Chapter 16 Attack

"Deza comen!" a Gunga lookout called.

"All right!" Anakin shouted, running over to where Padme and the Jedi were discussing plans.

Everyone looked over when four speeders pulled up to the group.

"What is the situation?" Padme asked Panaka.

"Almost everyone's in camps." Panaka reported. "A few hundred police and guards have formed an underground movement. I brought as many of the leaders as I could. The Federation Army's also much larger than we thought, and much stronger. Your Highness," Panaka lowered his voice. "this is a battle I do not think we can win."

"The battle is a diversion." Padme reminded him. "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." Padme turned to Qui-Gon. "What do you think, Master Jedi?"

"The viceroy will be well guarded." Qui-Gon pointed out.

"The difficulty is getting into the throne room. Once we're inside, we shouldn't have a problem."

"There is a possibility with this diversion many Gungans will be killed." Qui-Gon said to Boss Nass.

"Wesa ready to do arsa part." he grunted.

"We have a plan which should immobilize the Droid Army." Padme continued. "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 rayshields, we can sever communication and their droids will be helpless."

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

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

"That is why we must not fail to get to the Viceroy. Everything depends on it." Padme said solemnly.

"Mesa gettin ready mesa soldeers." Boss Nass said.

"Once they leave we will go to the city." Padme said.

Jesse watched as the Gungans prepared for battle. He half wished he could stay and watch, but it wasn't an option, even if he'd really wanted to.

Anakin touched his arm. "We're leaving." he said, not taking his eyes off the Gungan warriors.

"Amazing, isn't it?" Jesse said, sensing his thoughts.

Anakin nodded. "Do you think... do you think it'll really work?"

Jesse turned and followed the departing group. "It has to, Annie. It's their only hope."

"It just seems..." Anakin searched for the right word.

"Out of the ordinary? You should hear some of the stories around the Temple. But actually, it's a good solid plan. It should work." he looked at Anakin. "If anything happens...well, you've been a real good friend Anakin. May the Force be with you."

"You too, Jesse. I have a feeling we're gonna need it."

They cautiously made their way to the main hangar from where their limited troops would take off to attack the Trade Federation ship. Padme used a small laser light to signal to Captain Panaka.

"Once we get inside, Annie, you find a safe place to hide and stay there." Qui-Gon told the young boy.

"Sure." Anakin was too enthusiastic about being there at all to be too put out about being away from the action.

"And stay there." Qui-Gon repeated.

Suddenly, the droids that filled the area outside spotted them and opened fire. Padme and the others ran inside the hangar while Captain Panaka kept the droids outside busy. Inside, more battle droids fired at them. Anakin ducked under a Naboo fighter jet while the Jedi deflected blaster bolts. Jesse was once more tempted to try his hand at deflecting blaster shots, but he didn't want to mess up Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan, so he refrained.

"Get to your ships!" Padme shouted to the pilots.

The pilots jumped into the fighters and began taking off amidst the blaster fire. Anakin climbed into a fighter after the one he was hiding behind took off.

"My guess is, the Viceroy is in the throne room." Padme told Qui-Gon as they fought the few remaining droids.

He nodded. "I agree. Let's go."

As they headed for the exit, Anakin stood up. "Hey! Wait for me."

"No, Annie, you stay there. Stay right where you are." Qui-Gon called back to him.

"But, I..." Anakin started to protest.

"Stay in that cockpit."

For a minute, Jesse looked smug, after all, he was with the queen, but then he felt bad. He wouldn't want to be left behind either. He gave Anakin a sympathetic look. Anakin gave him a thumbs up.

As they exited the hangar, a dark form blocked the doorway, grinning menacingly, the only thing that could be seen beneath his hood. Jesse shuddered at the evil radiating from him.

Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan stepped forward, igniting their lightsabers.

"We'll handle this." Qui-Gon said.

The dark figure took off his black cape, revealing red horned head with black lines, and ignited a double-ended saber.

Padme led the way away from the saber battle and down the hall. Jesse looked back. "May the Force be with you." he whispered.

Padme led the way down the hall when suddenly they encountered more droids on both ends.

"We're trapped." Padme aimed her blaster into their midst.

For the first time on a mission, Jesse reached for his saber and ignited it. The turquoise blade glowed brightly as the Force filled Jesse from head to toe. If ever he'd doubted that he was meant to be a Jedi, he never would again.

After about five minutes, Padme caught Panaka's attention.

"We don't have time for this, Captain." she said.

Panaka nodded. "Let's try the outside stairway."

He raised his blaster and shot a hole in the window behind them. Captain Panaka, Padme, Jesse, and several Naboo soldiers climbed out onto the ledge and shot cables from their pistols up another several stories until the hooks embedded in another window ledge. Then they climbed the wall and entered another hallway, right outside the throne room. Padme shot Jesse a grin and they headed for the throne room's door.

Suddenly, two destroyer droids rolled in front of them. Two more came up behind them.

"Throw down your weapons. They win this round." Padme said, lowering her blaster.

"But we can't..." Panaka sputtered.

"Captain, I said throw down your weapons." Padme's voice said that she was deadly serious, but also that she knew what she was doing.

Panaka nodded and dropped his blaster. Jesse clipped his lightsaber back to his belt, unwilling to risk losing it.

The droids herded them into the throne room, in front of Viceroy Gunray and several other federation council members.

"Your little insurrection is at an end, Your Highness. Time for you to sign the treaty and end this pointless debate in the senate."

"I will not be signing any treaty, Viceroy, because you've lost!" the commanding voice cam from the doorway.

Jesse whirled to see Sabe, dressed as the queen, surrounded by several Naboo troups. She glared at Nute Gunray.

Nute quickly recovered from the shock of seeing two queens. "After her! This ones a decoy!" he yelled, and then turned to Padme. "Your queen will not get away with this."

Padme pretended to collapse on the throne and hit a button. Immediately a panel opened. She grabbed some blasters and tossed them to Panaka and her soldiers. Jesse reached for his saber. Reaching for the control panel, Padme shut the door, locking them in as the droids were vanquished.

"Now, viceroy, this is the end of your occupation here." Padme pointed her blaster at Nute.

Nute chuckled. "Don't be absurd. There are too few of you. It won't be long before hundreds of destroyer droids break in to rescue us." he took a step closer to Padme. "That was very foolish, my dear."

Blaster shots erupted outside in proof of his words. He grinned triumphantly. Jesse held his saber poised as the door was broken down. Droids swarmed through and the shooting began all over again. Padme and her troops took refuge behind the several seats and desks to shoot at the droids, while Panaka tied Nute Gunray up. Jesse caught himself closing his eyes at times, not looking, just sensing where and when the shots came. When he wasn't deflecting the deadly bolts right back to the droids, he swung at them, amazed at how easily they crumpled under his lethal strokes. No wonder Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan had considered them not to be a threat.

The desk Padme and another soldier were hiding behind burst apart, leaving them exposed to the deadly fire. Jesse lunged in front of them, shielding them from the onslaught of blaster shots they could duck behind another desk.

Suddenly, the fire stopped. All the droids just stood there, as if they had all been shut off.

Duh, they had been. Jesse smacked himself mentally, wiping his sweaty forehead. His damp tunic clung to him, and he was panting worse than he'd ever been after saber practice.

Slowly, the Naboo troops stood. Padme cleared her throat.

"The pilots must have destroyed the ship." she took a deep breath. "It's over."