Anakin Stays Put

Ani hid in a ship with Artoo.
And watched as the pilots of Naboo
Rose up to skies
Like a whole swarm of flies
Okay...not a swarm... but quite a few.

The queen said, “Let’s head for the throne.”
“Wait for me!” Anakin did intone.
“Anakin, stay your feet,
Keep your butt in that seat.”
Said Qui Gon, making his authority known.

The group made their way towards the hall.
They were met at the door by Darth Maul.
Protecting their neighbors
The Jedi lit their sabers
And said, “We’ll take care o’ this one, y’all.”

At the same time some battle droids rolled in.
Separating Amidala from Qui Gon Jin.
But R2D2
Knew just what to do
And started up the fighter for the win!

Anakin was learning the controls
There was blinking buttons and consoles.
With a gleeful snigger
He pulled on the trigger
And decorated the battle droids with holes.

With the Jedi engaging Darth Maul,
Amidala’s crew ran down the hall.
And out the hangar flew
Anakin and Artoo
And up to the outer space brawl.

On the ground, a swashbuckling ado,
Darth Maul’s moves were akin to Kung Fu.
He leaped and he jumped
And the Jedi were stumped
Because Maul had not one blade, but two!

Next time: The Battles Rage

The Return To Naboo

Ani was told to ‘watch and learn’
No “training” but the boy could discern
What he was conveying
If Ani was paying
Attention as Qui Gon’s intern.

They met at the ship clad in chrome,
Again ‘cross the stars they would roam,
It was back to Naboo.
Jar Jar shouted, “Yahoo!
“Wessa be goin’ back home!”

Sidious was leaving no doubts
With his Neimoidian pawns without snouts.
“You must kill them all,
But I’m sending Darth Maul
To deal with the Jedi standouts.”

The Naboo pilot gave Ani some tips
About flying on these deep space trips.
Ani caught on quick
These things seemed to click
The boy seemed right at home aboard ships.

Qui Gon reminded the Naboo
He could only protect, not pursue.
The Queen had a plan,
That involved the frog man.
Jar Jar would have to come through.

In the swamp where the ship touched down,
Jar Jar headed for his Gungan hometown.
But when he got there
He found it was bare
And so he returned with a frown.

They could tell by the look on his face
The Gungans were not at their base.
But they hadn’t been captured
Or secretly raptured,
They fled to a Gungan hiding place.

Next time: Treaty At the Temple Ruins

Anakin's Test

Obi Wan Kenobi and Qui Gon Jin
Discussed the fate of Anakin
“The Council is not sold,
The boy is too old
For training,” Obi Wan said again.

But Qui Gon was bound and determined
He was smart but defiant and thick skinned.
If the council forbid
Him to train the young kid
He’d go it alone, Jedi code rescind.

In Council chambers the test proceded
To see if Ani had the attitude he needed.
It was anger and fear
That Yoda did hear
But they continued because Anakin pleaded.

From the Senate there was a report
That Palpatine had the most support
Of Senators for him
To succeed Valorum
He’d stay here and hold down the fort.

Queen Amidala on the other hand,
Desired to go back to her homeland.
“Please ready my ship,
We’ll now make the trip
Back to Naboo where we’ll take a stand.”

Yoda a decision had made.
Anakin’s training was forbade.
Qui Gon made it clear
That he would not adhere,
The Council’s edict would not be obeyed

“There’s no time to discuss this right now.
Amidala’s protection we vow.
Return to Naboo
May the Force be with you
But don’t teach that kid nothing, no how!”

Next time: The Return To Naboo


Star Wars - Episode I, The Phantom Menace (Widescreen Edition)

Darth Maul Strikes!

The trip to the ship then commenced.
Though danger, Qui Gon had sensed.
The embodiment of dread,
With a swirl of black and red,
Drew a sword and then he and Qui Gon fenced.

The two traded incredible blows
They were two evenly matched foes.
With an impressive back flip
Qui Gon landed on the ship
Darth Maul watched as the cruiser arose.

Obi Wan cried, “Master what was that?”
Qui Gon breathing hard where he sat,
“I sensed the Dark Side flowing,
It’s a good thing we got going,
It was well trained in Jedi combat.”


For the first time since the party had left Theed
They had a working hyperdrive to proceed.
Once the engines were prime
They wasted no time
To hit the hyperdrive and enter light speed.

Ani was adjusting to space’s cold.
Padme gave him her jacket to hold.
He gave her a trinket
And told her to think it
Was to remember him (‘cuz that’s how he rolled.)

Next time: Coruscant

Ani Leaves Home

Collecting the new parts from the loser,
They returned to the Nubian cruiser.
Obi Wan then prepares
To start the repairs.
No mechanic, but beggars can’t be chosers.

Qui Gon said, “I’ve got to go back.”
“That kid had the Jedi Knight knack.”
He returned to inform
“Another pathetic life form”
That he was free, and to run and go pack.

When he told the Skywalkers the news
A bittersweet moment ensues.
Ani’s glad to be free
But what about Shmi?
Qui Gon tried , Watto would only refuse.

“My son, you must go with this man.
I’ll stay here and do the best that I can.
Jedi skills you’ll be gaining.
Go work hard at your training.
And know I’ll always be your biggest fan.”

The little boy started to cry
But he knew that he must say goodbye.
“Someday I will see you
When I come back to free you”
Even the old Jedi had a tear in his eye.

Next time: Darth Maul Strikes!

Victory!

Sebulba was seriously ticked.
He had some more tricks to inflict.
He got back in front
By pulling a stunt
But Ani was hard to predict.

The final stretch was neck and neck.
Sebulba tried one last cheap peck.
But it didn’t work out
He went spinning about
And Sebulba was the one who did wreck.

Ani crossed the finish line alone.
The crowd cheered a deafening tone.
They hoisted him high
This teeny little guy
Was amazing, the race that he’d flown

Watto was not near as pleased.
“I think that you cheated,” he wheezed.
But he’d have to be nuts
To take it up with the Hutts
So he freed the boy, his servitude ceased.

Back in the shadows undiscovered
A Sith probe droid watched while it hovered
The nasty machine
Recorded the scene
Then flew back to the Sith to be recovered.

Next time: Ani Leaves Home

Ani Catches Up

A few tries and finally ignition.
Full throttle with youthful ambition!
Then using the Force,
He sped through the course,
Dodging a Tusken Raider firing munition.

Moving up from the back of the pack
Sometime flying through debris and flak
But lessening the meters
Between him and the leaders
He was mounting a spectacular comeback.

As the pods passed the stands for lap one,
Shmi searched the track for her son.
Hearing familiar hums,
Padme yelled, “Here he comes!”
Two more laps to go til it’s done.

He was now sixth after starting out last
More than half of the racers he’d passed.
Flashing vents, bumping fenders
He caught up to the contenders
The ones whom Sebulba harassed.

After two laps we had a good race
Though Sebulba was still in first place.
But hot on his heels,
Anakin steals
The momentum and keeps up the chase.

Sebulba bumped Ani off track
With an underhanded cheater attack.
The boy flew through the sky
It was almost too high,
Then he swooped past Sebulba...”I’m ba-ack!”

Next time: Victory!

Race Day

Out in the desert that night
Arrived a most frightening sight.
Some hovering balls,
Probe droids of Darth Maul’s,
Made their way through the silver moonlight.


The next day’s excitement was major
Qui Gon and Watto made a wager.
The Jedi rigged the bet
So the prize he would get
Was freedom for the pre-teenager.

Meanwhile, Padme’s hopes were diminished
The odds were further worse than she wished
Despite his reputation,
Ani had never won
And even worse, he’d never finished!

The two-headed announcer got started
With opening banter, light hearted.
The crowd all hurrayed
At the opening parade,
Pods to the starting line were carted.

Sebulba was a pilot quite brash,
to Anakin he started talking trash.
You don’t think you’ll win do you?
Because you’re bantha poodoo,
You won’t walk away from this when you crash.”

“Drivers, start your engines now please”
Said the two headed announcer in Huttese.
They didn’t wait long
For the sound of the gong
The pods took off, all except for Ani’s!

Next time: Ani Catches Up

Watto Takes the Bait

The queen’s handmaiden disagreed
About the best way to proceed
“To trust this boy with our fate
Is an idea that I hate.”
But Qui Gon said she’d have to concede.

So they went to Watto with their offer
And he changed from schemer to scoffer
It wasn’t long to wait
until he took the bait,
Watto dreamed of a very full coffer.

Ani showed off his lil’ racing pod
Jar Jar blundered again like a clod
With a flash and a flicker
He ZAPPED his poor licker
While the onlookers laughed and guffawed.

When Jar Jar was done playing the jerk
Ani started up the pod with a smirk
With engines a-fired
His craft was admired
They were beginning to think this might work!

That night Qui Gon took a small reading
From a scratch on Ani’s arm that was bleeding
Midi-chlorians explode-ah
He had more than Yoda!
Jedi training, this boy was sure needing!

Next time: Race Day!

Anakin Can Help

Seated at the table for dinner
Jar Jar was a slurper and grinner
He snatched with his tongue
Qui Gon caught him and clung,
“Don’t do that again or I’ll skin’yer.”

They talked about attempts at tracing
Chips placed in the slaves' outer casing.
If a slave tries to run,
They’re pretty much done
That’s the fate the Skywalkers were facing.

Anakin had an unlikely skill
For which most other humans would kill
For most people lacked
The ability to react
Quick enough to aim a podracer’s grill.

Qui Gon asked, “it takes skills, am I right?”
“To keep a podracer in flight?”
Said Shmi’s little son,
“I’m the only one,
Who can do it and come out all right.”

“But now, I’ve a question for you,
Tell me what you came here to do?
You’ve got a laser sword
and you’re not a Sith lord
...You’ve come for a slave boy rescue!”

Qui Gon said, “Answer’s no, I’m afraid.”
But the boy still would not be dismayed.
“I think I see clear,
Why else would you be here?
I’ll come with and grow a padawan braid.”

“I can help you win the parts from Watto.
He’s addicted to gambling and lotto.
I could race with the pods
Giving favorable odds
Letting greed be the downfall of Watto.”

Shmi said, “It’s a horrible sport.”
Watching Ani made her whole face contort.
“He’s my precious whelp
But I guess he can help
Win the parts to help fix your transport.”

Next time: Watto Takes the Bait

Mama Skywalker

Anakin brought the four strangers home,
A small hovel made of clay, topped with dome.
With big widened eyes
His mom showed surprise
But graciously offered, “Shalom!”

Anakin introduced those he’d befriended.
Qui Gon apologized if their presence offended.
But Shmi acted nice
And Ani broke the ice
By showing them the droid that he’d mended.

Qui Gon Jin didn’t want to intrude.
He told Shmi that they brought their own food.
He complimented her boy
And her eyes shone with joy.
She wondered how Ani’s “talents” would be viewed.

“He’s a protocol droid” Anakin showed.
He took the droid out of sleep mode.
One eye lit with a glow,
“My name’s C3PO,
Human - Cyborg relations,” he crowed.

“I’m building a pod for the races,”
Said Ani to four impressed faces.
Artoo beeped and he cooed,
Saying Threepio was nude,
Parts were showing in improper places.

Next Time: Found By the Sith

Don't Mess With Sebulba

Qui Gon contacted his pupil, Obi Wan.
To see if the ship had anything thereon
to trade and do barter
For a hyperdrive starter
But there wasn’t enought there to pawn.

Our heroes walked along past a deli.
Jar Jar wanted to fill his poor belly.
Swiped a treat with his tongue
But he slipped and it flung
Splattering an angry customer with jelly.

The victim leaped out like a fiend,
Feeling abased and abused and demeaned.
Grabbed the Gungan and grilled him
And probably woulda’ killed him
Had Anakin Skywalker not intervened.

“Be careful, Sebulba,” Ani chided
To the Dug with self assurance he prided.
“He’s got a powerful friend
Who would see to your end
It would be a shame to get him excited.”

Sebulba threatened Ani to watch his back.
He’d repay him on the podrace track.
Noting him as a foe,
He let Jar Jar go
Just this once he would cut them some slack.

“Around here you must watch where you step.”
Said young Anakin, street savvy and hep.
“You must get back to your craft.
Are you feeling that draft?
We’re about to get sanded and windswept.”

They paused in one of Mos Espa’s alleys
To buy a kind of fruit they called “pallies”.
“Storm’s coming, Ani,
Better hurry your fanny
And get indoors  before the sandstorm rallies.”

The storm came so suddenly, leaving no time
To make it all the way back in this clime.
To wait out this maelstrom
He’d take them home to his mom
And hurry...the wind was reaching it’s prime.

Next time: Mama Skywalker

Anakin Meets Padme

While Watto and Qui Gon went out back
Anakin seemed somewhat taken aback.
In Padme’s presence he basked.
“Are you an angel?” he asked.
Padme laughed and she smiled just a crack.

“Well you sure are a funny little man.
I’ve never heard of angels,” she began.
“I’d know if I see one,
Therefore you must be one.”
Said the boy, her new number one fan.

Padme learned that the boy was a slave
Owned by Hutts and now Watto’s lucky knave.
To be owned seemed so odd,
It should be outlawed
Thought Padme, but the boy acted brave.

They were cut off by Jar Jar’s commotion.
He’d activated a droid without a notion.
It scrambled about
Until Jar Jar hit the snout
Jar Jar truly was a fish without ocean.

Next time: Haggling with Watto

Tatooine

The ship touched down with a big puff of dust,
They looked at the hyperdrive, a new generator a must
They’d have to hit town
And get the lowdown
On what it cost for the parts, Mos Espa or bust!

“Don’t send any signals,” Qui Gon said,
“I sense something dark, in my head.”
Obi Wan agreed,
Ever since Theed
He’d had the same feeling that he couldn’t shed.

Qui Gon set out with Jar Jar and Artoo,
When Panaka shouted out, “Hey you!
“The queen doth demand,
To add to your band,
Take Padme along with you too.”

The foursome travelled into the city.
The inhabitants were exotic and gritty.
Jar Jar trampled straight through
A big pile of poodoo
The bottom of his foot wasn’t pretty.

They entered an establishment full of junk
Owned by Watto, a hummingbird with a trunk
“I’m browsing the marts
For some Nubian parts.”
Said Qui Gon to the hovering chunk.

Watto said, “Ah, yes, we have lots of that!
Where’s that boy? Anakin, get in here, brat.”
In his employ
Was a wee little  boy,
Who loved to fix things and to chat.

Next time: Anakin Meets Padme