Halo: Converging Outset

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Naboo System

Chommel Sector

January 23, 2553, 09:46 hours

The supercarrier Fires of Winter was escorted by a group of light frigates and destroyers, with the rest of the flotilla following. A total of 39 ships entered the battle due to the threat posed by an army of mechanical droids and their greedy scum leaders.

Looking out of the bridge at the planet stood Rear Admiral Gatlin next to the holo table. The Rear Admiral wished he had more information on their enemies' technology, but he would have the flotilla play it safe and have to make shrewd decisions.

The sensors officer stood in attention and shouted to the Rear Admiral, "Sir, they are here." The lieutenant's words were true; a small chrome-finished ship appeared instantly, and a COM request was sent to their ship.

"Tell our troop deployment ships to break off and start landing in ground forces!" Starting with orders to get their troops on the planet to help the Queen take back the capital and get civilians evacuated out of the warzone.

The link to the royal starship connected, and the Rear Admiral ordered, "Noble-6, I'm going to need you up here. Leave the protection of the Queen to Nobles 8 and 9. Noble-7 will be in charge of her protection once they touch ground and meet with our forces."

"Talk to each ship and make sure they are green." Ordering the helmsman while looking at the battlegroups arrangement, the two CCS cruisers flanked both sides of the supercarrier, followed by the two heavy carriers. The two Valiant-class super heavy cruisers led smaller flotillas mixed with the remaining frigates and two Marathon-class heavy cruisers, and the remaining destroyers were organized into groups of two.

The enemy ship was on the opposite end of the holo table, a significant distance between the battlegroup and the single ship, and it was closing rapidly.

"Sir! Enemy fighters have deployed, and there's a lot of them! Many plan to meet us while the rest are screening over the capital ship." The sensors Lieutenant informed the Rear Admiral with caution.

The Battle of Naboo was starting, and it was unavoidable. No one was capable or would be too late to offer freedom to the Naboo people from the Trade Federation. The newcomers to the galaxy would show what they were capable of and, in doing so, be pushed into the spotlight.

Mos Espa

Tatooine

January 21, 2553, 13:02 hours

"Move away and leave it be." Noble Six aimed his sidearm at the alien, which had the Gungan pinned to the ground. It was a standstill with the alien glaring at the Spartan, not backing down, and the Gungan moaning about why it's always him. It would end with blood, and the repercussions were unknown until an unlikely mediator appeared.

Anakin Skywalker, the young boy from the junk shop, appeared and spoke to the Dug. "Careful. This one's very well connected." Speaking in the other language, the Dug most likely asked what the boy meant based on Anakins's response. "Connected–as in Hutt." Fear crossed the alien's eyes. "Big-time connected, this one, Sebulba. I'd hate to see you diced before we had a chance to race again." Spitting, the alien started threatening the boy with Six still holding his M6S at the Dug until it chose to walk away with its friends.

Gui-Gon, Padmé, and R2-D2 arrived, witnessing the tail end of the event because Padmé noticed her protector's disappearance along with the Gungan.

"Hi!" the young boy overly excitedly greeted the arriving group. "Your buddy here was about to become orange goo. And you were about to be on the Hutt's radar if you killed Sebulba. He owes them some money." Anakin stated while pointing at the Spartan.

"...Next time, think before you do something dumb again." Nodding at the information, Six then scolded the Gungan.

"Let's not try to cause any more commotion while we are here." Annoyed at the situation, Gui-Gon simply stated his thoughts: "And thank you, my young friend." Finally, he addressed the young boy, who blushed while looking at Padmé.

After advising Jar Jar on his fear and how it attracts the fearful, Anakin chose to act as a guide for the group that followed the boy. He led them to a fruit stand run by an elderly lady. Greeting the woman, he promised that he would help her by fixing a cooling unit to help with the extreme heat of Tatooine. Then the boy bought the group some pallies, a fruit that the boy said they would enjoy. Six had declined, but the boy could only get three anyway because he had less currency than he thought.

The wind kicked up, and the woman warned Anakin to head home due to a sandstorm that would pass over the sandstorm. Knowing they would have to head back to the ship, Qui-Gon tried to thank Anakin but was interrupted by the boy.

"Is your ship far?" It seemed like the rest of the residents were hurrying home or shutting closed openings of their homes to prevent the winds from entering. "It's on the city's outskirts," Padmé answered. Knowing they wouldn't have time to return to their ship before the storm arrived, Anakin grabbed Padmé's hand. He was telling them to follow him due to the danger of sand storms. He offered to take them home, saying his mother would not mind.

The sandstorm raged, making visibility low. The group trailed behind Anakin, quickly trying to reach his home before it got worse. They were not the only ones stuck; many others struggled to move through it. Finally, they reached Anakins home, a hovel placed in the slave quarters.

Entering his home, the boy shouted in excitement. "Mom! Mom! I'm home!" Six moved about carefully as the small size of doorways and the halls. A woman appeared close to forty with a warm smile meant for her son and quickly changed to a look of uncertainty as she glanced upon the misfit group.

"Oh, Annie, what is this?" He introduces them only to recall that he doesn't know their names, except for Padmé. "I am Qui-Gon Jinn, this is Noble-6, and this is Jar Jar Binks."

The R2 unit made a noise to remind the Jedi of its presence. "And our droid, Artoo-Detoo," Padmé added for the droid.

Anakin informed Padmé that he was also building a droid and tried to show her, but his mother's voice stopped him. "Anakin!" 

"Why are they here?" his mother gently asked. But the boy seemed confused by her question. "There's a sandstorm, Mom. Listen." She did, in fact, and looked out the door, seeing the sandy wind rush past the opening.

"Your son kindly offered us shelter," Qui-Gon explained to the boy's mother and further explained. "We met at the shop where he works."

Anakin pulled away Padmé with his mother distracted by the Jedi to show off the droid he was building. "I'm Shmi Skywalker," she said, holding out her hand and choosing to end the silence. "Anakin and I are pleased to have you as our guests." Looking among the group, Six delivered a nod to her.

Six watched the Jedi offer the woman some capsules filled with food. Accepting them and choosing to apologize as she was surprised by her son's action seemed to be a regular occurrence for her. Under Six's keen eyes, he noticed their exchange seemed to have an underlying meaning at the end, one he didn't understand.

The storm covered the spaceport in sandy winds, and the sand piled on. Shmi Skywalker used the capsules given by Qui-Gon. The group took seats at the table, except for Six, as no furniture could support his weight. He listened on as the duo of slaves explained how their circumstances worked.

"All slaves have transmitters placed inside their bodies." The mother explained, with Anakin jumping in. "I've been working on a scanner to try to locate them, but so far, no luck," The son said solemnly.

Continuing by explaining the repercussions of slaves' attempts at escape, the boy supplemented his mother's words by saying. "...And they blow you up."

All eyes drew on the Gungan, who was eating with an obnoxious sound that halted conversations. He lowered his head in embarrassment as he realized and pretended not to notice their looks.

"I can't believe slavery is still permitted in the galaxy. The Republic's antislavery laws should–" Padmé was cut off as Shmi quickly said. "The Republic doesn't exist out here," Adding, "We must survive on our own."

There was an awkward silence, during which Padmé glanced at the Spartan, who noticed her gaze and moved his head to face her. He didn't know what the look meant, and even now, under his gaze, she didn't look away, and Six could see some thoughts were running through her head.

Anakin quickly interrupts the silence with a question about their knowledge of Podracing. The boy explains that he is the only human to participate in the races, and the Jedi comments on the sport's danger. Looking at Shmi Skywalker's face, Six can see that the mother disapproves of her son's participation, which does not matter because the orders come from their master, who made the boy race for him.

Moving on from the Podracing talk led them to another question asked by the boy. Seemingly discovered Qui-Gons identity as a Jedi knight with him asking the boys reason for thinking that. The boy then said that he saw the Jedi's weapon, which seemed to be used by the Jedi.

The boy did not push away the talk of the Jedi with his talks of his dreams and his belief that the Jedi had come to free them. Since it looked like the boy could not be convinced otherwise, the Jedi chose to reveal himself as one and try to keep the boy in secrecy, explaining that he was on a mission and their venture to the central planet of the galaxy Coruscant.

Six mentally rolled his eyes at the Jedi's lack of secrecy. Even if he were to admit to the boy what he was, he at least should have kept the rest confidential.

Knowing the distance of their journey, the boy questioned their reason for being this far out. Padmé now jumps into the conversation by mentioning their damaged ship. The boy offered help, but the Jedi chose to dissuade the boy by mentioning they did not have the parts to fix what they needed due to the lack of currency that the Toydarian wanted.

Padmé believed there was a way to work past the junk dealers said. "These junk dealers must have a weakness of some kind."

Shmi Skywalker offered an answer. "Gambling," rising to clear the table. "Everything in Mos Espa revolves around betting on those awful Podraces."

The mother's distaste for the sport leaked easily from herself. Obviously, due to her son's participation in the sport as a mother who could only watch and hope her son doesn't die because of her status as a slave, putting her in a helpless situation.

The Jedi seemed to believe he had found their answer to getting out of the planet by mentioning that these people's greed could work if used properly. Anakin leaping to his feet. "I've built a racer!" Seeming to have an answer of his own. "It's the fastest ever! There's a big race day after tomorrow, on Boonta Eve. You could enter my pod! It's all but fi–"

Cutting off her son. "Anakin, settle down!" The mother's eyes easily showed the concern she had about his idea. "Watto won't let you race!"

But the boy argued. "Watto doesn't know I built it. You could make him think it's yours!" The boy took a breath and added, "You could get him to let me pilot it for you!"

Shmi Skywalker's face kept a range of negative emotions as she protested. "I don't want you to race, Annie." Shaking her head with the look of concern that could only be delivered by a mother, at least Six believed so. "It's awful. I die every time Watto makes you do it. Every time."

Shmi's words rang in Six's head as he listened to her words. 

The boy pushed away his mother's worries, claiming he loved it and that they needed his help, and something seemed to snap in Six. "Kid, drop it."

Everyone shifted to the Spartan, who had been quiet this whole time, barely speaking a word, finally voicing his thoughts. "Your mother is trying to keep you safe, so just listen to her."

Padmé, concerned, looked at the Six, who still focused on the young boy who was too stubborn to listen. Even though she had barely known the Spartan for a week, she knew an outburst like that was uncharacteristic of him, but then she remembered their talks—when she was in her Queenly guise.  "I was too young to remember before my parents sent me off the planet." Remembering the words of his past as it replayed in her head. His Parents And like that, she knew the answer to Six's outburst at Anakin.

Trying to seek more information, the Jedi chose to end the room's silence after the Spartan's words were spoken. "Do you know of anyone friendly to the Republic who might be able to help us?"

She was shaking her head, saying no in response to the Jedi's query. Anakin, choosing to ignore the Spartan's words, faced his mother. "We have to help them, Mom," the boy said, pressing his belief to help.

"Remember what you said? You said the biggest problem in the universe is that no one helps anyone." Shmi pushed against her own words and only sighed at her son.

Padmé jumped into the argument between mother and son, feeling they were at fault, and tried to ease them. "We will find another way…" the boy's mother shook her head in disagreement. "No, Annie's right. He can help, and it's the only way."

Six disagreed in his head and chose to think of an alternative and more bloody route through which they could get their parts and do some good in the end.

Not long after, Six chose to relay their status to the other Spartans and told them to keep the "Queen" briefed. The handmaiden and the Gungan chose to rest, and the droid rested, keeping its power usage minimal. The Jedi was up, but Six saw no reason to interact with him and kept still like a statue, intending to get a minimum amount of rest at least.

_____

The next day, Six followed the Jedi along with Padmé, the Gungan, and the very enthusiastic Anakin to the young boys' master, choosing to let the Jedi have his way until the plan failed or somehow succeeded. They moved through the bustling spaceport, going on about their days with some residents fixing up some damage from the sandstorm. Like the day before, it was already busy with people there for many purposes. 

Six walked behind Padmé and occasionally glanced toward the Gungan to ensure trouble wouldn't start. They soon arrived near the shop, but just before entering, Padmé reached for the Jedi.

"Are you sure about this?" Like Six had, she had doubted the Jedi's idea from the start, but now she chose to share her doubts with the Jedi. "We barely know the boy, and the Queen would not approve of this plan." 

The Jedi gave a simple response. "The Queen not need to know." Hearing this, Six gave a slight smirk as if knowing something that the Jedi didn't.

Not backing down from the Jedi's words with a stubborn defiance, Padmé stated. "Well, I don't approve." The Jedi looked puzzled at her words but merely turned around into the shop. 

Six and Padmé followed with Jar Jar in tow as they were welcomed with a heated argument between Anakin and his master. The words lost on Six with them speaking the Huttese, which Six learned from the young boy, was a type of trade language in the galaxy because it was so widespread. 

Noticing their arrival, Watto flew right in front of the Jedi's face with excitement leaking from its face. "The boy tells me you want to sponsor him for tomorrow's race." Suspicion laced in its voice tone. "You can't afford parts! How will you pay for the entry free? Not with your Republic credits." 

Laughter sounded with Six, annoyance at the alien, and saw the grimace appearing on Padmé's face when the Jedi chose to answer the Toydarian. An image from Holoprjector showcased their transport, and Six was not amused by the Jedi's answer to the boy's master. "My ship will be the entry fee."

"Not bad. It will be enough." Bobbing its head. "A Nubian." 

That didn't stop the Toydarian from questioning the Jedi, as it asked. "What will the boy ride?" With a demanding tone. "He smashed up my last pod, and it will take too long to fix it before the Boonta."

"Aw, it wasn't my fault, really. Sebulba flashed me with his port vents. I actually saved the Podracer…mostly." The boy hurriedly said after the Jedi glanced at him.

Watto laughed. "That he did! The boy is good, no doubt there!" Shaking his head.

Without letting another word come from the Toydarian, the Jedi said. "I have acquired a Pod in a game of chance."

"The fastest ever built." Anakins face had a proud smirk hearing the words of the Jedi. 

"I hope you didn't kill anyone I know for it!" After saying that, laughter filled the junk shop, which would make a smoker rethink their life choices. "So you supply the Podracer and the entry fee; I supply the boy. We split the winning fifty-fifty, I think."

"Fifty-fifty?" The Jedi pushed back on the Toydarian's suggestion with his own. "If it's going to be fifty-fifty, I suggest you front the cost of the entry. If we win, you keep all the earnings minus the cost of the parts I need. If we lose, you keep my ship."

The Toydarian thought deeply about the deal and was moved by the Jedi's comment that it worked more in his favor. Six preferred this deal over the one the Jedi shared with them: if the kid loses, it would just be one alien to put down rather than the group that organized the races.

"Deal!" The Toydarian flew away with mocking words about Qui-Gon to the boy with them, leaving the junk shop back to the slave quarters where the boy would meet them there after his master had no use of him for the day.

The day went by quickly. Anakin was mainly preparing for the race by getting the last of his Podracer fixed up. Six followed Padmé around the slave quarters as she looked over the many families and contemplated their situations. Six was doing the same thing, looking past the human families and taking in the entire situation of those who were enslaved.

"Did your home have anything like this?" the young woman asked Six, who took his time answering. It was in their history that they enslaved their race over the fact of skin color or just to have someone do the dangerous work for those with power.

"It used to exist, but then over the years, we slowly cracked down on it, and eventually, major operations were taken care of by the government's united front." Padmé stared at him. "The past is never clean, and my peoples was drowned in conflict." A stared down between the two, ignoring the surrounding area, and they looked at each other with Six's eyes behind his visor. Yet Padmé believed his words as the truth as the piercing blue eyes flashed in her mind. Her protector was assigned along with his fellow Spartans for a short time, and she learned as much as she could about the war that resulted in so many planets' destruction. This was not a fate she wanted her people to share; if the Republic couldn't act soon enough, help from the UNSC would be needed.

Padmé had many doubts, which led her to agree to the UNSC involvement before Commander Hayes's departure. Even now, she questioned whether she made the right choice in accepting the assistance of the militarized UNSC.

Sighing to herself, with Six taking a glance, they headed back to the Skywalker's home. The doubts hung over her still, but reassured by the honesty of the Spartan, helped push them in the back of her head.

The twin suns were gone, and darkness covered Mos Espa as night came. Six moved his body from the doorway back into the home of the Skywalkers. The young Skywalker was asleep in his bed with the Jedi outside while Padmé and Shmi Skywalker spoke to each other. 

Everyone followed the boy into Morpheus's plane's embrace in only a short time. Six, too, had fallen asleep, but then his body moved in reaction to his senses. Looking up, he saw Anakin slowly moving about the home until he ventured outside. Six discreetly followed the boy who stood by the Podracer examining it. Looking over each part in preparation for the race tomorrow, it looked like in Six perspective.

Eventually, the boy sat next to his racing gear on top of a crate, fiddling with what looked to be a necklace, when Sic chose to let the boy be and get some rest.

______

The Jedi went ahead with the Gungan, and they were going to follow shortly, but first, the boy needed to wake, which fell upon Padmé to wake him. Six merely was idle till the others chose to head out.

Arriving at the hangars filled with Podracers, Six and the others found Qui-Gon with a Watto huffing past Anakin. "Better stop your friends betting," he declared to Anakin, who looked confused in response to the words, "or I'll end up owning him, too!"

Six heard the boy question the Jedi, but his eyes shifted to Sebulba, who was massaging two blue humanoid aliens with a pair of appendages on their heads.

"Do you think they are slaves as well?" Padmé asked the Spartan, who looked at the collars strapped to their necks, giving them his answer.

Six, in response, simply said. "Yes."

Padmé looked uncomfortable at the sight of the pair of twin Twi'leks, the species name that Six learned on his stay on the planet, with some history of them being one of the most sold slaves in the galaxy, especially the women. Six now understood the cause of their enslavement with some help from Padmé, which was an uncomfortable conversation for her as a young woman.

The scantily dressed females with net clothing did very little to hide their lithe bodies. A symbol of the debauchery taking place in the slave trade, something Six was disgusted by. A thought quickly popped into his head, and he shook it off as fast as it came.

Following Padmé, who was heading towards Anakin, surrounded by some friends, the Spartan and the young woman looked at Anakin as his friend uttered alarming words."Do what?" her eyes shifted with suspicion as she looked at Anakin. His friend revealed the truth to the two. "Finish the race, of course!"

Six sighed, but Padmé paled at the words. "You've never even finished a race?"

Anakin promised he would finish the race this time by winning, and the Jedi came to back him up so sure that the boy would do precisely as promised, something both doubted by the handmaiden and the Spartan. Padmé stared with no words coming out of her mouth for the Jedi as she was in disbelief.

The racers were announced, and the crowds cheered when the young Skywalker's name and homeworld Tatooine were called out. Padmé, Six, R2-D2, and Jar Jar were at the viewing platform with the boy's mother, who warned her son to be safe. Last to arrive the Jedi as the race was about to begin.

The Jedi reassured Shmi, who worried as she saw her child on the large screen, that he would be fine. Yet Padmé shook her head, vocalizing her thoughts. "You Jedi are far too reckless, " she quietly said, not to worry the mother more. "The Que—"

Cutting her off, Qui-Gon said. "The Queen trusts my judgment, young handmaiden." Focusing on her and not the Spartan beside her, he added. "Perhaps you should, too."

Huffing and glaring at the Jedi. "You assume too much."

The race was about to begin as the group looked at the screen, which showed the racers ready to activate their Podracers energy binders. The crowd cheered in excitement, and the remaining crew members rushed out of the way of the racers, with flag bears moving away from the starting line.

Not long after, the still-red lights shifted to green, announcing the start of the race, with the Podracers ripping past the starting line.

_____

Except for Anakin and another racer. The others had left, leaving dust trails behind them as they zoomed off in the distance at high speeds. It seemed he was right not to put too much faith in the Jedi and the boy, but then the boy's racer rapidly escaped the starting zone. Still, the boy had to catch up with the other racers, which made the race challenging enough.

The boy's words were valid about his Podracer being the fastest, as it showed when he quickly gained on the rest of the racers. He was behind the two last-in-position racers, passing rock formations after moving past the flat terrain. The Podracer accelerated rapidly, and the other racers couldn't even react due to the difference in speed. Now racing inside the dark canyon, he quickly gained onto the next racer. Showing his supernatural knowledge of the track, the boy squeezed his racer past the other Podracer, exited the canyon, and returned to the flats. But he was still dozens of racers behind first place.

Six glanced at the screen showing the racers. The dot next to the leader, Sebulba, quickly disappeared, and the viewing screen showed what happened with the large orange and black Podracer pushing the other Podracer into rocks, resulting in its destruction.

It seemed another racer was taken out as they entered a cave system. The group saw a boy safely leaving the cave, yet an explosion occurred behind him.

The next part of the race worried Shmi Skywalker, as her face leaked with worry. The announcer said, "Looks like a few Tusken Raiders are camped out on the canyon turn."

The group witnessed as the nomadic people fired red blaster bolts at the racers, some hitting Anakins' racer, yet he kept going without incident. The race then continued to flats, with the racers returning toward the starting line, the end of the first lap.

With leaders passing the line quicker than the rest of the racers, they watched as the others passed, with Anakin nowhere in sight. Six eyes were attracted to the failure of the racer who couldn't start their Podrace, and as soon as it came to life, the Podracer ripped itself apart with parts flying in different directions.

Worried glances were exchanged between the mother and Padmé, yet moments later, Padmé looked towards the flats and said, "Look, here he comes!"

The small Podracer was followed by another racer, who quickly passed the starting line and chased the other racers. A position opened up due to a racer's failure to stop at their pits, which resulted in the end of their race, with a droid being consumed by the Podracer and damaging it.

At the start of the second lap, the boy was placed sixth and began overtaking the other racers. He still had many more to pass to reach his goal of first. Rapidly accelerating through the first flats, the boy caught up with the leaders as they reached the Arch Canyon.

While maneuvering past two racers in his way, the one chasing him caught his engine on the sand as he banked hard on a sandy rise.

Gaining on fifth place racer and having four other racers in between him and the leader, the Dug Sebulba, with one more lap to go after they finish their current one, Six wondered if the boy could pull it off.

Finally, reaching Arch Canyon, the Tusken Raiders appeared again and fired upon the racers, claiming one who happened to be in front of the boy with his vaporized wreckage being passed by Anakin. Who quickly moved up to third place by passing two racers in a rush. Now behind second and first place, Anakin moved carefully, wary of Sebulba as it showed in his more thoughtful maneuvers.

Six looked at the main screen, which showed the leader, Sebulba, rummaging in his Podracer. It was up to something, but quickly, they got out of view. He took a metallic bit and tossed it up, and the Podracer of second place rushed into it, letting it get into their engine's intake. Smoke and fire spewed from the engine, with the racer trying to hold the racer steady. With the engine failing and losing power, it eventually bucked and veered toward Anakin.

Like a domino effect, Anakins pod began to swing violently, causing the boy's mother to look away from the screen. Both engines were still connected due to the still-working energy binders, but quickly, the boy fixed his cockpit and rummaged through it. Pulling a long metallic object, he reached out toward the unattached line. Now, understand it was a magnet as it pulled the line towards itself, and Anakin adjusted the line back into place. However, due to his need to slow down, the boy lost distance between Sebulba and then passed by three other racers, pushing him back to fifth place.

Everything fixed, and the boy quickly accelerated his Podracer and caught up to the next racer. Now gaining on the next racer as second place tried overtaking Sebulba but quickly became a disaster with Sebulba opening his vents, which fire gushed from it and touched the Podracers engine of second place whose engines exploded with the fuel lines being exposed to the flames.

The racer in front of Anakin was caught in the debris. Quickly trying to escape, it swerved the wrong way, hitting the engine of the destroyed Podracer. Anakin found himself amongst debris, almost getting hit by a piece of metal. Amazingly, the boy had slid past the wreckage without damage and now, in the clear, bore down on Sebulba.

Both passed the finished arch for the start of the final lap. The group had watched as the two racers disappeared off again to the flats. Constant terror on the face of Shmi Skywalker as she watched her son take on dangerous tasks after one another.

The view screen kept changing while watching the two leaders due to racers escaping the spectators' view. One moment, Anakin was close to Sebulba; the next, the boy was somehow high in the air again. The mother had worried for her son but switched to a calm facade.

As if leaping over Sebulba, Anakin gained the position of first. The boy, now ahead of Dug, who wouldn't let off Anakin's back, stayed close to him as they passed the first set of caves leading to the Tuskens. Again, blaster bolts fired upon both, but the speeds were too fast that they were only hit a couple of times.

Suddenly, the boy slowed again, which caused Sebulba to take first again and create distance between the two. Close to the end, the boy seemed focused on fixing whatever issue had started, and then once fixed, Anakin accelerated again, catching up to the Dug. However, it would not let Anakin through as it blocked his path. Both racers roared out of the dune hills and reached the race's final stretch. Side by Side, with them barely coming into view from the stands, Sebulba could be seen slamming into Skywalker's smaller Podracer. Both Pocracers attached at the third strike, with Anakin's racer struggling to pull apart. The Dug continued hammering onto Anakin, trying to move the boy into the sand.

Eventually, Anakin broke the lock of the two Podracers, damaging them both, but the Dugs Podracer started to break apart, with Anakin continuing to the finishing Arch Way.

With the Dug off in the distance amongst his flaming wreckage, Anakin had finished the race. The announcer loudly declared his win, making him the youngest to win the race. 

Anakin was swarmed by the cheering crowd, with the young boy's friends congratulating and hugging him. The surrounding crowd lifted the boy up and away, chanting and shouting his name. 

The Jedi and the boy's mother exchanged smiles at each other. The viewing platform descended, allowing the group to move on and celebrate with the boy. Six followed Padmé and the boy's mother with R2-D2 and Jar Jar in tow. The Jedi headed toward Watto, with Six glancing toward the alien, then moved on to Anakin, still being held up by the crowd and his mother. He looked again toward Watto and the Jedi, with the alien leaving in a huff.

_____

Hours later, they arrived back with the parts needed to fix the hyperdrive, and Six briefly informed the rest of Noble about the events that had taken place. Six watched as the elder Jedi walked towards the ship's ramp to exit, and he followed. The Jedi quickly noticed Six gave a questioning look.

"You freed the boy." Not a question but a statement.

"I have," the Jedi responded to Six, with the Spartan looking off toward the spaceport in the distance. "And the mother?" Six asked with the Jedi grimacing.

"Watto would only set one free." Six walked past the Jedi and only said. "I'll meet you at their home."

Six's mind was fixed, and the Jedi moved quickly. "What will you do?"

"Whatever I can." It was the truth; the Jedi knew what was to come, and he knew even without the Force's help.

Both headed toward the same place with similar goals but different ways of handling it. In Six's head, the boy would be free and not without his mother. He would have to be careful and make sure nothing would be screwed up.

The Jedi arrived alone at the junk shop with Watto waiting with his wings flapping. "Here it is! Enough I have of you!" Placing a small device in the Jedi's hand.

"Are you sure about the mother?" The Jedi aksed the Toydarian.

"You! No, I will not sell the mother!" The Jedi conceded and left with Watto muttering words in his shop alone.

Minutes after the Jedi had gone, suddenly, the Toydarian felt a force wrapped around his throat. He reached to fight off the invisible force but couldn't, as whatever it was would not be pried by his hands. Struggling for breath only to be smashed against the ground, he looked up and saw the golden-orange visor looking back at him.

Holding a knife to the Toydarians throat, Six asked. "Where is the mother's tracking device?"

"Here, Here, take it." Watto wasted no time reaching for a device under Six's careful observation. It looked like the same device given to the Jedi, and Six reached for it; looking at the written language, he couldn't understand, just moved the device to the side and slit Watto's throat open.

Blood poured out of the open wound, spreading on the ground, and Six checked the junk shop's office area. He ransacked the office in case he was given a dummy and found no other device. It looked like the alien was genuinely confident in the protection of the Hutt's rule if the Jedi tried something.

Moving to the junkyard to find explosives, Six moved them to the main shop area where the body lay still, placing the explosives as spread out as he could and eventually sneaking out of the shop with his active camo on. A grenade lay at the center of the explosives on top of the dead body.

Boom!!

The explosion was large, definitely catching everyone's attention in the spaceport. Six ran out of the area, ready to meet the others at the ship.

A quicker journey back as Six kept his pace and moved to ensure they didn't get caught with Anakin and his mother.

Six was close to the ship after some time and happened upon a speeder rushing towards the Jedi, Anakin, Shmi, and Anakin's unfinished droid. He was dashing as he saw the figure almost run over the boy and his mother, who ducked in time. The little family and the droid moved past the two engaged in a duel with their lightsabers locking together. Six grabbed his M6S and fired upon the dark figure, who pushed Qui-Gon away and moved in a stance with their lightsaber prepared to hit the projectiles but then moved out of the way of the oncoming fire. The figure seemed caught off guard as they looked toward where the bullets hit with the sand, kicking up. Moving to the ramp, Six provided cover fire from the bottom of the ship's ramp as the figure kept moving away from where Six fired upon, and the Jedi moved toward the ship. Six moved back as he heard the ship's engines turn on, still firing upon the cloaked figure as they tried to chase Qui-Gon. 

The Jedi leaped into the ship, and the doorway closed behind him and Six. Both Six and the Jedi briefly locked eyes right before passing a nod to each other. Six then went towards the Queen's throne room as Anakin and Obi-Wan went to check on Qui-Gon. 

Before he could move further, Six was stopped by Shmi Skywalker looking down at the older woman.

"Thank you." Quietly, she voiced her thanks.

Six then reached for the Slaver Tracker on his holster and gave it to the woman, only giving her a nod and no words, continuing on his path to the Queen's throne room.

"Did they know anything about the attacker?" Roland asked as Six joined them in the throne room.

"No, the Jedi didn't comment about the potential identity of his attacker." Six responded. 

"They gotta know something from what we saw. They have the same blade type, but only this guy's was red." Jonah believed there was a connection due to the similar style of the laser blade held by the Jedi. Hearing Jonah's thoughts reminded Six of something Anakin Skywalker said when he told the Jedi he knew what he was.

"Maybe there is a connection." Six commented as he looked toward the throne as the Queen spoke to one of the other handmaidens.

"A communication was sent from the Governor to the Queen while you were gone." Six faced Roland hearing that, and Jonah further explained.

"Yeah, but something was off about it." Now Six looked at Jonah, waiting for him to explain what he meant. "It was not the message but how the Queen and handmaidens reacted."

Six glanced at the throne and then back to Jonah. "Explain?"

"The Governor reported that the death toll was rising and that the Queen should make contact." Emphasizing the word toll, which Six didn't understand.

"What was strange about the word?" Questioned Six.

"They reacted once the Queen and the handmaidens heard it. Not an obvious reaction, but enough to know something was up." The Jedi duo entered the throne room, catching everyone's attention, but Jonah continued. "At least for us since the Jedi was focused on the message and preventing them from sending a message back. Of course, afterward, they had a little meeting we were not a part of to learn what was said between them."

Six briefly considered the information Noble-9 brought up and concluded that it might have to do with the little bit of deception that's been going on, but his thoughts were cut short as the Jedi started to speak.

"Your Highness, we have just entered hyperspace, and it will not be too long before you can inform the senate of horrors done by the Trade Federation."

_____

In the central chamber of the transport, Six arrived with a long piece of thick fabric, giving it to Shmi Skywalker as she covered her son with it to keep him warm.

"Thank you." Once again, she thanked the Spartan for what he had done for them and her as a mother.

Saying nothing, the mother closed her eyes. Mentally exhausted from the day's events, Six relaxed in the silence. Minutes passed as Six considered everything that had occurred, from his first deployment with Noble Team to the present events. So much happened in six months. The doorway opened, and Six's attention was drawn as he saw Padmé enter, not noticing his presence.

Activating the viewscreen, which illuminated the room a bit, she clicked on the console, activating the message Six was told about. The image of the Governor played, informing the Queen to send a message back.

Six studied Padmé's, looking for her reaction to the message. However, she kept a hardened face as the message ended, after which she turned briefly, looking at the son and mother, both resting against each other. She moved to leave the room, in which she finally noticed the Spartan in the room as he stared back.

"Six, I didn't see you there." She lightly said in surprise.

"I'm sorry for the surprise…Your Highness." Padmé stood rooted in place as she heard him utter those words. He took off his helmet, allowing her to see his face. Padmé wanted to play the Spartan's words off, but she knew that, based on the look he gave, she couldn't convince him otherwise.

"How long have you known?" She asked, curious about the length he knew who he was protecting.

"Long enough to know when Padmé is missing, she is the acting Queen, and when you are present, your body double is acting for the Queen." Six explained and added. "Your little adventure to that event in the city started it all."

Padmé was confused and asked. "Do you mean you've known since the Neurotransmitter Affection concert?"

"I saw two handmaidens escaping the palace and followed as you arrived at the event with the other handmaidens, except for the smallest one." Saché felt terrible that evening due to her monthly cycle and chose to stay back as the acting decoy so that Padmé could enjoy the concert without the guards knowing.

"And there you were, dressed like the others, but unlike the others, you weren't present for the summit." Six added, then continued. "When the invasion began, Sabé was gone, but all other handmaidens were present, and you suddenly appeared."

Padmé sighed while closing her eyes and reopening them as she spoke. "It was working so well that even with Captain Panaka having a hard time telling who was who."

"But I guess I underestimated you, Six." A smile played upon her bright face. However, it stayed only briefly as her face became a show of burden once again.

"What does the message mean?" Padmé didn't look at Six but answered.

"Both Saché and Yané are fine. To continue with our mission." Six didn't respond but put his gloved hand on her shoulder just as he'd seen her do to Anakin, trying to comfort her as Jorge tried to the scientist's daughter they found at the relay.

Catching her attention with his action, he softly said. "They will hold on until we can help them."

"We don't have time!" Her face didn't change, but her voice grew louder.

Turning her face to the sleeping family and Gungan, she was relieved they hadn't woken due to her outburst. She then turned back to the Spartan, who looked at her again with those blue eyes darker than the waters of Naboo yet felt sharp, like they could pierce her heart. Her cheeks heated up the longer she stayed under Six's gaze.

The light scarring made his face look more mature to Padmé, but it made her wonder if there was more underneath his armor as her eyes traveled with her imagination running, which became graphic, resulting in her face feeling as if flames caught them. 

She felt foolish acting like a child in love, just like back then, with Palo, but this felt different. She didn't know how to label what she felt, thinking it was just irrational feelings, but she remembered all their interactions. It was so brief and yet memorable, but she had her duty to think of first; the people of Naboo needed her help. They needed to be her focus. She moved her eyes away from his lips and looked back into his eyes.

"I will be honest: sometimes you can't save everyone, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't try to save everyone." A harsh truth, one he learned through training that Ambrose tried to beat out of him but never could. It took joining a team to lessen his habit, but still after everything.

"Thanks, Six." She smiled softly at the Spartan.

Six watched as she moved to the doorway, which opened, letting in light from the other room. She turned back, giving the Spartan a reassuring smile.

The doorway closed, and Six was left alone with the sleeping occupants in darkness. Six were unaware of the tension that had gone on between himself and Padmé. Soon, things will be different for him, and he will pushed into something different than from all he's known. Sooner rather than later.

_____

The planet was an entire city. Six and Noble watched with Anakin and his mother as the planet came into view from the ship's bridge window. The billions of lights spread across the planet showed its metropolis nature and its connection to being the core of the Republic. The green or blue nature of most planets meant for colonization was absent; a silver tint covered the planet. Not even Reach or Earth, for a matter of fact, was anything like this. Nature was still present in their most militarized planet or their homeworld.

"Holy shi–" Jonah was cut off as Roland hit his side, nudging towards Anakin.

As they made landfall, the sight of many skyscrapers filled their vision. Anakin was in awe and exclaimed at each new sight he saw, and his mother smiled at his reactions.

The Royal starship slowed at its descent when it reached a landing pad with a group of people waiting for its arrival. There was a light bump as they landed as the ship attached to the dock.

Six and Noble stayed close to the Queen and her entourage, with Padmé looking back at them still in her handmaiden disguise and smiling at Six.

The Jedi stood in front of the group, and when the ship's hatch opened, they led the way off the ship. Surrounded by a contingent of ornate guards outfitted with blue armor and robe covering, said armor was covered with a helmet resembling the Noble Team's ancient predecessors. Two 

older men were dressed in robes.

Currently doubling as the Queen, Sabé, dressed in a black and gold robe with a feathery headpiece adding to her height, moved down the ramp escorted by the Queen's security off the ship with the handmaidens and Noble Team following.

Stopping before the two men were waiting for the group, Six looked upon them, knowing the identity of the shorter of the two men, Sheev Palpatine, the senator for Naboo. Noble was present when the Queen traded messages with him a little before the invasion.

As Six looked to the side of the two men, he saw two aliens unique to him but still humanoid, similar to some he had seen on Tatooine. The taller of the two, who he assumed was male, had orange skin and seemed to be wearing a mask. 

Like the other alien, the female had orange-toned yet white facial markings. Like the Twi'lek, she had a set of three head tails apart of her skull structure, colored in white and blue. She was young, based on a comparison to humans, and wore a dark red top showing much skin and white tights covered by the skirt she wore with boots and fingerless gloves.

Looking at both their sides, he saw both had lightsabers, meaning that they were likely both Jedi like Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi.

While Six watched the two new Jedi arrivals, the "Queen" exchanged greetings with the senator and the Supreme Chancellor. The Supreme Chancellor had expressed his concern for Naboo and declared that he had called for a special session in the Republic senate for the case of relief for Naboo.

"I am grateful for your concern, Chancellor," The acting Queen said quietly.

Senator Palpatine moved to her side as they walked to two transports with the handmaidens, security forces, Noble Team, Jar Jar, Anakin, and his mother. The former questioned whether he should follow, but with his mother following the entourage and Qui-Gon urging him to follow the others.

Speaking of the Jedi, they stayed back with the Chancellor and the other Jedi, who followed the movement of the Spartans after some quiet words from their fellow Jedi.

"Did you feel anything?" Qui-Gon asked as they witnessed the entourage disappear, with the Spartans leaving in more oversized transport meant to carry heavy loads.

"No, I did not." Said the Kel Dor.

"Are you sure they are not droids, Master Qui-Gon?" Questioned the young female Togruta.

"My padawan and I have not seen underneath their helmets, nor have we seen how they were treated by the Naboo, showing in their interactions that they knew them not to be droids," Qui-Gon explained.

"It's true, Master Plo Koon!" Obi-Wan chose to back his master to the Kel Dor Jedi Master.

"It is not that I don't believe your words, young Kenobi, but if our teachings have shown what you and your master are saying to be impossible, if true, could shake so much in the Jedi Order." Jedi Master Plo Koon chose to appease the young Jedi.

"Calm, Obi-Wan. We still have much else to report to the council. The truth will eventually be revealed; we must be patient." Master Plo Koon agreed with him and his Padawan, leading the other two to their transport to take them to the Jedi temple.

_____

Arriving shortly at the senator's living quarters, the group separated. Anakin and Shmi were given a room, to which the mother took her son too much, to his protest, with the Gungan following. Noble chose to stay by the Queen's side.

Padmé, currently in her position as Queen, listened to the senator's words with her dressed in a new outfit of a purple velvet gown wrapped around in layers over her slim form—a fan-shaped crown over her head with an ornate work and tassels over her head.

She was surrounded by her handmaidens in crimson robes, their hoods covering their facial appearance. Noble was to the side, watching the one-sided conversation. Their appearance confused the senator, but he had yet to bring it up, and the Queen had not yet informed the senator of who they were.

"It is alarming, but I must be frank, Your Majesty. There is little chance that the Senate will act on the invasion."

She listened to the senator's words as she was silent for a moment. "Chancellor Valorum seems to think there is hope."

"If I may say so, Your Majesty," the senator sighed with sorrow, "the chancellor has little real power. He is mired in baseless accusations of corruption. A manufactured scandal surrounds him. The bureaucrats are in charge now."

Rising from her seat, she locked her eyes on the outer view of the room, which showed the skyscrapers spread across the planet. Then she glanced towards Six, who found her gaze.

"What options do we have, Senator?" Seemingly in deep thought over the matter, the senator was quiet until bringing his thoughts to words. "The best choice for the people of Naboo would be to push for the election of a stronger supreme chancellor, one who could take control of the bureaucrats, enforce the laws, and give us justice." He looked unsure what advice he would give the Queen with a hand dragging through his hair. "You could call for a vote of no confidence in Chancellor Valorum."

Immediately, in defense of the supreme chancellor, Queen Amidala voiced her objection. "Valorum has been our strongest supporter. Is there no other way?"

With a tired tone, the senator advised. "Our only other choice would be to submit the matter to the courts–"

"There is no time for that," the anger and frustration in her voice were apparent. "The courts take even longer than the Senate," Padmé angry with her words sharpened due to her worry. "Our people are dying—more and more each day. I will make my plea to the Senate, and if they are to no act, then I will find other means." Again, she moved her gaze to the Spartans, which Palpatine noticed.

"And what means would that be Your Highness?" Palpatine questioned.

_____

The Jedi utilized the power of the Force and adhered to a doctrine emphasizing the light side of the Force, an energy field present in all living beings within the galaxy. Except for the new arrivals currently being discussed in the Jedi Council room with Qui-Gon Jinn, who Plo Koon supported, he was seated in one of the twelve seats of the council with his Padawan Ashoka Tano watching the briefing unfold.

"Are you sure?! " said a dark-skinned male human who was the current Master of the order. His name was Mace Windu. He looked toward both Jedi masters with concern at the troubling information they brought as they nodded to his question.

"That is impossible!" To the right of Mace Windu, past the Grand Master of the Order Yoda, is a Cerean, another humanoid species distinct from humans due to their enlarged craniums.

"Hmm! Odd this is. Sure you are human they are?" Asked the little Grand Master.

"The Queen and her people made no inclination to believe they aren't." Answered Qui-Gon.

"What of this military force? You mentioned that they would supply to help the Queen." Moving on from these people's absence from the Force, Mace Windu moved on to another interesting point about this "UNSC."

"I have not been privy to information on their forces besides these Spartans belonging to this group." Mace Windu became contemplative of Qui-Gons words.

"We must know more to assess them." Mace Windu addressed the whole Council. Obi-Wan was silent until he remembered something he had heard while passing the Queen's meeting on the ship, where his master was stuck due to the sand storm.

Walking forward and waiting for the Council to call him with a look from his master, he chose to speak. "There is some more information I have on the group." Gaining a nod from Mace Windu, he continued.

"The Queen had mentioned their proximity as neighbors to the Naboo System." Confusion settled on some of the Council Members.

"If I remember correctly, the Naboo system has no neighboring system with a suitable planet for life." A human female of the Council said in intrigue.

"Mystery this UNSC is. Light will come in time, they will; find out more, you will." Grand Master Yoda settled the matter until the Jedi Council had more information.

With that, the meeting ended, but Qui-Gon remained, choosing to settle another matter regarding the boy from the desert planet.

_____

"Your Highness?" Six walked into the Queen's chamber, and she was already in her new outfit with her handmaidens Rabé and Eirtaé attending to her about to apply her Queenly makeup. Both handmaidens backed away as Six arrived with a vision of the light cascading on the young Queens unblemished skin. Sabé stood behind the Queen after having placed some items on the Queens bed.3

"Thank you, Six." Six picked up an unusual tone as she said his call sign number. She then communicated nonverbally to her handmaidens as they left the room after Sabé gave the two a fleeting glance before exiting the room.

A storm was raving in Padmé's head that much Six could tell but couldn't identify the cause, whether it was the session for the Senate or the dwelling thoughts on her people. Padmé hit a sort of control that blocked out the lights from the outside with the vision of the metropolis gone and thus an added privacy.

Padmé Amidala Naberrie moved forward to Six. The distance between them closed, creating an intimacy the Spartan didn't identify, but Padmé felt it as her heart raced. She couldn't see his face, and his helmet blocked it, so she reached to remove the obstacle. She was stopped by Six, grabbing her grasping hands. They were locked in a gazing match, both sides unrelenting and one side searching for the other's purpose in their actions. He had searched for a reason but could not devise a logical point for her actions; after looking through many avenues in his mind, he couldn't come up with a reason that fit.

Six was sure, though, from the time he spent guarding and watching Padmé, that she was stubborn, compassionate, and had many other traits that defined her as a good person. Loosening his grip and then letting go of her wrists, Padmé continued with her original actions.

With some assistance from Six, who chose to help her, knowing she would struggle a bit. His helmet was off and put to the side, and his face was again shown to the young queen.

"It's nice seeing your face." A blush spread around her face as she said those words. Six was confused, as she couldn't see how her face would be "nice" to look at due to the light scaring. Unlike hers, which had no blemishing marks and had immense beauty.

Reaching again, the Queen pushed the boundaries, and even the hardened Marines of the UNSC wouldn't attempt to do so. Soft, feeling her delicate hands move over the scarring on Six's face. She was nearly leaning against his body due to their height difference. Six watched her brown eyes travel around his face and then finally settled. Six looked down, and she looked up.

Then she shut her eyes and backed away from Six, with the Spartan maintaining his place. From an outside perspective, it was awkward as Padmé turned away. Six yet felt a sense of relief when the young queen backed off. Six now understood what was going on with his limited knowledge of the subjects of this type of experience. Being a Spartan, he knew he wouldn't have the luxury even though it was something he had honestly never thought about. The relief washed through his mind, and he sped through the many reasons. She was young, and her maturity was easy to see, but she was still naive, having watched over her, witnessing moments such as their meeting with Anakin and his mother.

Being adverse to this situation, Six didn't know how to proceed quickly. He thought dealing with the Covenant and Insurrectionists was more manageable than his current situation.

Padmé treads slowly through her thoughts as she imagines their lips connecting in a firm kiss, with the Spartan holding her more petite body. Her breathing ragged as they disconnected and looked at each other with affection in their eyes.

Nevertheless, that did not occur as she meekly backed away, but with her decision firm. She focused on her duty as Queen rather than pursuing a romance. Her people needed her, and she would work for their safety and continue to work for their betterment. Reaching the what-ifs after ending her terms, she glanced back at Six, who stayed put. Then, after her political life of being a queen ended, she could settle down and enjoy a simple life like her parents have been doing lately.

"I'm sorry, Six." Padmé apologized to Six, but he was unsure what she was apologizing about. Before he was about to leave to let her get ready for the Senate, he remembered something that would benefit her for the Senate.

_______

It was not long after they arrived at the place where everything would unfold, and Noble would get their first-hand experience of the Galactic Republic's governing. They had passed many corridors filled with the blue Republic Guards to reach the Senate chamber. It is circular in shape and massive, as it should be, for the amount of representation a galaxy-spanning government would get, like an arena with the Senate boxes filled for viewing to the side. At the center, a large podium stood. The supreme chancellor's position with Valorum patiently waited for the session to start.

Noble stayed back, watching as the Queen, Senator Palpatine, Captain Panaka, and Sabé, along with R2-D2, floated up towards the Chancellors' large podium. The Senator was still insistent that the Queen cast votes to remove the current chancellor, with Padmé doubting that the chancellor would sit by and do nothing.

"The chair recognizes the senator from the sovereign system of Naboo." The Chancellor acknowledged Palpatine, who spoke right away. 

"Supreme Chancellor, delegates of the Senate," the Senator's voice, enhanced with it, heard throughout the large chamber, loudly quietening the room. "A tragedy has occurred in my homeworld of Naboo. We have become caught up in a dispute, one which you are all well aware of. It began with the taxation of trade routes and has evolved into an oppressive and lawless occupation of a peaceful world. The Trade Federation bears responsibility for this injustice and must be made to answer–"

Another Senate box entered the fray, quickly cutting off the words of the Senator. Looking at who filled it were more of the aliens connected to the Trade Federation. The senator of the megacorporation chose to exclaim their disagreement.

"This is outrageous!" What looked to be an older Neimoidian immediately gained the attention of the spectators. "I object to Senator Palpatine's ridiculous assertions and ask that he be silenced immediately!"

Turning to face the Trade Federation senator, Chancellor Valorum raised a hand. "The chair does not recognize the senator from the Trade Federation at this time." The Chancellor then firmly stated. "Return to your station." With Senator wanting to say more but then choosing to back down for now, Senator Palpatine continued with no more interruptions.

"To state our allegations in full," Padmé stepped forward, "I present Queen Amidala, the recently elected ruler of the Naboo, to speak on our behalf."

Facing the crowded Senate at the front of the box facing Valorum. "Honorable representatives of the Republic, distinguished delegates, and Supreme Chancellor Valorum. I come to you under the gravest of circumstances. In repudiation and violation of the laws of the Republic, the Naboo have been invaded and subjugated by force by droid armies of the Trade Federation—"

Six watched again as the Trade Federation box came forward with their Senator again raging at the words against them. "I object! This is nonsense! Where is the proof!" Continuing without recognition, he turned to the rest of the chamber. "I recommend a commission be sent to Naboo to ascertain the truth of these allegations."

The Chancellor yet denied the request. "Overruled."

The Senator sighed loudly in dramatics and threw up his hands, acting as if the Trade Federation was being wronged. "Your Honor, you cannot allow us to be condemned without granting our request for an impartial observation. It is against all rules of procedure!"

While the Neimoidian was making a show of the chancellor's 'wrongful' acts, Padmé had readied R2-D2 to the confusion of Senator Palpatine. Quickly, before anyone else could act further, she addressed the senator of the Trade Federation.

"Senator, you are too quick to assume that we haven't brought evidence to showcase the acts of your Trade Federation." She nodded to the droid, who beeped back as he went to work. A package was sent to each Senator's boxes and the Chancellors' podium. The contents were a document written by the Jedi ambassadors and a video package that the Chancellor opted to follow and showcase the said evidence.

The video's POV belonged to Six, who, before the session, sent R2-D2 the recordings of his firefights with the droids and informed the Queen to use them. The whole Senate witnessed the Spartans sneaking past the many droid patrols, and eventually, he arrived at the hangar, where he freed the pilots from the droids. The next video then showed the blockade over Naboo, which had two different sets of films with Six's POV and that of the white and blue droid. Both showed the laser fire coming from the large Trade Federation ship trying to prevent the escape of the Queen.

The Senate was quieted from before by the uproar from the Neimoidian Senators' deceitful actions. Murmurs occurred, though, as they watched the events of the Queen's escape, with the Trade Federation Senator shrinking as he watched the video. The video eventually ended with silence in the Senate Chambers for a few moments, but then the roar of outrage filled the Senate.

"T-this is not true. It is evident that these videos are doctored to put a bad light on the Trade Federation by the Machinations of the Naboo." Padmé was not having any more of the Neimoidians' lies by choosing to pressure him.

"The reports given by the Chancellor ambassadors also state otherwise, with your Viceroy taking hostile action towards them and the destruction of a Republic cruiser."

"More appalling accusations and using doctored evidence, I request that we ascertain the truth of these documents and videos. This is procedure!" Murmurs spread through the whole chamber, echoing with another Senator's box that arrived alongside the Naboo and Trade Federation boxes.

"The senator from Malastare concurs with the honorable delegate from the Trade Federation." Six's eyes narrowed as he saw the two senators share a glance. "A commission, once requested, must be appointed. This is the law set by our Republic and must be followed."

Another Senator's box moved forward, and, joining the other three, a blue humanoid male with yellow eyes and golden tattoos chose to speak against the senator of Malastare siding with Naboo.

"This is outrageous! A commission of this nature is simply a bargain for more time for the Trade Federation to do as they please." The new senator who joined the fray was a Pantoran who represented the sovereign planet of Pantora.

"Again, with the baseless accusations, these are the laws of the Republic and are expected to be followed; otherwise, chaos will follow." Trying to gain sympathy, the Trade Federation senator spoke as if making a speech of heroics.

"What of the Naboo? We witnessed Trade Federation battle droids engaging in a sovereign world and the blockade that was the original issue of this session with Naboo's Queen asking for action." The senator motioned towards Padmé, and some of the Senate members agreed with his points.

Padmé now chose to speak thanks to the assistance of the Pantoran senator. "Thank you, Senator, of Pantora. Again, I ask the Senate to see that the Trade Federation is violating the Republic's laws. If no action is taken, many systems could suffer from similar fates, and many lives would be needlessly lost."

"Simply outra–" The Trade Federation senator was cut off by Chancellor Valorum with a firm voice.

"Enough! Both sides have brought issues that need to be measured by the Senate and–" Distracted by the blue humanoid alien with pointed horns who whispered to the chancellor. Six and the others could hear the voice of Senator Palpatine through the nearby speaker on the view screen for the Naboo Senate box. The Senator had once again mentioned the chancellor's lack of power behind that of bureaucrats supplied by the Trade Federation.

Looking at the young Queen's face, it was apparent that even with her facial expression hidden behind her makeup, she was losing hope with the Senate and the Chancellor. The Chancellor then returned to his earlier position at the podium and addressed the Senate.

"Both points will deliberated and investigated thoroughly per the laws of the Republic if both sides are willing to allow for a commission."

"The Trade Federation agrees with the Chancellors commission." Senator Lott Dod of the Trade Federation agreed with a malicious smile. Valorum held a wary face as he looked at the senator, then shifted to a more saddened one with him looking at Padmé. "What of Naboo?" Padmé had a flash of anger in her eyes when she spoke.

"I disagree with this!" Her eyes locked onto the Chancellor. "I have come before the Senate in hopes of a resolution to this attack on the sovereignty of Naboo now. My election as Queen was not meant to watch my people suffer and die while it is discussed in committee. If action is not taken, I suggest new leadership is needed." Pausing her words as she looked before the Senate. "I move for a vote of no confidence in the supreme chancellor." Following her vote, another senator chose to second the vote. The vice chancellor then announced the passing of the motion. Valorum looked hopeless and betrayed as he simply sat down.

It was then. Six witnessed the once-quiet senators move to a roaring mass of voices speaking at once. Again, the Queen had caused an uproar in the sentence during her short time in the chamber. With no resolution to her people's problems, one path is heading to her people's salvation. Six moved his vision across the chamber again, witnessing the protests and shock across, finally landing upon who caused such a fuss as she was already looking upon him.

He gave her a nod in support with her having a grateful look upon her and nodded back in response. The Senate boxes floating toward the chamber's center moved back, and Queen Amidala again thanked the Senator of Pantora for his support.

Immediately after their arrival and the announcement of recess being played for the session, Padmé left the chamber to ready for their departure, with the confused Senator Palpatine following. "Your Highness, where are you going?"

Padmé simply responded. "Back to our people, Senator." Her voice was sharp, and evident frustration was leaking as she spoke.

"But you cannot leave now when we are so close the Trade Federation will surely force your hand to sign the treaty." The senator pleaded with the stubborn queen with her response.

"I will sign no treaty, and they will not get the chance." She continued on her path as peaceful options were thrown out, and now, a battle seemed inevitable. Her entourage followed along with the Spartans as they headed to depart from the planet.

Behind them, the senator stood alone with an angry expression. His eyes flashed from their regular color to a sickly yellow, indicating a lack of concentration on his part, but not enough to be noticed.