"...he finally released me, both physically and with the Force. I felt myself just fading away. Then, they vanished and I was here. I tried to make it to the Lakehouse but it had been destroyed. That's where you found me." concluded Padme.
Karan was stunned, shocked by Padme's account. It was one thing to know that slavery was terrible, another to hear the first hand account of the brutal treatment of someone at the hands of those who regarded them as mere property. Whenever he had thought it could not possibly be worse, her halting, broken recollection had proved otherwise. How could you begin the healing process? Where did you even start? At least he had a name now.
"I believe you Padme." he said, remembering the lessons stressing that you should use the subject's name, reminding them that they are indeed, a person.
"You do?" said Padme looking down. She had uncoiled a little but still refused to look directly at him.
"It's incredible to be sure, but then there are those words, 'Jedi' and 'The Force'. They cover many things. So while your tale sounds like something out of an old legend, I cannot dismiss it as being impossible. Also, there's all the corroborating evidence. Your recent medical treatment, your clothing matches that of a hospital the Hutts levelled. You match the description of a woman lost years ago and I remember hearing you from earlier. You also match the description of Jabba's slave, the woman who wont dance for him. So Padme, I have every reason to believe you." said Karan evenly.
"How, how does anyone know that I defied Jabba?" Padme said.
"The Hutts and symps bring their slaves with them when they come here and being our neighbour, most travelled through Tatooine. They often stopped off to visit Jabba, and well, slaves talk. I guess your tale is known throughout the Zone. 'If she can, then I can' is a rallying cry for resistance groups and defiant slaves everywhere. You're a hero Padme." said Karan.
"I'm no hero. I broke. I had given up. That day. If I had not been rescued I would of done as that worm asked." said Padme.
"Then by a miracle you were freed Padme. What happened after was equally miraculous. You are here for a reason. You are the hero we need."
Padme didn't know what to say to that. She didn't feel like a hero. She felt tired, exhausted.
"Even if that's true, can I start tomorrow?" she said.
"Of course. Go to sleep. You're safe here. We'll be outside if you need anything." said Karan. He then switched off the laminator and left, closing the door before finding a comfortable spot to lean.
'Wake up.'
Padme woke up. She no longer felt sore, or cold. She walked out of the room into brightly lit corridors. She noticed she was wearing red and black robes. What was happening?
'Come. This way.'
She walked through the complex. It was a lot larger than she remembered. Massive doors opened as she approached and she descended through chambers, balconies and halls. Eventually she reached a hall, a throne room. She stopped.
'Sit in the throne. Realise your destiny.'
She felt herself walk forwards. No.
'I offer you power. The strength you will need. All yours."
No.
'Are you not angry. I am. I detest these invaders. I can tell you do as well. Take the throne.'
No. Her hands balled into fists.
'Such strength. All wasted. Take the throne. I can even offer you, him. I can make him yours, obedient to your every whim.'
"No!"
Padme shot up as she awoke. She was in the small, unlit room in a hospital gown, everything still hurt. A dream. Of what though? The last time she had had dreams of such clarity it was of her other life, the one here everything went right. So what was this? The voice had been hers, she was sure. Another life? She had sounded so harsh, controlling, used to command. Padme decided she didn't like herself very much. She paused.
She had not liked the one with the perfect life either. Rather she had been jealous, resentful, then angry. They had still rescued her, tried to look after her, and finally, let her die with dignity. Except she hadn't . Was she wrong about this new version too. Maybe it was her that was the problem, it was her fault because she was not capable or deserving of love. She was the weak, pathetic one. Padme leaned against the wall for support.
The sounds of an argument reached her. Really? Entire planet to liberate and they wasted time bickering? She stumbled towards the voices.
Karan looked defiantly at Laina while she berated him.
"That is the lamest, most asinine and insane story I have ever heard! It's ridiculous on almost every level! Secret Jedi lovers from another dimension? Abject, utter nonsense." she said.
"I'm just telling you what she said." Karan tried.
"And none of that sounded strange at all? Or is this a normal occurrence where you come from?" said Laina.
"No. But it does explain all the weird details. Borric, you believe me." said Karan looking for support.
Borric scratched his chin, but then shook his head.
"I would love to son, but Laina's right. It's too crazy. She does look like her, it's a common enough name, but no. Padme escaped from somewhere local and concocted this story because, um, she's crazy."
"I'm guessing she made clothes and dunked herself in a tank that no longer exists because she's crazy too." said Talea.
"I don't know. I can't believe you're taking this seriously. Now look. I've sent a patrol out to find some actual evidence. Then we'll know." said Laina turning on Talea.
"Going to be hard to find evidence if she did appear out of thin air. Just saying." said Karan.
Everyone then began arguing, shouting and waving their arms.
"Who is in charge here?" said Padme leaning on the door frame.
Everyone stopped and looked at her.
"Are you sure you should be up?" said someone.
Padme held up a hand.
"Not important. I asked a question. Who is in charge?"
Most of the room looked at Laina. Laina looked about, nodded and stared back.
"I guess I am. What of it?" she said folding her arms.
"Good. I want a change of clothes. A weapon. I want the Hutts off my planet and then I want a ship. In that order." said Padme.
Laina walked up until she was right in front of the ungrateful woman.
"Why should we do that?" she said.
"Because we want the same things. Freedom. It starts with some clothes. Now. Or you can go back to arguing uselessly. Just do it quietly if you must." said Padme.
"You definitely sound like an aristo." said Laina. She then shoved Padme and sent her sprawling. She walked to stand over her. "We don't need your type anymore. Get back to your room. Once we've decided what to do with you, we will let you know." she added as Padme crawled back, defeated.
Padme lay in the bed nursing a sprained hand. What had she been thinking? They were right, they didn't need her. No-one needed her, or wanted her. Who would?
There was a knock on the door. Padme started at the noise. After a while the door opened. It was Karan. In his arms was a bundle of clothes.
"Padme? I brought you some clothes." he said as he laid the pile down on the chair besides the bed. "I'll let you get changed." he added and left, closing the door.
Padme quickly changed and then opened the door. She walked over to Karan.
"So, what happens now?" she said.
"Well, the others are debating what to do with you. Most are in favour of dropping you off at a nearby town." said Karan.
Padme lowered her head.
"It's because I'm useless, unwanted."
"Don't say that. You are here for a reason. Someone thought you so important they crossed a universe for you. You then ended up here. We need you Padme." Karan said and reached out to reassure but she flinched away. Karan lowered his arm. "There must be some reason you are here, right now."
Padme looked at Karan's earnest face. Why did he believe in her? It was foolish, misguided, grasping at any shred of hope. He thinks I am someone else. Someone else, someone brave. Perhaps she could pretend? Act like her other self. Pretend to that confidence and self-assurance rather than be the total disappointment she was. Still, what could she do? Wait.
Karan watched as Padme straightened and looked him in the eye.
"How much of this complex have you explored?" she said.
Borric walked towards the room where the stranger was held. He didn't like it, but a decision had been reached. He supposed it was for the best. She would be better cared for in Mayros instead of this camp. maybe the oddities could sorted out by people who had some time to listen as well. He reached the room. It was empty. Where had she gone? He hadn't spotted her on the way here and no one had called out. He thought on that. Further into the complex? Strange, perhaps she had wandered and gotten lost. It was easy to do so. He activated his laminator and walked along the hall, searching for the missing woman.
Padme walked through the complex retracing the steps she took in her dream. She felt a curious sensation as she descended through the halls, stairwells and rooms. As if she was lighter.
'It is strength.'
Padme spun around looking for the source of that voice.
"Did you hear that?" she said.
"Hear what?" said Karan also scanning the room. It was large and vaulted, supported by buttresses. Vague shapes in the walls gave the appearance of windows but they were far underground. The buttresses and other decorations only seemed to be there to cast strange shadows from the luminators set at odd places. There was a, wrongness to the whole place, he felt, but could not say why.
'He cannot hear me. If you would like him to be able to I can direct you to the awakening chamber.'
Padme wondered what an 'awakening chamber' was. It did not sound pleasant.
'It will awaken his mind to it's full potential and bind him to you. Loyal, unquestioning, loving forever.'
That sounded way too much like enslaving him.
'Is it? Is inspiring loyalty slavery? Is convincing someone of the rightness of your cause slavery? Is falling in love? The chamber merely, accelerates matters.'
No. She wasn't sure why Karan was helping her, but she would not force him to.
'Up to you. Look at him though, he wants a cause, to believe. It's what he wants. Second on the right, by the way.'
Padme kept walking and stopped at the designated intersection. Karan paused too.
"So, down that way?" he said indicating the right passage Padme was looking down.
'Don't you want, power, success, adoration, victory? It can all be yours down there, turn right this time.'
Padme looked down the hallway. A faint light was visible at the end. She took a step towards it, then stopped.
"No. What we want is this way." she said changing direction and ignoring the pleas and threats in her head.
Now they were in the throne room she remembered. The throne looked large and imposing. On a raised dais it commanded the entire room. Be seated there and everyone would pay attention and listen. PAdme walked past the throne and examined the wall behind. Karan followed her.
"What are you looking for?" he said.
"When I, when the person who built this they would of had an armoury close by. We just need to find it." Padme said, searching.
"When you built this?" said Karan backing away. It occurred to him he was in a dark, scary place with someone he did not really know. A number of horror holos leapt to mind.
Padme froze. The one person who trusted her, she couldn't lose him. "A slip of the tongue, that's all."
"No, you're too familiar with this place. Doors open for you. you knew your way here. What are you?" said Karan walking backwards. He paused in the middle of the room, unsure how to get back to the surface.
'Should of listened to me. It's not too late.'
"Shut up! Not you Karan. Please. I don't know what's going on, but you have to trust me. Don't leave me."
Karan looked uncertain. He looked at the door they had entered by.
"Please. Just help me find the armoury. Then we will go back." said Padme.
Karan stood where he was for a minute. Then he walked back to the throne and regarded the wall.
"Alright. What are we looking for?" he said.
"Thank you. Wish I, wait, I do know." said Padme and she closed her eyes. She saw herself, strangely dressed walk at the head of two lines of warriors and pause, there. She opened her eyes and walked over to that point and reached out as she saw herself do. There was a quiet answering beep and a door slid open. It revealed a large room with black and red suits of armour, power shields and long, tapering energy weapons. One suit was smaller than the others. Padme walked up to it ad turned.
"I am going to need help putting this all on." she said.
Laina stood near Borric at the now open passageway leading deeper into the 'bunker'. Aside from some faint marks in the wall there was no evidence that there had been a door at all.
"This was not here yesterday." she said waving at the area.
"No, it was not. We knew it was larger than a mere bunker, but not how big." said Borric.
"So how did she open it?" said Laina.
Borric considered his options. Suggesting that the facility was taking the woman's claims seriously was not particularly politic. He also couldn't see how it were possible.
"I don't know. Maybe the system was due to activate now anyway." he said.
"So, what is this place?" said Laina.
Borric had no answer to that. He became aware of the sound of ceramic upon stone.
"Wait, something's coming." he said.
Advancing up the passage was an armoured figure. Clad in black and red armour and carrying a strange energy weapon Padme approached them. Behind her was Karan.
"I have something to wear. A weapon. Now. I. Want. My. Planet. Back." she said.
