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"Enduring and legendary my battles fought, but invincible and legendary our love in my heart."
Chapter XXV
Padmé was awoken by the sound of the ship's comm. beeping. She sat up; keeping the bedsheets clutched to her chest and pressed the answer button on the nightstand next to the bed. "Hello?" She answered groggily.
A holo image of Sabé's face appeared above the shipboard comm. unit on the nightstand. "Padmé, I'm sorry to disturb you, but we've arrived at our destination from hyperspace, Obi-Wan is addressing Captain Deens and - are you wearing royal court makeup?"
Padmé instantly became self-conscious. She had completely forgotten about it and must have dozed off laying on Anakin's chest after their love making. She blushed behind her now smudged makeup. "Oh gosh..." She said with embarrassment.
Sabé also noticed Padmé was covering herself with a sheet. "No need to explain."
"Sabé please don't tell Queen Apailana, I don't want her to know about this."
Sabé did a "zip" gesture over her lips. "Don't worry, your secret's safe with me cousin. Although, you have given me an idea. Maybe I could play your decoy with Obi-Wan?"
"Sabé!" Padmé playfully scolded.
Padmé's cousin giggled in response before composing herself. "Well, when you have time, Queen Apailana would like to see you and Anakin."
"Understood, do you know where we are?" Padmé asked.
"We're in the Rigel Sector," Sabé replied.
"The Rigel sector? There's nothing here except a few dead planets and a white dwarf star."
"Hence why Captain Deens picked it."
"All right, when we're ready I'll buzz Morté and have..." Padmé stopped in mid-sentence when she realized what she had said. She had gotten used to instinctively calling for Morté whenever she needed extra help watching Luke and Leia.
Sabé's face looked down and registered the loss. It was going to take time for everyone to adjust. Morté was a constant presence in their lives whom would surely be missed for years to come. Sabé then looked back up at her cousin. "Don't worry, I'll come watch over the children for you when you and Anakin are ready."
"Thank you Sabé. What would I do without you?"
"Oh, I don't know, probably go insane?"
"Sometimes you do make me go insane," Padmé teased.
Sabé snickered in response. "All right, I'll wait to hear back from you, and maybe Anakin can help you remove that makeup," she teased her cousin back before ending the transmission.
Padmé turned to her dozing husband and smacked him lightly with a pillow. Anakin groaned and stirred before opening his eyes. "Wakey, wakey, Ani. Queen Apailana has recovered from her injuries and we've been summoned to see her. I'm going to take a quick shower, I'll be back in a bit," she said as she leaned down and kissed her husband gently.
Anakin stretched and sat up and looked at his wife. He watched her heavenly nude form walked towards the bathroom. He smiled at the sight. "I feel like the luckiest man in the galaxy."
Padmé turned and looked back at her husband. "You are, after all, how many men can say they get to make love to a Queen every night?" She smiled and then disappeared into the bathroom.
Every night? Anakin wished that was the truth. However, if that was an invitation he would most certainly be sure to keep up his stamina.
Padmé turned on the shower and stepped inside. It was quite a luxurious one; with two shower heads - one fixed, and another alongside that featured a hose and could be removed from its mount. The former Queen of Naboo placed her face under the soothing steamy hot water and began rubbing her royal court makeup off her face. As she did so she felt a pair of strong arms wrap around her slender waist. "I thought I'd join you for round two," Anakin whispered inside his wife's ear before nibbling on it gently. Padmé giggled in response. "Ooh, is this more of my royal treatment?" She said playfully.
"Mmm, oh yes, your Highness," Anakin replied in a seductive tone as he took hold of one of his wife's arms and began tenderly kissing down it, through the insides of her wrists and into the palm of her hand.
Padmé closed her eyes and moaned in response. She always loved it when her husband would touch or kiss the inside of her arms, the palm of her hand and fingers like that.
After a few moments Padmé then took the bath sponge and tossed it to her husband. "I'm a little 'dirty' this morning... Perhaps you better 'clean' me up?"
Anakin grinned as he poured some body wash onto the sponge and began massaging it over his wife's back and shoulders before moving on to her breasts and stomach. He placed the sponge in between her legs and rubbed gently. "I think we need to make sure we get you extra clean here."
Padmé closed her eyes and bit her lip as she tucked a loose strand of her hair behind her ear before exhaling in pleasure.
After caressing his wife with the bath sponge for a few moments he pulled down the shower head with a hose from its mount and brought it to his hand with the aid of the Force.
"What are you going to do with that?" Padmé asked in aroused anticipation.
"You'll see," Anakin replied as he positioned the shower head over his wife's flower. Padmé closed her eyes and took in a sharp breath as she grabbed onto her husband's shoulder with one hand. As she felt the pressure of the warm water up against her flower she could not help but moan as the feelings of bliss from the shower head sent shockwaves of pleasure throughout her entire body.
Through the Force Anakin could feel his wife's pleasure and delight, which pleased him. He wanted nothing more than to make his wife feel as if she were an angel in heaven. Satisfied that his wife was now clean he casually placed the shower head back on its mount with the Force. He then embraced Padmé. She took the sponge and looked up at her husband with a smile. "My turn."
Padmé began rubbing the bath sponge across her husband's chest. Anakin closed his eyes and hummed in pleasure from his wife's ministrations. She then took her free hand and ran her fingers down his chest and began kissing his shoulders and upper chest. As she brought her hands lower and past his navel she looked up at her husband and smiled mischievously. Anakin felt his wife's touch around him and he exhaled, opened his eyes and looked down at her. "Oh, your Highness, why must you tease me so?" He asked breathlessly.
Padmé leaned up and whispered into her husband's ear. "Because, the Queen of Angels tantalizes before she takes her man to heaven." She then nibbled on her husband's ear as he slipped his hands around her waist and drew her up against him. "Oh!" She gasped as she felt him against her core.
"Take me to heaven," Anakin said as he made love to his wife. She gripped onto her husband tightly as the steam inside the shower intensified and began to grow warmer, and warmer as the joined couple moved faster up the stairway to heaven until they reached the nirvana of release together. Padmé kissed her husband tenderly as the two began to catch their breath. She didn't want this moment to end, but knew that duty awaited them both as it was time now to climb down form the heavens.
On Naboo, Emperor Sheev Palpatine emerged from his shuttle which had just landed on Theed. He was flanked by his ever present red guards. He had to cut his training session with his Anakin Skywalker clone apprentice short and address the insurrection that had taken place on his homeworld of Naboo. As he walked down the boarding ramp he was greeting by his kneeling apprentice, Lady Nadara, unbeknownst to him she had cast off her Sith persona and had begun to embrace her former identity; Barriss Offee. "Rise my apprentice," he said as he gestured with his hand.
Barriss Offee under the guise of Lady Nadara complied and faced her master. "You've crushed the rebellion here on Naboo I see, however you once again let Skywalker and Amidala slip through your fingers. And the Queen, you allowed her to escape!" Palpatine spat in anger as he and Barriss walked towards the Royal Palace.
"I have no excuse my Master," Barriss replied, glumly.
"Nor should you make one. Keep failing me my apprentice and you will know what true pain feels like. In the meantime, I will give you a chance to redeem yourself."
"How, my Master?"
"In due time you will know. But right now, I must choose a new Queen for Naboo, one who's loyalty to the Empire will be absolute," Palpatine declared as the two entered the Royal Palace.
"And how will you accomplish this?" Barriss questioned.
"By the power of the Dark Side of the Force," he said as he motioned over at an Imperial Infantry officer standing by the throne room. "Bring her to me," Palpatine commanded.
The Imperial Infantry officer took a bow and quickly walked over to an adjacent room.
Barriss watched in concealed horror as two Imperial soldiers brought in a teenage girl who was struggling and screaming. "Get off! Let go of me!" She demanded. Barriss observed the girl looked to be about 17-years-old. She wore a gold colored long-sleeved gown with flower print designs throughout and had long wavy brunette colored hair and bright blue eyes that radiated fire and passion.
The Emperor smiled wickedly and cackled at the young girl, he then looked over at his apprentice. "I want you to bear witness to this. The rest of you, leave us."
The Imperial soldiers released the girl from their grip and began to walk away, as did Palpatine's Red Guards. The young woman attempted to make an escape, but the Sith Lord Emperor held up his hand and implemented his favorite method of torture: Force lightning. The young woman cried out in pain as she was struck by the torrent of electricity and fell to the floor. Palpatine then took a few deliberate steps towards her.
"Mirala Andrierrie, you ran against Queen Apailana back during the previous elections. How would you like a second chance at leadership by serving the Empire as Queen of Naboo?" The Emperor proposed.
"I'll never serve the Empire! You're the poster of evil!" Mirala hissed as she stood up.
Palpatine grinned wickedly, it was the response he was fully expecting. "Such anger, my dear you might have made a good acolyte had you been born Force sensitive." The Emperor then extended his hand and moved closer to Mirala. The young woman flinched as she felt an invisible force spinning around her, her mind suddenly felt very heavy and her vision became blurred.
"What... What are you doing to me? Stop it..." Mirala's arms dropped to her sides as she gazed into Palpatine's amber colored eyes. She felt helpless and unable to move. "What's happening to me?" Mirala felt as if her mind was being invaded, her thoughts were no longer her own, she could hear Palpatine' voice inside her head supplanting her own thoughts.
Barriss looked on in horror as she witnessed Mirala's skin color begin to grow pale. Palpatine cackled in delight as he continued to drain the young Nubian woman's life essence. "You belong to me now dear, and it is my will you will carry out yes?"
"Yes... My Master," Mirala said hypnotically.
"Good," Palpatine said in a low and malevolent voice. He then lowered his hand, the process of draining Mirala of her will complete. "I dub thee... 'Queen Servana'. You are hereby appointed by me to rule the Naboo."
Barriss stepped forward. "My Master, isn't this illegal?"
Palpatine slowly turned and looked at his apprentice with contempt. "I will make it legal." He then turned his attention back to the mind-slaved Mirala, he cupped her chin with his hand and looked her over carefully. "Yes, aren't you just the lovely sweet thing?"
"I am whatever you want me to be," Mirala said once more in a hypnotized voice.
Palpatine chuckled with approval as he began circling the young woman. He placed his hands on her shoulders from behind and began massaging them from behind.
Barriss grimaced at the sight before her. Disgusting. She thought to herself. To Barriss it was as if Palpatine was treating Mirala as some sort of fantasy play thing.
"Bring in the new handmaidens," Palpatine said. Shortly thereafter a group of 8 young women aged between 16 - 18 marched into the throne room. They were all dressed in form fitting black gowns that featured silver trim with long flared skirts, and matching colored hooded cloaks fastened around their necks, one of them stepped forward and performed a curtsy before the Emperor. "I'm Permé, chief of her Royal Highness' handmaidens."
"This is Queen Servana, take good care of her. Dress her, fix her up and make her look presentable. I want her to look... Elegantly evil," the Emperor instructed.
Permé curtsied once more with a smile. "It will be done your Imperial Majesty." She then walked over to Mirala and gently took her by the arm. "Come, let's make you look like royalty." Mirala did not say a word as she began to be led into the royal bed chambers by Permé and her fellow handmaidens.
"Walk with me," Palpatine commanded to his apprentice. Barriss complied and walked with her 'master'. "I have disbanded the RSF, they are no longer reliable. Instead keep an Imperial garrison here to maintain security," Palpatine further instructed.
Barriss turned to the Emperor and nodded. "It will be done my Master."
"Splendid. Once the Queen has been made presentable I will make an address to the Naboo and the galaxy with her. And now that we have established full control of the planet I think my homeworld will make a perfect location to begin a special experiment I've been wanting to undertake." Palpatine's nefarious cackle could be heard bouncing off the walls inside the Royal Palace like a sinister echo.
On board the Queen's yacht, Anakin, Padmé, and Dormé stood before Queen Eletré Apailana who was sitting in the royal throne room in the stern section of the starship. Apailana was still dressed in her combat uniform and had not had a chance to clean up or change. She was flanked on either side by Amadé and Jané, her only two surviving handmaidens who were now dressed in their modest lavender colored hooded handmaiden robes. Anakin and Padmé noticed the Queen was covering the left side of cheek with a strand of hair.
"I must apologize for my appearance..." The self-conscious Queen said.
Padmé noticed the tone of Apailana's voice had changed, as did the look in her eyes. The young Queen no longer spoke with the surety and confidence she once had.
Through the Force Anakin could sense Apailana felt heavy guilt; she blamed herself for her other handmaidens' deaths and the suffering of her people now at the hands of the Empire.
"There is no need to apologize your Highness. I'm just glad you're all right," Padmé said in a comforting tone.
Apailana looked over at her role model for a moment before throwing her shoulders back and composing herself the best she could. She pressed a button on a panel next to her throne and stood up. "Communications now synced. You are patched in to the entire Alliance network your Highness," Captain Deens' voice said over the radio from the Liberator.
"This is Queen Apailana, dear friends, galactic patriots, soldiers of the Alliance. By now I'm sure you've heard... Naboo had fallen. This is a dark day for all of us. While the Empire has struck a grave blow against us, and while we are experiencing a shortage of arms and equipment, we are not short on hearts and good people willing to fight to restore freedom and the right to self-determination in our galaxy. There was once a time when our galaxy faced an even graver situation during the Great Sith Wars. During that conflict the Republic was a fledgling state that did not have a big military, the oppression of the Sith threatened to engulf the entire galaxy. Back then we did not become despondent or downhearted. Amid the conflagration we allied with the Jedi Order. The spirit of our fallen heroes inspired us at that time. And what happened? Together with the Jedi we defeated the Sith and a great galactic society took root and thrived for more than a millennium. As before the Jedi have allied with us in our cause, and how many Sith are there? Only two, Emperor Palpatine and his apprentice, Lady Nadara. There are only a handful of surviving Jedi but that is all we need to help us win this fight. Today we have allies of many different races, planets, and confessions who freely join with us on a united front. Today we enjoy the sympathy and support of people all over the galaxy fallen under the yoke of Sith tyranny. Is it possible, then, to doubt we can and must achieve victory over the Empire and restore the Republic? Emperor Palpatine is not as strong as some terror-stricken pseudo-intellectuals picture him. The Devil is not as immortal as he is painted. In a fight the Jedi managed to disfigure and wound him. The Empire is beginning to panic, that is why they are building new weapons and tightening their grip on the star systems. But the more Emperor Palpatine tightens his grip the more star systems will slip through his fingers. Logic then dictates that the Empire must eventually collapse under the own weight of its crimes. Surviving Jedi, soldiers of the Alliance, the whole galaxy is looking to you as a force capable of destroying the Emperor and vanquishing the Sith once and for all. The enslaved people of our galaxy are looking to you as their liberators. A great mission of liberation has fallen to our lot. Be worthy of that mission! We are waging a war of freedom and liberation, a just cause! Let the heroic images of our brave ancestors and fallen compatriots inspire us to victory! Let the victorious banner of the Alliance fly in glory high above your heads for all men to see! Let us send a message so bright and so strong that there can be no doubt of our inevitable triumph!"
After Queen Apailana had finished her resolute speech there was resounding cheers that resonated throughout the speakers. Anakin and Padmé applauded. That's the Apailana I know! Padmé thought with a bright smile. As the cheers died down a surly voice came over the radio. "Are you kidding!? We're all screwed! Let us not forget it was because of Apailana's inept leadership Naboo fell! Well count me and my troops out! I think you guys need to get yourselves new leadership! Remove Apailana and that Padmé woman and maybe I'll come back!"
"Watch it, that's my wife you're talking about!" Anakin growled in anger.
"He speaks! I didn't think you had a tongue! The so-called hero of the Clone Wars! Anakin Skywalker!"
"Leave him out of this!" Padmé snapped back.
"Everyone, you see how he hides behind his wife!? She does all the talking for him!"
I'm going to kill him. Anakin thought as his rage began boiling over. "I don't let anyone do the talking for me, and if you were man enough to say this to my face you'd see that!" Anakin challenged.
"Hmph, well, I'm out of the Alliance, have a nice life everybody... What's left of it!" The surly voice said before he left the conversation.
Coward. Anakin thought to himself.
Padmé then spoke up. "This is Padmé Amidala Skywalker, we mustn't allow discord to fracture us! We can only achieve victory if we stay united! Right now, we need to regroup, fight the Empire asymmetrically, gather new arms and equipment. Use our spy network for intelligence and sabotage the Empire wherever and whenever possible! Anyone here who has a problem with my leadership please speak up now!"
There was silence on the other end. "We're with you Queen Amidala," Captain Deens declared. "Us as well." "Count me in!" Came other voices. "You will always have our support, we believe in you," Senator Bail Organa also said.
Padmé nodded. "It's settled then. I want our spies to gather some intelligence on the Empire's next moves. Right now, the Liberator and the Queen's yacht need repairs. Let's reconvene in one week to discuss the situational report, Padmé Skywalker out." Padmé closed the transmission and sighed. She then looked over at Queen Apailana who looked visibly shaken. "That was a very inspiring speech your Highness."
"Thank you Padmé, that means a lot," Apailana said in response as her jaw began to tremble. "May I speak to you and Anakin alone for a few minutes?"
"Of course," Anakin and Padmé both said together.
Apailana managed a small laugh in response and then looked down at the deck beneath her feet. Jané, Amadé, and Dormé then exited the throne room. Anakin and Padmé then approached the visibly shaken Nubian Queen. "Are you all right your Highness?" Padmé asked with worry and concern as she placed a hand on Apailana's shoulder.
"I... I can't be strong anymore, not after what happened today," Apailana said with a sniffle. Her eyes now crying. "That man is right, it was my inept leadership that caused Naboo to fall, if I had only been a better leader..."
"No, no, please don't say that. This wasn't your fault your Highness," Padmé affirmed as she rubbed Apailana's back.
"Please, in private call me Eletré, my given name. At this point I'd feel more comfortable with that," Apailana requested.
"You have a lot of people who are counting on you Eletré, especially back home," Anakin stated.
"And how would you know?" Apailana questioned.
"Because I feel it in the Force," The Jedi Knight replied. But his words offered little comfort. Apailana turned around.
"I just don't know if I have anything left. I admit I was unprepared to deal with the loss I experienced today... My people now enslaved, my closest friends... Murdered. How does one deal with that Anakin?" Apailana asked as she quickly turned around, while doing so the lock of hair covering her left cheek moved out of place and revealed a deep scar.
Padmé and Anakin exchanged a glance which did not go unnoticed by the young Queen. "What?" She questioned in frustration.
"That scar... What happened to you?" Anakin asked.
Apailana sighed and closed her eyes momentarily before taking her hand and brushing the strand of hair over her cheek behind her ear. "I was struck by an exploding console while we were escaping, fortunately my body armor protected the rest of my face. Doctor Nerlassa however was unable to repair all the skin damage, as a result I am now left with a deep scar. I'll consider it a memento of what happened here today... My mark of shame."
Anakin could feel how badly the young Queen was hurting through the Force. She was in absolute anguish over the present situation. Consumed by guilt, remorse, anger, and self-loathing, Emotions which he was accustom to dealing with. He stepped forward and gently but firmly took Apailaa by the shoulders and looked at her square in her eyes. "Eletré, if you go down the path you are walking right now all it will lead you to is a very dark and lonely place. You'll destroy yourself. I've learned a lot of hard lessons in my life through the trials and pain that is real existence, and right now you are too. It's all part of growing up. I understand you're lost now, I once felt lost too. But I found myself again because I had good people around me who believed in me, my wife, Obi-Wan, Ahsoka - my family. I've learned the true strength of a person becomes apparent in difficult times. And you don't have to face them alone, you'll always have us by your side."
As Apailana looked into the Jedi Knight's blue eyes she almost felt lost in them. She began to feel a sensation inside of her she had never felt before. She closed her eyes and looked away from him in guilt. Maybe mother was right earlier when she scolded me at breakfast. She thought before she spoke. "I don't deserve wonderful friends like you... Earlier, my mother and I had a fight, can you believe that?"
Anakin looked puzzled, the sudden change of topic caught him off guard. "What do you mean?"
The Queen pondered her words carefully. "I mean, she stayed at the palace after my birthday, we had breakfast together the following morning, during it we had an argument and we parted not on good terms." Apailana could not bring herself to say that she and her mother had an argument about Anakin. What would he and Padmé say if they discovered that? She thought. It was a secret she would keep close to her chest for the time being.
Apailana's words had struck a chord with Anakin, memories of his mother filled his head. "You know what... No one's ever going to love you like your mother. Not ever. And when it's gone, you're going to miss it more than anything... I know. Six years ago, my mother was captured by Tusken Raiders on Tatooine, they tortured her to death."
"Oh Anakin... That's... I'm so sorry... I had no idea," Apailana replied with sadness and remorse.
"When you get the chance to make things right with your mother, do so. Don't wait because you may never get that chance again," Anakin said as he looked fiercely into Apailana's eyes.
The Queen of Naboo returned his penetrating gaze with a renewed determination behind her eyes. "I promise Anakin."
Suddenly Amadé came dashing into the throne room, Jané and Dormé were right behind her. "Your Highness! Turn on galactic channel 1! The Emperor is about to introduce the new Queen of Naboo!"
"What!?" A shocked Queen Apailana said as she reached for the holo monitor controls. She turned it on and tuned into galactic channel 1. What she saw horrified her; she could see Emperor Palpatine standing next to a young woman, she recognized her as Mirala Andrierrie, her political rival in the last elections.
"Is that Mirala?" Amadé asked.
Apailana was quick to respond. "Yes, I think it is!"
"Look at what she's wearing," Jané noted.
Mirala was dressed in a long strapless blood red gown with black trim. On either arm she wore separate long flowing sleeves. Her hair had a center part with her long bangs framing either side of her face, the back featured two braids that came down to just above her shoulders before winding back up to the top in a bun. A golden diadem adorned her forehead. Her royal court makeup consisted of black eyeliner that transitioned into a curved pattern that fell to the bottom of her nose. She wore matching black colored lip gloss, and. her once cerulean blue eyes were now a dull blue color and appeared lifeless.
"She doesn't look right," Apailana commented.
"Her court dress looks so... trashy. It's like the Emperor is making a complete mockery out of the office of the Nubian Monarch!" Jané said with anger.
"Agreed, I'm sure that's intentional, but I wasn't just referring to her dress. There's something... Different about her eyes." Apailana further added.
Padmé swallowed hard. As she looked at Mirala she began to fear the worst.
"Citizens of the Galactic Empire, as you know a terrible insurrection has occurred here on my homeworld of Naboo. Queen Apailana, along with Senator Jamillia, our leaders whom you once placed your trust in, have violated that trust. She conspired with the Rebel Alliance to overthrow the Imperial government. Fortunately, our brave Imperial soldiers have restored order. Queen Apailana managed to escape and is still at large. She is to be considered a terrorist and a traitor. I urge any Imperial citizen who has any knowledge of her whereabouts to inform the proper authorities. And now, allow me to introduce to you Queen Servana, appointed by me to be the ruler of the Naboo."
Queen Servana looked over at Emperor Palpatine and bowed her head before looking back at the camera. "Thank you for that warm and kind introduction your Imperial Majesty. Dear citizens of Naboo, I understand the situation on our planet is turbulent, but the Imperial troops that have arrived are here to help. They will quell any civil unrest on the planet. Let it be known that sedition or any form of rebellion will not be tolerated. If you are a good law-abiding citizen you have nothing to worry about. Because they were complicit in Queen Apailana's rebellion against the Empire, the Nubian Royal Security Forces are hereby disbanded. An Imperial garrison will be responsible for my and your security. Due to the extraordinary situation I am suspending the Nubian constitution and will directly appoint a new Senator to represent Naboo in the Imperial Senate. I ask during this time that you, the Naboo trust in me to do the right thing for us." Servana spoke in a monotone voice devoid of almost any inflection.
"She sounds... Hypnotized," Jané noticed. Dormé nodded in agreement.
Queen Apailana brought a hand to her mouth. "You're right, this isn't the girl I once knew. Mirala was known for her fiery passion, she looks like a zombie here."
"I haven't seen anything like this before," Dormé said.
"I have..." Padmé said in a grim and frightful voice. Her mind being overwhelmed by the memories of what happened to her three years earlier.
"No! Stop it! Please!" Senator Padmé Amidala begged as Chancellor Palpatine pinned her to the wall and was ripping her gown.
"Now Senator, you will experience the full power of the Dark Side!" Palpatine declared in his growly voice as he began to ravish the Nubian Senator.
"No! Anakin! Help me!" Padmé cried out and began sobbing as Palpatine cupped a hand over her mouth to keep her from speaking. He then raised his other hand and hovered it above her face. Her mind suddenly felt dizzy and heavy as she began to hear his thoughts enter her mind, and with them she was losing her will to resist.
"Your husband I'm afraid will not be able to save you. You are all mine Senator!" Palpatine declared as he began draining Padmé Amidala's life essence. "Oh, how I've waited years for this moment! I've wanted you ever since I first laid eyes upon you as Queen!" Palpatine for his part felt a sense of liberation, for he no longer needed to pretend anymore, the shroud of the Sith had fallen and he could finally take the mask off. Palpatine had resented the fact that the golden jewel of Naboo, Padmé Naberrie Amidala had married Anakin Skywalker. He always felt he would eventually become her suitor. When this did not come to pass he wanted to hurt the Jedi Knight in the most pernicious way possible; by attacking his heart, and what better way to do it than attack his wife? Better still, use her to turn him to the Dark Side and make the three of them one twisted evil family.
Padmé's could feel her will slipping away, all she could feel now was Palpatine's insidious influence beginning to permeate inside her mind and wrap itself around her. She could no longer move, no longer scream, she was now a prisoner inside her own mind. For the first time in her existence, she had no control of her life anymore. She was now completely, utterly, helpless and at the mercy of someone else.
"Padmé? Padmé?" Anakin said as he gently placed his hand on his wife's shoulder. "It's okay," he said reassuringly, letting her know he was right there by her side now.
"What do you mean Milady?" Dormé asked.
Padmé took a moment to collect herself. "I mean, the Emperor has the ability to mind control people. He can use his Sith powers to drain someone's energy and then deprive them of their will. I think that's what he's done to Mirala." Not again, not to someone else! She thought to herself in silence as her rage began to rise. What was worse was that Padmé new the person that was Mirala was still there, held captive inside her own mind.
Dormé gasped in response. "How... How monstrous!"
Apailana knew a little about what Padmé was talking about. She told her once that Palpatine had used the Dark Side of the Force on her to slave her mind to his will once. However, she noticed Padmé didn't mention this part to the rest. She would not make any mention of it as she respected her friend and role model's right to privacy.
"Palpatine is a monster," Padmé said matter-of-factly as she gazed at the holo broadcast. She could see Palpatine's cold angry eyes staring back at her, as if taunting her, challenging her to come out of hiding. Challenge accepted. She silently vowed to herself as she could feel a sleeping dragon beginning to bellow within her, something that had not gone unnoticed by Anakin as he gave her a concerned look.
The video broadcast then concluded and switched off. Padmé stepped forward; her rage had now crossed the breaking point. "We have to formulate a plan right now to liberate Naboo and free Mirala from Palpatine's influence."
Everyone in the room exchanged confused glances. "Padmé?" Anakin questioned.
"With all due respect Milady, wouldn't that be suicide at the present? You yourself said we need to regroup." Amadé pointed out.
But all Padmé could think about was what Palpatine had done to her three years earlier. "No! We have to free Mirala and save Naboo!"
Queen Apailana however agreed with her handmaiden. "I agree with Amadé, now isn't the time. We don't have the resources."
As she was witnessing the scene unfold Dormé was bewildered. This wasn't the sensible and calm Padmé she knew.
"Then we'll find the resources, so long as I'm leader of this Alliance we'll find a way," Padmé replied in a determined, but angry voice.
Queen Apailana then stepped towards Padmé, as if she was challenging her leadership position. "With all due respect Padmé, I think you are allowing your personal experience with the Emperor to influence your judgment!"
Padmé looked at Apailana with a burning anger. She huffed and became unhinged at this point. "None of you understand the Emperor as I do!" She shouted.
Dormé, Amadé, and Jané were taken aback by this statement from the leader of the Alliance. Dormé took the initiative and spoke first, her voice was soft and gentle. "How do you mean Milady?"
For a moment Anakin closed his eyes with regretful remorse. Padmé had backed herself into a corner, and now she would have to tell now about a dark part of her past she had a hard time talking about. She looked around at everyone in the throne room, Anakin took his wife's hand and nodded gently at her. She gave her husband's hand a gentle squeeze before she spoke, she had a feeling this day would be inevitable and would have to tell all of them what had happened to her. "Three years ago, Palpatine enslaved my mind to his. He drained my life essence as he raped me in his office. I was deprived of every ounce of free will. I became his puppet and the horrible things he made me do..." She looked over at her husband with pained eyes that would make even the hardest of hearts weep. Dormé gasped and brought a hand to her mouth in shock. Padmé looked back over at Queen Apailana and continued. "When I sleep, he still haunts my nightmares... And now he has done the same thing to someone else! Enough is enough!" The dragon stirred as it began to awaken.
Everyone exchanged glances. Queen Apailana had an expression of what could only be described as unadulterated horror. Horror for what had happened to the woman she had grown up revering, a woman who had accepted her into part of her house. She was quickly removed from her thoughts as she listened to the discussion unfold between the entire group.
"We cannot allow this to continue, there has to be something we can do here," Dormé suggested empathetically.
Jané looked down at her feet for a moment before looking up and addressing the leader of the Alliance. "I-I'm so sorry for what he did to you Padmé... And I wholeheartedly agree something must be done, however now is not the time. Perhaps maybe you should take a step back before we rush into something reckless."
Padmé huffed, her emotions were coursing through her like an uncontrollable raft careening down one of the Nubian water rapids. "Take a step back is all I've been doing since it happened. And look what happened!"
Jané exchanged looks with Amadé, their usual composed and ordered leader was beginning to break down. "Please! There are other considerations to take into account here! The lives of our soldiers for instance. This isn't just about you!"
"You don't understand, you can't understand! He must be stopped, now!" There was no restraint during her exchange with the group, Padmé was allowing herself to be completely governed by her potent emotions.
Jané was feeling ambivalent. She felt empathy for what Padmé had endured at the hands of Palpatine, but their leader had lost her objectivity in this situation. Jané even began to question Padmé's true motivations for forming the Alliance, was it just about restoring the Republic? Or was it something more personal? "So, is that why you really established the Alliance? To get revenge on Palpatine?"
The now awakened dragon within Padmé wanted to snap at all of them. "This is not about revenge! This is about restoring freedom and democracy to the galaxy!" Cannot even one of them see what is at stake here?!
The argument continued to boil as Dormé's younger sister, Amadé interjected. "Listen to yourself! Haven't enough of our friends died already? I'm not going to allow you to sacrifice more of them just because you're on some… Quest for vengeance!"
"Amadé!" Dormé scolded.
Apailana then stepped in and grabbed her handmaiden by the arm. "Amadé! That's enough, calm down."
The situation however was beginning to spiral out of control. as powerful emotions were being exchanged on all sides. Padmé gazed at Amadé furiously. "How dare you speak to me that way!" But amid her angry zeal, Padmé failed to realize that Amadé was also hurting; she had just lost some of her closest friends – ladies she had served with alongside Queen Apailana over the past three years.
Amadé, trying to act as a voice of reason stood her ground. "Padmé, it can't be done!"
"No!" Padmé shouted as she slammed her fist onto a nearby table. The dragon within her had become fully unleashed. "Noo!" She screamed in fury while grabbing a drinking glass and without looking threw it against the wall; the glass connected with the copy of the Alliance charter which hung against the nearby wall inside a glass frame, the impact from the drinking glass shattering it. Shards of broken glass fell to the deck and a few even tore into the parchment paper of the charter.
There was deafening silence in the throne room, even Padmé was shocked at herself. Anakin was completely stunned. He had never in all his years seen Padmé lose control of herself. She had always been a woman in control of her emotions, logical and very level-headed. What he was seeing on display here was not the tactical and methodical diplomat he and everyone had come to know, preaching the values of democracy and the need for peace. No, she was vengeance driven here. This was a woman who had been viciously traumatized, who had seen too much and felt the sting of a subservient empty life as Palpatine's marionette. The dehumanization of what that role was like had cast a haunting shadow over his wife ever since she was torn free. Everyone was now witnessing the reveal of the true impact of what her forced subjugation to Palpatine had cost her; a part of her soul which she could never get back – and it made Anakin want to kill the Sith Lord even more because of it, preferably in the most painful way possible.
Padmé slowly turned back to face the group, she then spoke in a calm and measured voice. "I have seen the full indescribable evil of the Devil up close, in a way no one else here has experienced. To sin by silence when we should protest makes cowards out of us. He invades our homes and we retreat. He enslaves entire individuals to him and we retreat. Not again! We draw a line in the sand and say no further! And I will make him pay for what he's done!"
Queen Apailana stepped forward, sympathy radiating from her eyes, everyone could feel the anguish in Padmé's voice. "No one is trying to make light of the horrible thing he did to you Padmé, but please... Please come to your senses. We don't have the manpower for this right now, but I promise you, we'll make Palpatine recompense for what he's done. We'll see to it that he answers for his crimes, and we'll free Mirala from his grip," the Queen then looked over at Amadé. "And we will not commit the sin of silence." Amadé nodded in response as Apailana walked over to Padmé and gently rubbed her shoulder before walking over to the wall where the damaged Alliance charter hung. She looked up at and began reciting the opening paragraph.
"In an effort to create a more equitable galaxy, we lifeforms of the Alliance to Restore the Republic affirm faith in the fundamental rights of all sentient beings, in the equal rights of all citizens of the galaxy to pursue freedom and self-determination, and to create the conditions in which peace and justice and respect for these obligations can prevail via the establishment of constitutional law, and to promote social progress and better standards of living through cooperation." As Apailana finished her recitation of the Alliance charter she pointed up to it. "And do you know who wrote that? One Padmé Amidala Skywalker. This, this is who we are, never forget that," Apailana spoke with a re-found confidence. Amadé and Jané exchanged approving looks - their lost Queen had come back to them.
Apailana's recitation of the first paragraph of the Alliance charter acted like a tether, pulling Padmé back from the dark abyss she was in danger of falling into. Padmé had written the entire charter herself, and she had never been prouder of writing anything else in her life. The charter served as the first brick to the house they would all build which would serve to be a better galactic home for everyone. She realized now in the sum of all her rage and hate for Palpatine she was in danger of losing herself. the Queen and Amadé were right, she had to pull herself back before it was too late.
After watching Padmé, Anakin came to an epiphany: For years she had been the light in his life, that beacon that always guided him away from perpetual darkness and back to his home. Now the tables had turned, and she was in danger of becoming trapped in the dark abyss. He needed to be that beacon, that lighthouse which would safely guide her to the safe harbor amidst the stormy seas. Anakin slipped his arms around her and drew her into a warm and loving embrace. Padmé surrendered to the comforting warmth of her husband's love and laid her head against his chest and closed her eyes. Anakin rested his chin on top of his wife's head. Emperor Palpatine was indeed very powerful, but he wasn't more powerful than love, Anakin and Padmé's love. The Emperor may have known about love, but he failed to understand it. Its light, its power. And that would be his downfall.
As Anakin rested his chin upon Padmé's head he began reciting the Jedi Padawan's oath: "I promise to uphold the Jedi Code. I promise to respect all life and to help those weaker than myself. I vow to use the Force only for good; never in anger and only to defend those who cannot defend themselves." Padmé smiled. "My noble Jedi Knight," she said softly as Queen Apailana, Amadé, and Jané, looked on at the couple with sympathetic eyes. As Dormé watched a single tear fell down her cheek - pained and horrified to see what Emperor Palpatine had done to the woman she loved and cared for so deeply. For Anakin that pain of what the Emperor - 'the Devil' as Padmé had just called him had done to her was beginning to eat away at a part of his soul, like a tick that had burrowed itself under his skin and was now sucking his blood. Over the past three years Padmé had been awoken from time-to-time because of nightmares about him. Anakin did his best to support her, but he always felt it wasn't enough, and it would not be enough for him until the Emperor was dead and burning in hell for all eternity. If there was indeed some higher power that would judge Sheev Palpatine upon his death, then Anakin would arrange the meeting.
On the planet Naboo, inside the Theed Royal Palace Barriss had just seen her master off. He was returning to Coruscant. He had voiced disappointment with her and told her for the time being she was to oversee the Imperial garrison stationed on Naboo - a punishment assignment, but not one without purpose. She vowed to gather intelligence and quietly leak it to the Alliance. Barriss had begun to see her master through a new set of goggles. She was particularly disturbed by what Emperor Palpatine had done to Mirala Andrierrie. The fact he had the ability to drain people's life essence and mind control them frightened her beyond measure. She was once a Jedi healer, she began thinking of possible ways she could free Mirala from her master's grip. As she walked the halls of the Royal Palace she thought back to the Jedi healer Talanta Muburi - her first victim she killed as a dark acolyte. Talanta had always been an incredibly gifted healer, with a lightsaber, not so much however. After she had achieved the rank of Jedi Knight, Talanta was assigned for the most part to the Jedi Temple, and she was very well liked by everyone. When Barriss had murdered her, it cemented her path down the Dark Side, and the memory of that had been forever etched into her soul. Over the past three years she had become a monster and willingly devoted herself blindly to a man who promised her unlimited power. But at what cost? Her family? Her friends? Her soul? A cost that she was only now beginning to realize was too high. It now fell upon her to break the chain of misguided loyalty and set things right - or die trying.
Barriss approached the entrance to the Queen's throne room in the Theed Palace and was greeted by the newly appointed Governor: Lars Rintle. He was a short bald man who was simply another "yes" man for the Emperor. "And what do I owe the pleasure of this visit Lady Nadara?" He asked. "I'm here to see Queen Servana," she replied.
"Hmm, well I don't see you on the schedule," the Governor said while looking down at his tablet.
Barriss paid him no mind and simply walked past him. "That is because I am never on the schedule." She pushed open the doors and marched up Queen Servana who was sitting on her throne and reviewing a piece of legislation. Barris put on a mock smile and performed a curtsy greeting. "Greetings your Highness. I am terribly sorry to bother you, but there is a matter I would like to discuss with you, in private if you don't mind."
Servana placed the legislation she was reviewing on a nearby desk and stood up. "Leave us," she said as her handmaidens began clearing out of the throne room. Servana didn't so much as blink and stood like a stone statue. "What did you want to discuss with me, Lady Nadara?"
With the aid of the Force, Barriss quickly dashed behind the puppet Queen and placed one arm around her waist and the other against the side of her head. Barriss' hand quickly began to luminesce. She recalled her knowledge as a Jedi healer and reached out with her mind into Servana's; attempting to reach the captive Mirala personality within. The Queen's body contorted and her eyes blinked. "Mirala?" Barriss asked.
"Please... Help me..." Mirala managed to beg.
Barriss closed her eyes and focused with all her strength, even lending Mirala some of her own life essence. "Please, hang on, I'm trying to free you."
Mirala gasped and groaned in pain. "I can feel him... In the back of my mind, he's too strong... I - I can't."
"You must! You must hang on Mirala," but it Barriss was fighting a losing battle, not even she was strong enough to free Mirala from the Emperor's chains. For this task, she would need a Jedi even more powerful than her, and the only one she knew who could match Palpatine in power was Anakin Skywalker. "Fight Mirala! Hang in there! I'll get you help someday!"
"I-I'll try... Please... Help," Mirala mustered to say weakly as she felt herself fading back into the confines of her mental prison.
Barriss knowing her time was short then placed the Queen into an unconscious state and carried her back over to her throne. After she did so she caught her breath and held her head. She had expended a vast amount of mental energy and a small reserve of her own life essence to reach Mirala, and she took great risk in doing so, but to her it was worth it. She would have to contact the Rebels somehow, but she would have to do so carefully and anonymously, perhaps even under a fake identity. She turned around and placed her hand on the Queen's face and woke her. "What, what happened?" Servana asked.
"You passed out momentarily your Highness, but everything is fine now," Barriss said as she looked into the Queen's almost lifeless eyes. Before either could say another word, they were interrupted by an emergency transmission which appeared on the HoloNet. It was the deposed Queen Apailana, dressed in an elaborate lavender and gold colored royal robe with a special apron that bore the official crest of the Monarch of Naboo, perhaps as if to make a statement. Next to her stood Senator Jamillia and behind the two of them, Padmé Amidala Skywalker.
"Citizens of the Galactic Empire and people of Naboo, hear me. As you know Emperor Palpatine has appointed a new Queen to rule Naboo. This is a direct violation of the Nubian constitution. Only through democratically held elections can a new Monarch be elected. Therefore, me and Senator Nadé Jamillia do not recognize the new government of Naboo as legitimate. We hereby establish the government of Naboo in exile, which consists of the surviving members of the democratically elected government. This includes me and Senator Jamillia, the rest of the respective members of our government have either been arrested or executed. We see Naboo as under illegal Imperial occupation. As such, know that me, Senator Jamillia, and Padmé Amidala Skywalker will work tirelessly to see our homeworld liberated from this tyrannical occupation which was violently forced upon us. Citizens of the Empire hear the truth, not the whitewashed propaganda newsreels you see! the Naboo resisted the Imperial troops who landed on our planet but were savagely slaughtered, and violently suppressed. Our people now live with blasters cocked at their heads. Think about that and remember what has happened on Naboo before you give your support to Emperor Palpatine. Goodnight, and never forget, we are Naboo strong!" The holo image then vanished as the emergency transmission ended.
The throne room doors burst open and an angry Permé walked in, along with the rest of Servana's handmaidens. "Did you see that? Apailana found a way to commandeer the emergency broadcast system and transmitted treason throughout the planet! She is a clever one, I'll give her that."
"She is of no concern. Our Imperial agents will no doubt uncover her location soon and deal with her." Servana said in her hypnotized voice.
"No doubt this broadcast however will cause a stir in the Imperial Senate," a handmaiden commented.
Servana shot her a glance. "Don't fret, the Emperor will take care of that."
"I hope so..." Another handmaiden said worriedly.
Barriss watched as she handmaidens continued discussing the ongoing situation with the Queen. She permitted herself a small smile, the first cracks were beginning to appear. All she had to do now was play her cards right and maybe, just maybe she could find redemption.