Chapter Eight: Naboo Swamps

"Senator," I whispered softly to Padme as she readied herself, C-3PO guiding the ship towards the royal palace. "Are you sure you're needed to investigate this? I'm sure it's something your local militia could do. Or a clone squadron."

"Nonsense," she responded with a wave of her hand, the ship landing gracefully in the hangar. "I don't want Republic occupation on my planet. If the Separatists are back, I need to make sure of it before I ask for any soldiers to land in my home."

I hummed, pursing my lips as the ramp descended gracefully. The queen of Naboo approached us, flanked by a man with dark skin and only one eye. He was armed-probably the head of security.

"We came as soon as we could, my lady," Padme expressed as she hurried down the ramp, Jar Jar and C-3PO behind her. "Have you found anymore droids?"

I waited for them all to exit the ship before following in my Mandalorian armor. The man I assumed to be head of security gave me a suspicious look, but I didn't react.

"Only the three," the queen responded, her voice accented. "But you can be sure, they aren't tourists." I regarded the woman closely. It was hard for me to imagine Padme being the queen once. Of course, I knew Naboo always had young queens and I didn't doubt that she was good at it. But she was highly expressive as a person. How could she stand there in the heavy robes and makeup...expressionless?

"I need you to convince the Senate, or the Jedi Council, or whoever is in charge of this terrible war that we are threatened!"

I glanced at Padme, my eyebrow raising. It seemed the queen didn't mind occupation as much as Padme did.

"We'll need more proof," the senator sighed. "Finding a couple of battle droids will not be enough."

Someone's comm beeped, followed by a digitized voice. "Captain Typho, the battle droid is ready for analysis."

"Thank you," his deep voice responded before he glanced at me. "I'm going to need you to remove your weapons."

I patted my dual pistols. "No can do, Captain," I responded with a small smile.

"Sorry," Padme butt in, gesturing to me. "This is Kida. She's been my protector since the attempt on my life."

"That was a few months ago," Typho responded. "Is she still necessary?"

I quirked my eyebrow, but surprised the group by laughing. "I ask myself the same thing, but the senator seems to like me for some reason."

Padme swallowed, but cast me a look. "She has information. And she can get things done that I can't."

As we walked, the captain consigning for me to keep my weapons, he grumbled. "So she's your errand runner?"

"She's my friend," Padme responded curtly.

"Who you pay well," I added in with a smirk before glancing at the captain of the guard. "And by the way. I'm an infamous bounty hunter and a first-class assassin. So don't ever call me an errand runner, alright?"

He glared at me, but let me pass into the examination room. "Have you been able to retrieve any information?" the senator asked the medical droid as we entered.

"Unfortunately," the queen responded. "The Naboo security who discovered them preferred to shoot first and retrieve data later."

I hummed. "How helpful."

"They were found in the grasslands," Padme mused. "Where'd they pick up all this mud?"

"Add that to our very long list of questions," Captain Typho responded, resigned.

As the medical droid began to saw into the battle droid's head, my gaze followed the motions of Representative Binks. He was wandering around the room excitedly, as if he was looking for something.

"I'm getting a bad feeling about this," C-3PO said, watching the medical droid work. "With your permission, Senator Padme, I would like to shut down before I get sensory overload."

I rolled my eyes at his words, but kept my gaze on Jar Jar.

"Permission denied," Padme sighed.

"Denied?" The droid seemed shocked.

"3PO, you might be able to get some information out of him." As the senator explained, the battle droid sat up violently, his ocular lenses dark.

"Cannot see," it voiced, confused. "Where am I?"

"You are in very good hands," 3PO spoke. "Aboard a separatist ship. Count Dooku himself intends to reward you for your bravery."

"Bravery," the battle droid responded. I rolled my eyes, casting my glance back towards Jar Jar. He seemed to be chasing something...a blue beetle? My brows furrowed in thought as I listened to the droids talk.

"For your assignment on Naboo," 3PO explained, Padme smiling. "Do try to activate what's left of your memory. We all want to hear your tale of medical heroics."

The battle droid shorted for a moment before voicing, "Virus." The queen and her captain glanced at each other nervously, my own eyebrow raising.

"Yes, the virus," 3PO responded, surprising me with his acting ability. "You do remember. Please continue."

"A small amount leaked out," the droid responded. A small ruckus drew my attention across the room, my eyes widening at the sight of Jar Jar's tongue stuck in a contraption. I sighed quietly, grinding my teeth at the likelihood of him messing things up. "Must contain," the droid continued. "Naboo cannot know." In the back, I watched Jar Jar get his head stuck in the top of an R4 unit, flipping backwards over a table. "Lab must remain secret."

"A secret lab on Naboo?" 3PO said, clearly blowing his cover. "Where? You must tell-" Padme leapt forward, slapping her hand over 3PO's modulator.

"It's a secret," the battle droid pressed. "This is no separatist ship."

My hand rested on my pistol, but the captain beat me to it. He drew his weapon, aiming it at the battle droid. "Unless you want to become a box of spare parts, you'll tell us where that lab is."

I rolled my eyes as the droid responded to the threat. "The lab is secret."

My senses sparked to life, my gaze lifting to see the shelves begin to fall towards the examination table. "Senator!" I yelled.

She gasped. "Look out!" She pushed C-3PO out of the way, my own hand coming up to drag Captain Typho away from the table. The shelves crashed down, destroying the battle droid completely.

"We'll never get any information out of him now," the captain grunted as he stood, giving me a nod of thanks. Everyone glaned at Jar Jar, and while I had no love for the Gungan buffoon, I sighed.

"We wouldn't have anyways. Battle droids don't really respond to death threats," I huffed, casting a glance at the senator before looking back at Jar Jar.

"Me-sah sorry," he said, removing the R4 headpiece and walking over Padme. "It was a accident." He dumped the headpiece sideways, the blue beetle plopping out.

"Is…" Padme cleared her throat as she looked down at the bug. "This what you're after?"

"Me-sah loving!" Jar Jar exclaimed, the debacle with the battle droid forgotten in his mind. I lifted my eyebrow at him, casting a glance at Captain Typho, who held a similar look of disdain. "Issah very very good tongue grabbin! Issa find in only one place-in!"

My head lifted at that, making me approach behind the crouching senator. "Where?" I asked for us both.

"In the mud under the perlote tree!"

Padme glanced back at me, her eyebrows furrowed. "Like the mud on this droid." She thought for a moment. "The eastern swamps! I think Jar Jar just found out the location of that lab." The senator jumped up from the ground and rushed from the room, the captain, queen, and I following swiftly.

Jar Jar stayed a few moments to eat his precious beetle. I rolled my eyes. What luck would it be that a moron would have all the clues to finding a secret separatist lab?

By the time I caught up with the rushing senator, she was already setting up communications with the jedi temple. It only took a moment for Mace Windu and Yoda to appear, both expecting an update from Senator Amidala.

"Master Jedi," she greeted as we joined her, my own form preferring to lurk in the background.

"Senator," Windu greeted. "What news do you have?"

"Jar Jar found a beetle that is exclusive to the eastern swamps of Naboo. The battle droid the security team captured mentioned something about a secret lab there...and a virus." Her tone was solemn. Worried.

"They're planning an attack on Naboo," Captain Typho joined in. "It's the only explanation."

The jedi looked uncertain for a moment before Yoda spoke. "Delicate, the situation is. Two jedi, we will send."

I felt a spike of emotion from the senator. "May I recommend," Padme started as she stepped forward. "General Kenobi and General Skywalker? Relations with the Gungans are a little tense right now, but they trust General Kenobi like one of their own."

I quirked my eyebrow, trying not to laugh. It was a damned miracle no one knew anything yet. It's not like either of them was very subtle. I wondered for a moment if Kenobi or Ahsoka knew. Maybe they were just keeping it a secret to protect their friend.

The jedi glanced at each other. "Send them, we will," Yoda conceded.

The transmission ended, Padme immediately jumping into action. "I want as much information as possible before the jedi arrive," she explained, her hand coming down a bit too hard on the console. "See if you and 3PO can download any of the other battle droid's memory," she said to the captain before looking determinedly to the side. "I'm going to go find that lab."

I cleared my throat. "And that's my cue." I put myself between the senator and the door. "I highly advise against that, Senator."

"Don't worry, you're coming with me," she grinned, moving to step by me, but I stepped with her.

"You see, my job is to keep you safe. And that's a lot harder to do when you go out searching for Separatist strongholds. I can protect you from assassins all day, but I can only do so much against an army."

"I agree with the bounty hunter," Captain Typho voiced, stepping forward. "I'm not sure going out there is wise."

"Kida will be there to protect us," she fought back.

"Us?" I repeated, crossing my arms.

Padme looked me up and down. "Come on. Guarding me here is easy. Since when are you one to back away from a challenge?" She looked away, moving past me. This time, I let her go with a roll of my eyes. "Come on, Jar Jar."

Wonderful. The Gungan was coming. I sighed heavily before following. In the end, she was right-I often enjoyed a challenge.

"I advise that you put a hazard suit on," Padme said as she landed the Naboo cruiser. I rolled my eyes and shook my head.

"No offense, but you look ridiculous," I laughed.

"But if there's a virus, like the droid said, I'm safe," she argued. "I can't have my protector dying from a toxin."

She tried to hand me a suit again, but I pushed it away. "Relax, Senator," I chuckled again. "My mask filters out toxins. I'll be fine." As I spoke, I drew down my goggles and brought up my mask, the two pieces connecting and coming to life with a flash of blue light. Immediately, I felt the air filters kick in, my wrist comm notifying me that it was working.

I followed Padme and Jar Jar from the cruiser, taking in the rolling Nabooian fields and the massive Elder head that was half in the ground. Ahead of us, past the uncomfortable looking Jar Jar, were masses of dead Shaak.

"This is bombad," Binks voiced, his voice automated through his helmet. "Wassah happened to them?"

"It's the plague," Padme answered immediately. I scanned over it, noticing them all near the water. "We're definitely getting close."

My senses tingled to life, my eyes casting sideways as I became aware of a creeping presence. I turned immediately, lifting my pistol...to see a Gungan with pink skin.

"A Gungan?" I voiced, choosing not to pull my trigger in my shock. I'd expected a droid… or at least something sinister. It only took a moment for her feet to connect with my chest, propelling me backwards.

I hit the ground hard but rolled upright to watch Padme fly by me, having taken her own hit from the female Gungan. She went after Jar Jar as I helped the senator to her feet.

"Who-sah are you?" she cried as Jar Jar yelled, panicked. "Why you-sah here?" She ripped off his helmet, the representative yelling in fear and attempting to not breathe the air. I watched, unsure, seeing the female Gungan wearing no protective clothing.

"Don't move," Padme said, surprising me as she pulled a pistol. "I don't want to hurt you. Jar Jar, put your helmet back on." Binks ran up immediately, snatching back his helmet.

"Senator," I voiced gently as Jar Jar put his helmet back on, panting frantically. "It's okay." I stepped between her and the female Gungan, putting my hand on her pistol and lowering it. Then, I pressed the button to retract my mask, breathing in the beautiful Nabooian air.

"Kida!" Padme said in fright.

"You-sah okeday," the female Gungan said behind me. It's not in the air, it's in the water."

After a beat and a nod from me, the senator removed her helmet. "Who are you?" she finally asked.

"Me-sah Peppi Bow," the female said.

"We think the virus that made your animals sick, came from the perlote trees."

"You-sah follow this-ah river, you-sah findah you-sah perlote," Peppi said back. "Me-sah take you!"

"No, Peppi," Padme argued. "You stay here. You'll be going home soon, I promise." She placed her hand on the Gungan's pink arm. "I'll send some soldiers to pick you up and take you back to Theed." Peppi smiled gratefully as I began walking down the river.

Padme and Jar Jar joined me quickly, their helmets at their sides. I chuckled as we walked, the senator looking disgruntled.

"And what is funny?"

"Oh nothing," I said through another laugh. "Just, now that we know the toxin isn't airborne, you look even more ridiculous."

"This isn't a funny situation," she scolded.

"You're telling me. How the hell am I supposed to protect two neon yellow targets that can't move as fast because the pant legs are too big?"

My attempt a lightening the mood worked, Padme laughing lightly. "Well," she said with a sigh, picking up the pace down the river. "Then I guess you'll have a nice challenge.

The river and grassland turned to swamps quickly, the perlote trees rising above us with long tendrils of vines hanging down.

"Keep your eyes open," Padme said, stepping over the raised roots carefully. "Look for anything out of the ordinary."

I rolled my eyes, my hand on my pistol and my eyes scanning the dark trees. "This is a nightmare," I muttered. "This is a perfect place for an ambush." Padme brushed off my worry as part of my job, but I couldn't help the feeling that we were being watched. And considering my force sensitivity, I was pretty sure I was right.

I heard a slam, automatically drawing my gun and turning...only to find Jar Jar face down in the dirt. I sighed unhappily, holstering my weapon again as Padme went to help her friend up.

"A hatch!" Jar Jar expressed, my mouth falling open in disbelief.

"You've got to be kidding me," I whispered as Padme activated her comms.

"Captain Typho," she spoke quickly. "I think we're standing right on top of the lab." I stepped forward, watching the hatch become more clear as Jar Jar brushed away the dirt. "I need a geo-scan of coordinates SP-127."

I heard a small beep, my head whipping to the side to look past the senator. She got off the comms as I scanned the treeline, dropping to her knees beside Jar Jar.

"There's no way we're going to open this," Padme sighed.

I blanched, abandoning my scan to stare at her. "Open it? We've found it. I'm not letting you go inside. It's likely filled with droids and, not to mention, a deadly virus. And I have a feeling they already know we're…" Automated hisses cut off my words as I spun, drawing both my blasters. "Here," I finished, watching a circle of battle droids rise around us.

Padme, ignoring me, continued to think. "We'll just have to-"

"Freeze!" one yelled, aiming his own gun right back at me. "Hold it right there." My pistols were raised, but I knew I couldn't get them all without at least one hitting Padme or Jar Jar. "Drop em, bounty hunter," the droid voiced.

"Look at the trouble you get me into," I growled back at the reckless senator, dropping my pistols to the ground. They searched me, removing my other weapons, before taking their hazard suits and cuffing us all. We descended into the lab, flanked by droids, and pushed through the dark hallways.

"You-sah let us go!" Jar Jar tried, pulling at his restraints as we were pushed into a room.

A male entered the room, his face long and pale blue with black circles around his tilted eyes. "Who are you?" Padme demanded. "Why are you holding us?"

He stepped forward into the light, letting me see him better as he brought up a pair of spectacles. A Faust. And what seemed to be a scientists, given his attire. He didn't respond to the senator's question, peering closely at Jar Jar.

"Wonderful specimens!" he expressed, turning his gaze to me. He looked me up and down, his eyes seeming analytical before curious. "Wonderful specimens indeed," he muttered before turning to Padme. "What's a lifeform like you doing in a swamp like this?" His voice was accented and teasing.

"I was about to ask you the same thing," Senator Amidala responded smoothly, a bite in her tone. I watched him closely, unsure why he'd looked at me the way he did. I'd felt the force spark around him with curiosity.

"Thanks to the support from my compassionate friends in the Separatist Alliance," he explained, stepping away from us. "I am creating life!"

"How-sah you-sah creating life?"

"I'm so pleased you inquired," the scientist said smugly, giving Jar Jar a satisfied smirk. "A demonstration is in order!" My nerves immediately spiked, watching him turn and walk across the room. "Allow me to present the return of the infamous Blue Shadow virus!" He opened a case, carefully plucking a blue vial from the endless racks and waving it in the air.

"The Blue Shadow virus?" Padme asked, her voice clearly portraying her disbelief. "I thought that deadly disease was extinct."

"Yes, it was wiped from the galaxy generations ago," the scientist lamented before perking up again. "But I have given it life once again!"

"Stars," I muttered in horror.

"You-sah not giving life," Jar Jar argued angrily. "You-sah taking life! You-sah poison the Gungan water."

The scientist laughed at the accusation-a sound that was strange to the ear. I'd never heard a Faust laugh, so I had nothing to compare it to. But this one sounded like he was screaming 'yeah' over and over. Or maybe that's what the maniac was doing.

"Unfortunately," he expressed, walking away from us. "The Blue Shadow virus in its natural form thrives only in water. Until I improved upon that weakness."

My eyes scanned over the contraption he approached, watching him place the vial on a pedestal and pull a lever. Electricity sprouted out, electrifying the vial until the contents were gaseous.

"Your eyes do not deceive you," the Faust laughed again. "I have perfected and airborne strain of the Blue Shadow virus."

And LEP servant droid entered the room, carrying a small, circular bomb. "This is the last of the bombs, Doctor," it voiced, lifting it up to the scientist.

"I'm well aware it is the last!" the man yelled, snatching the bomb from the frantic droid. "Do you think I'd lose count?" He turned back to us, lifting the vial again. "The virus, in its gaseous form, combined with these bombs, will release the Blue Shadow virus back into the galaxy!" He placed the vial in the bomb, the timer lighting up with red lights. "More potent than ever before!"

The maniac was proud… I shook my head in disbelief.

"Are you insane?" Padme asked. I knew the answer to that, but chose not to say it. "It's a deadly disease! No life forms are immune to it. That's why it was eradicated!"

"You mean murdered!" he yelled back at her, his eyes showing me how unhinged he was. "Take this away," he ordered, giving the bomb back to his droid. "Meanwhile, as we speak, thousands and thousands of so-called superior lifeforms are spreading their disease of war throughout the galaxy. Perhaps they are the ones who should be eradicated!"

"Dinii," I growled at him, my eyes glaring. He regarded me, his eyes scanning again, before he approached one of the tables and pulled a needle.

"You speak Mando'a," he expressed, stepping towards me with interest. "But you're not Mandalorian." He came forward quickly, pricking the side of my neck. I jerked away, but it seemed a drop of blood was all he wanted. "Interesting," he muttered to himself as he analyzed it on a data pad. "This is even better than I expected."

"What are you going on about?" Padme growled, the woman having grown surprisingly defensive of me. Ironic...considering I was supposed to be protecting her.

"What you said is true," the scientist admitted, speaking to the senator. "No species are immune to the Blue Shadow virus...but some are more resistant. Some species that are far more rare than any others. Species that were thought to be lost." As he spoke with glee, he took another vial from the case and electrified it, turning it gaseous. He snapped his fingers, battle droids grabbing my arms and dragging me forward.

"Don't touch me," I yelled, doing my best to pull myself free. A mask was brought forward, looking a lot like a gas mask, but with an access tube. I swallowed thickly as they placed it over my head.

"No!" Padme yelled, followed by Jar Jar's own objections. "What are you doing? Don't!"

"I don't know what you think I am, man," I tried, panic rising in my chest. "But I was born on Corellia! I'm Corellian! Human! That's nothing special."

The Faust regarded me as he held up the vial. "Perhaps you were born on Corellia. Perhaps not. But one thing is for certain," he said as he fitted the vial into the nozzle and turned it, the seal popping audibly. He leaned close to the mask as it began to fill with blue gas, obscuring him from view. "You are far from an average human."

Mando'a

Dinii - lunatic

AUTHOR'S NOTE

Hi everyone! Another chapter down. Now that things have been established, Kida will take part in some of the canon works, though some adventures I will also be making up in order to guide the story in the right directions and have the interactions that need to be had. Also, no, Kida won't take part in every adventure from here on out. She won't always be present, so there will be some side missions, or just time skips in general (as I've already done in past chapters).

Enjoy, and feel free to leave a comment,

Ryder