4Chapter Three
Boss Nass
The walk was admitted short but Obi-Wan expected that considering they were in a swamp area. Jar Jar began stretching allowing them to grab their rebreathers. After he was finished he soon turned back to them and quickly said something that Qui-Gon immediately translated for him: "You follow me now okay? I'm warning you, Gungans don't like outsiders so don't expect a warm welcome."
"No worries, this isn't our day for warm welcomes," he signed back which Qui-Gon translated to Jar Jar. Jar Jar smiled at him and with flourish, Obi-Wan was sure a whoop that he naturally couldn't hear, Jar Jar jumped into the water. A second later both master and Padawan soon followed him into the dark water. Master was indeed correct. There was no way his hearing aids would've survived the trip. He didn't have any waterproof pouches and with all of the rushing around even if he did there was no guarantee he wouldn't lose them in any oncoming fight. And there would be a fight since the Trade Federation had decided to abandon all sense so it seemed that he'd have to rely on his master to translate for him. The two of them followed Jar Jar down deeper and deeper into water. Suddenly he spotted a light source up ahead.
As they approached the light source he saw a city encased in bubbles glowing with lights and with many Gungans walking about. Ah so this was Otoh Gunga. Impressive. The reached an alcove that seemed to the main entrance. Obi-Wan was slightly confused about where the bulkhead was that kept the water out until he saw Jar Jar press through the membrane. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan followed a second later and it was then he noted that he was dry as a bone. "Semi-permeable barriers," he commented to his Master that responded with the BSL nod which seemed to confuse Jar Jar considering that looked like he was shaking his fist in a nodding gesture.
Around them Obi-Wan could see and feel through the Force the worry and anxiety their presence brought. Suddenly a kaadu sprang forward and upon that duck billed amphibian was another older Gungan wielding a what looked like an electrified spear. Looking at his Master he saw him translate what the being was saying.
"Hey you stop there!"
"Hello, Captain Tarpal," Jar Jar said as slowly as possible in same exaggerated facial expressions. Obi-Wan appreciated the effort but really it wasn't necessary. His Master seeing his annoyance tapped Jar Jar who'd just gotten through speaking to the guard and allowed Obi-Wan say in BSL while he translated aloud: "You don't need to exaggerated your movements. I can understand normal gestures just as well."
"Wait you can?"
"Yes, he's Deaf not developmentally delayed," Qui-Gon replied both in BSL and in spoken language. "In fact that exaggerating speech is considered rather rude to Deaf beings."
"Oh no!" Jar Jar flailed his arms while the guards began to surround them. "I didn't mean any offense."
"I'm aware of that, so note for future reference just don't do that," Obi-Wan replied with Qui-Gon translating for the guards benefit. "However I'm more worried about the guards surrounding us now."
The guards looked at each other slightly confused by the moving hands until Master Qui-Gon began speaking to them while signing so Obi-Wan could keep up.
"We need to see your leader if you please. It's an emergency matter."
"Very well," the first one, Captain Tarpal evidently, said. "Follow us to Boss Nass, he will decide what to do with you."
With that said the Gungan guards began to march them away from the entrance and into a rather narrow tunnel that served as a hallway. "I'll explain why we're here," Qui-Gon signed to him. "I'll also explain that we need help and why."
"Well it'd better be fast or the Naboo won't stand a chance," Obi-Wan replied.
"That's true," his master agreed as they were lead into a huge amphitheater where the consul of elders were seated. Jar Jar was lead to the side and placed into cuffs surrounded by guards while Qui-Gon was allowed to step forward and address the Gungan elders. They were all dressed in what Obi-Wan supposed was finery for their people seating on a smoothly carved seats that resembled coral reefs he'd seen in his travels.
He felt a tap on his shoulder and noticed that one of the guards had approached him during his time of observation and soon stood by his side so he could see the proceedings. Looking at the being he began sign but there were some signs that slipped in that he was unfamiliar with. Holding up his hand he gave the signal for slow down which fortunately he did understood. At the corner of his eye he saw Master Qui-Gon raise his eyebrow in a question. Captain Tarpal walked forward and said something to him making him sign to Obi-Wan: "They're providing a translator for you."
"I understand Master," Obi-Wan signed back. He turned back to the being with his hands in full view.
"I can't understand some of those signs but I know BSL or NabSL if that helps you," he signed putting particular emphasis on the sign for guard realizing this nodded in and slowed his signing this time in rather stilted BSL which enabled him to keep up with what was being said. Obi-Wan made a mental note to thank the Gungan in question for going the extra effort. Switching from various sign languages wasn't easy considering they had completely different gestures depending the both the culture and the anatomy of the species in question.
"A droid army is about to attack the Naboo," his master argued. "We must warn them."
"We don't care about the Naboo," the lead one, a corpulent Gungan...Boss Nass perhaps? said. "They think they're so smarter then us. They think their brains are so big."
"You do know that once they've subjugated the Naboo they will come for you," Obi-Wan interjected urgency punctuating his signs. There was a pause in the conversation as Boss Nass heard the translation of what Obi-Wan said before shaking his head. He spoke with the Gungan translating his answer.
"I don't think so, they don't know about us."
"You and the Naboo form a symbiotic circle," Obi-Wan protested. "Whatever happens to one happens to the others. You must understand this."
The guard translated the response to Boss Nass who again shook his head as he repeated his response from before.
"We don't care about the Naboo."
"Then you'll send us on our way," Master Qui-Gon said waving his hand as he subtly prodded Boss Nass into doing what he wanted. It was toeing the line of mind persuasion somewhat but not too badly. Obi-Wan wasn't even sure if it would work.
"We'll send you away," Boss Nass agreed without much prompting. Clearly he just wanted them gone if it didn't take that much persuasion.
"We could use a transport," Qui-Gon added.
"We'll give you a bongo. The speediest way to the Naboo is going through the planet core," Boss Nass said waving them away.
"Thank you for your help, we leave in peace," Qui-Gon answered the two of them bowing towards Boss Nass before turning away.
"Master what is a bongo?"
"A transport I hope."
Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow at him. His Master looked at Jar Jar allowing him some time before they left. He turned to his translator and signed: "Thank you for that."
"It was not a problem," the guard replied giving him a friendly smile. "My brother is Deaf so I know how annoying it is have a bunch of hearing beings and not understand what's going on because no one translates."
"Indeed," Obi-Wan agreed giving him a respectful bow. The Gungan returned the gesture. Qui-Gon in turn walked away from the audience and Jar Jar was released from his bonds. Wait a second.
"Master what's going on?"
"We need a navigator and Jar Jar owes me a life debt. They were going to punish him for returning."
"Sounds a tad extreme," Obi-Wan signed. "What did he do?"
"You'll have to ask him later but for now we're going to the bongo," Qui-Gon signed as they walked down a corridor into a docking bay. Well at least things were going slightly smoother this time. He looked down and saw a small submarine vehicle that resembled a smoothed arrowhead attached to three propella that looked like tentacles. The cockpit was small and had three chairs.
"I'll sit in the back, Jar Jar will take navigation and I'll translate. You get to pilot," Qui-Gon signed to Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan nodded his acceptance of the arrangement and soon sat down into the pilot. Qui-Gon and Jar Jar joined him a second later. He flipped through the controls getting a feel for the controls. A operator walked over and through a combination of Obi-Wan asking about the operations of the ship with Qui-Gon translating did he figure out the mechanics of the ship. Finally satisfied he thanked the operator and soon they were released into the murky depths of the water. This was going to be an interesting ride indeed.
BSL- Basic Sign Language (Similar to ASL with a few of BSL (British Sign Language) signs.)
