Free Star Wars: The Last of the Jedi, Volume 4 by Jude Watson

“That’s against the laws of the Senate as well. Do you think they’re planning to take over the government?”
    Typho nodded grimly. “It’s possible. They have assault ships in orbit. They’ve done this with equally uncooperative worlds, under the guise of ‘keeping order in the
galaxy.’”
    “I’m well aware of their tactics,” Ferus said. “They did it on Belassa, where I come from.”
    “I’ve heard about that,” Typho said. “It’s what we fear. That’s why we’ve been keeping a watchful eye on Malorum. We know how close he is to Emperor
Palpatine. The curious thing is that he doesn’t seem to be on official business. He checked in with the Imperial regent, of course, but after that, he’s been on his own, keeping a low
profile.”
    “So what has he been up to?” Keets asked.
    “We’ve been receiving reports from government officials that he’s been investigating the funeral of Senator Amidala.”
    His face darkened. “I too have investigated the Senator’s death. I don’t believe the official reports that the Jedi killed her. They were her friends. She believed in them
absolutely; she never believed the rumors during the Clone Wars that they were abusing their power.”
    “I don’t know why Malorum is interested,” Ferus said. “I only know he must be stopped.”
    Typho nodded. “I’ll do what I can to help you. What do you need?”
    “Do you know where he is right now?” Ferus asked.
    “He’s no longer in Theed,” Typho replied. “We just got word from the Director of Essentials, who said that Malorum forced him to reveal the whereabouts of Senator
Amidala’s maternal grandmother. We’ve been trying to contact her, but she lives in seclusion and hasn’t answered our comm signals.”
    Ferus stood. “You’ll have to direct us there. But first, I need to speak to Queen Apailana.”
    Ferus and the others were ushered into the Queen’s presence in the throne room in the palace. She was wearing her ornate ceremonial robes—deep blue with a matching
headdress. Her face was painted white, with a red slash on her upper lip, called the scar of remembrance. Captain Typho introduced each of them, and they all inclined their heads in a short bow.
Typho then gave the queen a brief explanation of why they were on Naboo.
    “I’m honored to meet so many distinguished guests,” the Queen said in her soft voice. “I offer you welcome.”
    “Queen Apailana,” Ferus said, bowing his head again. “I have come to ask you something I have no right to ask you.”
    “Yet here you are,” Queen Apailana said.
    “I request that on my signal, you shut down all comm systems on Naboo. Internal and external comm systems.”
    The Queen looked startled. “That is quite a large request,” she said.
    “Queen Apailana, the Jedi as we knew them are no more,” Ferus explained. “Jedi Master Solace and I are among the last left alive. You were once a friend of the Jedi and the
Republic. Please trust us once more. Malorum is dangerous not only to Naboo but to a peaceful future for the galaxy. I know what I ask is difficult.”
    “I am reluctant,” the Queen said slowly. “Yet you are right—our history with the Jedi has led me to trust what they say. I never believed the official story of Senator
Amidala’s death. I have encouraged Captain Typho to keep searching for answers, even though it seems there are none to be had. Near the end of her life, the Senator still had faith in the
Jedi. We were in constant contact, so I am sure of this. I still think of the Jedi as friends—no matter if there is one or one thousand.”
    “Then you’ll do it?”
    “On two conditions,” the Queen said. “One, that you send the signal only out of the most dire necessity.”
    “That of course would be the case,” Ferus answered.
    “Two, I will shut communications down for one hour only,” Queen Apailana continued. “I cannot endanger the citizens of Naboo for longer than that. We can fake