Obi-Wan's head emerges from the mud of a shallow lake. Behind him, the activities of the invasion force can be seen in the swamp mist. He takes several deep breaths, then disappears again under the muddy swamp as troop transports emerge from the landing craft. In another section of the jungle, another droid invasion force moves onto a grassy plain. A battle droid sits in his tank, looking out over the vast army marching across the rolling hills. A small hologram of Nute stands on the tank, "There is no trace of the Jedi. They may have gotten onto one of your landing craft." The droid nods, "If they are down here, sir, we'll find them. We are moving out of the jungle and are marching on the cities. We are meeting no resistance."
Qui-Gon runs through the strange landscape, glancing back to see the monstrous troop transports, emerging from the foliage. Animals begin to run past him in a panic. A lean, frog-like Gungan, Jar Jar Binks, squats holding a clam he has retrieved from the murky swamp. The shell pops open. Jar Jar's tongue snaps out and grabs the clam, swallowing it in one gulp. The ground begins to shake and a massive roaring sounds quickly approaches, getting his attention. He looks up and sees Qui-Gon and the other creatures running like the wind toward him. One of the huge transports bears down on the Jedi like a charging locomotive. Jar Jar stands transfixed, still holding the clam shell in one hand.
"Whoa, whoa!," he turns and tries to run, but the transport is too quick and threatens to crush him until Qui-Gon tackles him to the floor of the jungle. The transport races overhead, kicking up a great deal of dust as it hovers over them. Once it passes, Qui-Gon and Jar Jar pull themselves out of the mud. They stand watching the war machine disappear into the jungle.
"You almost got me killed," Jar Jar barks in a gruff voice.
"Excuse me?," Qui-Gon furrows his brow in disbelief.
Jar Jar glances down, noticing the lightsaber at Qui-Gon's side, "That's a lightsaber. You're a Jedi, right?"
"I am. My name is Qui-Gon Jin."
"Listen, Qui-Gon. I don't know what this is, but it obviously doesn't involve me. Mind taking it someplace else? I'm trying to get something to eat out here."
"You don't understand, that is an invasion force. The Trade Federation has -"
"Yeah, I heard something about that. They're going after the Naboo. Like I said... it doesn't involve me."
"They won't stop with the Naboo, trust me. Your people are in danger just as much as they are. Let us help."
"I'm a Gungin and the thing you need to know about Gungins is that we're afraid of nothing!"
The sound of a blaster, startles both of them and Jar Jar immediately hits the dirt and covers his head. In the distance, two speeder sleds burst out of the trees at high speed, chasing Obi-Wan. The droids barrel down on Obi-Wan and fire laser bolts. Qui-Gon deflects the bolts back, and they explode. Obi-Wan is exhausted and tries to catch his breath, "Sorry, Master, the water fried my weapon," he pulls out his burnt lightsaber hilt. Qui-Gon inspects it, as Jar Jar pulls himself out of the mud.
"You forgot to turn your power off again, didn't you?," Qui-Gon asks and Obi-Wan nods sheepishly. "It won't take long to recharge," he continues.
"So there's more of you, eh?," Jar Jar sneers, unimpressed.
"What's this?," Obi-Wan asks.
Qui-Gon dismisses Jar Jar, "A local. Let's go, before more of those droids show up. We need to get to the Naboo Capital before-"
"The Capital?," Jar Jar speaks up, "Are you guys planning to go on foot? It's a long hike and, last I checked, you're gonna have to walk through that invasion force you were warning me about earlier."
Qui-Gon turns, suspicious, "Are you offering help now?"
"I know a shortcut. It's through the Gungin city of Otoh Gunga. You'll be able to bypass the droid army and with any luck, get to the Naboo."
"And where is this city?," Qui-Gon asks.
"You have any credits to give me, first?"
Obi-Wan steps forward angrily and points in the direction of loud sounds, "You hear that? That's the sound of a thousand terrible things heading this way. These invasions always come in waves, so you might have been lucky with the first batch that came through this jungle, but you might not be so lucky when the second groups arrives. Especially if we're not here to protect you. Take us to your city and we can consider each other even."
"Good point," Jar Jar leads them through a thicket, "This way."
Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan and Jar Jar run into a murky lake and stop. The Transports are heard in the distance. "I hope you land-walkers can hold your breaths," Jar Jar leaps into the air, flips and dives into the water. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan swim behind Jar Jar, who is very much at home in the water. Down they go into murky depths. In the distance the glow of Otoh Gunga, an underwater city made up of large bubbles, becomes more distinct. They approach the strange, art nouveau habitat. Jar Jar swims magically through one of the bubble membranes, which seals behind him. The Jedi follow.
Gungans in the square scatter when they see the strange Jedi. Four Guards armed with long electro-poles ride two-legged creatures into the square. The Guards point their lethal poles at the dripping trio. "Jar Jar Binks?," the captain exclaims, "Is that you? I didn't think you were stupid enough to return after getting yourself exiled."
"You were exiled?," Obi-Wan asks.
Jar Jar immediately points to the duo, "These Jedi forced me to lead them here."
"Save it for Boss Nass!"
"You guys got us into some real trouble here," Jar Jar whispers to them through gritted teeth.