The Communications center was located on the top floor of the north tower. By using out of the ordinary passage ways and Padmé's knowledge of the security codes, the two traveled through the palace with limited resistance. Still Obi-wan felt the warning of the Force, like a knot in his stomach that slowly rolled around in his core, never with pain but never without notice. He could not make out if his senses were just picking up the danger all around them or if the Force was alerting him to something specific, something that Master Qui-gon and himself were walking into. His master's presence was just a distant trimer, giving Obi-wan no further direction, so Obi-wan pressed on.
They had reached the level that the communications center was located having to deal with about a dozen battle droids. Obi-wan was careful not to leave Padmé too exposed but found that the best tactic was to cause the most destruction away from her, attracting the attention of the droids to himself. Padmé was proving she could hold her own and showed discipline in waiting for Obi-wan's signals and instruction, a trait Obi-wan was grateful for.
The communications room was locked with blast doors engaged, but none of the passcodes Padmé knew would open the door.
"All of my access codes are being denied!"
"We will have to cut through it. Kneel and give me cover fire. I assume once I begin to open the door droids will flood this hallway." Obi-wan propped up a large desk from an adjacent room to provide cover for Padme and himself. He ignited his lightsaber and Padmé moved into position. Obi-wan looked back at the young handmaiden and asked, "Are you ready?" Padmé took aim down the hall.
"Just bust down that door so we can save my planet." Obi-wan couldn't help but smile. He saw her fear replaced by determination, the will to save her people.
He thrusted his lightsaber into the thick metal, slowly melting the door down. Droids came rushing around the corner and Padme unloaded as much cover fire as she could. Obi-wan used the Force to send debri from the down droids into the standing droids. More droids poured in the hallway and Obi-wan let the Force guide him as he dodged the shots as best he could. Padme picked up an additional blasters and returned fire with both hands firing. She yelled as her shots hit their marks downing the droids pair by pair.
Obi-wan could feel the blast door just about to give way, so he quickly retracted his lightsaber, Force-pulled a blaster into his grip and repeatedly began to fire at the burning door. A large section of the door finally melted back leaving an opening large enough for Obi-wan and Padmé to enter. Obi-wan leaped in front of the opening and took the ready. But nothing came through.
"What is it?" Padmé asked after a few moments of hesitation.
"I was expecting there to be others inside, considering the effort they made to keep intruders out." They stood there for a moment longer allowing what remained of the blast door to cool, then Pamde entered, not willing to wait any longer. Obi-wan took his time trying to focus his emotions to what the Force was speaking. Something was up, he was sure of it. The rock in the pit of his stomach grew larger and fear was trying to break through. Obi-wan took a few long, focused breaths just before Padmé called him in.
Nothing inside seemed out of the ordinary. All the communication systems and equipment were as they should be but Obi-wan still felt it strange that there was no one to operate the controls.
"What do we need to do to contact the Republic?" Padmé asked pulling Obi-wan's thoughts to the mission at hand.
It took some time for Obi-wan to understand the workings of the system but eventually he was able to access the Federations secured channel.
"We haven't much time before the Federation detects that I'm on their network."
"We'll send the message so we can go rescue the queen!"
"I'm working on it, And I trust that Master Qui-gon and Captain Panaka are not much further from the queen." The Force roared in the center of Obi-wan. "Here take this and connect it to terminal there."
"Whats this?" Asked Padmé as Obi-wan handed her his comlink.
"Its my comlink, my Master has another but we haven't been able to use them once we entered into the city but if I can match its frequency with the Federations network, I'll be able to contact Master Qui-gon." Padmé rushed to the terminal and plugged the comlink in.
"Now what?"
"That monitor to your left will read the comlinks frequency but you have to run the diagnosis first." The Force pressed hard against his chest. Obi-wan guided Padmé through the appropriate steps while he continued on getting the distress call sent to Coruscant.
"Ok I got it!" Exclaimed Padmé. Obi-wan motioned for her to bring the comlink to him.
"Master, we are in the comm. center sending the distress calls now. I've matched the Federations frequency to hide ourselves. What is your situation?"
"We made it to the throne room but the queen was not present. We have fought our way to her majesties chambers but no luck.
"What! Oh no no no." Padmé ran her hands down her face as she turned from Obi-wan.
"We were able to rescue the chief Governor Sio Bibble. He is still filling us in on what he knows. Are you and the handmaiden safe? There is a disturbance in the Force that I know not its purpose."
"I feel it also master, but we are safe for the moment, one of the patrol droids we encountered alerted the Federation to our presents." Silence filled the room as both Jedi stretched out their feelings. Obi-wan felt the change in his master's concentration and light chatter was heard between Qui-gon and the two Naboo.
"Obi-wan, I must go, continue to try and reach the republic but be mindful. There is no logic in the Federations move here, my feelings tell me they intend to act in great evil."
Obi-wan disconnected the commlink and gathered his thoughts. Why was his master withholding information from him? What caused the change in his emotions?
Obi-wan looked up and saw the young Padme, looking calm, and waiting for his direction. She stood straight, strength coming from her eyes, but the Jedi could sense deep fear, not for herself but for her planet, for her Queen.
"What must we do?" Padme's tune was not one seeking a suggestion but a command; the next step to the solution. But Obi-wan didn't have a solution. He called out to the Force but the knot just rolled around inside him. Something must be done, but what? Danger was near, but where? He could not let his emotions cloud his judgement, to control his actions. He took in a deep breath and said.
"We must make contact with the Republic, and trust the Force to guide us." Before he could start back on the controls, all the monitors and lights cut off. The center screen flickered back on with a Neimoidian clothed with a black veil standing alone.
"Welcome intruder. Your efforts are useless, the Republic turns its face from you, and there is no escape."
Obi-wan rushed to the controls but nothing responded.
"Before you go," continued the Neimoidian. "There is one thing we would like to show you." The lights turned back on and The screen switched to a establishing view of the front of Theed palace where a large crowd had gathered. The view fell on the steps where The viceroy of the federation stood and walking up from behind them was Queen M'ilia escorted by many battle droids.
"M'ilia!" Shouted Padme.
The Force now roared from within Obi-wan, he must take action. but he did not know what to do. The federation knew where they were and what they were trying to do and Qui-gon's presence could no longer be sensed. His eyes locked on the monitor, watching.
The queen was escorted towards the Head viceroy Nute Gunray. The Neimoidian standing next to the viceroy handed him a document. The viceroy looked to the queen and spoke with his voice projected over the entire plaza.
"My Queen, will you sign the treaty?"
"I will not. I shall never sell the freedom of my people for any price."
"Very well then." The Viceroy turned around, handed the document back the the Neimoidian and nodded to the ranking officer B1 battle Droid. The droid without hesitation lifted his blaster and shot Queen M'ilia right in the chest. She fell to the ground motionless.