Star Wars: The Saber's Edge

Chapter 18

The corvette settled gently into the clearing, hidden beneath the thick canopy of trees. The engines powered down, and the quiet rustle of the Naboo forest replaced the hum of the ship. The group inside the corvette—Padmé, Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, Anakin, Jar Jar, and the Naboo guards—gathered near the main hold, their faces set with determination.

As we lowered the ramp and stepped out into the woods, I could hear the soft sounds of wildlife in the distance, mixed with the faint hum of Trade Federation patrols far off in the distance.

Padmé, still in her handmaiden disguise, turned to face the group, her voice firm and commanding. "The time has come to take back Naboo. We need to act swiftly before the droid army tightens its hold on the city."

Qui-Gon nodded, his expression calm but focused. "We'll need a plan."

"We follow the original strategy," Padmé said, pulling off her handmaiden disguise to reveal her true identity as Queen Amidala. "The Gungans will create a diversion, drawing the droid army away from the city. While their forces are occupied, we'll infiltrate Theed and capture Viceroy Gunray. If we capture him, we can force the Trade Federation to end their occupation."

Obi-Wan crossed his arms, nodding in agreement. "The Gungan army should be able to handle the diversion. The droid army will be forced to engage them, leaving Theed vulnerable to a smaller infiltration force."

I listened quietly, keeping close to C2-N2 as the plan unfolded. It was exactly like the movie—Padmé and the Jedi would infiltrate the city, while the Gungans distracted the droids. But this time, I was here in the thick of it.

"We'll need the help of the Gungans," Padmé continued, turning to Jar Jar. "We're going to the sacred place, to speak with Boss Nass. We need to convince him to join us."

Jar Jar, wide-eyed and nervous as usual, nodded quickly. "Mesa gonna help! Mesa knows da way!"

Anakin tugged on Qui-Gon's sleeve, his voice filled with excitement. "I can help too! I'm a great pilot!"

Qui-Gon smiled softly at the boy. "Your time will come, Anakin. For now, stay close to us."

Padmé turned to me, her eyes filled with resolve. "Nicolas, your ship has been invaluable to us, but we'll need to move on foot from here. Can you keep the corvette hidden while we make our way to the Gungan sacred place?"

I nodded, glancing at C2-N2. "We'll stay here and keep the ship safe. Just let me know if you need us."

Padmé gave a small smile of appreciation. "Thank you."

With that, the group began to gather their gear, preparing for the journey to find the Gungans. The tension was palpable, but there was a sense of determination among the group—this was their moment to take back Naboo, and they weren't going to let it slip away.

As they moved toward the forest's edge, Obi-Wan lingered behind for a moment, turning to me. "We're going to need all the help we can get. Stay ready."

I nodded, giving him a small salute. "I'll be here."

As the group disappeared into the woods, heading toward the Gungan sacred place, I leaned back against the Corvette and let out a breath I didn't realize I'd been holding. This was the moment things started getting serious. The battle for Naboo was about to begin, and the stakes were high.

C2-N2 stood beside me, his photoreceptors flashing softly as he monitored the ship's systems. "I believe we have a moment of calm, Master Nicolas, though I would suggest preparing for the inevitable chaos that will follow."

I smirked, nodding. "Yeah, that sounds about right."

We stayed by the Corvette, the quiet of the forest settling around us. Somewhere out there, Padmé and the others were meeting with the Gungans, trying to forge an alliance that would turn the tide of the battle. And once they did, it would be time for the real fight.