Liora was in the midst of packing when she felt an unexpected sting on her neck. Her vision blurred, and suddenly, her body froze in place, as if caught in a force beyond her control. Her hand trembled, the object she had been holding slipping from her grip as she was abruptly pulled into a vision—her surroundings blurring and warping until she was no longer in her room.

Before her stood a figure cloaked in shadow, an imposing figure draped in iron-wrought armor. His presence radiated malice, as if the very air around him was charged with an ancient, overwhelming darkness. His eyes burned with an unnatural light, piercing through her soul.

"Li-o-ra of Isla Nublar," the dark man's voice growled, each syllable dripping with malevolent authority. His voice, low and cold, echoed in the recesses of her mind, sending a chill down her spine.

Liora gasped, her breath hitching as recognition dawned. Her eyes widened in horror. "Sauron..." she whispered, her voice a mix of disbelief and dread. The name alone was enough to send shivers through her entire being—she had heard her grandmother speak of this ancient dark lord in hushed tones, warnings of his return from a time long past.

The man's form seemed to shift, becoming clearer, revealing a tall, menacing figure. His face was gaunt, sharp, and twisted with cruelty, not the dark lord her grandmother had described, but a man—a being who held the weight of unspoken evil. His eyes glinted with something far older, far darker.

"I wanted to send you a message," Sauron's voice continued, dark and serpentine. "You are not as far from me as you think, my dear. One day, you will be mine. You will rule with me." His words felt like a force that pressed against her chest, suffocating her will.

Liora gritted her teeth, her claws digging into the air as she fought to break free from the vision, but Sauron's grip on her was unyielding. He reached out, his hand hovering dangerously close to her cheek. "The end is near, and the Jedi... are coming."

Liora's mind raced. The vision was too vivid, too real. But she refused to submit. She blinked, struggling to regain control, but it was as if the vision held her in place, a prison of her own mind. The darkness seemed to press in from all sides, but she fought against it, pushing back with everything she had.

Then, with a final gasp, the vision shattered. She blinked, her surroundings returning to normal as the oppressive atmosphere dissipated. She was back in her room, her knees weak, and her body drenched in cold sweat. The floor beneath her felt real again, but the echoes of the vision lingered, clawing at her mind.

Obi-Wan, who had been meditating nearby, immediately stood at the sound of movement. His brow furrowed as he saw Liora huddled on the floor, her hands trembling. He quickly approached, kneeling beside her, his eyes filled with concern. "Liora, dear, what's wrong?" he asked, his voice soft but steady, trying to anchor her in the present.

Liora blinked, struggling to regain her composure. Her pulse raced, and her body felt drained, as though the vision had siphoned all her strength. "Sauron..." she murmured, her voice hoarse. "He... he's real. The dark lord, he's returned. He wants me to rule with him."

Obi-Wan's expression hardened, his calm demeanor not faltering, though his concern was evident. "That's... troubling," he murmured, more to himself than to Liora. "This is no ordinary threat. We must alert the Jedi Council immediately."

Liora shook her head, trying to steady herself. "He said... the Jedi are coming. And that he would make me his queen." Her voice trembled as the weight of Sauron's words crashed down on her. "I can't let him control me. But how do we fight something like this?"

Obi-Wan placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "We will face this, together. The Jedi will stand against him, just as we've always done. You are not alone in this."

But in the depths of her heart, Liora couldn't shake the feeling that the battle ahead would be like no other she had ever faced. Sauron's darkness was ancient, and its reach stretched farther than even she could comprehend. And with the prophecy hanging over her, she knew her destiny was bound to this dark force in ways she hadn't yet fully understood.

But she would fight. She had to. The fate of the galaxy might depend on it.

SCENEBREAK

Queen Jamaica stood at the entrance of her palace, watching as the ship carrying Liora, Obi-Wan, and Anakin ascended into the sky. Her expression was a mix of solemn grace and quiet determination. Naboo, with its lush landscapes and political stability, would remain a sanctuary for the Jedi—at least for now.

She turned to Liora, her gaze lingering a moment longer. "Naboo will always be open to the Jedi, my friends," she said, her voice deep and steady. "You will always have a place here, no matter the storms that rage outside."

Liora bowed her head slightly in acknowledgment, her heart touched by the queen's words. "Thank you, Your Majesty," she replied softly, her voice carrying a note of gratitude. She had sensed the weight of the situation, felt the looming shadows of something greater that threatened them all, but for now, she would take the queen's words to heart.

"To you, Highest Queen," Jamaica added with a deeper bow, a sign of respect for Liora's strength, leadership, and the heavy burden she bore.

Liora nodded, her eyes meeting Jamaica's in a silent exchange of mutual understanding. "I will do what I must to protect my people, Queen Jamaica. And the Jedi, too. The dark forces that rise against us will find no easy victory."

The two women shared a brief, meaningful glance before Liora turned, following Obi-Wan and Anakin to the ship waiting to depart. The silence that lingered between them was heavy, the weight of unspoken words drifting like an undercurrent through the air. As the ship lifted from the ground, Queen Jamaica watched, her thoughts heavy with the future, knowing that the galaxy was on the brink of something greater—and darker.

The fate of the Jedi, the Queen, and Liora herself, hung in the balance, tied to forces neither of them could yet fully understand.

SCENEBREAK

As the ship gently descended onto the helipad on Coruscant, the sounds of the bustling city echoed beneath them. Padmé, having been waiting anxiously, rushed forward as the ramp lowered. Her expression shifted from concern to relief as she saw Anakin, Obi-Wan, and Liora step out. The news of the orcs and the dark forces looming over them was something she couldn't ignore, and the worry she had carried with her now seemed to find a temporary reprieve.

"Oh my," Padmé exclaimed, stepping forward quickly. "I was so worried. I've heard news, but are you all right? Are the orcs really coming back?" Her voice trembled slightly as she looked at Liora, her concern evident.

Anakin, seeing the distress in Padmé's eyes, moved between them. "Take it easy, Padmé. Liora and we will tell you and the Senate in time," he said with a calm, reassuring voice. "For now, Liora needs rest. She was poisoned, but she's strong. It's just a matter of time before she's back on her feet."

Liora, though still exhausted from the ordeal, smiled softly, leaning slightly on Anakin as he gently took her hand. She'd been through so much, but with the Jedi at her side, she felt that the worst was over—for now.

"Farewell, Padmé," Liora said, her voice carrying a sense of finality. Her words felt heavy, as if there was a deeper meaning behind them. Padmé stared at Liora, something stirring within her chest. The tears she hadn't realized were welling up in her eyes started to fall freely. A sense of foreboding lingered in her heart, an unshakable feeling that she might not see the regal, powerful queen again for a long time, or perhaps... ever.

Padmé didn't know why, but something told her that Liora's path would take her far from this place. It was as if the wind itself whispered of distant lands and untold challenges.

Liora squeezed Padmé's hand gently before she was helped onto the transport. "Stay safe," Padmé whispered, though her voice caught in her throat. The ship's ramp closed, and the vessel rose into the sky, leaving Padmé standing on the helipad, her heart heavy with a mix of hope and an inexplicable sorrow.

The Senate awaited the news, but Padmé knew that things had changed. The galaxy was growing darker, and the shadows were only growing longer.