Chapter 1
Hello, SpeechBubbleMe here! Welcome to my second story, the next installment of my Across the Stars fanfiction! If you are, in fact, looking for my original Across the Stars story… "This is not the story you're looking for… move along…" Look on my main page! Thank you to all of you that followed and reviewed Across the Stars – I would absolutely love it if you continued to do so for this story!
That being said, here is the first chapter and disclaimer: I bow in supplication to the great and powerful Disney… I don't own Star Wars!
Turmoil has engulfed the Galactic Republic. The taxation of trade routes to outlying star systems is in dispute.
Hoping to resolve the matter with a blockade of deadly battleships, the greedy Trade Federation has stopped all shipping to the small planet of Naboo.
While the congress of the Republic endlessly debates this alarming chain of events, the Supreme Chancellor has secretly dispatched two Jedi Knights, the guardians of peace and justice in the galaxy, to settle the conflict….
Obi-Wan stood next to his Master, trying to match the cool front that the older Jedi exuded. Their diplomatic cruiser was coming up on the Trade Federation's blockade over the beautiful planet of Naboo. Qui-Gon's voice broke the silence from where he stood in the rear of the cockpit.
"Captain." The captain turned in her seat to address the Jedi.
"Yes, sir?"
"Tell them we wish to board at once."
"Yes, sir," the captain turned to her view screen where a Neimoidian was waiting for her reply, "With all due respect for the Trade Federation, the Ambassadors for the Supreme Chancellor wish to board immediately."
Obi-Wan tuned out the Neimoidian's oily words as his gaze wandered to the planet below. Somewhere Rhys Talik was down there – probably injured or worse. She could have over-exerted herself, bringing on a debilitating seizure that would render her defenseless. Granted, Tamai Olo was far from incompetent, but the boy was only twelve, and it was only his third mission-
He was jolted from his thoughts by the cruiser docking in the enormous main bay of the Federation battleship. Obi-Wan followed his Master down the ramp, slightly behind him in his usual place as a padawan learner. They were met by a silver-plated protocol droid.
"I'm TC-14 at your service," the droid intoned, "This way, please." The droid led them through the ship, finally stopping at a formal conference room with a large observation window.
"I hope you honored sirs will be most comfortable here. My master will be with you shortly," the droid continued as the two Jedi entered the conference room. As soon as the droid left, they lowered their hoods.
"I have a bad feeling about this."
Qui-Gon looked over at his apprentice, "I don't sense anything."
"It's not about the mission, Master, it's something… elsewhere… elusive."
"Don't center on your anxieties, Obi-Wan. Keep your concentration here and now where it belongs," the older Jedi chided his padawan.
"Master Yoda said I should be mindful of the future-" the padawan started, but was interrupted by his Master.
"But not at the expense of the moment. Be mindful of the Living Force, my young padawan," Qui-Gon said as he walked towards the large windows.
"Yes, Master," Obi-Wan deferred, following the older Jedi, "How do you think the Trade Viceroy will deal with the Chancellor's demands?"
"These Federation types are cowards. The negotiations will be short.
Obi-Wan nodded as he agreed with his Master. He stayed a little longer to gaze at the planet below when Qui-Gon made his way to one of the many seats. Rhys is down there… he thought worriedly, She could be injured, or captured… or worse. Obi-Wan shook off increasingly worrying thoughts as he remembered his friend's particular talent for attracting trouble to her person like moths to a flame. On Tam's fist mission with his Master, the two of them had found themselves in the middle of a series of political assassinations during what was meant to be a simple renewal of a planetary treaty.
He grimly remembered his past conversations with her about her affinity for finding trouble, to which she had replied teasingly, "Why should I worry when I have you to do it for me?" Then, more solemnly, "A little trouble won't kill me…" as if she knew exactly what would happen. Breaking free from his thoughts, Obi-Wan joined his Master sitting at the conference table, tapping his fingers on the cool metal impatiently.
"Is it in their nature to make us wait this long?" he asked as the silver protocol droid entered carrying a tray of drinks.
"No, I sense an unusual amount of fear for something as trivial as this trade dispute," Qui-Gon replied, accepting a drink. They waited in silence, listening to the droid attempt to reassure them that its Masters would be in shortly to meet with them.
All of a sudden, both Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon leapt to their feet, lightsabers ablaze as they felt the death of their pilot and copilot aboard the ship. The droid was startled, mumbling several nervous apologies. Qui-Gon's gaze travelled the room, finally landing on the vents near the floor.
"Dioxis," he warned, gesturing to the green-ish gas coming out of the vents. Obi-Wan sucked in a deep breath and remained motionless to conserve his air. Both Jedi sat like statues while the protocol droid bumbled around blindly until the door opened, revealing a squad of battle droids. The disoriented droid stumbled out of the room, apologizing as the gas spilled out.
"Check it out Corporal, we'll cover you."
"Roger, roger."
In tandem, the two Jedi ignited their lightsabers and fell on the surprised battle droids, cutting them down in a matter of minutes. Obi-Wan followed his Master in the direction of the main bridge, blue blade flashing dangerously. He quickly dispatched the droids guarding the doors while his Master attempted to cut through the heavy blast doors.
"Master, destroyers!" Obi-Wan warned as he sensed their presence. When the droidekas finally appeared, they were surrounded by a thick shield, "They have shield generators!"
The Jedi furiously deflected the blaster bolts, edging away from the smoking door to the bridge. "It's a stand-off," Qui-Gon said, parrying a blaster bolt in the direction of the destroyers, "Let's go!"
With a burst of speed, the pair sprinted down the corridor, dodging shots from the droidekas behind them. Once they were out of range, they slipped inside one of the massive ventilation shafts, disappearing into the depths of the ship.
Qui-Gon finally stopped at a high opening, dropping into the giant hangar bay. Obi-Wan followed after him, silently leaping to crouch at his Master's side behind a large mound of crated equipment.
"Battle droids," Qui-Gon observed as he peered between crates.
"It's an invasion army," Obi-Wan's voice was tinged with awe.
"It's an odd play for the Trade Federation. We've got to warn the Naboo and contact Chancellor Valorum. Let's split up," Qui-Gon suggested wisely, "Stow aboard separate ships and meet down on the planet. We'll have a better chance of locating Master Talik and her padawan as well."
Obi-Wan nodded in agreement, then stopped with a wry grin on his face, "You were right about one thing, Master – the negotiations were short."
Rhys awoke to a blaring warning from the Force. She snapped to full attention from where she had been sleeping in the copilot's chair, dashing out of the cockpit and into the main hold where Tam had been sleeping on the circular couch. He met her at the door, anxious eyes wide.
"I felt it too," she reassured him. The boy seemed to relax some at his Master's words, but his gaze still held much of its original fright. "We're not safe here anymore."
Tam nodded in agreement, "What are we going to do now?"
"I'm not sure…" Rhys confessed, "But I know that our situation has changed. I feel like we need to head back in the direction of Theed."
"Breakfast first?" the padawan asked hopefully. Rhys allowed a smile to grace her features as she was reminded of the boy's nearly insatiable appetite. It brought back pleasant memories of her friends clustered around their usual table, giving up a small portion for Reeft.
"Of course."
After a light breakfast – to Tam's dismay, Ivrek had not packed much food onto the Falcon beforehand – the Jedi cautiously exited their ship. Tam's rudimentary screen of branches had done its job well to conceal the ship, as there were no other fighters patrolling the skies searching for their remains. As Rhys gazed at the thick forest around her, she couldn't help but smirk grimly – the games of hide-and-seek she had once played as a child in these very trees were about to take upon a whole different meaning.
"Which way should we go?" Tam asked, gazing suspiciously at the mass of trees before them. Rhys closed her eyes, deep in thought as she reached out through the Force. After a few moments, she could feel herself being pulled in a certain direction. She opened her eyes with a smile.
"Wherever the Force takes us."
Obi-Wan again resisted the urge to roll his eyes as the strange Jar-Jar creature kept talking. He was reminded distinctly of the time when Qui-Gon, out of pity, had rescued a young amphibious creature on a mission, bringing it back to the Temple despite his apprentice's many protests. Much like his current situation, Obi-Wan was forced to listen to the thing make noise unceasingly, even rebuked. The ability to speak definitely did not make the Gungan intelligent.
Currently, the two Jedi were following Jar-Jar to some hidden city or other that he claimed to originate from. It had taken a bit of convincing – pointed remarks of impending doom seemed to work wonders – but he had agreed to guide them there through the seemingly-endless swamps and trees.
"Master, do you think we'll be able to find Master Talik?" he asked in an undertone so the Gungan wouldn't overhear. Qui-Gon looked a little pained at his padawan's question.
"I hope so," he confessed with a sigh, "If the Force wills it." Obi-Wan nodded solemnly.
The odd trio continued walking, entering a small clearing, until Obi-Wan felt a warning ripple through the Force shortly before several battle droids on mounted speeders began shooting at them once again. Qui-Gon hurriedly pulled out his lightsaber (Obi-Wan's had been damaged by the water) and began deflecting their shots. Jar-Jar yelled in panic and flopped ungracefully on the ground.
Qui-Gon managed to hold his own for a little while, but Obi-Wan could tell that he was beginning to tire. Suddenly, the droids swung around, their focus shifted by another threat. The padawan watched as one of the shots directed across the clearing was deflected by a pair of violet lightsabers, shooting back at the droid that fired it and destroying it. A second pair of lightsabers joined the first, blocking more bolts with flashing emerald blades. In a matter of seconds all that was left of the droids were piles of scrap tumbling down into a nearby ravine.
Obi-Wan grinned broadly as he recognized the wielders of the lightsabers – it seemed that Rhys Talik had found them.