(A/N: I recommend listening to Duel of The Fates while reading when * is present)
Duel of The Fates
The Gungan army left before dawn. Amara and the group left shortly after with small groups containing of Naboo guards, fighter pilots, and repair droids. Before they left, Padmé was kind enough to braid her hair so that it wouldn't get in the way. She led them through the passages behind the waterfall and into Theed. The streets of Naboo were deserted; only battle droids remained on patrol, looking for anything suspicious. Battle tanks guarded the main hangar complex. This is not going to be easy, Amara thought as she Panaka had taken most of the guards and quietly moved over to far side of the main hangar. Amara and the rest moved closer to the hangar door.
Padmé turned toward Amara while they waited for Captain Panaka's signal. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner," she apologized for hiding her identity. "I know that was a surprise."
"It's okay; I would've done the same thing if I was in your position." Amara replied, trying to not make Padmé feel bad.
"Thank you, Amara. You're a great friend."
Friend? Amara smiled at that. She could tell that her and Padmé would be really good friends.
Amara gripped her blaster pistol and crouched down to Anakin's height. "The moment we get inside, I need you to find a safe place to hide. I don't want you getting hurt," she ordered him. "And stay there until the room is clear."
Anakin nodded and stood behind her. Amara hoped that he would do as she ordered; she would never forgive herself if anything happened to him. On the far side of the plaza, something moved in the shadows behind the Trade Federation tanks. Amara could see that it was Captain Panaka and the guards. She nudged Padme and pointed toward him. Padme raised a laser light and signaled a code to him. Moments later, his troops started to fire on the tanks.
Battle droids and tanks header to where Panaka was, leaving the door to the main hangar opened. Let's do this. Amara took a deep breath and started firing at the battle droids. She was a little rusty at first and then adjusted to the pistol. The group started to run to the hangar. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan used their lightsabers to deflect the laser bolts that were aimed at them, hitting the droids. Amara protected Anakin form the bolts as they went inside.
Once inside the hangar, they were greeted by more droids. Amara began firing at them and yelled to Anakin, "Ani, go find cover now!" Anakin ducked beneath the closet starfighter, R2 quickly following behind him.
"Get to your ships!" Padme shouted at the pilots, who rushed toward their starfighters.
Amara, ducking and crouching, fired her blaster quickly, bringing down droid after droid. Do not get hit. Do not get hit. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan fought ahead of her, using their lightsabers to strike those who crossed their path. To both sides of her, pilots boarded their starships, switched on their control panels, and ignited their engines. One by one, the starfighters ascended into the air and began to takeoff.
Once every droid was destroyed, Padmé announced to them, "My guess is the Viceroy is in the throne room."
"Red group! Blue group! Everybody, this way!" Captain Panaka commanded.
Everyone began to make their way to the door. Amara stood between Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan, clutching her pistol and on guard.
"Hey! Wait for me." Amara turned to see Anakin in one of the starfighters, popping his head out of the cockpit.
"Anakin, stay there until we come back," Amara ordered, motioning him back down.
Anakin huffed and stood up. "But, I―"
"Stay in that cockpit," Qui-Gon snapped in a voice that brooked no argument. Anakin sat back down and watched as they marched toward the door.
*The group stood in front of the exit door. A dark-cloaked figure stepped through the opening to confront them. Amara's breath caught in her throat. It was the same guy from her vision who attacked Qui-Gon back on Tatooine. The Sith Lord. Her breathing began to quicken and her heart started to pound. He looked up to face them, his red and black tattooed face with horns sticking out of his head and his yellow eyes bright with rage and anticipation.
"We'll handle this…" Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan moved toward the front.
"We'll take the long way," Padme announced as the rest of the group began to move to the other side.
Amara looked toward the group and then to Qui-Gon; she didn't know whether to follow him or Padme. Amara cursed and hid behind on of the armored crates, hidden from Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan's view. I'll follow them from a distance, she Jedi removed threw their robes to the side and waited for the attack. They lit their lightsabers and the Sith pulled out his own, revealing a double-bladed red lightsaber. Behind Amara, the group was corned by six droids. The droids had force fields protecting them, blocking each shot the group fired. They shouldn't fire! It'll just reflect off and come back towards them.
A roaring engine made Amara snap out of her thoughts. She jerked her head to see Anakin heading toward the group. What is he doing!? Anakin began firing at the droids, destroying each and every single one of them. The group quickly went over to the side exit, entering the palace. Anakin still kept moving to the outside. Anakin no! Anakin flew outside and into space. Please don't get yourself killed Ani.
The sound of lightsabers clashing caused Amara to look back toward Qui-Gon. The guy forced Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan back. Amara moved to the other side of the crate, out of sight. Moving across the hangar, the Jedi counterattacked fiercely. The pushed the Sith Lord toward one of the doors, and he used the force to slam a box to the control panel, opening the door. They entered the power station, still battling one another. Catwalks and overhangs crisscrossed a pit in which a ton of generators that served the complex was housed. Don't let them see you. Amara moved to one of the pillars, gripping on to her pistol. The Sith kicked Obi-Wan, sending him to where Amara was hiding.
Amara moved to the other side, praying that he didn't see her. She slowly looked over to see Obi-Wan get up and rush inside. Once they moved forward, she ran to one of the walls inside, hiding behind it. Why did I think this was a good idea to follow them? She thought, slowly starting to regret her peaked over the wall; the Jedi had corned the Sith. His eyes shifted to where Amara was and she quickly went looked back to the Jedi and did a backflip, landing on one of the platforms. The Jedi did the same, landing on the platform.
The Sith leaped once again to the catwalk above the Jedi. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan followed, one coming up behind him, and one coming up in front of him. They fought down the catwalk, lightsabers clashing, and sparks flying. Amara ran to where the Jedi were at earlier, still hidden from sight. She could still see them fighting each other. Up above, the Sith caught Obi-Wan off balance and with a powerful kick, he knocked him over the railing. Obi-Wan landed on his back and fell off the side, gripping the edge with his hands. The force of the fall left him visibly stunned.
I have to help him. Amara cursed at herself and sprinted to where Obi-Wan was at. She ran across the catwalk and held her hand out to him. Obi-Wan looked up and his eyes widened. "Amara! What are you doing here?! You should've stayed with Padmé!"
"We don't have time for arguments. Take my hand." Obi-Wan grabbed her hand and she pulled him up, using all her strength. He picked up his lightsaber and gave Amara a serious look.
"You shouldn't be here."
"Well I'm here now," Amara shot back and he sighed. Obi-Wan rushed to the other side and used the force to jump to were Qui-Gon was fighting with the Sith. How am I supposed to get up there?
Amara closed her eyes and tried to relax. Here goes nothing. Amara ran and jumped, landing on the catwalk. She widened her eyes and glanced down to where she was moments ago. I did it. I actually did it. Obi-Wan wasn't that far ahead of her and she began to run toward him. She caught up to him and he had a surprised look on his face. "How did you get up here?" he questioned as they ran together.
"I-I don't know. I just did." Amara yelled as she past him. In front of them, Qui-Gon was in the pursuit of the Sith, following him down the catwalk toward a small door at the end of the room.
Amara had just entered the corridor when a laser wall prevented her from moving onward. She was so close that she almost ran straight into the deadly lasers. She stepped backward, only to see Obi-Wan behind her, trapped between another set of lasers. Qui-Gon was a bit ahead of her, waiting for the force field to shut down. The Sith stared down Amara, and gave her a wicked grin. Qui-Gon turned around and he looked at Amara, worry flashed across his face. Amara gave him a determined glance and lifted up her blaster. I need to help. No. I have to help him. Qui-Gon turned off his lightsaber and dropped into a guarded crouch to meditate.
Amara paced back and forth, thinking of a plan. Okay, once the shield is down, I need to start firing and not hit Qui-Gon. He'll fight and distract him and that will be my chance. I can't get close to them or else I will most likely be killed. She wiped the sweat forming on her forehead and pushed back the pieces of hair that fell from her braid. She was trembling and her heart felt like it was going to burst out of her chest.
Moments later, the force field shut down. Qui-Gon jumped up and began fighting once again. It finally got to Amara's section and she sprinted to the end. Okay you could do this. Qui-Gon forced the Sith back out of the passageway completely. Amara made it to the pit and started firing at the Sith. The shot hit him in the back and he turned, not paying attention to Qui-Gon. Qui-Gon used his lightsaber to strike the Sith. He quickly turned back to Qui-Gon, trying to manage him and Amara at the same time.
Amara continued shooting, ducking down when the shot reflected off the lightsaber and back towards her. Behind her, Obi-Wan watched helplessly as he prayed that Qui-Gon and Amara could hold on. He was furious at himself for getting trapped once more, now having to watch his Master and Amara fight against the Sith. He was worried too. They should have won this battle long ago. Against any other opponent, they would've. But the Sith Lord was well trained and seasoned well beyond anyone they have ever encountered before. He had matched them blow for blow, and they weren't close to winning this fight now than they had been in the beginning.
The Sith black-flipped across the pit, giving himself space. Qui-Gon was on him in an instant, Amara following closely behind. She could sense that he was getting tired and shot and the Sith's feet. He hissed out and began to fight more aggressive. Qui-Gon and him were locked in combat that seemed endless and forever and could be won by neither. Amara was now on the other side of them. Her shots hit the Sith, but he wasn't giving up. She was becoming more frustrated.
Then the Sith parried a downstroke, whirled swiftly to the right, and then slammed the handle of his lightsaber into Qui-Gon's chin. Qui-Gon stammered backwards, dazed from the unexpected blow. Too late, he recognized the danger. It was in slow motion; the blade of the Sith's lightsaber penetrated Qui-Gon's stomach, burning through flesh and bone.
Amara thought she heard Qui-Gon scream, then realized it was herself. Qui-Gon made no sound as the saber entered him, stiffening with the impact, then taking a small step back as it was withdrawn. His eyes clouded, his arms lowered, and dropped to his knees, his lightsaber crashing to the floor. Amara felt the wet hot tears fill up her eyes, her throat closing tight. Qui-Gon slumped forward, landing on his back. She couldn't breathe; her mouth was frozen in shock, her body felt numb from her head to her toes. The blaster fell from her hand, leaving her defenseless.
The Sith slowly started to walk toward Amara. He flicked his wrist, and within a few seconds, Amara's blaster was falling down the melting pit. She fell back in fear as he got closer, pushing herself backwards. Her eyes shifted to where Qui-Gon laid; his lightsaber was next to him. For him. She held her hand out, calling out to the Force. The Sith noticed and extended his hand out. Amara closed her eyes and took in a deep breath, hearing a low whoosh, and suddenly felt something cold in her palm.
Amara looked down to see Qui-Gon's lightsaber in her hands. She ignited the lightsaber and rolled to the side, just missing the Sith's saber. Her hands trembled as she stood up. Amara could feel the anger rising inside her. She rushed at the Sith, her emotions getting the best of her. The lightsabers scraped against each other, echoing throughout the room. She attacked with pain and despair at the loss of Qui-Gon. She was sloppy in her form and unbalanced on her attacks, but light on her feet. She dodged a vicious swing as she jumped over the Sith's lightsaber, just missing the blade.
The laser was finally down, and Obi-Wan joined the fight. The two of them fought side by side, backing the Sith into a corner. Amara cut off one of the Sith's saber, leaving only one. Obi-Wan front flipped behind him while Amara stayed in front. Together, the two were wearing out the Sith. He pushed Obi-Wan into the wall and headed straight toward Amara. She used the lightsaber to hold down the Sith's, glaring at him. But he was much stronger. He pushed his lightsaber forward, sending Amara flying backwards. She hit her head against the wall and fell to the ground on her side, groaning in pain.
Her vision blurred as she pushed herself from the ground, but that didn't stop her from rejoining the duel. Obi-Wan regained his balance and attacked him from behind, making the Sith directly behind the melting pit.
Obi-Wan and Amara both slashed through the Sith's chest, burning him. The Sith howled out in pain and disbelief. They watched their dying enemy tumble away into the pit.
Amara turned the saber off and rushed immediately to Qui-Gon's side. Obi-Wan kneeled to his Master's side, lifting his head and shoulders and cradled him gently in his arms. Amara could feel the tears forming in her eyes as she stuttered out, "T-There has to b-be some way we could save him."
Qui-Gon's eyes opened. "No, it– it's too late."
"No!" Obi-Wan and Amara cried out, shaking their head violently in denial.
"Obi-Wan promise…promise me you'll train the boy…"
"Yes, Master…"
Qui-Gon's eyes shifted to Amara and touched her cheek. "Amara… You.. you'll be a powerful Jedi. I believe in you…"
Amara's tears fell on to his face, her lower lip quivering. "Don't do this to me. I need you. I need your help."
Qui-Gon's eyes locked on to them and lost focus. He took one last breathe and the strength and life went out of him. Amara started to rock back and forth, her hands behind her neck as she sobbed. Her cheeks were wet and salty. Obi-Wan hugged his lifeless body and cried softly. "Master." In the distance, sounds of celebration grew louder and louder. But it wasn't the time to celebrate Naboo's victory.
Qui-Gon Jinn was dead.