** Chapter Twenty-Five***
Towards the end of her pregnancy Padme returned to Naboo. She wanted to give birth on her home world of Naboo. While it was never discussed, it was assumed that Padme would raise her child on her home world. She wanted her child to be Nabooian in all ways possible. While never formally announced, many believed she would resign her position as senator as well.
The Life and Times of Amidala, the People's Queen, By: Softa Jiane, Oralist and Historian
Luke, Leia, Han, Chewie and Palak snuck out of the same back door that part of the group had previously entered through, Erickson and the X-Wing pilots stayed behind to watch over the party and defended against likely attacks on the Queen.
With a bit of persuasion from the Force, Luke was to obtain a transport vehicle meant to carry supplies in and out of the palace. With everything going on, the staff were so distracted, it was barley a challenge at all.
Once out of the Palace proper, the streets of Theeds were nearly barren and the drive to the House of Madden was easy enough. They soon reached the first security check point situated outside of the parking area with little difficult. Han gripped his blaster and Luke drew in the Force, sure she would need to add some additional persuading.
"Madam Ramy," The guard greeted Palak as the transport slowed down for the check point.
Palak nodded and said, "Ma'am."
The guard motioned to the occupants of the transport, "Odd vehicle you've chosen today.
"Just some friends visiting from off world that need a safe space to lie low during our transition of power. This transport was… convenient" Palak said evenly and then waited.
"Yeah, hell of a time to choose to take a holiday to Naboo." The guard agreed and then waved them along.
Once they were passed the guard's line of vision, the occupants of the transport looked at each other, confused at the ease in which they transgressed, but grateful there was not an additional barrier to pass.
They passed another check point with just as much ease and then entered the House of Madden. Leia noted it was different then when she visited just a few days ago. When she had first visited, the House had been busy, people buzzing every which way, but now it was quiet, just a few people about. Everyone was at the palace, waiting for their next orders.
"Come on, this way, mother has a command center set up in her office. She'll be there." Palak waved them towards Madam Madden's office.
When they arrived at the office, Nigella was sitting at the receptionist desk in an out reception area that lead into the office proper, though the space had its own door that could be locked.
"Nigella, is mother in there?" Palak asked.
Nigella looked at Palak and then towards the rest of the group.
"Really Palak, your isolationist friends may not know who the New Republic poster children are, but I do. I'm not letting the most notorious rebel scum into your mom's office." Nigella pulled a blaster out, pointing it towards the group.
Luke lifted a hand, "You will allow us entrance into Madam Madden's office."
Nigella laughed, "Jedi mind tricks, I've heard the lore, they're for the weak minded."
Han raised his blaster towards Nigella.
"I know, I look out numbered right now but give it a minute. I mean, you could shoot me, but this office is not as unprotected as it seems."
Leia has pulled out her blaster as well, Chewie had his cross bow out and Luke had turned on his lightsaber and was at the ready. In this position they almost looked like the they were posing for a holovid poster rather than an actually fight.
The door opened of the receptionist office opened to the main hallway and two dozen gray clad Madden employees were waiting in the hallway. The lobby of the office simply too small to hold them all let alone hold a shootout. They were stuck.
The door to Madam Madden's office opened and out poured a single, applause. "Bravo Palak, you lead the most wanted New Rebellion…" Rajal Madeen scrunched up her face in disgust, "whatever they are right to my office. And look, a bonus, Han Solo and Chewbacca weren't even no this planet yesterday." Madam Madden paused, and based on the twinkle in her eye, it was for effect. "I can only imagine you got your intel from some of my former employees, who was it Mira, Lin-Lin? From what I understand they've all scattered to the most undesirable planets this galaxy has to offer. Convinced that anywhere is better than working for me."
"My former employees and their misguided plot to help. Ha, they lead you right here. You thought I didn't know. You thought my former employees could plot behind my back and I would not find out. You idealist, so easy to fool."
Palak looked at Luke "I didn't mean to bring here, I thought… she told me… it was trap." Palak finally realizing the truth in the situation. Her face faded several shade paler in her distress.
Luke looked at Palak, his face long with disappointment. "I shouldn't have trusted you." Luke turned off his lightsaber.
The room went quiet, the expectation grew as Luke, Leia, Han and Chewie realized the fact they were out gunned and outnumbered. The New Republic still in space, working on finishing off the blockade, and who know how long it will take to get enough troops planet side. The Comm system still out, so no one has been able to get word off planet. There is no way they'd live long enough to see this planet reclaimed.
Han, who was a gambler realized that all of their card were down and they had no more hands left to play. It seemed ridicules to have made it this far to only end with someone nowhere near as compelling and powerful of the Emperor
Then in quick session, two things happen, the first is that the door slammed shut, leaving only Nigella and Madam Madden in the interior, and the second is that Luke raised his blaster and pointed to Palak, she fell to the floor hard with a thud. Her eyes rolled, it seemed impossible she was still alive.
"What did you do," Madam Madden growled as she dropped to the floor next to her daughter to take her pulse.
"What was necessary," Luke spat at Madam Madden.
"She's…. She's… Dead." Madam Madden proclaimed.
Han looked over Luke, confused, how could the innocent kid he picked up on Tatooine do that…
"What Han, like you never shot first," Luke countered the look, a sort of menace in his voice that Han had never heard before. A kind of menace Han had not heard since the day Vader trapped him in carbonite.
Leia was also confused, but for a few different reasons, why would Luke use a blaster when he could have cut her down quicker with his lightsaber and why Palak, he could have taken out Madam Madden. In the moment there were too many emotions to evaluate, and Leia could not even consider the worst possible outcome.
"Madam Madden, your out numbered, your trapped and I have already proven I am not afraid to do what is needed." Luke voice was harsh, nearly unrecognizable. Leia pushed hard to not worry, something was going on, but she cannot figure it out, surely this is not Luke, surely, she was missing something.
Someone was knocking on the door, but the they could not get in. Whatever Luke has done to the door it was holding tight.
Madam Madden stood up; her presence is imposing. "You killed my daughter to throw me off, but that was foolish, I didn't really like that one anyway, her head was always in the clouds. All of her dreams about being an Oralist."
Luke shrugged as if he'd expected such a cavalier response, "She'd have to go anyway, may as well start with her."
"If kill me, this still goes on, only I can call it off, well me and my daughters... daughter now. And you won't be able to get out of this room unless you have a plan to fight this off."
Then, Pow, a blaster went off, but Luke's lightsaber deflected it, his force enhanced reflexes able to hit the blast before it could find its target. He looked over, it was Nigella, she must have figured she could take Luke out and the door would, and they rest of the party would go quickly enough with the soldiers outside. She shot again, Luke deflected a second time and that time it bounced off and hit Madam Madden, she went down next to her daughter. The two-woman looked eerily similar, more like doppelgangers than a mother daughter due.
Han, Leia and Chewie look between Nigella, Luke and the fallen Madam Madden.
"How do you plan to get out of here now?" Nigella asked smoothly, somehow unphased by the bodies that have fallen. "There is no one to call off the attack."
Luke raised his hand, and the blaster flew out of Nigella's hand and into Luke's. "Chewie, grab her." Luke yelled. Through the chaos Chewie did as instructed, even as he is confused by the by Luke's previous actions.
Luke walked overt to Palak's body and placed a hand on her chest, a moment later she started to stir.
"What happened." Her voice rough, and she pulled away when she saw her mother's body on the floor.
"I'll explain later, but for now, I need you to call off the attack." Luke gave her a hand and helped her up.
Across the room, both Han and Leia are visibly relived, it was not a good feeling thinking Luke could kill a friend.
Palak went into the office proper and she started speaking into a comm unit, apparently, the Madden system continued to work through the attack, which would have been important advantage.
"How'd you know that would work," Asked Han.
Luke looks at Nigella who is still being held tightly by Chewie and then back at Han. Luke shakes his head, "I didn't actually, I just didn't want Palak to have to see what happened next. It's hard to see that happen to a parent, even when it's likely well deserved."
They opened the door to find that the Madden soldiers were gone, the instruction given to stop and when they tried the comm unit, it worked, Ericsson explained that the soldiers were already retreating.
"We need to get my sister; she's got enough power to keep this going. With her word, the attack is back on" Palak explained as she walked out of the office, she looks again at her mother body. "She's at home right now, mother wanted us both out of the way today. She did not think it safe to be out."
Leia nodded, "I'll send Erickson and some of his guys. We should stay here for a bit, I think there is likely more we will need to do."
Han's Comm unit bleeps, "General Solo, this is Commander Antilles, we cleared the blockade and we are headed down with 500 hundred ground troops. Please provide instruction."
"Wedge, it's great to hear your voice. I'll give you instructions…" Han began the briefing.
They get Nigella in more appropriate restraints and find a place to hold her while they sort out the mess of the start of Madam Madden's mess.
Leia looks out of Madam Madden's office as the New Republic shuttles land. They diverted The House of Madden, but only out of pure chance. But in so many ways, it does not matter, Rajal Madden is not the only person making a bid for power. Their will plenty more, some Imperial war lords, still flying the Emperors flag and just as many who want their own power untainted by governments past.