Chapter 14 The New Trade Alliance
"Talme, you had better contact the base and let them know what's happened here." Anakin told her. "We may have to deal with this invasion after all."
"Yes, Captain." Talme replied.
"You tell Poggle that if we are invaded, I will make sure is on the front line." Anakin said.
"Ha! Do you think you can threaten the Grand Duke into telling you anything?" The human asked with a devious smile.
"Just tell him." Anakin answered angrily. "Or I may decide you're not worth having around anymore."
The smile disappeared and he translated Anakin's threat; Poggle's answer was a series of angry clicks.
"He says you wouldn't dare." The human interpreted.
"I wouldn't dare? I killed a Sith Master and he thinks I wouldn't dare? He is sadly mistaken." Anakin retorted. "Tell him that."
The human obeyed and then translated Poggle's reply.
"Doing that would be a ruthless act of cruelty; The Arch Duke does not think you are capable of that." He said.
"Naboo is my home, my family's home. I am capable of doing anything to protect it. You tell the Arch Duke that unless he tells me who his allies are, I will do what I must." Anakin replied.
Poggle's response to this after hearing the translation was more clicks, sounding both angry and now with a hint of fear.
"Poggle the Lesser says he will tell you but only because it is too late to stop them and you should know who the victors will be." The human announced.
"I think the Arch Duke is too sure of himself; Naboo will not allow you or your allies to get a foothold here." Anakin said.
Poggle clicked several times again.
"He says you overestimate your chances. Your enemies, San Hill of the Banking Clan, Shu Mai of the Commerce Guild and the honorable Viceroy of Cato Nemodia, Nute Gunray will be victorious." Poggle's translator stated. "His death will be an honorable one and he will be remembered in Geonosian history for all time."
"Nute Gunray?" Anakin repeated in shock.
A translation and more clinks.
"Yes, the Viceroy has a personal score to settle with you and your wife, the former queen of this planet." The human explained.
"Then he will be sadly disappointed. You and your allies will fail and if any of you survive, you will be tried and convicted for this…treason." Anakin vowed.
"Yes, you were treated leniently after the war only because the sentiment was that you were misled by Chancellor Palpatine. This time, there will be no quarter." Obi-Wan added, backing Anakin up.
"It doesn't matter, the battle droids are landing as we speak. It's too late." The human said without prompting from Poggle.
"And you; what are you getting out of all this?" Anakin asked.
"I will be well paid for my part." The human answered.
"You'll be dead, just like him." Anakin promised as he pointed to Poggle.
Zak and Boba had joined them while they were questioning Poggle.
"Is there really going to be a war then, Master?" Zak asked with genuine concern.
"It appears so, Padawan; when we get back to the base, I want you to go with Lady Padme." Obi-Wan told him.
"But, Master, my place should be with you." Zak protested.
"Your place, Zak, is where I tell you to go. Lady Padme needs your protection; this is an important responsibility." Obi-Wan countered. "You understand this; don't you?"
"Oh…yes, Master. Then where will you be?" Zak asked.
"With Master Anakin; the droid army needs to be stopped. So that means destroying the control ships." Obi-Wan answered. "While you are protecting Lady Padme and her family, I will join with Master Anakin and the other pilots."
"This isn't your fight, Obi-Wan; I don't want…" Anakin started.
"You are my brother, Anakin; that makes your fight my fight." Obi-Wan said, cutting him off. "I owe you my life, many times over. This is something I must do."
"But what about the Code, Obi-Wan? You shouldn't be involved in this." Anakin argued.
"I'm not doing this as a Jedi; I'm doing this as your friend and as your brother." Obi-Wan replied.
Talme rejoined them with the bad news.
"This is from Lady Skywalker who got it straight from Governor Bibble; a battalion of battle droids and several squads of super battle droids have landed on the plains and are forming up. The Gungans have rallied and are ready to meet them." She informed them. "But it appears as if more droids are on the way."
The human translated this to Poggle, who gave an insectoid laugh and then clicked.
"He told you it was too late; inform your governor to prepare to surrender to the New Trade Alliance." The human translated, using for the first time, the name the invaders had chosen for themselves.
"Fat chance." Anakin replied. "Tell him that."
The human did and Poggle laughed again.
"We're out of time. Talme, take these two back to the base in Poggle's speeder and we will take the other two." Anakin instructed, hauling Poggle to his feet.
"Zak, go with Talme to keep an eye on these two." Obi-Wan added as he pulled the human up and shoved him toward their speeder.
"Yes, Master." Zak answered.
"Can I trust you not to do anything foolish?" Anakin asked Boba. "Or do I have to tie you up?"
"I won't do anything; I think I know which side I'm on now." Boba told him.
Anakin looked at him for a moment, again trying to sense any deception and found none.
"Alright; then you come with me and Master Kenobi can take your…uh…sister." Anakin replied.
"Why can't she come with us?" Boba asked.
"We don't have time for this, Boba; just get in the speeder." Anakin ordered.
Boba nodded with no further argument.
"What will happen to us when we get to the base?" Boba asked once they were underway.
"Your sister…what is her name, anyway?" Anakin asked.
"Gemma; at least that's what I call her. She didn't know her name when I found her." Boba answered.
"Well, Gemma will go with my wife and Zak to her family's home. I haven't decided what to do with you yet." Anakin told him.
"I have a ship; I could help you." Boba offered.
"Help us? Why have you suddenly changed sides?" Anakin questioned. "I thought you hated us."
Boba hesitated before answering.
"Well, a guy can change his mind; can't he?" He answered finally.
Oh, yes, if there's a reason, Anakin thought had he not done the same thing? Palpatine had been his friend until he uncovered the terrible truth.
"If there's a reason, yes; what's your reason, Boba?" He asked, already knowing the answer, but wondering if Boba would admit it.
"Poggle lied to me; he said he would let Gemma go. How many more times would he lie to me?" Boba explained. "You helped me get her back; you kept your promise. I trust you; I don't trust them…not any more."
"What about Jango?" Anakin asked.
Again, Boba did not speak right away; and when he did, his answer was evasive.
"I haven't figured that out yet." He said.
"Well, I can't trust you to help us then. What happens if you decide you still hate us when you're up there? How many of our pilots will you kill?" Anakin replied.
Boba was silent; Anakin had a good argument. He didn't know what he would do….but a new thought was forming in the back of his mind. What if his father was wrong…?
Padme heard the speeders coming back and ran for the door. When she opened it and looked out, she glimpsed not two, but three speeders coming to rest on the tarmac next to the hanger. Talme and Zak, sitting backward, occupied the extra speeder; Poggle and a stranger sat in the back and Zak was apparently keeping an eye on them. Boba Fett was Anakin's passenger in one speeder, and a little girl, Obi-Wan's in the other. This, Padme knew, must be the sister that the child-bounty hunter had been so concerned about. She ran to meet them, relieved than no one seemed to be injured.
She hugged her husband as soon as he got out of his speeder.
"It's too late, Annie." She told him as a shiver went through her.
"It's never too late, my love. They won't win." He assured her. "Stop shivering."
She only hugged him tighter as they walked together back inside. Boba took the little girl's hand and Obi-Wan turned to help Talme remove their prisoners from the speeder she had piloted.
"I am very proud of you, my young Padawan." He said as he hauled Poggle from the speeder. "You did exactly what Master Anakin and I told you to do."
"Thank you, Master." Zak said humbly as Obi-Wan dragged the human out.
Talme and Obi-Wan then prodded their captives into the hanger where they were met by two base security officers who took the prisoners into custody. Poggle and his translator were escorted out of the hanger through an interior door.
"To a holding cell." Talme explained. "Until this is over."
Obi-Wan nodded and then joined Anakin and Padme.
"Obi-Wan, I really wish you would reconsider this." Anakin said.
"Reconsider what, Annie?" Padme asked.
"He wants to take a fighter up and help us." Anakin told her.
"Oh, no, Obi-Wan; why would you do that!" Padme asked in shock.
"Because it is my wish to do so." Obi-Wan answered. "And we're wasting time arguing about it."
Anakin had to agree; he could read his brother's thoughts clearly and he knew there would be no compromise. He intended to help them and Anakin knew he could not change his mind.
"Very well, brother; I see I cannot convince you to change your mind." He replied and then turned to Padme. "You, my love, must go to your parents and be with the children. If the droid army breaks the Gungans' defensive line, the city will be invaded. Zak will go with you."
Padme could not dispute him this time and nodded in consent.
"And what about this little one?" She asked indicating Gemma. "I would like to take her too."
"Yes, she will not be safe here either. Boba calls her Gemma." Anakin answered.
"And Boba Fett? What should become of him?" Padme inquired.
"I won't go with her, if that's what you're thinking." Boba said stubbornly. "I won't hide like a coward."
"I'm not hiding, Boba; I'm going to protect them." Zak countered. "Maybe you should help me."
"No way." Boba replied obstinately. "That's just your excuse for going to hide."
Zak did not argue further, but he really would have liked Boba's help.
Several of the fighters had already taken off and several more had scrambled in preparation. Three fighters sat ready and waiting. Dav climbed the boarding ladder of one of them; Obi-Wan and Anakin stood before the other two. Padme kissed her husband one last time; a long deep, passionate kiss and hugged him tightly as if she might never see him again.
"Please, come back to me." She pleaded.
"I will, if the Force allows it." He promised and then turned to Obi-Wan and extended his hand. "Shall we do this, brother?"
Obi-Wan clasped his Anakin's hand tightly.
"It will be just like old times, brother." He replied and looked at Zak. "Take care of Master Anakin's family, Padawan."
"I will, Master; I will guard them with my life." He pledged.
Obi-Wan patted his shoulder.
"I know you will; May the Force be with you." He said as he turned to climb into the fighter that had been prepared for him.
"May it be with all of us." Anakin said then climbed into his fighter and looked down at Padme. "I love you, Padme."
"I love you too." She shouted to him and then stepped clear of the two fighters as they taxied out of the hanger.
"It's alright, Lady Padme; they have the Force." Zak assured her.
"Yes; and a powerful ally it is." She answered, mimicking Yoda's words.
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On the vast plain of Naboo, a battle had begun. A battle for control of a planet; but the Gungans would not be easily defeated.