Star Wars : Tanya the Evil

( 32 BBY )

True hunger was something Padme had never known before. She'd never been a glutton, and even missed a meal or two when focussed on her work, but this was different. Very different. This wasn't her choosing not to eat for an afternoon or a day at the worst to stay in shape, this was the seventh day in a row without food of any kind at all.

The Trade Federation blockade had stopped all shipments to or from Naboo a month ago when this whole nightmare had started. At the time, Queen Amidala's Councilor for Defence had warned her it would be only a week before food shortages would start, her world being an importer more than an exporter.

How many days had it been since then? Padme dimly realized that not even an entire month had passed, though it almost felt like a lifetime ago now.

When her militia and handmaids had managed to capture the Palace's upper levels along with Nute Gunray the Viceroy, Padme had hoped that would be the end of things. The Nemoidian was an absolute coward, and had conceded to all her demands, even desperately suggesting more concessions she could extract from the Trade Federation. For a few minutes, Padme had felt like everything was going perfectly to plan.

Then the Gungans had been defeated. Padme's heart ached for them, really it did, but she had known they wouldn't win. They were too primitive, and too few in number. However brave, they were a distraction, a lesser piece on the Dejarik board; sacrificed when needed. Padme hated it, but she'd known it to be true when she joined in an alliance with them, so wasn't too surprised or disappointed when they were routed in battle.

It was the defeat of Naboo Security Forces fighter fleet that had dashed her plans. Without a convincing naval defeat, the blockade of her world had continued, and the droid army still marched the streets of Theed. Nute Gunray would make any promise, but without any damage done to the Trade Federation's precious fleet, his words were worthless in the face of the Board of Directors hunger for profits.

The two Jedi, Padawan Kenobi and Master Jinn, had been the first ones to realize how bad their situation was. Within the hour, they had quickly destroyed all the remaining droids in the Palace, and sealed the entrances and exits.

Then the siege had begun. They had plenty of power thanks to Theed Palace being built directly over the Plasma refinery, and plenty of water in the tanks so they were able to drink and bathe as needed. The problem was the food. The kitchens and larders had been raided in Padme's absence from her homeworld. She didn't know for sure, but she guessed some of the palace servants had snuck back in once it became clear the blockade would last indefinitely, and grabbed everything they could. Or maybe some Nemoidian officer had sold it all to hungry citizens for easy money.

The only food in the palace had been some refreshments forgotten in the fridge in the diplomatic lounge. Even rationing them out, her and her few loyal remaining servants were now starving. A few bottles of cider, some snack bars, and packets of dried fruits and nuts were not enough to keep twenty or so handmaids and palace security fed for a fortnight.

Only the Jedi seemed to be fine. They'd eaten less than anyone else since their arrival, and had been the most active.

"The force sustains us." Master Jinn explained, though Padawan Kenobi wasn't so good at concealing his feelings that Padme missed the slight look of disagreement he had in his eyes

As the days had passed, Padme had found her energy dwindling to almost nothing. Looking at the mirror, she wasn't surprised to see her face had become gaunt. The pain of her hunger had long since gone away, as the bacteria inside began to sate themselves with her stomach lining to survive. Her thoughts slowed down, her mind becoming slightly dull as she occasionally struggled to think through the fog that choked every thought. Words and plans that would usually leap to her immediately seemed to stumble about pointlessly instead.

After two weeks, she even began to see her guards muttering to each other in the corners when they thought she wasn't around. She wasn't a lip reader, but she didn't need to be to see the word surrender spoken more than once.

Nute Gunray was as starved as anyone else, and obviously had the same thoughts. "Please, I'm a businessman. I can negotiate for you, and make sure you're all well fed and taken care of." There was a wheedling desperation to his tone. He was no great mind, but even he could tell that he'd been hung out to dry by the rest of the Federation.

His aid, Gilramos Libkath nodded along in breathless agreement. "There's no reason we can't all leave alive."

Captain Panaka scowled at them. "I can think of a few reasons why you shouldn't."

"Revenge will achieve nothing." Master Jinn admonished him.

"...Might raise morale." Panaka replied, but took his hand off the blaster strapped to his hip.

An hour later, he approached Padme with his lips set into a reluctant grimace. "Queen Amidala, this plan has failed. We do need to consider surrender. Those two aren't worth much, but they could at least be worth enough to guarantee us decent treatment."

Padme hesitated, feeling the temptation strongly. Surrender might even be worth it if it meant something to eat, before she resolved herself . "But if I surrender, then my people will truly be lost to these thugs."

"Better to live to fight another day, my lady."

"My people are better served by a Martyr than a hostage."

Panaka grimaced, obviously upset at the idea but not able to disagree.

Like he'd been summoned, and speaking as though he had been listening in on the entire prior conversation, Master Jinn appeared. "If I may, Your Highness, Captain Panaka speaks wisely. Though noble to die a martyr, what your people need most is for you to keep fighting for them. Obi-Wan and I have come up with a plan for you to escape."

Both he and his Padawan seemed to move effortlessly and soundlessly, fading into the background at times even though they were the most dangerous men here by far. It was unsettling at times how these Jedi just seemed to appear, like spirits or ghosts from old spacer's tales.

She considered his words for longer than she should have. "Why didn't you mention this sooner?"

"At the time, there was still a chance that the Trade Federation could be persuaded. Now, Obi-Wan and I can feel them readying for an attack. Our time is up, your Highness."

Padme pursed her lips. She'd never quite come to trust the Jedi, but they had been powerful allies. Now she learned they had been concealing an escape route from her, and felt a flash of suspicion. What was the real reason for not telling her sooner?

As if reading the very question from her mind, Qui-Gon leaned closer and murmured low enough that only she could hear it, "We have a vessel parked in the city, a bongo, but it can only carry three people out. You, myself, and Kenobi. Everyone else will have to stay here, and surrender."

Surrender to the mercy of the Trade Federation? Given the assassins they'd hired, the massacres they'd already perpetrated on the Gungans, and the blockade choking the life out of her citizens, Padme certainly didn't think they could be trusted with the lives of her few remaining guards and handmaidens.

The expression on Panaka's face showed he was thinking much the same thing.

"Captain, I won't ask you to-"

She was cut off by the sound of an explosion. The walls of the palace shook, and dust rained down from the ceiling. The guards who had been sitting all rose to their feet, taking up their blasters. Outside, the sound of thousands of battle droids marching in unison penetrated even the thick bricks of the castle walls.

The Federation was beginning its assault.

Nute Gunray seemed to freeze, before he suddenly started speaking. "You've waited too long! Please, bring me a holocom! This is the last chance you have to-"

Panaka shot him.

It didn't register for a moment. Padme heard the noise, smelled the burning amphibian flesh, and saw the body fall, but couldn't believe the captain of her security forces, a friend and associate, would murder someone in cold blood.

Panaka's expression was hatred personified. His lip curled slightly up to expose a hint of his teeth, and his brows drawn down in a dark glower.

The remaining Nemoidian, the Viceroy's toady, Gilramos was frozen on the spot. He trembled helplessly, as the Captain strode forward to press his blaster into one of his bulbous red eyes.

"No surrender! For Naboo!" Panaka snarled, and fired .

The rest of the guards and handmaidens looked at the smoldering, headless corpse propped up in its seat, and were too stunned to react for a moment until one voice took up the chant. "No surrender! For Naboo!"

"For our queen!" A woman's voice cried.

"Everyone, defend the doors!" Panaka yelled. He looked to the Queen, and Padme felt a chill run down her spine at the emptiness in his eyes. All hope gone, with only spite left to give him purpose. "Well? Go!" He waved his hand at her. "We'll hold out as long as we can."

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Don't forget to throw some power stones ;)

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