i.3 where we begin
A LONG TIME AGO
IN A GALAXY FAR, FAR AWAY...
TURMOIL SWEEPS THROUGH THE GALACTIC REPUBLIC, ANXIOUS THOUGHTS ON THE EDGE OF EVERY SENATOR'S MIND.
THE TAXATION OF TRADE ROUTES OF EACH AND EVERY TRADE ROUTE IS IN DISPUTE. WITH THEIR OWN HOPE AND IN THEIR OWN GREED, THE TRADE FEDERATION HAS STOPPED ALL SHIPPING TO THE SMALL PLANET OF NABOO WITH A HARMFUL PLAN IN THE SHADOWS. DEADLY BATTLESHIPS ARMED TO THE TEETH ENGULF THE PLANET, AND QUEEN AMIDALA HAS FEW OPTIONS LEFT TO TURN TO AS HER PLANET'S OWN SHIPS CAN'T LEAVE THE PLANET AND SUPPLY SOURCES BECOME INCREASINGLY SCARCE.
THE CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC DEBATES WITH NO END IN SIGHT OF THIS ALARMING CHAIN OF EVENTS. AND IN SECRET THE SUPREME CHANCELLOR DISPATCHES TWO JEDI KNIGHTS TO THE BLOCKADE, WITH SILENT DESIRE FOR THE CONFLICT TO BE SETTLED BY THE GUARDIANS OF PEACE AND JUSTICE IN THE GALAXY BEFORE THE GALAXY FALLS INTO ANYMORE TURMOIL...
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1.3 ── WHERE
WE BEGIN
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A small, silver cruiser speeds through the abyss of space, between the stars and the moons in the reaches of space closest to the planet they hope to reach. From the cockpit of the cruiser, the gorgeous green planet of Naboo sits in a muffled silence while surrounded by hundreds of Trade Federation battleships anxious to attack and control.
In the cockpit of the cruiser, a Captain of a unit of the Republic Guard watches as a Republic pilot maneuvers closer to a singular command ship. The shadow of the battleship opens its jaw, swallowing the small cruiser in a cloak of darkness.
Jedi Knight Qui-Gon Jinn turns to the captain, speaking for her attention. She turns to the fully cloaked figure sitting behind her, "yes, sir?"
"Tell them we wish to board at once," Qui-Gon tells, voice strong even in shadows. The captain's eyes wash over the Jedi Knight and the cloaked apprentice beside him, another 'yes, sir' slipping from her tongue without hesitation. Captain Navu looks down to her screen where the Neimodian trade viceroy waits apprehensively for a reply.
"With all due respect to the Trade Federation, the Ambassadors for the Supreme Chancellor wish to board immediately."
The gray skinned alien with bugged eyes stumbles over his words, "yes, yes, of course. Ah, as you know, our blockade is perfectly legal, and we'd be happy to receive the Ambassadors... happy to..."
The screen cuts to black without warning, and the looming battleship appears farther more sinister with the prospect of boarding near. The space-cruiser docks in an enormous bay of the Federation's command ship. A timid protocol droid introduces itself to the two Ambassadors of the Chancellor as TC-14, walking them through the doors of the docking bay. The darkly robed figures follow TC-14 into a gloomy hallway and the bay doors whish closed behind them.
Twin metal doors slowly slide open, the two cloaked Ambassadors are led into a formal conference room by TC-14 who bumbles along on it's coding.
"Honored sirs, I wish you both comfort here. My master will be with you shortly." The bug-like droid bows to Qui-Gon Jinn and his apprentice, Obi-Wan Kenobi, before it backs out of the doors which close in an instant.
The Jedi lower their hoods, Obi-Wan turns to look out of the wide window down to the lush green of Naboo below with expanses of pristine blues adding rich color to the planet's appearance. The young Jedi's padawan braid is long, a few beads woven into it over time with the rest of his hair kept messily cropped. Obi-Wan's startling blue eyes are full of youth compared to his weary, greying Master's who is nearing sixty himself. Qui-Gon examines the room with a piercing, uncaring look, yet he catches the critical eyes of his padawan and nods for him to speak.
"I have a bad feeling about this," Obi-Wan confesses. Qui-Gon shakes his head "I don't sense anything."
"It's not about the mission, Master, it's something," he pauses sensing the unfamiliar feeling again, "elsewhere, elusive."
Passing his padawan's nerves to the side, Qui-Gon attempts to settle Obi-Wan, "don't center on your anxiety, Obi-Wan. Keep your concentration here and now where it belongs."
"Master Yoda says I should be mindful of the future."
"But not at the expense of the moment. Be mindful of the Living Force, my young Padawan."
"Yes, Master," Obi-Wan resolves to push the odd feelings off, turning to their present situation, "how do you think the trade viceroy will deal with the chancellor's demands?"
"These Federation types are cowards. The negotiations will be short."
Two prominent leaders in the federation, Nute Gunray and Daultry Dofine stand, panic in their tones with TC-14 before them. Gunray is shaken as he demands for the droid to repeat what it's previously said, "what!? What did you say?"
"The Ambassadors are Jedi Knights, I believe."
Dofine nearly explodes at the droid's (correct) assumption of the ambassadors, "I knew it! They were sent to force a settlement, eh. Blind me, we're done for!" In their panicked state both of the aliens order for the men to be killed, and a droid presses a button that will "handle" the problem.
In the formal conference room Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon have reserved to sitting at the long table as they continue waiting when the vents begin to billow green smoke into the room. Recognizing the green clouds as poison both hold their breath, grasping onto the force as a handhold to life.
Gunray holograms to a bundle of battle droids in the hallway outside of the conference room, and orders them inside the room. And as the hologram fades away, a battle droid cautiously opens the heavy doors. The deadly cloud flows from the room, the droids cock their weapons as a figure stumbles through the smoke only to discover TC-14 carrying a tray of drinks. TC-14 bumbles out of the way of the armed group, apologies spewing.
In the room, Obi-Wan catches onto Qui-Gon's plan as their breath runs low. In the green doom, two plasma swords ignite and the Jedi step out and cut through several of the battle droids before they find a second to fire.
The bridge is a cacophony of alarms, droids and federation leaders barely visible in the red flashing lights only interrupted by the whitish, blue lights of view screens. A droid connected to the viewscreen of Gunray is cut-off mid sentence when it is cut in half with a crackling sound of scraped metal over the comm as the connection dies.
"What in blazes is going on down there?" Gunray exclaims, anxiety pulsing through him as he eyes his attendant.
"Have you ever encountered a Jedi Knight before, sir?" the droid asks mock-concerned.
"Well, not exactly," Gunray stumbles, "but I don't- seal off the bridge." The attendant shakes its head at the order, "that won't be enough, sir." Still the doors to the bridge close with a bold slam locking with an echoed clink. Destroyer droids are ordered to the outside of the bridge, and the little attendant still shakes its head, "we will not survive this..."
Qui-Gon cuts down another group of battle droids in half, a shower of sparks washing over him and metal parts fall lifelessly to the floor. Obi-Wan raises a hand, sending several more droids crashing to bits against a wall. Qui-Gon steps forward, making his way to the bridge door with Obi-Wan watching his back, and he begins to cut through it. Showers of yellow sparks fall, the heated metal transforms to bright oranges and yellows as it yields to Qui-Gon's will. The crew on the bridge is nervous as the tip of a saber melts through the door and begins to cut its way through the metal. Sparks fly throughout the room, lights flickering off and the view screens across the room picture the Jedi and the Padawan outside of the doors.
"Close the blast doors!" Gunray screeches to the droids around him. The large, thick door shuts with a slam as the second door slices shut and the third door hisses as all three doors seal. Master Jinn grits his teeth, pushing his green sword farther into the doors. The screen of the security tape goes black as a red spot begins to grow in the center of the final blast door.
"They're still coming through!" an attendant yells to their commanders. Pieces of the molten metals drop away from the door as the glowing circle expands.
"Impossible! This is impossible!" Gunray screams while his attendant yells for the destroyer droids to hurry to the corridor.
Obi-Wan turns in the hallway, the rumbling of heavy machinery making their way towards him and his master.
"Master?" Obi-Wan calls, nervous at the sight of ten destroyer droids hurtling towards them at full speed. Once they're in range of the Jedi the droids stop and configure into their battle transformation. Qui-Gon senses the presence of the droids and leaves the door to help his padawan.
"Offhand, I'd say this mission is past the negotiation stage," Obi-Wan jokes as he deflects a laser bolt back towards the destroyers. Over half of the destroyers cut off from the group but appear moments later from the other two hallways converging to the bridge in order to fire at the Jedi from all sides. All ten of the droids fire their laser guns until the glow of the plasma swords disappear and smoke fills the corridor. The destroyers pause in their semi-circle, the master and the padawan no longer in sight.
"Switch to bio," the head destroyer orders, "there they are!" The droids' scanners find the Jedi at the far end of the hallway and without a pause in their systems they rush after the two. Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon run from the assault, Obi-Wan pointing out the shields that protect the destroyers from harm.
Gunray stands on the bridge, watching the destroyers speed through a doorway from a view screen. His attendant approaches him cautiously to inform him that the Jedi are on the run. However, someone on the bridge calls out, "sir, they've gone up the ventilation shaft," causing Gunray to scream out for the Jedi to be located immediately.
Obi-Wan Kenobi and his master look down at a hanger bay, hunkering in the shadows of a ventilation grate to not be seen. Thousands of battle droids march to their respective places on the landing crafts.
"Battle droids."
"It's an invisible army."
"It's an odd play for the Trade Federation, Obi-Wan. We've got to warn the Naboo and contact Chancellor Valorum. Let's split up. Stow aboard separate ships and meet down on the planet."
"You were right about one thing, Master. The negotiations were short," Obi-Wan grins as he and Qui-Gon slip from the vents.
Although, once he is safely stowed away on a transport, his mind wanders as the odd feeling he felt in the conference room overwhelms his mind. A muffled voice cuts into the dark corner Obi-Wan hides in, a flash of light covering his vision in a mirage of his future. Heat blares down on him, a woman's voice is harsh in his ears as she rushes over her words full of emotion. "No one came for me. There was no call, no hope, no interest because the moment that the Republic or the Jedi get out this far, ha... they'd rather ignore the existence of people like me than get their hands dirty."
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"Sir, a transmission from the planet." The attendant of Gunray looks over the wanted call, "it's Queen Amidala herself."
"At last," the alien smirks, "we're getting results."
The hologram flutters to life, showing the Queen of Naboo, Queen Amidala, sitting on her throne adorned in an extravagant headdress and robes. Her governing council sits before her in a semi-circle and five of her handmaidens stand with her, one standing directly at her hand.
"Again you come before me, your Highness. The Federation is pleased."
"You will not be pleased when you hear what I have to say, Viceroy. Your trade boycott of our planet has ended."
Gunray smirks to his companions, "I was not aware of such a failure."
"I have word that the Senate is finally voting on this blockade of yours."
"I take it you know the outcome. I wonder why they bother to vote."
"Enough of this pretense, Viceroy! I'm aware the Chancellor's Ambassadors are with you now, and that you have been commanded to reach a settlement."
"I know nothing about any Ambassadors," the Viceroy lies with a stutter, "you must be mistaken"
Shock flits into the Queen's eyes at his words, her expression changing just as quickly as the news surprises her glaring and studying the alien before her carefully, "beware, Viceroy, the Federation has gone too far this time."
"Your Highness, we would never do anything without the approval of the Senate. You assume too much."
The maiden at the Queen's side rolls her eyes and the Queen merely sighs, "we will see." The hologram of the Naboolian Queen fades away and the screen falls to black.
"She's right, the Senate will never-"
"It's too late now."
"Do you think she suspects an attack, sir?"
"I don't know, but we must move quickly to disrupt all communications down there."
The Queen turns to the girl in the vibrant orange tones of the Queen's handmaiden at her side. The girl, barely ten years old, looks down at her fingers under the Queen's gaze used to be scolded for sassing anyone (even if done silently).
"Versi, I want to try to get you off world, again."
"I'm not going to leave you here, Padme."
"Versi-"
"I'll only go into hiding when you do."
The Queen looks into the young Naberrie's eyes, the same as her own, and sighs in silent defeat. They really are far too much alike sometimes. The girl had gotten into the palace due to her relation to the Queen and had promptly argued her way directly to Padme's side. Truthfully, Versi had only wished for a chance to get away from her studies in one of the Naboolian Academies but instead found herself stuck to her sister's side in the middle of a blockade.
The Queen stands, and the rest of the people still in the throne room follow Amidala's action as the hologram table before them flickers to life again. Senator Palpatine appears on the view screen, the staticky channel making Palpatine's image distort leaving Versi to rush her palm over her lips to mask her giggles. Versi's dark orbs glance over the senator, want shining in her eyes at the realization that this man is at the heart of the debate for Naboo's future.
"I have assurances from the Chancellor-" the message dips in and out, "his Ambassadors did arrive. It must be the - get - negotiate-" And the hologram of Palpatine sputters as the connection fails completely.
"Senator Palpatine!?" Queen Amidala turns to her company, "what's happening?"
The Naboolian Captain turns to one of his men and they discuss the cause of the abrupt disconnection. In the corner of the room, stands a man with faded scars running along his throat and a frown evident in his features from where he watches the Naboo royal council. Padme's eyes turn to the man in the corner, silently begging the man to speak. The slender, metal cylinder bumps against his hip as he takes a step closer into the meeting and as his mouth opens the truth of their situation hits them all. Padme's blood freezes at their conclusion, the Federation must be jamming all of Naboo's signal's off of the planet. And the man, again, speaks his thoughts (and several others fears) aloud - incoming invasion. Queen Amidala cuts off the Governor as he attempts to strike a panic in the assembly's hearts, passing off his thoughts at the fear that sparks in her little sister's expression.
"We must continue to rely on negotiation," The Queen's tone is strong, holding on to peace in the moment for her sister's sake and for the entire planet's.
"Negotiation? We've lost all communications! And where are the Chancellor's Ambassadors? How can we negotiate? We must prepare to defend ourselves!" The Governor continues his argument within the group.
"This is a dangerous situation," Captain Panaka pitches in, "your Highness. Our security volunteers will be no match against a battle-hardened Federation army."
One look at her little sister trying not to reveal that she is quaking in a handmaiden's clothes and the Queen knows how she must continue. Nothing will shake her faith in the Senate of the Republic for her faith has never been shaken before. But nothing- nothing, in the galaxy should be allowed to touch a hair on the youngest Naberrie. "I will not condone a course of action that will lead us to war. I will stand my ground if that's what it takes to show the Federation that Naboo will not be made into an example of their little power."
and with chapter two we officially launch into the phantom menace!! introducing Obi-Wan, Padme, and Versi is very fun, but what'll be really fun is when the plot moves to Tatooine...
hehe and we love our extra man in the corner <3
Obi-Wan is younger in this series which means he's still going to have more recklessness and emotion than he would have had in tpm before. I'm changing parts of Obi-Wan's character in this fic (as he's going to go through more early on and this is going to affect the future). we see him having a short and hot-temperish vision ✨can we guess of who?✨
PARTIAL WARNING: no matter what happens in this act... well let's just say that it's going to be a longggggg road to what we're rlly waiting for🤭😏
Padme and Versi are incredibly close siblings, and we'll get to them more in the next few chapters (especially how protective Padme is of her little sister). we'll also get more into what I've shared about Versi so far soon!! ie: her chosen career path
and although it's a little boring right now, my plan for the next chapter should have us moving to Tatooine... and maybe even getting to meet a very, very important family-
ah well, love you all sm!! thank you for reading!! and please share all of your thoughts and ideas, I'll appreciate all the feedback so so much <333
— love katie
09.27.2021
republished: 03.25.2022
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