Disclaimer: Everything is owned by Disney and Bioware and created by George Lucas. I am just playing with the world that they created. Advice, questions, critiques or casual conversation about the following is welcome and encouraged. 1st Edit 12/06/2016
Chapter 4: Rescue of the Queen
It was wrong. All of it was wrong. Where people should have been busy, bustling under the midday sun; buying, selling, laughing, crying, all was silent. Not a soul was about. It was as if the planet itself had opened up and absconded with its' inhabitants. If only that were the case. The steady rhythm of marching faintly droned among the empty sandstone, green slated roofed buildings giving rise to the cause of the deserted city. The Droid army had occupied the capital. The only evidence that people still existed among the cream walls would be the far away screams punctuating the pattern, however for but a couple of seconds, only for it to return to the eerie monotonous drone. Marching.
From their vantage point atop one of the many elevated walkways that lined the paved streets; Andrea, the two Jedi, Obi-Wan and Qui-Gan as well as their exiled companion saw the unadulterated emptiness of Theed, the capital of Naboo. They had been too late. Andratarax could see it on the Jedi's subtly strained faces. They were sick to their stomach. She could relate. They however, did well at hiding their emotions, she did not. A deep scowl had etched itself into her skin. This reminded her too much of then. Of that time.
Qui-Gon turned to his Padawan and Andrea, Jar Jar stood in the background. "We must keep moving," he said. "The queen's safety is our priority, and..." He must have noticed Andrea's raw emotion, he would have had to have been blind not to, for he took a deep breath and looked directly at her. "...I am sorry Andrea, that you should see your capital like this, I know this must be hard for you. If we can get to your Queen we may be able to reverse this."
She was unsure how to respond to his misplaced sympathies. "Thank you Qui-Gon," she lamely said after the silence stretched out for too long. Obi-Wan gave her a compassionate smile.
Venturing further into the capital the group of four crept within the shadows, like criminals might have, who had perversed the law. The streets gradually became more cluttered as they neared the city center. Clothes, food even children's dolls lay abandoned in the streets below them, where they had been dropped as the Droids rounded up the population, like cattle. Only one thought strayed into Andrea's mind as she beheld the sad sight. Why? She had been thinking for some time on this matter and it still made as much sense as when she had first seen the Federation's plans in action. She could not see the goal.
The faint sound of flapping wings broke her from her deep musings. She looked up into the sky, the form of a husk lizard was distinguishable against the zenith sun. "Hazon." She waved up at her friend who had spotted her. He landed on her awaiting outstretched arm, instantly running up it to her face, nuzzling at her cheek. She winced slightly as his rough scales rubbed up against her wound. The other three had stopped and turned toward the scene. Waiting.
"He is very loyal," Qui-Gon noted, admiration thick within his voice. Obi-Wan nodded in his agreement.
"Well we have known each other a very long time," she said as she looked into her friend's reptilian eyes, stroking his strong neck with the outside of her fingers. He was very excited to be reunited with her. "Hazon, be carefull," she playfully warned him as he once again caused her burn to flare in pain. She nodded toward the waiting three, as Hazon was getting comfortable, wrapping himself around her shoulder, letting them know she was ready to continue.
They advanced for about another five hundred meters before turning in a bend in the walkway. Around the corner the streets opened up into a great plaza with a centered ornate fountain, to the north great stone stairs were cut into the hill leading to the grand Palace that overshadowed the city. It was crafted beautifully. That beauty, however, was not present. The Plaza was full, every part of it was covered by an assembly of people surrounded by armed droids. They were cowering and crying up at their emotionless invaders, tanks lined the perimeter, turrets aimed inwards encouraging good behavior in the captives.
The droids were organising this woeful crowd into smaller groups, taking them away via the south gate. "You...You...You...And you..." A droid walked around the people closest to the hiding group, pointing at cowering civilians. "You are group A25," it informed in its mechanical voice. "Corporal," it turned to a yellow capped droid to its right. "Take A25 to camp A."
"Roger Roger."
An angry man jumped up from amongst the selected group of people. "We aren't going until we have been told what is going on," he said, confronting the droids. A few uncertain "Yeahs!" could be heard among his peers, but other than that the group remained silent.
The droid seemed to calculate something in its head. It looked from the man to the corporal back to the man. "Cooperation is required," it said. "You are to be taken to camp A."
"Well, we aren't going." The angry man looked around at his crestfallen brethren. "You have no right to do this," he screamed at the droid. By now the scene had garnered a wide attention. Many eyes from the Naboo, still sitting, looked to the lone fighter. This lone example.
Andrea knew what was going to happen. "Idiot," she whispered under her breath. "Sit down. Sit down now."
A crack split the air and the man fell, a hole in his head.
"Cooperation is required," the droid repeated, lowering its smoking blaster.
"My word," Obi-Wan said in shock.
"Whatsare they doing?" Jar Jar asked confused.
A wail broke out from the group of captives. "Pa Pa!" A small girl, who couldn't be more than ten, squeezed through the crowd and ran up to the fallen man, kneeling at his side. "Pa Pa!" she cried again as she shook the limp form with her small hands. "Get up Pa Pa. Get up." she pleaded hopefully, all in vain.
A tight knot grabbed at Andrea's throat. Her vision blurred, she found herself standing over a familiar body, slumped over a familiar mound of red-stained sand. "No," her lips quivered as she fell to her knees, wrapping her arms around the body and flipping her over. "Master!" she cried. The image shattered. Someone was shaking her arm.
"Andrea," Qui-Gon whispered. He flinched as she turned her angry glare onto him. "...Come, we must keep moving." He turned to leave. "Obi-Wan, quickly," he motioned to his apprentice, who was still staring at the escalating scene beneath them. Obi-Wan nodded absently.
The group moved around the plaza, ducking low, there were eyes everywhere. Andrea kept looking over her shoulder, back toward where they had come from, trying to catch a glimpse of the little girl. She didn't. She took a deep breath. "Idiot," she said woefully as she shook her head.
Obi-Wan had heard her. "Pardon?" he questioned as they continued to walk.
"The man, back there."
"What about him?"
"He was an idiot."
Obi-Wan recoiled. "That man just died."
"Yes, but for what?"
The padawan opened his mouth to answer, then shut it again. "You should be more caring of your people. What is happening is awful," he admonished.
"There is no emotion, there is peace, yes?" Both Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon stopped, both with serious looks on their faces. "How can you possibly follow something so false?"
Qui-Gon sighed. "Now is not the time nor the place for such questions."
Looking darkly at both Jedi she nodded. Satisfied the two Jedi and the Gungan continued around a corner, vanishing from view, leaving her and her dark thoughts. She dawdled somewhat taking one last look back at the crowd of cowering families, then she hurried off to catch the Jedi. The other Sith would pay for this.
Travelling down the alleys that lined the Palace the group searched for the Queen. The Jedi were adamant that the force was guiding them. Andratarax was less than dubious. She was however proven wrong in her doubt for it was not long before they spotted their quarry.
The queens fanciful entourage were being escorted by a large group of droids, their heads hung low and face's mournful. Andrea's gaze was drawn to the black-clad...girl... that was obviously the queen. No wonder the planet had fallen so easily, this was not a political leader, rather a doll mascot.
The concealed group stalked the troop of droids, waiting for the right opportunity to strike. Positioning themselves on a bridge that crossed over the street, they waited. The droids were almost under them. It was time. The two Jedi jumped off the ledge and onto the unsuspecting invaders below, lightsabers drawn they cut down their foes before they had even registered the attack. Andrea stayed up on the bridge and from her elevated vantage point, gunned downed the stragglers. Some of her shots glanced very close to a couple of people, who looked up at her with less than appreciative stares, however in her defence they were running around like fools, not knowing where to go or what to do. The droids in their inferior design fell one by one. When the last droid fell both Andrea and Jar Jar rejoined the Jedi on the now ruined street below.
Whatever she was expecting from the Naboo royal entourage, she did not expect a confrontation. A middle aged dark toned man stood in front of her, shaking in anger. "You! You may have hit the queen with those shots." he accused. His volume brought the situation to the Jedi's attention, who were checking over everyone, seeing if they were injured and assessing their situation, typical Jedi.
"I can assure you," she growled silently, "None of those shots would have hit anyone." She stared down the guard commander, who in turn tried to stare back into her black eye's, he was wavering.
"What is going on here?" Asked Obi-Wan, causing both pair's rageful eyes to turn on him. He gulped involuntarily. The guard's rage he could deal with, her's however...
"This man," she pointed, "was accusing me for freeing them. As it stands -"
Having regained his demeanour Obi-Wan interjected. "Andrea, calm down, I am sure the captain meant nothing by it, but we can't stay on the street squabbling."
"I am not squabbling."
Obi-Wan rolled his eye's then quickly looked away awkwardly after she fixed him with an insulted stare. Why the little Jedi act really got up her nerves, trying to act so pure and above everyone else. It infuriated her to no end. She turned her stare back to the captain. "I suggest you back off," she took a confident step forward.
The Queen and her peers looked on toward the confrontation in concern. "You almost shot the queen no less than two times during your rescue," the captain growled.
"Does she look dead to you," Andrea nodded toward the gawking queen. "If you would like a reference to what death looks like, go back into the square, I am sure you will find it most illuminating."
"Captain," The queen ordered her subordinate back to her, still staring at the Sith in disguise.
The captain loyally withdrew and returned back to the Queen's side. His eye's however never left Andratarax.
Qui-Gon led the group undercover leaving both his padawan and the Nautolan on the street. "Why are you always looking for a fight?" Obi-Wan asked tiredly, as his master led the rescued officials into a home's secluded atrium.
"Guess it's my nature," she shrugged as both she and the Jedi joined the now large group.
Qui-Gon was explaining to the Queen and her officials that the Trade Federation had no intention of diplomacy. That they were in fact the Ambassadors sent by the Republic. This fact caused nearly all eyes to turn toward Andrea. "You mean to say... This... Mercenary is a republic ambassador."
"No she is Nabooian, we happened upon her by chance," Qui-Gon explained.
"Really?" The captain asked incredulously giving her a small rude glance.
Nodding Qui-Gon turned back to the queen. "It is urgent that we contact the Republic."
"That is impossible," the captain said. "They have knocked out all our communications."
"Do you have transport capable of getting off world?"
All of the court looked at one another, it was then the dark captain spoke up. "Aye, the Royal Starship, it is in the main Hanger. This way." The captain pointed leading them through the grand empty house, through to the back entrance which led out onto a deserted main street. "Quickly your Majesty," he said, beckoning the queen forward. Andrea was surprised that the girl could keep up at all in that silly thing she wore that she could only guess was a dress, she looked more like a bird than she did a human.
The company reached the inner doors of the main hanger without incident to the surprise of Andrea, they were after all not a small group any more by any stretch of the imagination. Peeking inside revealed a chrome silver starship, surrounded by its arrested crew. Droids walked up and down the aisles of sitting pilots, blasters at the ready.
Andrea leaned on a Damask Holdings metal placard, observing the rag-tag company she had managed to get stuck with. They argued who was going where, the ungrateful Queen seemed adamant to stay with her people. The Jedi of course argued against such an idea, saying that she would be needed to plead Naboo's case in front of the senate.
All the talk of staying and leaving gave Andrea pause. She had made it onto Naboo, now she needed to find the Sith. When she had arrived in system she was sure that the planet held clues to the whereabouts of the Sith she hunted, now there was no doubt left. It was time to leave and continue on her quest. It was time to fade. She turned and began to walk away. A hand gently grabbed her by the arm pulling her back.
"Andrea? Where are you going?" Obi-Wan asked.
She turned and looked at the worried face of the Jedi. "I'm leaving."
"What? You can't!"
"I can't? Why not?"
"Surely I needn't answer that." Obi-Wan said as he looked back to his master who was still arguing. "Besides, you will be safer with us."
She laughed. "You are always going to look out for me aren't you?" She raised her brows high.
"It is my duty as a Jedi."
"I think I recall telling you that I can look after myself."
"Of that I have no doubt, you are... impressive to say the least. But please come with us."
Andrea was about to respond to plead her case. She was leaving whether the Jedi approved or not. However she felt the gentle tug of the Force. The Force she had supposedly suppressed, she shouldn't be able to feel it. Perhaps she was imagining things. Its weight tugged at her mind again. Impossible, she thought. It caressed her mind. It gently whispered to her. She listened. Curiously, it wanted her to go with the Jedi. Not one to argue with the will of the Force she receded her position on leaving.
"Andrea?"
"Alright, I'll come."
Obi-Wan instantly smiled.
"But you will do best to wipe that grin from your face." She warned jokingly all the while thinking on the ramifications of this course of action. Why would the Force want her to follow the Jedi?
The Queen had also relented in her position. Now all that was left to do was to get off the planet. Easier said than done. "Follow me," Qui-Gon bade. Everyone followed the Jedi into the hanger.
"We have to free those pilots," the captain pointed toward the aisles of men sitting under guard.
Obi-Wan gave him a nod. "I will take care of that," he said as he left the main group and made his way toward the droids.
Qui-Gon continued to lead the company toward the starship. Four droids guarded its extended ramp. Upon reaching the ramp to the silver vessel the group were halted by the droids. Some of the guards panicked slightly. Had she been connected to the force, she could have bathed in their fear. "Where are you taking these people?" the droid asked, confused as to why there were people walking about free in the first place.
"I am an Ambassador for the supreme chancellor and I am taking these people to Coruscant."
The droid rummaged through its orders to see if something of the sort had been authorized. It obviously arrived at the conclusion that it had not. "Your under arrest."
It did not even have time to reach for its blaster as it was cut in two clean pieces by the old Jedi. The two droids behind it weren't as fast either as Qui-Gon moved his attention to them cutting them down.
Pandemonium broke out within the hanger. Blaster fire Erupted from both sides. Guards fell. Droids fell. Andrea ducked behind a crate next to the boarding ramp of the Starship. The Queen's guards ushered the royal on board, out of danger, Andrea covered them.
The droids around the pilots were being easily dispatched by the younger Jedi, freeing said pilots, who were quick to capitalize on the confusion. "Over here," she motioned toward a group of freed aviators. Seeing her they began to run. She covered them, one droid, two droids.
"Ack!" One of the pilots let out a curdled yelp as he fell to the floor. The others stopped to help.
"Leave him," she ordered, killing the droid that had taken the fatal shot. The crew were not happy about this however they were not stupid, leaving their comrade behind they took cover with Andrea. "Into the ship," she shouted as she got up from behind the crate firing at the nearest droid, its head coming clean off. The crew, under the cover of her urgently made their way up the ramp and out of harms way.
She scanned The room for another target, it appeared that the Jedi had things in order. Seeing her still in the fight Qui-Gon ordered her up into the ship as well. She ran up the ramp and into the yacht. She was followed by a few more crew members then Obi-Wan and finally Qui-Gon.
"Captain, take off," Qui-Gon shouted into the cockpit.
She heard no reply however she did feel gravity shift as the ship lifted into the air, she held onto corner as the craft accelerated away, out of the hanger with haste. After gaining her balance she entered the cockpit with the two Jedi, just as they were leaving Naboo's atmosphere.
"There is the blockade," the yacht pilot said as the grey mass's of the Trade Federation freighters loomed into view through the slit like windows.
The Federation opened fire. Their ship buckled. The red streaks of turbo laser fire filled their view. The pilot tried valiantly to dodge the incoming volleys. Strafing left and right, he guided the Royal starship through the hail of red trying desperately to close the distance between them and the Federation battleship.
Andrea watched in apprehension as the federation marksmanship became more accurate. She did not want to die here. Surely the Force wasn't trying to kill her. Was it?
Their ship shook violently. The sound of tearing metal reverberated throughout the hull. "We've been hit!" The pilot shouted out. An alarm blared. Andrea watched on a live feed of the outer hull as the ships astromech droids scurried to fix the quickly deteriorating situation. One exploded in a ball of fire. Then another.
"We are losing droids, fast," Obi-Wan warned
"Oh for the love of..." She kicked the poor pilot right out of his seat, taking control of the vessel. She was not going to die because of a bad pilot. She wanted at least some sort of chance.
"Andrea? - " Obi-Wan questioned, he however was unable to finish for the ship lurched again as its shield's failed sending both Jedi sprawling.
She looked to the feed. Only one droid remained. She was going to give it a chance. She grabbed the controls and took the ship through its paces under duress. It handled surprisingly well. Taking command of the chrome vessel she guided it through the maze of fire. Analyzing the rate of fire and trajectory, she mapped a path through the blockade and to the astonishment of the pilot and all in the cabin, she managed to evade everything the Federation threw at them. She was completely focused. flying without the force felt like she was flying blindfolded. "How is that droid?" she shouted, not daring to take her eyes from in front of her.
"Still working... Wait. Shields are back."
She let out a sigh of relief. That should offer them some protection, enough to get them past the blockade. Coming up on the crescent Trade Federation battleship, the fire intensified. Their vessel shook fiercely, its hull twisting. "Come on... Almost there. Almost there." They shot past the Federation arc of fire. They were away.
"Oh I like this ship. Can I keep it?"
"What!?" the captains eye's bulged, "No! this is the Royal Starship for the personal use of the Queen." He could hardly believe the audacity of the woman.
"Relax, she was joking captain," Qui-Gon said as he looked on at the Nautolan who they had stumbled upon, a glint in his eye.
Obi-Wan leaned in next to her. "Well done. Your flying is most impressive, is there anything you cannot do?"
"A few things," she smiled back, slumping into the leather seat, very content with the attention.
"You were joking about the ship right?"
An intrusive, blinking light interrupted the happy mood in the cockpit.
"Damn," the pilot cursed as he read over a terminal. "The hyperdrive has been damaged." he motioned toward the screen which revealed the effective range of the hyperdrive shrinking rapidly. "It is leaking."
"How badly?" Qui-Gon asked.
"Bad enough, we will have to put her down somewhere soon."
Obi-Wan called out from another terminal, to the side of Andrea. "Master, here. Tatooine, it is a small and out of the way planet, very little Federation presence." The screen showed a desert planet, not a single blue dot of water, let alone any green of any vegetation.
The force tapped her once again. It welled with the name Tatooine. Interesting. She turned to face the group of men who were crowded around the screen studying the planets vital statistics. "Well then. What are we waiting for," she said a bit too excitedly.
"We can't take her majesty there, it is run by the Hutts," the captain objected.
"It would be no different if we landed on a planet controlled by the Federation, however the Hutts are not looking for the Queen and that gives us a distinct advantage," Qui-Gon explained. "Andrea, set a course for Tatooine.
Nodding she punched in the coordinates, the Force buzzed with anticipation. It was leading her and she would follow. Destiny awaited. She would have her revenge.