The Gift

AN – Another chapter! Thank you to all those who take the time to review, it means a lot to me and really motivates me to keep going. I hope you enjoy this chapter as much – hopefully it puts a new spin on some things that are familiar!

Disclaimer – I don't own Buffy or Star Wars

Chapter Nine – The Exile

Buffy was tired. The two days on Theed had been pretty exhausting by themselves, what with trying to find out anything they could about their home and still managing to get everything on Boss Nass's long list plus a whole wardrobe for themselves. That was without accounting for the side trip to the mine, bringing down an illegal operation and freeing five Gungan prisoners. Oh, and don't forget murdering a whole load of people. Ya know, because they blew up half the mountain and all. Even Tabbem seemed shocked by how big a bang the mining machine made and she was the one who rigged it to blow.

So yes, Buffy was tired. As they'd finally brought the heyblibber back to Otoh Gunga, some of the dock workers had immediately sent for healers for the injured gungans that were on board. As soon as they were out the way, Buffy unloaded all the supplies they had bought. Some more of the gungans offered to do it for her but really she needed the thinking space the manual labour offered her. Instead, those gungans were in charge of making sure the supplies were dispatched to where they were needed. At this moment in time, all that was left on the dock was a small pile of medical supplies for the healing rooms and the clothing for her and Dawn, both of which the girls had reassured the gungans that they were able to take back themselves.

With a weary sigh Buffy put an arm around Dawn. "I think we're finished." She said, looking at the pile of clothes. Dawn nodded, resting her head against Buffy's. The sisters enjoyed the quiet moment together, only Captain Tarpals waiting to help them move their things back to their bubble.

The peaceful moment was broken by a commotion at the far end of the dock. Both girls turned to see what was happening as gungans shouted and gesticulated. Eventually the moving form of a gungan came closer.

"Dawnee!"

"Jar Jar?" Dawn asked in confusion, realising that was indeed her young friend running closer, arms aloft and waving frantically.

"Dawnee, mesa in big doodoo! Mesa needs yousa help pweese."

"You are... in trouble?" Dawn translated. "What's wrong?"

"Mesa justa going to see da gassers when mesa fell and boom!" Jar Jar threw his arms out wide to emphasise the explosion. Unfortunately, he clipped the top box of the healing supplies with his hand. The top box which happened to contain a particularly sticky and foul smelling ingredient for one of the pastes that the gungan healers made. It teetered, while everyone watching held their breath tensely, before slowly toppling and spilling its contents all over the precious packages of clothing.

No one moved for a moment, then Jar Jar turned around with a sheepish grin on his face. Buffy just stared at the formerly beautiful clothes, all ruined now, and slowly brought her gaze up to meet that of the hapless gungan.

What happened next became a thing of legend amongst the Gungan. Some said that the Slayer threatened bodily harm. Some said that she actually did physically harm him, while others said it was simply the promise of death in her eyes. Whichever was true, the one thing that all those who recounted the story agreed on was that whatever the Slayer did or didn't do to him, Jar Jar Binks completely lost his head. He panicked, jumped into the vacant heyblibber and fled the docks.

Buffy and Dawn watched in fascinated horror as the submarine disappeared, a bongo following it full of guards who had leapt into action straight away. A muffled crash reverberated around the bubble as the heyblibber drove straight into one of the struts that supported some of the gangways. The bongo reappeared a few moments later, Jar Jar firmly ensconced between two of the guards. As soon as it surfaced they grabbed him out and marched him off, his hands cuffed in front of him. He craned his neck around to look at Dawn pleadingly, but was prodded forwards and away before he could talk to her.

"Will he be ok?" Dawn asked with concern, looking at Tarpals. The captain frowned.

"Mesa not know. If hesa done much damage to gasser and da heyblibber..." He spread his hands expressively. Dawn looked towards where she had last seen him with a worried expression.

"I'm sure he'll be ok, Dawn." Buffy placated. Dawn turned to her angrily.

"You scared him! He's, like, the best friend I have here and you scared him and now he's in trouble!"

"Mesa no think is fair to blame Buffee for da poor choices of a young gungan..." Tarpals started.

"His name is Jar Jar Binks! And she did that thing she does and made him do something stupid! I can't believe this!" There were tears in Dawn's eyes before she turned and ran off the dock. Buffy went to follow her, but Roos's hand on her arm stopped her.

"Shesa be ok, is nowhere to go here. Is a long day, hm? Tempers be frayed. Go to rest now, tomorrow yousa needs to talk to Boss Nass about da mine."

Buffy sighed but nodded, picking up her ruined clothing she headed back to their bubble. When she got there, she saw that Dawn was already lying on her bed. The younger girl was facing away from Buffy and didn't acknowledge her when she entered. Buffy sighed, knowing that it would likely do no good to talk to her in such a mood. She dropped the bags the other side of the bubble and went to find the shower.

Gungan showers weren't quite what she was used to back in Sunnydale. Instead of hot water being ejected from a shower head, a series of openings in the top of the bubble dropped filtered lake water straight onto her head. It wasn't unpleasant though, the force of the water was almost a massage by itself and the lake was tepid not cold. Apparently the unusual water core of the planet meant that all the natural lakes were warm due to circulation of heated water at the core and cooler water at the surface. This unique environment was what allowed the Gungan to thrive here – and apparently also provided multiple natural hot springs that were used by the Naboo as natural health resorts.

Finally washing away the dirt and stress of the day, Buffy returned to her bed. Dawn still hadn't moved, so Buffy whispered a quick goodnight before climbing into her bed. As soon as her head hit the pillow, she drifted into a deep sleep.

The next morning, Buffy slept later than usual. This meant that she wasn't particularly surprised that Dawn wasn't in her bed as the younger girl had probably been needed early at the healing rooms. She was surprised when, not ten minutes later, said sister came barrelling back into the room in a panic.

"They are going to exile him!"

"What?" Buffy asked sleepily, rubbing her eyes as she sat up in bed.

"Jar Jar!" Dawn's eyes were large and brimming with tears. "Apparently he destroyed Boss Nass's heyblibber and the Big Boss is going to exile him!"

"Exile? What does that mean?"

"I don't know exactly," Dawn admitted. "But it can't be good! You need to do something!"

"If Boss Nass has already decided to exile him, I'm not sure what it is I can do about it." Buffy told her gently.

"Boss Nass likes you," Dawn insisted. "Can't you talk to him? Please?" She turned her large eyes on Buffy who sighed and nodded. "Thank you thank you!" Dawn cried, pouncing on Buffy with a hug.

"I can't promise anything!" Buffy warned. "But I can bring it up." Buffy privately didn't mind the thought of Jar Jar Binks being somewhere that she wasn't, but she knew that the young gungan had become a good friend to Dawn. She shrugged on some simple clothes and left the bubble, intending to head to the Board Room to see if Boss Nass was there. Not just to talk about Jar Jar, but she felt she should discuss the whole business of the illegal mine and the Gungan prisoners with him.

But before Buffy got more than a few yards away from her bubble she spied Captain Tarpals hurrying in her direction.

"Quick! Yousa needed in da City Bigspace! Yousa and Dawnee."

Buffy halted in her tracks. "What's going on?"

"Da Big Boss has an announcement to make – hesa wants yousa dere now."

"Dawn's in the bubble." Buffy told him. "I'll go ahead and see what he wants us for."

Captain Tarpals nodded and hurried away while Buffy continued on to the Bigspace. When she got there she paused, mouth open as she stared at the construction that had appeared overnight. A huge stage was in the middle of the Bigspace, where the market stalls usually were. These had all been moved to one side, although the vendors didn't mind as they were doing a roaring trade – the Bigspace was absolutely packed with Gungan.

As those gungans nearest Buffy saw her, she became aware of a ripple of sound moving outwards as they all whispered just one word to each other – Slayer. The weight of so many gungan eyes on her was disconcerting so she started moving towards the stage, where she could see that Boss Nass was sat in a chair that resembled his seat in the Board Room. The Gungan parted before her, still whispering her name. Some bowed their heads in respect as she passed.

Reaching the stage, she jumped up on the middle. Boss Nass saw her and smiled a toothy grin, beckoning her over. "Buffee! Mesa glad yousa here."

"What is this," she asked, nodding politely to the other Council members as she did so.

"Dis is for an announcement!" The Big Boss declared. "Tales of yousa rescuing da gungans from da mine have been heard across da city! Mesa must make da announcement."

Buffy gaped at him. "Announce what?"

"Yousa see," he replied with a wink, clicking in his usual way. His face turned serious. "Mesa needs to talk to yousa after dis too, but if wesa do dis first den da gungans happy, hm?" Buffy looked out at the crowds gathered eagerly watching her and gulped.

A disturbance occurred at the far side, the cause apparent as Dawn also appeared at the foot of the stage. Buffy reached down and helped her up onto it.

"What is this?" Dawn asked, eyes wide as she looked around.

"Some form of announcement about us… just go with it." Buffy muttered to her, fixing a smile in place as she looked out at the massed Gungan. It was at that point that Boss Nass drummed a large staff on the floor. The crowd quieted immediately, turning to him eagerly.

"Gungans of da Otoh Gunga!" Boss Nass started in his deep voice. "Wesa gathered today for important reason. Wesa heard dat yesterday da Slayer and shesa sister, Buffee and Dawnee, found and saved da lives of five gungans who were held prisoner by da humans in a mine! Dey did dis, at great risk to demselves, despite only being with da gungans for a few moon turns. Dey have proven dat dey are true friends of da Gungan!" At this there was a pause while the crowd roared.

Dawn took advantage of the noise to lean close to Buffy and whisper "But I didn't do anything! It was all you!" Buffy just shook her head in reply.

Boss Nass quietened the crowd down with his hands. "So mesa think, what cans wesa do for Buffee and Dawnee in return? Wesa cannot helps dem go home. Wesa not know how. But den, mesa think – wesa can give dem a home!"

Another roar, while Buffy tried to process what was going on. "Don't we already have a home here?" Dawn asked her.

"I'm not sure that's what he means…" Buffy replied, trying to puzzle it out.

"So, wesa High Council agreed. Wesa do something for da first time ever. Wesa make Buffee and Dawnee Gungan!"

The roar now was deafening. Dawn looked to Buffy, still slightly confused. Buffy turned to her in astonishment.

"They have made us Gungan, Dawn. They've adopted us as one of them!"

Dawn's jaw dropped, before a squeal emerged that could even be heard over the noise of the amassed crowd. "We're gungans! They've adopted us! Buffy, we have a proper home!"

"That we do." Buffy looked at the Big Boss, who gestured for her to walk over. As she did so, all the gungans fell silent and watched her expectantly.

It became very clear they were waiting for her to say something. "Um… wow. Thanks. I mean…" She straightened up and raised her voice to be heard across the whole room. "This is an honour, Big Boss Nass. Dawn and I thank you."

That seemed to be all the gungans expected from her, as there was another almighty roar. Once that finally died down, Boss Nass told them all to have a special holiday day to celebrate and they finally began to disperse. One of the young gungans who had met Dawn during their own healer training sessions came over and struck up a conversation with the younger girl, so Buffy was able to go to see Boss Nass.

"Thank you," she said, emotion causing her voice to choke up a bit. "We left family and friends at home when we came here but… now we have a whole new family. So, thank you."

"Is da least dat mesa can do," Boss Nass told her. They both looked over at Dawn who, breaking off from her conversation momentarily, nodded towards Boss Nass and mimed something to Buffy. She had no idea what Dawn was trying to enact but understood the message. Boss Nass just looked confused.

"Dawn wants me to ask about Jar Jar Binks," Buffy started, tailing off into a shrug.

Boss Nass studied her shrewdly for a moment, before heaving out of his seat. He waddled down the stairs towards the exit of the stage, gesturing to Buffy to follow him.

"Slayer, walk with mesa."

Buffy followed Boss Nass out of the room, drawing alongside as the older gungan shuffled slowly up the corridor.

"Yousa think dat mesa is unfair to young Binks." Boss Nass stated as they walked along.

"Well, maybe, a bit?" Buffy grimaced. "I know he did break your heyblibber and do something to a gasser…"

"Hesa blew up da whole gasser." Boss Nass told her flatly, before sighing deeply. "Mesa know he no mean to. But hesa young and hesa no think."

"Still…exile seems harsh."

Boss Nass guffawed loudly. "Maybe to not-Gungan, but yousa Gungan now." He looked at her slyly. "If mesa exiles him, hesa not allowed in da Gungan city. Hesa have to go on surface side, make a life der. Where der are no things for him to break!"

"But he'll be by himself!" Buffy protested.

Boss Nass waved a hand. "Hesa not alone, der be many gungans who live on da surface. But also, where he can hear and see what is happening on da whole of da planet, not just da waterways."

"Wait…" Buffy frowned in thought. "You areexpecting him to what? Become a spy?"

"A spy? No! But mesa needs eyes and ears up der – Jar Jar Binks is clumsy and der are many dat think hesa must be stupid, but hesa not. Hesa can find da information, den wesa find out what is going on. Hesa not da first exile to da surface!"

"You have, like, a network of spies?"

"Mesa call dem informants." Boss Nass winked at Buffy.

"Oh." Buffy fell silent while she thought it through. "How long will he stay up there?"

"Standard year? Two? Until hesa more mature, den hesa come back if hesa want."

"Wow. Jar Jar Binks, Gungan informant. Who knew?"

The large gungan waved his hand. "Is a matter of time for Jar Jar, mesa just needed a good excuse!"

Buffy was yet again surprised by the depth that the Big Boss displayed – though by now she probably shouldn't have been. She herself knew all about playing stupid to force enemies to underestimate her, but she thought nobody quite pulled it off like Boss Nass.

The Big Boss clicked a few times. "Captains Tarpals has told mesa all about da mine yousa found. Is a worry, hm."

"Are you going to tell the Naboo about it?"

Boss Nass stroked his chin. "Mesa no think so. Da Naboo, dey only care for da Naboo. Wesa tell dem about da mine, dey say 'oh, it's da off-worlders, is a not us'. Den, we tell dem da entrance on der side, dey say 'ah, but da mine is under da Gungan range, is a not us'. Dey veeery good at saying 'is a not us'."

"But they were talking about a Naboo hot-shot senate-thingy! It was Naboo!"

"Da Naboo think a lot of deir senators," Boss Nass told her shrewdly. "Where is yousa proof?"

"But I heard him!"

Boss Nass patted her arm. "Mesa know, but da Naboo will not listen to dat. Dey will not take da word of a gungan."

"But we have to do something! We can't allow any more gungans to get trapped in one of those things!" Buffy's voice began to break as she remembered the sight of the gungans she hadn't been in time to save.

"Wesa will do something," Boss Nass reassured her. "Wesa tell and work wid da traders in da borders. Dey know da gungans, dey care. But da Naboo, dey do nothing for us. Isa why da gungans have a Grand Army. Wesa know not to have help from Naboo."

"So we're doing nothing?"

"Wesa sending more patrols, spreading da word dat gungans must be careful. Is not nothing." Boss Nass rebuked sharply. "Mesa think dat dis situation is getting worse, is time to begin to mobilise. But wesa must be careful, can't make an enemy of da Naboo."

"Patrols, out on land?" Buffy asked. "I want to be involved."

"If you wants, Slayer. But wesa still need for da younglings to be trained."

"I can do both," Buffy said firmly. These were her adopted people now, she wanted to make sure she was part of the force trying to keep them safe. Boss Nass studied her shrewdly before nodding his assent. The rest of their walk was spent in silence, both lost in their own thoughts.