Maeva vs. Duchess Komilia Lap'lamiz

Beneath the surface of Lake Paonga lies the Gungan capital. Otoh Gunga is constructed in such a manner that leaves the Gungan city trapped beneath water pressures—potentially fatal to the denizens should the city be breached—converging on the lake’s vertical center and floating between the surface of the lake and the lakebed. Its location makes the capital difficult to find without knowing its precise location, remaining untouched during the Separatist occupation of Naboo.

Water-breathing species would be able to swim easily to its bubble-shaped buildings; however, those unable to remain submerged without air would find the distance impossible to swim. Therefore, breathing apparatuses are essential for those determined to make the journey themselves and without the aid of Gungan bongos. Its bubble-like buildings are hydrostatic force-fields that contain breathable atmospheres for their occupants and have special portals that allow the inhabitants to enter and exit. Since the Gungans actually grew the building material of their cities from the natural plasma of Naboo and bubble wort extract, the structure of Otoh Gunga is a hub and spoke design. Each of the bubble-like buildings are compartmentalized units, able to be sealed off at a moment’s notice.

The Gungan Grand Army utilizes patrols that make regular visits between the compartments. Favouring spears, atlatls, Electropoles and cestas for throwing boomas, these soldiers are the staunch defenders of Otoh Gunga. Sometimes armed with distributed Gungan personal energy shields capable of turning aside blaster bolts, these warriors are too-often underestimated, lending to their victories over the Trade Federation.

You and another member of the Brotherhood have made the trip to the Gungan city of Otoh Gunga. It was meant to be a simple enough trip: pick up a short list of items for a contact and deliver them. Then the alarms began sounding, blaring messages in Basic warning anyone incapable of breathing underwater needing to find their way to emergency escape vessels to get them to the surface. The sounds of water rushing through halls precedes the flooding, and now you find yourself up to your knees in briny seawater, and it’s rising. Chaos has erupted across the city. Get out.

“Welcome to Otoh Gunga. Here’s your card to grant you access to the building. We only have one at the moment. It can also help yousa grant access to the escape vessels in case of emergency. Please download the map. Wesa is not responsible for any deaths that may occur during emergencies.” Maeva glanced towards the female, who looked at her expectantly for her to grab the card. With a deep sigh, Maeva took the card and thanked the Gungan.

There was a silent exchange between the pair before Maeva figured she should say something.

“So, the items on the list-”

“While you do that, I’m going to find a cafe and get some caf,” Komilia declared as she started to walk away, “message me when it's time to deliver the items.” Maeva stared after Komilia, shocked and appalled that she was just going to leave her alone with this mission. Anything could happen but at the same time, at least she would have some peace. The Evereni would at last, get a break from hearing her talk about her daddy and how she’s a duchess.

If that was the truth.

---

Maeva stared as the Mandalorian arrived with a disgustingly pink caf paper cup adorned in red and white hearts in celebration of upcoming of a certain holiday. She was wearing armor, so how could she possibly get some sips out of that?

“They recognized who I am and they gave me Pumpkin Spice Latte,” Komilia said gleefully.

“By bullying them?” Maeva muttered under her breath as she swiped her card and the building’s door opened. Komilia didn’t seem to hear her.

“All I had to do was enter with such a presence and announce that, I, Duchess Komilia Lap'lamiz, had arrived and that she simply requested-”

“-demanded-”

“Requested,” the tone from Komilia was stern and firm. Almost a warning. She shrugged it off, “for Pumpkin Spice Latte.”

Maeva could not take another second with this woman. This was why she preferred her main job at the hospital as a Forensic Pathologist. The dead don’t talk. They approached at the door and Maeva can feel Komilia staring at her expectedly to open the door. Not wanting to spur another 'I am a Duchess' rant, Maeva swipped the card and the door opened.

*Not much longer.. just finish the delivery and I can go back to the formaldehyde poison of my job.' Maeva thought bitterly. It seems fate had other things in hand. Speakers blared in basic, barely over the deafening alarms. Water started to raise. It was obvious to the women that it was time to leave.

“W-wait-” Maeva stuttered, trying to be loud enough over the blaring alarms at Komilia's rapid push towards the exit. The Evereni was really struggling to slug through the slowly rising waters. How was her shorter comrade easily wading through the waters?

“Absolutely not!” Komilia shrieked to the taller woman, “My armor is being ruined. Ruined! Do you know how much daddy had to pay for this!?”

Maeva stared at her, completely flabbergasted. They were going to drown if they didn’t haul their asses to the escape pod. And here she was, stuck to this woman who was busy worrying about her armor.

Drevada, help me the Evereni silently prayed to her deity.

“Y-you can always clean it,” suggested Maeva.

“I am a Duchess! I do not do the cleaning-”

“Can we not bicker about this?! There’s a bit of a crisis going on!”

Komilia scoffed, “Fine, then open the door!”

Maeva scoffed as she managed to catch up and swiped her card as it opened towards the main city. She glanced up and tried to peer through the flashing alarm lights to determine the damage and why was everything flooding. She glanced down at the Mandlorian.

“We need to get to the escape vessels.”

“Mesa thinks yousa twos should hurry up,” a concerned Gungan called to the pair. Maeva took the chance.

“Excuse me, where’s the escape vessels?” she shouted over the screaming crowd.

“Mesa thinks to the left,” the Gungan pointed as Maeva thanked him, but Komilia was already gone as she fired up her jetpack.

“Wait!” Maeva stared at the fading Mandlorian in disbelief. Very well. Two can play that game. If Komilia was willing to leave her behind to drown, Maeva wanted to send a message. She reached for her BlasTech X-8 Night Sniper, the laser pointed right at the Mandalorian’s jetpack. No. She didn’t want to risk her killing a fellow Brotherhood member. Instead, she fired a bolt right at her arm.

Komilia easily dodged and turned to look down at who was firing bolts at her. It was then she saw the Evereni was holding up… something? Upon closer inspection, she realized that Maeva had the card. Which granted access to emergency vessels.

Komilia shrieked as Maeva disappeared in the crowds, “YOU-”

Komilia was not having a good day. She had not wanted to come on this errand and yet she had agreed to it. She, after all, needed friends and social activities so...here she was. Flying through a packed underground bubble that was slowly becoming a packed underground fish bowl. More so, she had lost her overpriced caf. Despite her boasting, no one had given a kark whom she was and, even if they did recognize her, Naboo was so far outside the realm of her Father's influence it wouldn't have made any difference. She just wanted to be liked and now Maeva had shot at her. Worse, she was hogging the key card!

Komilia, as was sadly to often the case for her, saw red. She hovered in the air as the klaxons wailed around her. The native population seemed somewhat unfazed while all the Nabooians and off-worlders were in a full frothy panic. "Wesa haven ten minutes of air remaining." Komilia hit a button on her vambrace and started a count down. She spotted Maeva pushing her away against the crowd. It's like she didn't even know how to blend in.

Komilia angled herself into a dive. The shiny Beskar looked like fire over her neon pink body suit as the various orbs of light reflected down to those below. Komilia reached out her hand as she slammed into the Evereni. "Give me that!" They rolled on the ground before being buffeted by the crowd.

Maeva scrambled to her feet. The key card still clutched in her hand. "Wait a minute." Komilia lunged for the key card. Maeva side stepped into a Gungan.

"Excuse Yousa."

"Sorry."

"Give me it!" Komilia lunged again. Maeva side stepped as Komilia barreled into the Gungan, knocking them both to the ground.

"I said, wait! We can both get out of here. This isn't an emergency." The klaxons blared out a different story. Water was already coming up to the girls ankles as Komilia sloshed back to her feet.

"You shot me!"

"I shot at you. There's a difference." Komilia was starting to loath that gentle soothing voice. She raised her fists as she squared off with Maeva. "Come on, this doesn't have to be a fight."

"You shot me!" Komilia sent her punch flying and they began to dance. Komilia like a tumbling avalanche of boulders full of brute force and unpolished strikes. Even with the edge of her jet pack helping to launch her kicks and punches nothing seemed to land. Maeva moved with the ever rising water now up to their thighs. Her grace saw her avoid Komilia again and again. A grasp here on the vambrace to redirect Komilia. A kick to the rear as Komilia jetted past her.

"Fight fair!"

"I didn't want to fight you to begin with. Can't we please just get out of here?"

Komilia screamed as she tried to grasp Maeva. Maeva moved again and sent Komilia splashing into the water. Her jetpack sputtered and sparked as Komilia hit the bottom. Pushing off, she shook herself off. The water beaded on her armor as Komilia sized up Maeva and that damn key card in her hand. Komilia had enough. She pulled her blaster from its hostler. "Woah, woah! No blasters!" Komilia began firing. Maeva dove under the water trying to get away. Komilia fired after her as she stomped through the still rising water. Maeve swam for her life. After what felt like the whole energy clip of bolts, one connected. Maeva's armor took the brunt of it but it was enough to make her drop the key card. She swore as she looked back to figure out where she'd dropped it.

"Mine!" Komilia holstered her blaster and dove after the key card. Peering through her visor she spotted it. "Ah ha!" She emerged triumphantly and started sloshing through the now waist deep water. The klaxons started to sputter. "We have eight minutes of air remaining." Very few non-aquatic species still remained in the area. What few Gungans were still about lingered out of range of the two women waiting to see what happened next.