Well, here we go...the reveal of the Shadow Angels. Enjoy...

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THE EMPEROR'S SHADOW:

THE BLACK QUEEN

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE: DEMONS AND ANGELS

The Emperor's visit to Naboo was almost complete. He had been inspecting the planet now that it was firmly under the boot heel of the Black Queen. He had visited an academy which would turn out Imperial officers, and he had also spent some time observing how I dispensed justice in his name. Now it was almost the time of his departure, but he had one final official duty to perform.

And this one would prompt a revelation that would turn me inside out.

The Emperor intended to honour the Shadow Angels for their services to the Empire…

I could not believe what I was hearing. This group of marauding psychopaths, fanatically loyal to the Empire and utterly murderous, obeying any order without question. Ones who had shown no sign of any free will of their own or personality beyond blind unquestioning obedience. They were utterly reprehensible, deeply indoctrinated into the Imperial system. They had been instrumental in spreading fear through the Naboo populace, slaughtering Resistance fighters in executions, and slaying any nonhumans that they saw. They were a symbol of the corruption spreading through the planet…

And Palpatine wanted me to give them a medal…Shiraya, why have you forsaken me!?

The ceremony took place in the courtyard of the palace, the very place where I had once handed the Globe of Peace to Boss Nass. So long ago…another lifetime, in many respects. So much had changed…the courtyard was still lined with people, and I was still dressed in my royal finery. Only this time, my face was hidden behind another ornate mask, and there were Imperial stormtroopers lining the crowds, their impassive helmets and clutched blasters leaving little doubt of their lack of hesitation in dealing with 'troublemakers'. For their part, the crowds were similar to those who had greeted the Emperor.

The Emperor himself stood at the steps beside me, flanked by his Imperial Royal Guard. The Royal Inquisitor was once again present, the leader of the Shadow Angels, but nobody knew how many Shadow Angels that there were exactly, so there was no reason to suspect that someone would notice that one was missing. The Angels themselves stood in line behind the Royal Inquisitor, a solid wall of black at the bottom of the stairs. All stood to attention, doing nothing and saying nothing, just like properly subservient soldiers.

The Emperor greeted the crowds.

"We are gathered here to commend some true Daughters of the Empire."

He indicated the women clad in armour at the bottom of the stairs.

"Shadow Angels, ascend..."

As if on cue, the line of women stepped slowly up the steps, their booted steps in perfect unison, led in the middle by the Royal Inquisitor. All of them bowed before the Emperor and myself, before remaining like that until the Emperor spoke again. "Rise…" They did so, standing rigidly to attention.

The Emperor then addressed the crowd.

"Black Queen, I leave it to you to explain the virtues of these figures."

Was he having some kind of sick joke!? Of course he was…wasn't all of this one sick joke to him?

"These women standing alongside the Royal Inquisitor are far more important than they look. You may not recognise them, but I can assure you that they have done sterling work in maintaining order on Naboo. They have been the main support for my diligent and loyal Royal Inquisitor here, and while I honour her for her tireless work in rooting out and destroying the Resistance cells that are infecting our beautiful world, her efforts would be nothing if it were not for the support of these women. All daughters of Naboo, all loyal to the Imperial doctrine, they are all that we should aspire to be-standing firm and assisting our loyal Imperial forces in the defence of law and order against the forces of anarchy and the deceitful Jedi order. So, they are to be recognised for their endeavours alongside my most loyal servant."

I felt the words choking me…these women were murderers, monsters. Black-hearted and soulless…daughters of Naboo!? How could I be saying that?

I was powerless to prevent myself calling forward the Royal Inquisitor and draping a medal around her neck. Nor could I stop myself from draping one around the neck of each of the twisted and evil daughters of the Imperial machine. I obeyed my conditioning and did what I was told…

Commending the women that were playing a key part in draining what made my planet so beautiful was truly sickening, but it also reminded me of how I was seen. The Black Queen was the woman these monsters served, and if I judged them a monster…what in the Force did that make me?

I watched the crowd as the Shadow Angels turned to face them.

The Emperor proclaimed loudly

"Your loyal servants of the Empire-pride of Naboo!"

These women had assisted a dictator dragged up from the blackest pits of the dark side.

They had assisted in state-sponsored murders through the installation of the Death Penalty.

They had assisted a tyrannical regime in persecuting their own people.

They had kidnapped citizens from their own homes, simply out of the belief that these people may be Resistance members, or may be harbouring Resistance members.

They had slaughtered loyal citizens of Naboo simply for not being human.

They had partaken in the slavery of an entire intelligent native species that they shared the world with. They had shown no remorse, no emotion, no mercy. Just fanatical loyalty and insatiable ruthlessness that would even put half of the Stormtrooper Corps to shame…

And these people were cheering them.

What was happening to Naboo?

What was I contributing to?

Finally, the ceremony wrapped up.

I was still clad in my Black Queen regalia, though this time I stood in my private quarters. The Emperor stood beside me, his Royal Guards standing outside the room, as were the Shadow Angels. We were completely alone.

The Emperor looked at me, his eyes boring deep into my soul.

Finally, he made his statement.

"I sense that there is something that you wish to ask me, my Shadow…"

Speaking honestly, as per my conditioning whenever he asked me a probing question like this (as was one particular quirk of my conditioning, but only he could trigger this response), I simply replied

"Yes, Master…"

He chuckled to himself and grinned an evil smile.

Looking straight at me, he nodded.

"Speak, my puppet…ask your question, but make no other showing of free will."

I looked dead at him.

"Who are the Shadow Angels? You identified them as Daughters of Naboo…who are those monsters?" The question came out before I could stop it, but it was too late now.

The Emperor smiled again, exposing his rotting teeth once more.

"This really bothers you, doesn't it? Interesting…" he observed.

"They are merciless, cold blooded killers, fanatically loyal to the Imperial system, and do not question orders-even when the orders are immoral. They are utterly emotionless and are willing to participate in state sponsored persecutions and executions. And they serve double lives, assisting me with mine as my handmaidens. I need to know…who are these black-hearted monsters?"

Palpatine cackled when he heard what I had to say.

"You call them monsters…have you seen how you come across, my servant?"

He looked around, as if deep in thought.

He finally gave an answer.

"Maybe you should know who has been serving you…standing by your side…"

However, beneath the hood, there was a glint in his eyes. Evil, cold…

"However, you should be careful with asking questions like those…"

He smiled menacingly beneath the hood.

"You might not like the answers…"

He then told me to summon the Angels. I did so, using a button. At once, all of the Shadow Angels-now back in their handmaiden outfits-stepped into the room, forming a circle around the pair of us.

The Emperor looked ecstatic with anticipation, which made my stomach contract.

"Shadow Angels…prepare to meet your Black Queen. See the true face beneath the mask…"

I could not believe this. I was to be allowed to unmask…? But why?

"I feel that in this instance, seeing your face should be encouraged…" he simply said.

Following my orders, I pulled off my headdress and removed my heavy mask.

Padme' Amidala was revealed to the Shadow Angels. My true face, revealed to them at last.

But to my horror, none of them reacted. Not a word…

The Emperor laughed.

"Time to reveal your identies, Shadow Angels…Shadow, you may respond freely."

One by one, the Shadow Angels pulled down their hoods and removed their masks.

And I was utterly stunned and horrified at who it turned out to be. This was not real…this could not be real…by Shiraya, please tell me that this is a nightmare…

The first to remove her mask was my double, my backup Royal Inquisitor, the one who led the Shadow Angels. The woman looking back at me had haunted my nightmares…

"By Shiraya, this is impossible…" I said simply.

The woman standing in front of me, the leader of this marauding group, was Sabe'. My best friend…

The other helmets came off too. Rabe', her young face flashing with evil eyes, Eirtae', her eyes a cold steely blue. Sache' and Yane', identical blank expressions. Even more recent friends such as Motee' and Dorme' were revealed. Each held an expression of cold ruthlessness, utterly dead eyes and no flicker of recognition for me. But there could be no mistaking them…even if I was at a loss to explain how I was seeing what I was seeing. All that I could hear was Palpatine's mocking laughter…

The monsters that had assisted myself as the Black Queen in subjugating the planet were all too familiar to me. Some of my best friends from my old life, now twisted and evil. How could this be…?

The Shadow Angels were my former handmaidens…