| abstract
| - In the Royal Palace in Theed, Naboo’s capital city, Queen Nalanda stood before a large window staring out to the plaza beyond. It was normally a view that pleased her, nothing but the happy citizens of Naboo going about their business and completely trusting their young queen. Their thoughts completely devoid of trouble, especially such nasties that might come from the skies. But not today. Today she had seen an invasion force descend on her planet so large that its numbers would have been seen ludicrous if it wasn’t so real. Today she had pleaded mercy in vain to Viceroy Nute Gunray on behalf of her people, had seen her only real assistance cut down by a vicious unknown assassin and for the first time felt the full weight of her responsibilities when communications were cut and she was truly alone. Nalanda didn’t want to admit it to anyone, but she was scared. Scared of what the Trade Federation might make her do for the sake of her people. The only defence they had against the invasion was the relatively few starfighters and the various branches of security, and the battle droids were hewing through them mercilessly. She was completely powerless. “Your Highness.” A girl in the deep red hooded robe of a handmaiden walked up to her and inclined her head respectfully. She held a comlink in one hand. “We should move you to safety.” “There isn’t anywhere,” Nalanda replied, taking care to keep her voice measured and calm. “Assistance is coming as we speak,” the girl continued, “but there is no guarantee they will be here in time. We need make sure they can’t find you. Is there anything you know that could in any way delay them?” Nalanda nodded, there wasn’t anything else to stop the Trade Federation than what was already out there. But as for delay… She nodded to her handmaidens that stood either side of her in silent sentry then gave a significant look to Captain Panaka, her Head of Security. Despite what he had told her after her coronation a few months ago she never even considered the measures he proposed in extreme need. But the extreme need was there, and more than anything they had to buy time. “Why are you helping us?” Obi-Wan asked. They were standing on a high but sturdy branch near the top of a very tall tree. It wasn’t at the exact top, but it was high enough for them to poke their heads through the canopy and see the sky. With the havoc from the air looking like it was not going to let up any time soon, Obi-Wan felt naked and exposed. The question he really wanted to ask was what in the name of the Force they were doing up there at all. But such a question would guarantee a reprimand from his Master as well as a reminder to trust the living Force. So perhaps, Obi-Wan thought, I can get the how from the why. “Wesa no like outlanders,” Danta said bluntly, he didn’t look at the Jedi but kept his eyes firmly on the horizon. “Yousa bring mechaniks that scorn tha’ gods and try an’ make our heads small like yousa with your talk. Very bomba, mesa speed yousa on your way. Better for all da Gungans.” “But how—” Obi-Wan asked but Qui-Gon placing a hand on his shoulder stopped any further protests. He felt a subtle prompting through the Force and followed his Master’s line of vision. Heading towards them at a rapid pace were three very large birds, one black with white patches and the other two speckled with brown. Even at distance, Obi-Wan could easily comprehend the sheer size of them and marvelled at the way they carried themselves through the air. It’s as if they wanted to be here, Obi-Wan thought. “So the plan is,” Obi-Wan said slowly, still trying to fully understand it himself, “to be carried by these birds the rest of the way to Theed right under the nose of the Trade Federation?” “On the backs,” Danta said with a curt nod, “theysa fly high, wesa not seen till we land.” “It’ll confuse their sensors,” Qui-Gon agreed, “and Theed’s been taken by now, so it’s not as if we can ask at the gates if the Queen is at home.” Obi-Wan didn’t reply, but he didn’t really need to with Danta making another shrill cry. And this time, there was a returning call, the birds slowed their speed and flew low towards them. The birds were known as goff by Naboo and Gungans alike and they were not so numerous as they once had been. Given there was a market for their large feathers as well as the fact that the Gungans used them extensively in warfare and ritual. The goff alighted on the opposite branch to where they were balance, clicking among themselves and examining the three bipedal land-dwelling beings with curiosity. Danta began cooing at them waving his arms gently as the black and white bird inclined its head towards him then turned and lowered its back for him to climb on. “Theysa no harm yousa,” Danta said, he had his hands resting on a horny crust at the back of his bird’s neck. Qui-Gon summoned the Force and looking one of the other birds in the eye, he cleared his mind of everything but the task at hand. On a subtle level he communicated with the goff in a wordless language of feelings until he had finally attained its trust and he could mount. He smiled as he saw Obi-Wan doing the same, his Padawan might not like flying but he could understand necessities. Danta whispered in the ear of his goff and the bird started to flap its wings, it called to the others and soon took to the air with the other two birds in tow. He whispered some more and they turned towards the city. Obi-Wan lay on the feathered bird, suffering in silence. At least with flying a starship there was some element of control, here there was no such control at all. All he had to rely on were the wits of a giant bird that might even throw him if it saw something tasty on the ground. When he did look down he admitted there was little chance of that, battle droids were grouping the people and moving them somewhere, the battle or what there was of it, had been and gone. He looked across to his Master, Qui-Gon was actually enjoying it! He was smiling and murmuring to his bird as he examined what was below. With the wind blowing past him, the slippery feathers on which he lay and the incessant noise of the flapping of the goff’s wings Obi-Wan hoped for the ride to be over soon. This would not be a tale to tell his friends back at the Temple, the fact that he had flown through the sky on the back of a giant bird and wished he was somewhere else.
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