"Nathrrya, a question if I may?" Qui-Gon asked as the two walked along the main hallway of the royal cruiser, the woman nodded her assent "Your last name, Palatine, you share it with that archaeology professor do you not?"
"I do, it's possible she's a distant relative of the Palatine Sith line. Lara is force blind and given what I've learned about the end of the Ruusan Wars, she and her family could be all that's left of the old Sith line." Nathrrya said "In either case, it's not comforting as it still makes me the last of the Palatine Sith line." She said with a frown.
"It concerns you greatly." Obi-Wan observed from behind the two masters.
"Yes, and I still don't know how I feel about being the last of my line." Nathrrya admitted "I had always expected to die in battle as befits a warrior... but now? Now... that's not really an option if I want to see the Therin-Palatine line continue."
The padawan looked concerned as he could clearly pick up on the sadness in her voice. "You need cheering up Nathrrya and when we get back to Coruscant I know just the place to take you; Dex's Diner." Obi-Wan said with a mischievous smile. If anyone could brighten your day it was Dexter Jettster.
Nathrrya looked over her shoulder "Did you just ask me out on a date Obi-Wan?" she asked with a seductive smirk.
Obi-Wan blushed with embarrassment. I walked right into that.
Qui-Gon facepalmed.
The Theed Palace Throne room had become Nute Gunray's new command centre now that the Trade Federation had occupied Naboo.
"The Queen is on her way to you. I regret she is of no further use to us. When she gets there, destroy her." The holo image of Darth Sidious ordered with no emotion whatsoever.
"Yes, my Lord." Nute replied, beside him Rune Hakoo looked uneasy.
"Viceroy, is the planet secure?" Sidious asked.
"Yes, my Lord, we have taken over the last pockets of primitive life forms. We are in complete control of the planet now." Nute confirmed.
"Good. I will see to it that in the Senate, things stay as they are." Sidious said as he looked at the third member of the meeting. "I see Darth Maul has joined you. He will deal with the Jedi."
"Understood, my Lord." The Viceroy said, the holo image of Darth Sidious nodded before fading from view.
Queen Amidala was talking with Qui-Gon and Captain Panaka while Obi-Wan and Jar Jar looked on. The padawan glanced to where Nathrrya was, leaning against the inner hull of the ship seemingly uninterested in the conversion taking place, her sole focus being on the data pad in her hands. Obi-Wan wasn't fooled, he knew she'd be listening.
"The moment we land, the Federation will arrest you and force you to sign the treaty." Panaka said his concern evident.
"I agree... I'm not sure what you hope to accomplish by this." Qui-Gon added.
"I'm going to take back what's ours." The queen replied, a determined glint in her eyes.
"There are only twelve of us, Your Highness...we have no army." Panaka reminded his stubborn monarch.
"I cannot fight a war for you, Your Highness, only protect you." Qui-Gon informed her.
Nathrrya looked up from her data pad and glared at the back of the Jedi Master somehow managing to keep her mouth shut. As fun as it would have been to goad the Jedi into an argument about not fighting when it truly mattered, she was busy trying to formulate at battle plan with what resources the Naboo had to win back their planet. Not an easy task but she'd done more with less. I think you'd be pleased, Quinn. She thought. Nathrrya had learned much from her lover over the years about strategy and planning, adding her own practical war time experience and she was a real danger to the Trade Federation. One they wouldn't see coming.
"Jar Jar Binks." The queen said getting the Gungan's attention.
"Mesa, Your Highness?" Jar Jar asked as he looked around, puzzled.
"Yes. I need your help. You said the Gungan's have an army correct?"
"Wesa do, Your Highness." Jar Jar nodded enthusiastically.
Nathrrya pushed herself off the inner hull of the ship, it was time to get involved. "Your Highness if you were able to gain the cooperation of the Gungan army it will make winning back your planet easier."
"That is my hope Nathrrya but I fear it will not be easy for there is much bad blood between our peoples." The Queen replied.
"The Gungan's will be slaughtered by the droid army." Panaka pointed out "They must number in the thousands."
"One would think so. The droid army seems almost unstoppable; however, the Federation's army is not as invincible as the Neimoidians would like everyone to believe." Nathrrya said with a devious smile. "The droids are mass produced and rely on sheer numbers to be effective but they lack any real autonomy, for the Neimoidians fear their droids turning on them."
"If they weren't autonomous they'd be no good as troops." Panaka protested.
"Oh, they have some autonomy, true but the Trade Federation relies on a droid control ship, if it's knocked out or the control signal from it lost, the droid army shuts down. It's a failsafe." Nathrrya grinned holding up the data pad. "It's all on the HoloNet if anyone cares to look. The part I haven't quite worked out yet is how to kill the control ship." The woman had a longing look in her eyes. "If I only had the Violet Rose, I'd have enough firepower to knock out the control ship."
"We have some star fighters." Queen Amidala said.
Nathrrya nodded "I saw them however their weapons likely lack the power to be a real threat to the control ship but they may be useful." At that moment R2 made a series of beeps and whistles which made the Sith look down curiously at the little droid. An idea came to mind, one she'd have to think about a little more, to develop it into a proper plan.
"You're forgetting about the blockade fleet, Nathrrya." Panaka pointed out as he folded his arms.
The woman shook her head. "No, I haven't. It won't be there. The Trade Federation doesn't need it now, they occupy the planet. There will be likely only one ship in orbit, the droid control ship."
"You seem to know much about battle Nathrrya." Qui-Gon said a worried tone in his voice.
Nathrrya smiled sadly. "Six years of almost constant galactic war will do that to you, Master Jinn. It's one of the few things from my time that I don't miss. The near constant fighting was draining on everything and everyone. And for what? A galaxy near total collapse."
No one in the room knew how to react to that.
"Where are Nathrrya, Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon?" Anakin asked as he and his mother were given a tour of the Jedi Temple by Yoda and Mace Windu. It was a way to pass the time but it also allowed the two senior Jedi to observe and assess the boy more.
"Gone to Naboo they have, confront the Trade Federation." Yoda said as he walked alongside the force strong boy. "Worried you should not be. Nathrrya concerned for your safety is."
"I thought the Jedi helped people." Anakin said as he looked up at the tall dark-skinned Jedi "So why did you try and arrest Nathrrya?"
"Ani..." Shmi warned.
Mace raised his hand easing the mother's fears "It's alright Miss Skywalker. He asks a good question. It's not an easy question to answer young Anakin. What do you know about the Sith?"
The boy shrugged. "Not much, Nathrrya hasn't talked about it. I know she uses the Dark Side of the Force and her eyes turn yellow when she does. She said she has done some bad things a long time ago. But Nathrrya seems friendly, not angry or hateful."
"Nathrrya was right; you show wisdom beyond your years." Master Windu said. "As to your question, Nathrrya is a Dark Side user, a fully trained Sith Lord. Something she freely admitted. It was a shock to discover that we had a Sith in our midst and we hadn't detected her." Mace paused "perhaps it was partly wounded pride that we had been so easily fooled but in retrospect it could have been handled better."
"Will you help her?" the boy asked both Jedi "She needs you." He turned to Master Yoda. "Can't you see that sir? She needs your help and she's my friend. That's why I want to be a Jedi, because they help people."
Mace and Yoda looked at each other communicating silently for a time.
"Nathrrya afraid of her past she is not." Yoda said at last. "Her passions give her power in the Dark Side, blind her they do not. In the Dark she was raised, sees the Light she can. Shy away from the Light Nathrrya does not. Such a Dark Side Master a valuable ally of the Jedi could be."
Nathrrya and Obi-Wan were sat across from each other in the royal cruiser's galley drinking caff, much like they had done on their flight from Naboo.
"You look like something's on your mind Obi-Wan." Nathrrya observed "You've been staring at that mug for at least five minutes." She said indicting the padawan's caff.
Obi-Wan looked up and half smiled "Yes, I've just been thinking about what you said to Master Yoda about the idea of having a family shot out from under you." The woman gestured for him to continue. "It's clear to me that family is something very important to you." he said carefully "You've all but adopted Anakin."
Nathrrya nodded slowly "Answer me this, is there anyone... special in your life?"
Obi-Wan looked down at his mug as he swirled the contents. "There is, her name is Siri Tachi. We realised that we loved each other but have since decided to focus on being the best Jedi we can be." he looked up. "But I still care about her a great deal."
"Then you know love hurts like nothing in the galaxy when it goes wrong, but it can ignite the very stars themselves when it's right." Nathrrya said softly. Her shoulders slouched and her eyes dropped to the table for a moment. A mixture of happiness and sadness twitched on the corner of her lips.
"I loved a man once, probably far more than was wise for me to do." There was a wistful expression on her features now. "I didn't care because I didn't have to be anything when I was with him. I could just...be." She looked up at him for a moment. "Do you want to hear the rest?"
Obi-Wan was intrigued now. But he couldn't help but sense the emotion she was giving. It could have been much stronger. All he could do was nod and she continued.
"His name was Malavai Quinn." She smiled when she said his name. Obi-Wan could see how her eyes brightened and her features took on the shape of a woman in love. She looked proud to get to say his name as she had and it sounded like she held it in high regard. "He was an Imperial Military officer assigned to my ship. I took great delight in flirting with him because he was so by the book that he had no idea how to take my advances." Her smile loosened into a chuckle as she remembered how he would be a perfectly articulate man when he was on the ball and, as soon as she threw something at him, he became a bumbling mess. It was mere entertainment at first, then it became something serious.
"He eventually cracked, and for me it was well worth the wait. We created many happy moments together in the time that we were one. There were numerous occasions where Vette and Jaesa found other things to do outside the ship because we were impossible to listen to." There were two connotations there and Obi-Wan caught them both, one of them making him blush just ever so slightly. But then her smile faded, her eyes didn't hold that lover's gleam. Obi-Wan remained silent and waited for her to continue.
"It didn't last. He betrayed me… tried to kill me. Before he sprang his trap, he revealed that he'd been a plant posted in my crew by my former master, Darth Baras. Baras had planned to have me killed from the very beginning. He manipulated Quinn into trying to finish me off because I threatened his plans and had survived two previous assassination attempts." Her eyes became distant, as she recalled the event. "When those war droids came into the room, and Quinn was standing there looking at me, I felt everything shatter. It was the most debilitating feeling I'd ever experienced. And it was calculated to hurt, to destabilize me just enough to weaken my abilities. But I made it through. I turned those droids to scrap."
Obi-Wan swallowed something that had built in his throat and he inhaled slowly, realizing he hadn't really taken a breath while she told the story. He had to ask, but he feared the answer. "Did you… did you kill your lover?"
The woman held his eyes for a second before shaking her head. "No. I couldn't bring myself to do it. I still loved Quinn very much."
Obi-Wan felt relieved.
"But I wanted to, trust me. Any self-preserving Sith would have killed him without any indication of thought. And I could have, too." She lifted her hand as if she was going to Force choke someone. She merely demonstrating how simple it could have been for her to end the man's life. He felt his heart beat faster but he noticeably relaxed when she slackened her arm and it thumped down on the table like dead weight.
"When he was on the ground, surrounded by his failed attempt to kill me, I saw something very different than what most Sith would have seen. An extremely broken man. We were probably in worse shape than the droids were. But the way he looked up at me after all he had done, to see the pain and suffering in his soul through those amazingly blue eyes… I was ruined. It turned out we had been each other's' undoing." She let out a very sad sigh.
"So… what happened?"
She shrugged seemingly indifferently. "We both went back to the ship and never said a word about what happened. That was the plan but it didn't last five seconds past the airlock as both Vette and Jaesa knew that something bad had happened." Nathrrya smiled slightly "No surprise as Jaesa was my apprentice and Vette was just good at reading people. I cried myself to sleep that night because I couldn't have the man I loved in bed next to me."
There was an intense silence between them as Obi-Wan took the story and the emotions, allowing them to roll around in his mind. "That's... that's why you said that love saved you from making a terrible mistake when we first met outside the temple."
Nathrrya nodded slowly "Yes as I'd have instantly regretted it if I had killed Quinn. Life on the Rose over the next year was stressful for everyone. Quinn and I were back to square one and the girls were watching him like a kath hound stalking its next meal. Then Quinn did something so unexpected, he proposed to me."
Her smile light up the room
"I said yes. We were to be married a few months later." Her smiled faded "That day never came as Darth Marr would eventually contact me, he'd found the fleeing Emperor. Not long after I woke up three and a half millennia later."
Obi-Wan was speechless, Nathrrya really had her chances of having a family pulled out from under her, first by her lover's betrayal and then after he'd proposed, before being frozen in carbonite. He wondered how she was still sane.
Nathrrya looked up and held Obi-Wan's eyes for a very long moment. They spent that time only looking at one another, both regarding the other in a completely different light than their first meeting. It was then the Padawan saw exactly what this woman built herself on, how she worked, what she believed. It was mind boggling and went against so much that he had learned in his time training to be a Jedi.
The Royal Cruiser headed towards Naboo. Only one Trade Federation ship could be seen in high orbit.
"The blockade's gone... Just as Nathrrya said it would be." Captain Panaka said in wonderment.
"You almost sound surprised Captain." Obi-Wan said slightly amused. "The Trade Federation occupies the planet... No need for it now."
"I have one battleship on my scope." Ric Olie informed them, tapping the screen for emphasise.
Obi-Wan frowned. "The droid control ship..."
"If they haven't already, it won't be long before they spot us." Panaka said, worry in his voice.
Obi-Wan nodded in agreement. "Then we haven't much time."
The Queen and Captain Panaka along with his men and the handmaidens were getting ready to leave the ship once it had landed. The elevator door slid open, and Nathrrya entered the hold. Padme saw the older woman and walked over to her.
"Any news about Anakin?" the younger woman asked as this was the first time she'd had the chance to inquire about the boy.
Nathrrya was silent for a moment. "It's undecided yet if he'll be admitted to the Jedi Temple or not. Due to his age, the Council weren't too keen on the idea." She explained. "However, I pointed out I was much older than Anakin when I passed my trials. Your returning home helped put the matter on hold for the time being."
Padme raised her eyebrows. "Passed your trials?"
The older woman grinned. "Yes, I told them I was thirty-five when I passed my trials to become a full Sith. They thought I was talking about the Jedi trials."
"So, you lied by omission to the whole Jedi Council and they never picked up on it?" Padme asked stunned at the thought.
Nathrrya's eyes sparkled with mischief. "I told the truth... from a certain point of view."
Despite herself Padme giggled at the thought of Nathrrya fooling the Jedi Council.
The Royal cruiser had landed in the Gungan swamp. Panaka's men were busy unloading the ship, as Obi-Wan approached Qui-Gon. He passed Nathrrya who sat on a supply crate, busy with her data pad while R2-D2 stood next to her.
"Jar Jar is on his way to the Gungan city, Master."
The Jedi master looked as if his mind were elsewhere. "Good." He said turning to face the padawan. The two Jedi stood silent for a moment. Behind them, Nathrrya glanced up from her data pad and shook her head in dismay before she returned to her work.
"Do you think the Queen's idea will work?" Obi-Wan asked at last.
"The Gungans will not easily be swayed, and we cannot use our power to help her." Qui-Gon replied.
Unnoticed, Nathrrya facepalmed at the Jedi Master's words as she put her data pad down and stood. "And you call yourself a Jedi? Pathetic." She said walking over to the two men.
"I'm sorry." Qui-Gon said as he turned to face the woman.
"You should be. You're got to be the worst excuse for a Jedi I've had the misfortune to work with." Nathrrya said as she folded her arms. "The two of you have been on how many missions together? You both should know by now things change quickly." She glared at Qui-Gon. "And in case you didn't get the memo, Master Jedi, this is a war, no matter what your precious Senate wants to think. It was a war the moment the first battle droid hit Naboo soil." She poked the man in the chest to make her point. "Now if you'll excuse me I have a battle to plan."
The two Jedi looked on in stunned silence as Nathrrya turned and walked back to where she'd been sitting. Picking up the data pad, they watched her show it to the astromech who beeped and whistled happily, even spinning his dome.
"That went well." Obi-Wan remarked humorously as he turned back to face his master.
Qui-Gon nodded looking thoughtful. "Obi-Wan I feel I must apologise for my behaviour in the Council Camber. Nathrrya was right, I had become too fixated on Anakin. I would be happy to have you as my padawan until you pass your trials."
Obi-Wan smiled "I'm glad you can admit your mistakes master. It hurt, I will not deny that but I also felt pleased that you thought I am ready to face my trials. Perhaps after we are done here and the matter of Anakin's future is settled, maybe then we can approach the Council about my trials for Knighthood."
Qui-Gon was humbled by his padawan's words. "You have been a good apprentice. You are much wiser than I am, Obi-Wan. I foresee you will become a great Jedi Knight." He said as he gave the young man's shoulder an affectionate squeeze.
Nathrrya looked up and this time smiled happily as she observed the two Jedi repair their friendship. Her eyes sparkled with mischief as an idea came to her. Yes, perhaps... she could at last bury her past and it would be an excellent trial for the young Jedi.
Jar Jar had returned from the Gungan underwater city with dire news. It was empty and worse, there seemed to have been a battle as many of the buildings had blaster damage. However, the Gungan knew a hiding place where his people would retreat to, if threatened. It was an old sacred temple complex deeper in the swamp.
As the group of humans followed the clumsy Gungan deeper into the swamp, Nathrrya's force senses began to tingle warning the Sith of impending danger. The woman frowned looking around when her eyes fell on Padme dressed as a handmaiden. Suddenly the Sith had a premonition of what the young monarch intended to do when she met the Gungan chief. Rationally Nathrrya understood perfectly why Padme would do such a thing. Emotionally it would be a very bad idea for Nathrrya to be present.
Slowly the Sith began to lag behind the rest of the group and eventually she disappeared into the swamp in another direction.
Both Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan eventually realised that Nathrrya was no longer with them. They were concerned about her sudden disappearance but the Force advised them to wait and they would learn why.
Jar Jar was leading the group of humans when he stopped to sniff the air. Behind him stood Queen Amidala, her three handmaidens, Padme, Eirtae and Rabe, Captain Panaka along with his twelve men, the two Jedi and R2-D2.
"Dissen it." Jar Jar said as he spread out his arms.
The Gungan made a strange chattering noise. Almost as soon as Jar Jar had, seven armed Gungans appeared, riding strange beasts. Nathrrya had to fight her natural battle reflex when ambushed, to grab her lightsabre off her belt.
"Heyo-dalee, Captain Tarpals." Jar Jar said waving to the lead Gungan.
"Binks! Noah gain!" Captain Tarpals complained not at all happy to see Jar Jar.
"We comen to see da boss."
The Gungan Captain rolled his eyes. "Ouch time, Binks... Ouch time for all-n youse."
The group of humans with Jar Jar with Queen Amidala and Padme in the lead were led through a clearing full of Gungan refugees. At the far end were of the ruins was a grand temple with massive carved heads where Boss Nass and several other Gungan Council members stood upon the top one, which was three-quarters submerged.
"Jar Jar, yousa payen dis time. Who's da uss-en others?" Boss Nass bellowed from atop the sunken head.
"I am Queen Amidala of the Naboo...I come before you in peace." The decoy queen said as she stepped forward
"Naboo biggen. Yousa bringen da Mackineeks... Dya busten uss-en omm. Yousa all bombad. Yousa all die'n, mesa tink." Boss Nass replied, not looking all that pleased.
Captain Panaka and his men looked around nervously as the Gungan guards lowered their weapons. The Jedi were relatively relaxed.
"We wish to form an alliance..." the decoy continued.
"Your Honour..." Padme said as she suddenly stepped forward.
"Whosa dis?" Boss Nass asked clearly confused as he scratched his head.
"I am Queen Amidala." Padme announced as she pointed Sabe. "This is my decoy... my protection... my loyal bodyguard."
Obi-Wan smirked as he looked down at the astromech for he too was aware of Anakin's fascination with Padme. "You recording this?" he whispered to which R2 beeped softly.
"...I am sorry for my deception, but under the circumstances it has become necessary to protect myself. Although we do not always agree, Your Honour, our two great societies have always lived in peace...until now. The Trade Federation has destroyed all that we have worked so hard to build. You are in hiding, my people are in camps. If we do not act quickly, all will be lost forever...I ask you to help us...no, I beg you to help us."
Padme dropped to her knees and bowed before the Gungan Chief. There was a gasp from Captain Panaka, his men, and Padme's Handmaidens "We are your humble servants...our fate is in your hands."
Slowly, Captain Panaka and his men bowed down before the Gungan Council. They were followed by the handmaidens and the two Jedi.
Breaking the tension, Boss Nass began to laugh. "Yousa no tinken yousa greater den da Gungans? Mesa like dis. Maybe wesa bein friends."
AN: Well the next few chapter could be awhile as it's the battle of Naboo and the showdown with Darth Maul... I'm crap at writing action scenes so I'm going to be taking my time got get it right particularly the fight with Maul.
