***Chapter 2***
Lexi rolls over, trying to block the sunlight streaming through her bedroom window out to get a few more precious moments of sleep. Groggily she realizes Obi-Wan has already left. That was not unusual. Qui-Gon liked early morning meditations and insisted Obi-Wan join him. Lexi groans as she realizes if she doesn't get out of bed soon her own Master will give her extra morning drills. As she stretches and forces herself up, she remembers Obi-Wan telling her he and Qui-Gon would be leaving early on a special mission for the Supreme Chancellor.
The visions from her nightmare come flooding back making her breath catch in her throat. She scrambles out of bed dressing as quickly as possible. As she dresses, she goes over in her mind what to say to her Master to get him to find out where Qui-Gon was sent and then try to convince him that they had to go as well. Most times Master 'Oru would indulge her visions, knowing they were a special gifting from the Force, but just because he would listen didn't mean the Council would agree.
Calm down, Lexi. If you go rushing in like a maniac you'll get nowhere fast. Don't focus on your anxiety… concentrate on the vision. Was it a vision? Was it a nightmare? If you want the Council to hear you out, take time and meditate.
Lexi takes a deep breath and decides to go through the normal morning routine and then spend some extra time in the meditation rooms. She hopes the extra meditation time will give her the answers she needs. Or at least the right questions to go to her Master, and then the Jedi Council with.
The Federation landing ships descend from space to the murky Naboo swamps. Obi-Wan quickly disembarks from the craft he stowed away on and disappears into the murky water. He surfaces some distance from the craft to take a quick breath and disappears once more. Further away he surfaces once again, looking around his new surroundings. He catches sight of a shadowy figure running through the mist and trees to his far left and realizes instantly it is Qui-Gon. He takes another deep breath and disappears under the water, swimming in the direction he saw Qui-Gon running.
As Qui-Gon runs through the swamp he can hear the Federation transports begin to advance along with the sound of the single trooper aerial platforms, or STAPs. STAPs are small mobile gun units used to transport battle droids as scouts for the main army. The sounds of these machines cause the various creatures of the swamp to scatter in search of safety. Dodging the frightened creatures Qui-Gon looks around for Obi-Wan. He picks up his pace when he notices the dark shadow of a transport coming directly behind him.
Making his way through the swamp a froglike creature rises before him, blinking in confusion at all the noise and various fleeing creatures. The frog creature suddenly notices the transport everyone is running from. Qui-Gon breaks left to pass the strange creature, but as he passes it grabs onto Qui-Gon's robes, crying for help.
"Let go!" Qui-Gon growls, trying in vain to get free. The transport gains ground on Qui-Gon. The Jedi Master realizes he won't get the creature to release him, so he pushes it into the shallow water and sprawls out face down on top of it as the transport passes directly over them.
When the transport has completely passed, Qui-Gon pulls himself up out of the muck. Now free from the creature, he moves through the swamp once more. The creature looks around to survey what had just happened, and then follows quickly after Qui-Gon, ecstatically and proclaiming his love and adoration.
"Are you brainless? You almost got us killed!" Qui-Gon fumes, not breaking his stride.
"I speak!" replies the creature.
"The ability to speak does not make you intelligent! Now get out of here!"
The creature follows introducing itself and begging to stay with Qui-Gon. "Jar Jar Binks be loyal, humble Gungan servant."
Obi-Wan is spotted by two STAPs. He grabs his lightsaber and tries to ignite it, but the lightsaber shorts out, leaving the business end blackened and burned. Obi-Wan sighs in frustration. "Qui-Gon is not going to be happy." He begins running to try and shake his pursuers.
Qui-Gon doesn't give Jar Jar a second glance. He is busy searching the shadows for Obi-Wan. "Thanks, but that won't be necessary. Better be off with you."
Jar Jar insists that it is necessary, that his gods demand it. While he is speaking, the sound of STAP engines and blasters fill the air. Soon two STAPs burst from the mist, bearing down on a fleeing Obi-Wan.
Qui-Gon pulls free his lightsaber and motions Jar Jar to move away. "Stay down," he commands, pushing Jar Jar from harm as he flicks on his lightsaber, preparing himself as Obi-Wan and the STAPs approach.
The battle droids continue to fire on Obi-Wan. Qui-Gon blocks the bolts and deflects them back into the STAPs. The STAPs explode and fall into the swamp.
Exhausted, Obi-Wan wipes his muddied brow. "Sorry, Master. The swamp fried my lightsaber." He pulls out his saber and hands it to Qui-Gon.
"You forgot to turn off your power again, didn't you?" Qui-Gon asks.
"It would appear so," Obi-Wan blushes.
"It won't take long to recharge, but it will take some time to clean it up. I trust you have finally learned your lesson, my young Padawan."
"Yes, Master," Obi-Wan replies as Qui-Gon returns the lightsaber.
"Yous save me again," Jar Jar says to Qui-Gon.
Obi-Wan stares at the creature. "What's this?"
"A local. Let's get out of here before more of those droids show up."
"More?" Jar Jar gasps.
Qui-Gon is already moving quickly through the swamp with Obi-Wan just a step behind. Jar Jar rushes to catch up with them and proceeds to tell them about Otoh Gunga, his home city. He tells them it will be a safe place. Qui-Gon stops and stares at the Gungan. "What did you say? A city? Can you take us there?"
Jar Jar nods, and then quickly changes his mind. "Not rilly, no."
"No?" Qui-Gon repeats, leaning in close to Jar Jar.
Jar Jar tells them that he has been banished and will be in big trouble if he goes back. As he is talking, the sounds of more STAPs can be heard in the distance.
"You hear that?" Qui-Gon asks, pressing closer to the Gungan. "That is the sound of a thousand terrible things heading this way…"
"And if they find us, they will crush us, grind us into tiny pieces, and blast us into oblivion," Obi-Wan adds with a smile.
Jar Jar gulps. "Oh, oh. Yous point is well say. Dis way! Hurry!" He gestures for them to follow.
A bit later, the Jedi and the Gungan emerge from a deep stand of swamp grass and thick rushes at the edge of a murky lake.
"How much farther?" Qui-Gon asks.
Jar Jar points to the lake. "Wesa goen underwater, okeday?"
The Jedi look at each other, then take small containers from their clothing, releasing portable breathing devices the size of the palms of their hands.
Jar Jar warns them that the Gungans don't like outsiders and they won't be receiving a warm welcome.
Obi-Wan shrugs, "Oh, don't worry. This hasn't been our day for warm welcomes."
"Get going," Qui-Gon motions to Jar Jar, then puts his breathing device between his teeth. Obi-Wan does the same. Jar Jar shrugs and leaps into the water. The Jedi wade in after him.
The Jedi follow the Gungan downward into the murky water. They swim for a long time, deeper and deeper into the water. Suddenly a steady glow comes from ahead of them and slowly Otoh Gunga comes into view. The city is made up of a cluster of bubbles that connect to one another like balloons and are anchored to several huge rock pillars.
Jar Jar swims directly toward one of the larger bubbles with the Jedi close behind. When he reaches the bubble, he moves slowly through it without rupturing it. Amazed, the Jedi follow, moving through the strange membrane and entering the bubble without resistance.
Once inside, they find themselves on a platform that leads down to a square surrounded by buildings. The Jedi remove their breathers and descend to the square below, water dripping from their clothing. As the Gungans catch sight of them, they began to scatter with cries of alarm.
Soon, a squad of Gungan soldiers appear on two-legged mounts with billed faces similar to the Gungan's bills. The soldiers carry long electropoles. Jar Jar greets the leader of the soldiers as Captain Tarpals. He is very cheerful when he announces to the Captain that he is back. Captain Tarpals, however, does not share Jar Jar's enthusiasm. He tells Jar Jar that he will have to go before Boss Nass and is in big trouble.
Completely ignoring the Jedi, the Captain gives Jar Jar a poke with his electropole. Jar Jar jumps from the shock, then rubs his sore backside as he mutters to himself.
The group is led by the soldiers through the city to the High Tower Boardroom. A long, circular bench fills one end of the room with one section set higher than the rest. All the seats are occupied by Gungan officials. The Gungan in the highest seat is a heavyset, squat figure. Folds of skin drape from his body in loose layers and his face is very sour. The Gungans stare as the Jedi approach. Boss Nass, the squat Gungan, tells them they cannot be in his city and blames them for the army of droids.
Qui-Gon steps forward and tells them about the invasion taking place on Naboo and asks the Gungans to give some help. But Boss Nass just shakes his head and refuses, saying it isn't their problem.
"That army of battle droids is about to attack the Naboo. We must warn them," Qui-Gon insists.
Boss Nass growls and tells the Jedi that the Gungans and the Naboo did not like each other. He states that the Naboo believe themselves to be smarter than the Gungans and that neither group has anything to do with the other. "Dis not gonna change because of maccaneks."
Obi-Wan softly interjects, "Once those droids take control of the Naboo, they will come here and take control of you."
Boss Nass simply laughs and says that would never happen. That the "maccaneks" don't even know Gungans exist. The other Gungans nod in agreement.
"You and the Naboo form a symbiont circle. What happens to one of you will affect the other. You must understand this," Obi-Wan insists.
Again, Boss Nass just shakes his head and repeats that they don't care about the Naboo.
Obi-Wan is about to proceed with his argument, but Qui-Gon interjects. "Then speed us on our way," he commands with a slight wave of his hand.
Boss Nass stares, then nods in agreement.
"We could use a transport," Qui-Gon continues, not breaking his gaze and once again using his Jedi mind skills.
Boss Nass agrees to give them a bongo and informs the Jedi that the speediest way to Naboo is by going through the planet core.
"Thank you for your help," Qui-Gon says as he and Obi-Wan bow and back away. "We leave in peace."
The Jedi turn to leave. Obi-Wan whispers to Qui-Gon, "Master, what's a bongo?"
"A transport, I hope."
As they begin to walk away, Qui-Gon looks over at Jar Jar who is wearing wrist binders and waiting to hear his fate.
"Master…" Obi-Wan says softly, knowing what is on Qui-Gon's mind and not at all happy about it.
Qui-Gon moves over to Jar Jar. The Gungan warns that the Jedi are being set up. That going through the core is very dangerous.
"We are short of time, Master," Obi-Wan advises, moving closer to Qui-Gon's side.
Qui-Gon turns to face Obi-Wan, "We need a navigator to help us through the planet's core. This Gungan may be of help."
Obi-Wan shakes his head in frustration. Qui-Gon was too eager to involve himself when it wasn't necessary and too quick to adopt causes that weren't his own. It had cost him time and time again with the Jedi Council.
Qui-Gon turns and walks back to Boss Nass. "What is to become of Jar Jar Binks here?" he asks.
Boss Nass is annoyed that the outlanders have not left. He tells the Jedi that Jar Jar broke his exile and is to be punished.
"Not too severely, I trust?" Qui-Gon presses. "He has been of great help to us."
Boss Nass laughs and tells the Jedi that Jar Jar is to be pounded to death. Jar Jar moans loudly. Obi-Wan, who has moved back to his Master's side, is shocked.
Qui-Gon thinks quickly. "I saved his life, he owes me what you call a life debt. Your gods demand that his life belongs to me now."
Boss Nass stares at the Jedi for a moment with a frown. He turns to Jar Jar and asks if he does indeed have a life debt with the outlander. Jar Jar nods hopefully.
Boss Nass only takes a moment to nod in agreement. He orders the trio to be gone. Qui-Gon smiles slightly, bows, and turns to leave. A guard moves forward and removes Jar Jar's wrist binders.
Jar Jar balks. "Better dead here den dead in da core!" But he quickly realizes he is better off with the Jedi and follows them to their transport.
On the bridge of the Trade Federation's lead battle ship, Nute Gunray and Rune Haako stand before a hologram of Darth Sidious. They inform the Sith Lord that the invasion is on schedule and that their army is nearing Theed.
Sidious is pleased. "I have the Senate bogged down in procedures. By the time this incident comes up for a vote, they will have no choice but to accept that your blockade has been successful."
Nute is concerned that the Senate will side with the Queen, as she had boasted earlier. The Sith informs them that Amidala is young and naïve and that controlling her won't be difficult. He praises the Viceroy for his success thus far. The Neimoidians thank the Sith Lord as the hologram fades away.
"You didn't tell him," Rune says accusingly.
"Of the missing Jedi?" Nute shrugs. "No need to tell him that until we have something to report."
