Chapter 2 Short Negotiations

"There they are." Qui-Gon pointed to hundreds of ships surrounding the beautiful green planet of Naboo.

"Wow." Jesse whispered, awestruck.

Behind him, Obi-Wan shared an amused look with his master. They both remembered his first time seeing a planet from space. And Naboo was too beautiful for words.

"Why would anyone want to hurt this planet?" Jesse asked.

"Greed. Hate." Qui-Gon answered after a minute.

"How could anyone hate this?" Jesse was having a hard time understanding. Initiates lived a very sheltered life in the Temple.

"Sometimes people don't care about beauty. They only want to destroy. And sometimes people just want what they can get out of it."

Jesse shook his head, still not understanding. Qui-Gin put a hand on his shoulder. He would understand someday, and someday he would probably wish he didn't. It was all a part of growing up.

"Captain." Qui-Gon said without taking his eyes off the battle ships.

"Yes, sir?" the captain turned around.

"Tell them we wish to board at once. Then you may go. The trade federation has agreed to us using their transportation to get home."

"Yes, sir."

The captain turned to the view screen and made contact with the viceroy, Nute Gunray.

"With all due respect for the Trade Federation, the Ambassadors for the Supreme Chancellor wish to board immediately." She said.

"Yes, yes, of course...ahhh...as you know, our blockade is perfectly legal, and we'd be happy to recieve the Ambassadors...Happy to."

The captain turned the screen off, and the Jedi made their way toward the door.

"Jesse," Qui-Gon began, but the initiate cut him off.

"Don't worry. I won't say anything."

"Good. But actually I was going to tell you to observe what happens carefully."

"Oh." Jesse blushed. "I'll do that too."

A door slid open, and they entered the battleship. The door slid shut behind them with a swish. Jesse felt like his head was on a swivel as they walked down the hall and entered a cabin. The droid who led the way turned to face them.

"I hope you honored sirs with the most comfortable here. My master will be with you shortly." It said, then left.

Qui-Gon shrugged and sat down. Obi-Wan sat too, a little more apprehensively.

"I have a bad feeling about this." He murmured.

Jesse perked up and looked to Qui-Gon.

"I don't sense anything." He finally said.

Jesse felt around with the Force, not really expecting to sense anything a master couldn't.

"It's not about the mission, Master," Obi-Wan persisted, "it's something...elsewhere...elusive."

Jesse looked out the window, not wanting to hear another lecture about not centering on anxieties, even if it wasn't directed at him. He heard them enough back home.

"Jesse, you're not paying attention." Qui-Go gently broke into his thoughts.

"There's nothing happening." He protested.

"Reach out with your senses. There's a good deal more happening than you think. What do you feel?"

Jesse concentrated for a minute.

"Fear." He finally concluded.

Qui-Gon cocked his head. "You're right. There is an unusual amount of fear for something as trivial as this dispute."

Now Obi-Wan was alert too. All three Jedi spun as the door opened and the droid re-entered. A faint hissing noise filled the cabin.

"Gas! Hold your breath, Jesse." Qui-Gon instructed.

Jesse took a deep breath of oxygen as the air in the cabin became deadly. He thanked his starts he'd learned how to use the Force to hold his breath much longer than any normal being. Then they waited. Jesse was just beginning to get lightheaded when the doors finally opened. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan drew their lightsabers, and Qui-Gon motioned for Jesse to stay behind them. Jesse nodded. This was definitely out of his league.

The Jedi sprang forward, cutting down battle droids with Jesse behind them, trying not to get in their way while staying hidden. They ran down a corridor to a large blast door. Qui-Gon stuck his saber into the door without hesitation while Obi-Wan covered his back. Several round druids appeared and began firing at them.

"Destroyer droids." Qui-Gon started to sound the slightest bit annoyed.

"Offhand, I'd say this mission is past the negotiation stage." Obi-Wan couldn't resist saying it anymore than Jesse couldn't help resist rolling his eyes despite the danger.

"They have shield generators!" Obi-Wan suddenly said. Jesse only had a vague idea of what that was, but from Obi-Wan's tone, he didn't think it was good.

"It's a standoff! Let's go!" Qui-Gon led the way up a ventilation shaft. Jesse clambered up after him and Obi-Wan came last. It took a lot of climbing, but they finally made it to the top, where thousands of battle droids were being loaded onto a landing ship.

"What…?" Jesse breathlessly gestured at them.

"Battle droids." Qui-Gon said grimly.

"It's an invisible army." Obi-Wan added.

Jesse didn't like the sound of that. "Meaning?"

Qui-Gon frowned. "It's an odd play for the Trade Federation. We've got to warn the Naboo and contact Chancellor Valorum. Let's split up. Stow aboard separate ships and meet down on the planet. Jesse, you'll come with me."

"You were right about one thing, Master." Obi-Wan added before they parted, "The negotiations were short."

Jesse stared at him, wondering how he could joke at a time like this.

"Years of practice." Obi-Wan told him.