Jupiter stood in the lush green of the planet and instantly fell in love. It was so green, such beautiful shades of green! Somehow this felt like home, that she was meant to come back here to the place she was born. The air was clean and clear, the warmth of the sun was gentle on her skin and the fresh scent of leaves, grass and flowers bombarded her mind as she took in these new sensations with an open heart. Slowly she lowered herself to the ground and touched the earth, digging her fingers into the soil and her eyes widened as she rubbed it through her fingers. It was softer than sand and lighter, it didn't simply slip through your fingers and it smelled so…she could not even think of the word to describe it.
Rising to her feet Jupiter dusted off her hands, seeing that some of the soil had got under her nails but she shrugged, not caring about something so simple and strode after the others, not wanting to be left behind. Anakin was walking beside Padme, staying rather close to her side. Jupiter arched an eyebrow, feeling a little lonely with Anakin choosing to stand with someone else, almost as if he had completely forgotten about her. Did he even need her here? She had decided to come on the thought that he would be frightened and would want her there to protect him, however Anakin was as bright and breezy as any other day, happily walking at the handmaiden's side.
"Are you alright?" A soft voice asked her and Jupiter blinked, looking to her left to find the young apprentice, Obi-Wan, had fallen into step beside her after noticing that she was not with the main group and he sensed her confliction within herself. "What is troubling you?"
"I do not wish to be in a war." Jupiter murmured admittedly though her voice did not shake. "It frightens me a little."
"Only a little? Then that makes you braver than most of us here." Obi-Wan said to her teasingly, trying to encourage her to smile however when this failed, his tone became more serious and he looked at her with resolute gaze. "I would not worry, Jupiter, nothing will hurt you."
"How can you be sure?" She turned to look at him and he smiled in answer.
"Because I won't let anything happen to you." Jupiter blinked at him, unsure of how to respond but finally, she relaxed and gave him a small smile, his words comforting her. Of course she had no need to worry, she was among friends and by all means, she was no shrinking daisy herself. Jupiter was more than capable of protecting herself and Anakin, however if the need came, she would protect Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon as well.
They waited together in silence until Jar Jar came back from the underwater kingdom with bad news. The Gungans had all gone. The clumsy and quite comical friend that Qui-Gon had accidentally adopted explained that the entire underwater city was deserted and that it looked like it had been attacked.
"So what do we do now?" Anakin whispered as she shook Jupiter's arm and she looked down at him, seeing his concerned and slightly worried expression.
"I don't know." She answered but placed a hand on his shoulder to reassure him, pulling him close and he buried himself into her midriff, wrapping his arms around her. "But don't worry racer, I'm here. It's all going to work out." Ruffling his hair, Jupiter listened as Jar Jar then insisted that if the Gungans would be anywhere, they'd be at some sacred hiding place. This time as they walked, Anakin stuck very close to Jupiter, even going so far as to hold her hand and she could sense his fear and anxiousness as they trekked through the dense forest.
After a while Jupiter stooped down and carried Anakin on his back, knowing that he was getting tired and it was harder and harder to keep up with the others. "Are you sure I'm not too heavy?" Anakin asked, not for the first time as Jupiter effortlessly jogged through the trees with Anakin on her back, keeping up with the others as they were holding a pretty quick pace.
"Annie, I have worked in the limestone quarry for pretty much ten years, you weigh nothing." She told him bluntly, jostling him higher up her back before continuing forward. The lively forest became a dank swamp and soon enough Jupiter found herself face to face with a Gungans spear, forcing her to stop quickly and pull back away from it, Anakin instantly snatching his arms closer around Jupiter as he gasped. "Easy now…" Jupiter spoke slowly, glancing around her as more spears appeared, directed at herself and her companions. Obi-Wan instinctively inched closer to her and the boy, holding out his hand ready to shield her however when he glanced back, he was surprised to find Jupiter in a fighting stance, fists raised and feet planted wide, eyes narrowed and focused as she counted off each of her opponents.
A high ranking Gungan approached on a strange looking beast approached them. Jupiter frowned for a moment, unsure what the beast was called as she'd not seen one before quite like this. It seemed that this Captain Tarpals knew Jar Jar well as they greeted one another, Tarpals looking down on him with disdain. A spear was jabbed against Jupiter's thigh, making her yelp from the sharp pain and she glared back at the Gungan who had poked her, walking forwards as they were all marched forwards.
"They don't look too friendly." Anakin whispered to Jupiter and she nodded her head in agreement.
"No, so just keep your head down and try not to make them upset." She answered back, glancing around her before listening as the Queen of Naboo stepped forwards, attempting to appeal to the leader of the Gungans, Boss Nass. Her voice was regal yet monotonous and Boss Nass very quickly seemed to grow bored, however as Jupiter craned her neck to see, Padme suddenly walked forwards.
"Your Honour. I am Queen Amidala." Shock hit Jupiter like a brick. Padme? Now this had been the last thing she had expected to happen and Anakin made a similar sound of shock as a murmur rippled through the crowds. "This is my decoy, my protection, my loyal bodyguard. I am sorry for my deception, but under the circumstances it has become necessary to protect myself." Padme began before furthering her negotiations. "Although we do not always agree, Your Honour, our two great societies have always lived in peace until now. The Trade Federation has destroyed all that we have worked so hard to build. You are in hiding, my people are in camps. If we do not act quickly, all will be lost forever...I ask you to help us...no, I beg you to help us." Padme Amidala dropped to her knees, pleading before Boss Nass and her bodyguards quickly did the same.
Jupiter blinked, seeing that everyone else in her party had lowered themselves to her knees so she humbled herself also, kneeling down and Anakin slid down and knelt beside me, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan also doing the same. "We are your humble servants. Our fate is in your hands."
Boss Nass hummed in thought, stroking his large flabby chin before suddenly, he started to laugh, belting it out and Jupiter recoiled slightly at the sound before his booming voice began to speak. "Yousa no tinken yousa greater den da Gungans." He spoke though Jupiter could barely understand him. "Mesa like dis. Maybe wesa bein friends." Instantly a flood of relief washed over everyone and Jupiter relaxed, giving Anakin a wink of reassurance before finally, they all rose back to their feet and began their plan to take back Naboo.