Chapter 59

The atmosphere has changed since yesterday. The once hard, hot air filled with nasty-smelling spice and awful stench of piss is now filled with laughter, cheers and paper confetti. Tatoonie was celebrating the Boonta Eve Classic and thousands upon thousands of people came to watch the dangerous pod race. Due to the unsafe nature and freely flowing bribes this backwater, outer rim world saw a lot of cash flow into Jabba's pocket.

The pod racers were already lined up on the track and the crowd was getting worked up. I didn't need to try to sense everyone's feelings as the air was thick with excitement. Jabba wobbled his way to the balcony and waved to the crowd. I joined by his side to get a better look at the race. The Troig pod racer announcer called Fode and Beed did all of the work introducing Jabba and thanking him while working the crowd into a controlled frenzy. The two-headed creature had a lot of charm and easily helped the people to understand what was going on.

I looked at the pod racers and spotted Anakin in his beat-up racer. I could interfere now in a way no one would expect and cause the young kid to be a slave for the rest of his days, but he was needed in the Clone Wars. It's better to keep the time frame intact so I know the future.

Jabba could see that I held some interest in the pod race, a rare thing to hold my attention. In that slow, thick language he laughed and baited me. The Hutts said all kinds of things about me to my face and behind my back knowing that I didn't react negatively. On the infrequent occasions, I went to the Hutt council I was mocked endlessly but not by the lesser Hutts, you had to have power and wealth for the honour of taking snide jabs at me.

Jabba was about to start a fresh mocking parade when I interrupted him, "Would you like to make a wager on the race?"

A small chuckle escaped his belly "How about the favour I offered you for a new favour? Two is better than one after all" I said

The deep chuckle that came from Jabba instantly disappeared. Jabba had just earned this favour from me and didn't want to potentially lose it in a bet. Cash can be earned or stolen but a favour from me weighed as much as a planet.

Looking hard at Jabba his eyes shifted a little, his mind was flickering through the possibilities of a way to win without losing my favour.

"Am just kidding" I slapped Jabba on his arm causing the whole thing to wobble "How about we bet on hyperspace routes"

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Jabba didn't continue to laugh, his whole wealth and power came from his hyperspace routes. Causaly just betting on hyperspace routes showed how wealthy I was.

Reading Jabba's mind showed me he wouldn't agree "OK, I understand. You are a new member of the Hutt council and need to consolidate your power. How about three of your ships filled with spice vs three of my ships filled with energy banks"

Jabbas laughter returns. Jabba tells me off, saying that three ships of spice aren't equal to three energy-filled ships.

"What kind of odds are you looking for" I ask, knowing exactly how his mind works

Jabba wanted five-to-one odds but I managed to get five-to-one odds in my favour by picking the weakest pod racer, a little human slave, Anakin Skywalker.

The pod race itself didn't hold our interest because Jabba had seen hundreds and I already knew who would win, Jabba offered me some of his favourite Klatooine paddy frogs for a snack. I snapped the frog's neck and tore off some of its flesh. The snack had a good crunch to it but the slime put me off. Jabba swallowed his whole and mentioned the squalls of the frog as it struggled down into his belly, the wiggling and struggling of the frog was the best bit, according to Jabba.

Jabba mocked what I was wearing saying "To go natural was the best suit to wear." I responded with "Not all of us have wonderful rolls of fat to show off, some of us need to cover our shame"

Jabba chuckled at that, he knew I didn't mean it but he liked it nonetheless. Jabba was that rare kind of crime boss, slow to anger and could take a joke. He was the kind of scum I liked.

The crowd was screaming and the commentator was riling them up, a number of pod racers had fallen and it caused a fantastic commotion throughout the people.

Jabba finally realised he was beaten when the favourite to win the pod race was taken out by the slave human. The cheeky Hutt tried to pay three ships worth of spice but I told him ten would be fine. Every Hutt I met always tried to do this kind of thing but I was soft with them. I truly liked them, almost my favourite species in this galaxy. The spice was sent to medical corporations to be used in experiments.

Before I left to head back to the ship I reminded Jabba of our deal.

"You must buy, free and protect the slave woman owned by Watto, a Toydarian junk dealer called Shmi Skywalker. Set her up with her business and make her feel content. Her happiness is the top mission and she must be protected on the same level as you, Jabba"

This was part of my counterattack to Palpatine. For some odd reason, Anakin would spend years not freeing his mother despite having the power, it's like he forgot her but when the time comes and she dies because of the cruelty of the Tusken raiders, Anikin will lose it and fall a tiny bit more to the dark side. I think that was the time he thought that killing children was the right thing to do and carried that mentality onwards to the extermination of the Jedi temple, children and all.

A happy and safe mother may save the galaxy.

"Remember my dear Jabba, this is important to me" I hugged the giant slug and went on with my business giving a passing thief who tried his luck with me a backhanded slap that knocked five of his teeth out. I will put up with a lot when it comes to the Hutts but I won't when it comes to a two-bit crook. Back to the ship, I go.