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Liliumconvallium – Thank you so much for your kind words again. And yes I'm glad as a reader you could clearly see the difference and that I stayed true to his concept by keeping him in character. That's what I'm really aiming for. As a reader I want you to sort of join him in his regards to various matters and understand him. As for Kleio I implore you to look up her name as well as Erato and Melpomene. All the names I use in this story mean something and there are hidden stories within this.

AViewerLikeMe – Haha the poor guy fell in lava and I'm sure his little light saber suffered or maybe it was saved and with genetic engineering he was able to get it back. And you're right. He's doing the same thing that was done to him. I believe this is true in all of us that we create cycles of behavior having had something done to us that was momentous to leave and impact and passing it down to others…even hatred works this way.

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Raiton

Chapter 7: Coup

Kleio stood still unable to tell if what she was witnessing was a dream. An illusion perhaps of someone she once knew dressed in a frilly peach gown with long red hair blowing in the gentle breeze of Naboo. Had her mind really conjured up such a spirit in her moment of anger? Her head became empty of thought and her essence lost the anger it once felt due to the harsh words of the dark Lord. She blinked several times watching the beautiful woman who she thought was lost to her slowly approach seemingly gliding as graceful as a swan. Her arms opened and within seconds Kleio found herself wrapped tightly in them. She could feel the physical flesh of the woman upon her skin but the knowledge refused to register in her mind. Kleio was terrified to address her with the experience of being told that all of her muse sisters she thought were gone from this plain of existence were in fact still here. Erato touch was warm as she remembered on days they lounged around in the garden drinking raspberry beverages.

The tall woman kissed her cheeks and her hair hugging her as if she had found a child she had been searching for. Water built in Kleio's sockets and her eyes stinging. Kleio slowly bent her arms and returned her hug. Her fingers felt the soft material of her dress and smelled the sweet scent of lilacs. Kleio arms tightened fiercely before her face buried itself into her shoulder and allowed her tears to fall slowly. Maestro flew about trying to compute possible actions to take to calm his master's distress.

"Erato!" Kleio whispered hugging sternly before pulling back. She held her by her tanned shoulders and moved her pale hands to touch the fiery red strands of curly hair belonging to her muse sister. Slowly her hands went to touch her beautifully sculpted face seeing indeed why Erato carried this name and gift. No other suited her. "B-But how?"

Erato grabbed her hands gently and kissed her knuckles. "It is but a miracle." She said but stopped apparently not up to revealing more as she gazed up at the little floating device. Kleio looked up as well to see Maestro and she quickly shook her head. "Maestro is my companion. He hasn't been tempered with I assure you." The little device floated down and scanned Erato with a red light as he did everything else and logged it into his data system. Kleio nodded and Maestro backed away flying around the house to continue scanning everything and everyone.

Erato looked back at her lost friend. "Soon we will speak of many things but what about you? After the death of Melpomene, I thought we were all done for. I saw him with my very eyes drag you by your hair out the room." She stated also showing tears of despair at the violent memory.

Kleio nodded very much remembering the day when she was so graciously taken to be a puppet of Palpatine. How he wished to take her from her muse sisters but she fought to stay with them choosing to undergo whatever torment they suffered. She desired to at least spend their final moments together since there was now no place for them in this new cruel world. Palpatine did not like this and decided to take her forcefully by grabbing her hair and using the force to throw her on the other side of the room. Even now she could feel the tiny sting on her scalp from his hands digging harshly.

Erato saw her tormented gaze and reached out to rub her own shoulders providing her a gentle gesture of affection. "Are you free? Are you implored by the Empire?"

Kleio shook her head and Erato moved them over to sit down on a bench near the balcony. "I'm afraid I am not free. I have only changed masters it seems." She whispered looking into the bright blue eyes of Kleio's.

Erato nodded looking grave. "Yes, I'm afraid we are all aware of your…doings." Erato then looked behind her to see a Storm Trooper approach. She stood up immediately and bowed to the man in greeting. Erato looked confused but then she realized Erato must be enslaved as she was. She was after all here in the base and she had learned that unless you were actually a champion for the dark side, no female lived in any base or home belonging to the Empire. That was of course unless you were a concubine. But by the looks of it, Erato must be a lesser slave if she was showing respect to a Storm Trooper. Not even concubines showed respect and were actually high on the hierarchy especially if she was with child. Questions came to mind regarding Erato's place from this train of thought.

What happened to her?

How did she get back here?

Last time they saw each other they were on Coruscant being dragged away from each other. Kleio did not move looking between the two ready to exercise the little power she had to keep her friend near should the Storm Trooper try anything. Erato began speaking a tongue she hadn't heard in quite a long time. The words fell on Kleio's ears and a shock came to her heart as she heard the dead language that was only taught to the muse sisters. Yet she was speaking it to the Storm Trooper.

"They speak Latin?" Kleio asked her heart about to burst.

Erato turned to look at her before offering her hand. "Come dear sister. We must speak in private. I have time and peace now." She spoke looking to the Storm Trooper with a gentle smile. Kleio looked at the guy who no doubt shared the face of a thousand others. Yet this one seemed different. She watched him stand there unlike going about his business as if gauging her for safety. The masked man nodded his head after a long stare down and strolled away. Kleio grabbed her sister's hand and was pulled up off the bench. Erato immediately began pulling her away towards the stairwell. They walked going down the steps from which she had come and through an opposite corridor. They walked by a giant meeting space with very little furniture clearly not created to host guests. Actually it looked like a more organic version of Vader's ship now that she really paid attention to the details around them. Everything was made out of steel and black colors. Somehow nature's greenery was able to thrive inside as vines crept slowly in from the balconies outside. She could just look around and tell the shell of a home hid something behind its walls or simply was Vader's private domain. It was too bland. Their dressed billowed at their feet as they briskly walked down a few more halls. Erato took them down another hallway until they came to servant quarters by the looks of them.

"You live here?" She asked as they came to stop in front of a silver steel door.

"Never." Erato grounded out before the door opened and they walked in. Upon entry into the room she found it to be as small as her original room on the death star before she was taken with Palpatine on his ship. Two black chairs and a small table sat near the steel wall. A separate room where a bed was sat attached. There was no window and no natural light coming in. Only the florescent bulbs above provided the artificial light.

Erato sat down in the chair before picking up a remote. She pressed a few buttons and on the wall was now a view of the forest outside along with sounds to go with it. Erato put the remote down and waved for Kleio to come forward and sit. "Yellow suits you today for we are both in luck." She said excitedly bending down to pick up a small electric kettle with water already inside.

"What is this place?"

Erato sneered. "My supposed cage." She spoke waving the thought away. "However as you can see it was modified or at least Joc tried to anyway. But this place only serves as my protection on days like this when Vader or Palpatine comes here. My real home is back in the temple." She whispered cutting on the button to allow it to heat.

"Joc?" Kleio asked confused. "And they speak Latin!"

Erato nodded. "Pardon, DV-37. And he speaks Latin. I taught him out of boredom. He is the head guardian here."

Kleio thought about this having remembered most Storm Troopers numbers as this told which fraction they were assigned and truly trained for. But DV did not ring any bells. "I'm sorry you must be mistaken. Maybe he has a different number because DV-37 does not exist."

Erato shook her head. "Well on occasion they will call themselves NB for Naboo stationaries but nope, they are indeed are DV. And that one you saw was DV-37 also known as Joc. I named him." She stated very pleased with herself.

Kleio shook her head. "Erato you really shouldn't…they're not animals."

"Exactly!" Erato snapped back shocking Kleio a bit at her outburst. Erato picked up her peach skirts and tossed it over her legs so she could cross them. "I know them better than anyone. Despite what you have been…manipulated to think, they are real beings with fears and desires. They deserve names and so I give them these things."

Kleio was confused as to where Erato's defensive nature was coming from. But even more so she thought of the term DV and the fact that there were 37 of them in existence. For what purpose? And why didn't she ever hear about them? Did Palpatine mistrust her and so she wasn't allowed to know things about her home planet? This made sense and so she simply nodded in agreement with her muse sister. "You are right. Forgive me."

Erato rubbed her arms nodding to her. Kleio then remembered the rest of her statement. "How did you escaped? And how did you make it back to our home?"

Erato leaned back searching for a place to start in her mind. Her bright red hair shined amongst the backdrop of the holographic vision of their surroundings. "When you were…taken. The order was given for us to be done away with or to be sold into slavery. Palpatine didn't care either way. Our Celestial Guardian was taken and beheaded right in front of us so that no other muses could be found. We were…separated one by one afterwards. Some of the others may have died but I had a different fate. I used my…talents." She stated mildly looking at her hands reminiscing those horrid times. "Just like you that look into the actions of others…I looked into their hearts and desires. I managed to seduce my way back home and at least have a way of sustaining myself by working as a servant here."

"Oh Erato." Kleio stated reaching out to touch her friend's hands. Erato clasped her fingers into her palms nodding. "Why did you not flee to the royal house?"

Erato looked at her and scoffed. "How about you go there and you tell me what happens. We will share the same fate if not yours will be worse."

Shame muddled her happiness. Kleio looked away taking her hands back, having feared as much. She longed to come back home but now that she was here she didn't know where she belonged anymore or if she was even welcomed. She thought if she explained herself and her trials she would be greeted back with warmth. But too much had been done at her aid regardless if she was a slave to Palpatine or not. She knew it had gone around about her involvement and many knew of her gift as well. The people probably saw her as a traitor. She supposed this was another way the Emperor would ensure her enslavement forever by turning her home against her so she could never go back even if she wanted. Her warm beautiful home was becoming colder and distant by the minute.

"It wasn't all bad. I have found some light in this dark pit." She stated with a smile. "For this, I am blessed."

Kleio looked upon her knowing she was hiding something. The very question as to how she was working here in Vader's post was a big one. As well as how was she able to leave on her own to go back to the temple. Erato was being too vague about her current state. Kleio peered into her friend's eyes while rubbing her skin gently to relax her. Erato looked back into her violet eyes and pulled away immediately. "Don't!" She spoke sternly taking a stand to put distance between them. "Do not violate me in such a way! I do not go looking into your darkest desires to exploit them. I ask that pay the same respect if we are still muse sisters."

Kleio sheepishly smiled embarrassed at being caught. "Sorry. I've been doing it a lot lately. Old habits die hard."

Erato sighed. "I know and understand. But promise me. Don't look until I am ready to show you."

Kleio nodded feeling depressed. Something awful must have happened if she wasn't willing to share. Muse sisters shared everything. Mostly because they were always around each other. It was better to reveal then for another to find out and pass word around. Then everyone would want to know and get involved. Kleio looked at her beautiful Grecian dress noting its immaculate state and pleated skirt. She was clean and free of blemish that slaves mostly endured. Her skin was flawless and had a tan to it indicating she spent time in the sun. Her nails were filed down and clean as well. Clearly she had been well kept and maintained. "You are doing well at least."

Erato looked down at her dress. "I am but I fear not for long. Much has happened muse sister. All is not well here. It is getting worst."

Kleio looked troubled. Erato expanded further on the subject. "The royal family has fallen. The young queen has died having committed suicide it is said. She was not strong enough to handle the pressures brought on by the Palpatine's Empire."

Kleio nodded aware of the situation. She had heard from the Palpatine's mouth how he wished to conquer Naboo for she was an excellent resourceful planet as well as strategically placed within the Rim. Palpatine made plans to get his desires. He bullied Naboo into siding with him flaunting how easily the Jedi was defeated and running for their lives. Naboo was strong but the jedi were her knights. Even the men that served her now were on watch every hour of the day unsure of the beast that would come to try and take the planet. Palpatine filled the planet with his men and now she learned that Vader had a base there which she was sure doomed her home planet from the start. He could easily get to the Capital and with his army take it. Naboo was surely standing on her last legs.

Erato at the view on the wall in deep thought. "What will come of this planet…I don't know. But wohtout a ruler she is vulnerable to the dark side and will fall rather we agree or not."

Kleio nodded in understanding. She began thinking of Vader and his goals. It now made sense of why he was so eager to oblige her request to come here. He was coming here anyway so he wasn't losing anything. They made a deal that she would help him and he would take her here. He got all that he wanted and her desires played into his plan all along. She had been outsmarted and thus she grew angry with herself. "That cheat!" She spoke closing her eyes and tilting her head up to look at the ceiling. "Palpatine is weak so he sent Vader out to keep the pressure on Naboo in his absence. But Vader was far too eager to oblige." She spoke out loud trying to gather her own thoughts as to explain his actions. "Vader came here without making one stop to see to other things or to destroy something else. He's here for something important."

She decided to seek her own revenge silently and get to the bottom of this. She closed her eyes and exhaled slowly to focus her mind. Erato watched eagerly knowing well what the woman was doing. She got up to quickly make some tea to give her time and space to focus. Erato went to a small book case where she kept her tea cups, sugar, and a small jar of honey. Excitement bubbled in her aura at finally being with a lost love and using their gifts as they were meant to be used.

Kleio opened her eyes and found herself standing in the grand hallway of the royal palace. Her halls were held up by beautiful long white and beige marble columns with engravings of floral and artistic designs. White and gold crown molding covered the ceilings with designs of golden cherubs and beautiful pastel scenes of men and women together relaxing or providing some silent lesson to be obtained in the art. A long velvet red carpet lined the giant hall with a large chandelier hanging from the ceiling setting the beautiful ornate hall in a warm glow.

She turned around as Vader walked forward with his men holding guns ready to fire at will. The families of the court were standing proudly yet terrified as to the reason behind the visit. The throne was empty seated right behind them in all of its golden glory. She listened to Vader's deep voice as he spoke. The machine pumping his lungs released pressure from behind his mask. The family looked stoic standing in the hall filled with women with no guarding men at the helm to neither guide nor protect them. The matriarch knew she had very little power as the Duchess now held the unwanted title as Queen of Naboo. Her daughter had passed of illness and her granddaughter had committed suicide not being able the bear the weight of her Empire as well as continue to stand strong against the dark side. The proud woman stood tall with her head held up high looking Vader in the eye as the women coward behind her.

The power sat in her hands again now but for how long until she too met her fate naturally or by other means? Vader knew this and it seemed he was securing his own selfish desires to have Naboo as his ace when he went after Palpatine. Kleio shook her head seeing this hearing his proposal as he offered his protection as long as she followed his orders. He made empty promises that they could continue their rich and lavish lifestyle as long as he had control. If not then they would be at the hands of Palpatine who would no doubt hop on the first ship here if he knew how bad things were. Palpatine did not know if there would be another to take the throne but if he knew there wouldn't be, Naboo was doomed to perish. Her beauty would crumble and she too would be a slave to the Empire. To give them such an ultimatum was despicable. Kleio had seen enough with a wave of her hand she slowly came to her body again. She opened her eyes to see Erato sitting in front of her pouting the hot tea into the porcelain cups.

"What did you see?" Erato asked handing her a cup.

Erato sighed feeling her limbs and legs again. She reached out taking the cup with gentle fingers. "Vader is here already claiming the throne as his own. I just saw him bullying the Duchess. She has no choice but to take the throne again because there is no one left to take it."

"But the other women? Her little great cousins that are always following her in the gardens?" Erato asked.

Kleio shook her head. "I'm afraid it's not so simple. These cousins are not related by blood to the Amidalas but I need to read more about the family to be sure. I believe hey are relatives of the Queen's late husband's family Naberrie and thus have no chance at the throne for only an Amidala is allowed to take it. If not, civil war will ensure which will bring chaos and of course make Palaptine or Vader seem like the evangelists coming to save them. Vader is giving the Duchess an option of allowing him to find someone to hand over the throne to."

"The poor family is truly in a state of turmoil. Unrest is bubbling under the surface among the people as they grow antsy to see who will take it. Even the people aren't aware that the family has no one in the ranks. Everyone is afraid of the Republic and my guess is that the Duchess will take Vader's offer because she feels she has nothing left."

Erato sat her cup down having lost her appetite and now filled with melancholy. "Without the Jedi all hope is gone." Erato stated dramatically. "Maybe it is best to stay in our places here. We will be well taken care of."

"Do not say that!" Kleio stated standing walking back and forth along the small space. "All hope is not! We are still here and we are home! We just need information and to look at who would be best to have it that could work for our goals to protect our home."

"But what can we do? We can't fight! We have no weapons and no followers. All the men and women that indulged themselves in the arts now look at me when I'm in the market with pity. Believing me to be useless. We have nothing. And who will trust us?" She exclaimed throwing her hands up.

Kleio paced the floor at this. "But we are great beings and not useless for clearly you and I are alive and employed by the Empire. This speaks volumes to our value. I can see ones past and present. You can see a man's most deepest desires even those he tries to hide. We can do something! We just need guidance. I need to visit the alcove." She demanded slamming her fist in her hand.

Erato shook her head. "It is forbidden."

"Wha? But you live-"

"Yes I live there but I have been forbidden to visit the alcove. It is heavily guarded by Palpatine's forces. He knows education is powerful especially in the hands of women and youth. He has stopped anyone from accessing our ancestor's library including his own guards." She stated with tears in her eyes. "All the great books of heroic stories, scientific knowledge, music, art…it's all trapped never to be looked upon by anyone except by him."

Kleio was furious. The alcove was the most prized jewel of Naboo. It held centuries of knowledge on every matter in the universe. Science, biographies, mathematical subjects, and even great philosophers were all there to be passed down from one generation of muses to the next. Each generation filled her shelves with truth and beauty of their time. "He can't! He won't get away with this. I promise on my life he won't!" She muttered forming a plan.

Palpatine wouldn't allow them to have access but she was sure Vader could. Maybe if she got his permission she could have access. But surely he wouldn't do it out of the kindness of his heart. Maybe if she flaunted knowledge at his fingertips he would accompany her and allow her permissions. But what there could she tempt him to get it? Maybe there is a history of someone or some tactic she could lure him with for revolutions. There were accounts of many coups in the archives of histories. Maybe she could interest him in simply taking a look to further "their" rebellion pursuits. Kleio thought about it. This could serve them both. Ultimately, she was getting the most from this. She could search for all records of the royal family to search for what rights the family had to avoid civil war as well as any information regarding Naboo's Amidala family line. She would also help Vader in finding information regarding coups while being mindful of his actions so she could always be ahead of him and spoil his little fun on occasion as payback for his cheeky pact. Two could play his game.

Erato moved beside her with excitement grabbing her hands. "You know something."

"I have a plan." Kleio stated with a smile nodding feeling quite pleased with herself.

"Speak no more. You have my allegiance and my help." She spoke hugging her tightly. "But let us lay this to bed for now. Perhaps you would like a stroll of Vader's post?"

"Yes, I believe I should get to know this space as I plan to be here for quite some time." She said as they walked out of the room leaving their piping hot tea behind them forgotten much like their troubles for the moment.

Review, Fav, Follow! Next Chapter we will see what Vader has to say about all of this. Or maybe...Anakin...