Note: Here's Chapter 2. Hope you enjoy this, and the rest to come.

Fire Over Paradise

32 Years Before the Battle of Yavin - The Separatist Crisis is building…

Coruscant - The Senate Building

"And let it be known that the Naboo system has been cheating the Trade Federation out of several months of shipping fees! Our records are quite clear on this! The combined shipping fees on their shipments of plasma are being displayed on your screens now. I can see many of your reactions. Indeed, this is a rather hefty sum. Therefore, we seek approval from the Senate to use our trading vessels to form a non-aggressive blockade of the system until they agree to pay us every last credit that they have denied us."

"We would, of course, agree to Jedi oversight of this process. We want this to go well just as much as you do! We only wish to peacefully have what is rightfully ours, nothing more…."

...

"After much deliberation, this body has come to an agreement. Representatives of the Trade Federation, by the will of this Senate and the Republic, your request has been approved. The Trade Federation may move forward with a limited blockade of the Naboo system until such time as they have paid their dues, pending investigations from Jedi Overseers. Let this be a message to any system that tries to hoard wealth for itself at the expense of other our honest businesses! This Republic will not tolerate it, even from a system so respected as Naboo. I hereby declare this meeting adjourned.

Excerpt of transcript of Trade Fed. appeal to Senate, Date - 03:1:05, Time - 05:42

Naboo

Forty eight large, circular Lucrehulk-class vessels of the Trade Federation hung over the planet of Naboo like vultures. Each major spaceport on the planet was accounted for, as well as several key cities, such as the capital of Theed, Dee'ja peak, home of the Parliament. Several other ships simply made high-orbit patrols and observed the entire planet from afar.

A red Consular-class Cruiser dropped out of hyperspace, and hailed a Trade Federation ship that bore the Neimoidian symbols for command.

"Trade Federation command vessel Dleefnarc, this is the Republic diplomatic vessel Concordia. We have onboard the Jedi Ambassadors assigned to oversee this blockade. Please respond." The captain did not have to wait long before the Dleefnarc responded.

A Neimoidian appeared onscreen."Greetings, Concordia." The captain noted that the Neimoidian was not the well-known Viceroy Gunray. "As you may have noticed, this is Captain Zind Srevmo. Viceroy Gunray has requested that the ambassadors meet him on the surface of Naboo. The viceroy's shuttle is awaiting your decision."

The captain narrowed her eyes. "That's not what the Senate set as the requirements for this meet—"

A gentle voice came from the robed figure behind her. "Go ahead, Captain. The Senate will respect my report regardless. I would very much like to see Naboo myself. Seeing how the locals are reacting to the blockade will make for a much more meaningful report."

The captain pressed her lips together. Why couldn't people just stick to plans? But the request of a Jedi Master carried a lot of weight."Very well, Master Jedi." To the copilot, she added, "Hail them."

"Yes Captain." The copilot activated the comm. When the signal went through, the captain addressed the Trade Federation vessel.

"The Jedi ambassadors have agreed to meet the Viceroy on the surface of Naboo." Captain Srevmo was quick to respond.

"Excellent! I will tell the Viceroy of your decision immediately." He cut off the transmission.

"And now we shall wait for our hosts," the Jedi said. "Follow their ship when they appear." The hooded Jedi turned and left the room, seeming to glide silently through the cockpit doorway.

Once he was gone, the copilot turned to the captain. "If I may—"

The captain cut him off. "I don't like this anymore than you do, but we have our orders." The tension in her stance lessened. "Besides, it's not like the Trade Federation is going to do something stupid. The Senate would have their slimy hides."

With her piece said, the Captain turned to the transparisteel viewport in front of her. Understanding that the conversation was over, the copilot joined her in waiting on the Trade Federation shuttle.

"The Jedi have agreed to our terms, as you have predicated, milord. They're currently standing by in orbit."

"Excellent. You know what to do. Go to the prepared chamber. It is time to set the next stage in motion."

Viceroy Nute Gunray bowed his head. "Yes, my lord." Raising his eyes, he looked at the crackling blue hologram before him. The thin, elongated face of Darth Plagueis stared back, eyes seeming to bore into his very soul. "Are you certain that the Senate will allow the next step?" His voice held no small amount of fear and uncertainty.

Plagueis's eyes darkened, seeming to glow even through the hologram. When he responded, the respirator that enveloped his lower face gave his voice a synthetic edge. "I assure you, Viceroy, that my apprentice is doing his part in the Senate to ensure that this plan does not fail. Indeed, the starfighters and pilots that he prepared are ready as well. Just do your part as instructed Viceroy, and all will be as I have planned. Is that understood?" With that, Plagueis lapsed into silence, waiting for Gunray's answer.

Gunray swallowed. "Yes, my lord," he managed. "I understand."

"Good." With that, Plagueis cut the transmission.

Gunray turned and looked at his shuttle. He located a battle droid with pilot markings, and waved. The droid understood the signal, saluted, and walked up the ramp of the shuttle, closing the door behind it. The shuttle carried several volunteers, one of them Gunray's own cousin. A near genetic match for the Viceroy, he was also dressed in Gunray's standard diplomatic attire. Gunray watched from the hangar floor as the shuttle lifted off of the floor and slowly moved towards the open hangar door. Once it left through the force field, he turned and walked into a hallway, making his way back to the carefully designed communication chamber. It would allow him to pretend that he was on the shuttle, and the Republic cruiser would be none the wiser. The signal would use the shuttle as a relay point, so it would appear as if the shuttle was his true location. A very wise plan indeed. Soon, his role would be over, and he could simply let his underlings play their parts as he watched in comfort.

He grinned lecherously, his mind drifting to the new Twi'lek dancers that had just arrived. 'Watching in comfort indeed,' he thought.

"Captain." The copilot pointed out the new sensor contact.

"I see it, Commander." The Captain acknowledged.

"They are hailing us, Captain," the copilot reported as he watched the communications panel.

"Onscreen." The captain watched as the face of Nute Gunray filled the comm screen.

"Greetings, Concordia. I am glad that you could join me. Now, if you would please follow me to the surface, you can complete your investigation, and return to the Senate with the satisfaction of a job well done." The viceroy's face was neutral, betraying nothing. The captain didn't like it, but since the Jedi had given her orders, there was little that she could do.

"Acknowledged. If you don't mind, Viceroy, where on be surface are we going?" The captain raised an eyebrow.

Gunray smiled almost imperceptibly. "My apologies. I will transmit the coordinates and flight path now." He cut the transmission.

The comm panel beeped, and the copilot pressed a series of buttons, then paused. "Flight path and destination received, Captain. Permission to plot the path?"

The captain allowed herself a slight smile. "Granted, Commander." The commander was young. Most members of the navy his age were no higher than Lieutenant at best. In days long gone, talented young officers would have been grappling for a chair in one of the great Star Destroyers. Pirates were the only common threat, and they tended to be outmatched by an average planetary defense squadron. The only Star Destroyers around these days were almost Venator-class cruisers found in the patrol fleets of wealthy Core Worlds.

A series of beeps snapped her out of her thoughts. "Course has been set, Captain. Shall I contact the Jedi?" He looked at her expectantly.

"Go ahead. Just let them know that we are finally underway." Without another word, she engaged the main engines and started following the path, making small adjustments as the ship entered the planet's hyperdrive limit, gravity ever so slightly gripping the ship.

The two vessels made their way down to the planet, sloping slowly as they approached the surface. Several minutes passed as they moved through the atmosphere. The pair of ships rapidly made their way over the Gungan swamplands, slowing their speed so as to not violate the speed limits set by a previous treaty.

Watching the sensor feeds carefully, Viceroy Gunray pressed a button on the comm panel at his front. A tight-beam transmission rapidly made its way to the surface from the subspace radio transmitter, reaching its distant destination near instantaneously, far faster than lightspeed.

Four Naboo starfighters lifted off of the ground several kilometers ahead. Each cockpit contained the corpse of a pilot, all kidnapped and murdered hours before. Carefully programmed astromech droids acted as the pilots as the ships accelerated to maximum speed. Their attack formation was a standard Naboo Navy formation, specifically designed for attacking pirate cruisers. All four readied their torpedoes for launch.

Sitting at a table in the main room of the cruiser, Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi looked troubled. "Master Qui-Gon. Something feels wrong. I can feel a great deal of fear from the shuttle."

His Master looked at him. His Padawan must have been quite stressed if he addressed his master by name. Not that Qui-Gon blamed him. "I feel it also. Something strange is going on—"

The feeling vanished, replaced by a brief flash of pain, then fear from the cockpit of their cruiser. A voice called over the intercom. "Brace!" With that, the ship shuddered under a heavy blow. "Get to the pods, Jedi! We're being attacked by the Naboo! They've already killed the Federation shuttle, and—" The intercom shut off and the ship shuddered again. The ship started losing altitude. Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon shared a quick look before rushing to the large escape pod at the front of the ship.

The remains of the Sheathipede-class shuttle had long since crashed to the ground behind them. Its destruction has been the only warning the Republic ship had been given. The first starfighter hadn't even fired a weapon, but instead rammed headlong into the shuttle. Not that it really mattered, it still alerted the cruiser to the threat. The shields had barely been raised before a set of torpedoes rocked the ship. Both captain and copilot worked furiously to keep the ship in the air, even as the ship was steadily falling towards the swamps below.

The ship shuddered under another torpedo. The copilot's face was tight, tension straining his features. "The shields over the engines are failing. The reactor is overheating. And—"

"I get it," the captain stated. She keyed the intercom. "Jedi, are you in the escape pod?" The captain's voice was similarly controlled, with only a hint of tension.

The Jedi's response came immediately. "We are, Captain. The ship is going down, then?" The tone held a touch of concern.

"Yes. We are trying to put it down carefully. If we can't, we'll at least try and make it so they can't target your pod." She waited for a response.

"Very well, Captain. Thank you. May the Force be with you."

With that, the captain shut off the intercom. "And with you, Master Jedi." The words felt hollow, but they provided some comfort. She had just turned to the copilot again when the ship shuddered heavily and the sound of tearing metal filled her ears.

"Engineering is gone, Captain! The engines are failing!" Now the copilot's voice openly betrayed his panic.

The captain looked at their altitude. Low enough. The escape pod would vanish into the water without being targeted. It was a miracle that they hadn't already lost it, but the enemy attacks had been concentrated on the rear of the ship.

Without a hint of hesitation, she jettisoned the main escape pod. And not a moment too soon. Barely a moment later, a set of torpedoes slammed into the reactor, and the ship vanished, replaced by a ball of fire and scrap metal. The pod continued towards the ground unhindered, having been outside of the range of the explosion.

In the escape pod, Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon sat, strapped to their seats as the pod plummeted towards the swampland below. They both winced as they felt the deaths of the crew of the cruiser above them.

Obi-Wan looked towards his Master. "So how long do you think it will take for the pod to reach the ground, Master?"

Qui-Gon met the eyes of his Padawan. "I do not know. I suspect—" Their conversation was cut off as the pod plowed into the swampy ground below them, sinking slightly into the shallow water.

The three remaining fighters hung in the air for a few moments before the last of their programming kicked in. Two of the fighters rapidly shot into the sky, while the third made a nosedive towards the closest lake. While the third crashed and sunk below the surface of the lake, the other two rapidly turned in midair, pointed themselves towards a collection of statues, and gunned their engines. Moments later, they collided with the ancient stone faces and exploded. The statues vanished, little more than dust and gravel when the explosions faded.

Up in orbit, Nute Gunray watched with apprehension plain on his face as the reports came in from their sensors. His face slowly morphed into a grin as more and more of the reports filtered in. When the last reports came in that the fighters had crashed, he was grinning fully. Success.

He activated his comlink. "Order the Bridge to begin the next phase. Contact the Senate first, of course. We wouldn't want to do this carelessly."

"Yes, Viceroy," Captain Srevmo replied. "With all due respect, Viceroy, this will have to be the last transmission, as you are dead now." The Captain looked uneasy at having to say this.

Gunray was unfazed. "But of course, Captain. Good luck with the invasion. May you avenge me and the poor Jedi well." With that, he cut the transmission, turning his attention to the pair of Twi'lek slaves in front of him. "As for you my pretties, would you please put on a nice show? I was a good man in life, after all. My afterlife should be full of fun!" Chuckling to himself, he watched as they began to dance.

The boy awoke with a start. It was still before the dawn. He shivered, though not from the cold. Something felt wrong, but he didn't know what. He listened carefully. His mother was probably still sleeping, but it never hurt to be certain. Ever since her finger injury three months ago, she had had to cut back on the work she did for her master. Her life debt seemed further and further away from repayment every day.

That just means that you are the one doing more work, doesn't it, boy?

The boy grimaced. Of course the Invader had to offer its opinion. It had been growing stronger ever since his mother had gotten hurt.

Of course I have, boy. You are the one that has made me stronger. You have fed me with your despair and with your fear for your, no. Our mother.

"No," the boy whispered, though he was far from convinced. "My mother. You're just an invader in my mind."

You can believe that all you want boy. But I am a part of you now. The voice grew darker. And I always will be. Do you know how I know? I can do this!

The boy grew dizzy, and fainted. He awoke in a cloudy place. "Where am I?" His voice echoed until it faded into nothing. Hearing something behind him, he turned. What he saw made his blood run cold.

Something stepped out of his shadow, a mirror image of himself except for the face. The thing's face had a pair of yellow eyes. The boy's eyes were blue.

The boy stumbled backwards. "What, what are you?" His voice was heavy with fear.

The thing laughed. "I told you. I am part of you. And as for where you are, well, I guess you could say that this place is part of your mind. Not quite the entirety of it, but the section that controls your sense of identity." The thing turned away from him for a moment, then turned back, clutching its chest. "Well," it said, sounding pained. "I suppose that this this is the end of our little meeting. Goodbye for now, boy."

With that, the cloudy place went dark. The boy awoke again with a start, sweat covering his body. He glanced around again, straining his ears, but heard nothing. His mother was still asleep. Good. The boy looked around the dark room until his eyes found the window. Still not even a hint of dawn. Shaking himself, he got out of bed slowly. He didn't feel tired anymore. Crossing the room, he approached the droid at the side of his desk.

When he reached the droid, he flipped it on, immediately putting a finger to his mouth. The droid saw the gesture, and understood. It did not greet him with the usual set of whistles. Instead, it stared at him, waiting for instructions.

"Morning, Artoo," he whispered. "Let's run another diagnostic, okay? Blink once if yes."

A light on the front of the droid's chest blinked once. Its single eye seemed happy as it stared at the boy.

The boy smiled. "Let's do this, buddy." The boy and the droid slowly checked each system for errors, correcting minor bugs as they went along. The boy loved working on his droid. It was almost as much fun as flying in podraces.

The hours ticked by, and the sand outside swirled in the wind. All the while, the stars moved overhead, the constellations shifting slowly as night shifted into dawn.

AN: Here's the next chapter of Anakin the Chosen, one of many stories set in this new Saga. If you have any questions about this new Saga, please see Storm's profile, or PM me. If you wish to follow the entire Saga as it comes out, We have a community set up that the stories are a part of. Following the community may make it easier to follow the Saga as a whole. If you want to join up and help, please PM either myself or StormEyeDragon. We can try to work something out.

Dleefnarc means Trade Agreement in Neimoidian.

Here's the disclaimer. We do not own anything that is officially part of Star Wars, Legends or Canon. We do not claim ownership of any of the property of Lucasfilm, Disney, or any published authors. We are not making any money from this story.