Without further warning, both droids reached for their blaster pistols. Obi-Wan’s hand darted for his lightsaber; but Vel Ardox moved faster. Her lightsaber blazed and lashed out in a sweeping flash, cutting down both droids before they could fire their blasters. The droids crashed to the ground. “Security droids are supposed to arrest trespassers!” Vel exclaimed. “Someone reprogrammed these units to kill. But who would…?”
Obi-Wan began but was interrupted by the bursting wail of a loud siren. “The other droids must know we’re here!” Noro ted; “One of us should stay here and distract them while the rest of us find a way into the factory. We have to stop that smoke or open those chimneys!”.
“If we can reach the central droid control room,”, Vel Ardox added, “we should be able to override the system and deactivate all the droids!” “Adi Gallia is our first priority!” Qui-Gon declared as he drew his lightsaber. “The factory is filling with toxic fumes! We have to find Adi and get her now!”
After quickly surveying the Trinkatta Starships checkpoint area, Qui-Gon Jinn turned to Obi-Wan Kenobi, Vel Ardox, and Noro Zak. “Here’s the. plan,” Qui-Gon Jinn told them. “I’ll withdraw the security droids to the checkpoint and distract them while you three try to find another way into the factory. We’ll have a better chance of finding Adi Gallia. by splitting up and searching different areas of the complex.”
“Shall we maintain communication?” Noro asked. “If. the factory droids are monitoring the frequencies; they might intercept our messages;”. Qui-Gon pointed out. “Use your comlink only if you need help or have located Adi Gallia. Go now. And may the Force be with you.” Obi-Wan and Vel ran off while Noro took to the air, leaving Qui-Gon alone at the checkpoint. Stepping over the fallen security droids, Qui-Gon approached the giant sliding door. He heard the sound of clicking gears as the door began to slide up into the high wall. As the door rose, Qui-Gon could see the wide bridge that crossed the meat and led to the starship factory. Suddenly, six security droids emerged from the factory and lurched forward onto the bridge. Seeing Qui-Gon, the droids raised their blaster arms. Moving faster than the droids photoreceptors could follow, Qui-Gon activated his lightsaber and surged forward. Swinging the lethal blade with deadly accuracy, the Jedi Master cut down the six security droids within seconds. The droids crashed to the surface of the bridge with a clanging racket.
That should draw the attention of the other security droids, Qui-Gon thought to himself, hoping it would allow his friends to find another way into the starship factory. Qui-Gon stepped over the metal bodies of the fallen droids, passing through the smoke that rose from their fried remains. As he began to cross to - ward the starship factory, Qui-Gon glanced below the bridge. Suspended ten meters over a deep, water filled moat, the bridge was bracketed by low guardrails.
Switching on his comlink, Qui-Gon whispered, “I’m on the bridge that leads to the entrance. Are you inside the factory yet?” “Not yet, Master!” Obi-Wan replied. “We ran into some more droids. Getting in will be more difficult than we realized. ” Switching off his comlink, Qui-Gon was halfway across the bridge when a bright glint from above drew his attention. Three stories up, on a rooftop that supported an elevated water tower, Qui-Gon caught sight of eight security droids running into position. Suddenly, the menacing droids raised their blaster rifles and fired from above.
Qui-Gon’s lightsaber came up fast, striking at the oncoming energy bolts. He batted them back to the elevated water tower above the droids, striking the tower’s base in rapid succession. As the droids continued firing, the water tower ruptured from the repeated battery and exploded over their heads, knocking them from the roof. Thousands of liters of water plummeted-in a devastating cascade, carrying the droids to the bridge below. Despite the fact he’d targeted the water tower, Qui-Gon Jinn was surprised by the magnitude of the resulting blast and turned off his lightsaber’s power. In an effort to avoid. being swept away by the torrential burst or crushed by the tumbling droids, Qui-Gon jumped. over the: guardrail and dived into the moat below. After knifing into the water, Qui-Gon arched back to the surface. for sir. As he broke the surface, he was nearly struck by an energy bolt.. Two droids had survived the fall to the bridge, and both were determined to kill the human invader. Taking a quick deep breath, the Jedi Master dropped underwater and swam directly under the bridge, staying out of range of the droid’s blaster fire. Swimming to the foundation of the starship:factory, he saw what appeared to be the opening of an underwater tunnel. Qui-Gon hoped it might be an entrance to the factory. He reached for his util belt and retrieved his breather. After placing the device over his face, he was soon breathing easily. He propelled himself forward into the dark tunnel.. Seconds later, Qui-Gon was engulfed by pitch-black darkness. The Jedi Master. concentrated on the interior of the cave, using the Force to let him sense the rough, rocky walls. Absent of fear, he swam forward. Soon, the tunnel narrowed, making it difficult to swim. Reaching out with his hands and feet, Qui-Gon could barely manage to crawl through the underwater access. He felt along the walls of the tunnel, trying to grab hold, but the stone walls were covered with an oily muck; He could not find a handhold; Something slimy bumped against Qui-Gon’s leg. In the-next instant, his left ankle was caught in a tight grip. Qui-Gon had company.