***Chapter 12***
Qui-Gon and Anakin run swiftly through the streets of Mos Espa to the outskirts. Qui-Gon keeps watch, listening to the Force, knowing that danger is near and that speed is of the essence. The pair makes their way out into the open dessert. As the Queen's transport comes into view, Qui-Gon picks up the pace, but Anakin is worn out from running.
"Qui-Gon, sir, wait! I'm tired!"
Qui-Gon feels the disturbance in the Force suddenly become overwhelming. He quickly turns and yells, "Anakin, drop!"
A dark cloaked figure sweeps over Anakin right as he drops. Darth Maul jumps off his speeder bike, and before his feet hit the ground his saber is out and he tries to deal a death blow to the Jedi Master. But Qui-Gon had anticipated the move and already has his saber powered on and ready. Maul spins away, then attacks again, his yellow eyes glowing menacingly against his red and black face.
Anakin picks himself up, not sure what to do.
"Go!" Qui-Gon yells to Anakin as he fends off the attacker's fierce blows. "Tell them to take off!"
Obi-Wan is in the cockpit, helping to prepare the ship for take-off. Suddenly, he feels a dark ripple in the Force and is overwhelmed with the sense that Qui-Gon is close by and in grave danger. Immediately he rushes out of the cockpit, saber in hand, but not yet ignited.
He reaches the main hallway where Captain Panaka and Padmé are working. "Is the Queen safe?"
"What?" Panaka asks, not understanding why the Jedi is suddenly worked up.
"Is the Queen safe?" Obi-Wan repeats with impatient frustration. He wants to rush off the ship to his Master's side, but knows that the Queen's safety is what they are charged with and he must make sure she is protected first.
"Yes," Padmé says slowly.
She is about to continue, and Obi-Wan is about to rush off the ship, when Anakin Skywalker rushes on shouting, "Qui-Gon is in trouble! He says to take off!"
Take off? UGH! Obi-Wan fights the urge to rush off the ship and instead runs to the cockpit, followed by Padmé, Panaka, and Anakin.
As they enter the cockpit, Captain Panaka calls out to the pilot Ric, "Qui-Gon is in trouble!"
Obi-Wan moves right beside the pilot, looking out the viewport. "Take off," he commands. His eyes scan the flats and instantly spot his Master in the heat of battle. "Over there!" he points. "Fly low."
Ric Olié pilots them toward what he sees as a cloud of dust with two colored lights shining through. As they get closer, he can finally see Qui-Gon Jinn engaged in battle with a demonic looking creature in dark clothing. Qui-Gon and Darth Maul clash sabers and leap over one another in an amazing display of acrobatics. Both warriors hear the ship approach. Before Maul realizes what is happening, Qui-Gon is on the spacecraft's ramp.
Maul immediately chases after Qui-Gon, jumping onto the ramp himself. He barely makes it, his heels hanging over the edge. Qui-Gon seizes the opportunity, swinging his lightsaber with both hands. The demonic creature barely blocks the blow and in the process loses his balance. He is knocked off the ramp back to the desert floor. The Sith watches in frustration as the ramp closes and the Queen's ship rockets away.
Obi-Wan runs from the cockpit as soon as Qui-Gon's feet hit the ramp. As the ramp closes and Qui-Gon recovers on the floor of the entry, Obi-Wan arrives and rushes to his Master's side. He is followed quickly by Anakin. Qui-Gon is breathing hard, covered with a mix of sweat and dirt. Before Obi-Wan can get a word out, Anakin pipes in, "Are you alright?"
"I think so," Qui-Gon nods.
"What was it?" Obi-Wan asks.
"I'm not sure…but it was well trained in the Jedi arts. My guess is it was after the Queen."
"What are we going to do about it?" Anakin asks.
Obi-Wan looks over at the boy with a 'who are you' kind of smile. We? Do you honestly think you could take on a creature that almost bested a Jedi Master?
"We shall be patient," Qui-Gon replies with a slight chuckle. "Anakin Skywalker, meet Obi-Wan Kenobi."
Anakin turns his attention to Obi-Wan and greets him. He takes Obi-Wan's hand and gives him a firm shake. "You're a Jedi too? Pleased to meet you."
Obi-Wan smiles at the boy's enthusiasm. He helps Qui-Gon up from the floor and the three make their way back to the cockpit.
"Let's hope this hyperdrive works and Watto didn't get the last laugh," Qui-Gon says quietly.
Ric Olié pulls back on the hyperdrive. The stars streak outside the cockpit window as the ship sails smoothly into hyperspace.
The Jedi Temple is unlike other buildings on Coruscant. It is a giant pyramid with tall spires that rise from its flat top.
The Jedi Council room is located in the central portion of the complex. Twelve Jedi sit in a semi-circle in the stately room. These twelve are the members of the Jedi Council. 'Oru stands in the center of the room, his request to meet with the Council finally granted. He thought about calling Lexi back from the tracking exercises, but then thought better of it. She is always quick to speak her mind…a trait that some Council members do not appreciate. 'Oru has just finished filling the Council in on the reoccurring dream his Padawan keeps having.
"You and your Padawan had a very difficult mission recently. Perhaps she just needs more time to recover," Master Windu states flatly.
"It's the frequency and intensity of these nightmares that has brought me here," 'Oru explains. "I believe they are a message from the Force."
"Perhaps your Padawan has other things on her mind that could be troubling her, and they are manifesting in these dreams?" Adi Gallia asks.
'Oru looks at Master Gallia for a moment and then shakes his head, "No, I'm certain that Master Jinn is in danger."
"Heard from Qui-Gon, we have," Yoda informs 'Oru.
"He and his Padawan are on their way back to Coruscant as we speak," Ki-Adi-Mundi adds.
"Good, we can speak to them when they return," 'Oru says with a sigh of relief.
Mace sighs and rubs his chin. "I don't believe that would be wise."
"If their mission is complete, tell them we will. Otherwise, distract them it could."
"But surely they should be informed!" 'Oru protests.
"Information is important," Adi agrees. "Have you spoken with your Padawan?"
"The dreams started as soon as we returned to the Temple. I'm sure…"
"Dreams pass in time," Ki-Adi says calmly.
"For the time being, tell your Padawan she is not to share these dreams with Master Jinn or Padawan Kenobi. Not until we are sure it is more than her overactive imagination."
'Oru is about to argue further, but stops himself. "Yes, Master Windu," he sighs and bows to the Council.
"There is no death," Windu reminds 'Oru as he exits the room, "there is the Force."
Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan sit alone in a side room on the Queen's transport. Qui-Gon has filled Obi-Wan in on all that occurred with Anakin since his first run in with him.
"And what are your plans for the boy, Master?"
"I plant to request he be tested."
"But, Master, do you really think the Council will agree? He's much older than anyone I've ever known to be accepted for training. Much, much older."
"True," Qui-Gon acknowledges, "But he is very gifted, they will have to see that."
Obi-wan gives a 'yeah, right' smile, "Master, you and the Council don't typically see eye-to-eye on issues like this. What are you going to do if they refuse? He's too young to live on his own, and he has no family on Coruscant…"
Qui-Gon ponders the situation, and then looks at Obi-Wan. "I've been telling you for some time that you are ready for the trials. If the Council will test you, then I will be able to request to train the boy myself."
In the Theed Palace on Naboo, Nute Gunray sits in a mechno-chair. With a touch of his fingers, the chair walks on spider looking legs and carries him beside Governor Sio Bibble.
"Your Queen is lost, your people are starving, and you, Governor, are going to die, much sooner than your people, I'm afraid."
Bibble refuses to be intimidated. "This invasion will gain you nothing. We're a democracy. The people have decided!"
Frustrated, Nute hollers to several droids, "Take him away!"
As the Governor is escorted out, OOM-9, battle droid commander, approaches to inform Gunray that his troops are beginning to search for the rumored underwater villages. The Gungans will not be able to hide much longer.
Aboard the Queen's transport, most of the passengers are asleep as Padmé quietly walks into the main room. She walks over to a monitor and watches a small bit of the holo of Governor Bibble that was received while they were on Tatooine. Jar Jar sleeps, snoring loudly, seated at a round table. Padmé looks around the room and notices Anakin sitting in a corner, shivering.
"Are you ok?" she asks.
"It's very cold."
Padmé walks over and gets a blanket for him. "You come from a warm planet, Annie," she smiles as she tucks the blanket around him. "A little too warm for my taste. Space is cold."
"You seem sad."
"The Queen is worried. Her people are suffering, dying. She must convince the Senate to intervene, or…I'm not sure what will happen." Padmé sighs.
Anakin pulls a pendant from his pocket and hands it to her. "I made this for you. So you'd remember me. I carved it out of a japor snippet. It will bring you good fortune."
"It's beautiful, but I don't need this to remember you by. Many things will change when you reach the capital, Annie. But my caring for you will remain."
"I care for you too. Only I…"
"Miss your mother," she fills in.
