Chapter Eight

The Skirmish Of Theed

It hasn't changed much, Obi-Wan mused as followed Qat around Theed. He could see that time while not being kind to the place they still had mostly preserved the streets. All this struck Obi-Wan as odd considering the last he'd heard was that Naboo while not wealthy was at least well off. What was most especially interesting was the lack of people save for some that looked like a mismatched guards of various species from Kaleesh to Weequays patrolling around with rather shoddy weapons. Most likely the city inhabitants had been enslaved and moved out.

Although that wouldn't explain why the governor is very conspicuously human as oppose to all these non humans running about, he thought as he watched a corpulent pale skinned human descend down the stairs of the Monarch's palace surrounded by guards all human with a mishmash of weapons.

"My lords," he simpered in a way that reminded him of Nute Gunray...only with more groveling making him look a rather pathetic person which evidently was possible now. "As you can see Theed is quite safe for your presence..."

"Silence your whimpering you impotent fool," Qat snapped. "What is it this I hear from the garrison about these Freedom Party and Handmaidens of Amidala insurgents? I was under the impression that you had command of the planet. I am now hearing otherwise."

Amidala, so one of the groups took their name from Padmé. Okay that was something but it begged the question who was senator if not Amidala? Her term had long since been up given it was only four years as Queen. And she was a senator the last time he checked. Why was he was only getting breadcrumbs instead of information. This was rather frustrating.

Patience, he reminded himself. He was going to have someone explain everything to him right away. Perhaps once he'd gotten away would he get something of explanation.

The sooner the better because this is rather trying and not to mention frustrating.

"Ah, yes them," the governor said looking rather nervous and pulling at his collar. "They've been proving to be quite a pest to wipe out. Unfortunately they have the support of the populace not to mention finding them is exceedingly difficult in the case of the Handmaidens and..."

"SILENCE!"

Ah so they didn't surrender, they fled and are striking from the shadows. Smart move considering it's worked in the past.

"I refuse to accept that you and the rest of the Peace Brigade are this incompetent considering that supposedly is why the garrison of my warriors remains small," Qat snapped. "At least tell me that you've sent for the Mandalorians to take care of this issue."

Oh Force no, Obi-Wan thought as he felt his stomach drop. Please no. Not Satine. Please.

"I did," the governor said with a smug smile which quickly retreated once he noticed that Qat was giving a decidedly not amused look. Meanwhile Obi-Wan in the background was trying to cry out with agony at the thought of Satine's death. Calliope sensing his distress hugged him tightly. Maybe they were rogues from the disgruntled warrior clans, he could only hope. He needed to find out more. "In fact my trusted lieutenant Orris is fetching them as we speak."

"Well at least the Yun'o haven't entirely abandoned you," Qat grumbled. "Very well we shall wait for them to arrive."

"Ah, another thing my lord."

"Now what?"

The man gulped but continued on: "There is the matter of the Ghost fleet that's started running around the Chommell sector."

"What nonsense are you spewing out now?"

"The Ghost fleet, that's what my pilots are calling them," the governor wet his lips nervously before resuming his tale. "They've been attacking my supply runs of this sector and recently started spreading out to other sectors like ones near Cato Neimoidia for example. They strike fast and vanish into the night. I thought they were affiliated with the Empire but it seems the Imperial Remnant is sitting out this war. In either case, my ships have been pillaged several times. I-I was wondering if you could spare some of the officers in your fleet to rid us of this nuisance."

"Are your fighters unable to? We're providing ground troops but supposedly you were to patrol the skies in return."

"Milord we have no fighters speak of and neither do the Naboo."

Liar, yes they do and Anakin flew one of the N-1 fighters against the Trade Federation. So there's a resistance force and it operating in the sector and others. So...This is the Republic but what in the name of the Mother of Moons happened?! Alright there was an invasion and for some reason I missed it because that thrice damned vergence. Oh what I would give for some archive so I can figure what's going on. Like for instance where is the Order and why does the Force feel wrong here?

Obi-Wan paused in his eavesdropping since the governor was just speaking into a comlink now to think more on the project that had landed him into this gigantic mess trying to distract himself from Satine's fate since he had only hearsay to work off of. The saboteur was trying to destroy the project and there was the added fact that there was a vergence in the Force in the area of the project. And if Obi-Wan knew anything it was that that the Force worked in mysterious ways and with Force vergence nothing was certain anymore.

Obi-Wan wasn't sure what had happened but he desperately wished for an opportunity to escape so that he could at the very least figure out what had happened to cause the conflict and more importantly what the Senate was doing as well as the Jedi. He couldn't see Anakin sitting idly by while there was this kind of injustice going on...for that matter any in the Council even despite as political as they'd become. Surely they'd be dispatched into the situation?

I'm really hoping that I get some answers soon because well this is really becoming confusing. Instead of answers I'm getting more breadcrumbs.

"Ah the Mandalorians have arrived," the governor sighed with relief as he lowered the comlink. "And their approaching us as we speak."

"Good," Qat hissed. "At last we'll get some competent help."

Well at least I can figure out who these Mandalorians are and see if they're a rogue faction. So that's something at least. Obi-Wan thought as he turned his view to directions that'd he felt other beings coming from. In the Force he felt a subtle bit of nudging. Something was going to happen and he clearly he needed to be ready for the opportunity. Well he'd do as the Force willed. He saw the Mandalorians approaching.

He recognized some of the clan markings as Karasu which in itself was odd he thought they'd become police force the last time he'd heard and he recognized the Wren but some of the others were unknown to him. It was then his senses flared up making him stop his observations and concentrate more on the Force. Calliope sensing something quickly scanned the area along with Obi-Wan. Then he espied some of the so-called Peace Brigade fingering their blasters. Oh dear this wasn't going to end well. He tensed and brought Calliope closer to himself. He had the feeling they were going to be running soon.

Robin stiffened as he saw the Commander Qat as they marched up with Governor Woasro's entourage. The man was almost as corpulent as a Hutt and with all the backbone of one. He'd originally been the governor of Theed and had let the Peace Brigade take over Naboo and had subsequently crowned himself king.

But what she and the others weren't expecting were two slaves following Yuuzhan Vong. One was a young Twi'lek with light green pigmentation sitting in the arms of a human male who looked at them with a bright and intelligent gaze. Something about his look made Pike and from the looks of it the others stiffen up. Who was this?

"As you can see we've got the best of the best," the governor simpered pointing to them making Akiko scoff. "They're true warriors of great renown."

"Are they?" Qat asked and then turned to them. "Could they perhaps fight my Jeedai?"

Jedi, Robin stiffened even further as she looked at the medium height man with reddish blonde hair dressed in slave outfit. So they had a Jedi captive? That was new. He unlike most of the Jedi she'd encountered didn't have the same look of mock serenity or worse superiority. No it was an open if curious gaze. Like looking into a placid lake with the sun glittering upon the waters. Warm, safe and inviting. Who was this guy? And where was he when the Jedi did negotiations with Fett? This guy seemed to exude authority without trying.

"Um milord would it be advisable to have...?"

"He won't kill them," Qat said giving him an appraising look. "And if the Mandalorians are as good as they say they are they won't kill my slave."

"We're here to root out the insurgents not play games." Wren stated gruffly. "So who are we hunting?"

"Fight him," Qat goaded pointing to the slave. "Perhaps-"

Whatever he'd been planning was soon disrupted by an explosion and a flash. Flash bomb, her mind supplied as he blinked out his eyes and tried to reorient herself. Soon more bombs landed down on them that let out quite a bit of smoke but didn't explode on them. Suddenly blaster fire descended upon them forcing them back into the buildings.

"Well this has gone to hell in a bucket," Akiko commented as he shot back covering their retreat.

"Blast it all," Sarai growled. "Of all the times we landed we landed in a kriffing surprise attack."

"Now what do we do?" Tal asked.

"Cover fire and protect the governor and the Commander if he needs it," Sarai huffed. "Then we'll focus on our objective."

If we survive, Robin thought as he shoot back at the rebels. Good grief what a mess. This was going to be an interesting job to say the least.

Hana Wren considered herself a good captain of the guard first for a corporate office and later for the Queen. Which is why it rankled when only two years into her reign when the Invaders came.

What really made her livid was the sheer indifference from the galaxy as a whole when it came to their issues once the Invaders had descended upon them. Even Kashyyyk ignored them as they suffered in the hands of the Invaders. But now with the help of the past they'd soon free themselves. But for now she'd wait.

They will remember us, she promised herself as she waited for Ahmet to signal from his hiding place that he'd gotten the information needed...that's when she saw the fighters getting into position nearby. What in the blazes were they doing? She flashed a question in light to Ahmet in their code which he responded instantly with a negative. No this wasn't a planned attack. Outside element perhaps? Well it'd cause a disruption and might hinder efforts but she wasn't sure what that'd do to their own plans. She quickly sent a message to Ahmet asking him what he planned to do.

His reply was swift. Nothing. Let them think they've secured the planet and then when they're comfortable strike. Is the package delivered?

A good strategy. She replied with: Message received, the package is delivered. So we will wait. Once she'd gotten confirmation she settled back to watch the event unfold.

Ahmet looked at the delegation, he was acting as a lookout for his few men, that he'd allowed to accompany him. It wasn't Warmaster Lah but another Commander. Ah well no matter, the attack would proceed as planned provided the now obvious sneak didn't disrupt things too much. Their "present" would disable the weapons or so the theory went. Still it was a shot at victory and Ahmet knew that he and the others would take whatever advantage they could get in this thankless and long war. The Core wasn't going to save them, no the Core had abandoned them decades ago.

He saw Captain Wren's message about a possible insurgent attack. This wasn't too much of a surprise. There was a small contingent that despised the slow approach to their plans. He soon saw the people getting into an attack position and soon threw some flash bombs to cover their approach. Meanwhile a slave started to strangely began moving before the insurgents had even begun throwing flash bombs. Fortunately the man avoided the bomb and ran into the city. Good now hesa outta bombs way and usens way.

"For Freedom!" A being shouted as the insurgents around him began throwing the disabling bombs into the fray. Ah it was the Freedom Party. It was a small group of offworlders that had decided they knew how to free the Naboo and the Gungans better then the locals... well mainly the Naboo since they ignored the Gungans like most offworlders. Ahmet sighed as the fools threw themselves into the fight.

If theysa just working with usen then wesa would be free.

"General! There's a warrior running away," A soldier whispered out pointing to the left away from the fight.

What? No self respecting Yuuzhan Vong warrior would run away from a fight Ahmet had seen this firsthand from the group of warriors that they'd fought off to get Wren's people freed. And yet...he looked over the direction the soldier was pointing to and to his shock he saw just that. The warrior seemed to be following the slave but why?

"Mesa checking it out. Yousa keep up observations Commander Tarpal."

"Yes sir!" His second saluted before returning to watch the mess unfold. With that out of the way Ahmet went across the roofs and down into a walkway to see if he could save the slave least he be slain by the warrior. He wasn't going to have civilian casualties if he had any say about it. No he'd stop it.

Yaotl watched as the Kryze as he ran off from the Commander Xez Qat's party holding his ward and into surrounding buildings as he began to be pelted by fire from the Naboo. She followed him immediately without hesitation running into the corridors. Her job was to protect him from all threats and with a whelp he'd need all the protection that could possibly get. Finally he reached what seemed to be a col-de-sac allowing her to corner him and be in a defensible position. Now, would be a good time to reveal myself. Otherwise my mission will prove to be impossible.

"Kryze," she said genuflecting to him causing him to stop and raise and eyebrow. "I am a devotee of True Way sent to protect you. I have seen the Light as revealed by She who was Enlightened by you."

"Wait what? She who was Enlightened?" Kryze looked confused.

"The Shaper that used the blood that you provided and used it to restore herself and others and now we've been awakened," she replied.

"My blood...wait, Shaper Menvra did this?"

"She did."

"So..." he paused and reached out with his senses. Yaotl felt him and welcomed him to her aura. He drew a sharp breath and opened his eyes giving her a now appraising look. "Your Force signature is strong. I'm assuming that she managed to undo whatever damages were wrought on your people because you shine in the Force now."

"It is as you say, the Force is with me and the followers."

"Indeed," the Kryze said nodding. "But I must ask why risk so much for me and what do you mean followers?"

"You are the prophet," she whispered. "You are the one to lead us to the Yun'o and to freedom from the Rainbow Eyed one and the false god. The followers are the ones Enlightened and follow your lead to the Yun'o."

"Wait...Oh no, for the love of the Force no. I'm a cult figure? Anakin will never let me live this down."

"Yousa no harming the slave," a voice said drawing both of their attention. Behind them was a being holding a spear that she'd never seen before but upon looking at Kryze it seemed he was familiar with the being. In fact he looked overjoyed at the appearance.

"Finally," he breathed looking extraordinarily happy. "Something that makes sense."

"Whosa are yousa?" The being said not lowering the spear still keeping his eyes on her. Smart warrior.

"I'm... I'm Ben Kryze," he said with a bow. "This is my ward Calliope." He continued gesturing to the whelp he still held. "And this is evidentially my ally..."

"Yaotl of the Domain Qat," she said bowing causing the being's mouth to drop open. "I am the protector of the Kryze."

"Oh dear," the Kryze breathed. "Ah yes evidently I accidentally started a cult."

"Yousa starting a cult?" The being said giving a curious look.

"Not intentionally I assure you," Kryze said sounding exasperated. "Now may I ask you name?"

"Mesa Ahmet Binks of the Gungans," the being said.

"You wouldn't happen to be related to Jar Jar Binks by chance?"

"My no knew," Ahmet shrugged. "But mesa suggest wesa get out of Theed then weesa giving you answers."

"Now that sounds like a plan I can get behind."

"And yousa be our prisoner," Ahmet glared at her. She bowed her head gracefully. If protecting him meant sullying her honor slightly then so be it.

"I accept your terms and I will come willingly."

"Then follow mesa," he said gesturing with his spear. "Wesa going on a bongo."

"Well then lead on my friend," Kryze invited with a wave of his hand. "We don't have much time I should think."

"Then lead on friend."