Chapter 2

Nute Gunray stood in silence at the centre of the palace throne room in the Naboo capital city of Theed and listened patiently as Governor Sio Bibble protested the Trade Federation presence. Rune Haako stood at his side. Both wore their Federation robes of office and inscrutable expressions. Two dozen battle droids held the Naboo occupants of the room at gunpoint. The city had fallen shortly after sunrise. There had been little resistance; the Naboo were a peaceful people. The invasion had come as a surprise, and the droid army was inside the city before any substantial defence could be mounted. What few weapons there were had been confiscated and the Naboo removed to detention camps. Battle droids were combing the city even now to put an end to any lingering resistance.

"It is bad enough, Viceroy…" Governor Bibble was the only person in the room who actually believed his protests would have any effect.

Nute Gunray thought that Panaka was the Queen's head of security. He and four of the Queen's personal guards stood to one side, stripped of their weapons and helpless.

The Queen sat upon her throne, surrounded by her handmaidens. She was serene and aloof, detached from everything, as if what was taking place had no effect on her, could not touch her in any way. She wore black, her white-painted face in sharp contrast to the black feathered headdress that wrapped and framed it. A gold chain lay across her regal brow and the red beauty mark split her lower lip.

"…Viceroy, I ask you point-blank." Sio Bibble was concluding his oration. "How do you intend to explain this invasion to the Senate?"

The Neimoidian's flat, reptilian countenance managed a small flicker of humour. "The Naboo and the Trade Federation will forge a treaty will legitimize our occupation of Theed. I have been assured that such a treaty, once produced, will be quickly ratified by the Senate."

"A treaty?" the governor exclaimed in astonishment. "In the face of this completely unlawful action?"

Amidala rose from her throne and stepped forward, surrounded by her cloaked and hooded handmaidens. Her eyes were sharp with anger. "I will not cooperate."

"Now, now, Your Highness," Gunray purred. "Don't be too hasty with your pronouncements. You are not going to like what we have in store for your people. In time, their suffering will persuade you to see our point of view." He turned away. "Enough talk. Commander?" Battle droid OOM-9 stepped forward, narrow metal snout lowering slightly in response. "Process them."

OOM-9 signalled for one of his sergeants to take over, ordering that the prisoners be taken to Camp Four. The battle droids herded the Queen, her handmaidens, Governor Bibble, Captain Panaka, and the Naboo guards from the room. They moved along the polished stone halls of the Theed palace and outside to where a series of terraced steps led downward through statuary and buttress work to a broad plaza. The plaza was filled with Federation tanks and battle droids.

The prisoners were taken across the plaza past the machines of war. No one spoke. Even Governor Bibble had gone silent, his grey-bearded head lowered in dark contemplation. They departed the plaza and turned down a broad avenue that led to the outskirts of the city and the newly constructed Trade Federation detention camps.

Jessica contacted Padme. 'I sense the Jedi. They are nearby.'

'Should we help them?' Along with the words, Padme sent a mental image of lightsabres cutting through droids.

'No. I'm sure they can handle it. Remember, Padme, we're just handmaidens. That's why we've still got our lightsabres.'

The droids had just turned their prisoners down a quiet byway when their sergeant, who was leading the procession, brought them to an abrupt halt.

Two men stood directly in their way, both wearing loose robes over belted tunics, the taller with his hair worn long, the shorter with his cut to a thin braid. Their arms hung loosely at their sides, but they did not have the look of men who were unprepared.

For a moment, each group stared at the other in silence. Then the narrow face of a Gungan peeked out from behind the two robed figures, eyes wide and frightened.

The taller man stepped forward. "Are you Queen Amidala of the Naboo?"

The Queen hesitated. Padme knew these were the Jedi; she could tell by their Force signatures. She realised Sabe had no idea who they were, just before Sabe asked, "Who are you?"

"Ambassadors from the Supreme Chancellor." The Jedi Master inclined his head slightly. "We seek an audience with you, Your Highness."

The droid sergeant suddenly seemed to remember where he was and what he was doing. He gestured to his soldiers. "Clear them away!"

'Watch their lightsabre techniques.' Jessica told Padme. 'You can learn a lot through observation.'

'Yes, Master.'

The Jedi cut apart the four droids that had advanced. The sergeant turned to flee, but the Jedi Master held him with the Force. In seconds, the droid lay in a ruined heap with his command.

Quickly, the Naboo soldiers moved to recover the fallen weapons. The Jedi Knights flicked off their lightsabres and motioned everyone out of the open and into the shelter of an alley between two buildings. The Gungan followed, muttering in wonder at the cold efficiency with which the Jedi had dispatched their enemies.

The Jedi Master faced the Queen. "Your Highness, I am Qui-Gon Jinn and my companion is Obi-Wan Kenobi. We are Jedi Knights as well as ambassadors for the Supreme Chancellor."

"Your negotiations seem to have failed, Ambassador," Sio Bibble observed with a snort.

Padme tried not to wince. He doesn't know there was a trap.

"The negotiations never took place." Qui-Gon kept his eyes directed towards the Queen. Her painted face showed nothing. "Your Highness," he continued, "we must make contact with the Republic."

At a signal from Jessica, Panaka stepped forward. "We can't. They've knocked out all our communications."

An alarm was sounded from somewhere close, and there was the sound of running. Qui-Gon glanced toward the street where the battle droids lay. "Do you have transports?"

Panaka nodded. "In the main hangar. This way." He swiftly led the group to the hangar. Battle droids were stationed everywhere, weapons at the ready, but Jessica pointed Panaka to an unguarded approach. They entered the hangar through a side door. A handful of ships were grouped in the centre of the hangar, sleek gleaming transports, their noses pointed towards a wide opening in the far wall. Battle droids guarded each.

Panaka pointed out the Queen's personal transport. It was a J-type 327 Nubian with swept-back wings and powerful Headon-5 engines.

Panaka scanned the hangar interior. "The battle droids. There are too many of them."

'Oh, ye of little faith!' thought Jessica.

"That won't be a problem." Qui-Gon turned to the Queen. "Your Highness, under the circumstances, I suggest you come to Coruscant with us.

'I personally agree with him' Jessica sent to Padme. But Sabe answered before Padme had a chance to signal her agreement.

"Thank you, Ambassador, but my place is here with my people."

"I don't think so," Qui-Gon responded, locking eyes. "The Trade Federation will kill you if you stay."

Sio Bibble pushed to the Queen's side. "They wouldn't dare!"

"They need her to sign a treaty to make this invasion of their legal! They can't afford to kill her!" Panaka pointed out.

The Queen looked from face to face, uncertain.

"The situation here is not what it seems," Qui-Gon pressed. "My instincts tell me they will destroy you."

This alarmed Bibble. "Your Highness, perhaps you should reconsider. Our only hope is for the Senate to take our side in this matter."

Panaka would have none of it. "Getting past the blockade is impossible, Your Highness. An escape attempt is too dangerous-" He was ignoring Jessica's signals.

"Your Highness, I will stay here and do what I can." Sio Bibble interrupted. "But you must leave-"

Queen Amidala brought u her hand sharply to silence the debate. Turning from her Bibble and Panaka and the Jedi as well, she looked suddenly to her handmaidens, who were pressed close around her. "Either choice presents great risk to all of us…" she said softly, looking from face to face.

The handmaidens glanced at one another, faces barely visible within the confines of red and gold hooded robes. One spoke. "We are brave, Your Highness," Padme said firmly.

Alarms continued to sound. "If you are to leave, Your Highness, it must be now," Qui-Gon urged.

Queen Amidala straightened, and nodded. "So be it. I will plead our case before the Senate." She glanced at Sio Bibble. "Be careful, Governor."

She took the governor's hand briefly, then beckoned to four of her handmaidens. Those not chosen began to cry softly. Amidala embraced them and whispered words of encouragement. Panaka selected two of the four guards to stay behind with the handmaidens and Sio Bibble.

The Jedi Knights moved through the side door and into the hangar, leading the way for the Gungan and the Naboo. "Stay close," Qui-Gon admonished softly over his shoulder.

Panaka moved next to him. "We need a pilot for the vessel." He pointed out a group of pilots, mechanics and guards being held prisoner.

"I'll take care of it," Obi-Wan declared.

Everyone else continued on, striding boldly across the hangar floor, moving directly towards the Queen's vessel, ignoring the droids that moved to intercept them. More droids closed in on them, curious without being alarmed.

"Don't stop for anything," he said to the Queen, and he reached beneath his cloak for his lightsabre.

'No, Padme. He can handle it.' Jessica had seen Padme reach for hers.

They were barely twenty metres from the Queen's transport when the nearest of the droids challenged them. "Where are you going?"

"Get out of the way," Qui-Gon ordered. "I am an ambassador for the Supreme Chancellor, and I am taking these people to Coruscant."

The droid brought up his weapon quickly, blocking Qui-Gon's passage. "You are under arrest!"

It was scrap metal in seconds. More droids rushed to stop the Jedi, while the Naboo and the Gungan boarded the Queen's ship.

Obi-Wan rescued some of the Naboo pilots, and ran with them to the ship. Qui-Gon backed up the ship's ramp.

The engines were firing even before the Jedi Master reached the main cabin and flung himself into a chair. Laser fire hammered at the sides of the craft. "Hold on," said the pilot.

The Nubian shot through the hangar doors, ripping past droids and laser fire, lifting into the blue, sunlit sky. The planet of Naboo was left behind in seconds, the ship rising into the darkness of space, arcing towards the blockade.

The blockade ships opened fire.