Chapter 17 Victory at a Cost
"Viceroy, we are getting reports of explosions near the hanger bay." The Neimoidian officer said.
"What? You must be mistaken." Gunray replied. "Contact the hanger bay at once."
"I have, Viceroy; there has been no response." She answered.
"Well, send someone down there." The Viceroy ordered.
"Yes, sir." She said, but before she could carry out the command, the bridge shook violently and Gunray had to grab hold of the communications console to prevent himself from being thrown to the ground.
"What was that?" He demanded as the bridge rocked once again.
"Another explosion, sir." She informed him. "Perhaps we should launch the life pods and abandon ship."
"Uh, well, I don't…uh…send for San Hill and Shu Mai. Then we will decide what to do." The Viceroy instructed.
"Yes, sir." The officer replied as the ship began to vibrate and tilt to the side. The officer's chair tipped over, and she landed on the rapidly slanting floor and slid toward one wall. The Viceroy made a grab for the console, missed and felt himself sliding in the same direction as his bridge officer.
"This is impossible!" Gunray exclaimed as the ship suddenly righted itself. "What is happening?"
The deck officer scrambled to her feet and dashed back to her console. She pushed a series of buttons and the view screen was activated. The exterior of the hanger bay appeared, and as Gunray watched, two Naboo fighters exited the hanger bay backwards, flipped simultaneously and headed away from the control ship.
"Jedi! I did not know the Jedi were involved in this. We are finished." Gunray said as San Hill and Shu Mai appeared on the bridge.
"How would you know that they are Jedi?" Shu Mai asked.
"Look at them; no one else could fly like that. It must be Jedi." Gunray answered.
"I believe that would be Skywalker, Viceroy." San Hill put in.
"Skywalker? I don't think…" The Viceroy stammered.
"He is married to the Senator Amidala; you know that, don't you?" San Hill reminded him.
"Oh, well…yes...and he did…" Gunray began.
"He did what, Viceroy?" Shu Mai asked.
"Well, he…uh…has done this before." The Viceroy finally managed to say.
"He has? When was this?" Shu Mai asked.
"When he was ten." San Hill replied when the Viceroy could not.
"Is this true, Viceroy? Why were measures not taken to prevent this from happening again?" Shu Mai asked.
"Is it important now? We must leave this ship." Gunray answered. "Ready the escape pods."
"Some of them have been damaged, sir." The deck officer informed him.
"How many are left?" Gunray asked.
"Only a few." The deck officer answered.
"You stay here while we go and inspect them. Then we will send for you." The Viceroy instructed.
"But, sir; there is not much time." The officer objected.
"Then we had better not waste any more time here." Viceroy Gunray replied as he, San Hill and Shu Mai left the bridge and the deck officer behind.
As it turned out, only three escape pods were undamaged; leaving no warning of the impending destruction of the control ship, Gunray, San Hill and Shu Mai piled into the nearest pod and launched it.
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Zak spotted his lightsaber lying on the floor where he had dropped it after being struck by the second droid. Focusing on it and reaching through the Force, he called the weapon to him.
"Wow! Can you teach me how to do that?" Boba asked, clearly impressed.
"No, I don't think so; I don't think you have any midi-chlorians." Zak answered.
"Midi-what?" Boba asked.
"Never mind; we really don't have time for this, Boba." Zak replied turning his attention to the droids as they tried to push their way farther into the house.
"Your mother is not going to like the mess they have made in here." Ruwee said.
Padme laughed just a little, "No, I don't think she will." She said.
Jobal sat with the children, Gemma on her lap with Leia and Luke on either side. The twins were very calm and tried to help Jobal settle Gemma who cried and trembled all over as the noise of the fight continued above them.
"Death things. They took my mommy." Gemma cried. "And daddy; gone, all gone."
"Hush now, little one; it's all right. Nothing can find us down here." Jobal said reassuringly.
"Boba, they hurt him and nice lady. I scared." Gemma sobbed.
"I know; but it will all be over soon. Don't cry." Jobal replied.
Gemma clung to her tightly. "Don't go 'way; please." She pleaded.
"I won't, honey." Jobal promised.
The twins huddled up closer to Jobal; whether to seek her comfort or to comfort Gemma, Jobal was not sure. She put an arm around each of them and they brought their arms together forming a protective ring around the frightened Gemma.
"Gemma be all white." Luke said quietly.
Of course, Jobal thought, these were Anakin's children. They could sense Gemma's fear and that was why they drew closer to her, not because they needed comforting, but because Gemma did.
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A siege was also underway at Theed Palace, but so far, the Palace Guard had been able to prevent the battle droids from gaining access. It was only a matter of time, however, before they would find a way inside. Communications with the nearby airbase had been severed, and Governor Bibble could only hope that the mission to destroy the control ships would end successfully…and soon. They, like the rest of Theed City, were running out of time.
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On the plain, the situation was growing steadily from bad to worse. No boombas were left and they were slowly being surrounded by the remaining regiments of battle droids. To prevent them from being completely surrounded, General Ceel had ordered a gradual retreat in order to keep an escape route open. Still, he was reluctant to give up the fight and allow the droids free access to the Naboo city. Boss Nass had given his word to the former Queen, his good friend, not to let the droid army into the city, and General Ceel was prepared to give his life so their leader, Boss Nass, could keep his promise…many Gungans already had and their dead mingled with those of the Naboo…
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As the Neimoidian control ship continued to come apart, Talme noticed one escape pod clearing the damaged ship.
"Look, Captain, a life pod." She told Anakin.
"Yes, I see it; I'll give you one guess who's in it." Anakin replied.
"The leaders of the Alliance." Obi-Wan answered.
"Well, we had better make sure they're caught or this will happen all over again." Anakin said.
"Then let's follow them down, brother." Obi-Wan suggested.
"I was just going to say that." Anakin replied. "Dav, take the rest of the fighters back to base; Talme, you come with us."
"Yes, sir." Both answered.
"All fighters, form up on me." Dav instructed as he watched his wing mate turn with Anakin. "Be safe."
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Zak took out yet another battle droid by slicing through its midsection. The droid's upper body went in one direction, and the bottom in the other. He was about to hit another when it suddenly went limp and toppled over by itself. Knowing instantly that the control ship had been destroyed, Zak powered down his weapon, closed his eyes and reached out through the Force for…"Master?" Yes, he could feel the presence of his master in the Light; a calm, reassuring feeling came over him and he opened his eyes.
"They've done it." He announced.
"And everyone is alright?" Padme asked, almost fearfully.
"Some were lost." Zak answered sadly, as he turned to her.
"But Master Anakin?" She asked, a lump forming in her throat.
"Safe." Zak said.
"Master Obi-Wan?" She continued.
"Yes; him too." Zak told her.
"Well, that's great; now what's all this midi-somethings about?" Boba asked as if what had happened was just all in a day's work for him.
"Midi-chlorians. They live in everyone; well, almost everyone." Zak began. "If you have a lot of them, you can sense the Force."
"What?" Boba asked.
"The Force. That's what allowed me to retrieve this." Zak answered holding up his lightsaber. "See, it's not something you can just teach; first you have to have enough midi-chlorians to be sensitive to the Force."
"I have no idea what you're talking about. I just want to learn that trick." Boba said.
Zak shook his head. "I don't think you can, Boba; I don't think Clones have midi-chlorians. Or at least not enough to be Force sensitive." He replied.
"Oh." Boba answered, disappointed.
"I'm sorry; I'd teach you if I could." Zak said.
It grew quiet on the upper level, however, Jobal did not know if it was because those fighting had been captured or had won. She decided it would be best to stay right where she was until someone came down to get them. Gemma had stopped crying but had not given up her hold on Padme's mother.
"They gone, Gwammy." Luke said suddenly.
"Gone? Who's gone, Luke?" Jobal asked.
"Dwoids; all gone." Luke answered
"Yep, all gone." Leia agreed.
"Sackie beat them." Luke added.
"Is everyone alright up there, Luke?" Jobal asked.
"Poor Sackie; huwt his head." Luke replied.
"He did? Poor Sackie." Leia said.
"But he's fine and everyone else is too." Ruwee said from the stairway. "But I'm afraid they made rather a mess in the front room."
"Gemma safe now?" Gemma asked.
"Yes, dear; Gemma is safe." Jobal assured her gently as she moved her to the floor so she could stand up to embrace Ruwee.
"Now, let's see what those droids have done to my house." She said as she pushed the children ahead of her up the steps.
When they got to the top of the steps and caught sight of Padme surveying the mess, all three broke into a run and threw themselves at her. Boba looked down at his feet; Gemma had gone to Padme and not to him.
"She needs a mother, Boba." Zak said, sensing Boba's disappointment.
"I know." Boba admitted with a sigh. "It's just that…"
"She's like your sister." Zak finished.
"Heh, heh; yeah, I guess she is." Boba confirmed. "But she does need a mother."
"So do you." Zak added.
"I never had one and I don't need one." Boba replied harshly.
Zak shrugged and joined Ruwee who had started to clear away what was left of the droids and moments later, Boba joined him.
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As the battle droids fell silent and the tanks came to a halt, a huge cheer went up on the plains of Naboo followed by silence as the survivors of the battle surveyed the dead and injured on the field. Many lives were lost, wives lost husbands, mothers lost sons and sisters lost brothers. However, the invasion had been thwarted and Naboo was once again safe; the lives lost had not been lost in vain.
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Three Naboo fighters watched the death throes of the Neimoidian control ship as it began to break apart. No other escape pods were launched and Obi-Wan, alone, grieved a moment for the lives lost before turning his attention to the solitary escape pod heading for the planet. As it neared the planet, it veered for the remote Lake Country area. They hovered near the pod until it had touched down, and landed as near as they could. When the three conspirators opened the hatch, they were waiting for them.
"Welcome to Naboo, Viceroy; so nice of you to…drop in." Anakin said cordially.
"Master Jedi! We are so glad you found us. Our ship malfunctioned and we were forced…" Gunray started.
"We know all about it, Gunray; we tracked your pod all the way from the control ship. You are in big trouble." Anakin interrupted. "You are under arrest; all of you."
"What? No, there must be a mistake we have done nothing…" San Hill interjected.
"Oh? Arch Duke Poggle says otherwise." Obi-Wan interrupted this time.
"No, we were threatened with our lives. We wanted no part in this." Shu Mai insisted.
"Right; well, you'll have to convince the Republic justice system of that. Good luck." Talme said.
"Talme, contact Corporal Vaan and have a transport sent to these coordinates to have these three picked up." Anakin instructed before turning once more to the Viceroy. "You're finished this time; Chancellor Organa is not on your side as Palpatine was."
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When Anakin and Obi-Wan arrived at the Nabbierre home, it was well after dark; most of the droids had been removed to the yard outside, to be picked up later by the cleanup crews assigned to that task. When they entered the house, Anakin saw his children were curled up with Gemma on the couch that had been moved back into place. Zak and Boba were helping to pick up the ruined vases and nick knacks that had been hit by the droids' blaster fire. Anakin heard Padme's voice coming from the kitchen and, after kissing his children, headed in that direction. Zak looked up to see his master staring at him in concern.
"I'm alright, Master." He said.
"There's blood on your face, Padawan." Obi-Wan replied. "What happened?"
"That was my fault, Master Jedi." Boba answered. "I was careless and Zak was trying to protect me."
"Poor Sackie got bumped." Luke said.
"Bumped?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Dwoids bumped his head." Luke expounded.
Obi-Wan looked at Boba curiously, "Why don't you tell me exactly what happened?"
So, Boba confessed the whole thing, half-expecting Obi-Wan to admonish him for endangering his apprentice's life. Instead, Obi-Wan presented him with only one question.
"And what have you learned from this, Boba?" He asked.
"Well…I guess…um…I should have worked with Zak instead of acting on my own?" Boba answered.
"Yes, and in the future, think about whether your reckless actions might put someone else's life in danger." Obi-Wan added.
Boba nodded. "I'm sorry, Master Kenobi." He said with respect and regret.
"Apologize to Zak; he's the one who was hurt by your recklessness." Obi-Wan replied.
"He already did, Master." Zak informed him.
Obi-Wan nodded and gave both boys a pat on the shoulder.
"You have a very hard head, Padawan." He told Zak. "But I wish you should stop trying to find out just how hard it is." He finished with a smile.
"Me too, Master." Zak answered as he rubbed the new lump gingerly.