Chapter 15
If someone told Sabé that, one day, she would meet with the Gungan Leader, Boss Nass himself, she would have never believed them in a million years. As far as Sabé knows, she lacks tactics in negotiation given she never done things such as this before!
And yet she is going to be the one who will meet with the Gungan Leader that probably holds as much as bad blood to the Naboo as much as his predecessors, hoping to Naboo's heavens Padmé nor she won't say the wrong words that would seal not only their fates but Naboo's. In spite of maintaining mainly a stern face, she and people close to her know who she is behind the mask and decode of Queen Amidala. A teenager girl who is currently learning more about her education.
Deliberately, Sabé slows her steps, wishing to keep Darth Vader behind her at all times. She feel safer in his presence, given Vader must have encountered greater foes, given the power he demonstrated on the Naboo skiff.
Emotionally, right now, she is unsure how to feel about the man. Sabé has been on the ship, watching Vader addressing Captain Panaka and she knows from experience Darth Vader unquestionably hates Captain Panaka, though this confuses each of the young women. What did their captain friend and his guards ever do to Vader that makes him hold them in a darker light?
Then again, Vader is a paradoxically, bemusing being that can never be observed. Just when one thinks they know everything about him, he pulls out another card that just throws one off-guard. Although she never met him and only saw him on holo recorders when the Republic speak of the Jedi Order, she is reminded of the Grandmaster of the Jedi Order but of course much darker and a warrior at heart, unlike the Grandmaster who preaches peace and negotiation whereas Vader jumps in battle without any shred of hesitation but shares a similar wisdom and calmness but his willing to go into battle is impressive. His attitude changes swiftly; he can go from a kind individual who sprouts wisdom to someone who is rough-spoken to an absolute warrior in a mere second, but she gets a distinct impression that he will never harm them, Padmé most of all for some reason, though that can be due to her title... but Sabé gets an distinct impression it's something more.
Truth be told, her view to the Galactic Republic and Jedi Order, along with the rest of her fellow handmaidens and even her Queen, poisoned even more since Darth Vader's claims have been confirmed that they wouldn't lift a finger in helping their people.
How can one be peacekeepers in times of war?
It is times like these where she wishes she never agreed to being a decoy to Queen Amidala, but if she never became one, she would have never met Padmé nor the others so perhaps it's just her nerves speaking mentally.
The group traverses the swamp for some time, first skirting the lake, then plunging deep into a forest of massive trees and tall grasses, following a water-screened pathway that connected a series of knolls. Somewhere in the distance, Trade Federation STAPs buzzes and whine as a search for the transport fugitives commenced in earnest. Jar Jar glances about apprehensively as he picks his way through the mire, but did not slow. Vader remains impassive, his eyes direct towards the fake and real Queen.
Finally, they emerge in a clearing of marshy grasses and stands of trees with roots tangled so thickly they form what appears to be an impassable hedge.
Binks stops, sniffs the air speculatively, and nods. "Dissen it."
He lifts his head and makes a strange chittering noise through his billed mouth, the sound echoing eerily in the silence. The group waits, eyes searching the misty gloom.
Call it bias but Sabé is beginning to honestly get annoyed with that Gungan and his antics.
Suddenly Captain Tarpals and a scouting party of Gungans riding kaadu emerge from the haze, electropoles, and energy spears hold at the ready.
"Heydey ho, Cap'n Tarpals," Binks greets cheerfully.
"Binks!" the Gungan leader exclaims in disbelief. "Notta gain!"
Binks shrugs nonchalantly. "We come ta see da Boss!"
Tarpals rolls his eyes. "Ouch time, Binks. Ouch time for alla yous, mebbe."
Herding them together, Gungans on kaadu providing a perimeter escort on all sides, Tarpals lead them deeper into the swamp. The canopy form by the limbs of the trees become so thick that the sky and the sun almost disappears. Bits and pieces of statuary begin to surface, crumbling stone facades and plinths sinking in the mire. Vines snake their way across the broken remains, dropping down from limbs that twist and wound together in vast wooden nets.
Pushing through a high stand of saw grass, they arrive in a clearing filled with Gungan refugees-men, women, and children of all ages and descriptions, huddled together on a broad, dry rise, many with their possessions gather around them. Tarpals lead the company past the refugees to where the ruins of what had once been a grand temple are being slowly reclaimed by the swamp. Platforms and stairs ate all that remained intact, the columns and ceilings having long ago collapsed and broken apart. The massive heads and limbs of stone statues poke out of the mire, fingers clutching weapons and eyes staring sightlessly into space.
At the far end of the ruins, Boss Nass appears, lumbering out of shadows with several more of the Gungan council to stand atop a stone head partially submerged in the water. Amidala and her retinue approaches within hailing distance over a network of causeways and islands.
"Jar Jar Binks, whadda yous doen back?" Boss Nass rumbles angrily. "Yous suppose ta take dese outlanders and no come back! Yous pay good dis time!" The fleshy head swivel. "Who yous bring here ta da Gungan sacred place?"
Sabé, for some reason, feels something on her right shoulder, making her stare down with her left eye, finding nothing there, before she stares at Darth Vader who tilts his head, and she knows immediately he is the cause of what she is feeling. How can he touch her without physically touching her? Perhaps just a Force thing those Force Sensitives rambles about.
She can hear the man's voice in her head, authoritatively but with under layers of calm and compassion that she haven't heard from him before.
'I will protect you.'
How is this possible when the mysterious man isn't even speaking? Why does he care about her when she's just a handmaiden? Mentally promise never to doubt the Force again, biting her lip before nodding, Sabé steps forward at once towards Boss Nass, white face lifting but speaking nervously, feeling slightly reassured with Vader being prepared to protect her should the Gungan choose to attack.
"I am Amidala, Queen of the Naboo."
"Naboo!" Boss Nass thunders. "No like da Naboo! Yous bring da maccaneks! Dey bust up our homes! Dey drive us all out!" A heavy arm lifts, pointing at the Queen. "Yous all bombad! Yous all die, mebbe!"
Vader stiffens as the handmaiden as he, along with Skywalker, notices suddenly that they are completely surrounded by Gungans, some on kaadu, some on foot, all with electropoles, energy spears, and some sort of throwing device. Captain Panaka and the Naboo guards are looking around nervously, hands straying toward their blasters. The Jedi flanks the Queen and her handmaidens, but their arms hang loosely at their sides.
"We wish to form an alliance with you," Sabé tries again, despite part of her childish instincts screaming at her to run, though this is swiftly silenced. In her sacrifice of becoming a handmaiden, she has trained and became experienced quickly with the many attempts on Padmé's life by bounty hunters.
"We no form nutten wit da Naboo!" Boss Nass roars angrily.
Abruptly Padme detaches herself from the others and steps in front of the Queen.
And suddenly, the familiar presence of Darth Vader that have placed a shield over them several days back evaporates from over the Queen and handmaidens, them each feeling this but it didn't disturb them.
"You did well, Sabé. But I will have to do this myself," she says quietly and turns to face Boss Nass.
"Who dis?" the head Gungan snaps.
Vader can't help but grins slightly at the slight exasperation from the handmaiden's aura, annoyance ringing off her and evident in her eyes. He knows she would support Padmé through almost anything but she is overprotective and can grow exasperated at Padmé's disobeying tendencies, doubtlessly disliking this plan.
Standing next to Anakin, R2-D2 beeps softly in recognition. The little droid figures it out first.
'Unsurprisingly,' Vader states mentally, knowing that his old friend has shown much intelligence to the point where he played a major role in destroying the first and second Death Star.
Padme straightens. "I am Queen Amidala," she announces in a loud, clear voice. "Sabé serves from time to time as my decoy, my loyal bodyguard. I am sorry for my deception, but given the circumstances, I am sure you can understand." She turns to the Jedi, her eyes shifting momentarily to find Anakin. "Gentlemen, I apologize for misleading you."
Her eyes return quickly to Boss Nass, who is frowning suspiciously, clearly not understanding any of what is happening. "Although our people do not always agree, Your Honor," she continues, her voice softening, "we have always lived in peace. Until now. The Trade Federation, with its tanks and its 'maccaneks,' has destroyed all that we have worked so hard to build. The Gungans are in hiding, and the Naboo have been imprisoned in camps. If we do not act quickly, all that we value will be lost forever."
She stretches out her hands. "I ask you to help us, Your Honor." She pauses. "No, I beg you to help us." She drops abruptly to one knee in front of the astonished leader of the Gungans. There is an audible gasp of surprise from the Naboo. "We are your humble servants, Your Honor," Padmé says so that all can hear. "Our fate is in your hands. Please help us."
She motions, and one by one, her handmaidens, Panaka, and the Naboo pilots and guards drop to their knees beside her. Somewhat begrudgingly, Vader drops to his knee stiffly and tightly, much to the secret levity of the Queen and the handmaidens as they could hear a slight grunt of annoyance. Anakin and the Jedi are the last to join them. Out of the corner of his eye, Anakin sees Jar Jar standing virtually alone in their midst, staring around in wonderment and shock.
For a moment, no one says anything. Then a slow, deep rumble of laughter rises out of the throat of Boss Nass. "Ho, ho, ho! Me like dis! Dis good! Yous no think yous greater den da Gungans!"
The head Gungan comes forward, reaching out with one hand. "Yous stand, Queen Amidoll. Yous talk wit me, okay? Mebbe we gonna be friends after all!"
The former Sith is the first to stand and he storms off to the back of the crowd, the guards and other handmaidens separating, less they will find themselves be knocked aside since to be blunt it is something he would do.
Vader will not be treated like a humble servant by these primitive Gungans.
The senior Sith Lord appears in a shimmer of robes and shadows as his protégé and the Neimoidians walk slowly down the corridor leading from the throne room back to the plaza.
"We have sent out patrols," Nute Gunray says, concluding his report to the ominous figure in the projection. "We have already located their starship in the swamp. It won't be long until we have them in hand, my lord."
Darth Sidious is silent. For a moment Nute Gunray is afraid he hasn't been heard. "This is an unexpected move for the Queen," the Sith Lord declares, at last, his voice so low it could barely be heard. "It is too aggressive. Lord Maul, be mindful."
"Yes, Master," the other Sith growls softly, yellow eyes gleaming.
The Sith Lord relishes the hatred he can sense from his apprentice.
"Be patient," Darth Sidious purrs, head lower in cowled shadows, hands fold into black robes. "Let them make the first move."
In silence, Darth Maul and the Neimoidians continue on as the hologram slowly fades away.
Boss Nass is as mercurial as he is large, and his change of attitude toward the Naboo is dramatic. Once he decide that the Queen did not consider herself his superior, that she is in fact quite sincere in her plea for Gungan's help, he is quick to come around. The fact that his dislike of the battle droids is every bit as strong as hers didn't hurt matters, of course. Perhaps he has been hasty in his belief that the "maccaneks" wouldn't find the Gungans in the swamps. Otoh Gunga been attacked at daybreak two days earlier and its inhabitants driven from their homes. Boss Nass is not about to sit still for that. If a plan can be put together to drive the invaders out, the Gungan army will do its part to help.
He takes Amidala and her companions out of the swamp to the edge of the grass plains that ran south to the Naboo capital city of Theed. Any attack will be mounted from here, and the Queen come to the Gungans with a very specific plan of attack in mind.
The first step in that plan involves sending Captain Panaka on a reconnaissance of the city.
As they stand looking out from the misty confines of the swamp toward the open grasslands, waiting for Panaka's return, Boss Nass trundles up to Jar Jar.
The armored man stands in the background, Boss Nass notes. He is darker in armory than the Jedi and something about being in his presence is complicated to behold. There is something about him that intimidates the Gungan, enough to nearly make air leave his lungs for a brief moment.
"Yous doen grand, Jar Jar Binks!" he rumbles, wrapping a meaty arm around the slender Gungan's shoulders, attempting not to stare at the armored man. "Yous bring da Naboo and da Gungan together! Tis very brave thing."
Jar Jar shuffles his feet and looks embarrassed. "Ah, yous no go sayendat. Tis nutten."
"No, yous grand warrior!" Boss Nass declares, squeezing the air out of his compatriot with a massive hug.
"No, no, no," the other persists bashfully.
"So," Boss Nass concludes brightly, "we make yous bombad general in da Gungan army!"
"What?" Jar Jar exclaims in dismay. "General? Me? No, no, no!" he gasps, and his eyes roll up, his tongue falls out, and he faints dead away.
Padmé is in conference with the Jedi and the Gungan generals, to whose number Jar Jar Binks just been added, so Anakin, at loose ends, wanders over to keep company with the Gungan sentries who are keeping a lookout for Panaka. The Gungans patrols the swamp perimeter on kaadu and keep watching through macro binoculars from treetops and the remains of ancient statuary, making certain Federation scouting parties didn't come up on them unexpectedly.
She can tell Vader is not pleased with the presence of the Gungans nor fond of trusting them, that being given he is not interacting with any of them and is instead standing at her back, arms hang at his side.
Anakin stands at the base of a temple column, still trying to come to terms with Padmé's revelation. Everyone has been surprised, of course, but no one more than he. He isn't sure how he feels about her now, knowing she wasn't just a girl, but a Queen. He wants to talk to her, but there isn't any opportunity for that here. He supposes that things won't be the same after this, but he wishes they can. He likes her as much now as he did before, and to tell the truth, he don't care if she is a Queen or not.
He glances over at the girl and the Jedi and thinks how different things are here than they had been on Tatooine. Nothing worked out the way he hoped for any of them, and it remains to be be see if this is a good idea to come with them is a good idea after all.
The Gungan lookout standing atop a piece of statuary above him grunts. "Dey comen," he calls down, peering out into the grasslands through his macro binoculars.
Anakin gives a yell in response and races over to Padmé, the Jedi, and the Gungan generals.
"They're back!" he shouts.
Everyone turns to watch a squad of four speeders skim over the flats and pull to a stop in the concealing shadow of the swamp. Captain Panaka and several dozen Naboo soldiers, officers, and starfighter pilots jump down. Panaka makes his way directly to the Queen.
Behind the Queen, Darth Vader stand, imposing and large as always, proving to be intimidating whenever he is silent more than whenever he is vocalizing. Anakin is grateful someone so-so wizard is going to be at Padmé's flank and appears to be willing to protect her at all times but there is still that coldness that radiates around him yet there is something mysterious about him. Not an angel of course like Padmé but more-or-less what is called a spacer.
"I think we got through without being detected, Your Highness," he advises quickly, brushing the dust from his clothing.
"What is the situation?" she asks as the others crowd close to them.
Panaka shakes his head. "Most of our people are in the detention camps. A few hundred officers and guards have formed an underground movement to resist the invasion. I've brought as many of the leaders as I could find."
"Good." Padmé replies, nodding appreciatively toward Boss Nass. "The Gungans have a larger army than we imagined."
"Very, very bombad!" the Gungan chief rumbles.
Panaka exhales wearily. "You'll need it. The Federation army is much larger than we thought, too. And stronger." He gives the Queen a considering look. "In my opinion, this isn't a battle we can win, Your Highness."
Standing at the edge of the circle, Jar Jar Binks looks down at Anakin and rolls his eyes despairingly.
"Don't underestimate our chances, captain," Vader's cool voice vibrates behind them. "Superior numbers they may have but their arrogance and lacks of intelligence is a flaw. One we can exploit."
Padmé, too, is undeterred. "I don't intend to win it, Captain. The battle is a diversion. We need the Gungans to draw the droid army away from Theed, so we can infiltrate the palace and capture the Neimoidian viceroy. The Trade Federation cannot function without its head. Neimoidians don't think for themselves. Without the viceroy to command them, they will cease to be a threat."
She waits for them to consider her plan, eyes fixing automatically on Qui-Gon Jinn, asking. "What do you think, Master Jedi?"
"It is a well-conceived plan," Qui-Gon acknowledges. "It appears to be your best possible move, Your Highness, although there is a great risk. Even with the droid army in the field, the viceroy will be well guarded. And many of the Gungans may be killed."
"That is the price of war, Jedi," Vader interjects, "unless you are prepared to lead the army, Jedi, than you should exclude yourself out of it, for there is going to be casualties due to you seeking to remain moral peacekeepers," Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan briefly glares at Vader before deflating as Vader speaks again, his attention now on Padmé. "It's a well-conceived plan for your age, your highness, but it is flawed. Like Jinn states, it will cause the death of many, but if they will be able to distract the droids long enough..." He purposely trails off, sensing she will get his jest.
"Then we will be able to deactivate the army..." Padmé finishes for him. It's a horrible outcome regardless of the death of many but preferable to the alternative.
Boss Nass snorts derisively. "They bombad guns no get through our shields! We ready to fight!"
Jar Jar gives Anakin another eye roll, a sentiment Vader shares, but this time Boss Nass sees Jar Jar do so and give his new general a hard warning look.
Padmé is thinking. "We could reduce the Gungan casualties by securing the main hangar and sending our pilots to knock out their orbiting control ship. Without the control ship to signal them, the droid army can't function at all."
Everyone nods in agreement. "But if the viceroy should escape, Your Highness," Obi-Wan points out darkly, "he will return with another droid army, and you'll be no better off than you are now. Whatever else happens, you must capture him."
"Indeed, we must," Padme agrees. "Everything depends on it. Cut off the head, and the serpent dies. Without the viceroy, the Trade Federation collapses."
Vader tilts his head at that. It's a smart plan for certain, though his old Master is correct. The Trade Federation is full of pitiful incompetence that don't know when to lay down their power until the galaxy comes crashing down upon them, the Clone Wars being evidence of that. He finds it pathetic really. When they were cornered, he seen them for who they truly are, sniveling cowards who most likely can't stand a challenge against even a Jedi Youngling.
Vader notes as they move on to other matters then, beginning a detailed discussion of battle tactics and command responsibilities which he chooses not to involve himself in since if it is up to him, they would just charged the palace, lightsaber and guns blazing. Anakin stands listening for a moment, then eases his way close to Qui-Gon and tugs on his sleeve.
"What about me?" he asks quietly.
The Jedi Master puts a hand on the boy's head and smiles. "You stay close to me, Annie, do as I say, and you'll be safe."
Keeping safe isn't quite what the boy had in mind, but he let the matter drop, satisfy that as long as he is close to Qui-Gon, he won't be far from the action.
Not far from him, Saché and Yané smile at the presence of the woman, beaming at seeing their friends and ready to take their home.
Panaka told them about the plan to talk to the Gungans, and how they had to wait for their emissary to return. And then Saché sees bright gold stripes that lined the handmaiden's outfits in the dark and knew that she is truly safe. The Queen maintains some distance, of course, but Padmé is close enough to get a good look at them.
Saché can tell she have a hundred questions and probably even more apologies, but now is not the time for any of that. Instead, when Padmé holds out her arms, Saché hesitates for a moment—too aware of her own smell—and then wraps her arms around her.
"I'm so glad," Padmé says, genuinely relieved. "I'm so glad."
Eirtaé and Rabé hug them as well. Saché wants to laugh and cry at the same time. She might have been finally going into shock. She and Yané splash their faces in the creek and tucks away their hair. When they are as clean as they can manage, they change into the maroon and gold battle uniform the others wears. Sabé takes their hands, which is as much as she could do while she wore the Queen's face. They are together again, and Padmé Amidala has a plan.
The Trade Federation didn't stand a chance.
For a moment, they allow that motion to stand before the being of Darth Vader emerges, cylinder hilt of the lightsaber still clipped to his belt, standing several feet behind Padmé, earning an immediate scowl and distrustful stare by Saché and Yané who are completely oblivious to the mysterious friendship the others have formulated with them. The handmaidens blink while soaking in his appearance, realizing the blasted man is much more intimidating in person but they will not coward in fear as many have done. As suspected, a lightsaber is clipped on the monolith belt that must go unnoticed by many since it can easily be assumed as part of his armory.
"So do we want to know about him?" Saché inquires, staring pointedly at Vader, not trusting him for a second and wondering why is he still with them.
"My presence is required. Your Queen and fellow handmaidens were quite persistent in attaining my assistance." Vader taunts.
"Oh, come on, Vader," Rabé quips, rolling her eyes with a smirk full of mirth, surprising her two fellow handmaidens as she didn't expect the most cautious of them all speaking to Vader as if he is another friend. "Saché and Yané is just curious. It is no hard feelings."
"Inquisitiveness and intimidated is two different definitions, handmaiden," the dark man huffs, "at the very least they are not as picayune as the Jedi Order and the Republic."
That earns him confuse raised eyebrows by both handmaidens before their eyes brighten in realization.
"You have failed to convince the Senate, your highness..." Saché vocalizes their realization with a dramatic slowness.
"Yes, they wanted to send a commission, Saché," Padmé growls, clenching her hands up into fists. "Vader was right so I negotiated with him. I know you both have your doubts about him but Vader is our best chance. Master Jinn and Padawan Kenobi doesn't even wish to fight a war for us and would only serve as an interference should things goes sour. Chancellor Valorum only wanted to confirm the attack when the evidence was laying so sagely before him."
Anger immediately burns up inside of both handmaidens, not at Vader, but at the Republic and the Jedi Order. So their homeworld is being glassed and they want to send a committee. This only proved to each of them that in their time of need in the future they might as well just fight with their forces since this changes absolutely nothing.
"Hopefully, Palpatine would change this ineffectiveness that has corrupted the Republic," Padmé speaks in deep mourning, though there is an evident change in the belief she once had for the Republic.
Like in the original timeline, Padmé is at odds with the Republic though Palpatine persuaded her that he would change the Republic and make it stronger and better. Much like he did with him, Palpatine manipulated the truth from Padmé, for that is all that sniveling bastard is. A manipulator who deserves what's coming to him and deserves to be in the seven hells of the Force.
Vader knows this would change Padmé's faith in the Republic from the original timeline indefinitely should he speak next. Loathe as he admits to doing it in practically manipulating her, he would carry through since she would probably be one of his strongest allies in stopping Sidious.
"Please, your highness, don't full yourself with delusions and hallucinations. He is another bureaucrat to seize control." Vader replies in a not so forced bored and casual tone.
That causes each of them to stare sharply at Vader. Senator Palpatine was born on their homeworld and helped them before so they find that sentence mildly insulting. Additionally, this is the first day for the man and he should be given a chance.
"Senator Palpatine is not a bur-" Padmé begins to offer as an argument to defend a native of her home planet.
"So far he has failed to convince me," Vader replies, scowling underneath his mask, his leathered hand tightening up into a fist, disliking how Padmé is still a firm supporter of Palpatine at this rate which he will have to break in years time. "Look around you, Queen, handmaidens, do you see the Republic here? Do you see any assistance from the Jedi? No. There are guards who are hardly worth it of being called soldiers and can't pose a real challenge against those battle droids who have been programmed to kill. There are Gungans who is leading the charge; sentinel and innocent beings who are going to perish in this upcoming battle. So far, all I am seeing is people who never even marched into battle before have to lose their lives due to corruption and ineffectiveness. I highly doubt a newly appointed Chancellor would do better than his predecessors."
"But-" Padmé begins, attempting to offer an argument for the Republic.
"Gunray is behind it, but the Republic is also accountable for the countless deaths that have occured on the planet," he continues bitingly, interrupting the woman, "imagine how many families are stripped from each other; children. If the Republic and Jedi wants to prove they care about any wellbeing on the natives on this planet, they would have dispatch several Jedi onto this planet and this planet would have already been saved. The Senator appears to have forgotten about the wellbeing of his planet." There is no mocking nor taunting in his tone, but pure disgust.
Vader's eyes fall onto Saché before both of her sleeves on her arms and legs are lifted as is her skirt up to her upper chest, stopping before her breasts, surprisingly, revealing horrifying scars that must have been from pure torture she endured. This makes each teenager feel the urge to barf at what happened to their friend. Even Yané hadn't noticed she had that many scars.
It appears Saché attempts to cover them since she knows she will hear about this later.
"Take a good long look at your friend who has sustained intense injuries and have to fight in a kriffing battle. It could have been avoided if the Republic acted sooner." Vader emphasizes, crossing his arms across his chest, watching as they stare over their friend with horror.
The women find themselves not able to look away in disgust at what happened to their friend in just a week.
"That is... true," Yané admits frigidly, biting her lip until it is drawing blood as she began forming something else with Saché, though she is relieved they haven't learned of what occurred as they instantly gain nods by her fellow handmaidens, Padmé included after a second.
"You each are children, and because of the pure inefficacy by the figureheads of the Republic, you each are about to associate with armed people into battle when you should be going to whatever Naboo school there is or preserving over Naboo. You are children. That Senate is full of bureaucrats that only cares for themselves and whatever wealth they earn." Vader declares, vowing to fix these issues when he comes into power one way or another. This is precisely why he was pleased when the Emperor had the Senate dissolved. They are complacent and their bickering solved little to the point where even Darth Vader in the suit had severe headaches multiple times for over two decades.
None can argue with his logic.
"I still fail to understand how one man can help us," Saché adds, crossing her arms across her chest and giving Vader an unimpressed look.
"Don't underestimate him," Eirtaé warns, recalling the memory of several days ago. "Vader is extremely powerful and is not to be taken lightly. On a little spar between us, he bested us all whereas Kenobi failed."
The handmaidens are shocked that Eirtaé is defending Vader especially after him knowing too much.
"Isn't he just another Jedi?" Saché declares, staring at Vader with suspicion.
"I am no Jedi," he replies in a dark tone, an unknown tension filling the air that causes each of them to stare with fear. "I am not trap by protocols, codes, and procedures by an Order that fails to be the keepers of the peace they claim to be. Jedi didn't always be the first to wield a lightsaber or possess the use of the Force. Moreover, Jedi are far more divulging. I answer to no Council."
This is the first time they saw Vader upset or at least when it is obvious as the man is unreadable. The Council meeting must have gone worse than they thought.
"I notice you have been doing often a lot of favors for us, Vader," Sabé anxiously snarks in the hope to brighten the mood, her hands noticeably trembling, able to wiggle her way around as always while forcing herself to stare at his intense cerulean eyes before continuing to speak. "I heard back during the time of the Infinite Empire, Naboo had a tradition where there is a life debt. Although not traditional any longer, it is still operational-"
It works, for the tension suddenly evaporates from the air, his eyes apparently calming from the impaling daggers they once have been, becoming slowly cerulean, the unseen tension slowly dissipating. It is obvious that he doesn't like being called a Jedi.
"No," is Vader's response, cerulean eyes locking with the disguised Queen. His tone, although authoritatively and sharp as always, appears warmer somehow.
"Condescending much?" Padmé replies in a quippy tone, a light behind her brown eyes.
"Admit it, Vader, we make life fun for you," Eirtaé adds humorously.
"You all make life... idiosyncratic for me." he admits dryly.
"Best we are going to get?" Eirtaé asks wryly.
"Content you are receiving that, handmaiden," he replies, pointing at her with his index finger. "Not many others receive such admissions. Don't push it." Vader's eyes fall over Saché and Yané, "Even should you consider me a friend, I have a immense impression that your fellow handmaidens wish my death."
"No," Yané replies curtly, glaring at him slightly, "we do not wish your death, but we are willing to save Naboo under any means necessary. No one should die but sacrifices have to be made at times."
Surprisingly, instead of growing cold or insulted, Vader chuckles, the unnamed tension just there disappeared from the atmosphere. "I too share those same beliefs, handmaiden. Thus you have my respect for speaking truths instead of delusions that you cherish for all sentinel beings before you care about everyone you know or yourself."
A minute albeit not an uncomfortable one passes.
"Vader, I have a question. Why are you helping us and not the Trade Federation? Why fight for us when we are limited in numbers? Why serve the Jedi? Do you want this planet?" Rabé asks, breaking the silence.
Vader knows that the handmaiden has a point. If it was anyone else who is among the Sith Order, most would have sided with the Trade Federation in the hope to gain wealth and more power in the galaxy which can easily be his taking given that he has won the support of one monarch. Besides, he knows who the real Queen is and can gain sufficient profit from the Trade Federation, but even so, he still hasn't betrayed them. Either he's an extremely good actor or an unfathomable party outside of the Jedi Order.
"The Trade Federation is full of pitiful lifeforms that hardly even knows the definition of fighting. I respect you each for being able to hold a blaster and fight in decent martial arts skill, but a fool such as Gunray would probably shoot himself unintentionally if given the opportunity to wield a blaster. Strategically, you each are losing numbers but morally and brains you each are higher than the Trade Federation," 'and myself' "will ever be. I also don't serve the Jedi. I serve the people of Naboo and the Queen. Do your best at attempting not to represent or believe in the ways of others beside yourselves. Furthermore, I despise Gunray in believing money is the situation to everything." Vader replies, sensing the two handmaidens are shocked by his answer while the other handmaidens who have gotten to know Vader more are apparently accepting of that answer.
"I see," Rabé replies, staring down in deep thought before offering a small smile towards Vader. "Well thanks. We are glad you are onboard."
Vader tilts his head, acknowledging her comment in what they assume is means of gratitude.
Captain Panaka runs up to the seven individuals, "Ma'am, the Gungans are prepared for battle. We are prepared to go to the city. We are waiting for your command."
Padmé nods, "I will be there shortly, Captain."
"Sounds like we are going to be able to see Vader absolutely giving droids hell on security cameras soon over a bunch of popcorn if we all survive," Sabé remarks with a childish smirk, earning eager nods from the rest of the ladies except the uncertain Yané and Saché.
Thoughts of them watching Vader slaying battle droids with them eating popcorn likely they are watching sitcoms flow through the Force.
Under his hood, Darth Vader rolls his cerulean eyes. Of course they will enjoy the hell he's about to leave behind in his wake.
By midday, with the sun overhead in a cloudless sky and the wind die away to nothing, the grasslands lying south of Theed between the Naboo capital city and the Gungan swamp lay empty and still. Heat rises off the grasslands in a soft shimmer, and it is so quiet that from a hundred meters away the chirp of birds and the buzz of insects can be hear as if they are settled close by.
Then the Trade Federation army's bubble-nosed transports and armor-wrapped tanks roar onto the rolling meadows, skimming the tall grasses in gleaming waves of bright metal.
It is quiet in the swamps as well, the perpetual twilight hushed and expectant beneath the vast canopy of limbs and vines, the surface of the mire as smooth and unbroken as glass, the reeds and rushes motionless in the windless air. Here and there a water bug jumps soundlessly from place to place, stirring puddles to life in the wake of its passing, bending blades of grass like springboards. Birds swoops and banks in bright flashes of color, darting from limb to limb. Small animals creep from cover to drink and feed, eyes bright, noses twitching, senses alert.
All know that won't be for long. There is about to be a full-blown war that shall claim lives, the hell of going into war.
Anakin Skywalker hunkers down in the shadows of a building directly across from the main hangar of the Naboo Starfleet in the city of Theed. It is quiet here as well, the bulk of the battle droids dispatched to the field to deal with the Gungan army, the remainder scatters throughout the city in patrols and on perimeter watch. Nevertheless, tanks crowd the plaza fronting the hangar complex, and a strong contingent of battle droids wards the Naboo fleet. Seizing control of the starfighters is not going to be easy.
Anakin glances over at those with him. Padmé, dressed as a handmaiden, crouches with Eirtaé beside the Jedi, waiting for Captain Panaka's command to get into position on the other side of the square. Sabé, the decoy Queen, and her handmaidens wore a battle dress, loose-fitting and durable, with blasters strapped to their sides. R2-D2 blinks silently from behind them in the company of twenty-odd Naboo officers, guards, and pilots, all armed and ready. It seems to the boy like a pathetically small number of fighters to carry the day, but it is all they have.
At least Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan are talking again. They begin doing so on the journey in from the swamps, a few words here, a few there, exchanging comments guardedly, testing the waters. Anakin listens carefully, more attuned to the nuances of their conversation than others could be, hearing in the inflection of their voices more than simply the words spoken. After a time, when the words heal enough of the breach that they feel comfortable again, there are smiles, brief and almost sad, but clear in their purpose. The Jedi are old friends and their relationship that of father and son. They did not want to toss it all away over a single disagreement. Anakin is thankful for that-especially since the disagreement in question was over him.
Vader disappeared soon after his conversation with the Queen and Anakin wonders where the man is at.
Padmé speaks to him as well, joining him for a few moments as they approaches the city through the forests east, her smile banishing all his doubts and fears in a moment's time.
"I'm sorry I couldn't tell you sooner," she says, apologizing for hiding her identity. "I know it was a surprise."
"It's okay," he says, shrugging bravely.
"I guess knowing I'm a Queen makes you feel differently about me, doesn't it?" she asks.
"I guess, but that's okay. Just so you still like me. Because I still like you." He looks over at her hopefully.
"Of course, Ani. Telling you who I really am doesn't mean my feelings for you have changed. I was the same person before, whether you knew the truth about me or not."
He thinks about it a moment. "I suppose." He brightens. "So I guess my feelings for you shouldn't be any different now either."
She moves away, smiling broadly back at him, and just at that moment, he feels ten meters tall.
So now he is at peace with himself about the Jedi and Padmé but is beset with new concerns. What if something happened to them during the fight ahead? What if they qre hurt or even... He cannot bring himself to finish the thought. Nothing bad will happen to them, that is all. He won't let it. He glances at them, kneeling in silence at the edge of the plaza, and promises himself he will keep them safe no matter what. That will be his job. His mouth tightens with determination as he made his pledge.
"Once we get inside, Annie, you find a safe place to hide until this is over," Qui-Gon advises suddenly, bending close, almost as if he could read the boy's mind.
"Sure," Anakin promises.
"And stay there," the Jedi Master adds firmly.
Across the way, Panaka and his contingent of fighters are in position now, placing the tanks and battle droids in a crossfire with Padmé's group. Padmé produces a small glow rod and flashes a coded signal to Panaka across the square.
All around Anakin, weapons slides free of holsters and fastenings, and safeties are released.
Then Panaka's fighters opens up on the battle droids, blasters shattering their metal bodies in a hail of laser fire. Other droids wheels about in response and began exchanging fire, drawn toward the source of the conflict and away from Padmé's group. Qui-Gon comes to his feet.
"Stay close," Qui-Gon whispers to him sternly, knowing how defiant he is.
A moment later, the boy is running with the Jedi, Padmé, Eirtaé, R2-D2, and their Naboo contingent of soldiers and pilots toward the open door of the hangar.
Anakin Skywalker rushes through the open doors of the main hangar after the Jedi and Padme, with R2-D2 and the rest of the Naboo freedom fighters on their heels. Battle droids turn to confront them, but lightsabers and blasters cut apart the foremost before the others even know what is happening. The droids rallies in response, summoning help from without, but Panaka and his men have those in the plaza already occupied, and for a moment the Jedi and the Naboo are in control.
Mindful of Qui-Gon's admonition, Anakin ducks beneath the fuselage of the closest starfighter, laser bolts searing the air around him in a brilliant burst of fire.
"Get to your ships!" Padmé shouts at her pilots, leading the contingent of Naboo soldiers under her command in pursuit of the retreating battle droids.
Ducking and crouching, she fires her blaster with quick, precise moves, bringing down droid after droid, her charges finding their targets with unerring accuracy. The Jedi fight just ahead of her, blocking droid laser fire with their lightsabers, striking down those unfortunate enough to cross their path. But it is Padmé on whom Anakin's eyes re-rivetes, for not only had he never seen this side of her, he hasn't even known it existed. She moves with the skill and training of a seasoned fighter, no longer seeming in any way a young girl, becoming instead a deadly combatant.
He thinks suddenly of his dream of Padmé leading an army in another time and place, and suddenly the dream didn't seem so impossible.
Pilots from the attacking force and R2 units free from storage in the hangar lockers move quickly to board the Naboo fighters, scattering swiftly through the hail of blaster fire. Clambering aboard their starships, pilots in the cockpits, R2 units in their sockets, they switch on their control panels and ignite their engines. A roar of power fills the massive hangar, drowning out the sound of laser fire, building to an ear-shattering crescendo. One by one, the fighters begin to levitate and shift into position for takeoff.
A Naboo pilot rushes past Anakin and climbs into the fighter he is crouching behind. "Better get out of here, kid!" she calls down from the cockpit. "Find yourself a new hiding place! You're about to lose this one!"
Anakin darts away in a low crouch, droid blaster fire crisscrossing the air above him, centering on the departing ships. The fighter he abandoned begins to lift off, wheeling toward the open hangar doors. Other ships are already speeding away into the blue, engines booming.
As the Jedi and the Naboo fighters continue to push the droid hangar watch steadily back, Anakin searches hastily for a new hiding place. Then he hears R2- D2 whistle at him from another fighter close at hand, the little droid already ensconced in his socket, domed head rotating, control lights flashing. The boy races across the hangar floor littered with the shattered bodies of battle droids, laser fire whizzing all about him, and jumps into the cockpit with a gasp of relief.
Peering out from the safety of his bolt-hole, he watches the last pair of Naboo fighters rocket out of the hangar. The first get free, but the second is hit by tank fire and knock sideways so that it pinwheels into the ground and explodes in a ball of flame. Anakin winces and crouches lower.
Now Panaka, Sabé, and the Naboo soldiers who been engaged in combat outside the hangar burst through the doors as well, firing as they come. Caught in a crossfire, the remaining battle droids are quickly overwhelmed and destroyed. There is a hurried conference between the Jedi, Padmé, and Panaka, and then the entire Naboo fighting force begins to move toward an exit in the hangar that take them directly past Anakin's hiding place.
"Where is Vader?" Panaka asks the question everyone is wondering. While the outside of the palace is what must be a bloody war, the Captain and most of the guards doubts Vader's capabilities and his allegiances for that matter.
"He's somewhere," Padmé states, truthfully not knowing where their dark ally is.
"We shouldn't have trusted him," Mariek replies. "Vader could be rallying up the forces of the Trade Federation as we speak and this could have all been a ploy to lure the Queen."
"I highly doubt Vader would do that," Padmé disagrees, for some reason growing frustrated at how much misconception Vader is receiving by everyone; first the Jedi and now her guards. "Vader vocalized his repugnance with the Trade Federation prior to the battle."
"Many opportunities had presented itself for Vader to betray us," Sabé, under the guise of Senator Amidala, speaks up in agreement, giving both guards and the others a stern look, playing her role to the latter but sharing her Queen's frustration along with the other handmaidens for reasons that escape them all. "Vader could be providing a necessary distraction. This would make our task easier because there are over hundreds of battle droids in the palace which would make the task easy."
"Your Highness," Panaka protests, staring at Padmé out of the corner of his eyes, seeing that they don't need to play a ploy anymore. "You are putting too much of your trust in Vader. He is just one man who we shouldn't put our trust in completely."
Obi-Wan plants a hand on his chin, running a finger over his mouth before biting his lip. "We would have been able to sense his allegiances shifting if he have such intentions to betray us." He can't believe that he is speaking up for whom he believes wouldn't betray them but still has immense potential to become a threat to the Jedi Order. "Betraying us on Naboo which is not far from Coruscant wouldn't be a wise choice."
Qui-Gon's lips curl up into a teasing smile. "Has my apprentice formed a soft spot for Vader?"
Obi-Wan feels the urge to slam his head repeatedly into the nearby wall as he has just been openly thrown under the speeder, knowing that his own master, nor the Council or even the Naboo wouldn't believe he hadn't in spite of his denials.
"Thanks, Master," Obi-Wan bites out nearly in a whisper in response, sarcasm evident in his voice and a betrayal in his eyes. "You have been a great help."
The hooded form of Darth Vader walks down. A part of him will always admit it is a guilty pleasure in walking in a concealing form. That is what he missed about being Anakin Skywalker, being hooded and cloaked instead of being covered in a suit. Yes, the suit did cause many trembles in fear and did protect him far more, but this new suit, along with this cloak and cape and hood did leave him just as a dismaying sight to behold, even before he fixed it those days traveling to Tatooine days ago.
Four battle droids are propelled in all directions, two thrown into opposite walls and crushed simultaneously. The other droid shoots at where it detects the threat but immediately the blaster aims up at its head, firing. The last droid's blaster is pulled out of its hand, follow by it propelling into the ceiling before shattering in pieces.
He emerges from behind the door. Not always does he relish in tearing out his lightsaber and cutting rivals down. He takes a deep amount of satisfaction in exploiting the Force against rivals, leaving them without answers before their swift execution with merely the Force and the Force alone.
Vader is well aware that that wouldn't be for long. This battle claimed a lot of lives in the original timeline it is a miracle each of his wife's handmaidens survived especially given this is their first battle, though they did play a part in some of the greatest companions during the Clone Wars due to their intelligence and Naboo being loyal to the Republic during the first timeline.
He walks slowly to the intelligence room, allowing the Force to cloud his presence just as he speaks past another droid battalion without so much as crouching. He sees two droids and quickly dispatches them with the Force, one of the droids nudging against the button and opening the door before Vader balls up both droids into pieces and allowing them to crash onto the ground.
Inside, unsurprisingly, five battle droids are standing, blasters immediately snapping up when Vader simply raises his hand, and immediately they are crushed into obliteration before they could have warned the others about his presence inside of the palace. Not that Vader is afraid should he be discovered. Perhaps at last these fools can propose a challenge.
He seizes both limp bodies from earlier with the Force and walks in, hiding them in a small department in order for his presence to remain safely anonymous, along with the others before approaching the door and activating the shields.
Through the Force, Vader senses the fight has just begun. One Gungan after another perishing instantly and simultaneously.
At one point in his time as Skywalker it would have disturbed and unsettled him, but Vader has encountered countless wars at this point. They choose to go into battle. Their lives cannot be saved.
He walks up to the computer terminal, sliding a small chip in a compartment and grinning as the Droid Control Ship pulls up along with the models of battle droids of all masses that are currently occupying about on the planet, either fighting the Naboo or patrolling the halls of the palace, oblivious to what is to come or opting to be reinforcements Vader doesn't know to be honest.
Vader notices a deactivated silver and red of what he recognizes as an R4 unit from his experience, tapping it on its dome and actuvating the droid. Undoubtedly, the Trade Federation deactivated the droid when they raid the planet in the hope to install his sensors and gain more information in the future.
The droid powers up seconds later, rotating around and beeping constantly before noticing someone who he never seen before.
"Droid," Vader addresses as the droid calm down. "Are your sensors and moters undamaged?"
The droid beep in confusion.
"My name is Vader." Several more beeps, and Vader smiles gently. "R4-F4. Well, R4-F4, I require instantaneous assistance."
The droid beeps, full of enthusiasm, doubtlessly not liking being deactivated by the Trade Federation and wishing vengeance. To be truthful, Vader isn't surprised they didn't blast the R4 droid; those fools are undeserving an army and would wish to gain whatever intelligence instead of seizing their opportunity to disable.
"A Droid Control Ship is controlling the Droid Army. I have the intel to hack into their intelligence." Vader commands.
The R4 unit beeps in affirmative before he approaches the small hole in the palace's system and sticking his small slicer into the dome, pulling into the chip involving the Federation's intelligence.
Vader clicks a few buttons on the keys, watching as the illuminating figure of the Droid Control Ship emerges. To think the Ship is meant to installed fear but Vader finds it pathetic. Eh, Vader seen bigger.
"Hack into the Hyperspace communication devices and transmit them all into this device," Vader commands, crossing his arms across his chest, not wanting a risk they would be able to evacuate.
He smiles as the Hyperspace communication device comes up, all being conveyed to the device before them. One can jam the entire spectrum of wireless communication channels, rendering most wireless communication devices useless. Schematics of the sphere appear on the screen.
"Good. Now extract full command from droid modules from Droid Control Ship to me." Vader replies, not trusting for reality to play out the same as last time. Sidious may have ordered an upgrade to his original plan and this means his younger self destroying the Control Ship can be fruitless now.
The droid did as a command, pulling into the droid sensors for a moment and Vader watches as photos of the Droid Army and the Droid Control Ship pulls up before he walks over to the other terminal and grabs the datastick before pocketing it.
"Good," Vader condones, patting the droid's head with a slight grin. The droid isn't R2-D2 but he is as competent as his old friend. "It will be unwise for you to be detected nor remain activated especially with your knowledge and intelligence or be caught. I will see to it that the Queen returns to you after the battle but you may remain here."
The droid beeps excitedly while Vader grins underneath his mask. There is a reason why he always liked these models' droids no matter which number they are.
"No, you can't come with me. You will be in danger." Vader denies immediately, receiving instant protest of the droid standing his ground and he sighs, beginning to ramble about much as Kenobi did during his antics in his time as Skywalker if memory serves him correctly before he mutters. "First the Queen and her blasted handmaidens." Another sigh before he decides to allow the droid to come along. "Very well."
After all, thanks to the droid, he is now in complete control of this army.
That is what Darth Vader has always been best at, be in the position of power and control instead of being someone at the back burner. Control is the way of the Sith; the Emperor controlled him while giving him a gift after Mustafar: to accept this gift of misfortune which would make him stronger with the dark side, or to die. But this time he is his own Master and controlling this timeline is his intention, similar to how Sidious controlled the last timeline.
For now, much like Sidious was in control of the entire clone and droid army, Darth Vader is in control of the whole droid army.
At this rate, he can deactivate the droid's army; anyone else, especially a Jedi, would have, but the truth in the matter is that Vader is not anyone else. He prefers a challenge instead of the coward way out, and he intends to see the battle between Naboo and the Trade Federation, sees who the Force will choose this time who would win.
The Force controls this battle much like the Force controls everything.
He approaches the door and deactivates the shield, the droid trailing behind and being as silent as one such as it can be, the former Sith staring down both corridors, hearing the faint marching and clanking from what he knows is battle droids. Down the left hallway, he spots battalions of battle droids marching forward, blasters grasped in each humanoid's hands, enough to come off as an intimidating sight to behold.
He begins to walk forward calmly, eyes closed, a strange serenity he hasn't felt since he became one with the Force coursing through his body, lightsaber flying to his hand but not activating.
He can sense the crimson kyber crystal itching for battle, itching to be used after days of not being exploited since the fight with the Tusken Raiders and Maul, itching to be shot at and use to reflect. In spite of not showing it much nor being detected through the Force by other Force Sensitives, primely the Jedi, unlike many Sith of the past, Vader and his kyber crystal share a bond of respect, their destinies linked much like a Force Bond between Master and Apprentice, the crystal obtaining much of Vader's aura that will still echo off of the lightsaber long after his demise. The crystal, despite disliking the lessening of Vader no longer slaying everyone who crosses his path, still admires and calls to him as one call of a Master, knowing that Vader is his Master and it will follow his Lord's every command and decision in spite of its disagreement but it still lusts to be in the midst of battle.
Unlike many other Sith, Vader refused to bleed his crystal without forming a bond with it because of the fact that the Sith can't bond with kyber naturally as Jedi can. There are too many risks with not forming a bond with the weapons you utilize and it can only lead to one's downfall. The Sith have to bend it into submission but Vader never trusted himself in doing that.
Vader's dwellings come to an end by the sound of their blasters' clicks and hum towards him and they begin spreading out, demanding for him to surrender. Incompetent droids don't realize it is already too late.
As things always do before a direct battle, a plan formulates in Vader's head. First, give the battle droids and that fool, Gunray, a lesson about crossing his path a second time. Second, assure the battle that is about to begin play out as the Force deems it.
A little voice inside of the former Sith's head urges him to go to the Throne Room and slaughter the fool a second time for all the time he threatens his closest allies. Certainly, Padmé would be safe as will all placed in harm's way by the Neimoidian and his ally, but Vader knows he will receive a second chance one day of his own ambition as a fool such as Gunray opposes a challenge to his future plans and the situation will eventually call for it.
Darth Vader's lightsaber hisses to life, and with a single mist, he charges forward to the OOM droid in front of the charge with a strong and powerful arc.
"We need to get moving," Qui-Gon declares before walking to the doors across the hanger, his Padawan flanking him, along with the guards and handmaidens.
"Hey, where are you going?" the boy asks, popping his head out of the cockpit as they passed.
"Annie, you stay there!" Qui-Gon orders, motioning him back down. His long hair is wild and his face intense. "Stay right where you are!"
The boy ignores him, standing up instead. "No, I want to go with you, Obi-Wan, and Padmé!"
"Stay in that cockpit!" Qui-Gon snaps in a tone of voice that brooks no argument.
Anakin freeze, undecided, as the contingent hurries past him toward the exit door, weapons at the ready. He did not want to be left behind. He have no intention of letting Qui-Gon and Padmé go on without him, especially since he can do nothing to help them if he is stuck here in this empty hangar.
He is still wrestling with the matter when the entire group slowed in front of the exit do! A dark-cloaked figure steps through the opening to confront them. Anakin's breath catch in his throat. He steps out of the shadows like a large sand panther, his red and black tattooed face a terrifying mask, his yellow eyes bright with anticipation and rage.
Blocking the way out, he stands waiting for the Jedi and their charges, a long-handled lightsaber held before him. Captain Panaka and his fighters back away at once. Then, on command from Qui-Gon, Padmé and her handmaidens give ground as well, though less quickly and with more obvious reluctance.
Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi stand alone in the Sith Lord's path. Together, they remove their capes and ignites their lightsabers. Their homed antagonist strips away his cloak as well, then lifts the long-handled lightsaber he bore as if offering it for inspection. Gleaming blade fire juts from both ends of the handle, revealing a deadly, dual-blade weapon. A smile crosses the bearer's feral face as he swings the weapon before him in an idle, casual gesture, beckoning the Jedi ahead.
Spreading out to either side, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan slowly advance to meet him, both knowing they never confronted a Sith Lord before and that they will have to be extremely cautious all the while wishing Vader was here for the first and perhaps the last time in their lives. Undoubtedly their dark ally would have defeated this being but they cannot dwell on him as of the moment when they are the ones who have to encounter this threat.
Anakin Skywalker makes a promise to himself that he will protect Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Padmé Naberrie from harm, that he will see to it somehow that nothing bad happens to them. He knows when he made the promise how hard it is going to be to keep. Somewhere in the back of his mind where he will admit such things privately, he knows how foolish it is even to make such a commitment. But he is young and brave at heart, and he lived his life pretty much on his own terms because to live it any other way would have broken him long ago. It hasn't been easy doing so, especially as a slave. He survived mostly because he had been able to find small victories in difficult situations and because he always believed that one day he would find a way to overcome the circumstances of his birth.
His belief in himself has been rewarded. His life have been changed forever by his victory just days earlier in the Boonta Eve Podrace on Tatooine.
It is not so strange then that he should decide he could somehow affect the lives of a Jedi Master, Padawan, and a Naboo Queen as well, even if he did not know precisely how. He is not afraid to accept such responsibility. He is not daunted by the challenge his decision presented.
But now his resolve is put to the test.
Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan close in on the Sith Lord in a clash of lightsabers that produced the shriek of diamond-edged saw blades cutting through metal. Wheeling across the center of the hangar, the combatants lunges and parries, attack and counterattack carried out in a fierce, no-holds-barred, no-quarter-given struggle. The Sith Lord is supple and quick, and he works his way between the Jedi with confidence and ease, whipping his two-ended lightsaber back and forth between them, more than holding his own against their efforts to bring him down. He is skilled, Anakin sees-more skilled, perhaps, than the men he faces. And he is confident in a disturbing way. He will not be overcome easily.
However, the power he feels from this being... is alluring, almost attracting him to the power.
But Padmé and the Naboo faces a more dangerous situation still. At the far end of the hangar, from off the plaza, a cluster of three destroyer droids wheeled through the doorway and begin to unfold, assuming battle stance. R2-D2 see them first and beeps a warning to the boy. Blinking away at his deep hallucinations, Anakin tear his gaze away from the Jedi and the Sith Lord. The destroyer droids transforms and are already moving forward, laser guns firing into the Naboo. Several soldiers goes down, and Sabé is stung by a glancing blow that knocks her backward into the arms of Panaka. Padmé and her companions resists determinedly, but already they are falling back to find cover.
"We've got to help, Artoo," the boy declares, standing up in the cockpit with the intention of doing something, anything, casting about futilely for a weapon.
But R2-D2 is way ahead of him. The little droid plugs himself into the starfighter's computer system, lights blinking across his control panel as he triggers the big engines. Everything roar to life at once, startling Anakin, who falls back in the pilot's seat in surprise.
Slowly, the ship begins to levitate, wheeling out of its mooring space.
"Threat: detected."
The droid's head ejects from its body and the humanoid's headless body collapses before further commands are given by the sergeant. Six of the droids under its commands are cut down swiftly seconds later.
Droids fires at the cause of it.
Pillars are raised, large pictures of ancient monarchs and others of the past, and statutes collapse about the platoons, crushing most of them with the objects themselves.
Each of the blaster shots flying at him is proven pointless as Vader did not require his lightsaber, instead of using his power of the Force or outright martial arts, even with his lightsaber activated by his side.
Darth Vader deflects each of the shots with merely the Force, their blaster bolts flying at him, realizing how much he misses this as he throws bolts aside. He misses charging head front into battle and calling off of the Force. In spite of the deaths in marching into Rebels, it has always just felt right in being in the midst of battle. Perhaps another guilty pleasure.
Vader decapitates the B2 droid's lower abdomen, watching each of them fall with slice after slice, impaling, decapitation, and obliterating most of them with the Force itself whilst maintaining a close eye to see if the battle is occurring yet and to assure the Force doesn't play a cruel game with each inside of the palace.
As he turns right, Vader swiftly dispatches a B1 with a head strike, cut the arm off of another and impaling his lightsaber through its chest before he lifts a b2 battle droid with the Force, using the Force to convert its focus from him to its fellow droids, shooting some of them down before it is promptly and ruthlessly shot down by its squadmates.
Seeing that the droid no longer serves its uses, Vader throws the destroyed b2 battle droid behind him into the wall, hearing it shattered which causes him to smile slightly.
Continuing on, the battle droids find themselves being outmatched by the efficiency of Vader's ferocity, parrying each of the blaster shots, growing quickly tired of this display of what can hardly be call a battle.
Down and down, squadrons of battle droids goes, each either by the impressive saber sword which is a mixer of Makashi, Soresu, and Djem So, or by his mastery of the light and dark.
Vader's might claims many droid victims that day, and the man still isn't done, raising his hand to hold blaster bolts into the air before returning them back towards the battle droids, who falls, soon blocking more shots from the accelerating quantities of battle droids reinforcements.
Droids fire.
Vader deflects, lightsaber cutting through their humanoids body parts.
Droidekas attempts to shoot him, raising their shields in the intention to mow him down with their shields being activated and protecting.
The former Sith delves deep into the Force and exploits it against them, either blasting the droidekas into a wall or into the air, decimating them ultimately most with their shields still activated, it buzzing out before demilitarizing completely and thoroughly.
It is like that each time.
Platoons of droids are firing at his location, provoking Vader to lunge at the droids, deflecting shots back towards the droids before landing in the middle with a high Force Wave that destroys each of them.
One other battle droid shoots at Vader's flank, causing him to arc his lightsaber, deflecting the shots before raising his hand, pulling the droid to him, and chopping the droid's head off.
Two remaining ones fire at him, him simply deactivating his lightsaber, and only dodge the shots with a smirk before raising both of the droids in the air and bringing them in front of him, causing the droids that were shooting at him to fire on their comrades again before crushing them and throwing them to the side much like he did earlier.
Near the palace's window, droids and droidekas are in front of him; Vader propels the blaster bolts to the side before outstretching his hand and Force Blasting the droids and droidekas out of the window, shattering the window instantly but there is no way that such a fall from several stories above wouldn't demolish them the second they land.
Down the corridor where the droids just stand, Vader turns, raises his hand, and propels Force Energy at the droids which disintegrate them instantly.
Three hallways away, Vader is not surprised to encounter endless numbers of droidekas; as he begins deflecting the blaster bolts with his lightsaber, Vader feels his adrenaline and power rising to the point where it reaches its climax, red lightning retracting out of his hands. It slams into the droids and droidekas, and ultimately, it pierces through the shields, hurling them to the wall and obliterating them all around before releasing their scattered pieces across the ground.
Five hallways away with cutting down mini resistance, and Vader realizing how tremendous the palace truly is, he senses the presence of Nute Gunray and Rune Haako down the hallway and deliberately refuses to go into the room. He has faith that the timeline would play out precisely the same with Padmé, Sabé, and the rest of the troops apprehending Gunray.
The Force itself is apprehensive, deciding the faith between Jedi and Sith which is more of the importance. The timeline itself is altering, meaning that it is likely that the antagonist of the battle is to come to the victor. But as always, the Force has a backup plan, a plan within its Master of the Force itself. The only others who can rival the Master of the Force are the Master of the Light Side of the Force and the Master of the Dark Side of the Force.
Vader deactivates his lightsaber and plants it on his belt, tempted to rush into the room but knowing he had made the job easier for Padmé, the handmaidens, and guards so he will remain here.
Reinforcements shall return to aid the Federation and Vader knows this so he vows to keep his senses up, staring at the droid that somehow managed to remain alongside him even through the most gruesome battle it probably never witnessed again.
"Lock the doors."
The droid beeps an affirmative, locking the doors, in which Vader lowers his senses only slightly.
Falling onto both knees and closing his eyes in deep meditation, Vader reaches out into the Force to check on his younger self's aura, sensing he is alive and mainly well than Qui-Gon aura, sensing that he is still alive but in the fray of battle with Darth Maul, than Obi-Wan's, seeing he's in a similar predicament as his Master, than Padmé, seeing she is leading her guards with the masterful wielding of a blaster.
Although those are the three most important people in the palace to him, he did not retreat from the Force as he decides to check on some others. He didn't know why; perhaps because while they mean little to him as much as others, he cannot bear to lose them as well or for them to be cut down by that brute who he could have easily dispose of on Tatooine; perhaps he doesn't want them to die because of how much they meant to his wife from the other timeline and this time; or perhaps because they maintain a strict loyalty to his wife from another time even long after her untimely death.
Whatever the reason is, he reaches out with the Force, connecting his aura to Padmé's handmaidens, sensing Sabé is still alive leading the people at her back into battle, then Rabé following behind Eirtaé and shooting battle droids down, then Yané and Saché standing side-by-side, all the while their emotions betraying their expressions of fear and rage at their friends falling around them under the midst of the battle droids blaster power.
Now, he retreats from their Force Auras, knowing that they are safe for now at the very least.
That animal that now is attacking the Jedi would kill them all if given the chance, and Vader intends to avoid this at all cost, though he knows it is not his destiny nor the will of the Force that he intervenes with the battle between Darth Maul at least yet.
Multiple people Vader cares about are in the midst of a battlefront as of now. The Jedi, ever the indifferent and detach people they are, would never understand, but even after two decades, he will never be the Jedi the Code deems for their pupils to be. He simply cannot.
The Force begins to ring around his surroundings, and Vader pays close attention to it.
The light side and the dark side clashing.
The Force itself is eager to see if this battle would result like last time or if would alter, for Vader is not the only one to unbalance this dimension. Time travel can transform the galaxy as a whole, causing one event that could change the future. The future is always in motion.
Whatever happens next would impact not only the entire galaxy but the duelist themselves.