seen Anakin yet, Watto the Toydarian smirked sure that Anakin would lose to Sebulba. Sure enough, Anakin's Pod was seen zooming through and gaining on the lead racers.

Just like before one by one, the last remaining pod racers exploded spectacularly, leaving a wager between Sebulba and Anakin. The two racers lapped a second time, this time, Qui-Gon, Shmi, Orabelle, Jar Jar and Padme all screamed out. Having this be the longest Anakin lasted in an actual pod-race, Shmi clenched her fists tightly and her heart pounded, especially since he was up against Sebulba who was notorious for tampering and foul play.

Being the final lap, it grew tense among the group. Sebulba tried his hardest to cut off the young boy's engine, but being far too quick the boy avoided it, only to have been run off course. Using this to his advantage he managed to gain first place with his quick wit, making Orabelle alert Qui-Gon of the boy's quick decision making.

It was becoming a close race, the two were now neck to neck, quite literally as their pods had connected accidentally. Orabelle was kept on her toes the whole stretch where the two were connected, she grew anxious for Anakin. And as if some miracle had happened, the two disconnected which managed to send Anakin's competitor flying off into an obstacle and stopping altogether.

"He's going to win!" Orabelle laughed excitedly, all the anxiety washing away from her, she excused herself from the group and left the viewing platform to join Kitster and R2 down below. Sure enough, the race had finished with the success of Anakin. The relentless cheers of the crowd never ceased even as Anakin exited his pod and was hugged continuously by Padme, Shmi and Jar Jar.  Orabelle, however, shared the longest embrace with him, having been so worried about him.

Having to hold Orabelle in his embrace was enough to make any kid excited and happy, and he was sure that she wasn't the type of girl to show this kind of affection.