Aboard the Federation flagship, the Viceroy had just successfully reached Lord Sidious on his communication font.
"Yes, Viceroy?" Lord Sidious' voice, though still raspy, was fairly calm.
"The invasion is on schedule, my Lord."
"Excellent. I have the Senate bogged down in procedure. They will have no choice but to accept your control of Naboo."
"The Queen has great faith that the Senate will side with her."
Sidious scoffed. "Queen Amidala is young and naive. You will find controlling her will not be difficult."
"Yes, my Lord."
Conversation concluded, the form of Sidious melted and the silvery surface of the font's pool was once again still.
The Viceroy's advisor turned to his master. "You didn't tell him about the missing Jedi."
"No need to report that to him until we have something to report." Secretly, the Viceroy way conflicted as to which was worse between letting Lord Sidious know there were two Jedi running free in Naboo or having Sidious find out that the Viceroy had been keeping such important information from him in the first place. He tried not to dwell on it as he collapsed into his chair, beckoning his advisor to bring him some wine.
Further and further the bongo swam into the labyrinth of long-flooded lava tubes. It was unsure of where it was going, but the man holding the reigns certainly seemed to know. This fact didn't distract from the throbbing pain in its side, though. The initial shock from the bite it had received was wearing off and the bongo's pace was starting to slow.
Jar Jar had lost track of the many turns they had taken some time ago. Worry was setting in again as his mind conjured images of them getting lost and starving in these dark tunnels. "Where wesa going?"
"Not to worry," Qui-Gon said. "The Force will guide us."
This wasn't reassuring. "Oh, maxi big, da Force." Jar Jar rolled his eyes. "Well dat sounds no-sense."
The bongo slowed even more, the pain becoming unbearable. The glowing nodules on its face dimmed and it settled on the bottom of the tube, unable to carry on. It had lost quite a bit of its blue blood and it thought it could feel a tooth that had been left behind from the attack.
As the darkness settled around him, Jar Jar broke down sobbing. "Ohh, no... Wesa dying in here..."
Through the darkness, the voice of Qui-Gon came. "Just relax. We're not in trouble yet."
Jar Jar exploded. "What 'yet'? Monsters out dere, no food in here, and da bongo is dying! When yousa think wesa in trouble?!"
Qui-Gon sighed. "Obi-Wan?"
"Yes, Master?"
"Here is a test for you. How do we escape this situation?"
"Wesa don't," Jar Jar muttered miserably.
Obi-Wan cleared his mind and thought. He could feel the Living Force around him, but he also felt pain. The pain from the bongo. Its injuries were far worse than anyone had realized, and it was a miracle it had held out this long. In that moment it was obvious what to do. He put his arm through the bubble ward and on the bongo's wound. He felt the pain as though he had been injured himself. With calm concentration, he performed the ancient healing rite his Master had taught him. It was one that used one's own life energy to mend wounds, although the caster had to take care not to use too much or they would end up dying themselves.
Under Obi-Wan's touch, skin, muscle, bone, and sinew reformed. The broken tooth left behind was pushed out by the healing flesh. The rite wasn't perfect, the bongo would always have a scar, but its pain was gone and it could carry on again.
Obi-Wan pulled his hand back inside the ward, trembling from the effort.
Qui-Gon was pleased. "Well done."
"Th-thank you, Master."
The bongo's face nodules glowed brightly once again, filling the tube with a warm glow. And revealed the long toothy face of one of the lava tubes' largest predators, drawn by the injured bongo.
Everyone jumped in surprise and Jar Jar began shrieking and blubbering incoherently. The bongo swam past it as fast as it could, determined to save itself and the creature on its back that had healed it.
Qui-Gon told Jar Jar to relax and laid his hand on his shoulder, using his magics to calm him. Jar Jar slumped forward, unconscious.
"I think you overdid it, Master."
Faster and faster the bongo went, muscles aching from the effort. It followed the guidance from the one holding its reins, confident it wouldn't be led astray. Behind it, the long-snouted predator slowly gained on it, its forelimbs reaching out eager to grab hold of its prey.
Suddenly the tunnel opened up into another lake, and waiting at the tunnel's mouth was the largest aquatic predator in all of Naboo. This leviathan ignored the tiny bongo, instead eyeing the prize of its pursuer. The leviathan grabbed its toothy prey with a massive handlike appendage and with a single bite, cut it in half.
"Always a bigger fish," Qui-Gon mused as he headed for another lava tube. Theed was only a short distance away.
For the Federation army, Theed was also only a short distance away. They marched through the dawn mist, the dew coating their metal feet. All that lay between them and the capital were gently rolling hills and verdant plains. In their wake, they left only a wide swath of muddy wheel ruts and footprints. No army came out to meet them in defense of the capital.
It wasn't long until they were inside the city limits and marching up the main avenue and grand plaza directly to the front steps of the Great Palace.
Queen Amidala looked out the window at the army, heart heavy. Even if she had an army to defend the capital, there was no way for them to win. Any battle would only cause unnecessary suffering and loss for her people. At least they wouldn't need to see their homes burn, but the pain of knowing what Federation rule could do to her people was unbearable. She put up no resistance when the automata entered the palace to capture her. There was no point.
By then, the Viceroy and his advisor had landed and were well on their way to the capital. In his carriage, the Viceroy received a hail on his pocket font. Upon opening it, the head of one of the automata colonels emerged from the silver liquid inside.
"Viceroy, we have captured the Queen."
"Ahh, victory," the Viceroy said, rubbing his hands together.
The bongo surfaced in the grand lake outside Theed Palace, startling a quartet of swans that were lazily swimming by.
"Oh, thisen lovely," Jar Jar said taking in the palace architecture.
The bongo swam up to a boat dock and the two Jedi and the Gungan set foot on dry land for the first time that day. They watched as the bongo that had ferried them slipped back below the clear blue surface to head back through the lava tubes to its home.
The Jedi were running out of time, though. They could hear the sounds of the Federation army, only a short distance away.
Qui-Gon paused for a second, letting the Force guide his next move. "This way," he said to his compatriots. "We must move quickly."
The Viceroy himself wanted to be the one to escort the Queen from the palace. Once he arrived, he wasted no time heading to the throne room where his automata held her and her governors.
The escort was humiliating. The Queen, a handful of her bodyguards, her governors, and her handmaidens were lined up with the Queen and Captain Panaka leading the procession. They were flanked on either side by automata with their weapons at the ready. The Viceroy walked off to the side, beaming with delight at his victory.
Queen Amidala was quiet, keeping her eyes to the ground. As much as she wanted to, it was difficult to stay positive. What had happened to the ambassadors? Had they been killed? What would become of Naboo under Federation rule? Would the Republic be able to help? The young queen wanted to cry, but didn't want to give the Viceroy the satisfaction of seeing her do so.
The senior most governor broke the silence. "How will you explain this invasion to the Senate?"
The Viceroy was more than happy to explain. "The Queen and I will sign a treaty that will legitimize our occupation here. I have assurances it will be ratified by the Senate."
"I will not cooperate," Queen Amidala said defiantly.
The Viceroy chuckled. "Now, now, your Highness. In time, the suffering of your people will persuade you to see our point of view." Having finished his gloating for then, he turned to the automaton captain in charge of the escort detail. "Captain? Take them to the camps for processing. I shall return to my ship."
"Yes, sir."
The procession was marched down the front steps into the main city plaza. The Queen saw throngs of her people being herded like cattle by the automata. They wailed in fear and anger, confused by what was happening to them. Pangs of guilt wracked Queen Amidala even though, or perhaps because she knew there was nothing she could do to help them.
The captain led the procession down a side street, the most efficient way to the processing camp. Unbeknownst to the captain, two Jedi and a Gungan lay in wait watching their approach from an elevated walkway. When the captain was just below them, the Jedi drew their Lightblades and pounced on it and the other automata closest to it. As though dancing, they cut their way through the metal soldiers, sending pieces of them clattering to the ground harmlessly.
Jar Jar watched from above, knowing he had nothing to contribute to the melee. Once the last automaton fell, he jumped down to join his friends. "Dat was amazing!"
Qui-Gon turned to the Queen. "We should get off the streets. Anyone able, take their weapons."
The bodyguards quickly collected the swords and shields from their fallen captors and the group followed their rescuers. As Qui-Gon led them out of sight, he thought it prudent to explain a few things. "We are the ambassadors for the Supreme Chancellor."
The senior governor scoffed. "Well it seems your negotiations failed!"
"The negotiations never took place," Qui-Gon replied calmly. "Now, it's urgent we make contact with the Republic."
Captain Panaka shook his head. "They've disabled all of our communications."
"Then," Qui-Gon tried, "do you have a ship?"
"There's the royal corvette, docked at the river."
As luck would have it, the river wasn't too far away and there, gleaming in the sun was the royal corvette. There wasn't a hard angle in its design. Its almost sensual curves gave it an organic appearance enhanced by its seamless silver hull. The dock it was moored to bustled with patrols of automata keeping guard over the ship.
"There are too many of them," Captain Panaka said looking at the number of automata in their way.
"That won't be a problem," Qui-Gon said confidently. He turned to Queen Amidala. "Your Highness, under the circumstances, I suggest you come to Coruscant with us."
"Thank you, ambassador, but my place is with my people," Queen Amidala said in her calm, measured tone.
"They will kill you if you stay."
"They wouldn't dare," the senior governor said.
"He's right," Captain Panaka said. "They need her to sign a treaty to make this invasion legal. They can't afford to kill her."
"There is something else behind all this, your Highness. There's no logic in the Federation's moves here." Qui-Gon sighed. "My feelings tell me they will destroy you."
The senior governor's eyes went wide. "Well, then our only hope is for the Senate to side with us. Senator Palpatine will need your help."
Queen Amidala nodded slowly in thought. "Either decision presents a great risk. To all of us." She directed this last part to her handmaidens.
Her head handmaiden looked to her with determination in her eyes. "We are brave, your Highness."
"If we are to leave, your Highness, it must be now," Qui-Gon pleaded.
"Then I will plead our case to the Senate," the Queen said.
The senior governor looked her in the eye, his forehead wrinkled with worry. "Your Highness, I will stay behind and do what I can for our people."
"Be careful, governor," she said, before following Qui-Gon onto the docks.
A group of sailors knelt on the docks nearby, held under close guard by several automata. Captain Panaka pointed to them. "If we're going to go anywhere, we need to free those sailors."
"I'll handle that," Obi-Wan said, already jogging towards them.
Qui-Gon strolled up to the lieutenant overseeing the patrols. The lieutenant held up a metal hand. "Halt!"
Qui-Gon straightened himself. "I am ambassador to the Supreme Chancellor. I am taking these people to Coruscant."
A pause.
"Where are you taking them?"
"To Coruscant."
Another pause.
"You lack the authorization for such a destination. You will be taken into custody until such time as-"
Qui-Gon split the lieutenant up the middle. The two halves hadn't hit the ground before he had bisected the two automata behind the lieutenant as well. The dock descended into chaos. Qui-Gon cut a path through the automata for the Queen and her entourage to make it on board the corvette. Obi-Wan neatly dispatched the automata guarding the sailors and he yelled for them to ready the ship. Metal clanged and clattered as the Jedi and the Queen's bodyguards finished off the last few automata.
Minutes later, the royal corvette was on its way down the Theed River and out to sea.
Below deck, Jar Jar made himself scarce so as not to get in anyone's way. He walked into a room he thought he would be alone in. He put his back to the wall and sunk to the floor, covering his eyes. "What mesa got myself into dis time?"
A series of chirps and whistles seemed to answer him.
Jar Jar sat up, startled. "Who dat?"
More chirps and whistles replied and he realized that what he at first thought were decorated kegs on entering the room were in fact nautical automata.
In his defense, nautical automata are keg shaped, typically with domed or conical heads. They are fairly ubiquitous, found on nearly every large or medium sized sailing ship. Their duties are varied, but they are most often tasked with maintenance, repairs, and navigation. Inside their chassis is a phenomenal assortment of tools to fit almost any occasion.
The trip down the river went smoothly, but tensions ran high with all aboard. The closer to sea they travelled, the closer they drew to the Federation blockade. There was no way they'd be able to sneak past them, not with the ship they were on.
They hadn't so much as left the river's mouth before the blockade ships opened fire. Cannonballs whistled past the corvette, just barely missing at that range. The captain ordered the shield wards to be raised and called for full sail. The Federation cannoneers adjusted their aims and soon the iron balls were bouncing off the ship's protective barrier.
With as much punishment as the wards were receiving, it wasn't long until they began to falter. For a brief instant, they failed, but that was all it took. A cannonball punched through the weakened barrier and struck the sigil block, a brass cube covered in the runes that keep the ship's wards functional. The massive dent in the block warped the runes, rendering that side's wards ineffectual.
The nautical automata mobilized, startling Jar Jar again. They quickly made their way to the maintenance lift which carried them to the top deck. Cannonballs slammed into the corvette's side, cracking its silver skin as the automata set to work popping out the dent and recutting the runes.
A cannonball screeched through the air and slammed into one of the automata, obliterating it instantly. Another ball crushed an automaton against the sigil block, showering the deck in twisted metal fragments.
On the bridge, Obi-Wan watched, pulse pounding, as one by one the automata were destroyed.
"Dear gods," Captain Panaka said, watching the carnage. "If they don't fix that block soon, we'll be sitting ducks!"
As soon as the dent was popped out, another automaton was hit, blasting a clean hole through it. All that remained was for the deformed runes to be recut, but only a single automaton survived. Carefully it worked as hot iron flew all around it. Just three more runes were left. A ball bounced off the deck behind it. Two more runes. A piece of splintered railing struck its dome, denting it. Last rune. A cannonball hurtled through the air on a direct course with the brave automaton. Just one last line.
At the last possible instant, the final rune was finished and the cannonball bounced off the newly-mended ward. At the sight of the ball harmlessly splashing into the sea, the crew erupted into cheers. They had finally gotten past the blockade with no time to spare. The Federation's final shots fell short, hitting only sea. Nothing stood between them and the open World Sea, but a new problem presented itself.
One of the sailors rushed up to the bridge. "Captain, the Hyperion crystal is cracked!"
Hyperion crystals were fantastic discoveries centuries ago. They open magic gateways into a reality where space is warped, allowing a sea voyage that would normally take weeks or months to be made in mere hours. Longer journeys make the crystals unstable though, and attempting a long journey with a cracked Hyperion crystal would be suicide.
At the news of the cracked crystal, the mood on the bridge immediately fell. "There's no way we'll make it to Coruscant..." The ship's captain visibly deflated.
Qui-Gon stroked his beard. "We'll have to stop somewhere to get another one and repair the ship."
"Here, Master, Tattooine," Obi-Wan said, consulting the ship's chart. "It's a small nation, out of the way and poor. And the Federation has no presence there."
Captain Panaka wasn't quite convinced. "How can you be sure?"
Qui-Gon spoke up. "If I remember correctly, it's controlled by the Hutts."
"You can't take her royal Highness there," Captain Panaka shouted, "the Hutts are gangsters! If they discover her, it'd be no different than-"
Qui-Gon cut him off. "It'd be no different than if we stopped in lands controlled by the Federation, yes. Only the Hutts aren't looking for her. And that gives us the advantage."