The speeder went down at an alarming speed, into the thick clouded soup, not knowing what to expect Anakin and his passenger braced for impact. The speeder hit the surface of the lake with a thunderous splash, spraying tons of water into the mist above.
Anakin was off the speeder even before it reached the bottom
Swimming wildly and dragging the queen along. It seemed like eternity before they broke the surface of the lake. He had time enough to gasp for some air before he had to duck underwater again. The place was swarming with STAPS.
Though he could not see them through the thick mist, he recognized the unmistakable sharp whining of the STAP's, able to travel swiftly even through dense vegetation and the fact that it was armed with blasters made it an effective and lethal patrol vehicle in the swamps.
The queen seemed to be having some trouble keeping under. He took out his portable-breathing device, breathing it in turns with Amidala. Noiselessly they swam away from the center of activity, going in deeper into the murky water. They swam quite a distance before Anakin could risk sticking his head out of the water again. Looking round he spotted a rock grotto jutting out of the water, some distance to the left and away from where all activity was going on.
He heard the sound of heavier vehicle arriving to support the STAPs. Sharp stabs of light would pierce the mist here and there, as the spotlights fanned the lake surface. They had to get cover as soon as possible.
"I think I'm hurt" Amidala gasped, and he saw why she was responding so slowly. There was an ugly long gash on her left arm and blood was spewing out of it.
Just then he heard a STAP head their way and they both had to dive again. He swam wildly, this time fired by a new danger, dragging Amidala behind him-she had lost too much blood, he had to get her on dry land and stop the bleeding before it was too late. He sensed danger, a new danger, a dark presence was stalking him. The blood! It was attracting the predators-for, which this swamp was so famous.
He swam away furiously toward the bank, he ran the remaining few meters as soon as his feet hit solid ground, throwing around a lot of water. But he did not stop. He rushed on up the bank in great haste, dragging his burden behind him. At the same moment a hulking dark shadow broke the water in pursuit, without stopping Anakin glanced back, a hideous looking Pramodion roared angrily at being deprived of it dinner, then it silently sunk back into its murky den.
Anakin was breathless; he slumped next to the crumpled shape lying face down on the ground that was the Queen. "That was close he whispered", but she did not move. Anakin sat up and tried to shake her into action. But she still didn't move. He
Turned her around and a pale face with blank eyes stared back at him. Her lips were deathly blue.
He used the force to revive her. Soon he had her spluttering and coughing out mouthfuls of swamp water. She lay on the wet muddy ground, face down, utterly exhausted.
As soon as she was breathing, he helped her up, and hurried her into the cover of thick trees. He could hear the droid vehicles in the distance. Putting his arm around her he hurried further from the direction of the noise.
Deeper and deeper they went, the dark jungle swallowing them. I can't go much further" the Queen moaned, I feel so faint. Anakin surveyed the jungle around him, before he decided that it was safe for them to take a break.
Amidala was holding her left arm, blood was oozing through her fingers. He helped her to a nearby tree and made her sit on a giant gnarled root. He examined the wound; it was long and quite deep, the sleeve and the skin around the wound was charred, suggesting a blaster shot. He cleaned and dressed the wound with a piece of cloth from his shirt; not much of a bandage but it stopped the bleeding.
He was sure that she needed proper medical care or it could become gangrenous.
It was late afternoon, the sky was turning into a metallic gray sheet, the mist was less pronounced here than on the lake. He could hear muffled thunder in the distance.
Rain was a common feature of Naboo. At first he was delighted by it, because it was so rare on his home planet of Tatooine. But here it was abundant, especially in the swamps. In Naboo the sun brought with it light and water to the citizens of Theed most of the year. With the rising of the sun. The swamps become hot and humid, forming little clouds that rose up in the suns relentless heat, and floated to the Aspana range, where the cool weather condensed it to rain.
Small rivers born at the foot of the range flowed on to become one single majestic river "The Theed River". The river nurtured Theed city year round, coming to its end in a grand finale near the palace and tumbling down in a beautiful show over the lip of The old rim, flowing back into the swamps, it's birth place to start the cycle anew.
That cycle was threatening them now, the thunder rumbled louder and louder. Anakin looked at the ominous clouds, "Your majesty we must find cover before those clouds break up," he said.
Amidala tried to stand, as soon as she did-every thing started spinning and she blanked out. Luckily Anakin had caught her before she hit the ground. So with the Queen draped on his arms like a piece of Zinju silk he picked his way through mud and vegetation towards a small promontory jutting out from the swamp.
Thick mist enveloped it. Anakin reached through the force to guide him. He spotted some caves up the slope and was headed towards it. He looked around for any stray STAPs patrolling the area before he broke the cover of the trees. But the buzz of activity was the on lake now far behind them.
The rain would definitely interrupt their little operation, as droids did not take well to moisture.
Anakin was off the speeder even before it reached the bottom
Swimming wildly and dragging the queen along. It seemed like eternity before they broke the surface of the lake. He had time enough to gasp for some air before he had to duck underwater again. The place was swarming with STAPS.
Though he could not see them through the thick mist, he recognized the unmistakable sharp whining of the STAP's, able to travel swiftly even through dense vegetation and the fact that it was armed with blasters made it an effective and lethal patrol vehicle in the swamps.
The queen seemed to be having some trouble keeping under. He took out his portable-breathing device, breathing it in turns with Amidala. Noiselessly they swam away from the center of activity, going in deeper into the murky water. They swam quite a distance before Anakin could risk sticking his head out of the water again. Looking round he spotted a rock grotto jutting out of the water, some distance to the left and away from where all activity was going on.
He heard the sound of heavier vehicle arriving to support the STAPs. Sharp stabs of light would pierce the mist here and there, as the spotlights fanned the lake surface. They had to get cover as soon as possible.
"I think I'm hurt" Amidala gasped, and he saw why she was responding so slowly. There was an ugly long gash on her left arm and blood was spewing out of it.
Just then he heard a STAP head their way and they both had to dive again. He swam wildly, this time fired by a new danger, dragging Amidala behind him-she had lost too much blood, he had to get her on dry land and stop the bleeding before it was too late. He sensed danger, a new danger, a dark presence was stalking him. The blood! It was attracting the predators-for, which this swamp was so famous.
He swam away furiously toward the bank, he ran the remaining few meters as soon as his feet hit solid ground, throwing around a lot of water. But he did not stop. He rushed on up the bank in great haste, dragging his burden behind him. At the same moment a hulking dark shadow broke the water in pursuit, without stopping Anakin glanced back, a hideous looking Pramodion roared angrily at being deprived of it dinner, then it silently sunk back into its murky den.
Anakin was breathless; he slumped next to the crumpled shape lying face down on the ground that was the Queen. "That was close he whispered", but she did not move. Anakin sat up and tried to shake her into action. But she still didn't move. He
Turned her around and a pale face with blank eyes stared back at him. Her lips were deathly blue.
He used the force to revive her. Soon he had her spluttering and coughing out mouthfuls of swamp water. She lay on the wet muddy ground, face down, utterly exhausted.
As soon as she was breathing, he helped her up, and hurried her into the cover of thick trees. He could hear the droid vehicles in the distance. Putting his arm around her he hurried further from the direction of the noise.
Deeper and deeper they went, the dark jungle swallowing them. I can't go much further" the Queen moaned, I feel so faint. Anakin surveyed the jungle around him, before he decided that it was safe for them to take a break.
Amidala was holding her left arm, blood was oozing through her fingers. He helped her to a nearby tree and made her sit on a giant gnarled root. He examined the wound; it was long and quite deep, the sleeve and the skin around the wound was charred, suggesting a blaster shot. He cleaned and dressed the wound with a piece of cloth from his shirt; not much of a bandage but it stopped the bleeding.
He was sure that she needed proper medical care or it could become gangrenous.
It was late afternoon, the sky was turning into a metallic gray sheet, the mist was less pronounced here than on the lake. He could hear muffled thunder in the distance.
Rain was a common feature of Naboo. At first he was delighted by it, because it was so rare on his home planet of Tatooine. But here it was abundant, especially in the swamps. In Naboo the sun brought with it light and water to the citizens of Theed most of the year. With the rising of the sun. The swamps become hot and humid, forming little clouds that rose up in the suns relentless heat, and floated to the Aspana range, where the cool weather condensed it to rain.
Small rivers born at the foot of the range flowed on to become one single majestic river "The Theed River". The river nurtured Theed city year round, coming to its end in a grand finale near the palace and tumbling down in a beautiful show over the lip of The old rim, flowing back into the swamps, it's birth place to start the cycle anew.
That cycle was threatening them now, the thunder rumbled louder and louder. Anakin looked at the ominous clouds, "Your majesty we must find cover before those clouds break up," he said.
Amidala tried to stand, as soon as she did-every thing started spinning and she blanked out. Luckily Anakin had caught her before she hit the ground. So with the Queen draped on his arms like a piece of Zinju silk he picked his way through mud and vegetation towards a small promontory jutting out from the swamp.
Thick mist enveloped it. Anakin reached through the force to guide him. He spotted some caves up the slope and was headed towards it. He looked around for any stray STAPs patrolling the area before he broke the cover of the trees. But the buzz of activity was the on lake now far behind them.
The rain would definitely interrupt their little operation, as droids did not take well to moisture.