3 years later, Ayame had over a dozen successful missions under her belt with various masters and their apprentices. Most of them were with Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan. At that moment, she was on a republic cruiser on its way to Naboo, near the Outer Rim, with Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon. The Trade Federation was oppressing the small planet and the job of the Jedi, as ambassadors for the Supreme Chancellor of the Republic was to negotiate a settlement. As they neared the planet, they could see several Federation ships were surrounding the planet. They looked like Droid control ships to Ayame. The three of them went to the cockpit and put their hoods up.

"Captain," Qui-Gon said.

"Sir?" said the captain, a young one who was barely older than Ayame and Obi-Wan.

"Tell them we wish to board at once," Qui-Gon responded. The Captain reached down and pushed a button. On a screen above their heads, a green- skinned Nemoidian in classy robes that marked him as the Viceroy, or the president of the Federation, appeared.

"With all due respect," said the Captain, "The ambassadors for the Supreme Chancellor wish to board immediately."

"Yes, of course," the Nemoidian responded, his accent thick. "As you know our blockade is perfectly legal, and we would be happy to receive the ambassadors." He ended the transmission. The ship was maneuvered into a docking bay and landed. When they did, the Jedi went to the ramp and exited the ship. Waiting for them was a silver protocol droid.

"I'm TC-14 at your service. This way, please." She led them into a conference room. "We are deeply honored by your presence, ambassadors. Make yourselves comfortable. My master will be with you shortly." When she left, the Jedi removed their hoods. They looked much different now. Obi-Wan looked more like a man, having matured greatly. Qui-Gon's beard and hair were streaked with gray, but his eyes hadn't lost their sparkle. Obi-Wan was taller and well built. Ayame had become much older and more developed as a woman. Obi-Wan looked around at the room.

"I have a bad feeling about this," he said.

"I don't sense anything," Qui-Gon responded, perfectly calm.

"Neither do I," said Ayame.

"It's not about the mission, Master. It's something elsewhere; elusive," Obi-Wan said.

"Don't center your anxieties, Obi-Wan" Qui-Gon chided. "Keep your concentration here and now where it belongs."


"But Master Yoda said I should be mindful of the future," he protested.

"Ayame, why should Obi-Wan keep his concentration here?" Qui-Gon asked Ayame. Ayame thought for a moment, then she came up with the answer.

"Because if he doesn't, it will be at the expense of the moment. He should be mindful of the living Force," she responded. Qui-Gon nodded.

"Yes, Master," Obi-Wan murmured. For a moment they were silent. Then Obi-Wan spoke up again. "Do you think that the Federation will give in to the Chancellor's demands?"

"These Federation types are cowards. The negotiations will be short," Qui-Gon responded.


THE BRIDGE

"What?! What did you say?!" the Viceroy, whose name was Nute Gunray, asked his droid.

"The ambassadors are Jedi Knights, I believe," she repeated. Nute's companion turned to him.

I knew it. They're here to force a settlement," he said. Nute thought for a second, and then got an idea.

"Distract them. I will contact Lord Sideous," he told his companion.

"Are you brain dead?! I'm not going in there with three Jedi," his companion exclaimed. "Send the droid," he said, looking at TC-14.

THE CONFERENCE ROOM

Obi-Wan and Ayame were getting impatient.

"Is it to their nature to make us wait this long?" he asked his master. The doors slid open and the droid walked back in with a tray of drinks.

"No. I sense an unusual amount of fear over something has trivial as this trade dispute," Qui-Gon replied, taking a drink from the tray. Ayame took one as well, nodding to the droid. Suddenly, she felt a dark presence somewhere on the ship.

"Master Qui-Gon?" she whispered.

"Yes, what is," he began, and then paused. "I sense it too," Qui-Gon said. "Obi-Wan?"

"I feel it as well," he responded. All three of them closed their eyes and tried to trace the feeling. However, it was to no avail.

"It must be a transmission," Obi-Wan said.

"But it would take a Sith lord to give off such a negative presence through a transmission," Ayame said. "And, aren't the Sith extinct?"

"Yes, but the Dark Side of the Force is mysterious and not much is known about it to the Jedi," Qui-Gon replied. Ayame nodded, but she was still worried.

THE BRIDGE


There was, in fact, a transmission being sent from the ship at that moment. Viceroy Gunray was looking at a hologram of a man wearing a dark colored cloak. He couldn't see the man's face, but Gunray knew who he was. He was Lord Sideous, a Sith Lord.

"What is it?" Sideous said his voice deep and sinister.

"This plan of yours has failed, Lord Sideous. The blockade is finished! We dare not go against the Jedi," the viceroy's companion said.

"Viceroy, I don't want this scum in my sight again!" Sideous commanded. The Nemoidian bowed his head and left the bridge. "This turn of events is unfortunate. We must accelerate our plans. Begin landing your troops."

"My lord, is that legal?" Gunray asked the Sith.

"I will make it legal!" Sideous snapped.

"And, the Jedi?"

"The Chancellor should have never brought them into this. Kill them immediately," Sideous commanded.

"Yes, my lord, as you wish," Gunray stuttered as the transmission ended.


THE HANGER BAY


A huge turret came down from the ceiling and turned towards the republic cruiser.

"Captain, look!" the co- captain yelled. The captain yelled for the shields to be put up, but it was too late. The ship exploded in a fiery ball.

THE CONFERENCE ROOM


Feeling the death of the crew, the three Jedi ignited their light sabers and got into a fighting stance. The droid was apologizing as it dropped the tray. Suddenly, they heard a hissing noise coming from the vents.

"Dioxis," Qui-Gon said. All three of them took a huge breath and held it. Outside, a group of battle droids gathered at the doors.

"They must be dead by now," Viceroy Gunray said through a transmission. "Destroy what's left of them." A droid opened the door and the group stood ready and waiting. TC-14 stumbled out with the tray.

"Oh! Excuse me!" she said to the battle droids.

"Check it out, Corporal. We'll cover you," said the commander in a robotic voice.


"Roger Roger," the other droid responded. Suddenly, three light sabers came into view.

"Uh-oh! Blast them!" the commander said. Suddenly, the three Jedi leaped out and destroyed the entire battalion without even trying. They deactivated their weapons and stood looking at the rubble.

"Why does this always happen to us?" Ayame said to no one in particular.

"It's because of who we are," Obi-Wan replied.

"Let's get to the bridge," Qui-Gon said, and the three of them ran off. Soon the bridge was in sight. They were just in time to see the doors seal off.


"I'll get it open! You two cover me!" Qui-Gon commanded.

"Yes Master," the other two responded at the same time. Qui-Gon began to cut a circle into the steel door. Together, Obi-Wan and Ayame fought off droid after droid. Suddenly, Qui-Gon heard the blast doors close behind the main door. He stepped back and looked at it, almost smiling. Then, he plunged his weapon into the door again, just twisting it back and forth. Behind the doors, the Nemoidians were getting nervous as they watched the blast doors melt as if they were nothing. As Obi-Wan looked around, he saw three circular droids rolling towards them.

"Master, Ayame! Destroyers!" he called to them. Qui-Gon pulled his saber out of the door and faced their opponents. The three droids opened up and started firing. As the Jedi blocked the shots, they just absorbed into the droids.

"They have shield generators!" Ayame cried.

"It's a standoff. Let's go," Qui-Gon said. The Jedi pulled away and started running down a corridor. They climbed into a ventilation shaft and climbed to the hanger bay. As they dropped to the ground, they hid behind some cargo. Ayame was amazed at what she saw.

"Battle droids?" she said.

"It's an invasion army," Obi-Wan said.

"This is an odd play for the Trade Federation," Qui-Gon observed. "We've got to warn the Naboo and contact Chancellor Vallorum. Let's split up. You two will go on one ship and I'll go on another. We'll meet down on the planet."

"You were right about one thing, Master," Obi-Wan said smiling. "The negotiations were short." Ayame and Qui-Gon smiled and turned their attention to the ships.

"This is going to be fun," Ayame thought.