The next day we woke up early and headed to the Boonta Eve Pod Racing.
Due to Anakins' status as a Pod racer, we were allowed through a side exit and could thereafter enter the garage.
Qui Gon, me, and Jar-Jar walked ahead of the group alongside Watto. Qui Gon and Watto were talking.
"I want to see your spaceship the moment the race is over." Acting like he already won. Luckily he won't.
"Patience, my blue friend. You'll have your winning before the sun set. And we'll be far away from here." Qui Gon said.
"Not if your ship belongs to me, I think, huh? I warn you, no funny business." The blue flying monster said.
"You don't think Anakin can win?" Qui-Gon asked.
"Don't get me wrong, I have great faith in the boy. He's a credit to your race, but, uh, Sebulba there is going to win, I think." He said.
"Why do you think that?" Qui Gon asking trying to entertain that little shit.
"He always wins!" Watto shouted with excitement. Before beginning to laugh.
"I am betting heavily on Sebulba," Watto said as he walked away. But this time he wasn't stopped by Qui Gon wanting to bet the racing pod against the boy and his mother.
However, I then spotted Sebulba standing up and walking towards Anakin and Padme, who were at an animal taking them to the speeder.
"This fucking handstand monster." I said as I walked towards Sebulba with Santo. I had personally taken a liking to Santo. He was a big-ass wookie and most were afraid to approach me with him by my side. Maybe I'd have him join Robb and Jon as my personal escorts.
I saw Sebulba jump towards Anakin and pushed him down toward the ground.
Sebubla then jumped on the transport animal and looked down at Anakin.
"I heard you got bought, kid! Which means I will give you a quick beating. I respected Watto, I don't respect your new owner" Sebulba said loudly. I guess Watto didn't know I beat this grumpy ass nerd 2 days ago.
Sebubla then jumped onto Anakin and held his fist up to punch him.
"No! Let him be!" Padme shouted, still on the animal.
Meanwhile, his mother was just barely being held back by one of his thugs.
"Santo, take care of his thug." I said as he walked towards Shmi.
I then took a quick sprint towards Sebulba. We were a few seconds apart, enough for me to arrive there immediately, but still too late.
Sebulba smashed his feet-hands against Anakin's arms, he had taken them up to defend himself.
"Get yourself off Anakin." I said as I jumped towards Sebulba.
He was about to punch Anakin again when he heard my voice and turned around. Shock and fear spread through his face as my feet reached horizontally to his face.
I then loaded my right foot back as I reached half a meter away from him.
As I came close I saw a slight movement of his hand feet, wanting to put them in a block stance. However, he was way too slow and late, and as such my feet smashed straight into his face sending him 3 meters away.
I landed behind Anakin, between him and Sebulba. I turned to Shmi just to see Santo breaking the back of the thug by lifting him over his head and smashing him into his leg, which he took out at 90% degrees.
I don't know if he'll survive. But if he does he might have a few permanent back problems.
Sebulba was about to get up, but I didn't allow that.
I charged ahead towards Sebulba. He was still dazed but in the process of getting up.
As he stood up and lifted his head I was already in front of him. I grabbed his neck and lifted him up.
"You're an idiot Sebulba." I said as he began apologizing.
"I'm sorry! I didn't know Anakin was your property! I only knew Watto just recently sold him. " He said terrified.
"Well, maybe I'll let you live. But then you gotta promise me one thing. I recently saw a replay of your race, you sure use some underhand tactics. Well if you even attempt to touch Anakin, then your ass is dead." I said as he nodded profusely.
"Now keep this shit quiet." I said as I threw him towards his own speeder, bonking into it.
Sebulba was surprisingly light, but I guess he's just easy to throw due to his petite size.
I turned around and walked to Anakin. Padme was helping him up.
"Thank you, Thalron." Anakin said. I had told him to call me that and he accepted, unlike a certain mom.
"I cannot thank you enough, Count Veridian." Shmi said as I facepalmed. She needs to learn to listen.
"Well let's get on with it. Don't want you to lose now." I said as Anakin got back to work while Shmi was fussing over him.
"What did you talk with him about?" Qui Gon asked. Having clearly noticed our small talk, which everyone else overlooked.
"Mainly informing him that using cheap tricks is frowned upon." I said and Qui Gon smiled a bit.
"You'll get the speeder when we're done." He said as he walked off.
Well, he better give me that shit or I'd get furious.
I said as I tried to walk off. Only to be stopped by a certain Queen.
"Thank you, for helping us and Naboo throughout all this." She said and I smiled.
"It's no problem. I won't lie if I haven't had some fun. Plus, it's good to make alliances. Especially with planets with such a competent and beautiful Queen." I said as I smiled at her. She jumped and shock entered her eyes. I could see she became suspicious of whether I had deduced her real identity or not. But beneath all that, I could see a small blush forming on her face.
Well, she better be flustered. After all, I'm a hot and sexy alpha male.
"Thank you, I'll make sure to tell the Queen of your brave actions." She said as she walked off, the blush staying there as she walked off. Though I don't know how I saw that as she's hiding her face.
And with that, the race preparations began as I walked out.
Outside stood Jon, Robb, and Embo. With Santo standing beside me.
"Alright, so I have a few missions for all 3 of you." I said and they began listening.
"Firstly, Jon and Robb, you're both tasked with the security and safety of Anakin, Padme, Shmi, Jar-jar, and the speeder. Always have one guy at the speeder to make sure nobody tampers with it." I said and they nodded.
"Embo, I got information that Aurra Sing is visiting Tatooine, likely for the Pod race. However she probably won't be in crowded places, she is quite suspicious and careful by nature. If you don't know who she is, she's a female with white hair, white skin, and an antenna coming out of her head." I said.
"Ok." He simply responded.
"She should be close to the canyon obstacle at the start, she's likely at a high point." I said and Embo nodded.
"Well, let's get on with it." I said as I sat at one of the chairs, waiting for the event to begin.
Soon enough time passed. One after another the Pods and their racers exited the garage. Sebulba looked at me fearfully when he came out while most others ignored me or tried to avoid me. After all, they had all seen me beat the shit out of Sebulba, who were known to fight a lot and had his own group of thugs.
Soon enough it began as the 2 headed aliens began announcing the different entries. The first talks in basic and the second in Huttese. I never quite understood why they needed 2 people for the same shit. Just have someone fluent in both do it. But at the same time, there are 2 entities in one pay.
But how the fuck are there 2 entities in one body? Do they each control 2 limbs or one controls 4 and the other the extras? Or does one just sit there and do nothing, that must be extremely boring.
After they announced Anakin, our party began walking away and towards one of the pillars, they had an outlook terrasse there. First I saw Sebulba looking at our pod, probably considering tampering with it.
But then he got a hefty stare from Jon who's in charge of guarding the speeder, so he decided against it in the end.
Soon enough the speeders started up as the different workers began running off the track. I followed Qui Gon as we entered the terrasse.
"Is he nervous?" Shmi asked, being understandably concerned.
"He's fine." Became the quick response of Qui Gon.
Padme then began speaking, understandably furious that the Jedi was betting away her ship and life on a chance. Honestly, if Qui Gon came to me and demanded all this shit I'd say no and refuse their assistance.
"You Jedi are far too reckless. The Queen is not-" She said but was cut off.
"The Queen trusts my judgment, young handmaiden. You should too." Qui Gon said as he walked away.
"You assume too much." Padme said as she followed.
"To be honest, the Jedi is your best way of surviving. At least according to your principles." I said.
"What do you mean principles?" She asked.
"You don't wish to hurt anyone, it's equal to that of the Jedi. But they have experience in performing it. If my planet was hurt I'd steal the ship of a smuggler or pirate long ago. After all, we do have the manpower. Especially with the Jedi." I said and she looked shocked, not having thought it over.
"You'd be at Coruscant by now if you did that. But instead, your Captain didn't think outside the box and didn't give you advice, nor any of the queen's advisors." I said and she looked even more conflicted and curious.
"The decision would be, to ruin one criminal's life, temporarily halt them, or maybe witness thousands die every day." I said and she became even more conflicted. Everything I just said went way over her principles. Sure she would take it if it was her. But she wouldn't offer an innocent life. I would do 1 innocent for 10 any time of the day.
And with that, I sat down as the machine took us high and the race began.
Per canon Anakins ship refused to start. But when he got it under control he quickly began winning.
By the 2nd round, he was already amongst the top 3. Sebulba hadn't held back with tricks against the other competitors, just not against Anakin. And as such about 4 had already crashed or died.
Shmi looked way less conflicted than how she was in Cannon. Likely due to the fact Anakin hasn't been in any danger so far. Except for the Tusken Raiders.
As we reached the half point of the last round, Anakin's pod racer miraculously sped up.
However, in the end, Sebulba didn't heed my warning and he began pushing Anakin. I could allow that for now.
But then he hooked his crook thing onto Anakin's speeder. I simply looked at Santo and he nodded, knowing what I asked him to do without needing words. But it was kind of obvious.
Anakin and Sebulba fought side by side until eventually, Anakin used his speed to dehook from Sebulba and Sebulba crashed into a large stone, ending his chances of winning.
Anakin then flew through the goal and the speaker shouted.
"Anakin Skywalker is the winner!"
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