Alliance with the Gungans
The Queen had requested that Amara would attend the meeting with her advisors. She didn't know why she wanted her there, but agreed to it anyway. On the way over, Amara paused to see what Anakin was up to. He's probably in the cockpit. It still upset her that Anakin wouldn't be training with her. She snapped out of her thoughts when Qui-Gon called for her. "It's time," he announced. Amara nodded as they walked from the cabin to the passageways beyond and descended one level to the Queen's chambers.
"I don't know why she wants me here." Amara smoothed out her shirt. Padmé must have told her about me.
The others the Queen had call together for this meeting where already present when they arrived. Amara saw that Jar Jar, Obi-Wan, Captain Panaka, and the Queen's handmaidens were already waiting for them. She looked past the Queen, seeing no sign of Padmé. Where is she? Amara thought. I haven't seen her since we were on Coruscant. Amidala sat on her shipboard throne, her white-painted face showed no emotion.
"When we land on Naboo," Amidala advised. "It is my intention to act on this invasion at once. My people have suffered enough."
To Amara's left, Panaka could barely control his anger. "The moment we land, the Federation will arrest you, and force you to sign the treaty."
Qui-Gon nodded thoughtfully, curious as to the Queen's thinking. "I agree...I'm not sure what you hope to accomplish by this."
"I'm going to take back what's ours."
"There are only thirteen of us," Panaka snapped. "Your Highness," he added in. "We have no army!"
Amidala's eyes shifted over to Amara and Qui-Gon. "I cannot fight a war for you, Your Highness, only protect you," Qui-Gon advised.
She let her gaze shift from them to settle on Jar Jar "Jar Jar Binks!" Amidala called out.
Jar Jar, who was completely off guard, froze. "Mesa, Your Highness?"
"Yes," Amidala affirmed. "I need your help."
Amara glanced over at Jar Jar curiously, wondering how he would be able to help.
After learning that Jar Jar could possibly get an army from his people, the ship landed smoothly in the Gungan swamp. Amara, dressed in the same clothes from Coruscant, made her way over to ramp. Once she exited, Amara walked over to where everyone else was. Amidala and her handmaidens, Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon, R2-D2, Ric Olie, Anakin, and a handful of Naboo guards all waited in silence. Jar Jar had already went into the water to the Gungan capital city.
Amara glanced down at the blaster she was holding, studying it carefully. Queen Amidala had given her the weapon for self-defense, in case they would go to war. She strapped the weapon to her waist and approached Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan. "I foresee you will become a great Jedi Knight." she heard Qui-Gon tell Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan saw Amara and gave Qui-Gon a nod then went over to the Queen.
"Do you think he could do it?" Amara asked softly, looking down at her feet.
"I have hope," Qui-Gon responded.
Moments later, Jar Jar appeared from the water and shook his head worriedly. They rushed toward him, eager to know what he saw.
"Tis nobody dere! Deys all gone!" His eyestalks swiveled. "Some kinda fight, deys have. Maccaneks, mebbe. Very bombad. Ootoh Gunga empty. All Gungans gone. All gone."
"Could they have been taken to camps?" Amara questioned. Where could they be?
"More likely they were wiped out," Obi-Wan offered in disgust.
Jar Jar shook his head. "No...mesa no tink so. Gungan hiden. When in trouble, go to sacred place. Maccaneks no find them dare."
Qui-Gon stepped forward. "Scared place?" He repeated. "Can you take us there, Jar Jar?"
Jar Jar sighed heavily, as if he was saying "here we go again" and motioned for them to follow him.
They traveled through the Naboo swamp for some time, first passing the lake, then entering into a forest filled with massive trees and tall grasses. The air was thick with damp. Amara observed the scenery as the marched forward. It's so nice out here. Finally, they emerged in a clearing of marshy grasses. Jar Jar paused for a moment, sniffing the air, and nodded. "Dissen it."
He lifted his head and made a strange chattering noise with his billed mouth, the sound echoing in the eerie silence. It was quiet for a minute and suddenly, Gungan guards came out of the mist, riding what looked like wingless birds. They took the group further into the forest to a site filled with ruins from a huge building. Massive heads carved from stone, stood among them. Everything around them were either buried in weeds or stuck in the mud.
One Gungan stepped forward and looked down at the group. "Jar Jar Binks. Who's da uss-en uthers?"
Amidala stepped forward, white face lifting. Behind her were Padmé, Captain Panaka, Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, Amara, and Anakin. "I am Queen Amidala of the Naboo. I come before you in peace."
The head Gungan snorted. "Ah, Naboo biggen. Yousa bringen da Mackineeks. Yousa all bombad."
"We have searched you out because we wish to form an alliance―"
"Your Honor!" Amara raised her eyebrow as Padmé walked over to the Queen. What is she doing?
The head Gungan seemed just as confused as she was. "Whosa dis?" he snapped.
Padmé straightened. "I am Queen Amidala," she announced in a loud, clear voice. "This is my decoy…my protection…my loyal bodyguard. I am sorry for my deception, but it was necessary to protect myself. Although we do not always agree, Your Honor, our two great societies have always lived in peace. The Trade Federation has destroyed all that we have worked so hard to build. If we do not act quickly, all will be lost forever…I ask you to help us…no, I beg you to help us. We are your humble servants…our fate is in your hands." Padme dropped to her knees in front of the Gungans.
Slowly everyone began to kneel down. Beside Amara, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan glanced at each other; it was as if they knew the whole time. I knew something was off about her! Amara thought, nodding to herself.
After a moment, the head Gungan began to laugh. He came forward, reaching out with one hand. "Mmm. Ha! Yousa no tinken yousa greater den da Gungans.. Me-e-esa like dis. Maybe wesa bein friends."
The head Gungan, Boss Nass, took the group out of the swamp to the edge of the plains that ran south of the Naboo capital, Theed. During that time, Padmé had come up with a specific plan of attack. First, she sent Captain Panaka to see what was happening in Theed. Amara and the Jedi were with Padmé while Anakin was watching for Panaka. As if on cue, four speeders pulled up to where the group was and Naboo soldiers, officers, and pilots exited out.
"I think we got through without being detected, Your Highness," Panaka advised, brushing the dust off his clothing.
"What is the situation?" Padmé questioned as the other crowded close to them.
Panaka shook his head. "Almost everyone's in the detention camps. A few hundred police and guards have formed an underground resistance movement. I brought as many of the leaders as I could. The Federation Army's also much larger than we thought, and much stronger. Your Highness, this is a battle I do not think we can win."
Padmé glanced around. "The battle is a diversion. The Gungans must draw the Droid Army away from the cities. R2. We can enter the city using the secret passages on the waterfall side. Once we get to the main entrance, Captain Panaka will create a diversion. Then we can enter the palace and capture the Viceroy. Without the Viceroy, they will be lost and confused. What do you think, Master Jedi?"
"The Viceroy will be well guarded," Qui-Gon acknowledged. "There is a possibility with this diversion many Gungans will be killed."
Boss Nass let out a laugh. "Wesa ready to do our-san part."
Padmé was thinking. "We have a plan which should immobilize the Droid Army. We will send what pilots we have to knock out the Droid control ship which is orbiting the planet," she announced to the group.
"A well-conceived plan. However, there's great risk. The weapons on your fighters may not penetrate the shields," Qui-Gon advised.
"And there's an even bigger danger," Obi-Wan pointed out. "If the Viceroy escapes, Your Highness, he will return with another droid army."
Padme nodded in agreement. "Well, that is why we must not fail to get to the Viceroy. Everything depends on it."
Amara began to discuss what her role was with Padmé when Anakin tugged on Qui-Gon's sleeve. "What about me?" Anakin asked quietly.
Qui-Gon called Amara over. "You stay close to Amara, Ani." Amara smiled at Anakin and gave Qui-Gon a small nod. I could do this, she thought.
A/N: There are only 2 chapters left and then onward to book 2 (Origins) Next chapter will be part 2 of the battle, which means Amara vs Darth Maul!