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| - The invasion was in full force as Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon descended, and it was getting harder to be lost in the throng as the MTTs started to land. Below them was a vast carpet of green, the skyline of Theed not that far into the distance. “The city, Master?” Obi-Wan asked. “That's where Padmé is, but we’re still not sure what we’re going to find there,” Qui-Gon said, the craft shuddered from the laserfire, “and we have to lose those fighters.” Reluctantly Obi-Wan turned the ship and headed for a clearing in the trees. In that clearing, striding through the tall green grass, was a lone orange figure. Bi-pedal, dressed in nothing but a loin-cloth, tall boots and woven vest. It threw back its long ears that fell to its shoulders and looked up at the sky. Along one shoulder the figure carried a long spear with a thick, threatening metal shaft that crackled with electricity. The starship came closer, the roar of the repulsor engines was almost deafening but still the figure stood, motionless like a sculpture from orange mud. Then it threw the spear, it arced dangerously through the air landed with a sickening crack on one of the wings of the ship and quivered there. “What the-” Obi-Wan swerved and somehow managed to get the craft to stay in the air, it was difficult but he did it. “Leave it alone,” Qui-Gon said in a low but firm voice, and put his hand on Obi-Wan’s, restraining the younger man’s grip. “But Master, the drag is making us off balance! If I don’t keep a hold we’re going to…” then he realised his Master’s intentions. Once securely strapped in Obi-Wan let go of the steering column and the craft took a sharp dive into the clearing, Obi-Wan swallowed deeply as he could feel the g-forces pinning him to his seat, several more laserblasts jerked the craft around some more. With a thud the starship hit the ground and skidded through the long grass, churning up the dirt in a long spray behind them. But still they didn’t stop; they kept careening on with the momentum from the dive. Obi-Wan almost closed his eyes as the tree-line approached and he was thrown forward, his forehead hitting the control panel. “Obi-Wan!” Qui-Gon was slapping his face. Obi-Wan unbuckled his restraints and followed his master out of the craft. They dove into the long grass and lay there for a few seconds, Qui-Gon nudged his apprentice and pointed to the wing of their ship. The long spear was still embedded in the hull. “That?” Obi-Wan whispered incredulously. “That was what brought us down?” “Sometimes the best weapons aren’t the ones with the more firepower,” Qui-Gon mused, “or even the better technology, what matters is how they are used.” Obi-Wan smiled wanly; trust Qui-Gon to make a lesson out of everything when they had a mission, not to mention the life of a Jedi, in the balance. “Move,” Qui-Gon sprang forward and Obi-Wan was only a nanosecond after him, they ran towards the tree-line and further into the shadows of the forest. Behind them Obi-Wan could hear laserfire, again they had been spotted, it was certainly their lucky day. Qui-Gon turned, then stopped so suddenly that Obi-Wan almost ran into him. The droid fighters were still firing on them, but as they couldn’t get lower than the forest canopy it was more of a hit-and-miss affair. But Qui-Gon wasn't worried about the fighters, in a flash his lightsaber was out. The green blade in a defensive position as the sounds of something approaching grew nearer. “That's no droid,” Obi-Wan said through the hum of his own lightsaber. “No, but I believe it is the one who saved us back there,” Qui-Gon said mildly. “Saved us?” Obi-Wan was wont to admit that he didn’t like flying, but to say that a single primitive spear had saved them when his skills did not? “You can come out, friend,” Qui-Gon said. “We mean no harm.” From directly behind Obi-Wan, and so suddenly he almost started, an orange bi-pedal creature stepped out from behind a tree. His long face regarded the Jedi with contempt, then Obi-Wan chastened himself not to make such quick judgements. But the creature carried a familiar long spear held in the attack-ready position. He looked at the Jedi, looked at their drawn lightsabers, and lowered his own weapon, holding out a hand in a gesture of peace. Qui-Gon deactivated his lightsaber and Obi-Wan followed his Master’s lead. He didn’t altogether trust this creature, but if his Master did then that was good enough for him and he’d reserve his judgement. In a few syllables of pidgin Basic, the creature introduced himself as Danta Pela. Danta Pela was a Gungan, that is he was a bipedal being with orange patterned amphibious skin, enormous ears that extended like wings from his head to his shoulder blades, a face constructed along the lines of a fish more than a humanoid and eyes that protruded from the top of his head which he could partially retract in times of stress. They were retracted now, but Danta didn’t say anything, merely stared at the Jedi. With mild amusement, Qui-Gon noticed Obi-Wan’s distaste of Danta, the young man still had much to learn. Here was a reminder that the living Force was at work, and what more visible reminder was there than that spear he held in his hands that had not long ago brought down their ship? Clearly the Gungan wanted something from them, Qui-Gon wasn’t exactly sure what but he trusted his instincts. And they told him there was more afoot here, and it involved Danta. “We are grateful for your assistance back there,” Qui-Gon said with an amiable smile. Obi-Wan rolled his eyes, but a sideways glance from his Master silenced any vocal protests. “Yousa want to get to Theed?” Danta asked, Qui-Gon started to reply in the affirmative when he was interrupted by the deafening roar overhead. The Trade Federation had returned, as they moved to thicker undergrowth Qui-Gon examined what he could see. A large C-9979 landing craft was settling down in the clearing where they had landed earlier, where their ship still was Qui-Gon realised with dismay. With the deploying of MTT tanks and STAPs and battle droids came the sounds and sensations of the forest’s response to the invasion. With the splintering crack of fallen trees and rough sounds of torn undergrowth were the sounds of animals and birds fleeing, their fear and confusion palpable through the Force. Danta ran, motioning for Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan to follow. He threaded between trees, pausing in his steps every so often to check if they were being followed, but the tanks and droids were doing a general sweep of the area, they were not searching specifically for them. With the thundering of blasterfire and the roar of approaching STAPs, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan ran after the Gungan to they knew not where. Several times Danta stopped and gave a loud cry, like a woman’s scream or the attack call of a large animal. He also scanned the treetops for only he knew what. “What is he looking for, Master?” Obi-Wan asked after they had stopped for a third time. “An answer to his call, I suppose,” Qui-Gon suggested. At this inopportune moment Qui-Gon’s comlink buzzed on his belt. For a moment he ignored it, then reluctantly activated it as they started running again. “Yes,” he said, the transmission that came through was very garbled and distorted, but there were a few coherent words. “Mas…Jinn…droids are…tering city,” said a female voice through the speaker, she sounded a little distressed but Qui-Gon nodded and smiled to his Padawan, they had made contact. “Where are you?” Qui-Gon asked as they stopped again and Danta made a few more of his ear-splitting yells. “Is the Queen safe?” “The Queen…afe…not much…longer,” Padmé said, “shoul…ove her?” “Do what you can,” Qui-Gon replied as they started running again, “we shouldn’t be much longer.” “Master,” Obi-Wan asked as Qui-Gon replaced his comlink on his belt. “Why did you say that? We could be running in completely the wrong direction.” “I said it because it is true,” Qui-Gon answered. “Trust the living Force, Padawan.”
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