I'd like to thank Boogak for pointing out to me that Qui-Gon was a Master, not a Knight. I have gone back and fixed that. For some reason I swore he was a knight...but...alas...my brain has apparently ceased to function. Thank you Boogak!

Well, we'll have to see if the Queen's plan works. I honestly have my doubts, but I'm sure Qui-Gon knows what he's doing. I wonder what he was talking to Zanni about in the galley?

I walk into the cockpit and join Captain Panaka at the view screen.

He points to the only Federation battle cruiser orbiting the planet. "The blockade's gone."

I nod. "The war is over. No need for it now." I study the ship for a minute. "A droid control ship."

Panaka walks over to the controls. "They've probably spotted us."

They probably have. "We haven't much time."

We land in the swamps, away from the city, and send Jar-Jar off to get the Gungan leader. I spot Qui-Gon and walk up to him.

"Do you think the Queen's idea will work?"

His eyes are distant. "The Gungans will not easily be swayed, and we cannot use our power to help her."

I kick a stone on the ground. "I'm…I'm sorry for my behavior, Master. It is not my place to disagree with you about the boy. I am grateful that you think I am ready for the trials." I really am. I've been walking on air ever since he said that.

He looks at me for a long moment before smiling sadly. "You have been a good apprentice. You are much wiser than I am, Obi-Wan. I foresee you will become a great Jedi Knight."

Again, a huge compliment. "Thank you, Master." If he really does take on Anakin and I go on to become a knight soon…I'm going to miss him and awful lot. He has been the father I never had. But even more than a father. A treasured friend.

I turn as Jar-Jar approaches quite flustered. "Dare-sa nobody dare. All gone. Some kinda fight I think. Sowwy, no Gungas…no Gungas." He shakes his head sadly.

Captain Panaka, who was listening to Jar-Jar, speaks, "Do you think they have been taken to camps?"

"More likely they were wiped out," I say.

Jar-Jar shakes his head. "No, mesa no tink so. Gungan hide. When in trouble, go to sacred place. Mackineeks no find dem dare."

Qui-Gon looks at him forcefully. "Do you know where they are?"

Jar-Jar nods his head vigorously. "Yesa. Mesa take you dare!"

One of the handmaidens and Captain Panaka's crew stay with the ship while the rest of us follow Jar-Jar through the woods. Suddenly Jar-Jar stops and sniffs the air. "Dissen it." He makes a stranger chattering noise and suddenly seven Gungans appear before us.

Jar-Jar greets one of them, "Heyo-dalee, Captain Tarpals."

Tarpals shakes his head. "Binks! Noah gain!"

"We comen to see da boss."

The Captain rolls his eyes. "Ouch time, Binks. Ouch time for all-n youse."

We now follow the Captain and he has us wait outside of a ruined temple while he tells the Gungan leader, Boss Nass, that we're here.

Boss Nass emerges, followed by other Gungan council leaders. He glares at Jar-Jar. "Jar-Jar, yousa payen dis time. Who's da uss-en others?"

Queen Amidala steps forward. "I am Queen Amidala of the Naboo. I come before you in peace."

Boss Nass watches her warily. "Naboo biggen. Yousa bringen da Mackineeks. Deya busten uss-en omm. Yousa all bombad. Yousa all die'n, mesa tink."

The handmaiden Padmé bows her head slightly and I glance at Zanni who is standing behind her. Zanni's lips move ever so slightly, and I can make out the word… "E'Riq". She suddenly looks at Padmé, surprised, and puts a hand on the handmaiden's shoulder.

I turn my attention back to the matter at hand as Amidala continues, "We wish to form and alliance-."

Suddenly Padmé steps forward, cutting the Queen off. "Your Honor…"

Boss Nass looks indignant. "Whosa dis?"

What is she doing? I knew it was a bad idea to let the handmaidens come along.

"I am Queen Amidala." She nods to the Queen. "This is my decoy, my protection."

I glance at Qui-Gon out of confusion but see only a serene look on his face. Damn Jedi. Everyone else save Zanni looks startled. Did Zanni know about this? Probably.

Padm…er…Queen Amidala continues, "I am sorry for my deception, but under the circumstances it has become necessary to protect myself. Although we do not always agree, Your Honor, 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…" She bows down before him. "I beg you to help us."

Captain Panaka and the handmaidens gasp.

"We are your humble servants. Our fate is in your hands," she says to the Gungan's feet.

Slowly the handmaidens bow as well, followed by Panaka and his troops, then Zanni, Qui-Gon, Anakin and I.

Boss Nass laughs. "Yousa no tinken yousa greater den da Gungans. Mesa like dis. Maybe wesa bein friends."

------------

Padmé never ceases to amaze me. We have teamed up now with the Gungans, and are getting organized. Padmé has a plan of attack and she goes over it with Qui-Gon and Obi, while Captain Panaka and I follow one of the Gungans to examine the situation at the city.

We move quietly around the city borders, avoiding droid patrols. At one point we stop behind a large rock and peer safely into the city. It is quite a sight. Droids are everywhere…and I mean everywhere. This army is huge. Far larger than I had expected. There aren't any people to be seen.

The Gungan nudges Panaka and me, and waves us onward. "Daresa camp dis way. Mesa tink someuva Nubeens dare aresa da Queen's."

Panaka and I quietly follow him, until he stops behind some brush and peers out. "Dare." He points to a large, fenced-off area with wooden shacks at one end. I can make out some people at the far side by the shacks. Judging by their clothes they look like Palace guards. My heart skips a beat. Maybe E'Riq and Jase are here?

"How many are at this camp?" Panaka asks.

The Gungan shakes his head. "Mesa donno. Maybe tirdy? Not many. Disa camp ave lowsa security. Udder camps ave meeny meeny guards. Too many to tink aboud."

Panaka turns to me. "Do you think we can get them out?"

I smile. "I was hoping you'd ask that. Right now the guards seem to be centered by the barracks and by the main entrance. Two at the entrance, about twelve or so by the barracks. You head around by the barracks; I'll take care of the two at the entrance, and then meet you back there. Here, give me your blaster." I take the Gungan's blaster and tuck it in my belt. "Stay here." The Gungan nods.

Panaka silently creeps around the high fences to the left while I make my way to the right.

-------------

Two droids stand by the entrance to the camp, when the comm on one of them buzzes to life. "Queen Amidala has landed on the planet. We are sending reinforcements to all of the camps, but in the meantime, be on the lookout. We are told she has Jedi with her."

"Roger roger," comes the nasal reply, and the two droids look at each other. Suddenly their heads fly in opposite directions as a bright burst of light crashes through them, and their bodies fall in a heap. Zanni lands in a crouch behind them, lightsaber ignited.

She retracts her lightsaber and stands slowly, carefully listening to the area immediately surrounding her. Suddenly blasts sound from behind the barracks and she rushes in their direction.

By the time she arrives Panaka has already killed three droids. Zanni jumps on two of them, cutting them down with her lightsaber, while deflecting the blasts of two others back into their creators. She can see faces peering out of the large barrack windows, and she throws the Gungan's blaster into one window. Panaka takes out two more, and she cuts down another. She turns to see two droids aiming their guns at her…one second, and then lying in heaps the next. She turns with a grin to see Lar-Quin, a Palace guard, holding the blaster.

---------

I retract my lightsaber and clip it to my utility belt, grinning. "Lar-Quin!" I run up to her, ignoring the dull throb that has returned in my side, and she blinks at me for a minute before grinning herself.

"Zanni!" She looks at my Jedi robes questioningly.

"I'll explain later, we've got to get everyone out of here quickly. They're sending out more droids."

She nods and we throw open the barrack doors all the way so that the soldiers can exit faster. They hurry out, and one of them stops when he sees me. "Zanni?"

Others look up. "Zanni?"

"Yes, yes, it's me. Hurry, I'll explain later."

They hurry by, and I can hear their whispers, mostly involving my name.

I search each face frantically, knowing which one I'm looking for. I suddenly gasp when I see it stumbling out with the others, glancing at me and then to Panaka, who is leading the way.

"E'Riq!" I have to keep myself from out-right shouting.

He turns, startled, and his eyes suddenly light up. "Zanni?" He pushes toward me through the throng and I know I wouldn't be able to keep from hugging him if I tried. He hugs me tight and I hug him tighter, just for a moment, and then I quickly pull away.

"We've got to get out of here; more droids are on their way."

He nods and looks again at my robes, his eyes lingering on my lightsaber.

The last of the soldiers are out of the camp, and we run through the woods, now following the Gungan. I can hear the sound of a speeder rapidly approaching and turn around. "Lar-Quin, Panaka!"

They turn around and drop to the rear, their blasters ready.

The speeder starts to fire and I quickly deflect the blasts with my saber, while the other two take out the driver.

"Get as many people on that thing as you can and get out of here!" I yell at Panaka. "NOW!"

He doesn't argue and heads off.

I turn to Lar-Quin. "That was just the speeder that comes with the transporter. No doubt they've commed back about us, but back-up shouldn't be here for a short while. In the mean time, we need to find that transporter!"

Sure enough, just as I say that the large tank-like vehicle appears.

"Where do I shoot?" Lar-Quin yells above the noise of the machine.

Suddenly a blaster bolt whizzes past us. Those vehicles aren't armed, so it must be from a hand gun.

"Shoot wherever those are coming from!"

I deflect the bolts as best I can while she takes aim. After a few shots on her part, the blasts stop coming from the transporter.

"We've gotta get on that thing."

Lar-Quin's eyes widen. "How?"

I grab her around the waist and jump as it comes past, landing on top.

"…oh," she comments.

I run up to the front and throw open the hatch to the control center. A frantic droid looks up at me, a heap of metal on the floor next to it. It manages to get out a pinched, "Uh-oh" before I swing my lightsaber.

I jump into the small room and Lar-Quin follows.

"Okay, we've gotta dump this cargo, quickly."

"What cargo?"

"The dozens of deactivated battle droids in the hold right behind us."

Her eyes widen and she hurriedly starts hunting through the controls. "This should do it."

She pushes a square button and with a large suction sound the entire compartment separates and falls to the ground behind us.

"Haha!" she laughs.

We catch up quickly to the soldiers and stop the vehicle in front of them so that they can all climb in. Lar-Quin takes over the controls and the Gungan guides her through the forest.

I climb in back and find my way to a very disheveled E'Riq. "Hey," I say softly as I sit down beside him.

"Hey," he pants back.

I study him for a minute. His dark brown hair has grown out a bit so that it falls in his eyes, and his jaw his covered in long stubble. I wouldn't even notice if it was someone else, but E'Riq is one of the vainest people I know, and is always seen clean-shaven. Well, except maybe very, very late at night.

He leans his head back against the steel wall behind him and looks up. "So…you're a Jedi?"

My heart sinks a little. I really feel bad for lying to him about it. "Yes, I am."

He's still looking up. "Like Obi-Wan?"

I sigh and close my eyes. "Yes, like Obi-Wan."

"So you and he are old Jedi friends?"

I scowl. Now he's acting like Obi. "No…well…yes."

He raises an eyebrow at the ceiling. "Which is it?"

I'm being interrogated again, great. Though he's trying to avoid making it seem like an interrogation; he's not looking at me. His gaze can be so powerful and intimidating that it could probably break some Jedi masters. It definitely can break a Padawan. We always used him for tough interrogations. I sigh again. "Obi and I were friends when we were very young. But we haven't seen each other since I was eight years old."

"I thought you both are Jedi."

"Yes, we are. I really don't know how, but we never saw each other for the past nine years. He didn't even know I was a Jedi until two days ago." I can feel him relax a little with that.

"E'Riq, I'm sorry I lied to you. I was on an undercover mission…I couldn't tell anyone. I am truly very sorry. This doesn't change anything between us. You were never part of the mission. I still feel the same way. I'm still the same person."

He finally turns his head and looks at me, his gaze softened. After a moment he smiles gently.

I smile back and brush a strand of hair out of his face. He takes my hand from his face and kisses the knuckles tenderly, and I can't help but blush a little.

"I missed you," I whisper.

He strokes my palm with his thumb. "I missed you too."

I glance at our surroundings and am brought immediately back to the current situation. I pull my hand gently from his and stand. "I'll be back."

He nods. "Go and do whatever it is that Jedi do."

I give him and playful kick and run up to Lar-Quin and the Gungan. "How close are we?"

"Wesa almost dare."

"Stop the vehicle."

Lar-Quin obliges. "Why?"

"The control ship probably can track this thing. We don't want to give away our position. We can walk from here."

They nod in agreement and we quickly unload everyone from the back. I hope somebody knew to get rid of that speeder Panaka was on. As the group starts following the Gungan, I jump back into the control room and turn the vehicle off of its previous course by about twenty degrees and set its auto-pilot. The droids should follow this new path and completely pass the swamp. I jump off as the transporter takes off, and hurry to catch up with the rest of the group.

When we reach the entrance to the swamp, Captain Panaka greets me. "Glad to see you made it."

"So am I."

"I waited for you to report to the Queen. Come on."

I follow him to where the Queen is talking with Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon, and some Gungan generals. The rest of the group follows us, and then stands a little distance away, unsure of what to do. Most of them feel awkward with the Gungans, I can tell.

As we approach, Padmé looks up. "What is the situation?"

"Your Highness," I start. "Almost everyone is in camps. We brought most of the Palace guard; however that's the best we could do."

Panaka speaks up. "I spoke with a few of them and it seems that a few hundred police and guards have formed and underground movement. The Federation Army is also much larger than we thought, and much stronger." After a pause he adds, "Your Highness, this is a battle I do not think we can win."

Padmé immediately responds to that, speaking to all of us. "The battle is a diversion. The Gungans must draw the Droid Army away from the cities. We can enter the city using the secret passages on the waterfall side. Once we get to the main entrance, Captain Panaka will create a diversion, so that we can enter the palace and capture the Viceroy. Without the Viceroy, they will be lost and confused."

Panaka bows his head at his subtly-given commands.

Padmé glances at me and I nod my approval of the plan. She turns to Qui-Gon. "What do you think, Master Jedi?"

"They Viceroy will be well guarded."

Panaka offers more, "The difficulty will be getting into the throne room. Once we're inside, we shouldn't have a problem."

I glance at Boss Nass. "There is a possibility with this diversion that many Gungans will be killed."

The chief sticks his chin in the air. "Wesa ready to do are-sa part."

Padmé continues, "We have a plan which should immobilize the Droid Army. We will send what pilots we have to knock out the Droid control ship which is orbiting the planet. If we can get past their ray shields, we can sever communication and their droids will be helpless."

Qui-Gon nods. "A well-conceived plan. However, there's great risk. The weapons on your fighters may not penetrate the shields on the control ship."

Obi speaks up. "And there's an even bigger danger. If the Vicroy escapes, Your Highness, he will return with another droid army."

Padmé looks at him evenly. "That is why we must not fail to get to the Viceroy. Everything depends on it."

- - - - -

I go over to the group of rescued guards to explain the plan to them. As I approach, I can see them all eyeing my robes, and laugh a little. I suppose I should explain a few things to them first.

"Yes, I am a Jedi."

Most of them blink at me, wide-eyed, and I have to laugh again.

"I was sent here on an undercover mission to protect Queen Amidala. That particular mission is over, so I'm no longer undercover."

One of them speaks up, "So you've got a lightsaber and everything?"

Another turns to the first speaker, "Of course she does, didn't you see her use it on those droids?"

Several of them murmur acknowledgement.

E'Riq hasn't looked away from me this whole time. He raises his voice over the others, keeping his eyes locked with mine. "I think Zanni has some business to attend to, if you all are finished tittering."

They silence immediately. I look them over. All of them are from the Palace guard. "Was everyone from the Palace in your camp?"

They nod.

I feel my stomach twist. I was afraid of that. I search the faces one more time… "Where's Jase?"

They look away from me, even E'Riq.

I swallow hard. "Where's Jase?"

"They killed him," E'Riq says softly.

I let out a long, slow breath. Somehow I already knew that even before I reached the camp. "Why?"

"He was in charge." E'Riq continues to look at the ground.

I raise a hand to rub my face. They killed him solely because he was in charge. I've heard about that strategy. Kill the leaders right off and the army is much more easily conquered. If that's their tactic then… "What about General Irquin? Aarzin Canquol?"

"Dead."

They killed the leaders of the land army and air fleet. I suddenly feel the urge to personally smash every single droid in that city, and then skewer the Viceroy and his friends. In order to do that I have to… "Listen up, this is the plan…"

--------------

The job that Qui-Gon, Zanni and I have is to protect the Queen. The Queen is charging into battle. This can't be good.

Zanni has been explaining the battle plan to the Palace guards that she and Captain Panaka freed. Qui-Gon has gone off to meditate. I know I should meditate too but I'm too nervous to stand in one place, let alone center.

I've been pacing in front of this tree for quite a while, staring hard at the ground. I jump when I feel a hand on my shoulder and reach for my lightsaber.

"Calm down, hot shot." Zanni smirks.

I laugh a little. "Guess I'm just anxious."

"Yeah, I guess you are too. Listen, can I ask you to do something for me?" Her face is serious now.

"Sure, what?"

She pauses. "If…If my eyes…do anything, like turning green or…anything…snap me out of it."

I stare at her for a second. "Snap you out of it? How?"

She studies the bark of the tree behind me. "I'm not sure…but do something. Smack me, remind me who I am, recite the Jedi code, tell me how bad the Dark Side is. Anything. Just don't piss me off."

I watch her for a minute. Where is this coming from? Recite the Jedi Code? Tell her how bad the Dark Side is? I mentally shrug. Probably just familiar things to ground her. But why is this such a concern?

She coughs and changes the subject. "When I was near the Palace, I felt a disturbance in the Force."

I can feel my eyes grow wide. "You mean, there's a Sith Lord there?"

She bites her lip. "I think so."

Wow. This is going to be harder than I thought. But what would a Sith Lord be doing here?

Zanni shakes her head, sensing my thoughts. "I don't know. There's a lot more to this situation than meets the eye."

I turn as Qui-Gon and the Queen approach us. "It's time."

---------

Viceroy Nute Gunray and Darth Maul stand in the throne room of the Nubian palace before a hologram of Darth Sidious, who is speaking.

"...she is more foolish than I thought."

Nute replies, "We are sending all available troops to meet this army of hers assembling near the swamp. It appears to be made up of primitives. We do not expect much resistance. However I am increasing security at all Naboo detention camps."

Darth Maul addresses the hologram, "I feel there is more to this, my Master. The Jedi may be using the Queen for their own purposes."

Darth Sidious' voice is stern. "The Jedi cannot become involved. They can only protect the Queen. Even Qui-Gon Jinn will not break that rule...This will work to our advantage."

Nute speaks again, "I have your approval to proceed then, My Lord."

Darth Sidious nods. "Proceed. Wipe them out...all of them."

"What about the targets?" Darth Maul asks.

"The boy shouldn't be a problem. The Padawan…leave her for now. Make sure neither one is killed."

Darth Maul bows. "Yes, Master."

-----------

Obi's really anxious. But I don't blame him; this plan is insane and extremely high-risk. I would be as anxious as he if it weren't for the fact that I know this city intimately and I'm pretty furious about Jase. I know I'm not supposed to let my emotions control me, but somehow I think I'm going to need this anger to get through this.

Padmé decides that it's time to go.

The Gungans head off to their diversion, while the rest of us divide into two teams. Captain Panaka's team is to serve as another diversion within the city. Padmé's team is to get into the throne room. Obi, Qui-Gon, E'Riq and I are part of Padmé's team. Lar-Quin and Dormé are with Panaka. Each team has about fifteen more guards and troops with it.

I wrap my ponytail into a bun – as I always do to keep it out of the way during battle – and thread my way through the crowd to Padmé and the other two Jedi. When everyone is finally prepared (everyone save Obi, Qui-Gon and myself is carrying a blaster or two) we move out, to the secret passages behind the city.

We finally find what we're looking for, and hide in the caves of the waterfall to wait for word that the Gungan battle has begun.

I sit on the stone ground between Padmé and E'Riq. I can feel E'Riq's fear and nervousness radiating off him quite strongly. Something occurs to me.

"E'Riq?"

"Hmm?" comes the distracted reply.

"You've never…been in a battle before, have you?"

He looks at me a little surprised, but his eyes are mainly filled with apprehension. He draws his knees up before him and rests his forehead on them. "No."

I look around at the troops. Now that I think about it, probably none of them have ever seen battle. The Nubians are peaceful people, and this is probably the first war they've had in decades, if not centuries. I feel like a seasoned warrior compared to them. In fact…most of them are younger than I am. Even Padmé; she's only 14.

E'Riq can feel my worried gaze and turns his face to me and smiles in what he must think is a reassuring manner. "Don't worry, I can take care of myself."

I smile back. "I know you can." I do know he can. I'm not as worried about his safety as I am about him having to watch his friends die around him. It's one of the most horrifying experiences anyone could ever have, especially the first time it happens. It doesn't sink in that people are going to die until the first one does. And then it hits like a wave of stone. We're going to be battling droids, so he still won't have to deal with killing a person. I'll never forget the first time I killed someone. Many Jedi I've spoken with say they try to forget it. I don't want to forget. If I forget then I'll cease to be human.

I look up as Qui-Gon comes over and crouches in front of me. E'Riq glances at him and then looks away, giving us privacy…although I can tell that he's listening to every word we say.

Qui-Gon clears his throat. "Obi-Wan tells me that you sensed the Dark Side when you were near the palace."

I nod. "I sensed a disturbance in the Force. I'm not quite sure what it was…but I am suspicious."

He nods back. "I feel something too. We need to be on our guard. Something isn't right." He pauses for a minute, watching Anakin play with a stone. I'm sure he's regretting bringing Anakin along. This is an incredibly dangerous situation. But he didn't really have any other choice. "Why did you defend Anakin before the council?"

I blink at him for a second. "His situation is so similar to mine. I feel that it would be unfair to deny him training. And the prophecy…I agree with you about it. At least partially."

He nods. "I have heard what you think about the prophecy, and it's an interesting theory. But…after what you felt the day before…why?" He suddenly looks younger as he looks at me, his gray eyes open and honest.

He's heard about my opinion on the prophecy? Why am I the only one who interprets it as I do? And why did I defend Anakin? Because his situation is the same as mine. Only there's more to it than I'm willing to say. I've examined my own future, and, well…it's frighteningly similar to his…if that's the real future. But I trust myself enough to not let it become what I feel. And I trust Anakin. However I don't want to tell Qui-Gon that. I don't need to give him another reason not to trust me, especially now that I'm on his good side. "I don't know how accurate what I felt was. I'm still studying; I have much to learn. And I feel something good about this boy."

He smiles at that. "You feel it too? So I'm not the only one."

"You're not the only one." I feel something, but it's sure not what he feels.

"I know I'm going to sound redundant, but I'd like to thank you yet again for what you said to the council. It seems that they value your opinion quite highly. Thank you, Zanni."

"You're welcome, Qui-Gon." Saying 'you're welcome' doesn't feel quite appropriate, but I want to say his name back; return the gesture.

He frowns and looks at my side. "How's your wound?"

I sense E'Riq looking at me, running his eyes over by body trying to find a wound.

I shift and feel the dull ache. I should heal it a little bit more before we go in. "It's a lot better. Still there though."

He chuckles. "You're going to be all right in there?"

I can't help but laugh. "I'm going to be just fine. Don't you dare worry about me."

He shakes his head. "Padawans."

"I'm going to heal it a bit more though."

"Good idea." He nods and stands, leaving me to my Force-healing. I watch him walk over to Obi before I close my eyes and center my attention on the lightsaber wound.

The pain is almost gone now, and I slowly open my eyes, to see the pale ones next to me staring at me. I stare back at him. What am I supposed to say? 'See, told ya I was a Jedi.'? I want to kiss him, I really do. But Qui-Gon and Obi are too near…I don't dare. Instead I smile at him, and brush the hair out of his eyes again. He smiles and continues to hold my gaze. My touch is relaxing him a bit. I absent-mindedly trace the freckles on his nose and cheeks. I've always been fascinated with his freckles. I know very few people who have them.

I start when I realize what I'm doing and quickly pull my hand away. He tenses up again, and I pull my knees up and rest my head on them, mirroring his position. I turn my face to his and smile. "Don't worry, everything is going to be fine."

He just nods back. He's terrified.

I turn to Padmé when I hear her comm come alive. "Wesa in position."

"Thank you. Good luck," she sends back.

"Yousa too."

Padmé stands and turns to address the group. "Well, this is it. The Gungans are doing their part, now we have to do ours. We're going to take back our city and end this attack on our people." She stops for a moment and looks over all of the faces watching her intently. "Good luck to each one of you." She turns and faces Panaka. "Let's go."