Chapter 4 Underwater Journey

A bongo turned out to be an interesting round little submarine type ship. There was barely room inside for all four of them.

"Dis is nusen." JarJar muttered.

"Master, why do you keep dragging these pathetic life forms along with us?"

Jesse looked at Obi-Wan curiously. He looked half amused and half annoyed.

"So this has happened before?" he asked.

Obi-Wan rolled his eyes. "Don't ask."

Qui-Gon pretended to smack his padawan.

"Hey, ho? Where wesa goen?" JarJar asked, sounding frantic. Jesse wondered if he was claustrophobic or just generally nervous.

"You're the navigator" Qui-Gon told him.

"Yeah, that's why we hired you. Remember?" Jesse quipped.

"Yo dreamen mesa hopen..."

"Just relax, the Force will guide us." Qui-Gon interrupted.

"Ooooh, maxibig..."da Force"...Wellen, dat smells stinkowiff."

A loud crash interrupted JarJar's muttering. A large fish had grabbed them with his tongue.

"Full speed ahead." Qui-Gon told JarJar, but instead of going forward, JarJar accidentally put the controls into reverse. The bongo flew into the fish's mouth.

"Oooops." JarJar whimpered.

"So much for the Force guiding us." Jesse muttered.

Qui-Gon shot him a look that silenced him.

"Give me the controls." Obi-Wan reached for them and piloted the ship out of the mouth.

"Wesa free!" JarJar exalted.

"Look!" Jesse pointed out the window. A huge sea monster was devouring the fish.

"There's always a bigger fish." Qui-Gon leaned back n the seat.

"Um, Master? I think the fish did some damage." Obi-Wan worked frantically at the controls. "We're losing power."

JarJar promptly began panicking.

"Stay calm." Qui-Gon instructed

"It's not like we're in trouble yet." Jesse added. He felt like flipping out himself, but Qui-Gon's calm demeanor helped him keep his rising emotions under control. JarJar was a different story.

"What yet? Monstairs out dare! Leak'n in here, all'n sink'n, and nooooo power! You nutsen! WHEN YOUSA TINK WESA IN TROUBLE?" he yelled.

"Power's back." Obi-Wan said.

Jesse shot JarJar a smug 'I-told-you-so' look just as the lights revealed a large predator in front of them.

"Monstairs back!" JarJar shrieked as Obi-Wan piloted the bongo away as fast as possible.

"Wesa in trouble now?" JarJar wailed.

"Relax." Qui-Gon commanded. He was beginning to wonder why they had wanted JarJar along. He put his hand on JarJar's shoulder, sending Force-waves into him. JarJar fainted.

"You overdid it." Obi-an commented.

"At least it'll keep him quiet."

Obi-Wan shrugged. "You were the one that wanted him along."

"Don't remind me."

Now that JarJar was unconscious, Jesse decided it was safe to let a little fear show. "Will we…"

"We'll get out of here. Don't worry." Qui-Gon reassured him, grateful that at least Jesse wasn't going into hysterics.

"Whoa!" Jesse stared at another huge fish. Obi-Wan skillfully piloted the ship around the fish and it grabbed the other fish chasing them.

"Let's just get to the surface." Qui-Gon told Obi-Wan.

"Right, Master." Obi-Wan pointed the ship up and they broke through the surface.

Jesse rubbed his hand against his forehead. "That was close."

Qui-Gon shook JarJar awake.

"Wesa dead yet? Oie Boie!" he shook his head to clear it.

"No, wesa not. At least not yet. One of us may be if he doesn't cool it." Jesse told the Gungan.

"Mesa git scared!" he protested.

"Well next time try to control your fear. Obi-Wan open the door." Qui-Gon said, standing up when the top opened and leaping ashore. "Come on JarJar."

"No! Too scary!"

"Come on!" Obi-Wan looked ready to lynch the defiant Gungan.

"No, a mighty no!" JarJar crossed his arms.

"Alright then. Stay." Qui-Gon turned to go. Jesse and Obi-Wan shrugged and followed.

"Yousa noee gonna wait for mesa?" JarJar demanded jumping out of the ship and practically running to catch up.

Qui-Gon rolled his eyes. "Jesse, keep an eye on him. Make sure he doesn't wander off."

"Yes, sir." Jesse answered, thrilled that he had an actual assignment, even if it meant looking after JarJar.

"And if anything happens, stay back. Understand?"

"Yes, sir."

"Wowsa!" JarJar's eyes bulged as he looked around at Theed. "Dis un bombad city! Nosa wonda the Naboo think theysa better'n us. But, wesa got un city mucha betta den dis."

"Do you ever stop talking?" Jesse asked.

"Mesa no know. Mesa neva try."

"Well try now." Qui-Gon told him.

"Whersa wesa goin?" JarJar whispered to Jesse.

"To find the queen. And you're not supposed to be talking."

"Oooh. Why?"

"JarJar…"

"Master!" Obi-Wan pointed down into a courtyard. The queen of the Naboo and several others were being led away. The courtyard was crawling with battle droids.

A/N Thanks to everyone who reviewed! I'll get the next chapter up ASAP.