Author's Note: Last week I had a case of the computer strikes back. There I was innocently downloading Real Player and it started crashing again. Then it would load but you couldn't use it because it didn't allow you access to the files. Windows XP was reloaded on my computer a few nights ago so hopefully I'll be able to readopt my consistent updates on this. This is medium in length but, I promise the next chapter will be much longer.

Chapter 73 responses:

G-Anakin 13: Thank you!

Arsenal: In Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader, which takes place about a month after ROTS, the Executor - a Super Star Destroyer - is featured as Vader's command ship.
Actually, Obi-Wan and Yoda are the only Jedi left, however that doesn't mean there aren't any untrained Force sensitives out there waiting to be found.

Twisted Words: Same here. It's hilarious how some people have to compare everything they read to the real world.

The Lure of the Dark Side: Chronicle 1-The Turning of an Era

Episode V: Revenge of the Sith

Chapter 33: Annihilation and the Queen

Queen Beautiful and the Emperor's shuttle touched down in the courtyard outside the Theed Royal Palace six hours after leaving the capital alongside their T.I.E. escorts. Naboo's electoral monarch, Apailana, and her entire court were there to greet the emperor, empress and entourage upon arrival.

Small in stature and voice, the thirteen-year-old monarch had been ruling Naboo for the past year now since her predecessor, Jamilla, was impeached because of her infamous sex scandal involving the former Head of Naboo Security Forces, Gregar Typho and several underage servant boys. Formerly Theed's Princess, - mayor - Keisha Apailana, like Naboo's previous electoral monarchs, started in politics at an early age and worked her way up. It was almost a pity that after all that hard work and elevation to the top, because of Padme, she would simply descend down again.

"Emperor Palpatine, and Empress Naberrie Palpatine-Skywalker." Apailana stepped forward from her court and gave an individual bow to the both of them. "Welcome!"

"Thank you Keisha," the empress said with a nod.

The dark hair and eyed monarch looked somewhat startled at being called by her forename, and not her title or family name for that matter - unlike most monarchs, Apailana chose not to adopt a regnal name upon election - and in front of the royal court no less. But after a moment, when it became obvious the empress wasn't going to correct her mistake, she merely smiled and nodded as they made for the palace.

Theed's crowning glory was the same as it'd always been. Beautiful and magnificent. With its shiny marble floors and luxurious architectural wonder, it was, and always would be, the staple of Naboo's capital city. Upon entrance, they proceeded into the throne room where it was seen that an assembly of about a dozen chairs had been added in a circle around the throne itself for the Imperial Court's seating. As for its sovereign leaders, two others had been placed on either side of the throne.

Once everyone was settled down, Moff Senator Jovovich began to speak. "As I'm sure it is known by everyone present, as of yesterday, Naboo's electoral monarchy has been ended with the return of an heir to the Naberrie throne. A coronation of the heir in question - Padme Naberrie Palpatine-Skywalker - will be held later today under the domain of the Emperor, and the current monarch - Queen Apailana - will be required to officially step down from the throne. The Chommel Sector will now be represented in the Imperial Senate by myself, Charlotte Jovovich, following the empress' withdrawal from the Senate. I will represent this sector in conjunction of my duties as Regional Governor."

Longtime Governor of Theed, Sio Bibble looked a slight bit uncomfortable at the last announcement and shifted in his chair. "But why is the Naboo not being allowed to vote for their Senatorial successor?"

Padme spoke firmly from where she was sat on Apailana's right. "The Empress has chosen her successor. There are no other alternates."

The uncomfortableness of the court seemed to increase, and Theed's 15-year-old Princess, Xanthe Elle, voiced a critical question.

"If I might ask your highness, why didn't you bring your heritage to light sooner? For instance, when you were elected Queen. Or did you not know of it then?"

"Of course I knew," Padme replied, a bit sharper than intended. "Why wouldn't I? As to why nothing was said before now is obvious: for the safety of my life. The Naberries were tracked down and put to death wherever they attempted to hide. Besides me, there are no other survivors of that line. I hid my heritage to preserve the thousand year dynasty of my family. No one can blame me for doing that."

While everyone else nodded approvingly, Elle still looked skeptical. "But why come out now?"

A duplicitous smile lit the empress' face. "Because it turns out that the murderer of the Naberries has also been tracked down and killed. There is no longer any reason for me hide it..."

After much more discussion, that mainly featured the emperor speaking of his relationship with the deceased Princess Maratina and Padme's life growing up as a child away from the royal nonsense of being an heir - the meeting adjourned, and the last few preparations were then made for the Empress' coronation ceremony as Queen. It started two hours later with the pre-coronation parade in the Palace Plaza, a wide open avenue that led from the Palace itself, through Triumphal Arch and out into Theed city proper. An incapable of being counted number of citizens were allowed to look on and follow from the sidelines, but stormtroopers were in place to hold anyone who wanted to get closer back.

In short, the coronation went as follows:

After the Plaza parade, the emperor gave a speech that chronicled what he'd spoken about the day before on Coruscant - the New Order - and earlier with the court about the deceased royal family and his relations with them;

Queen Apailana was summoned forward and gave a farewell speech before giving up her crown;

The emperor crowned Padme Naberrie Palpatine-Skywalker the true Queen Monarch of the planet;

And she also gave a speech and named her forthcoming twin children, Luke and Leila (pronounced Lee-I-La) Skywalker, the royal Prince and Princess of Naboo.

An after party followed inside the Palace ballroom. During which, the now elderly Gungan leader, Rugor Nass, came up to congratulate the newly named Queen-again of her crowning. He was trailed by Jar Jar. His congrats, however, seemed only half hearted and he didn't seem his usual cheery, if yet freakish, self. Padme didn't have time to ponder the possible change in the Gungan's state of being and politely thanked them both before continuing on to another congratulating subject.

The party included the usual of food, beverage and dancing, but was mainly a bore, causing the empress to leave an hour into it. Though, she insisted that it continue without her as she was tired and wished to go home to retire. This, of course, was nothing more than an excuse to prepare for the night massacre of the Gungans. Nass and Binks had left not long after they'd spoken to her. But instead of following them back to their village, she and her fellows returned to the Amidala Lake Estate to change out of their formal clothing and into more customary Sith black. Only after that did they leave for the Gungan Village via one of Baynetta's landspeeders.

The Gungans no longer resided in their underwater settlements. After the peace treaty Padme sighed with Boss Nass thirteen years ago, they set up a community in the grassy plains just outside Theed; the exact location they'd once fought against the Trade Federation armies just previous of the treaty. The Gungans had remade the vast landscape unrecognizable to any who had seen it before, making it almost identical to their underwater villages. Complete with numerous water fountains in all shapes and sizes and air pocket shields at the ready around different parts of the city - though they were never activated because of Naboo's continuous peace - the crown Gungan City was simply another jewel added to Naboo. A jewel that would soon become the home to carnage when the empress was through with it.

The sky was dark, as of the present, only alight with the stars and moon at its distant arch. However, the closer traveled to the plains, the more illuminated the night became as the shining lights of the city bathed the surrounding area. From afar, one could see walkways and plazas; concourses, restaurants, and refreshment vendors; cantinas and a zoo. The city entrance was approximately a mile away from Theed's east-side city gates and and that is precisely where Baynetta's landspeeder touched down at arrival. Exiting with her fellows, they approached the pair of guards at the city's entrance, whom straighted to attention at the sight their Queen.

"Empress Skywalker!" the one to the left greeted. "What brings you here at this time of-"

A sudden lash from Baynetta's newly activated lightsaber silenced him and the other to the ground. Just inside the gates, more guards could be seen looking stunned at what just happened, but were quick to action. As they ran about the Sith with weapons raised, Baynetta let them surround the five of them before gesturing for the others to attack. Four other lightsabers activated - red, orange, blue, and green - and the ten or so guards encircling them were dead within a moment's time by the slice of a blade.

With the guards down, the Sith were able to enter the city gates without resistance. Nearby gungans in the streets were soon joining the city guards in the afterlife. Screams of terror were admitted, causing other residents to come out of their homes, restaurants, and other buildings to see what the commotion was about. Two of which happened to be Nass and Binks. They were among those running out of the nearby church.

At the sight of the famous two, Baynetta halted her butchery and motioned that the others do the same. Since their faces were obscured in hooded cloaks, obviously the Gungans didn't know who they were. But that was all about to change.

Nass and Binks, plus the twentysome accompanying him, gave one look at the dead warriors and civilians and turned their gaze as one in astounded horror at the five unknown figures.

"Whosa are yousa!" Boss Nass boomed. "And why are yousa here!"

Baynetta marched forward towards the Gungan ruler with the others following. She noticed that the closer they got, many of the Gungans around Nass backed away in fear, while others - Binks and Nass included - held their heads high and stood their ground. Some even made to form a small shield around the old Boss, but he motioned them aside, gesturing towards the surrounding civilans. The Gungan security took up posts around the citizens but Baynetta could careless. Upon reaching Nass, she threw back her hood. The others did the same and the crowd gasped in shock. Baynetta, meanwhile, smirked. "We're here for the celebration of course."

The Gungan ruler's eyes were bulging as he gazed upon their faces and sputtered, trying to understand the situation. "Whatsa is- How could yousa- I don't undie-"

With a plunge of her lightsaber into Nass' middle section, the Gungan knew no more and collapsed to the ground in death.

The crowd screamed of intense fear and disbelief while the Sith merely stood before them, smirking or cackling evilly. And than, all of a sudden, a small Gungan boy ran forward out of the crowd, snatching the staff of a nearby guard from its hand.

"Murderers!" he yelled. "Mesa show yousa what happens to filth such as thata!"

Amid villagers screaming for the boy to come back, some of the guards running to catch him, and the boy himself giving a war yell as he advanced on the Sith, staff held above his head; Baynetta merely stood as if waiting for his attack, but then stretched out her hand to lift the Gungan boy off his feet, withdrew and slammed him violently into one of the nearby buildings. He screamed as he was flung through the air and crashed, before the sudden impact of death silenced him.

The screaming of the Gungans reached an earsplitting volume. Several female Gungans made an attempt to run to the fallen boy's side, but Veradisia and Zenevieva where there to slice them down before they'd even run two meters.

At this point, the legion of stormtroopers that had been quietly standing by just north of the Gungan city swarmed within it in attack on foot and jet packs, and the Imperial fleet unit in orbit of Naboo commenced their orbital bombardment of the area.

Fulmination. Massive slaughter. Explosions. Bloodletting. For Baynetta it was the experience of a lifetime to see the fall of the Gungan race. With the screaming at its peak, she loudly conveyed a group of troopers to capture and hold Binks in waiting for later. She would deal with him separately and individually...

Three hours later, what had once been a pearl of beauty was now a sea of devastation. Everywhere one looked in the Gungan City all they saw was ruin: the rubble of destroyed buildings, bodies killed in every way possible.

At the beginning of the annihilation, Imperial forces had to put Theed and the surrounding cities under military lock down to keep curious and horrified civilians in their homes. Instant havoc and mayhem started when Naboo citizens saw the attack on the Gungan city either outside or through their windows at home. The planetary police attempted to calm the city inhabitants, but it was ultimately the Imperials that were successful in this. Many questions were asked and fear reigned high among the people, but everyone - including the police - was ordered to return to their homes and, in a sense, mind their own business. But the Naboo weren't completely left in the dark. They were told that another attack had been made against their new queen. And also that a statement on the matter would be released in the morning. Besides that, nothing else could be said.

The Gungans were no more. Their disgusting species wiped from existence and into extinction...with the exception of Jar Jar Binks that is. But he was being held outside what was left of the city under constant vigilance by a squad of troopers. At the liquidation's end, Baynetta ordered the freak to be allowed back into the city to gaze upon its destruction. And gaze he did, in agony and pain that wasn't just mental but physical as well - for the troops had tormented him during the massacre when he made numerous attmepts to escape their grasp. He watched as his culture - his family - was ruthlessly murdered for no reason. Fight as they might, the strength of the Empire was just too strong and they fell. Over and over until there was nothing and no one left except destruction and the cause of it.

Jar Jar was briskly led through the ruin to the Sith with blasters pointed at his shaking form from all directions. Within a few meters of their excellencies, the troopers threw the remaining Gungan before them and walked away. Disgust is what was etched across the faces of the five Sith as they gazed down upon their victim. As the freak slowly began to pull himself from the ground, Vader launched a sharp kick that sent him sprawling back onto it. This brought light cackles from each of them. But when he made to rise the next time no one stopped him, they simply smirked at the sight of his patheticness, tears running down his freakish face.

"So," Baynetta drawled, "do you have anything to say before we kill you, Binks?"

His response was a cry of severe emotional pain that he seemed to have been holding in for some time now. "Who could yousa!" he sobbed. "How Could Yousa!"

"You do know that the only reason the rest of your kind were killed tonight is because of my disdain for you," Baynetta informed. "Maybe if you'd been a good little Gungan instead of getting yourself mixed up in galactic affairs that don't concern you, just maybe, this wouldn't have happened. But than, who knows? I may have ordered their extinction anyway. Just for the heck of it."

"Yousa a murderer!" Jar Jar screamed at her and than turned to address the rest of them. "Yousa all murderers!" Sobbing uncontrollably, he collapsed to the ground, overcome with grief.

Again, Vader launched a sharp kick at the Gungan, but this time dragged him to his feet as well, by his collar. "At least show type of dignity before you die!" Vader said disgustedly.

Jar Jar looked at Vader, tears flowing so rapidly down his face that it looked like his eyes were the base of a water fountain. "Ani! Ani stop this," he sobbed. "Yousa a nice person. Please. Please come back from this wickedness life yousa leading."

"Shut up!" Vader roared, punching the freak hard with his mechanical prosthetic right hand; the Gungan collapsed to the ground. "How dare you tell me what to do with my life!" he bellowed. "And how dare you call me by that disgustingly sick name! You will address my as Lord Vader!"

The impact of Vader's punch caused Jar Jar's facial skin to tear slightly, and in turn, causing it to bleed. "Ani! Ani stop!" he yelled, clutched his hurt face.

"I SAID SHUT UP!"

With a powerful wave of the Force, Jar Jar was sent flying into the nearby, and only still-standing, statue of a royal female Gungan clutching her small baby. When Jar Jar hit it, however, the statue split in two, but the Gungan surprised them by flinging himself out of the way at the last minute to avoid the debris collapse atop him.

Amused by his impressive escape, the Sith made towards Bink's fallen form. He was still alive, but it was obvious that the powerful throw had done some major damage to his back. The Gungan could sit up to a certain extent, but would never able to stand or sit up right again. His back was broken. Nonetheless of his bad condition, he looked up at them. And though tears could still be seen falling from his eyes, he had now adopted a cool attitude towards them.

"Yousa dogs!" Jar Jar spat. "All of yousa! Dirty, filthy dogs! And as for yousa!" He turned his attention to the Emperor. "Yousa use mesa! Yousa use mesa to give yousa power! Emperor indeeda, Ha! Yousa nothing more than a power hungry tyrant! Yousa wait. Yousa just wait. Yousa gonna regret what yousa did. Yousa and your filthy Empire will be destroyed! And all yousa dogs will be defeated! And than yousa all will go a Sitha hell! Where yousa all-"

Either Sidious grew tired of Jar Jar's ramblings or he just grew tired of allowing the freak to live any longer, Baynetta never knew. All she knew was there was a flash of blue light one moment and the next there laid Jar Jar Binks, his body torn to pieces and dead.