A new story begins...and possibly the darkest one yet, so consider yourselves warned. This one will take Padme' to some very pitch black territory as early as the first chapters. So if you're still with me, strap yourself in...

THE EMPEROR'S SHADOW:

TOTAL SUBMISSION

CHAPTER ONE: DAMNATION

My reign as the Black Queen of Naboo was over.

I had presided over the subjugation of Naboo, killed one of my closest allies in cold blood, discovered a murderous death squad was actually comprised of my brainwashed former handmaidens, killed my own sister and slaughtered members of my own family. I had witnessed the corruption of one niece, and had been forced to witness the other being sentenced by her own sister to become a conscripted Stormtrooper. I had never felt so low in my life…

Of course, there is always a lower point to hit, as I was about to be taught.

I was utterly enslaved to the will of the Emperor. I was shrouded in armour that completely hid my true identity and made me look like an anonymous Imperial monster, and I had been augmented with a device that pumped a hideous serum that enhanced my athletic and physical abilities, but also left me very susceptible to following orders. To make it even worse, the serum was self-replenishing and addictive, making me a helpless servant to the Emperor and barely able to function without it. It's hard to imagine how that could get worse…but it did.

This is the story of how Padme' Amidala died for good, lost without trace.

And it all started with one act of kindness…

My niece Ryoo had been a target, from her actions as a Resistance sniper. Faced with the prospect of having to kill her, having already slaughtered the rest of my family, I had been able to hesitate…a small act of resistance, but nonetheless an important one, as it had led her to escape. It had been futile, as she had been captured after a year on the run with Resistance assistance. But the fact that I had been able to break my conditioning and rebel even briefly was more than the Emperor was willing to tolerate.

And now I had to face his wrath…

I was now back in my Shadow armour, having left my Black Queen regalia on Naboo for my successor (the idea of Pooja as a tyrant queen supported by the Empire still makes me feel sick). Having flown back to Imperial Center, I made my way stealthily to the Emperor's throne room. It was best that I did not alert anybody to my presence. It was also a test-both for them and for me. Any major errors on the guards' part would be punished, so it encouraged me to perform at my best. Needless to say, I made it to the Emperor. His Throne Room was empty.

Upon seeing me, he beckoned me to follow him. Helpless to obey, I followed silently.

Finally, he led me to a room that gave us maximum privacy.

"Remove your helmet, Shadow. For this conversation, I want you to speak as candidly as possible. You will speak completely honestly all the time your helmet is removed. Do you understand?"

I nodded, fearing what was about to unfold, and removed my helmet, placing it on the table by the door. The Emperor looked me over, taking note of the effects of my time under the helmet on my face.

"Ryoo Naberrie'…you let her go, despite explicit orders to eliminate her. Why, Shadow…?" His tone was calm, but laced with steel all the way. He was seething with malice, I could tell.

"She was my niece. I couldn't let anything happen to her…" came my reply.

The implications of this were terrifying-when Palpatine demanded an honest answer, the serum ensured that my deepest thoughts were communicated to him! Could I hide nothing from him!?

"How did you overcome your conditioning…?" he pressed.

"I was able to force some mental strength…somehow, I was able to hesitate. It proved enough…" my lips once again betrayed me.

The Emperor smiled beneath his hood, and I sensed his wicked intent.

"Hmmm…just as I suspected. The serum has maintained full physical control over your physical body, but your mind is still fighting your fate. After all this time…truly incredible."

But then his eyes flashed with evil-the power of the Dark Side blazed.

"But all you have done is prove that you need to be broken even further if I am to call you my true servant. I control you in body, but as long as your mind is still your own, how can I call you my agent? Your spirit…your will to resist…that needs to be completely destroyed. So, here is what is going to happen, my plaything…you are going to be punished. You are going to be transformed, after which you will resume your role as my Shadow. You will do my bidding, no matter how despicable you find it, and you will be broken down bit by bit until you finally succumb to my will by your own choice. You are mine, and I intend for you to be my servant, in mind, body and soul."

A shiver of fear clutched at my heart as I considered his words. He seemed to be explicitly stating that he intended to break me mentally-this was a terrifying prospect alone, as all I had left of my old identity was my mind, the fact that I knew who I used to be and who I could be again if I were ever to find a way out of this cage. The fact that he declared his wish for me to be his servant in "mind, body and soul" spoke of his intention to dominate every inch of my life. It was no longer enough for him to control my physical functions, to hide me beneath terrifying armour and clothing and turn me into a nightmare plucked from the darkest shadows of the Empire. No, now he sought to break my will, my spirit…to have me fall to my knees and accept him as my Master. The question is not if I can resist, but for how long can I resist? After all I have endured, how much more can I take!?

But the word that really terrified me was 'Transformed'. What in the name of Shiraya did he mean by that? And what did he have in store for me by way of punishment…?

The Emperor pointed to a box on a nearby table.

"Open it…" he ordered.

I helplessly obeyed, and opened the box.

Within the box was another mask. Solid black and all-enclosing. This one even had tubes connected to the mouth breather, leading to a compartment at the back of the mask and the eyes were totally blacked out…I would be able to see, but nobody would be able to see the eyes beneath. The mask looked very enclosing…and I got a very uncomfortable feeling about this mask.

"Don't worry…you won't be wearing it for long, my Puppet. Put it on…" the Emperor ordered.

I put the mask over my head. Almost immediately, I heard a locking noise, followed by the Emperor's laughter. At this point, I felt very afraid…probably more afraid than I have ever felt, knowing that I was now to pay the price of defying the Emperor.

The mask was very claustrophobic, fitting tightly over my head. I could still hear the Emperor's taunting voice, however. He spoke to me, his voice echoing through the mask.

"This mask will be your new mask for the foreseeable future. It has a few additional…features that will be necessary for what is to happen to you over the next few weeks. You see, my plaything, you're going to be augmented as part of your…next stage of training. The mask will lock upon my command, and it will keep your true identity secret. In addition to obscuring any speech you choose to utter, it will also accept anaesthesia cartridges, allowing you to be put under for as long as it takes to complete…the work that you need."

At this, I was utterly horrified. Augmentation!? What did he want to do with me? What was going to be left of me by the end of this nightmare…?

My terrors were only increased when he carried on speaking.

"You will follow the surgeons when they arrive, and follow their explicit instructions. No augmentations will require the removal of your mask, so it will stay on at all times. You will follow all of their instructions at all times, as if they were mine. You will not speak, and you will not try to escape or commit suicide. Do you understand…?"

What could I do…? I was about to be sliced open, to have Shiraya knew what done…and yet the serum meant that I still had no power over my own freedom. What could I say…?

"Yes, Master…" I said, bowing-and once again sickening myself.

The doors opened, and two Imperial medics walked in. They looked at me like predators eying up a carcass…it was not a look in the eyes that I relished.

"Is this the patient, Your Imperial Majesty?" one asked.

"It is…take her to the private lab, and begin. You have my permission to take as long as you need to complete the work on her that needs to be done-but I expect exemplary results. You are the best, so naturally I expect the best from you. Do I make myself clear?" he asked.

The pair bowed. "Unmistakeably, your Highness."

They then turned to me.

"Follow us, and we can get started…"

I mindlessly obeyed, like a good brainwashed servant.

Little did I realise that a large part of me would die at the hands of these surgeons…

I was taking the first step to becoming a newer, more lethal version of the Emperor's pet monster…