by A. L. Singer
Ahead of them was a grand, open town square. The buildings appeared to be organic — grown rather than built — and decorated with a sophisticated style. Clearly the underwater civilization was technologically advanced.
Four armed Gungan warriors approached, led by a wizened and bewhiskered elder. They rode atop two-legged creatures that resembled leathery, wingless birds.
They pointed their spears straight at Jar Jar.
“Heyo-dalee, Cap’n Tarpals!” Jar Jar called out. “Mesa back!”
“No again, Jar Jar,” the old Gungan said in a deep, weary voice. “Yousa goen tada Bosses. Yousa in big dudu dis time.”
An electric charge shot from the tip of a guard’s spear. Jar Jar leaped in surprise. “How wude!” he cried out.
Rude or not, he was now a prisoner.
Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan hoped they would not be imprisoned as well.
Inside the center of the bubble, guards pulled Jar Jar aside while Captain Tarpals led Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan through a domed entry hall and into an inner chamber.
The room had walls of clear plasma. Fish of luminescent yellow, orange, and green swam on the other side. Five Gungan Bosses, their frames bedecked with brown robes, sat on disklike benches along a circular platform. Their skin was mottled like Jar Jar’s, but their faces were flat, with noses rather than snouts. Qui-Gon assumed they were of a different subspecies than Jar Jar.
Boss Nass was more resplendent than the others, his seat central and more elevated. As Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan stepped onto the platform, he spoke grimly. “Yousa cannot bees hare. Dis army of mackineeks up dare, ’tis new weesong!”
“That droid army,” Qui-Gon replied, “is about to attack the Naboo. We must warn them.”
“Wesa no like the Naboo!” the Boss thundered. “Un dey no like ussens. Da Naboo tink dey so smarty. Dey tink dey brains so big.”
A rivalry. Two advanced species, one resenting the other. No wonder Naboo could be so easily invaded.
Qui-Gon’s hope for a pact with the Gungans was fading fast.
“After those droids take control of the surface,” Obi-Wan said levelly, “they will come here and take control of you.”
“No, mesa no tink so,” Boss Nass replied. “Mesa scant talkie witda Naboo, and no nutten talkie wit outlaunders. Dos mackineeks no comen here — dey not know of ussen.”
“You and the Naboo form a symbiont circle,” Obi-Wan said. “What happens to one of you will affect the other. You must understand this.”
“Wesa wish no nuttin in yousa things, outlaunder, and wesa no caren about da Naboo.”
There was no time for a battle of wills. Qui-Gon passed his hand through the air, a subtle gesture that gave no hint of the Jedi mind control it sent over Boss Nass. “Then speed us on our way.”
The change was instant. Qui-Gon saw it in Boss Nass’s eyes. “Wesa ganna speed yousa away,” he said.
“We could use a transport,” Qui-Gon demanded.
“Wesa give yousa una bongo. Da speedest way tooda Naboo ’tis goen through da planet core. Now go.”
Qui-Gon bowed. “Thank you for your help. We go in peace.”
As he and his Padawan turned to leave, Obi-Wan whispered, “Master, what's a bongo?”
“A transport, I hope,” Qui-Gon replied.
“Deyza setten yousa up!” Jar Jar called out. “Goen through da planet core bad bombin!”
Qui-Gon hesitated. The Gungan was in cuffs, his arms held tightly by guards on either side.
“Thank you, my friend,” Qui-Gon said.
Jar Jar smiled beseechingly. “Ahhhh, any hep hare would be hot.”
“We are short of time, Master,” Obi-Wan pleaded impatiently.
“We’ll need a navigator to get us through the planet’s core,” Qui-Gon replied. “This Gungan may be of help.” Turning back toward Boss Nass, he asked, “What is to become of Jar Jar Binks here?”
“Binkss brokeen da nocombackie law,” the Boss answered. “Hisen to be pune-ished.”
“He has been a great help to us,” Qui-Gon said. “I hope the punishment will not be too severe.”
Boss Nass’s face hardened. “Pounded unto death!”
“Ooooh... ouch!” Jar Jar cried out.
Qui-Gon thought quickly. Jar Jar had made a promise when they’d first met — a life debt — and now it was time to collect.
“We need a navigator to get us through the planet’s core,” Qui-Gon said. “I saved his life. He owes me what you call a... life debt.”
“Binks!” the Boss shouted. “Yousa havena live-play with thisen hisen?”
Jar Jar nodded.
Once again Qui-Gon waved his arm gently toward Boss Nass. “Your gods demand that his life belongs to me now.”
“Hisen life ’tis yousa, outlaunder,” said Boss Nass, swayed by the Jedi mind trick. “Begone wit him!”
Jar Jar stiffened. “Count mesa outta dis! Better dead here den deader in da core!”
As his words echoed in the chamber, his face suddenly fell. “Ye guds, whata mesa sayin?”
Qui-Gon kept calm as the bongo careened away from Otoh Gunga. Fortunately the vessel itself was nimble and seaworthy. Its triangular body fanned back from a stubby nose and carried behind it a set of rotating fins for propulsion.
“Dis is nutsen,” Jar Jar muttered.
In the pilot’s seat, Obi-Wan quickly familiarized himself with the controls. Finally he threw up his hands in frustration. “Master, why do you keep dragging these pathetic life-forms along with us?”
Qui-Gon smiled.
“Hey!” Jar Jar cried out. “Where wesa goen?”
“Just relax. The Force will guide us,” Qui-Gon said calmly.
“Oooooh, maxibig — da Force,” Jar Jar said sarcastically. “Wellen, dat smells stinkowiff.”
The bongo jerked to the left, into a dark channel. Obi-Wan switched on the floodlights, and a world of vibrant colors seemed to jump at them — twisting beds of red and golden coral, strange luminescent fish that seemed to change hue as they swam, ominous shapes camouflaged among the rocks.
“Why were you banished, Jar Jar?” Obi-Wan asked warily.
“’Tis a longo tello,” Jar Jar said with a sigh, “but a small part wowdabee mesa... oooh... aah... clumsy.”
Obi-Wan looked skeptical. “You were banished because you’re clumsy?”
“Yousa mighten be sayin dat.” Jar Jar shrugged sheepishly. “Mesa causeed mabee one or duey let-tal-bitty axadentes — yud say, boom da gasser — un crash der Bosses’ heyblibber. Den banished.”
Boom da gasser? Heyblibber?
CRRRRUNCH!
The bongo abruptly lurched sideways.
Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan spun around toward the rear window — and looked into the open jaws of a giant sea creature that was about to swallow them!
An opee sea killer!
Obi-Wan quickly swung the lever back. The bongo’s engine’s screamed briefly, then propelled the ship forward again.
The monster let go and fell away.
“Wesa free!” Jar Jar cheered.
Qui-Gon looked back again and realized that Obi-Wan’s actions had little to do with their freedom.
Another floating behemoth, long and eel-like and massive enough to dwarf the helpless opee, closed its jaws around its prey and broke its head off.
Jar Jar stared in awe. “Eaten by sando aqua monstair.”
“There’s always a bigger fish,” Qui-Gon said with a shrug.
But their troubles were not over. The bongo’s lights flickered, and the steady whine of the power drive petered out.
“We’re losing power!” Obi-Wan was shouting, reaching for his tool kit.
“O-o-o-oh!” Jar Jar moaned, wringing his rubbery arms.
“Stay calm," Qui-Gon said. “We’re not in trouble yet.”
“What yet?” Jar Jar exclaimed. “Monstairs out dare, leaken in hare, allen sinken, and no-o-o-o power. When yousa tink wesa in trouble?”
“Power's back!” Obi-Wan interru
pted.
The power drive clicked in, the lights flicked on — and a set of enormous fangs loomed out the darkness.
“Monstairs back!” Jar Jar shouted.
Obi-Wan pulled the steering mechanism to the right. The bongo jerked sharply away. The fish chomped on water.
“Dissa colo claw fish wit a fangs fulla poison!” Jar Jar screamed. “Wesa in trouble now!”
“Relax.” Qui-Gon put his hand on Jar Jar’s shoulder. The Gungan had become irrational and was now a burden to himself and the voyage. Qui-Gon decided it was time to make Jar Jar sleep.
Jar Jar collapsed to the floor.
“I think you overdid it,” Obi-Wan remarked.
The bongo shot into a long coral tunnel, chased by the colo claw fish, whose flat, sleek, legless body gave it tremendous speed. At the other end of the tunnel, Qui-Gon hoped, would be enough open sea to accelerate.
He wasn’t expecting to see the sando aqua monster again. But it was waiting.
The creature opened its jaws. Obi-Wan steered abruptly away. “This is not good!”
“Wesa dead yet?” groaned Jar Jar, sitting up groggily.
The bongo turned wildly away from the tunnel exit. The colo claw fish darted out after them.
Jar Jar fainted again.
With a thundering chomp, the sando’s jaw closed around the colo claw fish.
Jar Jar woke up.
“Yousa bring us up faster!” Jar Jar directed.
The terror was behind them now. The bongo moved steadily upward through brightening water. Obi-Wan switched off the floodlights.
As they broke through the surface, Qui-Gon had to grin. Jar Jar, for once, had navigated well. They had emerged into an urban river, surrounded by the city of Theed. It was far more exquisite than the holograms he’d studied. Among thick, luxuriant trees stood the gently domed Naboo buildings. Each was constructed of warm, muted brick, yet the variety of styles created a pleasing harmony between architecture and nature.
As Obi-Wan retracted the bubble canopies, a fresh breeze brought with it the hubbub of workaday activity and the sweet songs of birds. He switched off the engine and let the bongo float.
“Wesa dude it!” Jar Jar crowed. “Wesa safe now.”
But Qui-Gon could not focus on Theed nor on the birdsongs. The current was pulling the bongo backward fast. Too fast.
Behind him, he heard a dull, distant roar. “Get this thing started!” he commanded.
Jar Jar sat back, grinning contentedly. “Dissen berry good, hey?”
“What is it, Master?” Obi-Wan asked.
He followed Qui-Gon’s glance toward the water’s horizon. It was flat and approaching fast, which meant only one thing — a waterfall.
Obi-Wan snapped forward and started the bongo’s engine, startling Jar Jar. “Whaaaat?” the Gungan cried, glancing over his shoulder. “Oie boie!”
As the bongo sputtered to life, Obi-Wan jammed it into forward drive. The rotors began to turn. The engine whined.
Thirty meters.
Fifteen meters.
WHIRRRRRRRR...
Five meters.
As the bongo fought the current, its rotors whipped the surface wildly. The water thundered.
The rotors began to jut over the edge. The bongo slowed until it was motionless, matching the current with an equal, opposite force.
Then slowly, almost imperceptibly, the bongo began moving again.
Forward.
Qui-Gon glanced at the control panel over his Padawan’s shoulder. The power gauge was creeping toward maximum.
The fuel gauge, however, was at empty.
Qui-Gon immediately reached for his utility belt. He closed his fingers around his grappling-spike launcher.
With a cough and a wheeze, the bongo’s engine died. The back end shot out over the waterfall.
“Iyiiiiii!” Jar Jar cried. “Wesa die-en here!”
Qui-Gon took aim. With a piercing ring, the metal cable flew toward the riverbank and wrapped itself around a railing.
The bongo jammed to a halt; its rear dangled over the waterfall.
They’d have to shimmy along the cable.
“Come on!” Qui-Gon urged.
Obi-Wan climbed out of the cockpit. Wrapping his legs around it, he swung out over the water and inched his way toward land.
Qui-Gon went next. “Come on, Jar Jar!” he called.
“No!” Jar Jar stared at the cable with terror. “Too scary!”
“Get up here!” Obi-Wan commanded.
“No — a mighty no!” Jar Jar shook his head defiantly — and caught his first glimpse of the waterfall. “Oie boie!”
Shaking, he grabbed the cable. “Mesa comen! Mesa comen!”
Once he’d reached safety, they could make their way to Theed.
Qui-Gon crouched low. Slowly he and his companions tiptoed along a stone walkway that overlooked the Palace of Theed.
They were too late.
Below them, the courtyard teemed with tanks and battle droids. Against the peaceful people of Naboo, the Trade Federation’s attack had been swift and unstoppable.
Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, and Jar Jar hid behind stone pillars and watched.
A battalion of droids marched in front of the palace. In their midst were the Queen and her courtiers.
Qui-Gon was stunned, not only by the brilliance of the black travel gown and the jeweled headdress, but by the Queen herself. Even in a crowd of a thousand, Queen Amidala would stand out. Qui-Gon had been told she was no more than a child, weak and politically inexperienced — yet the young woman who strode across the courtyard radiated power and grace. Her eyes were piercing and wise, and she carried herself with a defiant serenity.
Behind her followed five handmaidens, six palace guards, a security captain, and a white-bearded man who Qui-Gon thought might be the governor of Naboo, Sio Bibble.
Qui-Gon readied his lightsaber. As the procession approached the walkway, he gave the others a signal.
Together, they jumped.
The snap of droid lasers filled the air before Qui-Gon hit the ground.
His wrists twitched with swift precision, blocking each blast with his lightsaber blade.
The lasers shot backward. Four droids exploded, their mangled remnants hurtling in the air.
Then four more. Victims of Obi-Wan.
The droids came in pairs, fours, sixes. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan stood their ground. Let them come to you, the Jedi code decreed.
Soon only their leader was left.
Qui-Gon held up his right hand. The Force coursed through him, lifting the droid high and returning it for a final devastating thrust of Qui-Gon’s lightsaber.
The acrid smell of errant electrons and molten metal settled. The Queen and her courtiers stared in amazement.
“Yousa guys bombad!” Jar Jar cried out.
“Your Highness,” Qui-Gon said, stepping forward, “we are the ambassadors for the Supreme Chancellor.”
The Queen only nodded.
“Your negotiations seem to have failed, Ambassador,” said Governor Sio Bibble.
“The negotiations never took place,” Qui-Gon replied. “Your Highness, we must make contact with the Republic.”
The security captain stepped forward. “I am Captain Panaka, Head of Security for the Queen. The Trade Federation has knocked out all our communications.”
“Do you have any transports?” Qui-Gon asked.
“In the main hangar. This way.” Walking briskly, Captain Panaka led them into the hangar.
The group ran down a long hallway. At the end was a small door. Captain Panaka cracked it open and cautiously peered in.
Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, and Jar Jar looked over his shoulder into an immense hangar. The Naboo Royal Starship was unmistakable, sleek and elegant, clad in burnished white chromium. Around it were several smaller Naboo craft. All were guarded by droids.
The Queen could not stay on Naboo. The Trade Federation’s actions were unpredictable, savage. If they caught her
again, there was no telling what they would do.
The planet’s only hope lay in the Queen pleading her case before the Senate herself, on Coruscant.
“Your Highness,” Qui-Gon said, “under the circumstances, I suggest you come to Coruscant with us.”
“Thank you, Ambassador.” Her voice was startlingly low and serene, and more forceful for the fact that she was finally addressing him directly. “But my place is here with my people.”
“They will kill you if you stay,” Qui-Gon insisted.
“They wouldn’t dare,” Sio Bibble said.
“They need her to sign a treaty to make this invasion of theirs legal,” Captain Panaka explained. “They can’t afford to kill her.”
“The situation here is not what it seems,” Qui-Gon pressed on. “There is something else behind all this, Your Highness. There is no logic in the Federation’s move here. My feelings tell me they will destroy you.”
Sio Bibble nodded in agreement. “Please, Your Highness, reconsider. Our only hope is for the Senate to side with us. Senator Palpatine will need your help.”
“Getting past their blockade is impossible, Your Highness,” Captain Panaka protested. “Any attempt to escape will be dangerous.”
“Your Highness, I will stay here and do what I can,” Sio Bibble promised. “But you must leave.”
Queen Amidala turned to her trusted handmaidens. “Either choice presents a great danger to us all.”
“We are brave, Your Highness,” replied one of the young women.
“If you are to leave, Your Highness,” Qui-Gon urged, “it must be now.”
“Then I will plead our case to the Senate,” Queen Amidala said resolutely. “Padmé, Eirtaé, and Rabé, you will accompany me. The rest will stay. Be careful, Governor.”
Captain Panaka threw open the door to the hangar. Guard droids turned to face the intruders.
“There are too many of them,” Captain Panaka warned.
“That won’t be a problem,” Qui-Gon said, sounding more confident than he felt.
Captain Panaka gestured toward a corner of the hangar, where a group of Naboo pilots and flight workers were being held prisoner by droids.
“We need to free those pilots,” he said.
“I’ll handle that,” Obi-Wan vowed, peeling off in their direction.