Obi-wan stood in the darkness, no light and no sound. He could not see his own hand when brought close to his face. It was cold, very cold. The air seemed to be absorbing all heat from Obi-wan's body. Then there it was, a small light coming on the horizon. The light flickered in the distance then burst forth blinding the Jedi.
Obi-wan awoke, lying in the strange moss he and Qui-gon collected last night. This was the second time he awoke from that dark abyss, the second time that he saw the light burst forth. The Force had to be telling him something but he didn't understand its meaning. "I must speak to Qui-gon." He thought. He meant to bring it up after their mission but now, considering the results of the last few days, Obi-wan felt that his vision was related to what was happening to them now, and the matter could not wait. Outside the tent, the center star, also named Naboo, had just risen above the horizon and it made a beautiful glow across the river, bursting forth from all the gaps between the branches of the trees. Qui-gon was kneeling by the bank meditating.
"Beautiful isn't it?" said Qui-gon as Obi-wan walked up closer behind him. "The light breaking through the trees and bouncing off the water. It just shows that the light can not be hidden, it will find its way to shine forth." Obi-wan did not say anything. He was both puzzled and moved by his master's words and stood pondering their meaning. "I sense that dark times are coming, Obi-wan, times where it will seem that the Force is weak, that good cannot combat the evil. But know this, Obi-wan, that there is a time for everything, a time for every matter and season. And just as the forest cannot hold back the light, nor can corruption, hold back justice forever, as evil cannot hold back good. Warmth surged throughout Obi-Wan's body, as he absorbs the words of his master. Then he was suddenly reminded of his vision, the small beam of light bursting forth from the darkness.
"Master, I believe that all this is not a coincidence. I too sense dark times are coming but I fear that they are closer than you have implied." Qui-gon slowly turned around engaging the look of his apprentice. "Last night," Obi-wan continued, "I had a dream, as no other that I've had before." Qui-gon's gaze grew more tense and focused as Obi-wan told of his dream and its similarity to his vision on the ship. "Though I am not quite sure how to interpret it, I feel that our current situation and the intent of the Federation are the beginnings of something much more drastic and threatening to the whole Republic!" Obi-wan felt the cold strike of fear across his chest as thoughts of devastation and horror flashed in his mind.
"I could not agree more young Padawan" responded Qui-gon. But as he turned back toward Naboo's light, his faced showed that his mind was not consumed with the thoughts that Obi-wans was. "Do not let fear cloud your mind Obi-wan, for the darker it is, the easier it is to see the light."
"What?" Obi-wan did not mean to say that out loud but his master's response took him by such surprise that he acted on impulse. But before Qui-gon could respond a tremor went down Obi-wan's spine. Both Jedi took a firm stance, the Force was alerting them of something. Qui-gon bent low and leaped into the thick of the trees, with Obi-wan right on his tail. They didn't go far till they heard a faint humming sound, some sort of large engine. Qui-gon motioned toward Obi-wan and they moved in the direction of the sound. Suddenly they heard the blast of cannon fire followed by exotic noises. The Jedi burst through the trees as more cannon fire was heard. Obi-wan followed his Masters lead, heading on an incline. They came to a sudden halt and looked out from a cliff to the valley below.
"Battle Droids?" Qui-gon said as he and Obi-wan looked out to a small battalion of B1 battle droids, backed up with Single Trooper Aerial Platforms, or STAPs, and an ATT, Armored Assault Tank. The squadron had fired upon a native humanoid species, with long loose ears and a protruding and flexible bill, who apparently were not pleased with the droids arrival. The Gungons, who Obi-wan recognized from his studies, were fighting back against the droid battalion but were clearly outmatched. The Jedi did not have to communicate to determine what needed to be done. Obi-wan took a running leap off the cliff taking deep breaths pulling the Force around him slowing his fall. He hit the ground in a roll thrusting himself forward into the air utilizing his momentum and pushing off with the force, lightsaber ignited at his side. He swung his lightsaber upward slicing right through the long barrel of the AAT. The impact rotated Obi-wans body back towards the ground flipping over the busted barrel. He landed and with no hesitation, began cutting through B1 Battle Droids, moving swiftly, the Force as his guide. On his way to the ground, Qui-gon connected a striking blow to one of the Droids on a STAP, jolting the droid off and shattering it upon the rocks. At the same time that he kicked the droid, Qui-gon was able to grab the handle of the STAP and swing his body around taking control of the craft. He whipped the speeder around and blasted another STAP out of the air. The Droids were clearly taken off guard and their programming was having difficulty assessing the situation. The Gunguns, however, took advantage of the situation and pressed their efforts to what was left of the AAT. They lunched small blue energy bombs that disabled the working canons on the AAT, then broke off into groups to flank the remaining droids. The battle was over quickly.
Yet, as the Jedi put their weapons away, they noticed that the Gungans had reformed and stood their ground toward the Jedi. Qui-gon lifted his hands and said
"Peace, friends. We are Jedi, defenders of justice and protectors of peace." The Gungans did not respond.
Obi-wan then responded with hands out and a low bow saying "Pardon us for intruding on your little party but we just could not let you fine gentlemen have all the fun." Though the gesture did not seem to humor Qui-gon, the Gungans indicated that the forcefulness of the situation began to lift as the creatures talked amongst themselves in a choppy version of the Basic Language. The gungan standing in the center, step forward and repeating Obi-wans gesture and saying.
"Usa do a grando job on da machanics! If party what usa seeka, den wesa insista on being usa host." Still in his bowing position, "or as wesa say, usa bowton." The other gungons followed suit, lowering their weapons and bowing low to the Jedi. "Mesa Captain Tarpals, ah da Otoh Gunga warrior forcea and wesa grateful for de assisteante of de Jedi."
"Well that worked better than hoped." Said Obi-wan under his breath. Qui-gon also bowed and said.
"It is our duty to protect those in need, though I am sure that you and your warriors would of come to a similar outcome still if had not arrived."
"No! Wesa myah be a haughty kinda, but wesa know when wesa been a beaten. Wesa oya yousa oura lifes and wesa arse indebted to yousa. Is der anyting wesa can do for yousa?"
"Well, we are trying to locate a settlement where we can contact the Jedi Order on Coruscant and also communicate with the Naboo to attempt to understand the situation here. If I understand you correctly, these were not the only droids that you have encountered?"
"Des mechanics are ah all over oursa Logreena!" said Tarpals as he waves his hands indicating the forest all around them. "Wesa Gungans feelsa war in da waters here. As a da Naboo, theysa no carrra for da logreena of de Gungan, justa des farmsa, but if de Naboo wat da Jedi seeka, then wesa shows yousa da way."