Jedi Insurgency 136

Within a giant bubble dome that could fit hundreds of thousands, the party was in full swing, and the Gungans were going wild. Their long tongues were slurping up bowls full of live fish, and bugs imported from the surface were crunched down their gullets. 

Corvus repressed a shudder as he witnessed a group of the amphibious aliens wrestle with their tongues. Surprisingly, it was a pretty effective method for melee combat. He would 100% be caught offguard by such an attack. Watching the slimy tongues intermingle to form some jump rope game, and seeing that most of the food was raw, Corvus decided to discreetly leave the party. 

Right as he was about to disappear, a gaggle of Gungan younglings ran around him giggling, and one of them pressed brightly colored fluorescent kelp into his arms. 

“Thank you mister Jedi for saving my mom!” She shyly said in a girls voice, and then ran away. 

“Yes, yes, come play with us!” Another child tugged on his arm. 

Witholding a sigh, Corvus let himself get dragged along. Although they were kind of gross, this was what diplomacy was about, right? Nass had promised him that they would join the war. This unexpected bonus wasn't something Corvus would decline. Being rude to your allies culture would be the height of stupidity. 

Reluctantly joining in with the festivities, he spent the next couple of hours playing all sorts of party games, and entertaining children. The Gungans had some pretty cool bubble-based technology, and he got to float around on top of one the size of a car. It was pretty fantastical all things considered. 

The rest of his party had shown up at some point, and Omega was having a blast running around, whilst Hunter was competing in knife throwing. As for Jax, and Triss, their unique traits and attractive appearances seemed to cross species, and the Gungans were constantly vying for their attention. 

At some point, Corvus found himself on a raised platform, standing next to Nass. 

The chubby green Gungan spread his arms out towards the crowd, and everyone grew quiet. 

“Meesa gotta big announcement ta make.” Nass spoke in a deep, thickly accented voice. 

Corvus slightly smirked, realizing that Nass was clear & easy to understand when in private, but when speaking to the crowd, he almost sounded stereotypically Jamaican, almost like Sebastian the crab from the Little Mermaid. He truly was a politician through and through. Who said the Gungans were stupid? Jar Jar really painted them in a negative light. 

“Our fea's been proved right. The surface dweller, Palpatine, be stabbin us in the back!” 

Many people muttered at this, but there didn't seem to be much surprise at this announcement. 

“Our friends, the Jedi, be facing bad bombadudus, they on the verge of genocide, like what was almost done to us five years ago. They tell me, it was Palpatine who directed the Trade Federation! It was Palpatine who manipulated Jar Jar to elect him Emperor!” Nass slammed his hands on a nearby railing, and spoke with an aroused fervor that could put the most explosive pastors to shame. 

Many Gungans began to vocally curse at thjs revelation. 

“Surface dwellers!” 

“Palpa-poodoo!” 

Furthermore, instead of booing, they used their tongues to make a loud-ear piercing-clicking noise. Corvus subtly applied [Energy Resistance], the noise was as annoying as a group of vuvuzela horns being played in a stadium. 

“Gungans be warrias! Weesa warrias!” Nass raised his fists, and led a chant. 

The Force sang to Corvus. It told him of their convictions, and the fire in their bellies. From his brief interactions with them, and healing them, he could tell that Gungans were a very communal people. Clan-like, and family oriented, they were much more united than the luxurious Humans who lived top side. They had been truly grateful by his act of kindness, and were now willing to go to war for this friendship. Nass may be a politician, but his people wore their hearts on their sleeves. Honestly, he was touched, and felt a warmth in his heart. Although Nass was a little slimy, and his motives remained unclear, his voice, and his actions were steady. 

The chants caused the bubble dome to ripple, and the energy within Gunga Otoh was electric. 

As they began to calm down, Corvus took this opportunity to speak up. 

“Noble warriors of Otoh Gunga, the Jedi are honored by your heroism. We stood with you against the Trade Federation, and we are blessed by your fervor. The galaxy is a large place with countless species, one where thousands of species had called the Jedi friend. Yet when my Order is on the brink of collapse, few have come to our aid. But you, you Gungans who have only known us for a short five years have proven yourselves to be just, virtuous, and of high moral standing.” Corvus said, and allowed his words to be absorbed by the crowd. Each and every one of them were silently watching him with rapt attention. Their eyestalks hardly blinked, and breaths were held in as they awaited his next words. 

Corvus smiled underneath his mask. Everything he said was the truth. The only group to openly fight for them were the Wookies. In a galaxy of quintillions, where the Jedi had conducted honest diplomacy, and saved countless lives for generations, one planet out of millions said ‘No! We stand with the Jedi.’ This betrayal of trust was a painful pill to swallow. Even Bail Organa, with all his power and influence did not have the courage to openly revolt. It was only these ‘lesser’ races that were often looked down upon that proved themselves as reliable allies. Taking a deep breath, he pulled upon the Force, and delivered his next line with utmost sincerity. 

“You are true warriors! Warriors who I, Revan, am proud to call friend!” Corvus raised his voice, and grandly flourished his hands like a conductor at a concert. Praise spoken directly from his heart flowed out of his lips, and-boosted by his kyber crystal-direcrly entered the thought streams of all nearby sentients via the Force. 

A strong sense of unity, loyalty, and togetherness bound them in that moment. 

Corvus felt like a star orbited by various planets and other celestial bodies. His Force Bonds flared-Jax, Keira, Yon, Sev’rance, & the Vornskr Huego-all felt a pulse as he drew upon, and gave to them a fraction of a piece of himself. Breathing deeply, the world seemed to freeze around him for a microsecond, whilst his vision was so sharp, he could see the sweat glistening on a member of the crowd down below. Then the moment passed, and shattered like the sound of breaking glass. 

A feeling of surreal awe kept everyone quiet for a beat, and then raucous cheering threatened to pop the bubble dome, such was its auditory might. 

“Weesa warrias!”

“Weesa warrias!”

“Weesa warrias!” 

Nass then held his fist up, and they both embraced in a side hug. “Party! Party till ya drop!” He shouted into renewed cheers. 

“Yousa owe me for this.” Nass whispered, and leaned in close. 

“How many soldiers can you mobilize?” Corvus nodded along, whispering back, and waving down at the revamped party. 

“One million to start. Perhaps up to ten or thirty million. I may be the big boss, but the other clans require some, eh, convincing.” Nass said, and glanced down at Corvus's hands. 

Corvus pursed his lips. Thirty million was pretty good, all things considered. Hell, that was almost double the number of US troops who fought in WW2! And all he had to do was go around various cities healing folks?! 

“Nass, you beautiful green bastard!” Corvus laughed, and pulled him in for an even tighter hug. A grin spread from ear to ear as he would be farming his [Path of the Jedi] quest even more! 

“For you my friend. We remember our debts, unlike the surface dwellers.” Nass said meaningfully. 

Shaking his head, Corvus could only chuckle along. Nass was really laying it on thick, but at least he wasn't being a dick about it. Some people-once they knew you owed them, would try to act better than you. Treat you like how assholes treated a McDonalds employee. But Nass, for all his bluster, was rather shrewd, and accommodating. Hell, he made a big speech, and threw a party signifying their alliance.

That being said, he sensed that Nass was struggling to come up with an answer. As if he deeply desired something, something murdererous, but was hesitant to ask. Curious about Nass's motivations, and his character, Corvus decided to probe the man. His Jedi Shadow ability to tell truth from lies was blaring full force, and he started things off with a question. 

“Is there anything that comes to mind? Weapons, and armor are part of the package for the food, and are separate. I can offer credits…or perhaps eliminate a rival?” Corvus continued to whisper-like the Devil resting on the shoulder-and was especially quiet at the last part. Although he wouldn't stoop to murdering an innocent, was there such a thing as an innocent politician? 

Nass squinted his eyes, his eyestalks swayed left and right, as if he was tempted by such an offer. “I always knew you Jedi had it in you.” 

“I am not most Jedi.” Corvus stated simply, allowing his past to speak for itself. 

“Haha, no! No, you are not!” Nass leaned back from the railing, and his tongue snaked into a nearby container to grab some crustacean. 

As he chewed on the chitinous creature, and cracked its flesh, Corvus levitated a nearby wood-carved cup, and drank through a straw. 

“Beurgh!” Nass burped, slapped his belly, and wiped a greasy palm on his shirt.

Corvus maintained his silence, awaiting Nass's response. Oftentimes, in negotiations, it was inappropriate to seem over eager. Like interacting with a girl who was playing hard to get, one had to be delicate. 

Nass eventually finished his chewing, and with a loud slurp, finished his meal. His eyes squinted, and he looked Corvus up and down, measuring his words. 

Waving his hand, he activated [Mind Trick]. 

‘Tell me your true thoughts.’

After some time had passed, Nass came close to whisper once again. 

“Binks. I want him gone.” Nass's voice was deep and guttural, a small amount of venom crept into his facial expression as he spoke. 

Nass was serious. 

Sensing the Gungan's conviction through the Force, he slowly nodded along. “If I may ask, why him? He is a hero, is he not?” 

Nass slightly turned away, and gripped the railing tight, the lightning cast his face in a shadow, yet the unmistakable glint of a sneer spread across his face. 

“It is precisely because some have come to view him as a hero that he cannot remain. After my death, he would likely be the next candidate for Boss! For the sake of my people's future, I cannot allow that buffoon to become our next leader!” Nass rumbled. “Destruction of the zoo, destruction of my personal transport, and a host of other minor discrepancies, these are the reasons why he was banished.” Nass spoke with hatred in his voice, his chest fat was practically heaving as he recalled numerous instances of Jar Jar's incidents. 

“And he was the one to initiate Palpatine’s election.” Corvus murmured. 

“Exactly!” Nass rushed to agree. “Then we have an understanding?” 

Corvus slowly nodded along. “Being a fool is no pardon for what he has done. You have earned this favor.” 

“Good. Good! Then let us celebrate! Binks is to return from the Senate within the fortnight, I look forward to hearing the good news!” Nass laughed to cover up the nervousness he felt from ordering a hit, and turned to get himself a drink. 

Corvus, meanwhile, silently sipped on his drink, and watched as the big man fumbled about. He wondered if he should truly kill Jar Jar, or perhaps kidnap him, and put him into exile? The notorious jinx was bad luck, and while anyone could have been the one to nominate Palpatine, it just had to be him. 

He also reevaluated his relationship with Nass. Someone who was willing to assassinate their political rival wasn't necessarily Grade A ally material. Perhaps he could find a suitable replacement amongst the Gungans? That one General from the Phantom Menace seemed rather competent. However, Nass also made a compelling argument. Jar Jar leading a nation of tens of millions seemed like a recipe for disaster. 

Shaking his head, he put such thoughts off for tomorrow. By then, Jar Jar's fate would be sealed, one way or another. 

~~~~~~

AN: Alliances are messy, and this isn't a Shounen story where everyone unreasonably hates OR supports the MC. Villains like Thrawn have moral character, Padmé knows Revan’s history & is weary, Garm Iblis is fearful of losing power, Mon Mothma & Bail Organa are standing on principle where the Jedi are allies of convenience, and guys like Nass are realistic in their fears for the future. This Star Wars universe isn't black & white.