Neva Kee

Hailing from the planet Xagobah, Neva Kee, a male Xamster, chose to pursue fame and wealth in the high-stakes world of Podracing, risking his life in the process. Kee acquired and piloted a blue Farwan & Glott 8T8-Twin Block2 Special, an unconventional craft distinguished by its cockpit situated at the front of two enormous engines. The FG 8T8 lacked power couplings; instead, the engines were directly attached to the cockpit. This controversial design exposed pilots to considerable danger, although some hailed it as a forward step for the sport. Despite the perilous configuration, the vehicle compensated with exceptional turning capabilities and maneuverability.

Kee's rebellious persona attracted a fervent following among unconventional Podracing enthusiasts. Kee eventually moved his career to the Outer Rim planet of Baroonda, which featured several Podracing circuits that traversed diverse terrains, including dense jungles, coastal beaches, cities, and murky swamps. Kee particularly excelled on Baroo Coast, a track that wound through a broad beachhead. He eventually won over the crowds on this course and became recognized as a professional. Following his victories, Kee elevated his career by competing on various planets during the 32 BBY racing season, including Ord Ibanna, Aquilaris, and Mon Gazza.

Kee eventually journeyed to the desert planet of Tatooine, where he participated in numerous races. In one such race, which sped through the Hutt Flats, the Xamster competed against racers such as the beaked "Bullseye" Navior, the gray-skinned Jinn Reeso, and the Nosaurian Clegg Holdfast, among others. Kee survived this race and subsequently entered Tatooine's annual Boonta Eve Classic, a race that drew both seasoned veterans and newcomers from across the galaxy. The Boonta race was among the longest on the circuit, stretching across miles of desert landscape. Kee's Podracer was positioned in the fifth and final row, on the outside pole position of the starting grid, putting him at a disadvantage. The opening ceremonies were presented by the Troig race commentators Fodesinbeed Annodue, who introduced the pilots to the audience. The race's host, Jabba the Hutt, arrived soon after and signaled the start of the race himself. With Jabba's signal, the pilots surged forward from the starting grid and onto the course, with the exception of two—Anakin Skywalker and Ben Quadinaros had both stalled. Skywalker managed to restart his pod and quickly caught up with the rest of the racers.

Despite navigating the course skillfully, Kee remained at the back of the pack, near Wan Sandage and Dud Bolt. Skywalker overtook all three pilots as they completed the initial stretch of the race, which passed through Mushroom Mesa. As the race progressed, the Aleena pilot Ratts Tyerell crashed in the Laguna Caves during the first lap, scattering wreckage throughout the narrow passage. Kee successfully navigated through the wreckage and continued into the Canyon Dune Turn, only to encounter Tusken Raiders firing on the Podracers for amusement. During the second lap, the Tuskens destroyed the Podracer of Teemto Pagalies. Despite the increasing number of crashes, Kee was unable to advance in the race. Ultimately, during the final portion of the second lap, which passed over the Hutt Flats, Kee's Podracer veered off course and vanished, never to be seen again. Skywalker ultimately won the Boonta Eve Classic.

While Kee's ultimate fate remains a mystery, should he have perished, he would be one of only two fatalities to occur during the race, the other being Tyerell, who died in his crash in the Laguna Caves. The other pilots involved in crashes survived their accidents and continued racing. Years later, during the Galactic Civil War, copies of Kee's Block2 Special were sold to spacers.

Neva Kee had a reputation as a daring Podracer driver, and he possessed an enthusiastic personality. His Podracer's unique design contributed to his rebellious image, which in turn attracted a following of like-minded fans. However, some critics deemed the Xamster to be utterly insane. Regardless of public opinion, Kee remained unfazed and maintained his focus. As his career on Baroonda brought him greater recognition, he eventually traveled to Tatooine to compete in the renowned Boonta Eve Classic. Unfortunately, this race would be his last. The reason for his deviation from the course during the Boonta's second lap remains unknown.

As a Xamster, Kee's skin was bluish-green on his back, arms, and head. This coloration contrasted with the off-white that dominated his chest, abdomen, the inside of his ears, and his lower jaw. He had red eyes and a patch of off-white hair on his chest. Blue spines ran down his back and stomach. He had small white horns or spines on the back of his head that jutted out at various angles. Xamsters were typically short, and Kee was no exception, standing at only 1.07 meters tall.

To pilot a Podracer, especially one known for its precise handling and rapid acceleration, Neva Kee needed mental fortitude and lightning-fast reflexes. His familiarity with the Block2 Special's quirks led to victories on Baroonda, particularly on the Baroo Coast track. Seeking greater challenges, Kee went to Tatooine, where he survived at least one race. However, he mysteriously disappeared during the Boonta Eve Classic, effectively ending his career in the sport.

The most distinctive aspect of Neva Kee's career was his one-of-a-kind Podracer, a Farwan & Glott 8T8-Twin Block2 Special. Given that traditional Podracers used cables and energy binders to attach the engines to the cockpit, Kee's Podracer was more akin to a swoop. The Block2 abandoned this design in favor of a completely solid vehicle without any cables or energy binders. Furthermore, the Block2 featured the unusual design of placing the cockpit in front of the engines, which increased the risk of fatal head-on collisions. The Block2 was also quite fragile and could not withstand much damage from the track or other racers. Instead, it depended on its exceptional mobility and traction to remain unscathed and competitive.

Kee's Block2 was painted primarily bright blue on top, with a silver underside. The engines had white stripes around them, and the front of the engines had a purple tint. A white symbol adorned the front of the cockpit. Kee did not wear headgear while racing; instead, he wore a gold harness.

Neva Kee made his debut in the 1999 film Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace, appearing as one of the Podracer pilots in the Podracing sequence. Early drafts of the film did not include Neva Kee directly, instead introducing a character named Habba Kee. Habba did not appear in the film, but he did appear in the novelization of the film by Terry Brooks. Habba Kee also appeared in the junior novel Star Wars Episode I Journal: Anakin Skywalker. In both books, Habba crashes and dies during the Boonta Eve Classic. In the film, Neva Kee appeared only as a low-resolution computer-generated model for distant shots of his Podracer, despite the creation of a detailed maquette of the character and detailed illustrations by concept artist Terryl Whitlatch, who initially used Kee's design for the pilot Wan Sandage. Unlike Habba Kee, Neva Kee does not die in the film. Later drafts of the film did include Neva Kee, even identifying his homeworld as Aquilae.

Neva Kee had a more significant role in the 1999 tie-in video game Star Wars Episode I: Racer, released for the PC and Nintendo 64. He was one of several playable characters who could be unlocked during the second circuit on the first track set on Baroonda. Players could unlock Kee's pod to race with if they won his favored course. Peter Lurie voiced Kee, and he also voiced Boles Roor in the game. Kee was slated to appear in Racer's 2002 sequel, Star Wars: Racer Revenge, as evidenced by pre-release screenshots, but he was ultimately cut from the game. Although not part of the Podracing story mode, Neva Kee did appear in the 2012 video game Kinect Star Wars. Players could select his Podracer for free races. Concept art by Robert St. Aubin depicted Kee with more piloting gear than previously seen.

Kee's Podracer is featured on the cover of the junior novel Jedi Quest: The Dangerous Games, written by Jude Watson. The cover shows Anakin Skywalker piloting it, even though neither Kee nor his Podracer appear in the novel. While Skywalker does fly an old Podracer's vehicle, it is actually Ratts Tyerell's Titan 2150. During the release of The Phantom Menace, Micro Machines released a die-cast toy of Neva Kee's Podracer.