Chapter 7: Chapter 6: For the blood of the innocent

The palace is plunged into darkness. Outside, droid soldiers kill anyone who has the misfortune to pass in front of them. The capital is in flames. Streets are littered with corpses. Some brave militiamen are still fighting to protect the red bridge. You need to cross the building to enter into the university, the only place that can withstand a bombardment thanks to its shield generator. These poor volunteers don't stand a chance, but the handful of minutes they earn will allow people to take shelter. As soon as they are overwhelmed, an officer will blow up the viaduct. Not one warrior is going to survive, but their sacrifice will have turned the school into a shelter.

« Hurry! Bring tables, chairs, any cupboard and seal that opening! »

The queen's father shouts his orders, while the monarch tries in vain to signal Naboo's surrender on all frequencies. Nothing can be done. The droids do not stop. Padmé no longer dares to look outside. Do not let yourself be distracted by the terrifying glow coming from the other side of the Detomini River. Federation fighters have wiped out the Nubian air force. The few combat airpeeders this planet had are burning in the streets. Palace guards are busy barricading the windows with whatever they can find.

A muffled tremor is rising. It sounds like some kind of march. The bulk of the federal army is certainly coming into town. Thousands of humanoid droids, with their terrifying red eyes, come to replace their arachnid cousins. It's easier to occupy a place designed for humans with robots in human form.

« They... they refuse to answer! They ask for our surrender but ignore us when we offer it! What are we supposed to do? » Padmé shout, helpless. Her father approaches and grabs her by the shoulders:

« It's too late, my little queen! We must find a way out of here. The royal yacht is at the university's spaceport. If we manage to reach it, we will be able to look for help. »

« And the others? We're not going to let all these people get killed! »

« There's nothing we can do for them in our situation! The palace guard only has about forty militiamen, we won't resist. Our only hope is to flee! »

Queen Amidala grunts, grabs a glass and throws it on a board while screaming.

« We must leave and ask for help. » She finally concedes, after taking a minute to calm down.

« You see? It's the only solution. If we go to Coruscant, we'll save Naboo! »

A blaster shot crosses the room and shatters a sculpture.

« Sir! The bridge has not exploded! Droids are coming through! »

Padmé's father does not hesitate. He leaps to the bottom of the room and signals two of his men to come and help him:

« Untie that slab, quick! We should reach the delivery tunnel. »

A second energy beam enters. It comes from the corridor this time. The guards return the shot. An exchange of fire illuminates the room. A colonnade bursts from an impact. The men manage to remove the slab. They then busy themselves lifting the ventilation grids one by one. They weigh their weight. It takes four of them to remove even one. Several advisors have taken up arms and are valiantly defending the door. The eldest tries to help barricade the last window. A plasma discharge hits a militiaman in the chest. The poor man collapses without saying a word.

« Faster! » Shouts Padmé's father. His face is covered in soot.

An intense shaking is felt. Droid bombers are destroying the main spaceport. They cut off all evacuation routes for civilians. Such a massacre can never be justified. Why? What madness has seized the trade federation? The guards are now targeting the final grid, which they are cutting with their blasters to buy time.

« Sir! Droids have just reached the crystal room! They're right in front of the door! »

The shots are increasing in intensity. A Nubian orbital fighter is passing over the palace. A surviving pilot? He runs into a federal bomber and shoots it down. Unfortunately, the craft is destroyed before it can do any more damage.

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« The grid is open! Let's go guys, go, go, go! »

Everyone goes down into the tunnel. The sound of an alarm can be heard ringing. A red light is flashing. Dust comes off the walls with each explosion. Small automated carts transport goods between the university and the royal warehouse. Four protocol droids are installed on one of them. They watch silently with empty eyes. The last guard crosses the hole and sets a thermal detonator.

« Let's move, fast! »

When they are far enough, someone detonates the charge. It breaks the tunnel and removes any risk of being chased by this way. Padmé notices that some guards are missing. Has anyone been killed? The group manages to reach the university basement. The large metal door opens, revealing thousands of frightened survivors. They are gathered together in a huge mass. The little girl recognizes this place. Its the trophy hall. She suddenly thinks of her mother, who should be here. She is a teacher. Yet it is impossible to see her in this crowd of people. What happened to her?

Militiamen are busy. They have already barricaded the gates leading to the first floor. You can hear a violent fight outside. Those who have stayed behind to hold off the feds know that they will not survive.

The students are terrified. They come from thousands of systems, some even belong to the nobility! What will the kings of Alderaan, Antarii IV and Hosnian Prime say when they learn that their children have been threatened by the federation? The athletic team members are carrying blasters. They watch the entrances. Padmé's father crosses the crowd to join General Parillo, who leads the Nubian militia. The man is hung to his communicator and shouts out his orders over and over again. The two talk for a moment.

The General glances at the queen and bows to her with a smile. The young Amidala lowers her eyes. Today, she feels no different than any ordinary citizen. A blaster pistol is lying on the ground. It has a beautiful wooden stock. A competition model, for shooting sports. The little one watches it, then grabs it and puts it away on her belt. Her father comes back:

« Parillo agrees with us. We have to run away. The royal yacht is big enough to take refugees. You and the students could reach Coruscant in a week. The citizens will hold this room for as long as it takes to evacuate you, but... »

« But it will be necessary to get through the federation fighters, right? »

« My little queen... » He takes a sigh, before continuing:

« Our crafts are destroyed. The militiamen are trying to organize a diversion, but we don't know if they will succeed. Our destiny depends on the Force now. »

A detonation! The droids have managed to find their way into the university. Padmé's father races towards the already overwhelmed athletic team to help out as best he can. His men follow closely. A fight ensues. The students panic. All those who can do it go to fight. A gungan servant grabs a chair and hits a droid, Padmé points her blaster pistol and finishes him off before he can get up. The General shouts:

« To the spaceport, now! »

The teachers are struggling to guide a cohort of terrified youths toward the stairs. If they can't evacuate with a ship, there will be no way out for them down there. As soon as this room falls, the astroport will become their prison. Padmé does not follow the crowd. The queen waits for her father to come. So she stays back and shoots down the approaching robots. Her citizen service in the militia has been helpful. A barricade bursts, clearing the way for a huge mechanical monster, which immediately spits out a salvo of silver rays. Dozens of people are killed on the spot. The General removes a heavy blaster from its support and opens fire. The machine easily repels this attack with its deflector shield.

« Move away! May the Force be with you! » Throws Parillo, while he shoots at the metal abomination.

Humanoid droids crawl between the monster's legs and join the battle. Padmé's father retreats. His men are dead. He notices that his daughter is still there, grabs her arm and carries her down the stairs. They descend down the steps four at a time and arrive at the bottom. A fire door invites them into a long white marble corridor. Suddenly, the man tightens up. A blaster shot goes through his shoulder. He coughs loudly, looks his daughter in the eyes and smiles. He pushes the child to the other side of the door:

« Run! » He says while pressing the button to lock the passage, sealing himself in the process.

« Dad! No! » Screams the small one, in vain.

Padmé hears a few shots, which quickly stop. She remains motionless for a moment, unable to cry or yell, then gets up when the droids start to cut through the door's metal. It is necessary to move forward, to survive.

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