| abstract
| - Deep in the swamps of Naboo, Queen Nalanda, her handmaidens, her guards a few pilots waited with the Jedi as well as Anakin. Danta had disappeared into the depths of the swamp some time ago in search of the underwater city Otoh Gunga. He had been honest with Nalanda when he had said he didn’t like their chances of any form of alliance. The Gungans were a proud people and didn’t like any contact from the Naboo. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan stood silently together, Anakin was conscious of this as well as conscious that he was the reason for this division, or so he thought. “I have been thinking,” Qui-Gon said at last, “that we walk a very thin line here. If it does come to war we cannot take sides, and protecting the Queen means we can only do so much.” “Especially if the assassin decides to show herself,” Padmé added darkly. “Do you think she will, Master?” Obi-Wan asked. “I am almost certain,” Qui-Gon replied, “but there clearly is more to her than just working with the Federation.” When Anakin and Padmé were talking about something else, Obi-Wan broached a subject with his Master that he had been considering for sometime. “Master, I…I’d like to apologise for my behaviour,” he said, his eyes on the ground, “while I do not agree with you about the boy I respect the lengths you are going to help him. I hope,” Obi-Wan added, “that this is not going to be a subject that divides us.” After a moment of silence Obi-Wan dared to look up, his Master’s face glowed with pride and admiration. “We have come too far together for that to happen, Obi-Wan,” Qui-Gon said, placing his hand on the young man’s shoulder. “I meant what I said when you were ready to face the trials and I see you becoming a great Jedi Knight, far beyond anything that I could have hoped. Perhaps, this final test will prove you are ready.” Qui-Gon’s words made Obi-Wan’s fears subside, his Master was right. It would take a lot to shatter the bond they shared, a bond crafted by their mutual experiences as well as their respect for each other. The droid R2-D2 gave a low whistle, then a few minutes later Danta emerged from the water, shaking droplets off him. Yet from the look on his face the prospects weren’t promising. Nalanda stepped forward to receive him. “Theysa all not there,” Danta told her, “no buddy home, tis very bombad.” “Could the Gungans have been taken to the camps?” Nalanda asked Panaka. Her head of security shook his head. “More likely they were wiped out,” he said dryly. “No-no,” Danta said quickly, waving his hands franticly, “when Gungans in trouble theysa go to sacred place.” “Can you take us there?” Nalanda asked him. “Awwww…okeeday,” Danta started walking off into the swamp. “Mesa show you. It’s thisa way.” With some reluctance they all followed him. They walked through the swamp for the best part of an hour, the vegetation and mist thickening as they went. Finally Danta brought them to a stop, yet there was nothing to see. The mist completely surrounded them, obscuring everything. Anakin’s didn’t like this, he looked around apprehensively. “What’s happening?” he asked Padmé. “There,” Padmé nodded just ahead to where Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan were also looking. Anakin stared where she had indicated, squinting through the mist but he could see nothing. Then he felt something, a flicker of movement before he noticed the Gungans emerge through the grey. They rode kaadu—a bipedal mount native to Naboo—and carried hefty spears. Danta showed no fear as he approached them. “Pela, where yousa been?” one of the Gungans asked, he was clearly in charge. “Mesa been away, Tarpals,” Danta said rather sheepishly, then nodded to those behind him. “Thesa very importand, we haveta see da boss.” “Boss Nass no wanna see yousa,” Tarpals retorted. “Will he want to see me?” Nalanda asked, stepping forward. Even in the less imposing garments of brown and crimson she drew attention to herself. Clearly a figure of authority, even to Tarpals. “Okeday,” Tarpals clicked his tongue in agitation and turned his mount, “yousa come.” The Gungans’ ‘sacred place’ was a clearing in the middle of the swamp, implanted in the ground were massive stone statues and it was around these the Gungans were assembled. They eyed the Naboo with barely veiled hostility as they walked through. But all Nalanda could see was the fat, green Gungan in ornate robes standing atop one of the stone heads. This was the leader, Boss Nass. It was to the base of the head Tarpals led them, Nalanda and Danta stood side by side, Boss Nass looking between them. “Danta Pela, why yousa come?” Boss Nass said, his voice as deep as a cavern, he nodded to Nalanda. “Whosa thees?” “I am Queen Nalanda,” she said, stepping forward and looking straight at the Gungan. “We wish to form an alliance with you.” “Mesa no think so,” Mass intoned, “wesa no like da Naboo with their mackaneeks. Yousa think your brains so big.” Nalanda stiffened, not sure what to say of where to go from here. One of her handmaidens stepped forward and touched her arm lightly. “You've done you’re best, Sanné,” the handmaiden Rhadé said softly, “but I’ll have to take it from here.” “Whosa that?” Nass asked, something was afoot here. “Your Honour, I am Queen Nalanda,” Rhadé said. True she wore the garb of a handmaiden, and she was without both the imposing headdress and face paint, but the tone of authority was unmistakable. “This is my decoy, my loyal body guard,” she nodded to Sanné who now stood to one side. “I hope you can forgive my deception but it was necessary to disguise myself.” She turned to look at the astonished group behind her. “Gentlemen, I apologise for deceiving you.” The only ones who were not surprised were Panaka, who had been in on it the entire time and Qui-Gon who had suspected something of the like all along. Nalanda, the real Queen Nalanda, turned back to address the Gungan leader. “Even though we have not always agreed, Your Honour,” she said to Boss Nass, “our two great societies have always lived in peace. The Federation are destroying everything we have worked so hard for and if we do not act quickly all will be lost forever. Therefore I ask you to help us. No,” she added in an almost desperate voice, “I beg you to help us.” She got down on her knees before him and motioned for her handmaidens to do the same. Soon the entire party were prostrated before the Gungan leader, even the Jedi. “We are your humble servants,” she said slowly, “our fate is in your hands.” And then she waited for the Gungan to make up his mind. It was a desperate gamble, but it was all she had and she suspected that if the Gungan leader saw that they were in fact on equal terms with the Naboo that they could begin to work together. Boss Nass broke into a raucous laughter and Rhadé smiled. If this would work, if they could repel the Federation they would have more than she had ever hope for. “Yousa convincing, Queen Naladoll,” Boss Nass laughed, “mebe…wesa be friends!” In his words, Nalanda heard the first sounds of their victory.
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