Jedi Insurgency 135

After arriving in the bubble city, the first thing he did, was to spam [Heal] and wrack up those numbers for [Path of the Jedi]. The quest didn't discriminate between species, and neither did Corvus. Aches, pains, and severe diseases all counted the same as far as the quest was concerned, and after a day's work, he successfully healed over 150,000+. 

His identity as a Jedi earned him access to the city, and his good deeds had earned him an audience with their ruling class. 

Within the council chambers of Gunga Otoh, Corvus received a hefty back pat, and a bone-crushing hug by Boss Nass. The big-boned green Gungan from the Phantom Menace wore a wide grin, and looked at Corvus as if he were a life saver. 

…technically he was, as Nass had been on the verge of death with lung problems similar to COPD.  

“My friend, your life saving grace has touched many hearts.” Boss Nass said as he released Corvus from his embrace. 

Thankfully he had picked the perks that enhanced Constitution, otherwise, he'd probably be clutching at his spine. 

“It is no problem, Boss Nass. The Jedi are committed to maintaining this friendship.” Corvus placed his hands in his sleeves, and bowed. 

“Bah! Call me Nass! What are titles between friends?” Nass waved his hand. 

Corvus slightly inclined his head, and received a small round of applause from the handful of councilors who were present. 

“Tell me, Jedi, what is it you seek from us? If it is shelter from the Empire, we are willing to hide you.” Nass leaned in close, and spoke in a hushed, shrewd voice, and then sat back into a large circular, throne-like cushion. 

Narrowing his eyes, Corvus realized that perhaps there was more to this jolly persona than he let on. In the Phantom Menace, Nass appeared overly confrontational. However, from a logical point of view, when dealing with Qui-Gon & the Republic, they were foreigners encroaching on their land. The Gungans feared invasion, and indeed, the Trade Federation had invaded with the intent of wiping them out. 

Assessing the overweight, toad-like alien, Corvus nodded in approval. Just because Jar-Jar Binks was a moron, he was not representative of his race. Perhaps there would be room for further cooperation in the future. Should the local Nabooian's (Padmé) prove difficult, then Boss Nass, and his people may show themselves to be more trustworthy allies. After all, unlike the people of Theed, the Gungans were willing to fight for their freedom. 

“The more I speak with you Nass, the more I like what I see, please, call me Revan. Then I shall be direct. As you have ascertained, the Jedi are in conflict with Palpatine. He has stabbed us in the back, and wishes to cleanse us from the galaxy as once the Trade Federation attempted with your people.” 

“Bah, Palpatine! I saw him for the scuttlefish coward that he was.” Nass slapped a meaty open palm on his thigh, eliciting a loud smack in the hall. 

“Indeed, it was he who orchestrated the attack on Naboo. By his machinations, he drew sympathy from the Senate, and maneuvered himself into the Chancellorship.” Corvus nodded along, relying on past actions, the recent healings, and his heavily stat padded Personality trait to weave together into one big truth bomb. 

The various councilors muttered amongst one another at this, and some nodded along. A brief raised volume entered the hall, and a few loud voices clamored for war. 

Nass held up a hand, and the people eventually quieted down. 

“We, of course, would be more than happy to take the fight to the enemy. The Gungan people are proud warriors, with generations of tradition. Do not let this peaceful city fool you. Until Boss Gallo unified the tribes, we were once a people who only knew war.” Nass stated in a deep, pride filled-almost reverential-voice. 

Corvus raised his eyebrows at the unexpected offer. 

“I am shocked, nay, emboldened by your solemn vows of support!” Corvus's voice boomed across the chamber, and he deeply bowed to show his respect. Many people started clapping, and cheering, but Corvus kept speaking, as he felt that honesty would be the best way to communicate with the Gungans. “However, in truth, I had not come here to ask for your spears, for I did not wish to invite death to my friends.” 

“Oh? Do you not put us bottom dwellers in your eyes?” Nass rumbled. 

The Gungans ceased their cheers, and their cold eyes seemed to glare at him. 

Corvus sensed that Nass-and the assembly-were on the verge of being deeply offended. The switch was almost like they were bipolar from his perspective. 

‘Remember, they are aliens, not Humans.’ Corvus reminded himself. 

Taking a deep breath, Corvus spread his arms wide and met Nass's choleric gaze. 

“The might of the Gungans is well documented in the Jedi archive. Your bravery in the face of the droid invasion was commendable, buuuut….” Tilting his head to the side, and shrugging his shoulders, Corvus mimed a ‘what can you do’ pose. 

“What are you insinuating, Master Jedi?!” Nass's lips splattered saliva as his voice raised to a shout. 

“That you, my friends, for all your ingenuity, courage, and intelligence, are outgunned, and outmatched. That if you want to prove yourself on the galactic stage, you need the means to defend yourselves.” Corvus folded his arms, and spoke like a teacher leading his class into the correct answer. 

“But all it takes is one well aimed booma, and the discharge is enough to cripple or kill someone.” A councilor spoke up in defense of them. 

Recalling those blue spheres of pure plasma from the Phantom Menace, Corvus figured something like that would 100% overwhelm a regular person's nervous system, or fry them dead. Just because it was PG-13 to kill droids in a movie, didn't mean that shit couldn't harm a Human. There was just one problem with boomas, they were unwieldy, slow, and deployed via catapult! If he had some mass driver, or rail gun that could deliver the boomas quickly, maaybe they'd be viable. But when lasers could travel from A to B in seconds, a thrown ball-no matter how effective-wasn't very exciting. 

As if sensing Corvus’s displeasure-or perhaps knowing his people's own shortcoming-Nass did not continue his rampage, nor did he make another outburst. Instead, that shrewd look reappeared in his eye, and Corvus got the feeling he was actually being tested this entire time. That if he had jumped wholeheartedly into war, perhaps Nass would have continued to pay lip service, and eventually see him out of Gunga Otoh with a smile. 

The Force pricked at the edge of his senses, and he felt as if his conjecture was around 75% accurate. Taking a deep look at Nass, Corvus was once again reminded that when it came to named individuals, even the subtle sway of his enhanced Personality wasn't fool proof. Padmé, and Thrawn-despite being unattuned to the Force-were perfect examples of that. 

Spawning a handgun in his hand, Corvus twirled it around, and then spawned a chest piece of beskar armor from his inventory. Lifting the armor into the air, he shot at it a good couple times, and nothing happened. At most, some black residue scuffed the shiny metal surface, but it was nothing a good wash couldn't fix up. 

“Gentlemen, a man is only as good as the weapons he takes to battle. The most elite Gungan warrior might be able to kill one or two with a shockprod or a booma. Give him a gun, and the confidence to take the enemy head on, and I assure you, the name ‘Gungan’ will be known throughout the galaxy.” Corvus said in a cocksure tone reminiscent of an arms dealer or over confident cowboy. 

He then levitated the weapon and armor to the room's occupants like it was show & tell in a classroom. They were hesitant at first, but before long, one brave soul dawned the armor, and another shot him. The beskar armor did its job, and the Gungan was perfectly fine. 

Nass leaned forward, and scratched the jowls of his chin in thought. The thick fat was awash with sweat, and he narrowed his eyes. 

“Armor and weapons like this are not cheap. This war, we are willing to fight it for our friends, to right the wrongs of Palpatine, The Betrayer. But we have our pride…” 

Corvus subtly nodded his head in appreciation. Although their words were both praiseworthy of one another, and there was an air of mutual appreciation, Nass wasn't stupid. It seemed the Gungan had realized what was going on, and wanted him to finally reveal the reason for his trip.

Smiling like a cat who had caught the canary, Corvus glanced at the rest of the council. Unlike Nass, most of them seemed to be caught up in the fervor of war, and glory. Especially with the thought of bringing Palpatine to justice, or seeking revenge on those Nemoidian slimes.

“Yes, yes, we do not take gifts for free, Jedi. What is it that we can offer you for these modern conveniences?” A councilor eagerly asked. 

‘Hook. Line. Aaand sinker.’ Corvus mentally performed a slam dunk. 

Right now, he felt like some high level CEO that was just about to complete the deal of his life. The cool part was, that whilst messing with Palpatine and Padmé was fun and all, the most important, and simplest part about this trip was happening right here, in the heart of Otoh Gunga! 

“You are right, Boss Nass, such weapons and armaments do not come cheap. That armor, for example, is in extremely limited supply. However, weapons, and yes ships are things my other friends are more than happy to trade to you.” 

“Name your conditions, Revan. Do not let it be said that the Gungans are an inhospitable people.” Nass stroked his neck folds, and said grandly, much to his supporters’ approval. 

However, the look he gave Corvus was measured, as if to say ‘don't go too far!’ 

Ever so slightly inclining his head in acknowledgment, Corvus clapped his hands together, and began to speak. 

“My friends, the Eriaduans, are a people great at making things, however, their planet is not as lush nor beautiful as yours. Where you have mighty kelp forests, they have great twisting durasteel constructs. Needless to say, rich in equipment, they are poor in food.” 

“Is that all?! Hah! Revan, my friend, Lake Paonga has more fish than we know what to do with!” Nass slapped his thigh once more, and exclaimed. ‘Your friends, are our friends. These how do you say, Ereye-du-ans are more than welcome to dine on Naboo's delicacies." 

Internally sighing in relief at securing such a major deal, Corvus stepped forward, and opened his arms to seal the deal. 

‘When in Rome.’ He thought to himself, and then engaged in another back–breaking embrace. 

“Good, good, it is settled then! Come, let us hold a feast! To friendship, to war!” Nass released the hug, then held Corvus's arm up like a fighter who won a match. 

“To friendship, to war!” The council matched Nass's tempo, and then left the hall to set things in motion. 

Alone with Nass, the big man dropped his grin, and turned to scrutinize him. 

“What you did, saving my life, I will never forget. However, I will crush you should you ever betray my trust.” Nass was thankful at first, but then issued a dire warning before he turned to depart. 

“We are like the calm before the storm, Nass. The water will churn, and form waves, yet ultimately return to peace. I am honored by your trust.” 

“Hmph.” Nass snorted good naturedly. “Come along now, and don't tell me you won't eat because of that mask!” 

Corvus shook his head in amusement, friends were made in the most unexpected of places. He never would have imagined that this seemingly abrasive toad-like Gungan would be someone he confided in. Yet circumstances created strange bedfellows. 

~~~~~~~~

AN: It might not seem like it, but this chapter was strategically, just as important as the conquest of Malastare. Food, fuel, mines, factories, manpower, to wage war, one needs all these things.