Skywalker's rule the galaxy

VI

Varykino, Naboo

Padmé's heart raced as Kile carried her through the narrow corridors of Varykino, the once tranquil lake house now a scene of chaotic urgency. Blaster fire echoed from the outside, mixing with the distant hum of an approaching starfighter. She glanced back at her family, her sister Sola and her children being hustled by Royal Guards, their faces pale with fear. But her thoughts were with her twins, Luke and Leia, now in the hands of two guards who had already sprinted ahead.

"Kile, put me down!" Padmé demanded, trying to regain control of the situation.

"Apologies, Your Majesty, but there's no time!" Kile's voice was strained, his grip on her firm. "We need to get you to safety."

Padmé's mind raced, her connection with Anakin still lingering, the abrupt end of their conversation gnawing at her. Who was in that starfighter? Why attack here, of all places? She couldn't shake the feeling that this was personal, a strike aimed directly at the heart of the emperor—her family.

As they burst out into the open air, Padmé squinted against the bright Naboo sun. The serene landscape of her childhood was now marred by the sight of Imperial Royal Guards and Stormtroopers setting up a defensive perimeter, their blasters aimed skyward. The sound of the approaching fighter grew louder, more ominous.

"This way!" shouted a Stormtrooper, waving them toward a speeder hidden behind a corpse of trees. "We have to move, now!"

Padmé finally wrestled free from Kile's grasp and rushed to her children, who were being secured into the speeder. She could feel her heart pounding in her chest as she climbed in beside them, her arms instinctively wrapping around their small, trembling bodies.

"We're going to be alright," she whispered to Luke and Leia, her voice as much to reassure herself as them. "We're going to be alright."

Imperial Star Destroyer Resolute

Anakin paced the length of his quarters aboard the Resolute, his mind a tempest of emotions. The Dark Side simmered beneath his surface, a storm he struggled to keep at bay. Every fiber of his being screamed to be with his family, to protect them. The helplessness gnawed at him, the uncertainty driving him to the brink.

He had been through countless battles, had faced the worst the galaxy had to offer, but nothing could compare to this—knowing that his wife and children were in danger and being powerless to help them. The minutes ticked by like hours, each one a dagger in his heart.

"Admiral Yularen!" Anakin barked into the comm as he re-entered the bridge. "Any updates?"

The Admiral turned to face him, his expression grim. "No further communication from Naboo, Your Majesty. We're doing everything we can to reach them as quickly as possible."

Anakin clenched his fists, the anger rising again, threatening to consume him. "It's not fast enough."

The Resolute shuddered slightly as it hurtled through hyperspace, the engines straining to push the ship to its limits. Anakin knew the crew was doing everything in their power, but it wasn't enough. He needed to be there now.

"Set all systems to maximum efficiency," Anakin ordered, his voice cold and sharp. "Divert power from non-essential systems if necessary. I want us there in five hours, not six."

The bridge crew jumped to action, pushing the ship harder, the urgency of the emperor's command clear.

Varykino, Naboo

The speeder raced across the fields, the wind whipping through Padmé's hair as she held her children close. Behind them, the Royal Guards and Stormtroopers provided cover fire, their blasters lighting up the sky as the fighter descended. The speeder weaved through the trees, Kile at the controls, his face set in grim determination.

"We're almost there," Kile shouted over the roar of the engines. "We just need to get to the secondary bunker. It's shielded and should hold long enough for reinforcements to arrive."

Padmé nodded, her eyes fixed on the distant hills, where the bunker lay hidden. But as they sped forward, the sound of the fighter grew louder, the roar of its engines closing in.

Without warning, a barrage of laser fire rained down from above, the speeder swerving violently as Kile tried to evade the shots. The ground exploded around them, dirt and debris flying into the air. Padmé shielded the twins with her body, her heart pounding in her ears.

"Hang on!" Kile shouted, the speeder lurching to the side as he narrowly avoided another blast. "We're almost there!"

But as they rounded the last bend, the fighter swooped in low, its lasers lighting up the sky. The speeder jolted violently as it took a direct hit, the impact throwing Padmé and the children to the ground.

Dazed, Padmé scrambled to her feet, her vision blurry. The fighter hovered above them, its dark silhouette casting a menacing shadow. The twins cried out, and she rushed to them, her hands trembling as she pulled them close.

"We have to move!" Kile's voice cut through the chaos, and she looked up to see him limping toward her, blood streaming from a wound on his forehead.

Padmé nodded, her mind focused on one thing—getting her children to safety. She scooped up Luke in one arm, while Kile took Leia. Together, they stumbled toward the bunker, the ground shaking beneath them as the fighter fired another volley.

Just as they reached the entrance, the sky was filled with the roar of engines—TIE Fighters from the Exactor, soaring in to engage the attacker. The enemy fighter peeled off, its attention diverted, giving them the precious seconds they needed.

Kile punched in the access code, and the bunker doors slid open with a hiss. They rushed inside, the heavy doors closing behind them, sealing them in darkness.

Padmé sank to the floor, pulling her children close, her breath coming in ragged gasps. They were safe—for now. But the reality of their situation weighed heavily on her. Anakin, where are you?

Imperial Star Destroyer Resolute

The minutes crawled by as the Resolute hurtled through hyperspace, the tension on the bridge palpable. Anakin stood at the viewport, his eyes fixed on the swirling blue of hyperspace, his thoughts with his family.

Then, finally, the comm crackled to life. "Your Majesty, we have received word from Naboo," Admiral Yularen said, his voice cautious.

Anakin turned sharply, his heart pounding. "Report."

"Her Majesty and the twins have taken refuge in a secure bunker near Varykino. The enemy fighter has been engaged by our forces, and the situation is under control for now. However, we've yet to identify the pilot or their motive."

Anakin exhaled, the tension in his chest easing slightly. They were safe. But whoever had orchestrated this attack had made a grave mistake—one that would not go unpunished.

"Admiral, prepare a detachment of the 501st to deploy upon arrival," Anakin ordered, his voice cold and determined. "I want that pilot captured—alive."

"Yes, Your Majesty," Admiral Yularen replied.

Anakin's thoughts turned dark as he considered who could be behind the attack. He had made many enemies in his rise to power, but this felt different—personal. Whoever was responsible would soon learn the true meaning of fear.

Varykino, Naboo

Padmé sat in the dimly lit bunker, the twins asleep in her arms, their small faces peaceful despite the chaos outside. She stroked their hair gently, her mind racing. The bunker was secure for now, but she knew it wouldn't hold forever. They needed Anakin, and she needed him to be safe as much as he needed her.

The sound of the distant battle outside faded, replaced by an eerie silence. Padmé glanced at Kile, who stood guard by the door, his eyes scanning the room.

"We'll get through this," he said quietly, sensing her unease. "The Emperor is on his way."

Padmé nodded, but her heart remained heavy. She had always known there would be dangers in their new life, but she had hoped, naively perhaps, that they could have some peace. Now, it seemed, that peace was as distant as the stars.

Outside, the first rays of dawn began to break through the horizon, casting a faint light across the hills.