Chapter 4
Suffice to say, Dantooine was a breath of fresh air for all Dominions. Allowing Tatooine to be glassed by the Hutts wasn't something many shed tears for due to the agony that the world brought. The Tusken Raiders had made it crystal clear about the thoughts of infrastructures, so they'd often attacked the technicians, leading to fire fights.
Vader couldn't even blame them. Dantooine was one of the few planets in the Outer Rim which didn't have much problems. There were many other deadly creatures, but they weren't too hazardous. To refer to it as the Chandrila of the Outer Rim would be an understatement.
Sheye exited first with the medical team, leading the unconscious older Jedi away on stretchers on the nearest medical center.
What once stood for the Jedi Enclave in the days of old have now reforged into the palace of the Dominions. The head of the rulers security team, a young light-skinned human female, Tanrein Yarwoo, striped down to the tea, shouted.
"Empress Shmi Skywalker on deck!"
All within stood straighter, save for the guests. The other guards walked at her side, armored to the tea, weapons in their hands.
After going through the introductions between their persons and Padmé's Naboo staff, Padmé acting more childish than perhaps what was necessary, Shmi ensured.
"You'll find that you will be treated well here, your Majesty."
"Yes, madam," Padmé nodded tightly.
Mostly, Shmi had been focused on the boy standing at the taller man's shoulders.
"Anakin," Shmi greeted a little too cheerfully. "I take it you haven't understood the meaning of "no" in your studies."
"Mother," he blushed. "Why now?"
"You're more of a pain than when you were seven!" The woman laughed.
"Hey!" Anakin replied with mock hurt, slugging his shoulders over his mother's back, smiling, "gotta watch the old man's back."
"Old?" Vader asked, half-indignant, half-amused.
"Yes, old."
Kitster, meanwhile, was awe-struck by Eirtaé. Vader arched an eyebrow. An attraction not too dissimilar to Anakin's own to Padmé.
Kitster swallowed and approached the Handmaidens. "Hmmm, hi. My name is Kitster Banai."
He smiled at the blonde Handmaiden awkwardly.
"Good day, Empress Skywalker," both Jedi chorused, bowing slightly.
"I am Obi-Wan Kenobi, and this is Siri Tachi," Obi-Wan said.
"Greetings, Master Jedi," the Empress greeted, and Vader felt her slight distaste as she looked at Obi-Wan. He'd warned her countless times not to start a kriffing scene with the Jedi! Vader had many things to blame the Jedi for but this Obi-Wan was different. Despite that, Vader believed that telling her who left him to burn alive on Mustafar wasn't a good idea. Along with how Obi-Wan raised him in far from good standards in Shmi's eyes. But she was drilling him for answers so she could help his trip in the past, so he really had no choice.
"We have quarters prepared for all of you," Shmi stated, regaining her tight calm. "Owen, Kitster, would you take them to their accommodations?"
Owen nodded. "Of course."
Shmi looked at the Supreme Leader. "Vader, Anakin, take the Jedi to their quarters. We don't... want any quarrels to break out."
"I assure you that would be unnecessary," Siri hastily pointed out.
"I'm afraid you Jedi don't have the best track record out here," Shmi replied bluntly. "Whether you like it or not, he will be leading you to your quarters." She continued darkly. "Make no mistake, Jedi, if I find out that you're starting problems here, your ass is mine. Do I make myself clear?" She narrowed her eyes at both of them, namely Obi-Wan.
"We Jedi don't bring-" Obi-Wan tried.
"Do I make myself clear?" Her voice became more venomous, and the Jedi seemed to realize that arguing with her wouldn't be wise.
They stiffened, Siri responding, "Yes, your Majesty."
Shmi glared at them for one long moment before waving her arm, and the guards behind her jumped as if struck before following her. She had the heart of gold, but like Anakin, when someone she cared about was threatened or mistreated, that overprotective nature reared its ugly head.
That unfortunately included Vader.
"Come, lads, let's get some rest!" Ann barked, and everyone left behind the Empress.
Threepio walked past, the golden droid moving to the garage.
"I still think we ought to make copies of you," Anakin quipped to the droid.
"Master, I'm afraid that's not an option," Threepio shot down. "Any copies of me will be inferior."
"And I have a feeling we'll find their dismantled parts everywhere," he rolled his eyes.
Threepio said nothing else as he walked away.
The astromechs came down, led by a certain blue and white one, who did all the beeping.
"Don't worry, my little friend, you will be alright," Vader said, putting his hand on top of the droid's dome, fighting a grimace as he remembered with guilt distancing himself from Artoo on those final days before his turn to the Dark Side. "...Yes, I understand binary. What are your designations?"
They introduced themselves.
"Very well, R2-D2, R2-B1, R2-R9, R2-N3, R2-M5, and G8-R3, we have charger ports," he said, tapping a comlink and summoning several technicians. "Take these droids to the garage and give them a chance to charge." he smiled. "And an oil bath."
They celebrated. One droid's every weakness.
Vader wanted these droids. The Naboo most likely have other priorities at mind, and they could be especially useful for the Dominion. Besides, he missed his friend.
"Fix the ship up," Vader informed the hanger mechanics who instantly crowded the ship and started doing their orders.
He looked at one of them and fought a smirk. All of Sidious's other spies he'd ensured tragedy, but Vader decided to leave this one alive as he could feed him false information that way. He also informed the other technicians of that one and they watched him closely and re-observed all his work to check for no bugs.
"Come on, let's get you two to your quarters." He nodded to the two Jedi.
As he walked through his palace with both Obi-Wan and Siri, they of course began asking questions.
"You all built this over the Jedi Enclave?" Siri queried, unamused if anything else.
"It was abandoned," Vader shrugged. "Tatooine was no longer necessary... Dantooine's Administration didn't protest because we guaranteed protection, so they absolved into this, and we used our own funds."
This imposing fortress was constructed from state of the art design, blending seamlessly with the grass like the Jedi Enclave did. Its exterior was adorned with intricate carvings that pay homage to the Dominion's indigenous cultures, symbolizing unity and rebirth.
The palace was designed to accommodate the needs of the freed slaves, providing numerous quarters for them and their families. These living spaces were arranged in a series of interconnected towers and wings, each uniquely designed to offer both privacy and a sense of community. The interior walls were adorned with art and tapestries celebrating the history made so far and the resilience of its people.
At the heart of the palace, a grand assembly hall served as a gathering place for the built-in military, albeit it could be used for negotiations. Nearby, a well-stocked library and educational facilities offered opportunities for learning and personal growth, led by the Ugnaught, Kara, who was currently sitting surrounded by a bunch of children and teenagers. Further down, there was a shooting range, all of them firing their blasters at targets-most of them wearing helmets.
The palace also included a vast, lush oasis garden in its courtyard, serving as a peaceful retreat for meditation and relaxation. The palace also harbored water and plant life. Within the garden, a serene pond with koi fish and lush vegetation provided a tranquil escape from the harsh desert surroundings.
This helped because Dantooine was not nearly as harsh as Tatooine. Most of Dantooine's terrain consisted of grassy plains, hills, rivers, and great lakes. It maintained a mild and dry climate throughout most of its 378–local day year, except for the rainy season in spring, which brought torrential downpours that turned the fertile soil into mud and tinged the brown grass with a shade of lavender. Dantooine also had damp, dense forests with thorny undergrowth and an endless canopy, where sap farms were grown. The planet was rich in wildlife. The blba trees on the planet's plains supported large herbivores such as the piket. Native predators included the stalker lizard, the graul, and the kath hound, though the latter had become rare in the wild after many were captured as guard animals and pets. Fabool, a balloon-like creature, were sometimes punctured by blba tree thorns and eaten by carnivorous snails.
"Cliegg," Vader said, walking up and wrapping his arms around the man. He grinned. "Or is it Emperor Cliegg Lars now? Have you fully accepted that title already?"
"Ha, the palace ain't feel the same without you!" Cliegg shouted, clapping him on the back. "And nope, 'fraid not, I leave all of the politics to my dear wife."
"Something I should know about, minister?" Vader grinned. "Where is the little sunshine?"
As if on cue...
"Uncle Vader!" A youthful voice cried out, and Vader smiled as he bent down and collected the little girl in his arms.
Aika Skywalker-Lars.
It had been a surprise to everyone when Cliegg and Shmi had decided to marry publicly two years after Vader appointed the latter as the Empress, indirectly making Cliegg the Emperor.
Soon after, they conceived.
Now, the girl had been in their lives for a good ten years. He loved the girl since he met her, but she was closely tied with both of her parents.
In appearance, Aika bore a striking resemblance to Shmi, with her warm, expressive eyes and the same gentle smile that captured the heart of Vader and many others.
Aika was a compelling blend of her parents' best qualities, embodying Shmi's kindness, compassion, and spiritual wisdom, along with Cliegg's determination, resourcefulness, and technical prowess. Her presence served as a beacon of hope and inspiration around the palace.
Eye-catchingly, Aika hadn't been Force sensitive unlike her older brother, but she didn't care.
"How's my little princess?" Vader asked, striking her brown strand of hair.
"Dad allowed me to feed the krayt dragons again!" Aika exclaimed, jumping in front of him, before she noticed the Jedi and waved. "Hi!"
Even Obi-Wan and Siri didn't have the heart to be rude to a child. Oh, if one of them said something insulting, they would find themselves with bruised eyes suffice to say.
"Hello there," Obi-Wan said softly, and he could see him analyzing her through the Force, undoubtedly to see if she was corrupted. All that surrounded her was love and childish innocence.
Siri went down on her knees and smiled. "Hello, I'm Siri and this is Obi-Wan. We are friends of your uncle." Not exactly yet, but they each knew that would prevent the child from asking any innocence-shattering questions.
Vader smiled. Even in this stage of blind black and white faith, Siri would be an amazing mother if she and Obi-Wan got their heads out of their holes. That would require breaking them from the Jedi's indoctrination.
After all introductions were finished, Cliegg could clearly tell this encounter was going to be different. "Come on, Aika dear, let's go to the Arissi Plains. I think the tree you planted a few months ago has been developing more lately."
"Well, bye!" Aika shouted to the two, waving.
The two Jedi and his son followed him.
"You have certainly been busy," Siri commented, continuing to move behind him.
"It was not just I," Vader responded, noticing Obi-Wan had been watching the place with awe as well. "They were all slaves once. They worked hard. Me claiming total credit would be a disservice to them."
"Mhmm," Siri said skeptically. "I take it the administration on Dantooine wasn't forced-"
"Many planets wanted the Dominion to become their Capital to gain protection over their people when the system was truly established. Us building so far out here presented us with overwatching many events in the Outer Rim and building law enforcements to prevent slavery from becoming a problem."
"Hmph, are you holding those people and their former government as slaves as well?" Obi-Wan asked briskly.
Anakin glared at him but kept his voice calm. "My father is not a slaver. He doesn't approve of the concept. Can you say the same about you kriffing Jedi?"
Vader almost facepalmed himself. Right, unlike the Anakin under Obi-Wan, Vader's mentorship over the boy allowed him to build many qualities. Including confidence, self-reliance around people who he saw as an abusive, and willingness to call anyone out on bantha shit.
"We are projection of authority in the Republic, and where they are, the Republic doesn't have authority. We do not like it, but we don't actually have the ability to do anything about it. We're not vigilantes."
"Yeah, and here I thought the Jedi Order didn't answer to the Republic under your hypocritical statements you have made many times before. You can't get your heads out of your asses to adapt and do what's best for all of us. I get it that you can't save every slave, but there were so many out there who didn't even know that you existed." Anakin responded coldly. "And you have Exploration Corps. When it comes to my father who you think is a Dark Jedi, you want to arrest him." Siri opened her mouth to come to her fellow Jedi's defense when he glared at her this time. "Don't even think about denying it. Well, if you going to target my father and I, you have to get through the whole Dominion which we have built from scratch, and trust and believe there's lots of us."
Good thing was Anakin was calmed and controlled, but it certainly was getting a rise out of both Jedi. While if they attempted something reckless here would be a good propaganda tool, Vader didn't want the Dominions to think with their blasters because the kriffing Jedi chose to do something reckless.
"Anakin..."
"They want to arrest you because you explore the Dark Side, yet when it comes to everything else, it's all sunshine and rainbows. If you even draw a lightsaber on my father, there would be consequences." he swore, a chill passing through the room.
Force, Vader warned him about that. Alas, he knew that the boy was overprotective over his friends and family. A quality that he shared.
"We wouldn't start any problems," Obi-Wan replied tightly, obviously not viewing Anakin too favorably.
"You'd better not," he grumbled.
They made it to the quarters where Vader touched the com codes and motioned for them to move in. There had been a closet in the corner along with a refresher nearby. For normal quarters, the room was big.
The bed seemed to be well-made with sheets that would provide them with assurance.
It had been then Siri noticed.
"One bed?" Siri frowned. "Why?"
"You'll be sharing a bed," Vader said simply, putting his hands behind his back. He'd actually done this on purpose.
"What?! Why?!" Both shouted, and Vader put up a hand, commanding silence.
They have trained together before, even went on adventures in the Jedi Temple, yet actually sleeping with one another...
"Like with the Queen who requires the company of her Handmaidens who she views as sisters, you two also would need to balance one another out to prevent quarrels. My quarters are just next door and I want to guarantee you won't cause problems around here." Vader dismissed. "Unless you will prefer the outdoors if you feel like you're being treated unfairly."
He still had to make the point that this would be their palace, their rules.
Obi-Wan and Siri looked at one another before acknowledging they had no option.
Smart choice...
Siri moved over to the refresher while Obi-Wan moved over to the bed.
The door to the refresher closed and left Obi-Wan alone with Vader whose posture didn't change. The sound of water confirmed that Siri just started her shower.
"And Obi-Wan, if I may be bold to give you some advice: you shouldn't pretend that you don't care about her."
"Attachments are not the Jedi way," Obi-Wan argued as if that was the answer to all his problems.
"Well, you just aren't the model Jedi then," Vader responded simply.
"Hey, I don't have to take that from you!"
Vader sighed and gripped Obi-Wan's lightsaber, putting the hilt in the young Jedi's direction, who took it and put it aside.
"I'm not insulting you, Obi-Wan, it's a fact. Your feelings for her could come to cloud your judgment." Vader considered how close Obi-Wan came to falling both with Siri and Satine both. "Right now, you are both in a feeble position where your Masters are lacking. Where that void is, each other could satisfy."
The Jedi scowled.
"I have many years of experience in the Force and could feel pain and loss from you." Vader looked sad. "Cerasi is someone who you mourned and blamed yourself for years."
Obi-Wan was obviously shocked by the mention of his old friend. The red-hair girl was a pushy subject for him for a long time. If he had been thrown back far enough, perhaps he could have saved her.
Indeed, Obi-Wan's eyes clenched shut and his jaw tightened. "Get out!"
Vader remained composed. "Do you not want to address your feelings, Obi-Wan, or else risking them to consume you?"
"Get out now!" He snarled. "You have no damn right to look into my head!"
"You would protect her with your life," Vader replied gloomily, "these feelings are normal."
Obi-Wan snapped. "Out now!"
"These are my quarters," Vader sneered.
The two exchanged a battle of wills, before Vader decided to spare him from anything else and exited the quarters, closing the door.
"Really nice fella. Very mature." Anakin quipped sarcastically.
It was obvious he was short-fused with the Jedi. Unlike Vader when he was Anakin Skywalker, this Anakin didn't have the fascination and motivation to become a Jedi just to fulfill dreams of breaking slaves free. And that process was a long, painful one, requiring the losses of many people he'd called friends.
He smiled at him. "Anakin, you do realize I can read your mind, and no we are not going to entrap him into a cockpit of a fighter for three weeks with only oxygen, food, and drink."
He shrugged. "Well can't blame me for getting ideas." He said in a sing-song voice.
Vader smacked him on the back of his head. "Can't I?"
"Ouch!"
He smacked him on the back of the head again.
"You're going to give me head trauma if you keep doing that old man!" Anakin shouted but with a grin.
Vader arched an eyebrow, still smiling. "Do you really think I can't hear when you swear through the Force, young man? You can pull that off with your mother but not with me, mister."
"No fun," the boy faked-pouted.
Sio Bibble was watching the sky and didn't know what to think. The fleet was broken. Unfortunately, the giant ball one wasn't. The few ships that were spared from whatever happened got really, really lucky. Despite this, there were still numbers, and undoubtedly since this was a Federation's attack, those ships would be replaced by bigger numbers soon.
Now, Bibble was waiting for his "visitor".
The organics stormed in, looking similar to the ones who came earlier. The Queen's Royal Council were all cuffed.
"Nute Gunray," Sio Bibble said darkly, glaring at the Viceroy and his aid, Rune Haako. "The Queen is already gone."
The Neimoidian scowled. He refrained and kept his composure.
"In the hands of the Supreme Leader," he predicted. "Unfortunately, my client's patience runs thin."
A droid connected to a Holo-communicator activated, revealing a dark robed figure. Bibble wouldn't lie and attempt to state he didn't felt a shiver traveling through his spine at the sight of this man.
Gunray and Haako stepped aside, showing the Governor along with his particular allies. More people stood at their side, guards.
"Greetings, my friends, let's skip the pleasantries, shall we? I have questions." The man spoke, keeping unmoved and calm.
Bibble scowled. "Whatever you want from us, you won't get it. The Naboo would not allow this battle to stand."
"Is that so?"
At that moment, droids and organics moved with a bunch of children gathered up, trembling. Bibble couldn't believe it. They were only children and were handcuffed. Some of them even suffered blaster wounds that it was amazing they were still alive.
"These are the first of the poor captures," the man spoke without sympathy.
"They are only children!" Luha Shif shouted, attempting to move forward as expected. She was, after all, the education advisor of the Council. She'd taught many children and so naturally was overprotective of them.
"Age is just a number, I'm afraid," the hooded man licked his lips.
"You are sick," Bibble said coldly.
The figure seemed amused by his tone alone. "I consider myself a man of opportunity. Now be cooperative."
"I don't know," Bibble responded, attempting to be strong as possible despite the whimpering of the children. "They didn't leave on one of our ships. That's all I know!"
The man didn't respond for a moment. Sio Bibble couldn't helped but wonder what the Naboo may have done to offend this individual. Surely, being the one Gunray answered to, he had called for the invasion, but why? What was the purpose of all of this?
What could the man benefit for the enslavement of an innocent world?
"That is not enough," the man responded coldly, raising his hand and bringing forward a black-hair boy, his hands shooting to his throat. "Where are they?"
Bibble hesitated, looking down at the boy whose face was by now turning blue.
"Oh, must you delay his suffering?" The man asked, faking pity for the boy. "Can't you see he's struggling to breathe, that he is afraid of death? You could stop this. We don't have to do this."
His voice was full of cold pleasure.
Bibble looked up and checked his jaw. "Let the boy go! I know the Supreme Leader took them to their Capital! I don't know where it is! Let him go!"
"Oh, my friend, I'm afraid sacrifices have to be made," the monster smirked. A tornado surrounded the boy, tearing him into pieces right in front of them all, screams of agony following a slow and painful death as the boy was ripped apart.
In a lake of blood, the arms and legs fell before at last the brutalized head, his dead eyes staring into the soul of Sio Bibble.
The other children sobbed at the loss of their friends. The Nabooian adults looked on with horror, Bibble's eyes on the young lad who would never be nothing more than a sad innocent tragedy.
All of the organic enemies within smirked. The Viceroy did so likewise. The aid looked a bit disturbed.
"You sick, twisted-" Shif said, disgust in her voice. "To do that with a child!"
"Your emotions are delicious, my dear," the monster replied, licking his lips as he eyed the corpse. "I'm after all just returning the favor."
Three bodies were dragged in front of them-clearly dead enemies.
"Naboo is to blamed for complying with the Supreme Leader's wishes after all." the man stated as if pointing out the obvious, the grin remaining on his lips.
Oh, Bibble was sure he would never be able to shake that imaginary out of his mind.
"Viceroy," the monster summoned him forward, forcing the guards to force Bibble to take a few steps back. "Since Naboo is within our hands now, my friends, we can act without further interference from the Republic. It is time for the Naboo to be brought into reality. Summon your allies from within the Trade Federation and bring the Neimoidian military here as well. We mustn't lose Naboo, shall we?"
He slowly tilted his head up. "Chacar Staogb, if you will, forge concentration camps and make all of your captives into slaves. Break anyone who resists."
Bibble snapped his head to the monster. Not only would he so casually kill a child and laugh about it, but he would twist Naboo into something unimaginable.
He shouted, "But you can't do this! This is illegal! It stands against so many laws!"
The monster raised his hand, bringing the dead child's head in front of him, causing horror to shot through him. "Naboo will learn to obey. The laws will no longer be a concern" He turned to the Viceroy. "Make it done."
"Yes, my Lord," Gunray responded, unbothered. "What about the Queen?"
"Leave that to me," The monster declared.
"What about these children?" Haako asked, closed to terrify. "Some of them require medical-"
"No," the man replied. "They are to work under these harsh conditions. The Trade Federation must have a presence on Naboo if they are to be disowned by the Dominion. When they're under our control, we shall forge a new Naboo system."
Bibble growled. "You would never destroy us entirely!"
"Oh, you just remind me, Governor. One final thing." He cackled slightly as he looked at his allies. "Show the boy's body as a reminder to what would happen should they disobey."
The bastard threw the head right in front of them all. How could any of them sleep at night, knowing that blood was on their hands for this insurgence? Bibble doubted he would ever be able to do so again!
"As you wish."
"See you soon, Governor."
The Holo-communicator deactivated, but not before the man flashed a sadistic smirk at his direction. Bibble couldn't believe this. He thought Gunray was bad, but that monster... was worse. Twisting Naboo into something unrecognizable, making their people including the young into slaves, the casual death of a boy! How many would follow before it was their time?!
Hopefully, Queen Amidala doesn't take too long!