Chapter 10
"Anakin!"
The Queen's tender voice pierced softly through the quiet tendrils of the earliest moments of the Naboo dawn. Anakin roused roughly from his resting place on the ground with a loud groan, then sat abruptly up poised for danger. Upon surveying his quiet surroundings, he relaxed his senses to focus on the woman standing before him.
"It's early, Padme."
"I know," she whispered. "I couldn't sleep."
"I'm sorry."
Padme laughed as she gently tousled Anakin's hair.
"Don't worry, Ani, it happens a lot."
As his senses slowly came to him, Anakin noticed that the Queen had been long settled in a formal dress and held beside her two briefcases.
"You're ready to go already," he guessed intuitively.
"Let's leave now, before my family wakes. I don't want them fussing over me again this morning."
"You're not going to say goodbye," Anakin asked, his eyes staring seemingly more into the blank spaces of the morning air rather than the woman before him.
"I want to," Padme sighed, "but I know they'll start nagging over me and begging me to stay again. I'll be back though, very soon, once Panaka finds out who the assassin is. They'll be so overjoyed to hear of his capture. I'm sure they'll find the heart to forgive me."
"My lady, who wouldn't forgive you?"
"More people than you think, Anakin."
Anakin stared intently into the dark brown eyes of the Queen.
"I'll always forgive you Padme, no matter what you do." Realizing his words suddenly, Anakin blushed and looked down. "Not that you're ever going to do anything that requires forgiving."
"I may be an angel Ani, but I'm not perfect."
Anakin gazed at her for a moment with a puzzled expression before breaking out into a light chuckle. Padme quickly joined him in his laughter, and the two resumed their preparations for their trip feeling much better about their course of action.
Was there anything he hated more than waiting? Cnal-Ides mused that he was out of words for the first time of his poetic life. He had always been a man of action and constant activity. His knees constantly shook, his fingers constantly fidgeted, his eyes always darted, and his mind never rested.
It had been decades since he last stepped into the hallowed hallways of the Royal Palace. His eyes glazed over the fine art that adorned the waiting chamber, over the statues that he had sculpted and the paintings that he had painted. So long ago. Back when all he had and all he needed was his simple savvy for the arts and his naïve worship of beauty. But prolific as he was at such a young age, Broos could not help but let his focus wander from his own creative box to the world that he existed in. A world, Cnal-Ides soon saw, that was in the obvious stages of decay.
Others around him refused to acknowledge it; they saw nothing wrong with the picture, they told him. But Cnal examined the picture with the eyes of an artist, seeing the small details and the hidden layers beneath the glossy exterior.
He took up the pen soon after and began writing. If he could not expose the picture to the people as it was, he would illustrate it to them by converting it into art. Poems, essays, short stories, and novels soon followed. Readers were cultivated, and a following was born.
Looking around at the grand lobby, Cnal wondered if he was on the right side of the battle. He might never see the great palace again; no one would if the Neimoidians chose to destroy it. Seeds of doubt began to flourish under the dry recesses of his mind. It was his following that had led the charge to depose the corrupt King Veruna so long ago. It had deeply disappointed him that the same readers chose to ignore his subtle signs fifteen years later. Could it be that the people were right this time, and that he was wrong?
The Governor interrupted his thoughts.
"Is the document forged?"
"I had a little trouble," Repsaj teased, hoping to keep the artist in suspense. "The D2 droid wouldn't cooperate. In fact, it tried to activate security, so I had to permanently deactivate it. I found a D6 droid on the supply room though, and it was able to break into the computers."
"It is done, then."
"Now we wait."
The clear blue skies of Naboo showed no indication of the endless waves of droid battalions that emerged suddenly from the endless void of hyperspace. Touchdown by the invading forces occurred simultaneously in the provinces of Theed and nearby Ladru. The assault vehicles, fresh from the Genoisan factories and gleaming under the sun like a mechanized cavalry approached the planet's capital methodically under the umbrella of automated fighter ships that gunned down every single member of the Naboo Volunteer Fleet that had hastily gathered itself from the Palace hangars.
Theed fell within the hour. The advancing lines of the Trade Federation's army entered the city unhindered and without any serious resistance. Residents still in trauma from the previous invasion panicked at first, many of them trying to escape the planet. Such foolhardy plans proved to be very hazardous as their ships were all shot down by the blockading fleet encircling Naboo. Some of the more tough-minded citizens found a quick and efficient death as they charged the organized lines of the droid fighters, their flesh, blood, and pure will no match for the hardened durasteel and pinpoint accuracy of the invaders. The majority of the city's citizens, however, sheltered themselves inside their homes and despondently awaited their rescue by the Republic and the Jedi.
The city of Ladru, located in the middle of a mountainous valley, did not suffer such a lucky fate. Aerial formations of droid fighters bombarded the industrial city into the ground before the arrival of the army, who shot any bystanders on sight. Of particular interest to the Federation was a water supply house, which found itself raided by two squadrons of droid fighters. Notable casualties included the many of the Queen's handmaidens and several members of the Royal Guard that were looking into a recent lead they had uncovered on the assassination attempt.
Viceroy Nute Gunray and his assistant Rune Halko stepped onto the palace grounds, savoring their triumphant return to the site of their defeat five years ago. Showing no recognition of the Governor, they were greeted according to diplomatic protocol. Together, they made their way for the Holo-net cameras.
Panaka crouched on his knees in the corner behind a waste storage container along with the Queen's Chief Handmaiden and decoy. Restless, Sabe fiddled around with her blaster with fire in her eyes.
"I can't believe this. They have…the nerve to come back again. How could the Republic let this happen?"
"I don't think the Republic knows about this," Panaka replied while never taking his eyes off of the marching droids just outside of their alley. "I assume they have cut off communications on the planet. With no publicized blockade preceding this, I don't think the Republic will ever find out."
"I should have killed that slimy alien when I had the chance five years ago."
"Be careful," Panaka warned, clutching Sabe's shoulder with his hand. "You are the Queen decoy. You may easily be mistaken for her."
Sabe's eyes lit up. "That could work to our favor. They'll bring me before the Viceroy. I'll hide a vibro-blade in my sleeve and cut his neck."
"Or they'll shoot you on sight. I have a feeling that it's more than just a coincidence that this invasion happened right after the assassination attempt."
Seeing the line of droids move by, Panaka got up and motioned for Sabe to get ready.
"We have to find a way off this planet. Once we get to Coruscant, Chancellor Palpatine will be able to help us."
Walking alongside the factory wall, the two emerged onto a main street leading into the city. Or rather, what was left of it. The residential center of Ladru was completely destroyed by the firebombing of the Trade Federation, and the rotten stench of burnt flesh filled the air even in the industrial outskirts of the city, which remained relatively untouched.
"I've never seen such devastation in my life," Sabe whispered, her throat wanting to gag as a result of the noxious smell. "They're all dead, Eirtae, Sache, Rabe…"
Panaka pulled on her hand, signaling her to move.
"No time to think about that now. We have to get out of plain sight."
They ran off towards another industrial complex, one with an open yard in the middle where the a few droids had set up their temporary headquarters. Many of the same ships that had bombed the city hours ago were now lined up along the facility's mining pit, sparsely guarded as there was no one still alive that could pose a threat.
Panaka led Sabe through the building towards the courtyard. He stopped as they approached the droid hideaway.
"Go upstairs and cover me. I'm going to get one of those starfighters."
Sabe obeyed his order and ran up to the second level, where she positioned herself behind an open window overlooking the yard. A minute later she saw Panaka venture his way outside. She waited until one of the wandering droids spotted him. As it leveled its blaster, Sabe pulled out hers and shot the droid straight through the neck.
Now with his presence known, Panaka pulled out two blasters and shot in every direction. He took down two droids before they had a chance to react, then ducked and rolled along the ground as the enemy fire came, his finger never resting from the trigger. From her window, Sabe continued to mow down lines of droids. Not wanting to accidentally hit Panaka as he moved closer to the midst of the action, she concentrated her fire on the outlying droids that were trying to snipe down the Royal Guardsman.
Still on the ground, Panaka's legs shot up from under him, each foot kicking a droid squarely on the chest while he extended both his arms and shot two approaching droids simultaneously. As he landed on his feet, Panaka ducked again while a blast whizzed by above him, barely clipping the top of his head before making its way right onto the head of another incoming droid. As the enemy's numbers were now thinning, Panaka fell into a roll once again, moving swiftly behind a droid. With three quick bursts of the blaster, he hit first the weapon out of its hand, then fried the circuits of its artificial arms. He then crouched behind it, pushing it forward as it took the bulk of the shots meant for him.
"Sabe, get down here and find yourself a ship."
Unfortunately, with the grinding roar of the machinery behind her, the Handmaiden failed to hear Panaka's order. Sabe found herself in a trance as she continued to pick off droid after droid. In her focus, however, she did not see a droid spot her in her position and fire a shot up at her window.
The blast hit her squarely in the knee. The burning pain that seemed to engulf her entire body shocked her and Sabe saw her fingers slip on the blaster in her hand. The weapon fell out of the window, and in a desperate attempt to recover it, Sabe forgot the injury to her lower leg. Standing up, she reached out the window but her fingers found only the air. Her knee gave away and losing her balance, Sabe followed the blaster down onto the courtyard cement.
Panaka heard a scream behind him and looked just in time to see the Handmaiden fall headfirst onto the pavement and hear a sickening crunch indicating a broken neck. Cursing to himself, he hardened his resolve as he pushed the piece of dead metal further ahead, and under its cover he took down the remaining droids, including the one who found Sabe as its target.
With the coast clear for his escape, Panaka looked back at the contorted body of the Handmaiden whose role had been so pivotal in the skirmish. Knowing that he had no time for sentiments, Panaka quietly whispered a Nubian prayer and ran towards the line of starfighters.
"Mom! Dad! Get in here!"
Sola's voice barked sharply through the Naberrie household. Ruwee wandered in drowsily and was soon followed by Jobal still clutching a spatula in her hand. They saw their daughter staring at the Holo-net broadcast, protectively clutching their granddaughter in her arms.
"Any sign of your sister?"
"No."
"I can't believe she left without saying goodbye," Jobal grumbled, waving the spatula in the air for effect.
"I hope that boy can protect her," Sola replied while never taking her eyes of the transmission. "They're back. The droids are back."
Ruwee gasped as he saw the crumbled remains of Ladru and the occupied streets of Theed on the Holo. Jobal collapsed onto the couch in shock.
"My baby. She's out there."
Ruwee sat down and put his arm around his wife.
"Padme's a survivor, my darling. She'll find a way out of this. We're all in the same danger right now. Who knows? Padme will probably end up saving us."
"The Governor's coming on the air," Sola announced as the image on the Holo changed.
"I've got a bad feeling about this," Jobal cried as Duu Repsaj organized his notes and looked into the cameras with several layers of lines under his weary eyes.
"My fellow Nubians. It is with the utmost regret that I shoulder the burden of informing you of the ongoing invasion. The Trade Federation has once again encroached onto our sovereign planet. Ladru has fallen, and I am currently under Neimoidian supervision in the Theed Palace.
"Furthermore, I regret that we cannot expect any help from the Republic or Jedi this time, as this invasion and occupation is, I repeat, is without a doubt, legal."
The Governor sighed and his eyes portrayed the perfect picture of pain and betrayal.
"I will regret for the rest of my life the words I will impart to you now, but I must do my duty. The Viceroy has given me a treaty signed by the Queen herself. Apparently, Queen Amidala on behalf of Naboo has agreed to surrender and transfer its sovereignty over to the Trade Federation. Again, I repeat, the occupation of this planet is, unfortunately, perfectly legal.
"I cannot imagine what possessed our outstanding Queen, who has served us so bravely for five years, to commit such an action. The motive might be monetary though, as the Viceroy has indicated to me that in the agreement, the Queen stands to receive a portion of the Trade Federation proceeds in a private account in Coruscant.
"It is also now apparent that the recent assassination attempt was coordinated by central figures in the Royal Court to divert our attention from the impending invasion. My fellow Nubians, more battalions will be on its way, and there is nothing any one of us can do about that. I implore each and every one of you to proceed with extreme caution. Do not attempt resist the Trade Federation representatives in any way. Stay in your homes, and you will be safe.
"The Queen herself is supposedly in hiding in her hometown from her assassins. If anyone spots her, it is crucial that she is brought to Theed so that she can work with the government and the Trade Federation and mitigate the damage. However, in her absence, I will do my best to negotiate with the Viceroy and hopefully come to a peaceful resolution that will be beneficial to our planet.
"My fellow Nubians, the night of occupation is upon us once more. It is important that in our darkest hour we stick together as a planet. Protect each other, and protect your lives. I wish you the best of luck."
The speech ended, and the footage cut away to more shots droids forces landing in different provinces of the Planet.
The Naberrie household remained in a silent state of shock.
"I do not believe this for a second," Sola muttered. "Padme will never betray us."
"We have to warn her," Ruwee said as he clutched his wife's hand. "Where's the comlink?"
Anakin struggled with the Queen's luggage as he watched Padme prance happily towards the resort building wedged beautifully between the pristine blue waters of the lake and the majestic green mountains that surrounded it. He had never seen such scenery before in his life.
"It's amazing, this place."
"I know," Padme proclaimed joyfully. "I used to come here when I was a child and do nothing but swim and hike all day."
"I could stay here forever." Anakin walked through the doorway and set down Padme's belongings.
"There's something special about this place. I had a dream once, that I was getting married on that balcony over there."
"Really? Who was the lucky groom?"
"I don't remember."
"Was it that gentleman you danced with in the ball?"
"Prince Medne?" Padme let out a snort of disgust. "I can't stand him. That slimy man has been after me for years now."
Anakin breathed inwardly a sigh of relief. His reaction, however, did not go unnoticed by Padme.
"Why Ani," Padme asked playfully. "Are you jealous?"
"Oh, no. No." Anakin prayed that he wasn't blushing. "Jedi aren't allowed to be jealous. The shadow of greed, jealousy is."
He cracked his voice sharply for the last sentence in an imitation of the Master Yoda. Padme laughed, and Anakin amazed at the width of her smile and her perfect ivory teeth.
"You sound like a frog."
"What's a frog?"
"It's this little jumping animal that lives by the lakes."
Padme grabbed and tugged on Anakin's hand.
"Come on, I'll show you around."
Neither one of them heard the comlink ringing from the speeder.