I don't own Star Wars or its characters, but Nadia Aomori and my other OCs I own only.
Enjoy!
Fire of the Rebellion
Chapter 7: Pabu
(Naboo)
Lisa gurgled as her small tiny hands tapped the sandy ground with Ryoo and Pooja next to her.
The nine months old infant wore a pale yellow dress. Her dark blonde hair was now becoming a bit longer.
Lisa noticed a grey sea shell near her and picked it up to put it on her mouth.
"No, Lisa."Pooja giggled as she carefully placed the sea shell away from younger cousin."That is not for eating."
Ryoo picked up a sea shell that appeared to be bright blue.
"Uncle Fairy said the Brikal shells were the of blue shells of the brikal, an arthropod native to the Outer Rim planet Dalna."Ryoo exclaimed."They were used religiously by the Path of the Open Hand to mark their faces with a pigment they made with the crushed shells, chalk, and a binding agent. The Path considered anything that shared the same blue hue as the shells to be a good omen."
Pooja's smile shrunk a bit as Ryoo picked up Lisa before the two of them began walking their way back to the hotel they were staying at.
"So do I, Pooja."Ryoo agreed with a nod.
Lisa looked at Ryoo and Pooja with warm brown eyes which showed a glimpse of curiosity.
The Naberrie Family were visiting Kaadara.
Located along a scenic coastline in the northern reaches of Naboo, Kaadara was one of the planet's most luxurious tourist destinations. The small city was well known for its outdoor cafés, beautiful beaches and leisurely way of life.
The city consisted of the Kaadara Starport and many other venues and amenities including a cantina, theater, hotel, medical center and bank.
The central area of Kaadara included a plaza with the city's hotel and four association halls. South of the plaza was the city's cantina, bank and medical center.
Kaadara also had a small industrial area, next to which was a parking garage which offered speeder repairs and a shuttle port which offered travel service to other cities of Naboo.
Ryoo and Pooja brought Lisa back to Pearl Piari Hotel, where Sola and Darred were waiting for them.
"Hello, darlings."Sola greeted as Ryoo gently placed Lisa to her arms."Did you three enjoy yourselves?"
"Yes, mummy."Ryoo answered with a nod.
"Lisa nearly placed a sea shell in her mouth."Pooja giggled.
Darred gently stroked Lisa's cheek.
"Guess that means she's hungry."Darred assumed.
"Luckily, I prepared another simmered golden pheasant."Sola joked.
Night had fallen on Naboo's capital city, Theed.
The once vibrant and peaceful city now seemed to be stripped of all its happiness.
The Imperial troops stationed in Theed patrolled the streets, ready to enforce the city-wide curfew in place.
Inside the Royal Palace, Queen Apailana sat with the six members of the Royal Advisory Council, two of her handmaidens at her side.
The door opened and one of the guards entered, a slight shake in his step.
Queen Apailana looked up at the guard.
"What is it?"Queen Apailana questioned.
The guard took a quick breath.
"Th-The Ambassadors have returned from Coruscant, Your Highness."the guard declared.
One of the Council Ministers looked from the guard to the Queen in confusion.
"I thought they weren't due back for another month."
The Council shared their confused expressions and looked to see Senator Jar Jar Binks enter.
Jar Jar's face was pale and his eyes were blown wide with fear.
Following the Senator of Naboo were three more guards guiding hover-stretchers.
The guards presented the hover-stretchers before the Council and they recoiled in horror.
In the stretchers were the remains of the Naboo delegation.
Queen Apailana sharply rose from her seat.
She looked up and saw the terrified look upon the Senator's face.
"What happened?"Queen Apailana demanded.
Jar Jar shook his head.
"Wesa were summoned."Jar Jar declared, his voice quivering."Admiral tarkin wanted an explanateon per."
"For what?"
Jar Jar collected himself enough to answer better.
"Da queens 'insubordination'."Jar Jar answered."Tarkin said da emperor was growen tired of our queen's completen disregard per da new system in placen."
Queen Apailana looked between the Councillors and back to Jar Jar.
"What did you say, Senator Binks?"Queen Apailana questioned.
Jar Jar tried his best to stay calm.
"Ambassador Vondel stepped forward."Jar Jar stated."Shesa told him 'we will stand by our queen, nosa matteren what'."
Queen Apailana looked at the stretchers, grimacing when she saw Vondel's dismembered body.
"What happened?"Queen Apailana asked.
Jar Jar began to shake once more.
"Tarkin said how hesa was disappointed."Jar Jar exclaimed."Den, da door behind us opened. Wesa felt cold, and...and..."
"What?"Another minister asked."Who did this?"
"Hesa did it!"Jar Jar panicked."Hesa cut themsa neb without mercy or hesitation!"
Jar Jar then collapsed onto the ground as what had happened flashed before his eyes.
The Council looked between each other, fear in their eyes knowing perfectly well who the Senator of Naboo was talking about.
"I hope this changes your mind about the direction you are taking us, Your Highness."
Queen Apailana looked to her right where Moff Quarsh Panaka, once a Captain with the Naboo Royal Guard, now served as the planet's governor.
He had been appointed to his position by the Empire, defying the planet's usual elections.
"Just what are you saying, Moff Panaka?"Queen Apailana questioned.
Moff Panaka looked Queen Apailana in the eye.
"Your Highness, this dangerous game you've been playing with the Empire has gone on long enough."Moff Panaka stated sternly.
Queen Apailana slammed her hand down on the table.
"I will not stand idly by and allow the Empire to trample the rights of our people!"Queen Apailana snapped."The Clone Wars may be over, but we are still fighting!"
Moff Panaka shook his head.
"The Emperor will not stand for this any longer."Moff Panaka reminded with a grim look."He will take action."
Queen Apailana stood tall with a stern look on her face.
"Then so shall I."Queen Apailana vowed.
One of the other councillors stood and crossed his arm over his chest.
"I stand by you, Your Highness."the councillor declared.
The others stood, declaring their loyalty while Moff Panaka remained seated where he was.
Queen Apailana nodded and turned her head to look at Captain Gregor Typho.
"Captain Typho."Queen Apailana spoke up.
Captain Typho stepped forward and bowed at Queen Apailana.
"Yes, Your Highness?"Captain Typho said.
"Cut off all communications with Coruscat."Queen Apailana ordered."Assemble the Royal Guard and any security forces throughout the city."
Captain Typho crossed his arm.
"Yes, Your Highness."Captain Typho responded.
Captain Typho departed immediately, the other Royal Guards following close behind.
Queen Apailana walked around from her desk.
"Councillors, if you would, please leave me."Queen Apailana ordered
The Councillors nodded at the Queen of Naboo and stood to leave the room.
Moff Panaka shared one last glare with Queen Apailana before he left the room as well.
Queen Apailana headed for the side of the throne room, looking out from the window to the city of Theed below, her mind heavy with thoughts on what she was doing.
Somewhere in the galaxy, the Arcturus was travelling through hyperspace.
Inside the Arcturus, Nadia sat next to Ferus while slurping on her energy nutrition drink.
Ferus frowned as he slowly turned his head to look at Nadia.
"Must you slurp loudly, Dia?"Ferus questioned.
Nadia removed her can from her mouth.
"Sorry, hun."Nadia apologised casually."But this purple drink with bubbles is too good to resist."
Ferus simply shook his head as Nadia proceeded finishing her energy drink while RG-G1 and T7-01 shared beeps with each other.
"Where are we going now, you ask?"Ferus assumed, glancing at the two droids."We are going to Pabu."
A confused look appeared on Nadia's face as she finished her beverage.
"Pabu?"Nadia repeated.
"It's a tropical planet and exactly where Rex said we'll find his comrades that are rogue clones like him."Ferus admitted.
"How come Rex didn't tell me before he left us?"Nadia questioned.
Ferus frowned. "You were asleep."
Nadia handed RG-G1 her empty can and he crushed it with his little hand.
"Thanks for the intel, General Extraordinaire."Nadia retorted casually.
At Pearl Piari Hotel, the Naberries were getting ready to go to bed.
Lisa wriggled as her cousins tried to get her into her pyjamas but rewarded their efforts with a stream of smiles.
Pooja started making funny faces at Lisa while Ryoo fastened the buttons of her pyjamas.
All of a sudden, Lisa started giggling.
Over and over again the peals of giggles came.
Then they all broke out laughing and could not stop.
From the living room, Sola and Darred smiled at seeing their daughters get along with Lisa.
Ever since Ferus and Nadia introduced Lisa, the two of them had been like real parents to their niece.
Ryoo and Pooja would come over to help their mother with Lisa's baths and take their cousin for walks in her pram.
As Ruwee said, Lisa's presence had been a blessing to the Naberrie Household.
Though deep down, it hurt Sola that Lisa would never know her real parents.
Her father, Anakin Skywalker, a famous Jedi Knight.
Her mother, Padmé Naberrie, a former Queen and Senator of Naboo.
"It won't be long until Lisa starts to say a whole sentence."Darred chuckled.
A small glimpse of worry appeared on Sola's face.
"Though I can't help but feel worried that she may also show sign of being Force-Sensitive."Sola admitted."I heard from Ferus and Nadia that the Empire is hunting down Force-Sensitive infants to prevent them from becoming Jedi."
Darred planted a kiss on Sola's forehead.
"We can always have Lisa being tutored in politics like your sister was."Darred suggested."Sabé could teach her in the matters of court etiquette and diplomacy while Senator Shessaun could teach our niece the importance of government and languages."
Sola nodded in approval.
"That sounds like a good idea."Sola agreed."Lisa is a Naberrie through blood. Many of family members before Padmé were involved in public service."
That sounded good.
Lisa getting upper-class gentility would keep her safe from the Empire.
Her niece was rather advanced for her age, having learned to speak and walk before the age of one, she did not show any signs of Force potential which relieved her relatives.
Being a Force-sensitive in Palpatine's Empire would be a heavy burden.
Though it seemed Sola and Darred had come to an agreement for Lisa's well-being.
Nadia didn't know what to expect to see when the Arcturus arrived to Pabu.
Pabu appeared to be a remote island and didn't seem the planet had been touched by the Empire's wrath yet.
Although it had limited resources, Pabu provided a friendly atmosphere for refugees that was free of the presence of the Galactic Empire.
The island experienced sea surges on occasion.
As such, a large wall was built around Upper Pabu to protect it.
However, after years, Pabu expanded into Lower Pabu as more inhabitants arrived.
Upper Pabu featured the Archium which stored rescued artefacts from around the galaxy.
It was led by its mayor, Shep Hazard and its inhabitants were mostly refugees from the Clone Wars.
It also housed the early warning system which was used to alert the residents of a sea surge.
Just outside the Archium was a large landing pad at the very top of the island.
Ferus and Nadia walked together in the island, admiring its sapphire sea and peaceful background while Mayor Shep Hazard showed them around.
Both RG-G1 and T7-01 beeped in delight as they followed the two Jedi Knights.
Mayor Hazard smiled at Ferus and Nadia.
"What do you both of the village?"Mayor Hazard questioned.
"It's amazing, Mayor Hazard."Ferus praised.
"Never in my life to expected to be on a planet that seemed to be freed from the dangers and wars in the galaxy."Nadia murmured in awe."It's quite a rarity."
"Thank you."Mayor Hazard replied."You two must be hungry from your long journey. You'll join us for dinner like the rest of our new guests."
Nadia raised an eyebrow.
"Huh?"Nadia said.
"More refugees?"Ferus assumed.
"Something like that, Mr Olin."Mayor Hazard answered.
As he, Nadia, RG-G1 and T7-01 followed Mayor Hazard, Ferus smiled when he caught of several simian moon-yos looking at them.
Mayor Hazard brought Ferus, Nadia, RG-G1 and T7-01 to the upper part of Pabu, where they came face to face with Hunter, Tech, Wrecker and Phee Genoa.
"Hunter?"Nadia said in surprise."Echo? Wrecker?"
"Commander Aomori."Hunter responded.
"Ah, I see the four of you know each other."Mayor Hazard remarked.
Tech looked at Mayor Hazard and Phee.
"This is Jedi Knight, Commander Nadia Aomori."Tech exclaimed."She was one of the Jedi that joined us on an infiltration mission to a Separatist Cyber Center during the Clone Wars."
Nadia held Ferus' arm to introduce him to Clone Force 99 and their allies.
"This is my boyfriend, General Ferus Olin. He's a Jedi Knight like I am."Nadia admitted before introducing RG-G1 and T7-01 as well."And these are our droids; RG-G1 and T7-01."
"Hello."Ferus said with a wave.
Both RG-G1 and T7-01 beeped in respond.
An amused smile appeared on Phee's face.
"Jedi Knights here on Pabu?"Phee chuckled and folded her arms."Never expected to see two of them on the same day."
Suddenly, a moon-yo went on Nadia's arm causing her to become a bit startled.
"Whoa!"Nadia gasped.
Then Lyana and Omega rushed forward to where the two Jedi Knights and their droids were.
"I am sorry about that."Lyana apologised.
"No problem."Nadia assured.
Nadia simply smirked as she used the Force to connect with the moon-yo causing it to go off her soldier and rushed to where Omega was.
"Commander Nadia Aomori and General Ferus Olin, this is my daughter, Lyana."Mayor Hazard replied.
"And the girl next to her is Omega."Wrecker added."She's one of us."
This caused both Ferus and Nadia to become surprised upon realising Omega was a female clone of Jango Fett.
Lyana and Omega smiled at the couple.
"Hello/Hi."Lyana and Omega greeted in unison.
"Nice to meet you both."Ferus answered.
Nadia simply smiled at the two girls before she glanced at Hunter.
"Where's Crosshair, Hunter?"Nadia asked."Is he here too?"
Hunter frowned at Nadia's question.
"That's a long story, Commander Aomori."Tech commented.
"Which you could save to tell after, brown eyes."Phee insisted."Shep's famous feast awaits us."
Soon, the two Jedi Knights were sitting down eating with the clones and their new allies while the sun was setting in the background.
As Nadia ate the sushi in her plate, the raven haired girl noticed Omega staring at her lightsabers.
"You're really a Jedi Knight?"Omega asked.
"That's right."Nadia replied with a nod.
"How is it that you and Ferus survived?"Omega questioned."I thought the Empire wiped out all the Jedi."
"Not all of us."Ferus stated with a small smile."Me and Dia are two of the most lucky ones that have escaped Order 66."
"Wow."Omega praised in awe.
Nadia simply frowned as she took a sip of her fruit juice beverage.
Omega glanced at Lyana.
"You have your own boat?"Omega asked.
"Uh-huh."Lyana said with a nod."You wanna take it out and watch the sunset?"
This caused Omega to become excited.
"Really?"Omega remarked.
"That sounds like a great idea, doesn't it?"Phee said.
Omega glanced at Hunter.
"Can I go?"Omega suggested.
Hunter smiled. "Have fun."
Omega and Lyana headed off to play as Wrecker groaned upon eating too much.
"What's with you?"Ferus questioned.
"I'm full!"Wrecker complained."I am never full!"
Tech took out his computer terminal.
"I will note the date and time to commemorate such a momentous occasion."Tech declared.
Mayor Hazard then presented his guests with a platter of fruits causing Wrecker to remark that he loved Pabu.
"Hope you saved room for dessert."Mayor Hazard declared.
"I love this place!"Wrecker laughed.
Nadia smirked as she glanced at Hunter.
"Nice to see you guys haven't changed."Nadia sneered.
Hunter smiled lightly at Nadia's respond.
"I am sorry that Crosshair decided to join the Empire."Nadia apologised.
"Thank you, Commander Aomori. Though I hope he realises soon that the Empire is not grand as it claims to be."Hunter admitted before changing the subject."So how have you two been doing since the purge?"
Nadia ate another piece of sushi as Ferus looked at Hunter.
"We've been holding up fine despite these dark times, Hunter."Ferus explained with a frown."The two of us actually on the run from the Emperor's Inquisitors. They're a group of Dark Side wielders tasked with hunting the remaining Jedi throughout the galaxy following the destruction of the Jedi Order."
"How many Jedi survived exactly?"Tech asked."It was reported that the attack of Order 66 wiped out 98% of the Jedi."
Nadia took a sip of her fruit beverage before placing it down.
"That's true."Nadia responded."The only Jedi we heard from were General Rahm Kota and my best friend, Ahsoka Tano."
"What about General Skywalker?"Wrecker questioned.
Both Ferus and Nadia suddenly felt uneasy at the mention of Anakin.
However, the two Jedi Knights gave sad expressions at their comrades.
"We haven't really heard anything from Anakin."Ferus lied.
"The last time location we heard he was when all the Jedi were called to be returned back to the Jedi Temple in Coruscant."Nadia complemented with a sad frown."I don't think he made it out though."
Hunter, Tech and Wrecker looked down at the responds of the two Jedi Knights.
"We're sorry to hear that."Hunter apologised.
Ferus smiled lightly at the clones as Nadia stood up from where she sat.
"Excuse me. I am going to get some fresh air."Nadia stated before looking at Mayor Hazard."Thank you for the feast, Mayor Hazard."
Mayor Hazard nodded. "You're welcome, Miss Aomori."
Nadia then left the dining area and began heading back down causing RG-G1 to follow after her.
Phee glanced at Ferus.
"Might as well check your gal if I were you."Phee insisted.
Ferus nodded before went to follow after Nadia with T7-01 in tow.
Nadia went to the lower part of the island and arrived at the wharf.
RG-G1 let out a beep causing a scowl to escape from Nadia's mouth.
"No, G-G. I am not okay."Nadia retorted, her voice mixed with sadness and anger."I am fed how badly things are going in the galaxy. No matter what we do, things are just going to get worse."
Nadia covered her face, struggling not to cry.
"Just wish things were different."Nadia complemented."Sometimes I wish I was still in Corellia with my loved ones and that wretched fire didn't burn things to ashes. Why couldn't things remain they were before?"
RG-G1 let out a sad beep.
Ferus went next to Nadia before embracing her.
"We can't change the past, Dia. But that doesn't mean we can't change the future. We are living in the present, so we still have a chance."Ferus murmured as he rested his forehead against Nadia's."Look, you are somebody. You must believe in yourself. I believe in you."
Nadia looked at Ferus in the eyes.
"Why, Ferus?"Nadia whispered.
"All everything that I understand, I understand only because I love, Nadia Aomori."Ferus admitted honestly."You are my today and all of my tomorrows. Which is I want to ask you before anything happens…"
Ferus goes down on one knee and took out a small gift box before he opened to reveal an engagement ring inside it.
"Will you marry me?"Ferus asked.
Tears of joy formed in Nadia's eyes as she chuckled weakly.
"Yes! Yes!"Nadia chuckled in happiness as she tackled Ferus in a hug."Yes!"
Ferus smiled as he puts the ring on Nadia's finger.
"I...love you, Ferus Olin."Nadia admitted.
"I love you, Nadia Aomori."Ferus stated.
The two Jedi Knights smiles at each other and shared a kiss while RG-G1 and T7-01 let out happy beeps.
Suddenly, the ground shakes which startled the couple and their two droids as the island's hazard warning system comes to life.
A tsunami was approaching.
Darth Vader let out a mechanical breath as he made his way to Padmé Amidala's mausoleum.
The final resting place of Padmé Amidala, former Queen and then Senator of the planet Naboo after her death.
Around the Dark Lord of the Sith, the city of Theed had fallen into chaos.
Queen Apaliana refused to reveal the whereabouts of the Jedi fugitives of Order 66 that she was harbouring on Naboo.
In return, Darth Vader, acting on this information, sent the 501st Legion to Naboo with orders to kill the Queen and bring the planet back in line.
The 501st uncovered her, but her prepared security guards were able to put up a substantial fight against the Clone Troopers.
With support from an auto turret grid, the small skirmish was prolonged and turned into a full-scale battle.
Shortly after the destruction of the autoturret grid's console and the death of many Naboo guards, Queen Apailana appeared, armed with a pistol.
However, the 501st proved too powerful for the Queen's protectors.
A clone trooper quickly shot the Queen of Naboo with his sniper rifle right outside the Royal Palace.
With Queen Apailana gone, Naboo was now officially under the Empire's rule.
Her councillors were arrested while Senator Jar Jar Binks and Moff Panaka were sparred.
However, it wouldn't be long until Naboo gets a new elected monarch that would be more accepting of the Empire's control.
Darth Vader felt a wave of grief wash over him as he arrived to the resting place of his beloved.
Padmé's corpse, in spite of Naboo custom requiring cremation of the deceased, was contained within a rectangular sarcophagus decorated with the stylised emblem of Naboo and a soft-colored stained-glass window showed the image of the deceased.
On either side of the sarcophagus, a stone pot filled with red flowers stood on a column.
Darth Vader touched the sarcophagus despite not being able to feel how it was due to his mechanical hands.
In his mind, the Sith Lord cursed Obi-Wan for slashing off his limps during their dual in Mustafar.
Even though Queen Apailana refused to give information on the Jedi's whereabouts, he knew Ferus and Nadia were still somewhere out there in the galaxy.
The two Jedi Knights could run.
But they couldn't hide from him and the Empire for too long.
See you all in the next chapter and have a wonderful day!