Darth Sidious had known the second the woman interrupted Moff Panaka exactly who she was. By the time she revealed her identity he was already stalking into his personal shuttle, ordering the pilot to set course for Naboo at maximum speed. He left a trail of bodies in his wake.

Behind him in the palace his steward called ahead to Naboo to warn the officers on the ships and above Naboo.

On Naboo Queen Valse sat on her throne, her councillors around her as they awaited the outcome of this battle. The Court had been shocked beyond reason when Padme Amidala, their former Senator and Queen, thought to be dead and buried twenty years before arrived on the dais and announced herself to be the reclusive Angel, leader of the infamous Angel network, and bane of the Empire. She wasn't quite sure how to deal with the news if she was honest with herself.

Padme Amidala was a legend, a woman who towered head and shoulders above her contemporaries as a force for justice and good. The Jedi who she had associated with for most of her career, and their subsequent downfall, had only enhanced her mystique.

Valse looked up as the doors to the throne room were flung open and a few of her advisers tumbled in followed by a few Imperial officers and an entire contingent of stormtroopers.

"What is going on?" she demanded, rising from her throne with a swish of skirts. She may be a Queen hand-picked by Palpatine but, unelected or not, she was not going to permit anyone to hurt the Naboo.

The leader of the officers marched forward. "The situation is under control your highness," he replied. "The Rebels will be dealt with shortly. There is no need to be concerned."

Valse raised an eyebrow and returned to her throne, seating herself regally. Somehow she didn't quite believe them.

Outside was pandemonium. All but a few of the civilians had been evacuated from the plaza, and the last few were being hurried out of the way as the Imperial troops, Rebels and Jedi took each other on in open combat.

Obi-Wan Kenobi stood back to back with Anakin Skywalker deflecting bolts back to their owners easily. The familiar adrenaline of battle raced through his body and he was delighted to experience the feeling of fighting alongside his former Padawan again.

His Padawan's Padawan danced to next to them, her curiously coloured white lightsabers twirling in a blaze of white.

Fifty metres away Luke and Leia Skywalker stood in a similar position to himself and Anakin fighting back to back. They were working their way towards the palace and as Obi-Wan watched they darted past their mother and her handmaidens who had successfully disarmed and taken down Panaka who was slumped in Sabe and Motee's grips.

Quarsh Panaka closed his eyes slightly and let himself sag. He had lost. Two of the handmaidens, he had always had a little trouble telling them apart, and the fact that one of them had joined Amidala's service after she was Queen meant that he was even less familiar with her, whoever she was.

Amidala was stood across from him, a slender silver blaster drawn and pointed at his forehead. "Captain," she said viciously.

"Senator," he returned, a smile twisting his face.

"Angel or Lady," she corrected smartly. "You of all people should know the protocol."

Two young Jedi, no older than Padawans dashed past Amidala, the girl pausing to murmur something in Amidala's ear. She nodded in response and the girl continued, joining the boy in striking down the guards at the entrance to the palace.

Moments later they achieved entry and ducked into the palace. Amidala turned her head slightly to watch them go and smiled slightly. Panaka's eyes widened as he heard the sound of a blaster being switched to stun behind him. And then oblivion.

Panaka collapsed limply in Sabe's grip and she exchanged a glance with Motee and dropped him. He slumped to the floor easily and she toed him aside, striding towards Padme and standing on her flank.

Anakin leapt up the steps, neatly dispatching the last few troopers he was fighting and murmured into Padme's ear. She went white and looked straight at him, then nodded. He grinned at her and they exchanged a swift kiss before Anakin somersaulted over Obi-Wan's head and landed with a thud, spinning and decapitating several of his former Master's opponents as he did so.

Padme began shooting, taking out as many of the stormtroopers as she could as she signalled for them to go to the palace. Dorme, Elle, and Rabe scooped Panaka up between them as they retreated in the centre of the handmaidens.

Valse watched the stormtroopers and officers with narrowed eyes and a neutral face. They were stood next to the door, all blasters aimed at it. She and her handmaidens had neglected to mention the secret passages located around the throne room. They were a royal secret, known only to the monarch and their companions. She had decided that it would be a terrible shame if the former Queen Amidala were to take advantage of her knowledge. A breeze brushed across her face and she slid her eyes to the side to see one of the side entrances to the throne room, another one which was a palace secret, open slightly and then close. She frowned slightly, her eyes feeling like they were being forced sideways, and then directed her attention forwards.

Two young adults seemed to appear out of nowhere in the centre of the room, igniting twin blades of blue and green. At first glance they seemed to be Padme Amidala and Anakin Skywalker, at second glance they were two Jedi, at third they seemed a mixture of the two. Whoever they were they were well trained as they cut through the stormtroopers with ease. Behind them a couple of women who were dressed in handmaiden gear from the Battle of Theed dived out from the same entrance the young Jedi had used and began firing into the stormtroopers from behind the throne room's pillars.

Valse watched, slightly open-mouthed until she remembered queenly decorum, as they dispatched an entire garrison of stormtroopers, excepting the officers which were disarmed and stunned. When they were all dead or stunned the two Jedi looked around and sheathed their lightsabers. The two other women holstered their blasters and one of them wandered over to an officer and bent down, seeming to examine something before she stood back up again, something disappearing up her sleeve as she did so. The other woman had retrieved a comlink from somewhere about her person and was speaking softly into it, in an unfamiliar language.

The female Jedi turned from her conference with the male Jedi and walked up to a few feet from the throne. She bowed and then straightened, smiling.

"Your Highness," she greeted. "I am Jedi Knight Leia Skywalker with my brother Jedi Knight Luke Skywalker."

Valse inclined her head in return. "You are welcome Knight Skywalker."

Something clicked in her brain as the Jedi made to turn away.

"Pardon me, Knight Skywalker," she called after young woman turned back around, her face a study in polite interest.

"Yes, your highness?"

"Your surname is Skywalker?" Valse questioned. Leia nodded slightly. "So you and your brother are the children of Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker?"

"Jedi Master Anakin Skywalker," the girl corrected. "Indeed we are. I fail to see what relevance this is to the current situation."

Valse was glad for the Queen's make-up which disguised her blush as she replied. "Quite. I was merely curious."

The girl arched an eyebrow but said nothing further, returning to her brother where the two of them stood in quiet conversation, one hand on their lightsabers.

Time seemed to be in limbo, and their actions were in a holding pattern as they waited in silence for the next event. In reality it was probably only ten minutes, but to Valse it seemed to last forever as she signalled to her handmaidens not to make any foolhardy moves as to attack the young Jedi.

At the end of the ten minutes the doors opened without any noticeable assistance and Padme Amidala strode in, flanked by two of her former handmaidens, and a crowd of the others around her, surrounding a figure. Four young Jedi brought up the rear, hands on their lightsabers. The two young Skywalkers spun to face them and then relaxed, parting before the throne to allow Amidala through.

"Your highness," Amidala greeted with a shallow bow. "My sincere apologies for disrupting the festivities of the anniversary of the Battle of the Theed. I would not have done so were my reasons not unavoidable."

Valse inclined her head very slightly in return. Whatever the former Senator's status, she had disrupted Imperial festivities very obviously, and was sure to bring retribution down on Naboo. What's more, she was a Rebel! And a notorious Rebel at that. Although she was a personal hero of Valse herself, she could not be permitted to waltz in like she was still the monarch.

"Lady Amidala," she returned coolly. "Perhaps you would explain why you have invited Imperial reprisals to Naboo by appearing here. You took an oath to defend Naboo and her people. Why do you bring this to her?"

Lady Amidala smiled slightly before replying. "Palpatine is a tyrant, a murderer and a traitor," she said frankly. "It was he who manipulated the Trade Federation into attacking Naboo all those years ago, and he who instigated the Clone Wars. He betrayed his oaths to Naboo and to the Republic. He ordered the slaughter of the Jedi Order on false pretences when they attempted to arrest him for his illegal activities, not the least of which was his hidden identity as the Sith Lord Darth Sidious, Sith master of Count Dooku and hidden manipulator of the war. I am fully aware of who exactly Chancellor Palpatine is."

"Then why would you reveal yourself if you know the danger?" one of Valse's advisers exploded. "We have five Star destroyers hanging over us. They could bomb us at any moment!"

There was a mutual recoil from the entire court but Padme Amidala just arched an eyebrow imperturbably. "Do you not think I knew of this?" she asked dryly. "My agents took control of the destroyers hours ago. They will not bother us. As for why I revealed myself… Palpatine holds a certain fascination and hatred for my husband and I. He will not be able to resist coming here to Naboo to kill us both. We do not intend to give him that satisfaction."

"Your husband?" the ancient Sio Bibble queried faintly from beside Valse's throne. All eyes turned to him, startled, as the old man did not speak very often anymore. "My lady, we were not aware that you had ever been married."

Amidala smiled kindly at the old man as she replied gently. "I am Governor Bibble. I have been married for nearly 25 years now. No one was informed as our marriage would have been considered illegal by some at the time."

"Illegal?!" Valse repeated, startled at the admission.

"Illegal," Bibble repeated softly. "Ah. A Jedi."

A genuine smile flashed across Amidala's face. "Yes Governor," she confirmed. "Yes. My husband is Jedi Master Anakin Skywalker."

"Skywalker," Valse breathed, her eyes flicking involuntarily to the young Jedi who flanked Amidala, her eyes scanning along their ranks to pick out the young Skywalkers, stood side by side. When she caught Leia Skywalker's eyes the young girl smiled and flicked her eyes to her… mother who was standing waiting patiently, the corners of her mouth twitched upwards.

"So," Valse said, scrambling for control of the situation, she was the Queen of Naboo for heaven's sake! "You have lured the Emperor here."

Amidala inclined her head. "Precisely," she answered. "Palpatine will not be able to resist the combined presence of myself and Anakin, considering he has been hunting us for quite some time. The fact that we have hijacked the celebrations of the Battle of Theed will only heighten his ire. Now if you'll excuse me, your majesty, I have other preparations to take care of."

She bowed slightly and then turned, moving to her handmaidens. The small group of women moved off to the side, leaving a couple of the young Jedi to carefully move a bundle of cloth and flesh that was revealed to be a stunned Panaka, hands cuffed behind his back.

Jedi Master Anakin Skywalker waited alone in the central plaza of Naboo. His outer robe had been discarded and his lightsaber was held loosely in his hand. He stood on the dais, a point of high ground, hair whipped slightly by the breeze and blue eyes just as clear as they had been during the Clone Wars, possibly clearer.

The Imperial shuttle descended ominously through the clouds onto the plaza. The ramp lowered and Red Guards stalked out, lining up on either side of the ramp to allow the shrivelled old man in the black cloak with the cane to come slowly down the ramp. Anakin knew, and Palpatine knew he knew, that the frail old man persona was just a front, and nothing more. The grandfatherly persona was useful to him in many ways.

"Anakin," he greeted. "My old friend. So good to see you."

"Sidious," the Jedi Master returned civilly. "Shall we dispense with the pleasantries?"

The old man's eyes narrowed but he nodded his head in acquiescence. "Very well." He tossed his cane aside and snapped his wrist, a red lightsaber slipping into his grasp. The Red Guards spread out into a circle. "How is dear Padme?" he inquired. "And your fine twins. What excellent servants they will make."

If he had hoped for a response he would not get on. Anakin merely rolled his lightsaber lightly in his hand before responding. "My wife and children are fine. Luke and Leia will never serve you."

"We will see."

Anakin's face twisted in a slight smile. "That we will."

Sidious let out a battle cry and leapt towards Anakin, his red lightsaber lighting in his hand. Anakin ignited his blue blade at the last moment, bringing it up in an easy block. Sidious had struck first. The galaxy would not forget this. Around the Empire and beyond holoscreens flicked on, regular programming was interrupted and all channels were hijacked. The symbols of the Rebellion and the Angel Network appeared, before being replaced by the face of the Angel, Padme Amidala Skywalker appeared and introduced herself, before narrating the events of the day, and showing the footage of the confrontation between Anakin and Sidious. The aggressor was clear. Opinions began to turn across the galaxy even as the Alliance to Restore the Republic struck at Coruscant.

Anakin and Sidious fought back and forth across the plaza, both vaguely aware of the Red Guards being destroyed by Obi-Wan Kenobi and Ahsoka Tano, neither gaining an advantage. Suddenly, as if by mutual accord, they halted and both lightsabers shut off. Sidious sheathed his and flung out his hands, blue lightning arching from his fingers towards the Jedi. Anakin flung out one of his and concentrated, the blue lightning forming into a ball at his hand. Sidious's eyes widened in disbelief, widening further when, with a snarl, he increased the intensity, and Anakin merely extended his other hand to the ball.

The ball of electricity grew larger and larger, and then, with an almighty effort, Anakin Skywalker flung his hands out and the ball flew straight at Sidious, impacting him straight in the chest. The Sith Lord flailed for a moment and then fell backwards with a deathly finality. The plaza was silent. And then the cheering began across the galaxy and people poured out onto the streets to attack the Imperial installations, aided by the hidden agents of the Rebel Alliance and the Angel Network.

Aided by the chaos on Coruscant the Alliance broke through and brought down Palpatine's government that day. Palpatine himself, his body was gathered up and burnt to ashes, and the ashes spread in space.

On Naboo Padme Amidala Skywalker smiled in relief at the holoimages coming through and spoke softly into the microphone at her lips.

"Like the Battle of Theed all those years ago, once more the Jedi have struck a blow for freedom and liberated a people. Once more has an evil Sith Lord been defeated, and his plans thwarted. Tomorrow the people of the galaxy will wake up to freedom, and restoration. A new dawn is coming, ushered in by the Jedi, and a new dawn that will herald an era of peace and justice in the galaxy, as in the days of old. So it was, so it will be again." Padme closed her eyes and a smile lit up at her face at the old phrase she was about to be say. "May the Force be with you."

And so it was.

AN:

My apologies for how long this has taken to update, and the Hope of the Rebellion as well. This is the end of this fiction for certain.

As for the Hope of the Rebellion and The Lineage of the Naberrie Twins, I'm working on them, but I'm away for the next week or so, so I won't be able to work for the week. I promise I have been working on Hope of the Rebellion, but the chapter has been really fighting me to get written, which is super frustrating because I know what's happening the next couple of chapters.

Anyway I hope you enjoy this conclusion to The Angel Network!

The8thDalmuti