"As soon as we land, the Federation will arrest you and force you to sign the treaty." Panaka pointed out to the Queen.

He, Melinoe, the Jedi and the Gungan all faced the Queen and two of her handmaidens. Discussing the plan of attack for when they arrive back on Naboo.

"I agree... I'm not sure what you wish to accomplish by this." Jinn questioned.

"I will take back what's ours." The Queen stated firmly.

"We're low in numbers, my majesty," Melinoe added. "We'll be at too much of a disadvantage if we can't find allies quickly."

"And I can only protect you. I cannot fight a war for you." Jinn said in a solemn tone.

The Queen looked over to the Gungan.

"Jar Jar Binks." She called out, causing the Gungan to look around the room confused.

"Mesa, Your Highness?" He asked.

"Yes. I need your help."

Before they landed, Melinoe made sure to check up on the Queen. Just one more time before heading to the cockpit. Before she could leave, Padmé stopped her.

"Nize, how are you feeling?"

"I don't understand why you ask, my lady," Melinoe told her. "You really don't have to worry about me."

"But... you're worried about something,"

Melinoe paused. "I'll admit I'm concerned about forming an alliance with the Gungans. You know better than I do about how stubborn their leader is,"

"What would you do if you were me?" Padmé asked curiously.

"... Well, I'd be upfront with him."

Padmé hummed in thought. "Thank you, Nize. I'm sorry for taking up your time."

"It's fine, my lady. No harm in talking for a bit," Melinoe said as she left the room.

Everyone was rushing around as the silver ship started to make its descent to the lush green planet. As they approached, one of the pilots pointed something out to Melinoe. "I have one battleship on my scope."

"It's a droid control ship," Melinoe confirmed. "There's no turning back now. They're likey already spotted us. Continue with landing."

Once they entered the atmosphere, the crew made sure to land somewhere in the forest that would be hard to find. Giving them more time to put the plan with the Gungans in motion before the Trade Federation found them.

Melinoe once again found herself with the young Skywalker. Making sure he didn't try to wander off somewhere. Skywalker kept looking up at Melinoe. Seemingly thinking of asking a question but stopping himself.

"What's the matter?"

"I... I don't really understand what's going on?"

"What do you mean?"

"I understand we're trying to get Jar Jar's peoples' help, but I don't understand what people want the Queen to do."

"They want her to sign a treaty to allow military occupation and confirm Naboo's stance against the taxation of trade routes,"

"But they're not against it?" Skywalker asked. Still a bit confused.

"Yes," Melinoe confirmed as they continued to walk through the forest. "It's all ridiculously complicated and corrupted if you ask me."

"Seem's like it," Skywalker nodded. "So if we get the Gungans to help, we'll be able to stop the treaty and get the military off Naboo?"

"That's rather simplified but essentially yes,"

Before they could continue their conversation Jar Jar emerged out of the swamp lake and made his way back over to the group.

"Dare-sa nobody dare. Da Gungan city is diserted. Some kinda fight, mesa tinks." Jar Jar told them.

"Do you think they have been taken to camps?" Kenobi asked.

"More likely they were wiped out," Panaka said.

"Mesa no tink so," Jar Jar shook his head.

"You know where they went?" Melinoe questioned.

Jar Jar nodded his head. "When in trouble, Gungans go to sacred place. Mesa show you. C'mon, mesa show you."

The group started following Jar Jar further into the swamp. Silently hoping the Gungan knew where he was going. After about an hour of walking the group found themselves in front of some old temple. Surrounded by statues that had all started to crumble away with time.

The group made their way over to a massive carved head. Half submerged in the swamp. Out of it, Boss Nass and several other council members appeared.

"Ah, ello dare, ye big Boss Nass, You Honor." Jar Jar stepped forward.

"Jar Jar Binks, who's da uss-en others?" Boss pointed to Sabé, who was currently disguised as the Queen. Along with everyone behind her.

"Your Honor, Queen Amidala of the Naboo." Another Gungan announced to Boss Nass.

"Your Honor, I come before you in peace," Sabé said to the Gungan.

"Ah, Naboo biggen. Yousa bringen da Mackineeks... Yousa all bombad." Nass said. Smilingly to himself.

"We have searched you out because we wish to form an alliance-" Before Sabé could continue, Padmé stepped out in front of her.

"Your Honor," Padmé said with a hint of nervousness.

"Whosa dis?" Nass asked with a frown.

"I am Queen Amidala," Padmé stated. Causing serval beings in the crowd to let out quiet gasps. Padmé turned back to Sabé and gave her a smile. "This is my decoy... my protection... my loyal bodyguard. I am sorry for my deception, but it was necessary to protect myself."

Skywalker looked up at Melinoe. His face covered in shock and confusion. Melinoe simply gave a knowing look back to him.

"Although we do not always agree, Your Honor, our two great societies have always lived in peace. The Trade Federation has destroyed all that we have worked so hard to build. If we do not act quickly, all will be lost forever."

Nass continued to listen as Padmé made her case.

"I ask you to help us...." Padmé kneeled down and looked Nass straight in the eyes. "No, I beg you to help us. We are your humble servants."

As Padmé said this, all the beings behind her moved to kneel as well. Trying to show the Gungan leader how desperate they were.

"Our fate is in your hands,"

Boss Nass scratched his chin as he thought for a moment. Nervous whispers could be heard as they waited for the Gungans answer.

Boss Nass processed to let out a hefty laugh. "Yousa no tinken yousa greater den da Gungans.. Mesa like dis."

This caused a concerned look to appear on Padmé. Worried that Boss Nass might just leave them to die.

"Maybe wesa bein friends." Boss Nass smiled.

Padmé let out a breath she didn't know she was holding when hearing that. She smiled up at the Gungan as everyone cheered for this new alliance.

The next few hours were spent creating a new plan of attack to capture the Viceroy. All of which Melinoe was broadcasting back to the Sith. Her orders had stayed the same since they arrived back on Naboo. To report any plans the Queen and her followers came up with while in hiding.

Melinoe had a horrid thought once she was done reporting the current plans. There was no reason for her to be there. Any grunt could do this work, so why was Heiss risking sending Melinoe out here. Maybe Heiss really did think that lowly of Melinoe, but her instincts told her it was something else.

Then it hit her; Eglantine.

Heiss wanted the two of them to be separated. Another one of her sick mind games. Melinoe silently chastised herself for being such a fool. For not seeing right thought Heiss from the start. She had been wasting all this time around these strangers when Eglantine had been left alone to defend herself.

Melinoe took a deep breath. She knew Eglantine was more than capable of protecting herself, but that did nothing to waver to the anger she felt towards Heiss at that moment.

"I will watch you burn, Heiss. Make you feel the pain and humiliation I feel tenfold." Melinoe thought to herself.

By midday, they had a plan. First, they would have the Gungan army immobilize the Droid Army to distract the Naboo and the Jedi to infiltrate the city. Then, they would send what pilots they had to knock out the Droid control ship orbiting the planet.

It was a fairly straightforward plan. The only main concerns were the pilots' ships not being strong enough to penetrate the shields on the control ship and that if Viceroy managed to escape, he would bring back an even bigger army.

This plan had everything depending on. If they failed here, they would not likely get another chance like this.

But Melinoe felt there was something wrong with this plan.

"Is it wise to bring Skywalker with us?" Melinoe questioned the older Jedi.

"I'll be okay!" Skywalker augured.

"What do you suggest?" Jinn asked back. In a somewhat rhetorical tone.

"Wouldn't it be safer for him to go back to the temple with the Gugan children?"

"I can take care of myself," Skywalker said as he tugged at Melinoe's coat." I can! Really."

"I think it would be best if Anakin stayed with us," Jinn said. "Perhaps you should watch over him, Razi?"

"What?!"

"Captain, what do you think?" Jinn asked Panka. Who just nodded along. More concerned with other things going on.

Melinoe fumed at the thought of once again being made Skywalker's babysitter. This wasn't helped by the fact that Jinn started to walk away with a cheeky smile on his face. She didn't have time to argue with the old fool. So just gritted her teeth and decided to get this mission over and done with.

Skywalker seemed apologetic towards the older woman but was secretly grateful that they got to stick together.

By the time they got to Theed, everything was going according to plan. They had successfully sneaked then fought their way into the main hanger. Clearing the way so the pilots could take off to do their part of the mission.

"Skywalker! Go find cover!" Melinoe shouted to the boy as she fired at the remaining droids in the room.

"Get to your ships!" Padmé shouted to the pilots as Skywalker ducked behind one of the bright yellow Naboo fighters.

As the ships began to levitate out of the hanger, the droids continued firing at the group. Causing a few men to be shot down. The R2 unit whistled at Skywalker from one of the fighters as the boy climbed up into it.

Once the piots were out of sight, and the group had taken care of the rest of the droids in the room, they all regrouped together.

"My guess is the Viceroy is in the throne room," Padmé said to Panaka, who nodded back.

"Red Group, Blue Group, everybody, this way." Panaka directed everyone to the other side of the hanger.

As they headed towards the exit, they passed by the fighter Skywalker was hiding in.

"Hey, wait for me!" Skywalker shouted as he peeped out of the cockpit.

"Anakin, stay where you are. You'll be safe there."Jinn told him.

"But, I..." Skywalker started.

"Stay in that cockpit," Jinn repeated firmly.

Melinoe felt a sick feeling wash over her as they approached the door. As if she had just smelled something foul and rotting. She knew exactly what that meant.

Maul.

As Maul stalked towards the group, he removed his hood. Revealing a face that would be impossible to miss.

"We'll handle this," Jinn said as he removed his cape and pulled out his lightsaber.

"We'll take the long way," Padmé replied.

The two Jedi ready their sabers, while the rest of the group started heading to the far end of the hanger. Only to have three hail fire droids roll out in front of them. Forcing them to take cover.

"We've gotta do something, Artoo!" Skywalker shouted to the droid.

Chaos ensured across the hanger as the Jedi began their fight with Maul, the destroyer droids started advancing towards Padmé and the troops, and Skywalker started desperately pressing buttons to find a way to help.

Suddenly, the ship's systems went on, and the ship began to levitate. The R2 unit started whistling at Skywalker. "I'm trying to. I don't know where the trigger is!"

He tried another, only for the ship to move towards the droids. "Oops, wrong one. Maybe this one?"

The hatch of the ship closes over him. "No. Wait, here it is!" Skywalker pushes another button. Firing at the roller droids and taking them out in a few shots.

"Let's go!" Padmé shouted. "Nize! Go help Anakin!"

Melinoe turned her head to see the fighter moving towards the hanger's exit.

"What am I supposed to do!?" Melinoe yelled to herself as she ran for the ship. Only for it to float out of the hanger and speed off into the sky.

Melinoe stood at the end of the room. Somewhat dumbfounded by what had just happened. She started moving to follow Padmé and the others but stopped from she felt a buzzing coming from her pocket. Beeping a code that let her know to read it immediately.

She pulled the device off her belt to see a straightforward instruction displayed on it.

End the Jedi.

I've said it before, but Phantom Menace is my least fav part of Melinoe's story. I'm looking forward to future stuff in her fics.

Also if you have the time to leave comments I'd appreciate it.