***Chapter 17***
The peacefulness of the Naboo swamps is suddenly broken as the Gungan army moves through the mist. The Gungans ride their kaadu with their weapons ready. They carry long energy spears and ball slings for long-distance fighting and energy shields for close combat. Warriors blow battle calls over their Gungan instruments.
Behind the first wave of soldiers on kaadu come more Gungan soldiers, riding huge lizard-like fambaas with large shield generators mounted on their backs. Together with foot soldiers they make their way out of the swamp and onto the grassy hills. As they reach the open grasslands they find the Trade Federation army coming into view.
The Gungan commander-in-chief, General Ceel, orders the group to halt. He then gives the command to start the shield generators. A blue ray shoots out of the generator and blasts into a large dish on the back of another fambaa. Several more rays are shot out between other fambaas and then they join together in a red beam and spread toward the sky. Finally a golden shield spreads like an umbrella and covers the entire Gungan army.
The Federation tanks and droid transports come to a stop. The droid commander, OOM-9, gives the order to open fire. Immediately the tanks begin to fire on the Gungan energy shield.
Theed central plaza is quiet with most of the droid army dispatched to deal with the Gungans. Padmé, the four Jedi, Anakin, and R2 stealthily make their way toward the entrance to the main hangar. They are followed by about twenty Naboo guards, pilots, and troops, and the handmaiden Eirtaé. They stop and wait for Captain Panaka's group to get into position on the other side of the plaza. Padmé uses a small blue laser light to signal to Panaka. The Captain quickly signals back to let the group know they are in position.
Qui-Gon turns and kneels down to Anakin. "Once we get inside you find a safe place to hide and stay there. Lexi will stay close by to make sure you are safe."
"Sure," Anakin nods.
"Stay close to Lexi." Qui-Gon adds firmly.
A group of fighters join Panaka's group and open fire on the battle droids. The droids that aren't destroyed wheel about and begin to return fire. Padmé and her group rush into the main hangar while Panaka's group continues to engage the droids outside the hangar in battle.
The Neimoidians watch the battle scene with Panaka and the droids in the street below.
"How did they get into the city?" Rune panics.
"I don't know. I thought the battle was going to take place far from here," Nute replies. "This is too close!"
Darth Maul stands in silence next to the two Neimoidians.
Inside the hangar battle droids try in vain to defend their confiscated territory. They attempt to blast the intruders, but their laser fire is skillfully blocked by the Jedi and sent back to the droids, destroying them in the process. Padmé and her guards help take out droids with their blasters.
Anakin looks around nervously, not sure where to run to escape the laser blasts exploding around him.
"Annie, take cover." Qui-Gon orders, as he continues to block more laser blasts. "Quick!"
Anakin runs off with Lexi not far behind, making sure no laser blasts reach him.
"Get to your ships!" Padmé orders her pilots.
The main group continues to make their way through the hangar as the pilots begin climbing into their Naboo fighters. Anakin hides behind one fighter, but quickly moves when he notices a pilot board the ship. R2 is pulled into a fighter nearby and whistles to get Anakin's attention. Anakin looks back to Lexi and sees her nodding to him.
"Go!" Lexi yells and she moves to cover him. Anakin makes a run for the Naboo fighter and quickly climbs inside the cockpit. The battle in the hangar continues to rage as the pilots who manage to reach their ships take off to engage the droid control ship in battle.
One fighter is shot down exiting the hangar, but the rest are able to make it away from the palace and out into space, where droid fighters are quickly released to combat them.
"Fighters, straight ahead," announces Ric Olié.
"Roger, bravo leader," the replies come as the pilots steel themselves for battle.
OOM-9 quickly realizes firing on the Gungan shield is useless. The beams cannot penetrate the shield so he gives the cease fire command. The Gungans watch, waiting to see the droid army's next move. The doors to the massive Federation transports open and racks of battle droids are pushed out of the opening. Row upon row of battle droids are released from the racks. The Gungans fire up personal energy shields and prepare their catapults with massive energy balls as they watch and wait.
Inside the droid control ship, as the battle rages outside, Captain Dofine gives the order to activate the droids on the surface of Naboo.
"Yes, sir!" Tey How replies. With the press of a button the droids outside the Gungan shield generator come to life, unfolding themselves and drawing their weapons.
The Gungans look at each other nervously as the droids turn toward them and begin to march.
"Ouch time," comments General Ceel.
While the energy shield blocks laser blasts, it cannot stop the droids. They march easily through the barrier. Once through the droids open fire on the Gungans. The Gungans fight back, throwing their power poles and using slingshots to hit droids with small balls of energy. The balls of energy cause the droids to short out. They also fire large energy balls in the catapults. Jar Jar almost takes out a few of his fellow Gungans as he attempts to help with the energy balls.
Captain Panaka and his group arrive inside the hangar and make their way to Padmé.
"My guess is the Viceroy is in the throne room," Padmé comments.
Panaka nods and calls the groups together. "Red group, blue group, everybody this way…"
The groups quickly assemble and begin to move toward the hangar exit that leads into the palace. Anakin pops up from the cockpit.
"Hey, wait for me!"
"Anakin, stay where you are," Qui-Gon orders. "You'll be safe there."
"But I…"
"Stay in that cockpit."
Anakin gives a disappointed look to Lexi as he flops back in the seat. Lexi sighs, yeah, I know how you feel kid.
As the group nears the exit, the doors open revealing Darth Maul. The Naboo immediately stop, not sure what to do. Lexi swallows hard and quickly moves to 'Oru, who is standing at the back of the group, and grabs his arm.
Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan quickly move through the group. "We'll handle this," Qui-Gon says firmly. "'Oru, stay with the Queen."
Padmé turns and begins moving off to the left, "We'll take the long way." The Naboo quickly follow after her.
Maul removes his hood, completely revealing his tattooed face and horned head.
"That's him! That's the creature, Master," Lexi whispers urgently. "We have to go with Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan."
"Your orders are to stay with the boy," 'Oru whispers back firmly.
"Master, Anakin is safe. Why would we be here if we weren't suppose to help with that Sith monster? He is clearly the biggest threat! We've got to help, please! I can't let Qui-Gon…"
"You will follow the orders you have been given, Padawan," 'Oru says firmly, giving her an 'end of discussion' look.
Maul, Obi-Wan, and Qui-Gon remove their cloaks. Destroyer droids roll into the hangar behind them, uncurl and turn on their shield generators. They begin firing on the Naboo. Padmé and her group quickly take cover and begin firing back. 'Oru and Lexi ignite their sabers and deflect the fire coming from the destroyers. The deflected lasers from the destroyers, as well as those from the Naboo blasters, cannot penetrate the destroyer droids' shields.
Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan ignite their sabers and wait for Maul's move. The Sith ignites a double bladed lightsaber. Obi-Wan somersaults over Maul and the three begin their duel. They move through the hanger, lightsabers clashing fiercely over and over.
"We've got to do something, R2!" Anakin cries out. He tries desperately to find the switch for his ship's weapons so he can help out. He presses a button and the ship begins to move.
"Oops, wrong one!" He tries a lever instead, but that just closes his cockpit window. Finally he finds the weapons and begins to fire on the droids. The more powerful ship weapons quickly take out the destroyers.
"You're supposed to be watching him!" 'Oru grumbles.
"Master, it's not like I could climb in that cockpit with him! And besides…he got rid of the destroyers…"
"Let's go!" Padmé orders. She and the Naboo quickly head into the halls as Anakin's ship, stuck on automatic pilot, takes off.
"Get in a ship and follow the boy," 'Oru orders. "You must keep him safe."
"But…Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan…they need our help!"
"Go now! I've got to catch up with the others. You made a promise to Qui-Gon that you would protect the boy."
It takes every ounce of will for Lexi to stop arguing and obey. "Fine," Lexi gripes. Grudgingly she climbs into a ship and takes off. The future is fluid…just because I saw Qui-Gon die in my vision…it doesn't mean he will. She tries to push the horrible image of the Sith Lord out of her mind and focus on identifying Anakin's ship so she can protect him during the space battle and try to get him back to the planet in one piece.
'Oru watches for a moment, and then runs to catch up with the others.
