A/N: I do not own the characters of either the Harry Potter or Star Wars universes.
I want to thank all of you who have read and reviewed. I must say I am thoroughly surprised by the reception this story has received. You all set the bar so high; I hope I can meet you expectations. This is the last chapter with "real" Episode I events. The rest of this story until I am ready for Episode II will follow everyone's training. I have some plans to really shake up the Jedi Order. I hope you'll enjoy them.
Please keep reading and reviewing. I look forward to hearing from all of you, be it good or bad.
Chapter 2
"I strongly disagree with your decision Master Yoda," Ki-Adi-Mundi said reproachfully. A number of the other masters nodded, but not all. Yoda mentally nodded with some satisfaction; the younger masters had had their eyes opened, just as Harry's words had opened his own eyes.
"To let the children free, too dangerous a decision that would be. Correct Padawan Potter is. Try to kidnap them the Sith would, turn them to the Dark Side."
"Is that a reason to induct them into the Jedi Order," asked Mace Windu, more for arguments sake then anything else. Yoda knew he had the young masters support, even if it was grudging. "There are billions of force-sensitive boys and girls in the galaxy. We cannot hope to protect them all."
"Exactly Master Yoda," exclaimed Master T'un. "And we all saw how easily the Dark Side flowed though all four children, most especially Skywalker and Potter. If they are trained in the ways of the Jedi, what would become of the Order if they fell to the Sith anyway. Better if we let them leave. The Force will watch over them. And if they should fall, then at least they will not know our greatest secrets."
Yoda closed his eyes, silently meditating. Master T'un was an exceptionally wise and learned Jedi Master. As Curator of Records, he had access to the entire history and greatest secrets of the Jedi Order. But right now he was ignoring the wisdom of those histories. Freedon Nadd, Exar Kun, Revan, and Malak: these were but a few of the millions of Jedi through the ages that fell to the Dark Side.
They shared more then that in common though; when they fell, the Jedi Order was at a crossroads. More to the point, when they fell the Jedi, as is human nature, had become complacent, lazy even. Yoda feared the Jedi Order was falling into the same trap. He harbored no delusions of Sith destruction. The fact that he could not sense the Dark Side meant a powerful Sith Lord was active in the galaxy. Harry, Anakin, Hermione, and Ron could change the Jedi Order, for the better if his instinct was correct.
"Made already the decision is, as soon as the children arrived made it was. To fall to the Dark Side, a risk for every padawan it is, for every Jedi it is." Yoda paused, eyes settling on Master Gallia. She had only recently been appointed to the council, after his old padawan Count Dooku resigned from the council and disappeared. Yoda feared Dooku would fall if he hadn't already.
"In light of the circumstances, I must agree with Master Yoda," interjected Mace Windu. "The Force is moving towards a confrontation. We all sensed the power in all four children. And while I cannot speak about Anakin, I am sure that if Harry, Ron, and Hermione were going to fall they would have done so already. To fight such terrible darkness at such a young age, and to have so many people close to you murdered in front of you, changes how a person looks at the galaxy."
"If we are going to train the quartet, who will be their masters," asked Ki-Adi-Mundi, his expression saying he wanted nothing to do with their training. Well, Yoda and Mace had not intention of giving one of the children to him anyway.
"Too soon to make that decision is," said Yoda, eyes still closed. "Clouded is the future. Most important now the protection of the Queen. Summon we will, Qui-Gon and the children. Jedi they will become but later their training will begin."
Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and the four children stood before the council of twelve. Though he was trying to hide it, Anakin was very nervous. Because Harry hadn't had a chance to talk to his friends while the council deliberated, Ron and Hermione were nervous as well.
"Finished we have the examinations of all four children," Yoda said in his guttural, whispery voice. "Correct you were Master Qui-Gon."
Mace Windu nodded, his face void of any expression or emotion. "Their cells all contain a very high concentration of midi-chlorians."
"The Force is strong in them all," Master Gallia said softly.
Qui-Gon felt a surge of satisfaction on hearing these words, at once a vindication of his insistence to free Anakin and bring him before the council and also a confirmation that his judgment of Harry and his friends was correct—they had the potential to be great. "They are to be trained then," he declared with confidence.
Three Masters (Ki-Adi-Mundi, T'un, and Oppo Rancisis) were still as stone. This did not dampen Qui-Gon's spirits. Quite the opposite in fact; as the oldest members of the Council after Master Yoda, they did not like change. And if these four children represented anything, it was change; change for the Order, for the galaxy, change for the Force itself.
After nearly a minute of tense silence, Yoda nodded. "Trained as Jedi the quartet will be. But decided later their masters will be," he added as an after thought.
Qui-Gon hardly heard or cared. He squeezed Anakin's shoulders, feeling the boy's rush of emotion at hearing he would become a Jedi. Harry was hugging Ron and Hermione, both of whom seemed more relieved then anything else. He could not expect anything different; if they did not have a place in the Jedi, they were lost at sea.
"But there are more pressing matters we must discuss," Mace Windu said loudly. "The Senate will vote for a new Supreme Chancellor tomorrow. Queen Amidala will also return home, which will put pressure on the Federation and could widen the confrontation. Those responsible will be quick to act on these new events."
"Drawn out of hiding her attackers will be," whispered Yoda, eyes closed in thought.
"You must go with the Queen to Naboo," said Master T'un. "Discover the identity of this dark warrior who attacked you, be they Sith or otherwise. That is the clue we need to unravel this mystery."
"And what of the children. I brought them here; they must stay in my charge. They have no where else to go."
"For now they are your wards Qui-Gon," agreed Mace Windu with a nod. "Use this opportunity to train them if you can, but do not put their lives at risk." Mace held up a hand when he saw Harry's head snap at him, eyes flashing dangerously. "I am not trying to imply your four can not care for yourselves. But you are about to enter a world of which none of you are completely familiar." The Jedi Master locked on Harry, who grudgingly nodded.
"May the Force be with you all," said Yoda, signaling an end to the meeting. He too focused on Harry, trying to send a silent message. Once again, the boy grudgingly nodded. Yoda hoped the boy would keep his promise and at least try to stay safe. What little he knew about the boy though told him the odds were against him keeping his promise.
After learning that the Queen was preparing to return home, Qui-Gon and Ob-Wan led his charges to her transport. The shuttle ride to the landing pad was quiet but Qui-Gon was practically bursting with pride for all the children. Harry was glad to work with Qui-Gon. Where many of the other Jedi he had met were stodgy and stubborn, Qui-Gon was one of the few who showed emotion and seemed…well, he seemed human.
And Anakin's enthusiasm was infectious. He was beside himself over the news he would be a Jedi. It reminded Harry how he felt when he finally understood he was a wizard and everything that meant. His thoughts darkened for a moment with that thought; he would not let Anakin suffer as he had. Anakin still had his mother and he would always have her.
When the shuttle landed, one of the little astromech droids—R2-D2 if Harry remembered correctly—was chirping and beeping madly, waiting to depart. Harry smiled at the little droid, at least until he saw it fall over the edge of the pad. Whipping out his wand, he was ready to summon the droid back to the platform. But he needn't worry; the little droid could fly and it landed safely back on the platform. "You gave me a heart attack," Harry told the droid sternly. R2 beeped wildly with excitement. Harry smiled.
"Gave us all a scare mate," said Ron, standing behind his left shoulder. "So, what do you think about…you know, everything that happened with the Jedi," he asked softly so no one else could hear.
"I'll explain more on the ship but I'm not surprised." Ron and Hermione looked intrigued but said nothing as Qui-Gon approached them, talking with the Queen.
"Your highness, I assure you it is our pleasure to continue to defend and serve you."
Amidala nodded. "I thank you and welcome your help. Senator Palpatine fears the Federation means to destroy me."
And he bloody well has reason to be afraid thought Harry. By Qui-Gon's expression, he thought the same thing. "You have my word your majesty that we will do everything in our power to keep that from happening."
The Queen turned and, with her handmaidens, followed Captain Panaka and the Naboo guards into the transport.
Jar-Jar ran up to Harry, ears flapping in the wind. "Wesa goin' home Annie," he shouted with glee and ran into the transport. Raising an eyebrow towards the trio, Anakin followed Jar-Jar on board, followed closely by the trio, Qui-Gon, and Obi-Wan.
It was nighttime in Theed, the capital of Naboo. The streets were empty and silent save the occasional droid patrols passing the Queen's mansion. In the Queen's throne room, Nute Gunray and Rune Haako stood attentively before a hologram of Darth Sidious. The hologram filled the space at one end of the room, rising up before them menacingly.
"The Queen is on her way," he intoned softly. "When she arrives, force her to sign the treaty."
There was a brief pause as the Neimoidians exchanged worried looks. But there was only one answer they could give. "Yes, my lord."
"Viceroy, is the planet secure?"
"Ye…Yes my lord," stammered the Viceroy. "We have succeeded in locating the hidden underwater city of the Gungans. They are a very primitive people; we crushed the last pocket of resistance. We are in complete control of the entire planet."
The hologram said nothing. If Nute Gunray could sweat he would be sweating profusely now. "Good," he said at last. "I will see to it that in the Senate, things stay as they are. I am sending my apprentice, Darth Maul to join you. He will deal with the Jedi."
"Yes my lord." The holograms faded away, the Neimoidians frozen in place. "A Sith Lord, here with us," Rune Haako asked quietly, perhaps of the Viceroy but more likely of fate in general.
(Star Wars Episode I by Terry Brooks)
On Coruscant, Darth Sidious stared out at the city. His plans are unfolding as planned. Oh, not exactly as planned but nothing ever worked exactly as planned. The Queen was making a deadly mistake, returning to Naboo. She and her people would pay for her naiveté.
As he looked over the city, he felt his apprentice approaching. "Enter," he said softly.
"Master, you summoned me."
"I did," Sidious answered, not turning from the city. "I want you to travel to Naboo. There you will find the Queen and there you will find the Jedi." He felt his apprentice's anger and humiliation. "Do not fail me again Lord Maul," Sidious hissed dangerously. "The Jedi must die. The Queen will not sign the treaty until her greatest allies are no more."
"I will not fail master. I have punished myself everyday since Tatooine. When I face them again they will die." He sounded hungry, eager to kill. Sidious would have to kill him, if the Jedi did not do it for him. He was an animal, savage and wild. He refused to learn subtlety, especially when it came to combat. It is not enough to hide yourself from your prey; a true Sith can hide themselves from the galaxy.
None of that showed on his face or in his voice. "Good."
Qui-Gon was meditating in his chambers as the starship was approaching the Naboo system when a soft knock interrupted his thoughts. "Come in."
Obi-Wan came in, bowing his head. "I'm sorry master. The Queen requests your presence in her chambers."
Qui-Gon sighed and got to his feet. He had a feeling he knew what this meeting was about. "Thank you Ob-Wan. Please come with me. This concerns us both."
"Of course master."
As he entered her chambers, he noted Captain Panaka's distressed expression. Yes, he knew what the Queen wanted. Flanked by two of her Handmaidens, her white-painted face was cool and composed but her eyes were blazing with an intense focus and passion. "When we land on Naboo," she began after the two Jedi bowed and stood next to Panaka, "it is my intention to act on this invasion at once. My people and Jar-Jar's people have suffered enough."
Panaka angrily huffed. "My Queen, when we land, the Trade Federation will capture you and force you to sign the treaty."
"I agree with the captain your highness. I am not sure what you hope to accomplish. We cannot hope to fight a war with the Trade Federation, much less win."
The Queen's eyes continued to blaze. "I thought I already made it clear what I intend to accomplish: we will free the Naboo and the Gungan."
"There are only twelve of us on board my Queen," shouted Panaka in frustration. "Sixteen if you count Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Anakin. Your highness, you must see reason. We have to army with which to fight."
For a moment her eyes shifted to Qui-Gon and he thought she would ask him to declare war on behalf of the Jedi. But then he realized he had underestimated her; she was looking past him to Jar-Jar Binks, who was trying to make himself invisible in the corner. "Jar-Jar Binks," she called.
"Yes your highness," the Gungan said with unease.
The Queen stared at him with those fiery eyes. "Jar-Jar, I need your help.
"Where are we going," asked Hermione, staring out the window of the ship as it flew into a dense and marshy jungle.
"We can't land in the city. The Queen would be captured and tortured straight away," said Harry. Hermione gave him an impatient look; she already thought of that. "As for why we're in the jungle, I have no idea. Whatever plans she or Qui-Gon have, I can't figure them out."
"Maybe they want to trigger a guerrilla war. You know something like 'The Queen is on the planet! We can fight!' During the war with Voldemort, my brothers did the same thing." But spread rumors about you Harry was hovering beneath the surface but Ron had the sense to keep his mouth shut there.
"That would take to long. Something tells me the Queen is a woman of action. She won't want to wait, especially if there's a chance more of her people could die," replied Harry.
"That is very perceptive of you Harry," called Qui-Gon from the doorway.
"Do you know what is happening Qui-Gon sir," asked Anakin.
"Right now, the only person who knows anything is the Queen. But we need to support her. When we land, I want your four to stay close to Obi-Wan and I."
"Yes sir," said Anakin while the trio nodded respectfully, their minds already racing at the possibility of battle.
When the ship landed outside the jungle, everyone on board followed the Queen and Jar-Jar deep into the jungle. Harry noticed that her handmaidens had changed out of their ceremonial crimson cloaks. Now they wore trousers, tunics, boot, and long overcoats. Attacked to their hips were two guns—blasters they called them here. Harry privately wondered what kind of fighters they were. He especially wondered what kind of fighter Padmé was; as the true Queen he fate was most important.
Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Anakin staring at Padmé too. He smiled; the younger boy clearly had a crush on the Queen. He could not blame him of course; she was a supernaturally beautiful woman.
Padmé seemed to sense his attention as well. In time they came to a large lake. Jar-Jar jumped into its depths after a few hushed words with the Queen. During the respite, Padmé came over to Anakin. "How are you Annie," she asked, care evident in her kind eyes.
Anakin shrugged. "Okay. I've missed you." Harry fought back a smile, something Hermione could not do. Luckily for them Padmé did not notice.
"It's good to see you again too. I'm sorry I haven't had a chance to talk with you before, but I've been very busy." I'll bet thought Harry. He also sensed Anakin's disappointment at this self-evident fact.
His face brightened though as he told her that the Jedi decided to train him, excitement bubbling through each passing word. Padmé listened, smiling brightly. "I'm so proud of you Anakin," she said, giving him a hug. She graciously ignored his burning cheeks. But she quickly grew serious. "I have something to tell you Anakin." She looked at the trio, as if remembering they were there as well. "To tell you all. The Queen has made a painful, difficult decision. We are a peaceful people and we do not believe in war. But sometimes there is no choice; you must either adapt or die. The Queen understands this and has decided to take an aggressive stance with the Trade Federation. We are going to regain our freedom."
"Will there be a battle," asked Anakin, quivering with excitement. Harry smiled again, this time paternally. Anakin was so young and innocent. He did not understand just how terrible war could be.
"I'm afraid so," she said.
"We'll be ready," interjected Harry, his friends nodding. "Come what may, the Queen has our support."
Before Padmé could respond, Jar-Jar jumped out of the lake. "Well Jar-Jar," asked the Queen.
"Mesa sorry your highness. Tis nobody dere. Deys all gone. Some kinda fight mesa thinks. Gunga empty and some buildings destroyed. All Gungans gone."
"Do you think they have been taken to the camps," asked Panaka abruptly.
"More likely they were wiped out," said Obi-Wan, a look of disgust and sadness on his face.
But Jar-Jar shook his head. "Me no think so. Gungans too smart. When dey in trouble, dey go into hiding. Go to the sacred place."
"Can you take us to the sacred place Jar-Jar," asked the Queen. The Gungan stared at her for a minute before nodding. "Good, we need to speak with them quickly."
Jar-Jar led them down a different path in the jungle, a darker path that reminded Harry strongly of the Forbidden Forest. After maybe ten minutes of hiking in the dark, they finally reached a clearing of marshy grass and trees with roots tangled so thickly they formed what looked to Harry like an impassable hedge. The Gungan stopped at the hedge and started chattering softly. It sounded to Harry like a cricket had relations with an owl and this was their child's mating call.
But it worked. Not five seconds later a Gungan scouting party lifted the hedge, looks of shock on their faces. "Heydey ho, Cap'n Tarpals," said Jar-Jar cheerfully.
"Binks," the other Gungan exclaimed in disbelief. "Whosa all dese otters?"
"Wesa need to speak to the boss man."
"Yousa in trouble disen time Jar-Jar," the Gungan said, shaking his head. "Follow me." The Gungan captain led them through another three passages, turning in different directions quickly at times. They re-emerged finally in another clearing, thousands of Gungans milling around, talking to one another.
"BINKS," boomed a raspy, rumbling voice as they came to the center of the field. "Yousa bringin' outsiders to ousen sacred place." He glared at Jar-Jar. "Yousa in big trouble now."
Harry carefully eyed the Jedi, waiting to see what they would do. The stood silently. This was the Queen's show, for better or worse—indeed, for better and worse.
The Queen stepped forward, her eyes locked squarely on those of the Gungan leader. "I am Queen Amidala of the Naboo."
The Gungan leader snorted scornfully and waved his hand dismissively. "Wesa no liken da Naboo! Yousa bringin' the maccanks dat bustin our great city! Yous Naboo all bombab!" His eyes narrowed, a savage smile forming on his face. "Maybe yous all dyin'," he said softly. Harry fingered his wand under his robes, not liking the way the other Gungans were eyeing them.
The Queen did not even flinch. "We wish to form an alliance."
"Wesa no want to work with de Naboo," the Gungan roared angrily, causing even some of the other Gungans to flinch."
Before the Queen could say anything, Padmé stepped up next to her most loyal handmaiden. "You did well Sabé but I must do this myself." The imposter nodded and stepped back where Padmé had been.
"What dis?"
"I am the true Queen Amidala," Padmé declared in a loud, clear voice. "Sabé serves from time to time as my decoy. She is my most loyal handmaiden and bodyguard. I apologize for my deception but given the circumstances I am sure you understand." She turned to the Jedi, Anakin, and the trio. "I apologize to you gentlemen and lady for the deception as well." She tipped Harry a covert wink that he returned.
She turned her sharp, cunning eyes back to the Gungan leader, perhaps sensing his suspicion and impatience. "Although our people do not always agree your honor, we have always lived in peace. The droid army of the Trade Federation threatens to destroy all that we hold dear, all that we have spent millennia building, Gungan and Naboo. It makes no difference to those monsters. The Gungans are forced to run and hide like common criminals. The Naboo are imprisoned and murdered. If we do not act quickly, all that we value will be lost forever."
Padmé held her hands up imploringly. "I ask that you help us your honor." She paused, shaking her head. "No. I beg you to help us." Without warning, she dropped to one knee, her head slightly bowed, though not enough to break eye contact. Following her example, her handmaidens, the pilots, and Captain Panaka and the other soldiers got on their knee. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan then went to their knee, indicating that Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Anakin should do the same.
For a few minutes there was absolute silence. No one seemed to even breath. Then the head Gungan threw back his head and laughed uproariously. "Ho, ho, ho! Mesa liken dis! Yousa no thinkin' yousa better then the Gungans?" The Gungan stepped down from his perch with a massive groan. "Yous stand Queen Amidoll," he said, extending his hand. Maybe wesa beenin' friends."
As the two leaders stood, shaking hands as equals, the Naboo delegation got to their feet. He smiled to them all, looking very much like he wanted to hug them all. "Ifen' yousa have a plan to stop the maccaneks, the Gungans is ready to do ouwsen part. Come, wesa take you to the plains."
"Thank you your honor," said Padmé.
"No. Yousa be callin' me Boss Nass. Wesa equals in dis fight."
"Thank you Boss Nass. Before we go, I must send Captain Panaka to do reconnaissance in the city."
"Of course. Ifen' wesa goin' to win dis fight, we bes' be ready."
Captain Panaka didn't need to be asked. With the Queen's permission, he took two of his soldiers and, with another Gungan scout, headed northwest of where the Boss Nass was taking the queen.
"Jar-Jar," called Boss Nass abruptly as they neared the plains.
"Yes Boss Nass sir."
"Yous did good bringin' de Naboo and de Gungans togedder."
"Yous no needin' say dat. Tis nuothin'," said Jar-Jar, shuffling his feet.
"No, yousa grand warrior. In fact, mesa makin' you bombad general." Jar-Jar spluttered and coughed before passing out. Boss Nass chuckled and walked up to where Queen Amidala, Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, and three Gungan general were discussing battle plans over a map of the plains. Harry and his friends stood behind the Jedi. If the opportunity arose, Harry would give his own ideas to what needed to be done. He knew Ron would do the same. He hoped Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan would back their play.
"Desa comin'," shouted a Gungan scout with what looked like binoculars. And indeed about a minute later Captain Panaka pulled up next to the Queen with a couple squads of new troops and pilots.
"I think we got through undetected your highness."
"Good. What is happening in the city?"
"If you'll excuse me," he said, inserting a chip in R2-D2. A hologram map of a beautiful capital city appeared over the flat deck of the speeder around which everyone was talking. "The majority of our people are in camps. A few hundred officers and guards have formed an underground resistance to resist the Trade Federation. I tried to bring as many of the leaders that I could find."
"Good. The Gungan's have a much more powerful army then I expected. If we truly have that many men in the city, we don't have to divert any Gungans into the city."
Harry's eyebrows rose when the Queen said this. He did not expect her to be so knowledgeable in the art of war. Judging by the look Obi-Wan was giving her, he did not expect it either.
"That is all well and good your highness. But the droid army is much larger then we expected. And much more powerful." He paused. "If you'll forgive me your majesty, I do not think this is a fight you can win." Harry had this thought already; he was curious what her reaction would be.
She didn't disappoint. "This isn't a battle I intend to win. It is a diversion. The Gungans will draw the droid army out of Theed, allowing us to infiltrate the palace and capture the Viceroy. With their leader in custody, they will have to surrender." She looked at Qui-Gon. "What do you think Master Jedi?"
Before Qui-Gon could answer, Ron bent his head down and whispered something into Qui-Gon's ear. "Excuse me your highness," he said respectfully. When they were away from the group, he looked at Ron and Harry. "What is wrong Ron?"
"Qui-Gon sir, the Queen's plan is sound but I think they're wrong to offer battle here in the plains, at least in linear formations."
"Why?"
"Well sir, unless your defensive weaponry is so advanced in this universe that it can never be broken, once the droid army penetrate the Gungan shields, there will be no where to retreat. The causalities will be horrendous."
Qui-Gon gave Ron a look part calculating, part proud. "Sound reasoning Ron. But what then do you suggest. If the droid army is going to be diverted properly, a battle must be fought."
"Oh it will sir, but how we arrange our army is key. What I'd suggest is using the terrain to make a giant 'V' with a token force at the head of the formation to draw in the attackers." He pointed to the south. "A third of the Gungan army will set up there. If you'll give Hermione, Harry, and I a chance, we can try to program their shields to make them invisible to the droids for as long as possible."
He drew his arm diagonally to the east until he hit a gap in two hills. "That will be where the token force will retreat and link up with another smaller army will hold that gap, trapping the droid army in a pincer." Then he finished his motion, waving his arm to the northwest, over the jungle. "And in the jungles we'll hid the rest of the army. They can use the cover of the forest to keep them safe and we'll try to modify their shields too. I don't know if we'll be able to of course. If we can't, we'll disillusion the Gungans and they can raise their shields at the last possible moment."
Qui-Gon traced Ron's plan himself, muttering under his breath. After the second pass, he cocked his head. "I don't know where you learned about warfare Ron, but I don't think any Jedi in the order could come up with a better plan. Would you like to propose it to the others?"
Ron was about to shake his head but Harry spoke first. "He will." He ignored Ron's angry glare.
"Master Jedi, what took you so long? We need to get underway as soon as possible, while we still have the element of surprise."
"I'm sorry your majesty but this young man has just suggested a new plan of attack, one that will save many Gungan lives." The Queen and Captain Panaka raised their eyebrows. If the Gungans had eyebrows, Harry suspected they would have done the same.
"Does he now," she said with some surprise. "Ron, what is your idea," she asked kindly. As Ron explained his idea, the looks of shock and disbelief instantly changed to contemplation and awe. " That is brilliant Ron. Is it satisfactory for you Boss Nass? I agree with Ron that many Gungans will be saved."
"Wesa thinkin' it a grand idea," he said after sharing a look with his generals. "Wesa doin' it as he said. Mebbe the boy oughten' stay to help."
Ron blushed as they praised him but he was truly taken aback by Boss Nass' request. He looked at Harry though and his best friends knew what he was worried about. "Ron, your place is here. Hermione, Anakin, and I will go to the city. You're worth too much to the Gungans to take you away."
"Thanks Harry."
"Don't mention it. Now, your majesty if you'll give my friends and I a few minutes to work with the Gungans on their shields. Boss Nass sir, we would need help from your engineers as well."
"Deysa help," he promised. "Work fast."
"We will. Come on Hermione. Let's see what we can do."
For the first ten minutes, it didn't look like they could do much. The Gungan engineers tried to help by telling them everything about how the shield generators worked but it was still too advanced for the trio to modify. "Damn it," Harry snarled after lifting yet another charm that destroyed the shield generator's power source. "All right, we'll have to do it the hard way."
Boss Nass and the Queen were not pleased but they also knew there was nothing they could do. Now that a better plan was in place, they needed to run with it. But the half hour it took for the trio to disillusion the entire Gungan army was another half hour the Trade Federation had to ready themselves for an attack. Harry just hoped they weren't expecting much.
"Now that your men are ready Boss Nass, we'll leave you to ready yourselves for the droid army. Good luck." She held out her hand.
Boss Nass shook it soberly. "Good luck to yous too."
Padmé nodded and then turned to Panaka. "Let's go." With that, the six speeders raced off across the plains, taking a back way into the city. They passed within three miles of the droid army, a narrow miss as far as Harry was concerned. As the speeders closed within a mile of the city, they stopped. "We'll continue on foot from here. I'm sorry your majesty but even if they are sending the droid army I don't think we should take unnecessary risks."
"I understand Captain. We need to move quickly. Hug the base of the hills and approach the hanger." The Captain nodded and started leading the men into the city. Tanks were patrolling the streets he noticed as they approached, but they weren't on battle alert. Panaka took out a little mirror and reflected the glare twice. Someone must have been looking for the signal for a concealed Naboo heavy gun fired two quick blasts, destroying both tanks. "Come on! Quickly!"
A squad of droids was guarding the hanger. A company of Naboo guards burst from a building just as Harry and the others were approaching. Their guns quickly destroyed the droids and Panaka entered the code to open the hanger. "Pilots, quickly. We need to take out the flagship quickly."
The men ran past Panaka, bounding into the bright yellow fighters while everyone else fired on the droids. "Harry," said Hermione pointing towards the opposite end of the hanger. Harry followed her finger, barely noticing the end of turret sticking out one side. "All right, raise shields on the fighters." Together they cast vis loricatus, their most powerful shield besides the wall of light. The fighters glowed purple for a moment. Thankfully, none of the pilots noticed or else they didn't let it stop them. As the sixth fighter departed, one of the energy blasts from the tank rebounded and destroyed it.
"Good work you two," praised the Queen. Before Harry or Hermione could respond, two dozen droids came running out of one side of the hanger and another dozen of a different sort rolled out the other side. When the second sort unfurled and stood on their legs, a shield burst to life around them.
Oh I have a bad feeling about this thought Harry.
Oh I have a bad feeling about this thought Ron watching a dozen of the largest wagons or carriages or whatever the hell you want to call them rolling over the hill, just barely floating over the grassy plains. Even at this distance—Ron was staying in the gap between the hills about a mile and a half from the small force at the head of the V—the roar of the engines was unlike anything he ever heard before.
"Mesa have a bad feeling about dis," said Jar-Jar. Ron glared at the Gungan. God damn it to hell, why did Boss Nass promote him to general. Thankfully he stayed out of the way but it was things like this that demoralized the men under his command. By the way his subordinate officers glared at him, they were thinking the same thing.
In the distance, Ron saw panels open on the front of the tanks and then what looked like reams of cloth push slowly out the front of the opening. But it wasn't cloth; it was hundreds of battle droids. This was going to be a battle unlike any Ron had ever fought. It was not flesh and blood against flesh and blood. The droids would not react to the conditions of the battle like the Gungans would. Did they have the courage to stand up to a foe devoid of emotion? They'd find out soon.
Once the droids were in battle position, the tanks and what Ron supposed were artillery transports opened fire on the shields protecting the small Gungan regiment. The Gungans held their place as the blasts from the droid tanks battered their shields. Nothing penetrated though, not after five minutes of bombardment. The droids obviously saw it was useless to fire on the shields. The infantry activated and marched on the shields, holding their fire. Ron watched with bated breath; he stressed again and again to the Gungan commanders to hold their fire until the droids were about to breach their shield. They needed to be drawn in so when the Gungans retreated the droids were sure to follow. Open fire to soon and the droids hesitate and everything Ron planned would be for nothing.
Ron knew when the first wave of droids broke the shields; the Gungans wailed and started throwing their spears and energy spheres. After each catapult threw two spheres, the Gungans retreated, throwing spears over their backs. The droids followed blindly, not at all expecting the trap. Come on you bloody bastards.
When the retreating Gungans were half a mile away, the Gungans in the hills on the left and jungle underbrush on the right opened fire, thousands of spears and hundreds of energy spheres of all sizes raining down on the invaders. The retreating Gungans would occasionally rally and put together a line, battering the droids as they turned their guns to either side, trying to shoot an invisible foe. Well, the shields were visible but as far as the droids could tell, not a soul was under the shields.
The droids were confused, their programming starting to fall apart. The Gungans slaughtered them without mercy. But Ron, always keeping his mind not on the current move but the one three moves from now, was watching the droid tanks and artillery. They would not stay silent for long. And he suspected the transports held more battle droids.
This part of the battle was going well but it was far from over.
In the palace throne room, Nute Gunroy watched the giant video screen with growing horror. The Jedi and the Queen were here, in the capital fighting the droids held behind to protect the palace. The two Jedi were tearing through the ranks of the battle droids with almost effortless ease. Nearly every fighter was out of the hanger, presumably flying into space to take out the flagship and disable the droids on Naboo.
Most disturbing of all though were the two teenagers waving sticks and destroying the destroyer droids (no pun intended). They were pushing, levitating, and throwing the droids as if it were nothing. Beams of light of every color were shooting out of their sticks, some causing damage to the droids, others bouncing harmlessly off their shields.
"How did they get into the hanger," Rune Haako whispered in dismay.
"I don't know. The battle was supposed to take place far from here. This is too close!"
The door to their chambers hissed open. "Lord Maul," greeted the Viceroy gesturing towards the monitor. "We have a problem," he said lamely.
His yellow eyes flashed dangerously. "Fool! I told you there was more to this then was apparent! The Jedi have come to Theed for a reason Viceroy. They plan to defeat us."
"How?"
"It doesn't matter." His eyes had a manic, almost primeval look to them. "I have trained for a long time for this day. I have punished myself everyday after the old Jedi escaped me on Tatooine. They will regret coming here on this day." The Sith stalked out of the throne room without another word, in his left hand a long-handled lightsaber.
While fighting the weird rolling droids, Harry couldn't watch Anakin. He trusted the boy would be okay but he was worried nonetheless. It as strange considering they had only recently met, but Harry saw Anakin as a younger brother of sorts, or at least a younger cousin. He didn't want him to get hurt.
But there was nothing he could do at the moment. He and Hermione were fighting back to back, fighting what seemed like endless waves of rolling and standing droids. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan at least had laser swords which were better tools for dealing with so many enemies. In the back of his mind, Harry looked forward to learning how to use those types of weapons.
Suddenly the droids stopped coming. We can't have destroyed them all. Then Harry realized something new, something much worse was happening. He felt a rush of evil, pain, and darkness pull at his gut. It was nowhere near as well trained as Voldemort but it felt more primitive, wilder.
"Harry someone is coming to the hanger," said Hermione, her brown eyes blazing with power.
"I know. Come on. We need to stay with Qui-Gon." They found the older Jedi standing on the other side of the hanger with Anakin, the Queen, and Panaka's men.
"Harry. Hermione. You did well," said Qui-Gon when they came into sight. "Fighting off those droids by yourselves was most impressive."
"Thank you Qui-Gon. I think we need to get out of here though sir. I feel someone approaching, someone dark."
The elder Jedi's eyes narrowed. "Very well. Your highness let us leave. Anakin…GET DOWN!" A red laser sword, one with two ends not one like Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan's laser swords, flew at Anakin. The boy managed to duck just before it sliced his head off. The laser sword turned around like a boomerang and flew back to the entrance. A dark cloaked figure, his or her face obscured by their hood, stood in the entrance, spinning the sword with feverish anticipation.
"My men, with me," shouted the Queen. She wanted to help the Jedi but her and her men would only get in the way. "Anakin. Hermione. Harry. You three come with me." The trio hesitated when Harry felt another impending, albeit unintentional attack on Anakin. He banished the boy under a fighter just as a blast of blue cackling blue energy shot through the gap between the Jedi and almost killed Anakin. The young boy landed on a platform, hard. R2-D2 rolled toward him, beeping and chirping with concern. Before he reached Anakin, the boy was pulled into the cockpit and the droid was pulled into a space behind Anakin. Harry wondered why.
"Anakin, stay in that cockpit," Padmé ordered. "Let's move out men. Harry and Hermione, you still need to come with us." Hermione grabbed his arm when he hesitated, watching Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, and the dark attacker.
The Sith had lowered his hood. His face was terrifying mask of red and black tattoos. Coupled with the horns sticking out the top of his head, he looked like a devil. "Hermione we need to stay with Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan."
Before Hermione could respond, five destroyer droids rolled out, blocking the path of the Queen. Her and her men took cover behind whatever they could, but the droids still managed to kill three of her men, three men she could not afford to lose.
As Hermione and Harry set to work fighting the destroyers, Anakin figured out how to use his fighter. With all the destroyers focusing on Hermione and Harry, they were having trouble disposing of them. Six blasts from Anakin's fighter took care of that. But then, to Harry's horror, the fighter took off out of the hanger. What the bloody hell does Anakin think he is doing?
"Harry, come on," urged Hermione. The cackles and cracks of the battling Jedi held Harry's attention despite Padmé's order. "Hermione, I need to stay. Go with Padmé and help them capture the Viceroy. She'll need your help."
"But Harry."
"Now Hermione, before their gone. I don't know what happened to Anakin but we need to stay where we can help most. That means we have to split up. Go with Padmé." His best friend hesitated but did turn around to run after the Queen. A few steps away, she turned back and threw herself in his arms. He rubbed her hair. "Just like first year," he said.
"No, not like first year. We were all together then." Harry smiled, taking the correction in stride. "Harry be careful."
"I will. Go on, before you're left behind." Harry watched her run through the door on the far side of the hanger, hoping she would catch Padmé before she started her trek up to the throne room.
When Harry found the Jedi, they were pushing the Sith back towards a giant door. But though the Sith looked to be fighting on the defensive, he was dictating the course of the battle. His red laser sword slashed and cut through the air, effortlessly blocking and parrying the Jedi strikes. His face was hard and set in a look of immense hate. Harry had never seen such swordsmanship.
There was little Harry could do to help the Jedi without his own sword. The Sith was moving too quickly for Harry to properly aim, to say nothing of the Jedi constantly getting in the path of his wand. So Harry had to content himself with following the battle. When he thought he saw an opening, he cast a curse at the Sith. Where the laser sword attacks didn't bother him in the slightest, the curses unnerved him. The Jedi used the openings to push him out of the main hanger into the power station.
The Sith seemed to enjoy this change in environment. He would jump from platform to platform, from bridge to bridge, toying with the Jedi. Qui-Gon, older and more reserved, did not take the bait. Obi-Wan was more impulsive; he would follow the Sith Lord, who played with Obi-Wan, barely even trying to fight.
Feeling completely useless, Harry followed the battle as best as he could. One reason the Sith Lord was moving was to avoid Harry's curses. But then the Jedi managed to push the Sith right to the edge of a platform. Fast as lightening, the Sith Lord parried Obi-Wan's attack and kicked him five yards back. Then he cut Qui-Gon three times. "NO," shouted Harry, firing a barrage of curses at the Sith. The monster scowled and used Qui-Gon as a human shield as he jumped to a lower platform. When he jumped down, Qui-Gon fell.
"Master," screamed Obi-Wan. But Harry was already trying to save the Jedi Master. He needed to strain, holding Qui-Gon who was dangling three hundred yards below. That was when Harry had an idea. He would hate himself later but right now they needed to kill the monster.
Pulling his arm up, he frowned. "Obi-Wan…I…I couldn't save him." The young Jedi's eyes blazed with power and anger. He threw himself over the edge, landing across from the Sith. His blue laser sword slashed through the air faster then light, power fueling his attacks. The monster was not playing anymore; he was fighting for his life.
All the same, Harry needed to catch up with Obi-Wan and help him. Lifting the disillusionment spell on Qui-Gon, he healed the Jedi Master's wounds and put him in a dreamless sleep. As an afterthought, he cast another disillusionment spell in case droids came into the chamber looking for intruders.
On the fields outside Theed, Ron and the Gungan army was still holding their own. The droids had figured out they were in a trap but they couldn't decide which way they wanted to go: into the mountains or into the jungle. Ron would've attack the mountains and forced the Gungans hiding in the jungle to leave their cover if they wanted to press the attack. But that was what a flesh and blood life form would do. The droids tried to do two things at once and they were paying the butchers bill for their foolishness.
That said, there were still more droids then Gungans and the Gungans were running out of ammunition, especially the forces furthest away from the jungle. If the fighters didn't take out the droid control ship or the Queen capture the Viceroy, eventually the Gungans would have to retreat or risk being slaughtered.
Hermione felt as if she were watching a muggle spy movie. On the third floor, Padmé and her men cut through the glass and stepped on the ledge. They used grappling guns to pull themselves up to the top floor. Once Hermione knew where they were going, she apparated. This caused quite a stir among the men who had never seen such a thing before.
"Quiet," whispered the Queen urgently. "We need to get past those droids by the fountain."
"Your highness, there are at least two dozen. Even with Hermione, we can't get past them until the handmaiden detachments arrive."
"Actually your highness I can create diversion that may destroy some of the droids. Even if it doesn't, it'll give us some time to run to the throne room."
"Well, don't dither. Go ahead." Hermione smiled and pointed her and at a statue at the opposite end of the hall. After muttering for a few seconds the statue burst into bright blue and purple flames.
"What the…" said a whiny, computerized voice down the hall. "Check that out. Make sure there are no invaders."
"Roger, roger," said ten or twelve other droids in the same voice. Everyone hid as they walked past. Disillusioning herself, Hermione stepped into the hallway after they passed. When they were all surrounding the statue, she waved her wand in a short arc. The blue flames disappeared in a swirl. Then a powerful explosion, like a shockwave, blew the droids apart.
Another ten droids ran down the hall after the explosion, firing their guns as they ran past. Padmé gave Hermione and impressed look and then motioned for her men to follow her. Running down the hall, they managed to reach the doors of the throne room unmolested. "Captain, I trust you can get us in."
"I can your highness. Give me a moment." But the door refused to budge. "I cannot…"
"Hands up," ordered a deeper mechanized voice. A dozen battle droids and super battle droids surrounded them. For good measure, three destroyers rolled down the hall.
Padmé slowly put down her weapon. "You highness, what are you doing."
"Throw down your weapons men," she ordered. Hermione did no such thing, concealing her wand in her holster under her robes.
"But your highness," Captain Panaka complained.
The Queen gave him a hard look, one that brooked no argument. "Throw down your weapons. They win this round." Hermione watched the Queen as she spoke. Under her robes, she noticed her hands moving. Then she saw something square fall into her pocket. Hermione smiled; the Queen was indeed smarter then she gave her credit for.
After healing Qui-Gon and making sure he was safe, Harry jumped down to the platform where Obi-Wan and the Sith were fighting. Rage still drove the Jedi and he was dictating the course of the battle. In fact, he had managed to cut the Sith laser sword in half.
But the battle was not won yet. The Sith was trying to retreat behind a hallway of what to Harry looked like random shields. Blocking one of Obi-Wan's attacks, he kicked him in the chest again, pushing him back. The Sith then ran down the hall, almost reaching the end just before the shields reactivated.
Obi-Wan coughed as Harry tried to help him up. "That hutt-spawn," he ground out. "I'll kill him."
Harry held him down, magic boosting his physical strength. "Patience Obi-Wan. You are right to be angry but don't let it cloud your good judgment."
"That monster killed Qui-Gon," Obi-Wan screamed, pain and anger in his voice. "Qui-Gon was like my father. He was the only father I ever knew." Obi-Wan looked on the verge of tears.
"I understand Obi-Wan. You know that. But we need to have a plan. I can take you to the monster and I'll help you defeat him. But unless we have a plan, he'll kill us both." Without waiting for a reply, Harry took a few minutes to outline his plan. Obi-Wan would need to be patient if it would work. But if he could do that, they would be able to capture the Sith Lord. Obi-Wan was not happy to leave the monster alive but he didn't argue with Harry's plan.
When the shields deactivated, Harry turned on his heel, appearing on a platform in the room the Sith Lord believed himself safe. His yellow eyes widened when he saw them just appear. Obi-Wan used the moment to press the attack. He carefully kept himself out of Harry's line of fire but it was still difficult to hit the monster with a curse; he knew what they were trying to do.
After five minutes of ferocious fighting, Harry managed to disarm the Sith Lord just as Obi-Wan cut off his right arm. The monster fell to his knees. Obi-Wan threateningly raised his sword above his head as if about to decapitate him. "Don't do it Ob-Wan." The Jedi scowled and glared at Harry.
Big mistake. The Sith Lord still had some fight in him. With his intact arm, he shot Obi-Wan with a blast of cackling blue energy. The Sith summoned his sword. "Don't try it," ordered Harry, wand pointed at the monster. "Surrender and the Jedi will spare you. Cooperate and maybe they'll try to help you."
The monster threw his head back and laughed. "I will never give myself over to the Jedi," he said madly. Without warning, he sent a powerful black orb at Harry. Harry raised a shield, deflecting the curse to the ceiling, and then jumped off the ledge. He tried to recover quickly but the Sith Lord had killed himself instead of surrendering.
"Bloody bastard," muttered Harry. He conjured a stretcher for Obi-Wan and another for the Sith Lord. He hoped his friends were okay.
Well it finally happened, what Ron feared most. The Gungans on the mountains were out of ammunition. Ron planned for this even if he hoped it wouldn't come it. The Gungans would leave their shield generators in place and run towards the army Ron led. His men were running out of ammunition too but they weren't out of the fight. Thanks to the disillusionment spells, the droids never knew they Gungans were retreating. They'd learn soon enough but these precious minutes let them escape unmolested.
As the Gungans were filling his ranks, he sent a messenger to General Ceel. "Tell her collapse her flank. We want to trap the droids between the mountain pass and their tanks. The rear shields on her flank need to be as powerful as possible because the tanks are going to try and break through." The Gungan saluted and ran off.
He hoped it would be enough. The droids were manifestly losing this battle but there were so many and they had almost endless amounts of ammo and other supplies. If the collapsing flank could hold their line, which would hopefully cut the droids off from supplies and reinforcements. But what really needed to happen was the droid ship needed to be destroyed.
No sooner had the thought flashed across his mind when on of the Gungan's gave a braying war cry. "General Weasle! Look! In de sky!" Ron looked up as what looked like a second sun, much grayer burst to life. When the droids in front of him shut down and the tanks stopped firing on the shields, he realized what happened.
"Merlin's beard. They destroyed the ship," he said in an awed voice. The Gungan's in his army started cheering and soon the Gungans from the forest were breaking cover and running onto the plain, cheering wildly. General Ceel found Ron and gave him a hard slap on the back, hard enough to stagger him.
"Yousa did it General Weasle. Wesa losin' almost no Gungans on dis day."
"The Gungans did all the work. I didn't do much," said Ron, brushing away the praise. Merlin! Harry's rubbing off on me after all. "Let's hope the others are okay."
Hermione walked silently next to Padmé as the droids ushered them into the throne room. Strange reptile creatures, presumably the Viceroy and his staff, sneered at Padmé and her men. He needed a moment to recognize the Queen without her makeup but when he did his smile was all sharp teeth. "You highness," he greeted with icy formality.
"Viceroy," Padmé answered coldly, brown eyes flashing.
"You would do better to watch your tone. Your insurrection is crushed. The rabble army you sent against us in the south plains has been destroyed. The Jedi are being dealt with elsewhere. And you," he pointed a green finger right between her eyes, "are my prisoner."
"Am I," she asked with the same icy tone.
The Viceroy looked angry now. "Yes. You are. Now you are going to sign the treaty and end this charade." As he approached Padmé, Sabé led a group of soldiers outside the door and shot down all the droids in the hall.
"I will not be signing any treaty Viceroy! You've lost."
"Bring her to me," the Viceroy screamed. "And not some decoy."
But as the droids ran out the door, they abruptly stopped and fell to the floor. "What the," the Viceroy muttered. Then his eyes widened in horror. "It can't be. The droid control ship."
While he was muttering, Padmé jammed her thumb against a panel on her chair and threw a blaster to Captain Panaka and kept one for herself. "Now Viceroy, it is time we negotiate a new treaty."
Three days later, Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Anakin were sitting in the palace throne room with (a healed) Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, Mace Windu, and Yoda. "You all did well, helping save the people of Naboo and the Gungan people too," said Mace. "Without your valiant bravery, the Queen may have lost and Naboo would be under the control of the Trade Federation."
Harry, Hermione, and Ron bowed their heads politely but refused to take credit. "Masters, it was Anakin who is the true hero today. If he hadn't destroyed the droid control ship, Ron and the Gungans would have lost the battle and the Queen may never have been able to arrest the Viceroy," said Hermione, to which Harry and Ron nodded. Anakin blushed.
"Nonsense," said Yoda, tapping his cane on the floor. "Truly remarkable all your accomplishments were. The characteristics of Jedi all of you displayed. Including you, Knight Kenobi."
"Thank you master." Then the young Jedi heard what Yoda really said. "Jedi Knight," he whispered. Qui-Gon smiled and nodded at his young ex-apprentice. "Thank you masters," he repeated with genuine enthusiasm.
"The council has also decided who your masters will be," said Mace Windu, looking at the four children. "But do not think they will be your only teachers. A Jedi is always learning and your true master is the living Force. After the celebration tomorrow, we will return to Coruscant and your training will begin."
"Who is our masters," piped Anakin, practically bursting with excitement, causing everyone—even Mace Windu—to smile.
"Anakin you are Master Qui-Gon's new apprentice." Anakin jumped and whooped with joy, something normally unbecoming of a Jedi but Harry thought it was great. Qui-Gon clearly loved the boy and Anakin loved him. They were a great match.
"Ron Weasley," said Mace, looking at the red-haired boy with a serious look. Ron gulped, all of a sudden nervous. Then Mace gave him a small smile. "I have the privilege of being your first master." Ron needed a minute to absorb the words; he was still reeling from Mace's serious look before. But then he smiled and held out his hand, which Mace shook. Another good pairing as far as Harry was concerned.
"Hermione, you were the most interesting child to assign. You're incredibly smart, cunning, and are an underrated fighter." Hermione blushed at the praise from Mace. "Though she couldn't be here today, Master Adi Gallia is honored to begin your training."
"Decided before who Harry's master will be," interjected Yoda. "Myself I will train Padawan Potter." Harry smiled and bowed at Yoda.
"Now that your masters decide have been, to bed you all should go. Tomorrow morning celebrate the defeat of the Trade Federation. Tomorrow night, begin you training will."