caught diptheria.  And the doctor doesn't know if she'll last long enough to get the medicine," Jenna said.

Balto saw a very sick girl in her early twenties on the bed.  Her face was very pale nad her hair was tattered.

"Well well what's wrong with this picture,"  Steele began.

Behind him was the captin, the commander, and the admiral.  Balto quickly ran off.

"Balto, wait," Jenna cried.

"C'mon Jenna we have to get the pod race course ready."

Balto was gone.

-----------------------------

"Pod racing is a dangerous sport.  Too dangerous for humans.  It is also dangerous for dogs.  So, to make the race safer, we have slowed the pods down.  One wrong move and you're dead.  Three laps around the course, May the Force be with you." Admiral Ackbar said.

"The force is already with one of you," Luke said.

Jenna, Borris, Muk and Luk were sitting near Luke.  They wondered which dog he meant.

Borris stumbled with his words, "Will Balto be okay?"

"Of course he will.  Which dog did you think I meant?"  Luke said.

Balto got his pod ready.  He may have an unadvanced starship, but he had an advanced pod. He had the latest technology on his pod.  He was very proud of it.  He built it himself.  It took him one year to complete it.

"Ready, set, GO!!"  the annoucer cried.

The pods were off like a shot.

"Nikki and Kaltag are in the lead, with Balto coming up fast..."

"Balto!" Slyvie cried.

"What does he think he's doing?"  Dixie yelped.

Luke knew what he was doing.  He was going to win the race, and turn bring back the medicine.

"Go BALTO!"  Jenna yelled at the top of her lungs.

The pod race was the same course as it always had been.  It went through open land, then went through a cave.  The course then went through a canyon, then back out into the open.

Balto was in third place.  As they were going through the cave, Balto heard a scream.  Someone had crashed into a Stalagtite.  The pod that crashed bursted into flames.

Balto, still in third was going through the canyon.  He then heard the sound of twisting metal, and he felt the heat of the flames.  Another crash.

As he got out of the canyon, he pulled up past Kaltag, into secong place.  He stayed in this spot all through the "field".

"It's Nikki in the lead, with Balto in second, Kaltag in third, Kigh in fourth..."

Steele growled.  If that half dog was on his team, then, ugghh.  He thought.  The concept of fair did not register in his mind.

The second lap was uneventful.  Balto was still in second place, moving up fast.

"It's the 3rd and final lap folks.  Nikki is still holding the lead but Balto is coming up fast..."

Balto began to make his move.  He pulled up on the left side of Nikki, he then shot ahead of him.  Nikki, surprised slowed down and was passed up by Kaltag and Star.  With a growl he started again, holding 4th place.

Balto then put his engines on full power.  He skyrocked to the finish line.  Balto won!  Kalag was in 2nd, Star in 3rd, and Nikki was in 4th.

Balto jumped out of his pod, and happily walked toward the briefing room.  There, Admiral Ackbar, Steele, and Luke Skywalker were waiting for him.

"Nice flying," Luke commented.

Steele was silent.  He was furious!  Why did this half dog have to be on "his" team, he thought.

"I don't think we can trust the son of Saber," Steele said.

Luke smiled.

"Then I suppose you can't trust me."

"What, then we won't,"  Steele said.  "What do you mean we can't trust you?"

Luke smiled again.

"My father to, betrayed the alliance.  Actually he betrayed the Jedi Counsel.  He also was, well let's say have you heard of Darth Vader?"

Steele nodded.

"Well, his real name is Anakan Skywalker,  my father."

Steele was stunned. "The why-"

"Why do they trust me?  Just because you have a parent who betrayed doesn't mean the child will.  Balto won the race fair and square." Luke finished.

"I will not leave on a mission with Balto on my team!" Steele cried.

"Let's just get the medicine," the admiral said, "we don't have the time to argue.  Balto, you will be on later missions."

Steele smiled.  Luke glared at him. (This should make for a good confrontation in the end)  Luke had never liked Steele.  Balto would have made a much better leader, Luke thought.

-------------------

Steele and his team climbed into their ships.  They were flying C-80 Husky wings.  Not nearly as good as a X-Wing, but good enough.

"C'ya Luke," Steele mumbled under his breath.

Luke walked slowly to his ship.  He sensed something was wrong.  He looked inside the cockpit.  There, was a bomb.  Luke removed the bomb as quickly as possible.  He then saw that the weapons system was damages.

"We don't have time for repairs," the admiral said.  

Luke nodded in agreement.  The Jedi knew who did this.  As Steele and his team took off, Balto watched from the balcony over looking the hanger.  Jenna walked up behind him.

"I know what you're going to say," Balto said, "I also know what happened to Luke and his team's ships.  Someday, I'll get Steele, and he will pay for what he has done."

Jenna stood back, amazed.  That was exactly what she was going to say.

"Then maybe you're a-"

Jenna ran off.  She had to find Luke.

Chapter 3

"May the force be with you"-Almost everyone

Steele and his team had reached earth.  They flew to Nennana, Alaska.  There, they got the anti-toxin.  Steele took the medicine, and he and his team blasted into space.

"Where are you know Luke where are you know,"  Steele said.

"TIE fighters coming in.  My scope picks up about 20 of them.  They've jammed our communications system with the base.  What are we gonna do!"  Star cried.

"Fight them, fight them off!"  Steele yelled.

"Too late," a voice said over the intercom. "You are in our tractor beams.  There is no escape.  One wrong move and you're dead.  Is that clear!!" The voice boomed.

Steele and his team had no choice.  The tractor beam took them aboard a Star Destroyer.

--------------------

A nock came at Luke's door.

"Come in Jenna," Luke said.

Jenna, still a little surprised at the Jedi ways, walked in slowly.

"Luke," Jenna stammered, "may I talk to you for a second?"

"Sure, I've got time ever since Steele sabotaged my ship but that's beside the point."

Luke watched Jenna's eyes widen.  His plan was working.  He would finally be able to train Balto as a Jedi.  Balto had already been approved by the Jedi Counsel to begin his training.

"But how?  I mean, is he, I mean-"

"Is he a Jedi?  Yes he most certainly is.  He has been approved by the Jedi Counsel to begin his training.  I his master, he my apprentice.

"But I thought you already had an apprentice," Jenna said.

"Since the Jedi are so few and growing, we are allowed three apprentices untill the Jedi regain their strength.  Anyway, she has begun the trails to become a offical Jedi Knight.  Now, would you ask Balto to come in here please?"  Luke asked.

Jenna nodded.  She had to find Balto.

--------------------------

"Borris, why did I have to be a half breed?"  Balto asked.

"What's wrong with being a half breed?"  Borris replied.

"Well, for one thing-" Balto started.

Jenna appeared at the door.  Dust had been blowing in her face, but she still looked beautiful. Balto froze, and did not speek.

"Luke wants to see you," Jenna said.

--------------------------

"Balto, you can see some things in advance, right?" Luke asked.

"Some things, I guess." Balto replied.

Jenna was sitting next to Balto.  Could this wolfdog be a Jedi?  Maybe then he would gain some respect, she thought.

"The Jedi Counsel has been watching you Balto.  They have approved you to begin your training to become a Jedi," Luke said.

"Me, a Jedi?  But how-"  Balto started.

"Your father was a Jedi," Luke answered.

"Don't remind me," Balto mumbled.

Luke smiled.

"My father betrayed people too.  That doesn't change the views of others.  They should like you for being Balto, not being the son of Saber."

"If only everyone would understand that," Balto said.

"Not everyone does," Luke said. "Most of the dogs don't get it, espically that Steele.  I don't understand how the dogs consider Steele a hero," Luke sighed.

"Maybe it's the sterotype.  His father was a great warrior," Balto said.

"Steele is besides the point now," Luke said.  "The point is, do you want to become a Jedi?"

"Yes, yes I do," Balto said.

"Training begins tommorow, at sunrise." Luke said.

Will Balto be able to prove himself?

----------------------

"The first thing we do is give you a lightsaber; although you may not be ready for it yet, it's the first step to become a Jedi." Luke said.

Balto looked at the lightsaber.  It's metal casing and black hand grips caught his eye.  He just stood there for a moment, looking at it.

"Make it work, go

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