Tatooine Dunes

[Darth Skuldren]

((Open to all...))

People gathered from all around to attend the annual Dune Race on Tatooine. It was a popular event especially among Hutts and children. Where else did one get to see people racing on the backs of Hutts across the desert dunes.

"Gather round, gather round..." Came the voice of the event's host, "...all wormriders please saddle up now and prepare for the race." The human host, decked out with a towering hat and brightly colored long coat, turned his attention toward the anxious crowd. "Ladies and gentlemen, I am proud to give you the Annual Wormriders of the Dunes! The only event in the whole galaxy where brave souls dare to ride the treacherous backs of the notorious Hutts in all out race across the brutal dunes of Tatooine! The race will be starting shortly so please be sure to have all your bets in before the sand shell horns are blown."

Darth Skuldren watched the spectacle with some interest. Todays event may yet promise some destruction, and if nothing else, at least it pleased his young apprentice. A happy young Sorcerer of Rhand meant a pleasant reaping of death in the not so distant future. It was the way of things.

Down on the track, Skuldren saw a long line of Hutts with their riders making last minute preparations. There were Jawas, Dugs, humans, and even a couple Mandos down there prepping their worms. Interestingly the Hutts, adorned in colorful jeweled saddles and stirrups, didn't seem to be upset. Amazingly enough, they seemed to be quite proud to be a part of today's event.

[Prescott Tremaine]

Muad'Dib, leader of the clan of Atreides, walked calmly out to the Hutt who would be his mount today. The crowd roared their approval as they caught sight of him, cheering their approval of his accomplisments. It was odd, Muad'Dib knew, for the population of Tatooine to cheer him on but the last few years and erased whatever hesitation he might have had.

Muad'Dib had spent the early years of his life as a Jawa, utilizing the Sand Crawlers the Jawa civilizations had used for centuries. He had been destined to be raised a clan leader, had not a rival Jawa clan turned violent, destroying his family.

Muad'Dib, then known only as Arrakis, had fled into the Dune Sea, desparate to survive. He had gone days without any water before he had finally be rescued, by his new clan, the Atreides clan of Tusken Raiders.

The Atreides Raiders had a legend which Muad'Dib had seemed to fulfill, the prophecy that one of small stature would come to lead the tribe and drive them to success. So they had taken in Arrakis and transformed him into Muad'Dib. Now he wore the customary garb of the Tusken Raiders, designed to preserve and recycle every ounce of water the Jawa's body excreted.

Muad'Dib brought himself back to the present as he eyed his mount, the Hutt named Queen Jool. In today's race, Muad'Dib would once again prove himself to be the leader of the clan Atreides he was destined to be; he would be a wormrider!

[Queen Jool]

Queen Jool proudly waited on the warm sands of the track, her beautiful saddle was adorned with magnificent fire gems and gold braiding. The brown dewback leather hide had a fervent musty smell that brought back old memories.

Looking left and right, she saw the other Hutts she would be racing against today, most prominently of all was Stillgar the Hutt, a veteran of the Dune Race. He was an elder Hutt. His long years had granted him enormous girth, a trait which could be quite beneficial in a race.

But Queen Jool did not let her petite figure discourage her. After all, she had one of the best wormriders ever to mount her saddle. No one gave a ride like Muad'Dib. His skill more than made up for his small size. The exhilaration of having him on top of her was the greatest joy of her life, and today she would show him a ride he would never forget.

[Prescott Tremaine]

Muad'Dib allowed a small smile underneath his mask as he reached his mount, the illustrious Queen Jool out of Coruscant. In the Hutt's first race, she had been a low seed, thought to be unwinnable no matter who mounted her. She had proved her critics wrong, however, with a strong third place finish. Muad'Dib had ridden her last year at the Dune Race and the two had emerged victorious; this year they intended to reach the consequence.

He put a hand on the saddle, feeling it out to ensure it was securely fashioned, speaking in his native Jawaese language which he knew Jool understood. [The race begins soon], he said quickly. [Are you ready to win?]

"Why of course my dear," the Hutt responded in a slight Coruscanti accent.

Muad'Dib nodded, satisfied. Today, he would not only bring honor to himself but to the entire clan of Atreides. Today, the residents of Tatooine would know that the Tusken Raiders of the Dune Sea were a force to be reckon with.

Muad'Dib grabbed hold of the saddle and threw himself on top of Jool, seating himself naturally on top. One hand grabbed the hooks by which he directed Jool's movements and breathed in deeply as he prepared for the ride of his life.

[Naxus Ordo]

The race was about to begin and Caslet turned one last uncertain glance back at Naxus. "So what's this slug's name again?"

"Stillgar the Hutt. He's won the last three Dune Races...so be nice to him Cas."

"Suuuure Nax...I'm not even gonna ask how you managed to set this up. I'm not even sure if I care about the prize, as long as this takes care of that debt I owe you on Tanaab."

Naxus' feral grin was hidden under his helmet. "After this, will be perfectly even. You can forget all about those Wookiees I had to save you from."

Cas shivered. "I'll remember not to tick off a group of drunken Wookiees again, that's for certain." He turned toward the big fat Hutt he would have to ride. "All right, lets do this."

With a nimble leap, Cas hopped up into the saddle on the Hutt's slimy back. Caslet didn't have armor on today. Instead, he was dressed in a light, white colored robe with the hood tossed back.

"Easy human." The Hutt bellowed. "I'm not a dewback." Stillgar then slipped on his blinders which would cover his eyes. "Remember, you're my eyes, I'm your feet. Use the guide hooks to indicate turning left or right. Don't worry about speed. In this race there's only fast." The Hutt let out a booming laugh.

Cas just shook his head. Meanwhile the crowd was gathered and some two headed announcer was counting down to go time. He took a few moments to look at the other racers. To the left of him was a female Twi'lek, to his right was a Jawa. Feeling playful, Caslet decided to throw out a few taunts.

He whistled at the Twi'lek girl. "Hey baby, wanna ride my worm?"

The Twi'lek smiled, "Oh I'd love too, but I'm afraid you can't watch."

Cas huffed and turned his back on her, he spun around toward the little Jawa. b]"Hey little guy, how do you know when a Jawa's had too much to drink?"[/b] He paused. "When he starts yelling 'martini'!" Caslet mimicked the high pitch squeaky voice of the Jawas then busted into a series of laughs.

[Prescott Tremaine]

Muad'Dib eyed the rider of the mighty Stilgar, noting his body type, weight, height and every other aspect he could analyze. The man, Cas his friend had called him, seemed ill-equipped for both the race and the beating that Muad'Dib would inflict upon him.

With a gutteral battle cry, equal parts Tusken Raider and Jawa, Muad'Dip leaped off of Queen Jool to land a brutal kick on Caslet's face. The man tumbled off of Stilgar to the sandy dune below, his nose bleeding profusely. Muad'Dib prepared to leap from his current location on top of Stilgar but the Hutt reared it's own tail and batted Muad'Dib like a repulsor-puck.

Stilgar moved into to finish the blow but Queen Jool acted first, moving with speed and smashing into Stilgar. Finally, the four contestants stood across from each other, a number of other racers circling them in preparation for a fight.

Muad'Dib tensed for another attack but Jool put an arm across him. "It's not worth it Hon," she said by way of stalling him. "We'll just have to beat them in the race."

Muad'Dib breathed in deeply and nodded. "And so they shall be defeated, thoroughly."

[Naxus Ordo]

"That kriffing little osik! I'll kill him-"

Before Cas could draw his blaster to do the deed, Naxus had him in a firm hand lock. "Easy Cas. Save it. Beat him in the race then beat him in his face...ok?"

Caslet was still fuming, but Nax wasn't letting go of his grip. "All right, all right! Fine...having your way. I'll beat the tiny poodoo in this race first, then I'll show him what happens when you bloody a Mando's nose and don't finish the job."

Uneasily the rider returned to their mounts and waited for the race to start. A two headed announcer began the open ceremonies and the crowd began yelling, but all Caslet could think about was tearing that little Jawa's head off and kicking it like a bolo ball.

"Ladies and Gentlebeings let the annual Tatooine Dune Race BEGIN!"

With the shrill shriek of the announcer's voice and a thundering boom, all the Hutts and riders burst into action as they squirmed there way in a lighting frenzy. Stillgar's massive stretching lunges pulled him to easy lead, but Queen Jool and her tiny rider were not far behind. The worms rapid squirming propulsion created surprising speed few spectators would believe if they'd not seen it for themselves.

Even Caslet was amazed at how fast they were going. The dunes were rushing by as the big Hutt's trampled forward. But that little Jawa just wouldn't fall behind. He was actually catching up.

No you don't.

"Hey short stuff, say hello to my little friend." Caslet pulled out a Mandalorian ripper and opened fire.

[Prescott Tremaine]

Muad'Dib let a small smile grow underneath his mask as he and Jool overtook Caslet and Stilgar. The other Hutt was big and powerful but, without a skilled rider, that speed was wasted.

Without warning, Caslet turned to face Muad'Dib and opened fire with a repeating rifle. Apparently Caslet did have his own skillset, even if it was cheating.

Muad'Dib dived to the side, using the hooks as an anchor as he hung on to Jool's side.

"Jool," he said quietly. "Can you keep pace with Stilgar without me?"

Jool nodded. "That hunk of slime is nothing."

Muad'Dib nodded and then, used the steering hooks to fling himself over Jool's back and then onto Stilgar. Unsheathing a small knife made of crystal (and hence called a crysknife), Muad'Dib turned to face Caslet. "I will be the Emperor of the dunes and no cheating that you perpetrate can stop that. Put down your weapon."

[Naxus Ordo]

Caslet looked down at the Jawa's puny crysknife. "Pft! You call that a knife?" He then reached down and unsnapped a catch, drawing out a massive vibroblad. "Now that's a knife." A smile curling across his face.

Muad'Dib didn't seem to be impressed with the Mandalorians big blade. Instead he nimbly slipped forward and stuck Caslet in his thigh.

"Oww!" He groaned. "Why you little ankle biter!" Caslet, no longer bothering to steer Stilgar, lunged at the little Jawa.

Meanwhile the audience watched and cheered as Muad'Dib and Caslet did battle on Silgar's giant back, all the while Stilgar and Jool were racing across the Dunes, belly to belly as it were. Soon the spectators were placing bets on the duel.

Five credits says the big guy cuts that Jawa in two.

Ten says the little guy shoves that crysknife of the Mando's shebs!

You're on.

Back on Stilgar, Cas and Muad'Dib continued to duel.

"Give it up shortstuff. I've got the high ground. Even a Jedi can't overcome that advantage."

[Prescott Tremaine]

Muad'Dib looked up at his opponent, standing atop Stilgar's wide head, and felt defeat began to flow through him. His opponent stood on the high ground, an unassailable location that few could successfully take. Even combat move that Muad'Dib had been taught by his family can clan had left him with no options; nothing could succeed.

But with those thoughts came a glimmer of hope as Muad'Dib remembered something his birth mother had once told him. He had been a young Jawa then but he had taken her words to heart and it was for this reason that he now led the Tusken Raiders.

She had said.My son, never allow your size to dishearten you. We Jawas may be shorter than the other sentients of the galaxy but that does not make us weak! We have survived on this desert world for thousands upon thousands of generations. Our height is no measure of our stature in society."

With those words, Muad'Dib felt confidence flow through him once more. He had always been short but that had never stopped him before. It didn't close options to him, it opened them!

Muad'Dib let out a Tusken battle cry and leapt towards Caslet. However, he dived not towards the man's head but towards his legs. Caslet yelped in alarm and swept his blade down, blocking Muad'Dib's slash.

But the Jawa's momentum carried him into his opponent's legs and Caslet tumbled off Stilgar to the dunes below. Before Muad'Dib succumbed to the same fate, however, he took one more push off of Stilgar and propelled himself towards Jool. He executed a quick flip in mid-air to gain control of his momentum and landed successfully on Jool's saddle. Picking up the steering hooks once more, Muad'Dib propelled his mount over the next dune.

[Naxus Ordo]

Caslet fell to the dunes but he wasn't out of the race yet. He flailed his arms wildly and managed to grab on to the tip of Stilgar's tail.

Unfortunately, he was kind of stuck there.

And so the race continued, Muad'Dib racing ahead on Jool's back, Stilgar rolling full speed right behind them, and Caslet flying around madly as he held on to his precious grip on Stilgar's thrashing tail.

That was when the Harkonnen sharpshooters opened fire on the course. It was well known that the Harkonnens liked to take pot shots at the racers with their old slug rifles. They were an accepted nuisance. A 'challenge.'

And right now they were taking shots at Caslet.

"Still-garrr! Whip me up!"

Metal slugs puffed into the sand just inches away from Caslet's dragging feet.

"Hold on!" Stillgar cried.