Up in space, Anakin continued flying around, blasting at stray Vulture Droids as he did. With each Droid he shot out of the sky, his confidence continued to grow. As he did, he gazed out at the battle at the Central Control Ship. The turrets on the ship were tearing through the attack force, making it impossible for them to make an attack run.
"Those guys are getting killed out there," Anakin realized. "We gotta help them."
R2 beeped in protest.
"I know he said no unnecessary risks," he replied. "But this is necessary. Hang on!"
Anakin veered the starfighter down toward the control ship. Almost immediately, the turrets turned toward him, opening fire. Anakin braced himself as he did his best to evade the blasts.
"Alright… let's try this!"
He then quickly turned on the controls, causing his starfighter to spin wildly so he could avoid the blasts and open fire on the turrets. This allowed him to fire at the turrets, taking them out in rapid succession.
"Yes! I knew spinning was a good trick."
-X-
Back with the Gungans, the battle with the Droids continued to rage on. As the Battle Droids continued to fire, one of the blasts hit the energy emitter, destroying it and causing the shield to go down. This prompted the Battle Droids to move their tanks forward, which opened fire on the Gungans. Seeing this, Tarples let out a whistle, signaling the others.
"Fall back to the Swamp!" he called out. "Retreat!"
The Gungans began falling back, Jar Jar holding tight to Tarpals as the tanks began opening fire on them. Jar Jar winced as he felt the ground beneath them shake.
"We gotta do something about those tanks," Jar Jar decided.
"But what? We'll get blasted before we can load the catapults!"
Jar Jar looked at the carts of massive energy balls being pulled away by Kaadu. This gave him an idea.
"Maybe we won't have to," Jar Jar decided, taking Tarples' spear. "Pull alongside the cart!"
Tarples looked ahead at the carts, piecing together what Jar Jar's plan was and smiling at the prospect. They rode up to the cart, where Jar Jar swung the spear at the lock for the hatch on the cart. The hatch opened up, allowing the energy balls to roll out the back toward the tanks. Their impact on the tanks took them down instantly as the Gungans continued their retreat. Some of the tanks however continued firing on the others, with one in pursuit of Jar Jar and Tarpals in particular. It blasted the ground near the Kaadu, launching both of them into the air. They both landed on the tank, with Tarpals landing near the bottom, clinging on as Jar Jar landed on the barrel. The both of them held on tight as the tank continued moving forward, firing at the Gungans.
"Jar Jar!" Tarpals called out. "We gotta stop this thing! Use a boomba!"
"But I don't have a boomba!"
Tarpals reached into his pocket and pulled out an energy ball. "Here!"
He tossed Jar Jar the energy ball, which he caught as a Battle Droid opened up the hatch to deal with them. Jar Jar quickly tossed the energy ball at the Battle Droid, destroying it. As the tank began to swerve out of control, Tarpals and Jar Jar began to climb toward the cockpit, throwing out the droid and getting inside. Tarpals quickly took the controls and turned the tank around, opening fire on the droid forces. The two looked at each other for a moment, pleased to have the droid forces on the run. However, a blast from another one of the tanks hit them, causing their tank to spark with electricity before hitting the ground and falling backward, jostling the two Gungans inside.
-X-
Back in the palace, Padme and the others quickly made their way down the hallway, hoping to get to the throne room in time. Just as they made it to the end of the hallway, several Droidikas came rolling out, surrounding them. They didn't even have the chance to raise their weapons as more Battle Droids came in and covered them.
"Drop your weapons," one of the droids ordered.
Padme looked all around, not seeing any better options, she was forced to comply.
"Drop your weapons," she ordered. "They win this round."
Panaka was reluctant, but he complied. He threw his blaster to the ground, prompting the others to do the same as the droids took them hostage.
-X-
Back up in space, Anakin continued blasting at the turrets, taking them out one after another. As he continued shooting, several Vulture Droids swooped in close, opening fire on Anakin. One of the blasts nailed the side of the starfighter, causing R2 to wail in response.
"We're hit!" Anakin let out.
He looked around, seeing the hangar bay leading inside the Control Ship. he blasted at the door controls, opening the doors to the hangar up so he could fly inside. Anakin tried to level the starfighter out as he entered the ship. He maneuvered around the transports and closed hangar doors as the starfighter barely held together. Anakin managed to level the ship out as it crashed onto the ground, skidding along the floor and plowing into several Battle Droids in the process. After a few moments, the ship finally came to a stop, allowing Anakin to let out a sigh of relief. He tried getting the systems back online, but the controls were unresponsive.
"Not good," he let out. "Everything's overheated. R2, see what you can do to get us back online."
R2 beeped, signaling he would do what he could. Unfortunately, several Battle Droids and Vulture Droids started surrounding them, making Anakin nervous.
-X-
Inside the palace, Ki-Adi-Mundi and Plo Koon were finishing up the last of the Battle Droids, deflecting their laser blasts right back at them before cutting the last of them down and deactivating their lightsabers.
"That took longer than needed," Plo Koon commented.
"We must rendezvous with the others," Ki-Adi-Mundi instructed.
Before they could get very far, a platform with mechanical legs suddenly walked up to them. The two Jedi raised an eyebrow before the platform activated a hologram of Count Dooku.
"Greetings, my Jedi friends," he addressed.
"Count Dooku," Plo Koon replied.
"Before you attempt to do something drastic, I feel compelled to inform you that Padme Amidala is my guest, and is being brought to the throne room. So if you value the safety of her and her allies, you will allow my forces to escort you here," his hologram gestured to the Battle Droids that were marching into the room. "And if you please, give them your weapons."
The two Jedi Masters looked at each other, realizing there was no way out of this situation. They complied, handing their lightsabers over to the lead Battle Droid before letting them take them to the throne room.
-X-
Back with Obi-Wan, he continued meditating as Darth Maul paced back and forth, desperate to finish the fight between them.
"You think this false sense of serenity will aid you?" Maul mused. "You are wrong."
Obi-Wan said nothing. He continued to meditate, not wanting to lash out in anger at his opponent.
"The Separatists will lay waste to your friends. Soon you will be destroyed. You, your allies… and the boy."
Something inside Obi-Wan reacted to the mention of Anakin, but Obi-Wan was able to keep himself from reacting. However, it was enough for Maul to detect, causing him to smirk in response.
"Yes… I remember the boy from Tatooine. He is impressive. The Force is strong within him. One has to wonder…" Obi-Wan's composure started to break as Maul kept talking. "How powerful he could be… in the Dark Side."
Just as he said that, the forcefield deactivated and Obi-Wan launched to his feet. Both combatants activated their weapons and reengaged in their duel. As they clashed sabers, they moved down the hallway toward a room that had a massive shaft in the middle of the room. Maul tried swinging his saber on either side of Obi-Wan, but the Jedi Knight was quick to block each blow before striking high at the Sith Lord. Maul blocked it as he proceeded to press the attack, hoping Obi-Wan's reactionary state would leave him out of focus enough to take him out.
Obi-Wan's mind was scattered, his fears for Anakin were present, as were his worries of losing him like he did with Qui Gon, but also was the present danger of Darth Maul, which he tried to direct his feelings toward. After deflecting another one of Maul's strikes, the two paused for a moment, staring each other down Maul made the first move. He spun his lightsaber before swinging it at Obi-Wan. He blocked Maul's attack from one side before quickly defending the other, prompting Maul to sweep at the legs. Obi-Wan leaped over the attack and went on the offensive, striking at Maul repeatedly as he tried to deflect the attacks.
One such such attack sliced Maul's saber in half, allowing Obi-Wan to kick him in the chest and knock him on his back. Obi-Wan tried bringing his lightsaber down on him, but Maul blocked it, kicking Obi-Wan in the face and causing him to stagger back so he could flip back onto his feet. Maul quickly discarded one piece of his weapon before moving away from Obi-Wan so he could mount a proper attack. Obi-Wan pursued, quickly engaging him in combat once more. The two clashed sabers once more, each with great speed and precision so as not to give the other an opening. Maul tried kicking Obi-Wan in the face, but he just flipped through the air and landed on his feet, clearly ready to engage once more.
The two continued fighting, Maul's agility and speed more than a match for Obi-Wan's skill as he flipped out of the way of one of his attacks. Maul then spun around and struck at Obi-Wan, prompting him to block the blade as quickly as they could. The two then clashed blades with each other for a moment before they became locked, with Obi-Wan pressing against Maul as hard as he could. Unfortunately, Maul was able to shove him off and used the Force to push him away toward the shaft.
As he fell in, Obi-Wan grabbed hold of a nozzle on the side of the shaft, holding on for dear life as Maul approached. Grinning maliciously, Darth Maul looked down at the Jedi's fallen lightsaber and kicked it down into the shaft. Obi-Wan watched helplessly as his weapon sailed down into a seemingly bottomless abyss, fearing he would not be far behind.
-X-
Out in the grasslands, Jar Jar and Tarpals managed to climb out of the tank as the Battle Droids began closing in. The two Gungans got to the other side of the tank before the Droids approached, preparing to open fire. They peeked over the tank, seeing that several of the Gungans had been captured, and others even killed.
"This isn't good," Jar Jar lamented.
"We're not down yet," Tarpals reassured, gripping a blaster he had grabbed from the tank. "We just need to think of something."
"Surrender," the lead droid ordered, raising its blaster at them.
Jar Jar and Tarpals looked at each other, nodding as Tarpals peaked over the edge.
"Never!"
The Droids then proceeded to open fire, forcing the two to duck back behind the tank.
-X-
Inside the palace, Padme and her forces were brought to the throne room, where Dooku and the Nemoidians were waiting for them.
"Welcome home, Your Highness," Dooku greeted, rising from the throne. "I must say you've made a valiant effort, but I'm afraid your attempt at insurrection ends here."
"The only insurgent I see here is you," Padme countered.
Dooku paid her comment no mind as he looked up, seeing Ki-Adi-Mundi and Plo Koon were brought in as well.
"That won't be the story the Senate will learn. When word of the Jedi's assassination of you and attempted seizure of Naboo, the weakness of the Republic will be all but apparent, and thousands of more systems will rally to our cause."
"Do you truly believe the Senate will believe your lies?" Ki-Adi-Mundi countered.
"It will be enough to weaken the resolve of many," Dooku countered, pulling his lightsaber from his belt. "That will be more than-"
"Wait!" Padme called out, getting everyone's attention. "Perhaps… we can come to an agreement."
Dooku paused, keeping his lightsaber off as he approached. "What sort of arrangement?"
"I sign your treaty. You free my people and I say the Jedi attempted a takeover of my planet before your forces came to my rescue. This way, everybody wins. Naboo joins the Separatists and my people are unharmed."
Dooku mulled over Padme's proposal, weighing the merits of it. Eventually, Dooku put his hilt back on his belt, causing Padme to let out a breath of relief.
"That can be arranged," Dooku replied before turning to Gunray. "Viceroy, show the treaty to our new friend."
Gunray nodded as Padme made for the throne. She shot Panaka a quick glance, signaling him that she had a plan. She took her seat as Gunray placed the treaty in front of her.
"I think you will find our terms… most agreeable," he mused.
Padme took the treaty, casually placing her arm on an armrest with her finger over a hidden button.
"It looks… favorable. Though I do have one small addendum."
"Addendum?" Gunray repeated, turning the others for a moment before turning back to Padme. "What addendum is that?"
"This."
Padme then pressed the button, opening up a panel that revealed a set of concealed blasters. She grabbed one and opened fire on the Battle Droids, taking them down in rapid succession. Before Dooku could react, the two Jedi used the Force to shove him to the ground before turning toward one of the droids and summoning their lightsabers. Once their weapons were reclaimed, they turned them on and got to work cutting down Battle Droids left and right. Padme then grabbed another blaster from the compartment and tossed it to Panaka, who quickly opened fire on the droids as well.
Dooku meanwhile picked himself up, glaring at Padme as she took out the armed forces in the room. He grabbed his lightsaber and turned it on, intent on striking her down. Before he could, however, Plo Koon approached and used his saber to block Dooku's, much to his annoyance.
"There has been enough bloodshed," Plo Koon declared.
Irritated, Dooku shoved Plo Koon off and the two engaged in a brief duel, with Dooku going on the offensive as Plo Koon easily blocked and evaded the attacks. After dispatching a droid, Ki-Adi-Mundi saw the duel taking place and came over to help. The two clashed against Dooku for a bit, eventually locking blades with him as Padme and the others fended off the Battle Droids.
"Your occupation is at an end Dooku," Ki-Adi-Mundi informed. "It's over."
"This is only the beginning," Dooku promised.
He then turned around and extended his hand toward the massive windows, using the Force to shatter them. Everyone covered their eyes as Dooku bolted toward the opening and leaped out the window. The others looked up just in time to see him escape.
"Secure the Viceroy!" Plo Koon instructed. "We'll go after Dooku!"
Padme and Panaka nodded as they opened fire on the rest of the droids. Plo Koon and Ki-Adi-Mundi and Plo Koon quickly took out the window as the guards claimed the downed Battle Droids' blasters and finished off the Battle Droids before covering Gunray and Lott Dod.
"Secure the doors, "Panaka ordered.
The guards nodded as they made their way to the doors and sealed them up. All the while, Padme held her blaster out as she approached Gunray and Dod.
"And now, Viceroy, we will discuss a new treaty."