Badoo (Bralla) Bok is a "fan-fiction" creation of a character "almost seen" in THE PHANTOM MENACE. I have written a story for Bralla that takes place alongside events of the movie. I hope you enjoy it:
Badoo Bok is a living contradiction in many ways. He is a Rodian, a species well known for being ruthless hunters, yet Badoo would never harm another living being. Rodians are typically of average intelligence, yet Badoo has been trained by some of the galaxy's finest instructors. Rodians tend to live together, yet Badoo prefers to live alone. While most Rodians are mercenaries, Badoo is a Jedi Knight.
Jedi Master Mira Pau could sense that the infant Badoo was indeed powerful in the Force on a visit to Rodia. Mira convinced the Rodain family to allow the Jedi to instruct Badoo in the ways of the Force, despite the fact that no one believed the strange Delvian woman. During the years he spent as Mira's padawan, Badoo visited many worlds and learned many things from the far corners of the galaxy. Despite the doubts and taunts from most people they met, Badoo did indeed become a Jedi Knight. Mira Pau was eventually offered a limited-term position on the Jedi high Council, and Badoo was very proud of his master.
During a visit to Endor, Badoo was assigned a task of negotiating peace talks on Mon Calamari. Badoo flew alongside his companion Bralla, a fellow Rodain, who was a shuttle pilot that often worked for the Jedi. During the trip, one of the ship's engines exploded, the work of a Quarren spy who did not want to see the Jedi arrive on his planet. The ship crashed on a nearby desert planet called Tatooine, the resultant crash killing Bralla and leavin Badoo badly injured. The desert heat was terrible under the twin suns, but Badoo was able to stagger and crawl his way out of the desert until he was discovered. He was taken in and nursed back to health.
A few weeks later, Badoo was back to normal, but he now had a large scar on the back of his head. That was when his life changed. On his way to his favorite table in the Mos Espa marketplace, he could sense something. Something powerful, yet unfocused. Something that he knew would change his life. A few moments later, he saw a woman at a stand with a small child. The child was playing with Wald, the Rodian boy he had met weeks ago. This boy was very strong in the Force. His was the most powerful presence Badoo had felt since he was last on Coruscant. Badoo decided to remain on Tatooine to watch over the boy.
Badoo could not be certain if his life would be in danger should he be discovered on this strange planet. Since he had worn the true Bralla's flightsuit for the journey, the locals had already thought this was his true name. "Bralla" became a Rodian Teguar deal-maker in Mos Espa. He became a favorite of the locals and one of the first people to visit for a spacer new in town, especially during the Boonta Eve Podraces. While podraces are frequent on Tatooine, the Boonta Eve is something special. Representatives from hundreds of worlds come to Tatooine just for the podraces, spreading their wealth around without much thought. Bralla handled all the betting transactions. While he didn't have a large operation, his customers were wealthy enough to keep him going and live a simple life. Jabba the Hutt left him alone, since the Rodian was too small to be much of a threat. Watto the junk dealer placed a few bets, and Bralla learned that the boy was a slave owned by the Toydarian.
Recently, Bralla's past caught up to him. He worked the Teguar table as always, near Gragra's stand and across from Watto's junkyard, and waited for the boy to make the walk home. A tall, gangly alien wandered by and stole one of Gragra's gorgs, and somehow let it fly into Sebulba's lap. The Dug attacked the tall alien, but was stopped by the boy himself. The boy and the Dug were competitors in the podraces, the boy being the only human ever to fly a pad racer. But that was not the surprise. No, that came moments later, when tall man walked up to the boy and the alien.
It was Qui-Gon Jinn! His old ally from the Hyperspace Wars, Jedi Master Jinn, here on Tatooine? He seemed to be keeping a low profile, as most who come here to Tatooine often do. Bralla could not let Qui-Gon know of his presence here, not when he was trying to blend in himself. Surely the Jedi Master would sense him before long. Bralla clouded his thoughts, distracting Qui-Gon momentarily. His companions included the alien, a droid and young girl. They talked to the boy for a short time and then walked off towards the boy's home. A storm was brewing, so no doubt they were heading off to sit it out. Bralla soon followed their example and headed back to his dwelling to decide his next move.
When the storm passed, Bralla decided to observe the Jedi's moves. The boy took him to his vehicle that he had been tinkering with for weeks, and together, they got it to run. Later that night, he sent a message to his padawan concerning the truth about the boy. Bralla decided it was time to reveal himself to Qui-Gon.
Qui-Gon was surprised to see his old friend Badoo Bok alive and well on this desolate world. He explained that the Rodian was believed to be dead. Badoo explained what had happened, and how he discovered the boy. Together, the two Jedi formulated a plan to test the boy's talents, and to determine what to do with him.
As "Bralla," Badoo knew many of the mechanics working the Boonta Eve Podrace. One of them could tinker with the pod the boy would be flying, causing it to stall and run out of fuel in one of the tanks. Something a Jedi with the proper training could easily fix, but would this boy be able to do it? If he could, then he should be taken before the High Council. Qui-Gon revealed his thoughts about the prophecy of the one who will bring balance to the Force, and he suspects the boy could be the one the prophecy mentions. Badoo suggested making a wager with Watto to release the boy into Qui-Gon's custody somehow, should such an opportunity arise. They agreed that the boy should not meet the Rodian, preferring to keep things simple for him. The two Jedi agreed to meet again the next day in the hangar, where they could set these plans in motion.
The following day, Badoo introduced Qui-Gon to a Klatoonian mechanic who agreed to make the modifications. Qui-Gon was able to convince Watto to bet on the freedom of his slaves, but he would only let the boy free, not the mother. Badoo vowed to remain behind on Tatooine and look after the mother, since as Bralla, he had developed a relationship with the local populace and would not stand out.
Not only was the boy able to pass the tests, he was able to take his Pod all the way to the winner's circle. Even after almost being killed by Sebulba, the boy won the race. The pride Badoo felt was immense. He knew he was correct in watching the boy. He could be a powerful Jedi, perhaps he would even fulfill the prophecy Qui-Gon had mentioned. Badoo went with Qui-Gon to settle accounts with Watto, and to act as backup for him should Watto attempt a double-cross. Badoo entered the box next to Watto's as Qui-Gon confronted the Toydarian. Watto did indeed try to back out of his deal, but realized the futility of doing so. While the conversation took place, Badoo noticed a probe droid float past the boxes and saw it hover briefly above Qui-Gon. What was it doing? Badoo recognized the design and realized that someone was hunting them! Many Rodian hunters use such probes, to help them locate their quarry. Now someone was hunting the Jedi!
After his meeting with Watto, Qui-Gon met up again with Badoo. The probe droid caused some concern, since Qui-Gon was fleeing hostile forces from Naboo. Since he was heading to Coruscant, he was sure the boy would be safe with him, as soon as the hyperdrive generator he needed from Watto were installed quickly. Badoo arranged for Qui-Gon to get a pair of Eopies to hurry him back to the waiting ship.
While Qui-Gon was gone, Badoo realized that there were several others watching the boy besides himself, no doubt wanting the get revenge for their losses at the race. Jabba the Hutt was discussing something with a white-skinned female who looked somewhat familiar to Badoo. He couldn't be sure where he knew the woman from, but when she spotted him, an evil smile formed on her face. It sent a chill up his spine, but thankfully, an Ithorian gambler chose that moment to offer his complaints to "Bralla."
Badoo explained what he had seen to Qui-Gon upon his return. He agreed that there was a great disturbance in the Force, and it was very close to them both. The sooner they could get the boy off-planet, the better. Badoo would acquire a landspeeder to take them back to the ship. They agreed on a meeting place outside of Mos Espa, and the pair would meet up in an hour. Badoo raced back to his dwelling, where he changed into his hidden Jedi robes. They were more ornate than his original Jedi robes, gifts from several of his customers over the months. He ignited his lightsaber for the first time since crashing on Tatooine. The blue blade hummed to life and Badoo thought back to when Master Mira Pau first instructed him on its construction. Turning off the weapon, Badoo could hear a faint humming sound from outside his dwelling. It was a probe droid, and it sped away as he approached it! Was it the same one from the Podraces? It seemed unlikely, but still, the two had to be related somehow. Badoo decide that perhaps he had worn out his welcome in Mos Espa.
Badoo arrived at the designated place a bit early. He would have to go back for the mother another time. It was obvious that the probes were meant for him, and if he approached the woman now, she would not be safe. Badoo heard a sound approaching from the west, and when he turned, he was confronted by a horrorifying sight. The pale-skinned woman he had seen earlier talking with Jabba the Hutt. She had a rifle pointed at him, but she did not shoot. It wasn't until she spoke that he recalled where he had seen her before. She was the padawan of the Dark Woman back on Coruscant, the one who turned her back on the Force and began hunting Jedi across the galaxy. The Jedi Killer. Badoo ignited his lightsaber to confront her, but it did little good. She was too strong, and his skills were too rusty.
Badoo Bok, known to some as Bralla the Teguar deal-maker, former Jedi Knight, was swiftly cut down by the bounty hunter. He could only hope that his death would warn Qui-Gon Jinn and that he would not bring the boy here as well. This was his last thought before the life left his scarred body.
