Episode I: Harbinger
Chapter 1
"What is going on down there?" Nute Gunray demanded from the bridge of the Trade Federation flagship Saak'ak. A cacophony of alarms sounded all around him.
"We've lost the transmission, sir." his communications officer Tey How announced from behind her comlink and data goggles.
"Have you ever encountered a Jedi Knight before, sir?" Rune Haako asked ominously.
"Well, no, but I don't...seal off the bridge!"
"Yes sir." Tey How replied as she closed the bridge doors.
"That won't be enough, sir."
"I want droidekas up here at once!" Nute ordered.
"We will not survive this..."
Qui-Gon Jinn and his apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi spun through the hall of the Trade Federation ship, their lightsabers flashing green and blue as they cut down the battle droids left and right. Obi-Wan extended his hand and threw a group of advancing droids to the ground with the force.
Qui-Gon thrust his green blade into the steel, cutting a circular hole in the door to the bridge.
On the other side of the entrance Nute Gunray shouted out in a panic:
"Close the blast doors!"
As the reinforced doors slammed shut, Qui-Gon withdrew his blade, sensing the impediment to his progress.
"That will hold them!" Nute announced.
Obi-Wan reflected a droid's blast back upon it and maintained his vigil over his master's attempt to enter the bridge.
Qui-Gon thrust his blade directly into the doors, the heat from his saber began to again melt the metal. He could sense he was making progress, but at once he realized that droid reinforcements were likely en route to their position. As his blade continued to melt its way onto the bridge, he quickly realized what he needed to do. It was a gamble, but somehow he sensed his next move would be fateful.
"Obi-Wan!" Qui-Gon called out. "Add your blade to mine!"
Qui-Gon's faithful apprentice nodded quickly in understanding and approached the bridge door to the right of his master. Without a word he thrust his blue blade into the doors and sped up the melting process.
With the two blades working in unison, the blast doors quickly turned white-hot and began to slag and melt away.
"They are still coming through!" Rune Haako announced like a harbinger of death.
"This is impossible!"
As the blue and green blades melted the blast doors further, the metal began to fall away. Suddenly the two blades succeeded in breaching their barrier and a large chunk of the metal doors fell onto the bridge deck, opening the room to the hallway.
Nute and Rune both stepped back in fear as the twin blades of the Jedi worked rapidly to widen the hole.
"Where are those droidekas?!" Rune called out in panic.
Obi-Wan heard the approach of the rolling destroyer droids before he turned to look.
"Master, Destroyers!" he warned Qui-Gon as the rolling of the insect-like machines brought them closer by the second.
"Come on!" Qui-Gon yelled as he took a step back, then jumped with the force guiding him through the hole they had cut. Somersaulting as he landed, he recovered quickly and found himself through the breach and standing on the Neimoidian bridge.
Obi-Wan watched as the destroyer droids uncurled from their traveling form and brought their blasters to bear on him. Just as the droids extended shields to protect themselves and began to fire, the young padawan turned and jumped through the hole he and his master had cut onto the bridge. Spinning in the air as he passed through the breach, he landed two steps behind Qui-Gon and quickly recovered.
Moving with lightening speed towards the two Neimoidians cowering in fear across the bridge, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan suddenly had their blades at the throats of the two Trade Federation commanding officers.
"Uhhhh!" Nute Gunray shouted in terror as the green blade of a Jedi Master was suddenly only inches from his throat.
"Call off your droids. Now." Qui-Gon Jinn spoke with the authority of a man not to be trifled with.
"I suggest you do as he says." Obi-Wan smirked with his own blade only a fraction of an inch from decapitating Rune Haako. "Being shot at by your droids has made my master quite disagreeable this morning."
"Y-yes!" Nute stammered, "Call off all droids! D-do as he says...uh...at once!"
"Yes sir." Tey How complied and instantly the alarms and claxons were cut off.
A strange hush descended over the bridge as the Neimoidians found themselves at the mercy of two men they had just attempted to kill.
"Why?" Qui-Gon continued. "You destroyed our ship and killed its crew."
"No..." Nute stammered unconvincingly. "It was a...misunderstanding! There was a malfunction on the hanger deck...we...thought your ship was going to attack us! Please...we were only trying to defend ourselves!"
"Any more lies Viceroy," Qui-Gon said quietly, "And I'll settle your trade dispute with this blade right now."
"Nooo!" Nute implored in terror, "It wasn't our idea! I only followed instructions!"
"Your instructions were to murder us?" Obi-Wan asked, his blade never leaving Rune's neck. "Who gave you these instructions?"
Nute Gunray looked down at the deck of his bridge. He was trembling terribly now.
"Answer him." Qui-Gon instructed.
"No I-I can't he-he'll kill me if I-" Nute stammered.
"And what do you thing I'm going to do?" Qui-Gon said ominously.
"His name is Darth Sidious!" Rune Haako announced fearfully. "He controls the Senate! He ordered us to blockade the Naboo!"
Qui-Gon's eyes widened at the revelation. He took a step back and deactivated his green saber.
"Darth Sidious?" Obi-Wan breathed incredulously.
"We-we never met him, he contacts us by hologram....please! You must protect us from the Sith!" Nute whimpered pitifully.
Obi-Wan looked fearfully at his master. Could any of this be true? Could the Sith have secretly returned and manipulated this blockade? It made no sense. How could the Jedi have been blind to the return of their ancient enemies? And what could be gained by blockading the peaceful Naboo? One thing was certain. Obi-Wan sensed no lying in the terrified Neimoidians any more. And for the first time, his feelings of an elusive danger felt completely justified.
"Your blockade is coming to an end Viceroy." Qui-Gon spoke at last. "You will contact the Naboo immediately and begin negotiating a peace treaty."
"Y-yes..." Nute said weakly, "I will do as you say."
Chapter 2
Padmé Amidala, recently elected ruler of the Naboo, exited the throne room of her Theed royal palace and walked slowly into her private chambers. She was afraid, truly afraid, for the first time in her life. The Jedi ambassadors had recounted the treachery of the Neimoidians for her governing counsel over the holo-com channel only moments ago. It had been suggested by the older Jedi that they continue negotiations on board the Neimoidian flagship itself. Padmé had agreed and even now her royal transport was preparing to take her delegation into the gundark's den—Nute Gunray's command ship.
Padmé shivered as she entered her spacious room and gazed out at the picturesque Theed cityscape. All this was at stake...and more. It was all in her hands, the fate of an entire world. And from what she could tell, the only thing keeping the Neimoidians from invading was the fact that the Jedi were holding lightsabers to their necks.
What if I say the wrong thing? She considered with an ever growing feeling of nausea in the pit of her stomach. What if I'm responsible for a course of action that leads to war?
The older Jedi Knight had said...or was he a Jedi Master instead of a Knight? And what was his name again? Oh no, she had forgotten...something with a "Q" wasn't it? The fate of her world was at stake and the meeting only hours away and she WASN'T READY!