Chapter 2: Fighting to the Bridge
Meanwhile, Gunray had made contact with his mysterious benefactor, Lord Sidious. "What is it?" Sidious asked. "This scheme of yours has failed, Lord Sidious. The blockade is finished. We dare not go against the Jedi." Dofine said. "Viceroy, I don't want this stunted slime in my sight again!" Sidious said venomously. Dofine walked away shamefully. "This turn of events is unfortunate. We must accelerate our plan. Begin landing your troops." Sidious said. "But my lord, is that legal?" Gunray asked. "I will make it legal." Sidious said. "And the Jedi?" Gunray asked. "The Chancellor should never had brought them into it! Kill them immediately!" Sidious ordered. "Yes. Yes, my lord. As you wish." Gunray said, ending the transmission.
In the hanger, the droids cleared way as a laser turret came down. "Captain, look!" The co-pilot exclaimed. The captain turned to see the turret aiming at the cruiser. "Shields up-" She tried to yell. But the turret fired at the cruiser, destroying it.
Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan heard the explosion, got up from their seats and ignited their lightsabers, making TC-14 drop her tray. "Sorry." TC-14 said. Just then, the room started to fill with a gas. "Dioxis." Qui-Gon said. He and Obi-Wan shut off their lightsabers and took a breath.
By then, an entire platoon of B1 Battle Droids gathered outside the room as Gunray contacted them. "They must be dead by now. Destroy what's left of them." Gunray ordered. The droid commander opened the door and they droids took aim, ready to blast anything that came out. But only TC-14 came out with her tray. "Oh! Excuse me." She said in surprise. "Check it out, Corporal. We'll cover you." The commander said. "Roger-roger." The corporal droid said. But before he could enter, the lightsaber blades ignited in the gas. "Uh-oh! Blast them!" The commander ordered. The droids started blasting, but the blades blocked the blasts and sent them right back, killing the commander and the corporal. Then Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan leapt out and started slashing at the droids, killing them.
"What is going on down there?!" Gunray asked. "We lost the transmission, sir!" Tey How said.
Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan continued slashing up the droids and using the force to push them down.
"Have you ever encountered a Jedi Knight before, sir?" Rune Haako, Gunray's advisor, asked. "Well, no, but I don't- Seal off the bridge!" Gunray ordered. "Yes sir!" Tey said. "That won't be enough, sir." Haako said. "I want Droidekas up here at once!" Gunray ordered. "We will not survive this." Haako said as the doors closed up.
Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan fought their way to the bridge. Qui-Gon started cutting through the door while Obi-Wan held off the droids. "Close the blast doors!" Gunray shouted. Tey closed the blast doors, preventing any further entry attempts. Qui-Gon heard the doors close from the other side. "That will hold them." Gunray said.
As Obi-Wan brought down another incoming droid, Qui-Gon stabbed the door, heating up the locks. "They're still coming through!" Haako exclaimed as the doors heated up from their side. "This is impossible!" Gunray exclaimed. As Qui-Gon kept his lightsaber stabbed, the heat started making the locks melt from the other side. "Where are those Droidekas?!" Haako asked.
Just then, 2 Droidekas, or Destroyers for short, came rolling in. "Master! Destroyers!" Obi-Wan called. Qui-Gon pulled his lightsaber and joined his Padawan. The Destroyers transformed and started blasting. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan blocked the blasts and redirected them, but the Destroyers had shield generators activated, shielding themselves from the blasts. "They have shield generators!" Obi-Wan exclaimed. "It's a stand-off. Let's go." Qui-Gon said. The Jedi took off with mach-speed, making the Destroyers blast the door. The Destroyers then deactivated their shields and chased after the Jedi, blasting them.
"They're no match for Droidekas." Haako said as he and Gunray watched the transmission. "Sir! They've gone up the ventilation shaft." Tey said.
Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan made their way to the hanger through the vents. Once there, they snuck up and hid behind supply crates to see a whole droid army getting ready for transport. "Battle Droids." Qui-Gon said. "It's an invasion army." Obi-Wan said. "This is 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." Qui-Gon said. "You were right about one thing, Master." Obi-Wan said. Qui-Gon looked at his apprentice with curiosity. "The negotiations were short." Obi-Wan said.