Teemto Pagalies

Teemto Pagalies, deemed attractive by Veknoid society, was banished from his native world after inadvertently capturing the affections of a Veknoid princess of high standing and subsequently rejecting her marriage proposals. Following this, he existed as an outcast, struggling to secure employment within the Outer Rim Territories, finding no comfort. As a final option (some might argue as a suicidal act), Pagalies attempted Podracing, where he ultimately discovered his true calling. He piloted an IPG-X1131 Longtail.

Upon his arrival on Tatooine, he developed a strong admiration for Ann Gella, a Twi'lek masseuse employed by Sebulba, yet he failed to gain her attention. Additionally, he successfully acquired a Rodian slave mechanic named Pax Bonkik from Mars Guo.

Prior to the race, Teemto Pagalies also attended a glimmik concert performed by Boles Roor, during which he became aware that Mars Guo was attempting to seduce Ann Gella, promising to take her away from Tatooine if he emerged victorious in the race. Overcome with frustration, Pagalies informed Sebulba about the situation, leading the infamous Dug to sabotage Guo during the race as retribution.

Before the race, within the confines of the 7-Gee Lounge, Pagalies, known for his fondness for alcohol, consumed an excessive amount of Juri juices. A professional assassin named Jym Lang had been contracted by Jabba Desilijic Tiure to seize the unsuspecting, intoxicated Veknoid and offer him as sustenance to the sarlacc. However, Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn intervened, deliberately providing Lang with incorrect coordinates for Teemto just moments before the bounty hunter was about to execute his mission, thus saving Pagalies' life.

Pagalies regarded Anakin as a "good kid" and expressed his hopes for Anakin's success in the race. Despite his inebriated state, he maintained a keen awareness of all participants involved in podracing, including Watto.

Among all the pilots competing in the Boonta Eve Classic, Pagalies' Podracer was distinguished by its exceptionally long engines. He firmly believed that this feature, combined with the internal stabilizer ring integrated into his Pod, made Pagalies' Podracer technologically unparalleled and destined for victory.

Regrettably, his optimistic predictions were disproven when Orr Agg R'orr, a Tusken Raider, fired a precise shot in the Canyon Dune Turn, which resulted in the destruction of his engines and sent his Pod spiraling uncontrollably. Pagalies suffered some injuries from the crash, notably the melting off of his ears, but he recovered relatively quickly and resumed his racing career.

As a consequence of Pagalies' accident, his family placed a bounty on Orr Agg R'orr, offering 3,000 credits for the Tusken's demise. This reward was claimed several months later by the bounty hunter Jango Fett.

Shortly thereafter, Pagalies participated in the Vinta Harvest Classic, seemingly with his ears either healed or replaced with prosthetics. He made the error of provoking Sebulba at the starting line, leading Sebulba to retaliate by injuring Pagalies' lower back prior to the race. Despite this setback, Pagalies managed to complete the race without losing his life. He was later observed celebrating at the Seko Cantina on Ryloth.

He gained recognition for attempting audacious stunts, becoming a favorite among spectators. During one such stunt, Pagalies lost an eye in the subsequent crash. Although he traveled across various Podracing planets for a period, he eventually established himself on the spice-mining planet of Mon Gazza, where the extensive, open tracks were ideally suited for the daring feats he could elicit from his Podracer.

At a later time, Pagalies emerged victorious in the Aleen Classic and intended to utilize the prize money to secure Ann Gella's freedom from Sebulba. However, knowing that his mechanic's brother, Trax Bonkik, was also under Sebulba's ownership, he instead used the funds to purchase Trax's freedom at the last moment, thus reuniting the brothers.

In 8 ABY, Pagalies was employed at the old Mos Espa Grand Arena (now repurposed as a swoop arena) under the management of Ulda, alongside his former rival Ody Mandrell. By this point, he had also lost an arm. It was at the Arena that Pagalies was questioned by Leia Organa Solo concerning the truth surrounding her father's victory at the Boonta Eve Classic many years prior.

He remained alive in 11 ABY, at which time he sent Leia Organa Solo a copy of a video documenting Anakin Skywalker's triumph in the aforementioned race.

The character Teemto Pagalies was conceived for the 1999 motion picture Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace, but his initial appearance occurred in the film's novelization authored by Terry Brooks. Conceptual artwork for the character, encompassing bone structure, was created by concept artist Terryl Whitlatch. The character's last name is spelled incorrectly as "Pugales" in Todd Strasser's 1999 Scholastic book, Star Wars Episode I Journal: Anakin Skywalker.