Here we go, the start of the final story arc of this section of Shadow's story. Time to start wrapping this up...

THE EMPEROR'S SHADOW:

THE BLACK QUEEN

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR: END OF THE REIGN

Another year had passed since my moment of rebellion against my own conditioning.

Naboo had sunk even deeper into the depths of the Imperial machine. But one chapter of the story was coming to an end…this tear was to see the end of the reign of the Black Queen. The tyrant would indeed meet her end…But it was all to be part of a larger game.

The situation on Naboo was now a true nightmarish dystopia, as my latest court meetings were demonstrating…

"Minister of Information, report…" my cold, mechanical voice demanded.

The woman in charge of the Ministry of Information adjusted her cap, fixed her face in a stoic expression of calm, and spoke as carefully as she could.

"The Ministry currently has wire taps and bugs in 95 percent of the buildings in Naboo. We also have been collecting information on all citizens, collated with the co-operation of the Ministry of Justice. We are slowly building a picture on all of the citizenry, trying to identify possible dissidents among the population. Those identified this way will be passed onto the Ministry of Justice for processing through the judicial system, or submitted for testing of the Department of Re-Education. We are slowly learning all there is to know about the populace, and any dissident elements will soon be weeded out and dealt with appropriately. We also liaise closely with the Royal Inquisitor, in case we come across a lead in her hunt for the Resistance, especially Fugitive Number One. Our network of informants grows by the day, and the number of offences identified has likewise grown."

"Good…" was all my serum-controlled lips could say in the face of this assault on the rights of the free people of Naboo. They had not been free for some time…not while I was Queen.

She nodded, and looked at the man next to her. Stone-faced, bald…the head of the Ministry of Justice. His voice was low and gravelly, appropriate for his role. Emotionless and cold…

"Your Majesty, the partnership with the Ministry of Information has enabled us to act on even minor offences. The punishments are varied for each offence, but none are soft touches. The aim to make examples of all criminals, no matter how minor, has been our main driving force. The Department of Re-Education is running nicely, and is turning out reformed citizens at quite an impressive pace, if you don't mind me saying. It gives us an alternative to the penal colonies, such as the Kessel Spice Mines, or drafting into the Stormtrooper Corps-or even execution. With the multi-layered punishment system in place, we are ready to stand against the worst that the Resistance can throw at us." He concluded his report, and stepped back into line without another word.

The next one to report was the Minister of Education. Tall dark raven-haired woman, very gaunt and skull-like face. Very reminiscent of the depiction of death in some galactic cultures.

"The Officer's Training Academy is progressing well, your Majesty. Our students have excelled themselves, and some are ready for their lives in the Imperial Military. I have to be honest though, none match Pooja Amidala-a true daughter of the Empire. Dedicated and gifted, she is a credit to the Academy and I feel in fact that the life of an Imperial Officer may be beneath her. If Your Majesty will be kind enough to listen to my proposals as to her future…" her tone was forceful, indicating her firm belief in my other niece. Her fall to the Imperial mindset had been nothing short of terrifying…how much had she been indoctrinated by the propaganda and teachings?

The woman was continuing her report, as I had nodded in agreement.

"The Assassin's Academy is ready to turn out its first class. We have a few Resistance cells identified, through our connections with the Royal Inquisitor, and we look forward to using these to put our new assassins through their paces. With a good showing, they may be able to launch distinguished careers within Imperial service. I'll admit to quiet interest in what these assassins can do."

I was a lot more apprehensive about what the potential consequences would be, especially for the men and women of the Resistance…who had no idea who these ice cold killing machines were soon to be unleashed. I had inspected the school a couple of times-the assassins were truly something to be feared. Utterly devoid of emotion, with killing skills honed to a fine art…

I waved a hand and moved onto the next report. Another male, this one with slicked back dark hair. He represented the Imperial hunt for a certain fugitive on the run…

"The hunt for Fugitive Number One, Ryoo Amidala, is ongoing. It is obvious that she has gone to ground within one of the Resistance cells, and has been there possibly ever since her run-in with the Royal Inquisitor. Her sister Pooja at the Imperial Officers' Academy reports that no attempt has been made to contact her, so we can assume that the bond between the sisters is not a factor in this hunt. As we close in on the Resistance, her hiding places will run out and she will soon be forced to emerge. At that point, she will be apprehended and face justice."

The fact that Ryoo had been able to elude the Imperial machine, even with all of the means at its disposal, for a full year spoke volumes to her survival instincts and how well she had fit in within the Resistance, if they were willing to hide her. But the officer was right-the Royal Inquisitor (my alter ego) had been making real progress in burning down the remaining cover that the Resistance had on Naboo-there were very few places that they could hide, and her time was therefore running out…

The final report was from another male-a recruitment officer.

"Our Stormtrooper Corps recruitment number is running a little low this year, Your Majesty. While there are more volunteers than ever before, thanks to the drive from the Ministry of Propaganda, the increased demand for Stormtroopers has caused a dramatic rise in the quota needed from this planet, and our previous methods of recruitment are not enough. We need more troopers, your Majesty…" he said, making his case calmly but firmly. He was choosing his words very carefully, as he knew what the consequences of upsetting the Black Queen would be.

"Draft them from the citizens. Offer the choice to prisoners not tied to Resistance activities-offer the choice of execution or service as Stormtroopers. Utilise those emerging from the Re-Education centres. There are options, Officer, so you will use them. We must make out quota. Understood?"

Enslaving my own people to turn into Stormtroopers!?

The man nodded, and retreated.

A beep on my throne indicated the Emperor wished to make transmission.

"If you'll excuse me…" I simply stated, standing up. The Shadow Angels accompanied me to the private chambers, where I set up the communications device to be able to talk to the Emperor.

"What is thy bidding, my Master?" I asked, kneeling.

The Emperor's hideous visage appeared in holographic form.

"I have decided how you are to be punished, my plaything. Your reign as the Black Queen has brought Naboo into the Imperial system, and created a self-sustaining system that will carry on as long as the Empire does. Your work in subjugating Naboo is done, Shadow. You have been a good servant…apart from your, shall we say, misdeed."

I felt unspeakable guilt at being the one who had brought Naboo under the Empire's boot. The Resistance held me up as an inspiration, a symbol of hope-and yet beneath the mask of their most hated enemy (and her most hated and feared servant) was the very woman that they held in such high esteem, being forced to go against every value that she held dear by her evil Emperor. It was utterly repulsive, and it made me feel sick to my stomach. I was now part of that black stain on Naboo's history, and there was nothing that I could do to change that.

"The Resistance has had a year to rebuild from the blow that you dealt them last time. It stands to reason that they will try for one final strike against the Black Queen, or the Royal Inquisitor. Omega Source is still in place, and has had over a year to ingratiate herself within the Resistance. So, she should be in a position to enact my-your-final plan to crush the Resistance, once and for all. If we offer them a sufficiently enticing opportunity, we can draw them out and end this insurrection. If we play this right, we can even bring out your wayward niece and solve that problem too."

He smiled beneath the hood, and then revealed his diabolical scheme to me in all its horror.

"So, this plan will involve…the death of the Black Queen."