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000
The conference room hummed with excitement as delegates arrived, and were greeted by the young lady adorned in the regal splendid outfit of the Queen.
Cups clinked as guest's sipped herbal teas, and the finest Nabooian coffee.
Most heads turned to gape when the two Jedi ambassadors entered; both men were tall and imposing and had an air of authority in the way they moved, as they cast their gaze across the room.
To most, Jedi were an enigma; a mysterious form of sentient being. With powers not understood by many outside their own Jedi order.
Almost immediately, inquisitive eyes quickly turned away from the two ambassadors to let them survey the room in peace.
Glancing quickly at each other, both men headed off in separate directions.
Qui-Gon concentrated on any disturbances in each guest's auras and mingled without actually speaking to anyone.
On the other hand Mace struck up conversations and answered questions.
Most delegates were hoping that this treaty to free up trade across the galaxy, would go ahead unimpeded.
Some asked Mace if the Jedi felt that there was any thing problematic about the treaty. He alleviated their concerns and left them smiling.
A great deal of chatter filled the room, as some of the delegates hadn't seen their counterparts for months, and even years.
There were many living beings in this large room, all with their own emotional outpourings. A multitude of voices filled the room as welcomes were made.
Neither Jedi could get a clear reading of any substantial disturbance, but sensed a subtle warning through the force that there was something amiss.
After doing a complete examination of the room Mace and Qui-Gon met near the door.
"I sense a slight disturbance, but it's difficult to pin point, with all the emotions flowing in here." Mace said.
"I feel it too, I would like to go back outside and investigate. The Neimoidian's haven't arrived yet, perhaps there is a problem with them?"
"You may be right; we will tell Senator Mon Mothma and the Queen that you are going to check on them."
Mace was speaking to senator Mothma when a stunned murmur erupted from the guests as the Neimoidian's arrived accompanied by six cloaked beings. And it appeared they were armed.
As they moved into the room both Master's stepped toward the guards, resting their hands on their sabre hilts.
"What is the meaning of this Viceroy? Why do you have hooded guards?" Mace asked.
Delegate Gunray dabbed his forehead with a cloth and coughed. "I have received a death threat so I brought my own guards to protect me."
"A death threat, we weren't told about any death threat." Mace said.
Viceroy Gunray outwardly lost his balance as he stepped forward and began to choke; the two Jedi stepped towards him with the intention of preventing him from collapsing to the floor.
It was a ruse, and the six cloaked beings revealed themselves as armed droids; shooting a strange watery beam towards the Jedi.
Both Jedi drew their sabres, but the disabling mist soaked into their skin before they could ignite them.
Collapsing to the floor, their sabres rolled away, and in next few moments shock reverberated through the crowd, as more droids streamed into the room pointing blasters at everyone.
Gunray got to his feet and barked orders. "Secure the Jedi, and check the rest for weapons."
With the Jedi secured with stun cuffs cutting off their connection to the force. Gunray set about taking control.
"What is the meaning of this?" The Queen demanded to know.
"This is outrageous." Mon Mothma snapped as she and the other senators were herded into the corner.
"I am in control now and you will do as you're told." Gunray snapped.
"Instead of signing a treaty to allow open trade between Naboo and the rest of the Republic, I have a new treaty for you all to sign. This treaty gives the Federation committee sole rights to decree who will trade and when. All trading will be handled by my delegates and all profits will be dispersed by us."
"That is treason!" the Queen said. "Trade between planets has always been open and controlled by each planet, this is highly illegal, and the Chancellor will not agree to such terms." she added.
"Sit down your Highness and sign it. We do not fear the senate or the Chancellor. We are taking control of the trade routes. You will do as you're told or we will begin to execute the delegates one by one."
"That's sedition; you will be removed from the republic!" The Queen said.
"The trade federation doesn't need the republic. We are aligned with the Confederacy of independent planets. We've been drawing outer rim worlds to our cause, and we have the backing of the banking clans. Now we are a formidable power in our own right."
Mace and Qui-Gon came to during this exchange; however, they were unable to do anything to help at the moment, as they were unarmed and their hands were secured behind their backs.
.
000
.
Ben stood behind a statue peering down toward the door to the conference room. It appeared impossible to enter the room with droids standing guard.
Even if he could shoot them he would be discovered and the noise would bring more droids.
('Think') he had to think of a way to get in the room. Padmè was doing her part, and it was up to him to help the hostages until they arrived.
Fast approaching footsteps behind him made him turn his head down the side corridor. It was the Delegate from D'larah, Minister Tumleh. He was being escorted down the hall by two droids.
Ben didn't hesitate, running towards them with force enhanced speed; not giving the droids a chance to register what was happening.
As he approached, he force pulled the blasters from their metal hands, and then pushed them with all the strength he could draw from the Force. Both droids sailed through the air; hitting the wall hard at the other end of the corridor.
"Minister Tumleh, I am assigned to security for Senator Mothma, I'm sergeant Kenobi. Naboo is under attack! The Neimoidian's are planning to betray the Trade agreement and I suspect they are holding the delegates hostage in the conference room."
"I thought something was wrong when these droids threatened me and insisted on escorting me! What can we do?"
"I have a plan; please Minister, if you'll come in here." Ben said opening a door to an empty room.
"Nute Gunray has ships orbiting the planet and he is going to hold Naboo to ransom. I believe he wants full control of the trade routes and control of the finances."
"He can't do that! That's against the laws of the republic!" Tumleh stated.
"Yes Minister, but I don't think he cares. I need to get in there to bide some time. You and I are similar in height and stature, if you would give me your Jacket, robe and headdress, I'll take your place and go in there." Ben said as Tumleh nodded and took off his robes.
"One of the handmaidens has gone for help, and I'll hold them off until they arrive. You will be safe in here; lock the door after I leave."
Ben left the Minister hidden in the room and strode down the hall. As he approached the droids; they raised their blasters. "Halt, who are you?"
"I am Minister Tumleh the delegate from D'larah, step aside I am running late!" Ben snapped.
As he was speaking to the droids a Neimoidian guard arrived from the other direction. "Who are you?" he demanded.
"Are you deaf, man? I am Minister Tumleh from D'larah, I was running late. Let me in I must be present for the signing of the treaty!" he snapped
The guard pulled a communicator from his belt and turned to the droid. "Have you searched him?"
"No Sir, not yet."
Ben waved his hand in front of the Neimoidian guard and said. "I carry no weapons; there is no need to search me!" he said forcefully.
The Guard looked blank for a moment and then said to the droids. "There is no need to search him, he carries no weapons."
The droids stepped back as the guard pushed Ben in through the door, taking him to Gunray.
"Does he have any weapons?" Gunray asked.
"No Sir, he has no weapons." the Guard stated.
"Very well take him over with the others."
They pushed Ben and he collided with Qui-Gon who was trying to release the cuffs holding his wrists behind him. Ben looked into the Jedi's eyes, as recognition cleared Qui-Gon's focus.
"Ben!" he whispered what are you doing here?" noticing the fancy clothes he was wearing.
"I've come to help." he whispered back.
"You foolish boy!" Qui-Gon quietly berated him. "You should have gone for help; you are no match for these thugs."
Ben's eyes burned with annoyance at Qui-Gon's spoken words. (Why does this man dislike me so much?) He considered as he stepped away from the Jedi.
He cast his eyes around the room, noting where the green drapes were located and stored to memory where the droids were standing.
The door opened and more droids entered holding blasters. (Blast! it's getting crowded in here.)
He knew that the decoy Queen and the handmaidens were poised ready to retaliate if given the chance, and he knew Masters Windu and Jinn would take them all on if they were free. But at the moment unless he could free them, he couldn't rely on them.
The four Neimoidian Guards that stood near the door, all had blasters, but were holstered. (Foolish,) he thought to himself.
He slowly moved so he was standing behind Master Windu. He could easily work on opening the latch on his cuffs, while the Delegates were listening to Gunray, so now was the time to act.
Ben dropped the fancy robe and jacket to the floor; hiding behind the tall Master. Then he took off the headdress and unbuttoning his own jacket he drew a dagger off his belt.
He nudged Master Windu, showing him what he planned to do and Mace held his hands still while Ben worked on the locking mechanism.
He removed the cuffs; putting them on the robe and handed the dagger to Mace so he could release Qui-Gon.
He heard the Queen say, "You won't get away with this Viceroy." Then he saw a slight movement from behind the green curtain, and knew the time was now.
Padmè, Panaka and the security team dragged the curtain open and made them selves known as blaster fire erupted in the room and a voice yelled out for everyone to drop to the floor.
Ben drew his blaster and fired at the droids on his side of the room; leaping forward hitting one of the guards before he had time to draw his weapon. While the others fumbled for their blasters, Ben fired as they aimed at him.
While at the other end of the room security were streaming in through the door firing on the droids.
He saw the Queen retrieve her blaster from a hidden draw and aim it at Gunray's head, ordering him to surrender.
Mace didn't have time to release Qui-Gon's cuffs; instead he force pushed two droids sending them flying into the Neimoidian delegates, and it was Qui-Gon's voice that Ben heard calling for everyone to lay flat on the floor out of harms way.
Flashes of light from blasters lit the room. Panic ensued as some delegates cried and screamed; terrified that they were going to die.
"Look out Ben!" Padmè screamed as she saw a droid aim at Ben's back. She fired at the same time, destroying it and Ben rolled along the floor when he heard her yell. Jumping to his feet next to Qui-Gon.
All this action happened in just a few minutes.
Mace had retrieved his sabre slicing through several droids and he threw the key to Ben so he could remove Qui-Gon's cuffs.
As the smoke cleared, Padmè, Panaka and their guards surveyed the damage. There were bits of droids lying all over the room, and the Neimoidian's were all cowering on the floor with the Queen pointing her blaster at them.
The Delegates began to get up, however no one noticed that one damaged droid was still holding a blaster. He fired it …and the blast barrelled toward Qui-Gon.
Ben was focused on undoing the cuffs, but he felt the warning and pushed Qui-Gon out of the way, as the blast whizzed past the Jedi, but hit him squarely in the stomach.
Padmè and Panaka blasted the droid at the same moment, but it was too late.
Shock and nausea vibrated through his body as he held his stomach; he could hear some one calling out his name and looked up to see Mon Mothma reaching for him. "Ben, Ben!"
Shooting pain drove him to groan as immense pain filled him.
He didn't want to give in to the stinging sensation, but his legs weakened and he crumpled to the floor.
Through the agony he whispered, "It…. hurts."
Tbc…