Palace Infiltration

We walk through the halls of the palace, no longer hiding. A few of the more advanced droids in their arsenal, 'droidekas' roll out from around a corner ahead. With a flick of my hand and a small bit of the Force, they rapidly accelerate into the wall, wrecking themselves in the process.

"Observe how the gentlest application of Force can have profound effects if used in the right way. While there are times that a basic push or pull would be perfectly suitable, you shouldn't stop seeking to improve in your mastery."

Padawan Secura nods her head, taking notes on a notebook she found in one of the rooms we passed earlier.

𝌡𝌡𝌡

When I saw her fight against the droids at the palace entrance, I knew that the Jedi standards had dropped farther than Canderous and HK had led me to believe.

She had a good grasp of Form IV, Ataru, flipping over droids to slice them from behind. When she was unable to do that, she fell back on Form V, Djem So, in order to block or otherwise deflect them. Her understanding of that Form is basically nonexistent, not even by my standards, but by how the Order judged it. Each blaster bolt she blocked caused her to take a step back, completely ruining her stance. If there were more droids and she was alone, she would most likely have been killed.

Of course, having skill in the use of the Force could easily make up for this. But other than enhancing her jumping prowess and pushing or pulling objects, she didn't use it much at all.

No pulling blasters from their hands, no use of the Stun Droid technique, no Aura nor Valor. Just push, pull, lift, and jump.

Considering she was able to use a Force Cloak, if poorly, I expected more from her.

During the course of the fight, Canderous saved her no less than five times. And I don't think she even noticed. I could see his own growing frustration as the fight went on, and I knew what he was thinking, his thoughts mirroring my own.

'This is what's become of the Jedi? Pathetic.'

After the fight Padawan Secura came up to me full of pride for managing to take down twenty droids. I barely held myself back from smacking her.

Instead of the praise she expected, I ignored her and walked straight through the doors of the Palace. They followed of course, right into another platoon of droids.

Seeing the unexpected reinforcements raise their guns, the women looked ready to dive back out the doors. It was only Canderous' confident grin that kept them still.

I, meanwhile, simply raise my hand to point at the droids in front of me. Before they can fire a single shot, lightning erupts from my hand and arcs into them, branching out to hit the ones outside of its immediate area of effect. Force Storm, the advanced form of the Shock technique.

Within seconds the fried droids drop to the ground, smoke rising from their melted remains. I look at Padawan Secura, her jaw hanging. "This is an advanced Dark Side technique called Force Lightning." Her jaw snapped closed and she jumped back in a defensive stance at my easy admittance to the use of a Dark Side technique.

I couldn't help but roll my eyes behind my mask. "If I wanted you dead, you wouldn't have even made it off Tatooine. I'm simply showing you what an advanced technique, such as your Force Cloak, should look like."

She still looked wary. "And your knowledge of such a powerful Dark Side technique? How did you learn it?"

I snorted. "By walking the path, as you have. The difference is that I walked it to completion before choosing to step aside."

She looked down at the reminder of her own darkness. "I am not showing you the 'Power of the Dark Side' in order to turn you from the Light. It was simply the fastest way to wipe out the droids. While we clear the Palace you are to observe and study my use of the Force. I expect you to improve by the time we find their leader."

She nodded reluctantly, but as I showed her different applications of the Force she quickly became enamored with learning all I could teach her.

𝌡𝌡𝌡

"Now, take down this droideka using the Force alone. No 'standard' techniques allowed."

She nods, determined to succeed. The droideka unfurls, bringing up its shield. She approaches it calmly, waiting for it to open fire before making her move.

It shoots, missing her as she Force Jumps above and behind it. It begins turning, the movement awkward with its pointed legs. Meanwhile she uses the stun droid technique, bringing down its shields. A second use manages to stun it, stopping its movements. With a look of focus, she extends both hands and concentrates. With the sound of twisting and tearing metal, the head of the droid turns upside down. The body stands for another moment before it realizes that it's no longer receiving information and drops.

Padawan Secura looks at me with a proud smile. I approach her and smack the back of her head. I feel my eyebrow twitching at her obvious confusion.

Instead of telling her what she did wrong, I simply point to where Canderous and the Queen are standing. Looking in their direction, her face immediately pales. A blaster bolt floats a foot away from the Queen's pale face.

"Remember not to lose sight of your surroundings. Even a moment of inattention can mean death. Not only for you, but for those around you." I clench my hand and the bolt fizzles into nothing. The Queen drops to her knees staring at the spot where I held the bolt in place.

"We'll take a rest here for a moment. We're nearly to our destination." It takes a moment for the Queen to register my words, but when she does she jumps.

"How, how do you know that?" Her voice is a bit unsteady from her near death experience, which is understandable.

I shrug. "There aren't any other living beings in the palace except for where we're heading."

Somehow her face manages to grow even more pale. "But, but that's not possible. What about the staff? There should be dozens of people working to keep the palace maintained. Even if they were kept under observation, I can't believe that Gunray would just lock them in a room."

I look at her in pity. "Would you say that you were friendly with the staff?"

"Yes? But I don't see how that's relevant."

I sigh. "This man managed to conquer your entire planet over the course of a few hours. Do you really think that he wouldn't be able to find out that you were friendly with the staff?"

"N-no, but I still fail to see the connection." Her eyes dart around, looking at anything but me. She knows, but she doesn't want to admit it.

But it will be better for her to not hold out for false hope. "They're dead. It's likely that when they couldn't give Gunray your location, he killed them. An aura of death surrounds the palace."

I noticed it when we first got here, but had at first assumed it to be due to the death of her guards. But as we traveled through it, it began to take on darker tones. Becoming influenced by pain, anger, and most prominently, fear.

They knew they would die. And that they could do nothing to prevent it.

Tears stain the Queen's cheeks as she cries into her hands. Canderous makes no comment, having seen many rulers cry during his time at war. Some for mercy. Some for justice. But the rare few who cried for their people earned his respect.

Padawan Secura is quiet, her earlier joy at her progress nowhere to be seen in the face of the current tragedy.

After a few minutes, the Queen stands, her face expressionless. She walks forward. Towards the command center. Towards the Neimoidian known as Nute Gunray. Towards vengeance for her people.