Crimson Guardian
Padmé has survived Mustafar and has hidden herself in the place one would least expect it, the Emperor's Crimson Guard! Sent aboard the second Death Star, paths converge and secrets are revealed…
Chapter One
Padme stood on the surface of the desolate plant of Yinchorr, staring out at the bleak emptiness.
It's empty and barren, like my heart, Padmé thought, all my life is gone now, the Republic is no more, and Anakin Skywalker is buried deep inside the monstrosity known as Darth Vader. I have nothing to live for, except revenge against Palpatine.
After her children were born, she had gone into hiding, learning how to conceal her Force Signature from everyone from Obi-Wan, including Vader and the Emperor. Instead of cowering in hiding, Padmé decided to do something completely unconventional and hide in plain sight, where no one would ever think to look for her. She spent months fabricating a false identity for herself, amassing a fortune in "illegal" trade deals with the newly–formed Rebel Alliance, aiding them in small financial endeavors that helped provide them with ships and weapons.
Padmé established an alter ego of "Cordé Starkiller" for herself. She claimed to be from Dantooine and ran a small junkyard for used ship parts on the planet. A tribute to her "dead" husband's origins; It brought up a twinge of guilt every now and then, but she buried it. After several years her business was becoming more successful and attracting more attention than she wanted, she decided to sell it and enlist in the Imperial Academy, in order to sabotage the Empire from within rather than openly join the Rebellion where her identity might be exposed, sending Vader across the Galaxy to find her.
It took a great deal of bribing but she managed to enlist in the Imperial Academy. Hiding in plain sight was much better than trying to stay concealed forever, if she hid, Vader would no doubt suspect she was hiding, if he ever thought about her at all. She paid attention to the HoloNet and she knew that Vader was "wiping out the treacherous Jedi from the face of the Galaxy." No doubt, Palpatine had sent him on these missions to keep him from reflecting on the past. To keep him from thinking about her and the child he thought he lost.
Day after day, Jedi after Jedi fell before Vader's unquenchable wrath, and Padmé knew there was nothing she could do to stop him. She had begged him to run away with her so they could raise their child, now known to her as the twins, Luke and Leia. He had not listened to her then, and he wouldn't listen to her even if she contacted him. The fact that she lived would not turn him back to the Light Side of the Force so easily. He would just try to convince her to join him which she would never do.
"No, I must fight my own battles, I can't turn him back, he wouldn't listen to me," Padmé said to herself.
"Cordé" a voice said behind her asked. "Did you say something?"
She turned to the elderly man beside her. "No, Master Kennede, I was just...thinking."
"So tell me, how does a woman, of all people, end up on Yinchorr among the Emperor's Elite Crimson Guards in training?" Master Kennede asked.
"I joined the Academy some years ago and did so well I was assigned to a squad of Stormtroopers on Naboo," she replied. Ved Kennede did not suspect her to have any connection there, the Imperials had checked her background and she had come up "clean" of any connections to the Rebel Alliance.
"For a woman to be in the Imperial Academy at all must mean you are well connected, within the infrastructure of the Empire." He said, placing his hand on her shoulder. Padmé nearly winced, but suppressed the reflex. "Women are not permitted to join unless they have a special privilege or a sponsor."
"I make my own way in the world, that's what got me here," Padmé said quietly.
"And yet, you sacrifice everything to become the best-of-the-best, a Crimson Guard, a Loyal Servant to the Emperor himself."
"My reasons for joining the Crimson Guard are my own," Padmé said. If I can fight from within the Empire, I will atone for my role in its rise.
"I heard that the Stormtroopers were nearly wiped out by a squad of Rebels there, you must have been very resourceful."
Indeed, she had been resourceful; she had made sure that none of the Troopers in her squadron survived the invasion of her home planet. She could not shoot them in the back herself but she had rigged thermal detonators to explode inside the building they were invading so that they would all die, she had "escaped" and informed her superiors of the "slaughter" of her fellow troops and they had believed it. After several missions, some she sabotaged, other times, she made sure that information the Imperials needed suddenly "disappeared" with the blame falling on the scout trooper who had "mysteriously" lost the whereabouts of the information. Later, she had been promoted and had been given an invitation by the Emperor himself to come to Yinchorr to train in the Crimson Guard.
She had practiced concealing her Force Signature so often that she was no longer afraid of looking the Emperor in the face or Vader for that matter. They were no longer concerned about "Padmé Amidala" anymore; she was dead to both of them. And in her own mind she had died with Anakin on Mustafar, in another lifetime, ages and ages ago when they were together.
She had discovered that when one was consumed by the Dark Side, they would not permit themselves to tap into the Light; she had no bond with "Darth Vader" so he could not sense her, her bond with Anakin Skywalker, and he was dead and gone.
"Your training begins tomorrow, Starkiller," Master Kennede said, "good luck."
Padmé watched Master Kennede leave and said to herself, "There is no such thing as luck."
Six Months Later…
"Cordé Starkiller" had progressed in her training, so much so that Master Kennede was sure she was ready for her final test.
"Trust me, Cordé, you are ready for your last test, the Emperor himself is coming for a demonstration, perhaps you will be chosen to fight for him."
"I do not think my skills are worthy of his notice," Padmé said. "I am not the best student here. Kir Kanos and Carnor Jax have much more skill than I do. They are young, I am old."
"You are not old, Cordé," Master Kennede laughed. "You are 40, 45, at least?"
"I may not be old, in sense of age," Padmé said quietly, "but I feel old."
"Oh, I see," Master Kennede said, "now pay attention to the duel on the Squall that you might learn more."
"Yes, Master Kennede," Padmé said, subdued. She watched Kir Kanos and Carnor Jax duel each other on the Squall.
All the members of the in-training Crimson Guard who were at Yinchorr stood around the metal arena known as the Squall. It was made of durasteel and was shaped like a large circular platform, like Naboo's power generators where Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan had fought Darth Maul. Except the Squall was shaped like a giant metal wheel with a small platform in the center.
Kir Kanos and Carnor Jax held two short Vibroblades in each hand as they battled each other ferociously. Trained in the deadly art of Echani they dueled using the best of their abilities. And the training on Yinchorr was not easy, many students died on the Squall and Padmé had once heard a statistic that said only 4 percent of all the inductees of the Squall survived to become members of the Emperor's Crimson Guard. She intended to be in that 4 percent, she killed some of them, only the ones she knew were fanatically loyal to Palpatine. She made sure the Emperor wasn't going to be surrounded by fanatical followers if she could help it. The other trainees however, thought she was just doing it to be ambitious, to prove herself to the Emperor.
Padmé's only intention however was to destroy as many of these would-be fanatics as she could, some she knew she could not kill, for they had more skill than she did, Kir Kanos and Carnor Jax were two of those people. She disliked Carnor Jax, she thought he was too ambitious, he could be trouble if the Emperor ever died, which right now, seemed unlikely that he was going to do that anytime soon.
Kir Kanos however, was a different story, he had a sense of honor and nobility about him, unlike many other imperials Padmé knew. Had he been found in the days of the Republic he would have worn the blue robes of the Senate Guard, which was replaced by the Red Guard, which became known as the Crimson Guard when Palpatine declared himself Emperor. Kir Kanos was a good man, despite his loyalty to Palpatine.
Padmé watched as Carnor Jax blocked Kir Kanos' viscous blow with his two Vibroblades, Jax somersaulted over Kanos as he brought his blades sweeping toward him. Landing on his feet, he executed a hard kick in the back, sending Kanos flying across the platform on the Squall. Jax brought his blade down to Kanos' throat.
"I submit. You win the match," Kanos admitted, defeated.
Carnor Jax reached out his hand and helped Kanos to his feet. "Face it Kir Kanos—in the Squall I always win."
"It's a big Galaxy, Carnor Jax, on the Squall exists only hear on Yinchorr." Kir Kano looked up as an Imperial Shuttle landed on the planet's surface near the Squall.
"Perhaps, but—" Carnor Jax's thought was interrupted as Crimson Guard exited the Imperial Shuttle.
"The Imperial Guard!" Kanos exclaimed. The demonstration was today, how could he have forgotten?
"Palpatine!" one of them exclaimed, they were in awe of his presence, Padmé was not, she was going to watch and see what happened, and she had heard rumors about what occurred in these "demonstrations" before. Someone was going to die, and she hoped he wouldn't sense her alive and well and pick her to fight another student.
All the inductees bowed before the Emperor. Even Padmé, she could not draw attention to herself. Forgive me, Obi-Wan, she thought. The Emperor could not feel her presence in the Force, and if he did she knew she was doomed, fortunately, his attention was not focused on her; he was speaking to Kir Kanos.
"Your Excellency," Kir Kanos said respectfully.
"Please," the Emperor said, hissing the word like a dying animal. "Rise." They did as they were told.
"I would speak with those who have given up so much out of loyalty to me. You honor me with your sacrifice."
He turned his penetrating gaze upon the inductees, fleetingly glancing at Padmé. He let his gaze fall upon Kanos and said to him, "you, my son…I know your life here cannot be easy, and your training is exceedingly difficult—"
"—Yes, Sire, but it prepares me for a life of service to my Emperor," Kir Kanos said respectfully.
"What is your name?" Palpatine asked.
"Kir Kanos, Your Excellency," Kanos replied.
The Emperor held Kanos' gaze for a moment and Padmé wondered what was going through the young man's mind. He truly believed in what the Empire stood for, and for that, Padmé pitied him. He would have been a better man under the Republic, but those days were gone now.
Then, she heard it, the hissing inhale and exhale of mechanical breathing that was so feared throughout the galaxy. She saw him walking down the ramp and walked down toward him. Vader knelt before the Emperor.
"Ah, Lord Vader," Palpatine said, "You've arrived for the demonstration."
"As you requested, Master," Vader replied.
"Proceed," the Emperor said. Vader rose to his feet and looked at the trainees.
"Who is your best student?" Vader asked.
Master Kennede stood before Vader in full uniform. "Burr Danid is the best among us, though Carnor Jax and Kir Kanos are quite adept—"
"Danid, step forward," Vader ordered. The young boy did so.
Vader stepped onto the Squall. "Come, step onto the Squall with me." Danid complied. Vader held two sheathed double-bladed Vibroblades in his hands. He tossed one to Danid.
"Attack me," Vader commanded. "Hold nothing back."
Danid caught the blade and looked at the Emperor.
"Do your duty, my son," the Emperor said, gesturing at him. Danid did as he was told, he attacked Darth Vader.
Blades clashed as the Sith Lord blocked the blow. Burr Danid's attacks and defense were flawless in the eyes of Master Kennede, but Padmé knew that just because you were "flawless" in training combat here did not mean you were ready to battle the likes of Darth Vader. Padmé knew Anakin had been a deadly warrior, but as Vader he was ruthless, she watched as Vader avoided the blow and slammed his booted foot into Danid's stomach. Grunting in pain, the boy dropped the Vibroblade.
Darth Vader slammed one end of the Vibroblade against the Squall, gripping the handle; he used it to swing his legs around into Burr Danid's head, causing him to drop his weapon. Danid quickly reached for his weapon but Vader slashed down and cut off his hand.
"AHH!" Burr Danid's scream echoed off the cliffs and the bottomless abyss beneath the Squall. He clutched his mutilated fist in agony. Padmé could see the blood, his muscle and even bone as the boy looked up at Vader, hoping for mercy. Padmé knew there would be none for him.
Darth Vader slammed his booted foot into Danid's chest, sending him falling into the bottomless abyss of the Squall as the other students tried, some unsuccessfully to conceal their horror.
Darth Vader turned to face the rest of the trainees. "If he was your best, you are not yet fit to serve the Emperor." He walked over and stood by his Master's side. "Return to your studies. You have much to learn."
Padmé could see the horror in Kir Kanos' eyes. She wondered if he'd be okay. She would speak to him later.
Vader, Palpatine and the Crimson Guardsmen turned on their heel and went back to their shuttle and blasted up into space.
Padmé found Kir Kanos standing in his small barracks. "Kir? Is something wrong?" she asked.
"Hello, Cordé," he greeted. "I saw you at the demonstration."
"I could say the same for you. You must feel honored that Master Kennede said that you were one of his best students."
"Yes, but that's not what's bothering me," Kir said quietly.
"What is it?" Padmé asked.
"Lord Vader; took down our best student as if he were a child. It was as if he knew nothing at all about combat."
"Yes, Vader is skilled. He is strong enough to serve his Emperor," she said, mouthing the propaganda that was constantly uttered by Master Kennede day after day, though she herself did not believe it, but she played the actress and pretended to.
"You don't believe in the Emperor's ideals, do you?" Kir Kanos asked.
"It doesn't matter what I believe in," Padmé said. "I have personal reasons for joining the Crimson Guard, and they are not for you to know. Some things I keep to myself."
"Are you saying that you're a Rebel?" Kir Kanos demanded.
"No, I am not a Rebel, it would be too dangerous for me to join the Rebellion, no, and I abandoned those ideals a long time ago."
"You believed in the ideals of the Old Republic?" Kir Kanos asked. This could be dangerous. She could betray them.
"As you can see Kanos, the Republic is dead," Padmé said icily. "My beliefs mean nothing! Don't bring up this subject with me; there is no use in talking about what is past."
"I am just being wary that's all," Kir Kanos said. "I'm sorry if I've offended you. There are traitors everywhere."
"I have never betrayed anyone," Padmé said firmly.
"I believe you," Kir Kano said. "Why do you care about me? Such emotion is unfitting for a servant of the Emperor."
"You remind me of my husband, he was very much like you," she said.
"Did he die?" Kir asked.
"No," she said. "He lives, but he left me long ago."
"Oh, I see. I'm sorry," Kir Kanos said.
"Come, let's go to the Squall, let us practice so that we may forget our troubles, besides, you must be bored dueling Carnor Jax all day."
Kir Kanos laughed. "You have a strange sense of humor, Cordé. A duel will be good for us."
They both stepped out onto the Squall and unsheathed their double-bladed Vibroblades.
Extending her blade, Padmé attacked Kir Kanos. Slashing the blade, she met his parry as he whirled around, swinging the weapon at her. She jumped over it, landing on her feet she kicked out.
Kir Kanos had learned from his previous duel and avoided the blow. He slammed his blade down and Padmé blocked it using the Vibroblade handle.
"Perfectly executed, you might actually pass the final test," Kir Kanos commented, sweat pouring down his forehead.
"So I have heard from master Kennede," she replied. "I hope you pass the final test, too."
"Let's hope I don't have to fight you to do it," he said. He slashed at her; she jumped back and smiled underneath her helmet. He was good; she just wished she had met him under different circumstances. She was fond of him, but it wasn't a romantic feeling, it was more of a mother/son relationship. He was like the son she couldn't have. Luke would be safer if he didn't know she was still alive, she hoped one day she would be able to meet him in person.
He somersaulted over Padmé and slammed his blade against hers. Sparks flew as he butted the handle into Padmé's chin. She staggered back and he held the blade to her throat.
"You are skilled," Kanos said, he admired her. She was a strong warrior. He wondered where she had gotten such strength.
"So are you, Kir Kanos," Padmé tried not to smile; too much emotion in a place devoid of emotion was a dangerous thing. "I hope, after this is over that our paths will cross again."
She left the Squall and headed back to her barracks. To her surprise, Master Kennede was waiting for her.
"Master Kennede, why are you here? Is something wrong?" she asked, surprised, she hoped Kanos hadn't told him about her comments concerning the Old Republic and the Rebellion.
"No, you are to face your final test," Ved Kennede said proudly.
"Why are you telling me this?" she asked. "None of the other students know what the final test is, so why tell me what's going to happen?"
"I'm having you moved to another Squadron. You are excelling much faster than I anticipated."
"But I am nowhere as good as Kir Kanos or Carnor Jax—" Padmé protested.
"That doesn't matter, I feel you are ready to serve the Emperor," Ved Kennede said. "You will face Chik Apla in lone combat. Only then will you be ready to serve the Emperor."
"I…am honored you wished to inform me," Padmé said.
Now she would have to fight Chik Apla in one-on-one melee combat in front of the man she hated and the shadow of the man she once loved. How was she supposed to survive that?
"When is he coming?" Padmé asked.
"Vader and the Emperor?" Ved frowned. "Tomorrow."
Only one night to steel her mind and soul for her final test, only one night to prepare herself for the battle that could make or break the charade she had lived in for five years. She would pass Palpatine's test, but she would not cower to his idiotic ideals and the madness of his dark reign of terror. She would look him in the face and survive, and he would not recognize her.
She made her way back to her barracks and began to mentally prepare herself for the final test. She raised up mental shields around her precious memories of Anakin and the memories of her children and her true identity. She had become adept at hiding her thoughts from Force Adepts or would-be Sith, she would be fully prepared for her confrontation tomorrow.
"Listen to me, Cordé Starkiller and Chik Apla," Master Ved Kennede said. "You have passed tests that would have destroyed others and have learned your strengths and weaknesses from your partner. By observing your partner's strengths and weaknesses you have mastered your own. Your final test shall be conducted by the Emperor himself. When that door opens, you will go before the Emperor and be tested, when you come out, you will live the rest of your lives in his service."
Master Kennede turned and left them. They stood alone together, waiting for whatever would happen. Padmé felt a horrible feeling come over her, like something terrible was going to happen.
"No matter what happens in that room, Cordé I am glad to have fought beside you," Chik Apla said quietly.
"And I want you to know that I'm sorry for anything that I might do to you in that room," Padmé said, she'd heard rumors that there was a reason 4 percent of the inductees on Yinchorr passed the final test, and she dreaded it.
"Rely on your training, Cordé," Chik said calmly. The door opened. They walked inside.
Padmé could hear her footsteps echoing off the walls, it was an eerie feeling. The barriers around her memories were in place and she was mentally prepared for whatever was to come.
The Emperor was staring at them through a simulator that covered his entire head. "I have heard only good reports about your training. Such sacrifice and loyalty honor me. Please, rise."
"The Emperor has three openings. The one individual who passes this test will become part of the Emperor's Guardsman," Vader said, he held out two double-bladed Vibroblades to them.
"Fight for me," the Emperor ordered.
Padmé struggled to keep her emotions in check. So this was how she would join the Crimson Guard, a baptism in blood.
She gave up on thinking and struck. Her heart begged her friend's forgiveness as she shielded her thoughts from Vader and the Emperor. She let her training take over as she struck at her dueling partner.
Whirling around, she jabbed at Chik Apla as he blocked the blow. She slashed at him, wielding her weapon with deadly ease that frightened her to her core, but it was a fight or die situation, and she wouldn't allow herself to die. She blocked his next blow with the handle of her Vibroblade, and slammed her fist into the side of his head. Padmé decided if she had to murder her friend, she would give him a quick and painless death, she thrust the blade straight through his heart; he was dead before he hit the floor.
She saw the shock in his eyes for just a second, and then he was gone. Padmé thought he was begging her for help in that last glance, but she knew there was nothing she could do. She would mourn his loss in private after Vader and the Emperor were gone.
"You have passed your final test," the Emperor congratulated. He placed his hands on her shoulders. "You will serve your Emperor well. He sat back on his throne and said, "Bring in the other recruits."
Padmé watched in horror as Carnor Jax struck down Alum Frost without a thought. The Emperor beamed with pride, giving him the same look he had given her. Carnor Jax joined her.
Padmé saw Lemmet Tauk and Kir Kanos walked in. She saw the wide-eyed look on Kanos' face when he spotted the blood on the floor. The Emperor repeated the same speech he had given her about their loyalty and sacrifice. She saw the hesitation in Kanos' eyes and Vader noticed it too.
Vader began to clench his fist as if to Force Choke the both of them. "Obey your Emperor!" his voice boomed commandingly.
"Tauk…" Kanos whispered.
"Kanos…" Lemmet Tauk replied. Padmé saw the sweat dripping down his forehead.
Blades clashed before either could think. Kanos blocked his friend's Vibroblade as he attacked ferociously. He blocked another strike with the handle of his blade, wielding it like a quarter staff. He kicked Lemmet back, thrusting the blade through his stomach.
Kanos was horrified by what he had done and stared at his dead friend as he fell down dead on the floor. While Padmé managed to conceal her horror, Kanos did not.
Palpatine placed his hands on Kanos' shoulders and said the fateful words, "You will serve your Emperor well."
Turning, he walked away with the rest of his Guardsmen.
Kanos quietly knelt down in front of his dead friend, reaching out, he quietly hut his friend's horror-filled, lifeless eyes.
Tauk...I—I'm sorry," Kanos said quietly. Vader was about to leave the room when he heard him. Padmé watched the hulking monster turn and look at him.
"You no longer have the right to be sorry," Vader said harshly. "From this moment, you belong to the Emperor—his every whim, your command. It is not for you to question or regret the results of those commands. You have grown strong, Kir Kanos. You will indeed serve the Emperor well."
Kir and Padmé both saw Vader going for his lightsaber. Knowing that her friend could be killed, she knew all she could do was watch.
"Defend yourself," Vader ordered. Kanos managed to grab his weapon as he tried to strike Vader. It was futile however, as the Sith Lord slashed a large gash on the front of his helmet searing the flesh on the front of his face.
"Always remember that you are weak before the power of the Dark Side," Vader said as he walked out of the room. Padmé waited until Vader and Jax were gone from the room before she moved toward Kir Kanos. She was going to help him, he deserved a little compassion, and she knew it would probably be the last time she saw her friend, considering that all the recruits were spread throughout the Empire.
"Kanos are you all right?" she asked hesitantly. "I'll get you some bacta."
"Why—why are you helping me?" he asked, staring at her through pain-filled eyes.
"You need medical attention," she said, helping him to his feet. She helped him out the door, making sure no one would see her. She was helping him because she knew she might never see him again, and because he was one of the few Imperials she had ever called a friend.