She looked up from her the tablet before her. After what seemed like a lifetime the ship had finally come out of hyperspace. The federation ships lined the planet of Naboo, circling it in a wall. A wall far bigger and seemingly more powerful than they had first been lead to believe. She lowered the tablet as the ship got closer, her blue eye scanning quickly, trying to count the amount of federation ships she could see.
"Finally stopped reading I see."
The girl narrowed her eyes slightly at the voice but kept her eyes on the blockade before her.
"It is important to know what the supreme chancellor expects us to do, Master. I was merely reading-"
"The transcript of the entire court proceeding…" The master sighed, sounding amused.
"That's not necessary." Another voice joined in.
The girl rolled her eyes at the two of them.
"Captain?" Quigon said, slightly louder this time.
"Yes Sir?" Replied the young captain straight away, turning to look at the three Jedi that sat behind her in the cockpit.
"Tell them we wish to board at once."
The captain turned to the control panels before her, holding down the buttons that allowed her to communicate with the leader of the Blockade.
"With all due respect, the ambassadors for the supreme chancellor wish to board immediately." She stated, her voice firm.
All the Jedi looked up at the screen above the piolets to see Vice Gun-ray, leader of the Trade Federation, appear on the screen. He looked unfazed or even perhaps bored at what was happening.
"Yes of course." He replied, his voice flat and raspy, "As you know our blockade is perfectly legal."
There was a slight pause in which she could have sworn she heard Qui-Gon Gin make a small coughing sound, as if hiding a laugh.
"We will be happy to receive the ambassadors." The Gun-Ray finished before his picture faded from the screen.
As the ship moved towards the biggest of the starships, the clear leader of the blockade, the girl put her tablet aside and watched with cautious eyes as the ship landed carefully. She instantly noticed the many hundreds of droids surrounding the area, armed as though ready and prepared for some attack. She followed Qui-Gon and Obi-wan down the ramp and into the ship, eyeing the guards that walked with them.
The droids never once moved their heads, their metal claws holding to their guns tightly. As they reached a door, the guards stopped as one.
"Through there please." The captain of the said.
She followed her fellow Jedi through the door, eyeing the next silver droid that came hobbling towards them.
"I am TC-14 at your service ambassadors, this way please."
They followed the droid down several long corridors, each one looking the same until they reached a small room with a table and chairs. The three Jedi entered, their eyes scanning the room but coming up with nothing, just simple table and chairs.
"We are greatly honored by your visit ambassadors. Make yourselves comfortable. My master will be with you shortly." The droid said before exiting.
As the door closed, the three Jedi pulled of their hoods as one.
"I have a bad feeling about this." Obi-wan said, crossing his arms as his eyes scanned the room for a second time.
"I don't sense anything." Qui-Gon replied slowly, turning to look at his Padawan.
"It's not about the mission master. It's something… elsewhere. Elusive."
"Don't center on your anxieties Obi-wan, "Qui-Gon replied walking forward further into the room, "Keep your concentration here and now, where it belongs."
Obi-wan frowned as he walked next to his master, his eyes flickering back as the girl sat down on one of the chairs, her piercing blue eyes watching them both as they walked closer to the windows.
"But Master Yoda says I should be mindful of the future." Obi-wan replied, looking at Qui-Gon confused.
"Not at the expense of the moment." The girl replied.
Both Jedi turned to look at her. She sat on the chair stiffly, her red hair tied in a long plait down her back. Her grey cloak lounging over the chair on which she sat.
"Catrina is right Obi-Wan, you must be mindful of the living force young padawan." Qui-Gon said turning back and walking to the window.
"Yes Master." Obi-wan replied, staying stationary as his gaze followed his master, "How do you think this Trade Viceroy will deal with the Chancellors demands?"
Qui-Gon shook his head as he stared out at the blue clouded planet.
"These federation types are cowards, the negotiations will be short."
"If they happen." Catrina muttered, placing her elbow on the table and resting her chin on her hand.
"You think they won't?" Obi-wan asked walking towards her and sitting in the seat beside his friend.
"What makes you say that?" Qui-Gon asked, turning around to face the two young force users. He was curious as to the reasoning of the young girl's statement. He had worked with Catrina only a few times before, the young girl was under Yoda's training. His first student in over 50 years. But he liked her for the most part, only remaining cautious of her when it came to fighting. Her methods were… unorthodox.
"Master Yoda and I have had dealings with Nemoidian's before. If they think they cannot win in a situation, they tend to run and hide… Like Master Qui-Gon said, they are cowards." Catrina said quietly, her eyes trained on the stars outside the window.
The Master nodded and walked around the other side of the table to sit opposite his padawan.
"Is it odd for the Jedi to be involved with these kind of politics?" Catrina suddenly asked, her eyes turning to Qui-Gon, "They are keepers of the peace, not senators."
"Many think this Vice Gun-Ray has brought this blockade here to prepare for war, if we can prevent it, we do our job as keepers of the peace." Qui-Gon replied.
She nodded, her eyes flashing to Obi-Wan as he shifted.
"Is it in their nature to make us wait this long?" He asked as the droid entered the room with a tray of drinks in her hands.
"No." Catrina replied slowly.
"I sense an unusual amount of fear over something this trivial as a trade dispute." Qui-Gon said, watching the droid as the moved about the tree of them, handing them each a glass of… something. Catrina raised an eyebrow, unsure of what it was.
"Try it, you'll like it." Obi-wan said with a stiff laugh.
She glanced at him and smiled slightly before sipping it. Whatever it was, it tasted of roasted almonds and sugar.
"Well?" Obi-Wan pressed looking curious.
"I like it." She replied, smiling when he rolled his eyes.
Qui-Gon shook his head in amusement at the young girl. She was always uneasy-
His amusement left as a wave of the force hit him. He rose to his feet quickly, drawing his lightsaber, watching as Catrina and Obi-wan did the same.
"The ship." Obi-wan said moving into a fighting stance the copied his masters as he faced the door.
"The Crew." Was Catrina's somber reply as she too turned to the door, holding her lightsaber a loft as she stood straight and poised.
A hiss from the vents caused all the three of them to move slightly closer together. A cloud of thick gas began to fill the room quickly, rising up from the floor like a wave.
"Dioxis." "Qui-Gon said, retracting his lightsaber.
Obi-Wan and Catrina followed suit. All three took a large breath and held it. Waiting for the doors to open. As the gas began to thicken even more, Catrina turned to look at Obi-Wan. He nodded to her and she returned it before they both lost sight of each other within the gas.
They waited patiently for only a few seconds before the doors opened. Catrina could hear droids outside the door. She wanted to spring into action but waited for Master Qui-Gon. After all, Master Yoda had told her to follow his lead. She heard the kind droid who had served them leave quickly before the battle droids began to move forwards.
She felt Qui-Gon move and she ignited her lightsaber at the same time as the master and his padawan. The three moved forward and destroyed the small squadron within seconds. As they deactivated their lightsabers, Catrina turned to Master Qui-Gon.
"There is something not right Master, I sense that the trade federation are not alone in this plot. Someone else helps them." She said urgently.
Qui-Gon nodded.
"I agree, lets head for the bridge." He ordered and began to move. Catrina and Obi-wan exchanged a look before they both ran after Qui-Gon. As more droids came for them, the Jedi cut through them easily. When they reached the bridge, Catrina and Obi-Wan turned, defending Qui-Gon as he plunged his lightsaber into the doors, cutting a circle. He was almost halfway around before he heard the blast doors close. With a frown he pulled back his lightsaber before thrusting it into the core of the door, twisting it, watching the metal melt before his eyes. Catrina and Obi-wan moved further back, ready to jump through the door the moment it was opened.
But before she could even turn, a rattling noise came from the left tunnel.
"Master, Catrina, destroyers!" Obi- wan shouted.
Qui-Gon pulled his lightsaber from the door as the three of them began to deflect the lasers aimed at them.
"They have shield generators." Obi-Wan added, watching a little helplessly as each of the deflected lasers bounced off the shields, leaving the droids unharmed.
"It's a stand-off, let's go." Qui-Gon said to them before taking off down the corridor. All three ran as fast as they could down the long corridor before climbing into the vents. Catrina clambered in last, closing the vent behind her before crawling down the small tunnel after the two male Jedi. It wasn't long before the tunnel came to an end, opening out into what appeared to be the main hanger bay. They dropped out of it silently landing on the floor before creeping forward. Hiding behind some cargo, they spread apart slightly, watching the near thousands of battle droids hurry around the hanger and into the many gun tanks.
"Battle droids?" Exclaimed Obi-wan.
"It's an invasion." Qui-Gon responded quietly.
"It's an odd play for the Trade Federation." Catrina whispered, "They run, they don't usually attack, let alone start a war."
"We've got to warn the Naboo and contact Chancellor Valorum… Let's split up. You two stick together. We'll stow aboard separate ships and meet down on the planet."
Catrina nodded, raising an eyebrow as Obi-Wan smiled at his Master.
"You were right about one thing master, "He said almost cheerfully, "The negotiations were short."
Qui-Gon chuckled as he swiftly moved away and out of site. Catrina moved slightly closer to Obi-Wan.
"Which one do you want go for then?" He asked the concentration back on his face.
Catrina narrowed her eyes want watched the droids move about.
"They're loading up right to left. So I'd say the one furthest from us." She replied.
"Let's go then." Obi-Wan muttered before moving to run around the backs of the gun tanks. Catrina followed him carefully. Her mind wandered as to what her master would think if he knew what they had suddenly gotten into.