C224 Battle of Naboo 2/2

C224 Battle of Naboo 2/2

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Emerging from the narrow hatch, Padmé and Captain Panaka stepped into a quieter section of the palace, their movements slow and deliberate. The corridor stretched before them, dimly lit and eerily silent, the distant sound of patrolling droid footsteps the only sound. Padmé paused to catch her breath, adjusting her grip on the blaster as she scanned their surroundings.



"This section should be less patrolled," she whispered, her voice calm but firm. "If we stay quiet, we can make it to the communications center undetected."



Captain Panaka nodded, his sharp eyes already darting between shadowy corners and alcoves. "The droids are thorough, but their patrol routes are predictable. Let's move quickly, Your Majesty."



As they slipped through the palace halls, Padmé glanced at Panaka. "Once we contact Star-Lord, we'll begin retaking the palace. From there, we'll push back to the city and rally the people of Naboo. With his help, we can drive the Trade Federation off our planet."



Panaka hesitated, his face grim. "Your Majesty, I admire your determination, but Star-Lord, no matter how powerful, is still just one man. We're fighting an army. We'll need reinforcements—real reinforcements. We should consider using his ship to escape to Coruscant and plead our case to the Senate. We need an army to fight an army."



Padmé frowned, her steps slowing as his words sank in. She glanced at him, the fire in her eyes dimming slightly. "You're not wrong," she admitted, her voice laced with frustration. "But the Senate... even if they agree to help, how long would it take for them to act? The Trade Federation could destroy Naboo by then."



Panaka didn't reply immediately, his jaw tightening as he weighed her words. "Perhaps," he said eventually. "But we can't put all our hopes on one man, even if that man is Star-Lord."



Their conversation ended abruptly as they turned a corner and found themselves in front of a thick, reinforced door. Padmé's eyes widened as she recognized the room.



"An armory," she whispered, her voice tinged with relief.



Panaka stepped forward, inspecting the control panel beside the door. "The Trade Federation wouldn't have stripped it. Too much effort, and they rely on their droids for security."



He pressed a few buttons, and the door slid open with a hiss, revealing rows of blasters, protective gear, military uniforms, and other miscellaneous weaponry.



The two moved quickly, grabbing additional weapons and supplies. Padmé strapped a small holster to her belt and tucked an extra blaster into it, while Panaka slung a bandolier of grenades over his shoulder and grabbed a heavier rifle.



"This should increase our odds of survival," Panaka said with a grim smile.



Padmé nodded, determination hardening her expression. "Let's keep moving."



...



On the opposite side of the palace, Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi crept through the grand halls, their lightsabers still deactivated but ready in their hands. Behind them, Jar Jar Binks followed with exaggerated caution, his movements loud and clumsy as he bumped into a table nearly toppled over a vase.



"Jar Jar," Obi-Wan hissed, spinning to glare at the Gungan. "Can you try not to alert every droid in the palace?"



"Sorry, sorry!" Jar Jar whispered, his hands flailing in apology. "Mesa just tryin' to keep up!"



Qui-Gon placed a calming hand on Obi-Wan's shoulder. "Keep moving."



Jar Jar grinned sheepishly, silently following behind them. "..."



The trio moved deeper into the palace, following the subtle cues of the Force. They passed grand archways and towering columns, the once-opulent palace now cold and lifeless under the Trade Federation's occupation.



"This place feels... wrong," Obi-Wan muttered, his voice low. "Like the air itself has been tainted."



Qui-Gon nodded. "The suffering of the people has left its mark. But we must stay focused. The Queen is likely being held in the dungeons."



As they turned a corner, a faint clanking sound echoed through the halls. The Jedi froze, their senses sharpening. Moments later, a small patrol of droids appeared, their blasters raised.



Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan sprang into action, their lightsabers igniting with twin snap-hisses. The green and blue blades blurred as they deflected blaster bolts, each movement precise and fluid.



Obi-Wan leaped forward, slicing through two droids with a single sweep of his saber. Qui-Gon moved more deliberately, using the Force to push a droid into the wall before slashing through another.



Behind them, Jar Jar yelped as a stray blaster bolt nearly grazed his head. "Mesa no like dis!" he cried, diving for cover.



As the last droid fell, the two Jedi regrouped. Obi-Wan's eyes narrowed as he glanced at Jar Jar. "You almost compromised our position."



"Mesa just tryin' to stay alive!" Jar Jar said, his voice trembling. "Yousa so good at fightin', mesa just gettin' in da way."



Qui-Gon sighed. "We don't have time for this. Let's keep moving."



In the distance, a low hum began to fill the air, growing louder with each passing second. The Jedi paused, glancing toward a nearby window. The sound grew into a rumble, and the ground beneath their feet seemed to vibrate.



"What's that?" Obi-Wan asked, frowning as he peered out the window.



The shadow of a massive ship loomed over the city, its sleek form descending with ominous precision. Atlas, Star-Lord's warship, was unmistakable, its massive engines glowing as it cast a dark silhouette over Theed.



Obi-Wan's mouth dropped open in awe. "That's... Star-Lord's ship?" he muttered, disbelief evident in his voice. "He actually made it through the blockade. That thing... it might be the most powerful ship in the galaxy."



Qui-Gon nodded slowly, his expression thoughtful. "Impressive. But we'll see if his actions match his reputation."



From his position behind them, Jar Jar's wide-eyed expression faltered for the briefest moment. His eyes flashed yellow again, and his mouth twisted into a cruel frown, clearly unhappy with the ship's arrival. But before the Jedi could turn, Jar Jar resumed his bumbling act, scratching his head as if confused.



"Whosa big ship dat is? Looks real bombad!"



The Jedi ignored him, their focus on the ship above. As Atlas descended further, the low hum shifted into a steady beat. Music erupted from the ship's loudspeakers, echoing through the city and reaching every corner of Theed.



Obi-Wan's frown deepened as he glanced at Qui-Gon. "What is that?"



The older Jedi raised an eyebrow. "Music, I believe."



Meanwhile, Viceroy Gunray stumbled through the palace corridors, his robes dragging as he ran, his usually composed demeanor replaced with abject panic.



"Bolster the defenses! Slow them down at all costs!" he shouted into his comm device, his voice trembling as he directed the last of his remaining forces.



The human guards in his service exchanged hesitant glances, their reluctance clear. The fear of the enemy tearing through their ranks.



"Now! Move!" Gunray barked, sweat beading on his brow.



The droids responded with mechanical precision. "Roger, Roger."



But the human guards froze. A few raised their blasters but not to follow orders. One, emboldened, stepped forward. "You've led us into this disaster, Viceroy. We're not going to—"



Before he could finish, the droids opened fire, their blasters ringing out without hesitation. The human guards fell in a hail of bolts, their cries cut short.



The remaining guards didn't dare to even inch toward their blasters, raising their hands in surrender as the droids aimed their weapons at them.



"Good," Gunray hissed, his confidence momentarily restored. "Take them with you. Force them to fight if you must."



The droids turned to herd the reluctant guards toward the defenses, leaving Gunray with his most loyal allies to continue his flight.



The Viceroy turned down another corridor, the grand architecture of the palace now serving as a maze in his desperate attempt to reach the royal hangar. He clutched his comm device as if it could shield him from the inevitable. "We'll reach the hangar, escape, and regroup. They won't catch us!" he muttered to himself, his voice trembling.



But just as he approached the rear exit leading to the hangar, a blaster bolt struck the ground inches from his feet. The sharp, sizzling sound made him freeze in place, his wide eyes darting toward the origin of the shot.



Gunray's few remaining allies drew their blasters, but before they could react, more shots echoed through the hall. Each of the Viceroy's guards dropped, lifeless, leaving Gunray alone and surrounded by the bodies of his comrades.



Padmé and Captain Panaka stepped out from a side hallway, their blasters still smoking. Padmé's gaze was locked on the Viceroy, her expression cold yet triumphant.



"Going somewhere, Viceroy?" Padmé asked, a cruel smile on her face.



Gunray raised his hands, the terror in his eyes evident. "Wait! Please! I can offer you anything! Just name your price, and it's yours!"



Padmé lowered her blaster slightly, her lips curling into a smile, though there was no warmth in it. "I warned you, Viceroy," she said, her tone icy. "You will pay for what you've done to my people."



As she spoke, one of Gunray's fallen allies groaned, his body twitching as he reached for his blaster, slowly taking aim at the Queen.



Panaka noticed the movement, his eyes widening as he shouted, "Your Majesty, move!"



Before Padmé could react, the blaster was yanked from the downed man's grasp by an unseen force. The weapon flew across the room and landed in the hand of Qui-Gon Jinn, who stepped out from another hallway, Obi-Wan and Jar Jar close behind him.



"?!" The fallen man looked up in shock, only for Panaka to fire, the bolt striking him cleanly, ending his life for sure this time.



Qui-Gon examined the blaster briefly before tossing it aside. He bowed slightly toward Padmé. "Your Majesty, I presume?"



Padmé's tense posture relaxed slightly as she took in the two robed figures and the lightsabers at their belts. With a small nod, she silently gestured for Panaka to lower his weapon.



"You presume correctly," she replied, her tone formal but grateful. "And I thank you for your assistance, Master Jedi."



"I'm happy to help," Qui-Gon smiled before turning his gaze to Gunray, his expression calm but firm. "And you must be the Viceroy. A pleasure to finally meet you."



Gunray's fear seemed to lessen slightly at the Jedi's presence. He straightened, attempting to regain some composure. "Yes, yes! I surrender myself to the Republic!" he declared, his voice trembling but eager. "Take me into custody! I am willing to cooperate fully."



Padmé's jaw tightened as Gunray continued. "The Senate will see reason. I am a businessman, after all. Surely they won't condemn me without a fair trial."



As he spoke, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan began to step forward to detain him, but Padmé raised her blaster, aiming it at the Jedi, who paused in their steps.



"The Viceroy is a prisoner of Naboo," she said firmly, her tone brooking no argument. "Please step aside."



Obi-Wan's brow furrowed as he looked at the Queen. "Your Majesty, with respect, the Republic must handle this matter. The Senate will decide his fate."



Padmé's eyes blazed with defiance. "No, the people of Naboo deserve justice. I don't know how the Senate will handle the Viceroy, and I will not let him escape the punishment he deserves."



The tension in the room thickened as the two sides faced off. Qui-Gon remained silent, his gaze shifting between Padmé and Obi-Wan, while Jar Jar hovered awkwardly in the background, his wide eyes darting between the two groups.



Before the argument could escalate further, a deafening explosion shook the palace. The walls trembled, and dust rained from the ceiling. The distant sounds of battle swelled, a chaotic mix of droid screams, the cries of living soldiers, and the sharp crackle of blaster fire.



Everyone turned toward the source of the noise, the hallway Gunray had been fleeing down. The commotion grew closer with each passing second, the sounds of carnage and destruction sending a chill through the room.



The noises persisted for nearly a full minute before abruptly falling away, leaving behind an unsettling silence. The air was thick with tension as footsteps echoed from the darkened hallway.



Slowly, the glow of two red eyes pierced the gloom like twin beacons of menace.



Padmé's expression shifted in an instant. Her blaster lowered as a radiant smile lit up her face. Without hesitation, she broke into a run, passing Gunray without a second glance.



"You're finally here!" she cried, her voice filled with relief and joy.



The figure stepped fully into the light, revealing Star-Lord, his jacket flowing as he strode forward. Padmé reached him and leaped into his arms, clinging to him like a lifeline.



Peter caught her easily, holding her close as she buried her face in his shoulder, tears streaming down her cheeks. He chuckled softly, the sound warm despite the situation.



"You're late," she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion.



"Sorry," Peter replied, his tone light. "Got stuck in traffic."



A/N: 3347 words :)