New chapter time!

Okay, so it took a little longer than I'd anticipated (a little thing called New Year's Eve was a contributing factor) but on the positive side, I know what I want to do for the next chapter too. After that...still undecided. So, new chapter hopefully soon after this one. Yay...?

I do not hold with any of the views expelled in this one-this is merely to highlight how bad the Empire can be. Racism is wrong-no ifs, ands or buts.

I actually didn't find Jar Jar Binks that bad a character, for the record...

THE EMPEROR'S SHADOW:

THE BLACK QUEEN

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR: RE-EDUCATING NABOO

The Imperial inspection tour was continuing.

After a very self-serving and manipulative speech in the shadow of the Theed Royal Palace, which received a mixed reception from the crowds, we proceeded to the next stage of the inspection via landspeeder. This was all the while accompanied by the Shadow Angels. My skin still crawled to be near them after their anti-alien murders earlier…

The Emperor wished to view the future of Naboo, so that was exactly what I was showing him.

We had arrived at a new building for Naboo, some way outside Theed.

The Naboo Imperial Academy.

This place was a real kick in the teeth for me, as it had once been my country residence while I was Queen of Naboo. I had spent many precious hours there, whenever I needed to spend some time outside of Theed and just be myself. I was able to keep hold of it, and it became my residence when I was Senator. In the wake of my "death", I could only assume that it had been obtained by the Empire, and converted into a school for 'privileged' sons and daughters of Naboo.

We were due to inspect this educational establishment…

As soon as we entered, I could see the Imperial propaganda all over the place. There were recruitment posters for the Imperial Military and the Imperial Navy everywhere, some depicting Darth Vader demanding all loyal sons and daughters serve in his name to bring order to the galaxy. Others simply pointed out that there were spots open, asking if they would be the ones to fill them. It was quite simple and yet clever. The propaganda was working very effectively…

The Emperor looked over at the posters curiously.

"How are recruitment numbers from this planet, Black Queen?" he asked.

"More than tripled over the last year. It'll increase once other measures are taken." I stated, knowing already what these special measures were, and they appalled me…

The Emperor looked around the room at the other posters. These branded resistance fighters as terrorists, vilifying the people who were fighting and dying to liberate the planet. There were simple smear posters, and others listing "Enemies of the Empire"-resistance members that had been dealt with, and the circumstances of their deaths. False or distorted information, naturally, intended to give the impression that these were all traitors who died like dogs. Others advised people to inform the Imperial authorities of any suspected Resistance members or activity. They even gave contact details, and some on top of this promised a reward from the Black Queen for their loyalty to the Empire and to Naboo.

I could not recognise the planet anymore.

The Emperor walked beside me, the Shadow Angels accompanying us both, along with the ever-present Royal Guard beside the Emperor. As we walked, we were met by a woman in traditional Naboo dress, but with a brooch emblazoned with the Imperial insignia. She was tall and red-headed, with the hair left to hang down her back. She was smiling, and gave a bow to both of us.

"Your Imperial Highness…and your Royal Majesty. To what do we owe this incredible honour!?" she exclaimed, showing the right amount of reverence to appease the Emperor.

"We wish to inspect your school, to ensure that it lives up to Imperial standards." I simply spoke. My harsh metallic tones did not seem to intimidate the woman, nor did the Emperor's sinister presence. If anything, she seemed utterly enraptured at being in the presence of the most powerful man in the galaxy. Not a promising sign for the future of Naboo…

"Headmistress…your facility is ready for inspection?" I asked.

The woman nodded. "I did not know that this was a likely event, but I believed that if we held ourselves to the idea that the Emperor could walk in at any moment, then we would never be caught out if it did happen. It ensures our standards are kept at sufficiently high standards."

"Commendable…" the Emperor stated. The headmistress smiled with pride.

"If you'll follow me…" she invited.

"So what is the purpose of this facility?" the Emperor asked. Of course, as he had set it up through his control of me, he was already fully aware. However, this was a closely guarded secret, known to only himself, so he had to keep up the façade. Not that he had any problem with this-secrets and deceptions were his forte' after all.

"This facility is a school for the children of Naboo's nobles and elites, or anyone promising, for them to be educated in the Imperial system. They are the future of this planet, and therefore the future of the Imperial presence here. They need the best education possible if they are to embrace the New Order and serve their planet, and their glorious Emperor."

The woman spoke with obvious pride when describing what was essentially a school for those who would keep the wheels of dictatorship moving. I was disgusted, but as ever, said nothing.

"Our academy is expected to produce the new Imperial elite, the officers, commanders and governors of the future. Thanks to our top-grade education, we expect to be one of the finest sources young Imperial officers in a few short years. But in all honesty, Your Excellency, I'd like to show you our academy rather than tell you about it. I hope you'll be impressed…"

"Lead on…" the Emperor simply said.

The headmistress took us to a classroom. This one had a group of youths learning what appeared to be a biology lesson. On the table, visible from the door and surrounded by the children, was what appeared to be a Gungan body-no doubt one who had been slain in one of the recent battles. I overheard some of the lecture being given by the teacher, and it was truly sickening.

"As you can see, the Gungan body is built for survival underwater, which makes it well adapted for aquatic worlds such as this. They also have a warrior mentality which shows their primitive society in contrast with ours-and their recent losses in the rebellions show their inferiority when faced with well-trained troops such as the Imperial Stormtrooper Corps…However, their underwater prowess does make them suited for simple labour on aquatic worlds, making them useful to the New Order."

I tuned out, as I could feel my blood boiling at the outright lying being committed here. Gungans were proud warriors, and here they were being likened to primitive savages! Everything we had fought and died for, Nubians and Gungans alike…it was all being rewritten for the needs of the Empire. It disgusted me…it desecrated Jar Jar Binks' memory and violated my legacy…

And there was nothing that I could do about it.

The Emperor merely nodded, however.

"Important lessons…teach the children how special they are to be human…"

Moving on from this horrific display, we soon found another class in progress. This one appeared to be a history class, and this one also prompted the part of me that was still Padme' Amidala to baulk in horror and revulsion…

"As we know, Padme' Amidala fought for our world's freedom. She learned this by realising that the Republic as it stood would not support her or oppose the droid armies of the Trade Federation, thus proving its weakness and inadequacy to rule. She therefore learned that the only way to truly rule is through force, a lesson that she put to use when taking back Naboo from the invaders. Force is therefore the only way to ensure that order is maintained, as it is through the diplomacy pursued in the succeeding ten years that the Confederacy of Independent Systems was able to build into the threat to galactic peace that resulted in the Clone Wars. Once diplomacy was proven to be the failure that it is as a philosophy, the use of force was applied and this ultimately won the war. So the lesson from history is clear-the use of force is the only to rule and to expel one's enemies, and Padme' Amidala can be seen as a pioneer of this on Naboo, as well as a loyal supporter of our illustrious Emperor throughout his rise to power. Such a tragic loss…what an illustrious ruler she may have been under the Imperial system…"

This was what they were bring taught!? I had opposed the Military Creations Act, I had fought only when it became necessary…and I had opposed the Empire in its infancy. How could that be so distorted to make me a paragon of the Empire!? Using me as a martyr to inspire loyalty in the next generation of Imperial officers…How dare they defile my legacy like that!?

But, of course, as per my conditioning, I remained silent.

I could hear the voice of the Emperor in my head, however, even as he stood next to me.

"Welcome to the New Order, my Shadow…behold all which you made possible."

I felt my stomach drop out at that point…

We eavesdropped on several different classes, including a Physical Education class where they were being taught physical combat using dummies of various aliens to illustrate the different physical differences that the classes were branding as "weaknesses", but I wasn't paying too much attention as I was in a sort of mental haze that was a mixture of anger and despair. Perhaps it was the clear defilement of all that Naboo stood for, maybe it was the fact that the monster who had enslaved me was looming over me, another possibility was the fact that I was arguably responsible for all of this on a number of levels. In truth, it was likely a combination of all of these.

But there was one last shock left for me…

One that shook me to my core.

The Emperor finally gave his views on the classes.

"This facility is indeed exemplary…the future of the Empire is surely in these walls, and I look forward to watching these futures unfold. As for these students…they are notified and brought straight here when they are accepted?" he asked.

The headmistress nodded. "They are. Ah, here's two new intakes now…from the illustrious House of Naberrie', no less. How fitting it is to have the flesh and blood of our beloved Queen Amidala here…"

I looked to a pair of doors, and I felt my stomach contract.

Being led in by stormtroopers, as well as another woman in Naboo dress, were my two nieces Ryoo and Pooja. They were the children of my sister Solana and her husband Jerrod. I had last seen them at my funeral procession. They had grown since then, but I still saw them as my little nieces and it truly pained me to see them in the presence of the stormtroopers. Ryoo was trying to remain defiant, her dark eyes flashing with strength (no doubt put on to keep Pooja's spirits up), while Pooja was looking at the Emperor and myself with…what had to be an awestruck reverence.

Were they to be students here!? By Shiraya, please don't let it be true…

"There was no trouble, I hope?" the Headmistress asked the woman.

She shook her head.

"The parents were reluctant to hand over their children, but all it took was stunning the husband to persuade the mother to see sense. The younger one did not see this as she was in another room at the time. She came willingly-the older one is slightly more reluctant."

The headmistress nodded. "That can be worked on. Thank you…"

She then looked on the new arrivals. "Welcome to the Imperial Academy, girls…"

Pooja was walking up to the Emperor.

A sickening feeling built in the pit of my stomach…

To my horror and astonishment, Pooja simply walked up to us both and did a graceful curtsey.

"Your Highness…your Imperial Majesty…I am honoured to meet you both."

I was forced to respond by my conditioning.

"And where did you learn such graceful manners, little one?" I asked.

Pooja smiled.

"Mummy always tells me to show the proper respect to royalty…and those who keep us safe from the bad people. You both keep everybody safe…"

The Emperor chuckled to himself. He looked down at Pooja, smiling.

"Such manners…child, you will go far in this Academy. It's a pleasure to meet you…"

"Thank you, your Highness" she said, giving a graceful bow.

Ryoo looked just as happy about this development as I felt…She remained utterly silent, not wishing to acknowledge either of us. She simply stood where she was…was it out of defiance, or pure fear?

However, before I could ponder on the question much longer, she and Pooja were immediately ushered away to begin their schooling.

As for the Emperor, he watched the pair being led off by the woman that had brought them here, and my mind was awash with worries. Would they become just like the students here? Ryoo was defiant now, but how long could that front last? And Pooja…she was already succumbing to the conditioning thanks to her impeccable manners. So young, so vulnerable…And their parents…I had not had to move on them as the Black Queen yet, but if they were resistant to having their children being taken away, how long would that last? And Ryoo…had she seen her father incapacitated?

My thoughts were interrupted by the Emperor in my head again.

"It's amazing what a recommendation to the right person can do…" he told me.

My head swirled at the implications of this statement…