Entry II:
A Thousand Terrible ThingsOnce on the planet, I escaped from the ship by cutting a hole beneath myself with my lightsaber. Little did I know that there was a swamp directly where I would land.
Although there should have been something I could have done, my reaction was not quick enough. I fell into the swamp with a small splash, resurfacing a moment later. Breathing deeply, I disappeared under the water, reappearing closer to the shore. I tread water and looked around, casting out with the Force while staring briefly at the collection of droids forming before turning to the forest. A shadow deep in the woods caught my eye.
I could feel Qui-Gon searching for me through the Force as I swam the final distance to the shore and crawled out, dripping wet. My response to his calling would have been quick were it not for the charred lightsaber I held in my hand. I'd forgotten to disengage the blade before hitting the water. Again. It was a mistake I'd made before, during times when I was more brash than usual. My mistake was a careless one.
One a 25-year-old Padawan should not make.
I felt annoyance and frustration on Qui-Gon's end of our bond.
I could only imagine what he was feeling on mine. Unfortunately, this momentary distraction allowed me to be spotted by two droids on STAPs—not a good thing considering my current situation. With something resembling a growl, I tumbled, narrowly avoiding a blaster bolt aimed at my head. I was up and running again before the droids' processing units could convince them to fire again.
It would have been easy to dive back into the swamp with my A99 Aquatic Breather and wait. But the mechanical device could only hold out for two hours. Even if the droids did leave, and I doubted they would, the delay would hold Qui-Gon up and he may not reach the Queen in time. My Master would not leave until he knew I was safe. Sometimes I wondered if our loyalty to one another got in the way of our missions. Sometimes I wondered if we were too close. What would I do if I ever lost him?
Sadly, I think I know now…
Keeping my head bent, I yanked my comlink from my belt and began to home in on my Master. At least something of mine still worked—I'd been smart enough to buy a water-resistant comlink. I wasn't as despondent as some people thought.
Don't get your hopes up, Oafy.
I nearly stumbled. Where had that come from! Even after all these years…Bruck Chun had scarred a part of my mind with an immensity that I would never be able to comprehend.
Movement ahead caught my attention.
With the droids still hot on my tail, I dodged, successfully missing another bolt. Qui-Gon spun towards me. His lightsaber sprang to life. As soon as I reached him, I dived to the ground. After a few well-deflected shots, the droids and their transports were blown to shrapnel, destroyed by their own blasts.
Embarrassed, I climbed to my feet, still attempting to regain my breath. Qui-Gon was staring expectantly at me. "Sorry Master," I panted. "The water fried my weapon."
After giving him the weapon to inspect, I felt my shoulders slump. His disapproving look after seeing the blackened blade emitter made me feel like a third year initiate again. A Jedi was supposed to be responsible. His tone was reproachful when he spoke.
"You forgot to turn your power off again, didn't you?"
I nodded sheepishly. A blush crept up my face.
"It won't take long to recharge. I trust you have finally learned your lesson, my young Padawan."
Inwardly I cringed. He hadn't meant to hurt me, but his disappointment was obvious. Without meeting my Master's eyes, I took back the weapon and clipped it to my belt. A creature I'd previously paid no heed to pushed past and began thanking Qui-Gon.
"What's this?" I asked.
His response was curt and to the point. "A local," was all he told me.
So I take it locals don't have names…Interesting…
We turned and jogged off, leaving the "local." He wasn't far behind, however. The creature mentioned something about a city. We both stopped. Qui-Gon began questioning him, but the amphibious being merely shook his head.
Well, I thought, if gentle persuasion wouldn't work, there were always other methods of convincing.
Qui-Gon straightened to his full height (as if he weren't intimidating enough) and stepped towards the creature. I realized now that it was a Gungan. Next time, I would reread everything about a planet before embarking on the mission.
"You hear that?"
The Gungan nodded.
"That is the sound of a thousand terrible things heading this way."
A mischievous smile tugged at the corners of my mouth as I advanced towards the obviously worried creature. I couldn't help it. My dry sense of humor was about to make another cameo appearance. "If they find us, they will crush us, grind us into tiny pieces, and blast us into oblivion!" Whatever discouragement I had felt earlier was gone. I looked briefly at Qui-Gon, my eyes alight with blithe. Whether my Master thought I was enjoying myself too much, I don't know. The twinkle in his eyes, however, told me I wasn't to be rebuked.
The Gungan forgot all his previous arguments and hurriedly waved us forward. "Dis way! Hurry!"
The young alien finally stopped at a lake after having led us through the swaps for a few minutes. Qui-Gon and I slowed to a walk. One look at the murky water and I was instantly reminded of the day's earlier incident. I wouldn't make the same mistake twice, though. I had learned my lesson. Death was not something to be toyed with lightly. And, I decided I had played with it enough for one day.
I began pulling my breather out after being told we were going under water. The Gungan turned to us one last time. I was beginning to wonder if Qui-Gon had made a mistake by allowing him to stay with us.
"My warning yous. Gungans no liken outsiders. So don't expict a werm welcome."
Here we go again… "Oh don't worry, this hasn't been our day for warm welcomes."
With that said, we waded into the cold swamp water.
Seconds ticked by without thought. Then minutes. So far we had seen nothing in the murky water save a few luminescent fish, and I was growing impatient. It seemed like my patience thrived on seconds and nothing more, something to be worked on once we made it back to the Temple.
I reached across the bond my Master and I shared to gauge his response to the emptiness spread before us. He wasn't concerned. Of course he wasn't concerned. He never was. After all, I was still the worrywart Padawan that I had been when I was younger. I worried enough for the both of us.
Light suddenly reached my eyes. A city—a beautiful city—lay spread out before us. Groups of bubbles sat bunched together, held by rock pillars. The light emitting from the bubbles allowed me to see Gungans going about their daily lives. The technology created by these creatures was amazing. If Otoh Gunga looked this splendid, I could only imagine the capital city of Naboo: Theed.
Our Gungan guide led us straight to one of the larger bubbles. I was surprised to see no type of airlock or door of any kind.
Our friend swam right up to the wall…and passed through it with ease. Amazing, I thought. I'd never seen anything like it before.
Qui-Gon and I passed through as well. Once inside the bubble, we removed our breathers. Around me I heard small shrieks from other Gungans. Still dripping water and gazing around in awe, I descended the platform we were on and stepped onto the square below. Qui-Gon did the same.
Two more Gungans, these riding kaadu and wearing uniforms, rushed up to meet us. They didn't look like they were part of the welcoming committee. I looked uncertainly at my Master. He closed his eyes and gave a quick shake of his head. /Let Jar Jar do the talking. We'll speak up when we're needed./
So that was his name…
Jar Jar greeted one of the Gungans—Captain Tarpals—with a large grin. The other was not as quick to return his welcome. Whatever Jar Jar had done, it must have been bad. While the other Gungan herded Jar Jar forward, Captain Tarpals turned to face us. My Master regarded him calmly. Finally Tarpals turned away. My Master was a hard person to share staring contests with. After a moment longer, we too were herded forward.
As we were led to our secret destination, I attempted to block out the noises of the gossiping Gungans around us. Obviously, they had never seen Jedi before. The prodding of Tarpals' electropole to our backs ceased abruptly. I discovered we were in a conference chamber of some sort. The room's transparent sides and row of benches reminded me of the Jedi High Council chamber. Qui-Gon and I left Jar Jar behind and approached the Gungan leaders. Qui-Gon focused his attention on a heavyset Gungan, obviously the head of the committee if his high bench meant anything. This Gungan, Boss Nass, identified us as Jedi. He did not seem pleased.
Even after my Master explained Naboo's current situation, Boss Nass refused to cooperate. His tone was harsh towards my Master. I didn't take it lightly and stepped forward to be equal with Qui-Gon. My voice was soft when I spoke, but it held a warning in it. Years of overseeing negotiations and peace-talks with my Master had taught me how to say much with very little. "Once those droids take control of the surface, they will take control of you."
Boss Nass thumped his chest defiantly. "Wesa no think so. They not know of usan."
I flashed Qui-Gon a quick look before turning back to the Gungan leader to try once more. This was not turning out to be our day. "You and the Naboo form a symbiant circle. What happens to one of you will affect the other. You must understand this!"
Boss Nass told us that they cared nothing about the Naboo, and the Naboo cared nothing about the Gungans.
So, I thought, this feeling of hate was mutual, yet they had managed to skip around war for many generations. What an interesting world the Council had placed us on.
I could have carried the argument further. Force knows how much I already longed for this mission to be over, but Qui-Gon once again took the lead. I felt the Force ripple just before he waved his hand slightly.
"Then speed us on our way."
"Wesa gonna speed yousaway," Boss Nass repeated.
Another ripple in the Force.
"We could use a transport."
"Wesa give yousa una bongo. The speediest way to da Naboo is going through da planet core. Now go."
"Thank you for your help. We leave in peace."
I mirrored the bow my Master gave the Gungan leaders and turned with him to find our transport. Even after 12 years, his abilities never ceased to amaze me.
A thought suddenly occurred to me. "Master, what's a bongo?" I asked.
He responded sounding just as uncertain as I did. "A transport I hope."
We barely made it to the stairs before Jar Jar called out to us. In his most innocent way, he asked for help out of his current situation. He gave my Master the most endearing look I'm sure his amphibious face could muster.
Surely Qui-Gon wouldn't…
He turned to face the Gungan. I saw it immediately there in his eyes, that look that meant we were about to take up the responsibility of another pitiful creature. "Master…" I began, letting my sentence go unfinished.
He didn't even look at me.
"We are short of time, Master," I tried again.
"We'll need a navigator to get us through the planet's core. This Gungan may be of help."
My words came out in an exasperated rush before I could think them over. I told him bluntly that I sensed a loss of focus.
Qui-Gon was never violent in any way whatsoever when rebuking me, but when his gaze rested once again upon me, I saw his eyes flashing dangerously. I had crossed the line. I had been openly (and I must admit purposefully) disrespectful to my Master. It felt oddly refreshing, despite the punishment I knew would come if I didn't close my mouth.
"Be mindful, young Obi-Wan! Your sensitivity to the living Force is not your strength."
He said it gently, but it felt as though I had been slapped. Like a hot iron had been placed in an open wound. I could hold his gaze just a moment longer before I had to turn away. His criticism hurt more than either of us had expected.
As Qui-Gon walked back towards Boss Nass, I remained glued to my spot. My wounded pride would heal, but at the moment, there were other things to worry about.
"What is to become of Jar Jar Binks here?"
So the 'local' really does have a name…Maybe they'll give him another warning and let him go, I thought, annoyed at the creature that had been the cause of my admonishment.
The Gungan leader's response surprised me. Jar Jar would be punished. And from the look on Boss Nass' face, it would be a painful punishment, torture perhaps. Or even death.
I glanced over at the poor creature that was moaning about the inevitable. He was to be punished just for returning home? A feeling of injustice filled me. My thoughts returned to that day when I was 12, stuck on a ship reeking with evil, that was taking me to a life I had never wanted, never asked for. On that ship, I had wanted to run through the halls, slashing and chopping at all that weren't fair and just.
Qui-Gon had explained to me how wrong this idea was. Evil would never completely be destroyed. The demise of one malevolent creature would only lead to the birth of another.
I had seen this often in my 13 years outside the Temple.
When I looked up again, swayed from my thoughts by the gentle brush of my Master's mind against mine, I saw Jar Jar being freed. Qui-Gon had won the battle. And he had not gone around hacking and slashing at things. How many more wonderful things could I learn from this man?
There was a small smile on Qui-Gon's face as he approached me, one that said 'I told you so' perhaps, but I chose not to pay attention to it. I wanted him to know I was still not pleased with his decisions.
Together, Qui-Gon and I trooped up the stairs, following a guard. Jar Jar stumbled after.
AN: I just wanted to send a special thanks to those who reviewed the introduction and first entry for my story. I've written fanfics before, but this is my first attempt with Star Wars, although I have been a fan for a while. If you think that at any time, one of the characters seems OOC, please let me know! Thank you's go out to: siri, Lanna, Ginger Ninja, Becky, rebel, Jay, SilverDragon, Weedus, anna, and Jaded1.
May the Force be with you!
--Marie Kenobi
Page breaks now inserted where needed. (6/22/05)