New chapter. THis one feels a little rushed. Let me know what you reckon...hope you enjoy it anyway.

Hopefully closing in on endgame now.

THE EMPEROR'S SHADOW:

THE BLACK QUEEN

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT: SAFEHOUSE SECRETS

My Black cloak billowing in the cold windy air, I strode with purpose to the suspected safe house.

It was a manor out in the lake country of Naboo. Beautiful scenery, but very secluded-few people around. It was where I had hidden from the Separatists after Zam Wesell's attempts on my life, and where I had vowed to give birth to my children. Another life…

The Shadow Angels were getting into position around the building, using macrobinoculars to carry out some reconnaissance before our assault. We needed to know what we were walking into…

Finally, I was in position. I called my Angels on the comm channels…

"Report…"

"Twelve hostiles in all, all of them armed and on frequent patrols around the building. Not normal for a Naboo residential property…got to be a Resistance safehouse as suspected." The report was given by Sabe'…and I felt a pang of regret knowing how far she had been twisted. "Orders?"

"Attack plan Silent Beta…" I replied, knowing what it meant for the men and women that were on guard duty. They would be silently executed by the Angels, who would then move swiftly to the next target. I, meanwhile, would move on the main house to seize the occupants. We were set to be backed up by a squad of stormtroopers, who would take control of the perimeter while the Angels and I seized the house. I paused mentally to mourn those who were about to die, but was then powerless to prevent myself from saying the order.

"Commence attack…"

One bloody but silent battle later, it was all over.

It had only taken a few minutes for the Angels to take out the perimeter guards. They had struck and them moved onto the next targets before the second wave had any idea what was going on. Not one of them knew that the perimeter had been breached, and all collapsed dead from vibroblades and blaster shots within minutes. Swift, brutal and efficient. No remorse or no regret-that had been drained from them so long ago. Once noble ladies of Naboo and close friends, boduguards and confidantes, now they were vicious, soulless killers.

And in this armour, I was as soulless as they were.

Keeping to the shadows, while the Angels slaughtered the perimeter security, I sneaked through into the mansion. It didn't take much for me to get inside-I wasn't even using my Serum enhanced powers, as the Emperor believed that using those abilities might connect Shadow to the Royal Inquisitor, and also to the Black Queen…something that he did not want to happen. So, I was just using my natural abilities. The serum still kept me under full control, however.

Finally, I found what had to be the main reception area. The Angels were commencing the next stage of the plan, which was to cut off all exits. No escape for anyone within this mansion…and as long as I was under the Emperor's control, there would be no mercy shown. Few within this building could expect to survive the night; after I was through with them, both as the Black Queen and as the Royal Inquisitor, none would still be alive-of that I was certain.

With the Angels signalling that all was ready, we used explosives to breach the entrances. We were shooting to kill with the standard opposition, but if anybody who looked like they were to be in charge of this place, they were to be stunned for interrogation.

Resistance was surprisingly heavy-once they were able to work out that we had breached the mansion. Once they realised that we had indeed got the drop on them, however, they fought hard-one even shouted "Extract the innocents!" to another, who was gunned down by Rabe' before she could spread the message. Collapsing to the ground, she was left denied the dignity of even acknowledgement of her death as we left the dead where they fell. We slaughtered anyone who fought back, and finally made our way to the main hall of the mansion.

I kicked the doors down, and the sigh that greeted my eyes was one that would haunt me for the rest of my days…

There was a gathering of aliens in the centre of the room. Most were Gungans, but some were other races. Some were clearly women and children-and all looked terrified. Some among them made one last stand, only to be gunned down by my ever-present Angels. Finally, two people shouted "STOP!", running in front of the shaking aliens.

"Stop…enough of this! Let us explain-you will let us explain, or will you gun us down too!?" The voice sounded noble, but supremely enraged. It was familiar…it couldn't be…

It was my parents, Jobal and Ruwee, and my sister Sola…this was not their mansion. What were they doing here…? Sola was cradling a body that I realised was one of the fighters. Her husband…we had killed Sola's husband, Ryoo and Pooja's father Darren. An architect by trade…now yet another fallen resistance fighter. What had I done to this planet…? What had I done to my family? And what was I about to do to them?

I had so many questions, so many things that I wanted to say and to ask. I wanted to rip my helmet off and reveal myself, that their beloved daughter was still alive…I wanted to reassure them that it was all going to be okay, that the darkness that was consuming Naboo could be dispelled…

"Explain…" was all that I could say, under my ever-present conditioning.

My father began. "This place is a safehouse for a pipeline that smuggles out aliens past the Imperial blockades and off the planet. Your Black Queen and her policies are condemning these people to a lifetime of slavery and prejudice-this is Naboo, and she is desecrating the memory of our daughter! Padme' Amidala, beloved daughter of Naboo, would never have stood for this!" My father was shaking with fury, as his voice cracked with the pain of recalling my memory.

My heart was breaking-they had committed this noble act in my name. And now it was going to cost them their lives…all because of me. All of this was my fault…

My mother then stepped in.

"The oppressive policies of the Black Queen are costing these people their lives. They are being singled out for hatred and prejudice, simply for existing! They are taken from the streets, and sent off to be enslaved or sentenced to hard labour on Kessel, Nam Chorios or other penal colonies simply for being who they are. And worst of all, there are some that are randomly killed in the street simply to 'maintain order'. And now the propaganda is starting to penetrate the people, and they are starting to believe it. Naboo is becoming corrupted, a vassal to an Imperial order that is rotten to the core, one that believes in force and fear rather than truth and justice. So, in the name and spirit of our late daughter, we did what we believed was right. You may shut down this safehouse and execute us, but there are others. Others who will continue our work, knowing we are in the right."

Sola stepped forward, her eyes blazing with hate.

"Your Black Queen also steals our children…sons and daughters of Naboo, trained to hate and oppress these innocents and their own people. My own daughters currently reside in an Imperial officer school…I have not seen them since they were taken, and I fear that they are lost to me forever. So I channelled my efforts into this escapade, knowing that there is no way back for me. I know that I will undoubtedly die, but I have saved hundreds of aliens from slavery or murder. My parents joined me, out of respect for the memory of my late sister-an example to us all, whose memory is being twisted and desecrated with every propaganda broadcast! So, I do what I will in her name…as do my parents. As did my husband, who you gunned down minutes ago. My husband just died fighting you, so let me tell you that I no longer care what happens to me."

She stepped closer to me, carrying on her diatribe.

"And no matter what happens, we will go to our graves with our consciences clear. "

My sister stepped right in my face.

Sola, please don't do this to me...I don't know what I will be made to do to you, were my exact thoughts. Nonetheless, she came out with her closing statement…

"Can you say the same, Royal Inquisitor?"

I was terrified of what was going to happen next…

My hand raised the blaster, and I shot my own sister clean in the head. Cold blood, her body dropped to the ground as my inner spirit screamed at the loss of my mother and how it had been my hand that had ended her life…

My father screamed in agony of the loss of his last daughter, but the angels instead aimed in unison at him. My mother simply dropped to the ground, and cradled Sola's body, silently crying. Within, I was weeping for the loss of my sister, but trapped in my ever-present shroud, I could never show it, or join my family in their ultimate suffering…

I condemned my parents at that moment with my next words…

"Jobal and Ruwee Naberrie, you are both traitors to Naboo. Your fates will be decided after you have been interrogated for what you know of the Resistance. If your pipeline can get Alien scum off the planet and through the blockades, then you can also get foreign dissidents onto the planet. That will need to be shut down…take them away."

"And the aliens?" Sabe' asked, beneath her armour as Rabe' and Sache' placed binders on the wrists of my broken parents. I was afraid of what my answer would be…

"Process them…"

I then walked away, ignoring my parents' arrest and the gathering of the aliens for processing with enslavement or forced labour as the likely outcomes. I did not look back…

Within my mask, beneath my armour, my heart was breaking and my soul was screaming. My family…I had been forced to imprison my family, and I had been forced to murder my beloved sister in cold blood…Sola, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry…and Ryoo, Pooja, my nieces…please forgive me.

What else would I be made to do in the name of the Black Queen…in the name of the Emperor?