Gungans

On the instruction of Jerica, Kirn had landed The Defender in a wooded area near the Gungan territory. Peaceful commerce had existed between the Gungans and Nubians since the reign of Amidala, nearly thirty years ago. Jerica had said the best way to enter the city unnoticed would be to use Gungan transports, under water.

Kirn shuttered. Water. A Jedi does not fear. The thought came unbidden, but Kirn squashed it down. I am no Jedi.

Taking a small watertight pack and a rebreather, Jerica had lead him to the water's edge. Taking his own rebreather, Kirn tried to think of an excuse to get out of this. Jerica was already waist deep in water by the time he thought of one. It was too late. Placing the rebreather into his mouth, he followed.

Fish. There were only a few, and they hurried away so fast that Kirn didn't have time to identify them. Jerica was the first to reach the edge of the shelf, and to see the Gungan city. She waited there for Kirn to catch up. It was a fact that he was partially grateful for and partially annoyed with.

They made their way through the water and at last to the entrance of one of the huge clear domes. Stepping though the strange clear substance, whatever the Gungans called it, Jerica and Kirn came into the main hall of the Gungans. Dripping wet, the only sound that greeted them was the water that splashed from their hair and clothes.

"Where is everyone?" Kirn asked.

Jerica shook her head, "It's worse than I thought."

Moving down the stairs and peering around one of the corners, she saw the reason. She shook her head, and put a hand to her mouth. Fighting back the wave of emotion, she struggled for a way to tell Kirn what she saw. She didn't have to.

Kirn had moved beside her and he saw it for himself. Gungans were strewn about the hall, every last one of them, executed. The scene looked tendays old. They were too late. Jerica managed to suppress the sorrow she felt, to face Kirn bravely. "I- I don't know what to do now."

"Maybe they still have transports," Kirn said, thinking rationally. "The Empire wouldn't have use for Gungan subs. And there would be no reason to destroy them, if every Gungan is dead." He looked back at Jerica, "Where are the transports kept?"

Jerica shrugged, "I don't know. I haven't been in the Gungan city for nearly fourteen years. When I worked in Theed, I didn't come here at all."

"Well, why were you here then? Didn't you use transports?"

Jerica wasn't ignorant to the fact that he was prying for more information, but now wasn't the time to argue. "I was here because the Gungans were helping to smuggle my father and I off-world.

"Where did you go?"

"We went to Alderaan."

Makes sense. "Why did you come back to Naboo?"

"I don't know. We didn't return until I was sixteen, under different identities. Everyone assumed that Sabé, Koln and their daughter, Kyra, had died." She shook her head, "I've gone by the name Jerica since I was five years old."

"All that hiding, risk and . . . . for what?" She shook her head, "They helped me when I couldn't help anyone. Now, how have I repaid them? I failed them."

"What could you have done?" Kirn asked. "You could have stood with them in battle and been cut down yourself. You could have fought for them in the senate and had the accusations silenced by the Emperor. There is nothing you could do. Don't think that Gungans are the only race to fall to Palpatine's genocides."

"Now," he said, resting a hand on her shoulder, "let's get out of here."

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Jerica and Kirn had managed to find the hanger that held the many Gungan subs. Deciding that the basic Bongo would be the easiest to pilot, Kirn had helped Jerica inside, and they had set off.

The planet core had been scary. Littered with strange creatures that were terrifying even to the bravest warriors, let alone children. The wizened old Gungan had been kind, "Do'na bein' afraid little Kyri."

Kyra had been afraid. Any child would be. Monsters lived in the core. Even Gungans said that.

But this was the only way. Koln and his daughter had to escape, or they would die.

Piloting for hours, Kirn was beginning to feel sick. Water pressed around the sub on all sides, he could feel it. Jerica had said they were close, but now she was dozing in the co-pilot's chair.

So far, there had been nothing of interest on the journey. Palpatine's genocide seemed to extend to the primitive creatures that inhabited the core. Strange markings on the walls of the caverns revealed that charges, large charges, had been fired, destroying everything in their wake.

Maybe that was why he was startled when, out of nowhere, a huge fish opened it jaws to eat the bongo. Kirn jerked, sending the bongo into a spin that allowed them to avoid death. Jerica was suddenly awake, and looking back toward the fish. "Oh Force."

At the mention of Force, Kirn did something he hadn't done in a long time. He opened himself up to the force, allowing it to control his motions. The Bongo's path became more chaotic, as with the force, Kirn dodged the attacks of the pursuing fish.

Jerica had clenched her eyes shut and was holding her knees to her chest. She would be no help. Finding a control for an extra engine that he never knew existed, Kirn sent the bongo speeding away, leaving the fish in the shadowy deeps.

A small underwater docking bay, was positioned under one of Theed's many waterfalls. Once inside the clear bubble, Kirn looked back at Jerica. She looked back at him with an expression of terror that he knew matched his own. And she was just as embarrassed about it as him. Turning away quickly, she tried to suppress her fear.

"I was scared too," he offered.

"I shouldn't be." she said. "I should know better."

Kirn couldn't help but laugh at that, "You should know better. I'm the one that's supposed to be a jedi. Jedi don't fear. Senators, last I heard, are allowed to be cowards."

She shot him a venomous look. "I mean I should have known better than to go through the core. A new tunnel was built about four years ago. My father lead the development of it."

"Oh," Kirn said. "I didn't know your father worked for the Gungans."

"He didn't. When we returned to Theed, he posed as an architect. The Empire wanted a quicker, safer way of monitoring the Gungans." She shook her head, "We gave them the clear path to destroy them all."

Kirn hit the switch allowing the cockpit to open. He was about to abandon the ship when Jerica said, "It wasn't the core that frightened you. You were afraid from the moment we entered the water."

He looked back at her, his blue eyes were hard, and his expression was set in a grim line.

"You admitted you were afraid," Jerica said, "Why can't you tell me the reason?"

"I was drowned once." he said, matter-of-factly. "Someone tried to kill me when I was five years old, by holding me underwater. Then they dropped my dead body at my mom's feet. She had the wits about her to run me into the house and hand me to the medical droid. I was dead for three standard minutes. If not for that droid, I would still be dead."

Jerica shook her head, "I'm sorr-"

"Don't," Kirn said, raising his hand, "It's still not excuse to fear."

"Is that why you don't think you can be a jedi? Because you have a justified fear of one thing?"

"No," Kirn said, distantly, "There is a more compelling reason."

Jerica waited for him to continue. Kirn was lost in the memory, and for a moment he was in back on Coruscant, nearly a year ago. He knew Jerica was waiting for an explanation, but all he said was. "Ever since . . . there are two sides of the force, and I'm not so sure which side I would walk on." Before she could reply, he said, "Come on, let's get to the Palace."

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Silence had lingered between Kirn and Jerica as they took the turbo lift from the small dock to the surface of Theed. They were unnoticed as they emerged from the ill-kept building that housed the turbo-lift. Walking to the large palace on the horizon, neither found any words to say to the other. Kirn couldn't help but think that maybe it was better that way. Besides, Jerica was quite distracted by the, apparently changed, appearance of Theed.

Kirn had never been to Naboo, and for the first time since arriving, he was finding the time to actually survey his surroundings. It is beautiful, he had to admit. A strange sensation crept up on him, and he had the distinct feeling that this would one day be the place he would call home.

They had been welcomed into the palace, but the Queen had been understandably upset. Her tone was nearly scolding as she spoke to Jerica, "You should not have risked coming back, Senator. Everything has changed. Shadowed figures plague our fair world. It seems our regional governor does not trust us. He is imposing strict curfew and harsher punishments. You may have succeeded in entering our system, but I doubt that you will leave."

"Leaving the way we came should work just fine," Kirn insisted, taking it as insult that he wouldn't be able to get them out of here.

"You don't think that they know she is here?" The Queen shook her head, "People of consequence do not so much as breath with out the governor knowing."

Jerica had moved to the window, overlooking the streets of the capital city. The once beautiful buildings had become unkempt, while new Imperial buildings had been constructed, like thorns among roses. Perhaps the most noticeable change was the horrid statue of Palpatine in the middle of the square.

The streets were nearly deserted. There was no laughter, no music and no joy. The marketplace was nearly empty, with citizens rushing through and not taking the time to linger in any spot for too long. The once jewel of Naboo was nothing but a pitiful shadow of what it once was. Yet, the state of Theed was just another tragedy in an era where tragedies were everyday things.

"What happened to the Gungans?" Jerica asked.

The Queen turned from Kirn and came to join Jerica at the window. "About eight tendays ago, the governor ordered them all exterminated. The city was first, then the sacred grounds. Citizens of Naboo tried to hide them in their homes, but troopers searched every house. Those that harbored the Gungans were harshly punished." The Queen paused for a moment, trying to maintain her brave calm. "The regions in the South were hit hardest. The governor accused them of having succeeded in smuggling several Gungans off-world.

"For a while, it seemed the Naboo were next to be exterminated, but Palpatine still finds use for us. Having a homeworld, a homeworld that still has people, gives Palpatine an appearance of humanity. He needs that appearance to continue his rule. Or many others might join this rumored Rebellion."

Jerica shook her head, "What can I do?"

The Queen sighed, "That is perhaps the worst of the news."

Jerica looked back at her. The Queen shook her head, "There is nothing you can do."