Prologue
I'm in my personal quarters with my handmaiden Sabe when the door was forced open and two men in brown robes came into the room.
" Your Majesty sorry for the invasion but you must come with us because your life is in danger." the older of the two men said as he looked over his shoulder before pulling out a silver and black cylinder looking weapon then with a push of a button it lit up into a saber.
The younger man followed the older one's lead and pulled out his light saber just as four rolling droids, that are called Droideka, came into the room.
" What is going on here!" I demanded.
But before he could say anything the room began to spin around and the scenery began to change and the air in the room started to heat up.
" What are we doing here?" I asked the tall man.
" We are here to get a part for the ship, so we are heading into town to see if there is a shop that may have the parts we need for the ship." the guy said.
The small party of the older man, a young girl, a tall lanky and very clumsy creature, and a droid walked into the huge spaceport, the buildings were domed and thick-walled and curved to protect them against the sun, and awnings and verandas that provided a measure of shade to their vendors fronted the stalls and shops. And the streets were broad and packed with beings of every shape and size, most from off planet.
" Tatooine is the home to Jabba the Hutt, he controls the bulk of the trafficking in illegal goods, piracy, and slavery that generates most of the planet's wealth. Jabba also controls the spaceports and settlements, all of the populated areas, but the desert belongs to the Jawas, who scavenge whatever they can find to sell or trade, to the Tuskens, who live a nomadic life and feel free to steal from everyone." the guy was explaining to me.
As we walked through the streets I noticed that the guy was keeping his voice low, but he was also a sharp eye on everything around them, but as for me, I was taking in everything, who knows when I get a chance to go on some other planet.
" There are a number of farms as well, outlying operations that take advantage of the climate - moisture farms for the most part, operated by off-worlders not a part of the indigenous tribes and scavengers, not connected directly to the Hutts. This is a rough and dangerous place. Most avoid it. Its few spaceports have become havens for those who do not wish to be found." the older guy said as his eyes swept the street ahead of us.
" Like us." I said glancing up at the guy.
We traveled the main street of the spaceport to its far end and turned down a side street that led to a small plaza ringed with salvage dealers and junk shops.
We walked through a shop's low entry and were greeted by a pudgy blue creature who flew into our faces, his tiny wings buzzing so fast that they could barely be seen.
" Hi chubba da nago?" the creature snapped in a frizzy, guttural voice, and demanding to know what our business was.
" I need parts for a J-type 327 Nubian." the guy said.
Of course, I was standing in one spot but just looking around, mostly afraid to touch anything because it may fall down on me.
I heard the little blue creature yell for some one and a young boy came out of the back room and they seemed to have some kind of heated discussion before the blue creature and the tall guy went out to the back yard of the shop.
I noticed that the young boy was staring at me and I watched him go over to an open space on the counter and jumped up on it, and he just sat there watching me as I saw that he was pretending to be cleaning a transmitter cell.
I gave him an amused smile.
" Are you an angel?" he asked.
But like before I could answer him the place began to blur again and the scenery changed again.
" It is a great relief to see you alive and well, Your Majesty, may I present Supreme Chancellor Valorum." the Senator said.
The other robe man, who was tall and silver haired came up to me.
" Welcome, Your Highness, it's an honor to finally meet you in person. I must relay to you how distressed everyone is over the current situation on Naboo. I have called for a special session of the Senate so that you may present you request for relief." the Chancellor said with a faint smile that was working its way onto his stern features.
I just held his gaze without moving even a fraction of a centimeter, tall, regal in my robes of office; and white-painted face as still, and cool as ice.
" I am grateful for your concern, Chancellor." I said quietly.
The scene changed again and I'm now sitting in a chair, and listening as the Senator was speaking to me. My handmaidens all stood to one side, in their crimson robes and they had their hoods drown close about their faces.
And the Senator was just walking back and forth in front of me just telling me how bad things were in the Senate, and that there wasn't any hope for us to get any kinds of relief from the Senate or the Chancellor.
Then the scene before me began to change again but this time I was in the Senate chamber, it looked like a massive circular arena, which had many doors that opened off exterior rampways at the various levels above the main floor. At the center of the chamber was a tall, slender column supported the supreme chancellor's platform, and broad, semienclosed area that allowed Valorum to sit or stand as he chose in the company of his vice chair and staff.
Valorum saw the Naboo box coming up to him and noticed that we were waiting for permission to advance all the way to his podium.
He nodded to the Senator.
" The chair recognizes the senator from the sovereign system of Naboo." the Chancellor said.
We glided to the center of the arena, and the senator rose to his feet and taking in the assemblage with a slow sweeping gaze that drew all eyes toward his.
" Supreme Chancellor, delegates of the Senate, a tragedy has occurred on my homeworld of Naboo. We have become caught up in a dispute, one of which you are all well aware. It began with a taxation of trade routes and has evolved into an oppressive and lawless occupation of a peaceful world. The Trade Federation bears responsibility for this injustice and must be made to answer..." the senator started to say but was interrupted by a second box that held the Federation's senator and a handful of trade barons in attendance.
" This is an outrage! I object to the Senator's ridiculous assertions and ask that he be silenced at once!" the Trade Federation senator yelled out as he gestured towards the podium and the Chancellor.
" The chair doesn't recognize the senator from the Trade Federation at this time. Return to your station." the supreme chancellor's voice called out steady.
" To state our allegations in full, I present Queen Amidala, the recently elected ruler of the Naboo, to speak on our behalf." the senator continued.
He stepped aside and I rose to the light scattering of applause. Moving forward I faced the supreme chancellor.
" Honorable representatives of the Republic, distinguished delegates, and Supreme Chancellor. I come to you under the gravest of circumstances. In repudiation and violation of the laws of the Republic, the Naboo have been invaded and subjugated by force by droid armies of the Trade Federation ..." I started to say before the senator from the Federation interrupted me.
" I object! This is nonsense! Where is the proof? I recommend a commission be sent to Naboo to ascertain the truth of these allegations." the senator was on his feet again and raised his voice angrily at what I was saying.
" Overruled." the Chancellor said as he shook his head towards the senator.
" Your Honor, you can't allow us to be condemned without granting our request for an impartial observation. It's against all the rules of procedure!" the senator said as he threw up his hands as if the single word of his life and become hopeless.
I noticed that he scanned the chamber for some kind of help, but all I heard was a murmur of agreement coming from some of the delegates. Then the next thing I saw was a third box that glided forward to join us. The chair had the delegates from the planet of Malastare.
" The senator from Malastare concurs with the honorable delegate from the Trade Federation. A commission, once requested, must be appointed, where there is a dispute of the sort we have encountered here. It's the law." the senator from Malastare said.
" The point is ..." the supreme Chancellor was very hesitated to say.
" Enter the bureaucrats, the true rulers of the Republic, and on the payroll of the Trade Federation, I might add. This is where the Chancellor's strength will disappear." the Naboo senator whispered to me.
I watched the Chancellor move back from the podium and a very worn look come across his face.
" The point is conceded. Section 523A takes precedence here, Queen Amidala of the Naboo, will you defer your motion in order to all a Senate commission to explore the validity of your accusations?" the Chancellor nodded in our direction.
I just looked at this man in total surprise when he asked me question, I felt anger come to me because I felt that this people wasn't listening to one word I was saying and now I began to feel that the Senator was right about all the senate being full of greedy, squabbling delegates. They are only looking out for themselves and their home systems. There really wasn't any interest in the common good - no civility, only politics, and to be honest with myself there was a little chance that the Senate would act on the invasion.
" I will not defer, I have come before you to resolve this attack on Naboo sovereignty now. I wasn't elected Queen to watch my people suffer and die while you discuss this invasion in a committee. If the Chancellor is not capable of action, then I suggest a new leadership is need. I move for a vote of no confidence in the Supreme Chancellor." I declared as I locked eyes on the Chancellor.
Then I heard voices rise immediately in response, there were some in support and of course, there would be some in protest too.
I looked around the room and saw Senators and spectators come to their feet and quickly there were shouts that echoed throughout the chamber.
I noticed that the Chancellor just stood there totally stun in disbelief as he just stared at me then his face etched in sudden shock when the impact of my words started to registered.
The assembly quieted when the aide of the Chancellor bellowed.
A new box floated up to the center of the chamber, and the vice chair recognized the senator from Roona.
" Roona seconds the motion for a vote of no confidence in the Chancellor." said the Roonian.
" Then motion has been seconded." the aide said not looking to pleased.
I saw that the Chancellor looked at him uncomprehendingly and his eyes were distant and lost.
Then it started, the loud roar of assembly coming together in one voice.
" Vote now! Vote now!" the Republic Senate chanted loudly.
" You see, Your Majesty, the tide is with us, the Chancellor will be voted out, I assure you, and they will elect a new Chancellor, a strong Chancellor, one who will not let our tragedy be ignored ..." the senator announced quietly to me.
" The Supreme Chancellor requests a recess." the aide addressed the chamber.
I could see the look of betrayal register on the Supreme Chancellor's face as he stared straight at the senator and me.
And before I knew the scene was changing again for the sixth time. This time it was deep in the swamps of Naboo and we were waiting for the clumsy creature to come back to us.
We were standing around ready for any kind of trouble, and had our blasters ready should we need to use them.
The creature came up from the murky swamp water and he had a worried look on his face.
" Tis nobody dere! Deys all gone!" the creature said as his eyestalks swiveled.
That's when he told us there was another place that is people go when they are in trouble.
We traveled through the swamps before we plunged deep into a forest of massive trees and tall grasses.
We finally emerged in a clearing of a marshy grasses and stands of trees with roots that are tangled so thickly that they formed what looks like to be an impassable hedge.
Then the next thing I know we were surrounded by creatures that were carrying electropoles and energy spears.
They heard us together and led us deeper into the swamp. Coming into the ruins of what was once a Temple, we were led to the far end of the ruins, and there waiting for us was the leader of these creatures.
" Who yous bring here to da Gungan sacred place?" the leader said angrily at our clumsy creature guide.
" I am Amidala, Queen of the Naboo." the Queen stepped forward.
" Naboo! No like da Naboo! Yous bring da maccaneks! Dey bust up our homes! Dey drive us all out! Yous all bombad! Yous all die, mebbe!" the creature said pointing his heavy arm at the Queen.
We were completely surrounded by the Gungans, some of them was on kaadu, some on foot, but all of them with electropoles, energy spears and some with some kind of throwing device.
Captain Panaka and the rest of us were looking around very nervously, and we had our hands straying towards our blasters just in case we have to use them.
The two Jedi that was with us was flanking with us around the Queen, but their arms hung loosely at their sides.
" We wish to form an alliance with you." the Queen tried again.
" We no form nutten wit da Naboo!" the creature roared angrily at her.
" You did well, Sabe`. But I will have to do this myself." I said quietly detaching myself from the others and stepped in front of the Queen.
" Who dis?" the head Gungan snapped at me.
" I am Queen Amidala..." I started to say just as scenery began to change again.
I was standing in the small room of the Theed temple that the deaths of heroes were mourned and their lives celebrated. I looked in front of me and there was the body of the tall Jedi that had been with me from the being of the Battle of Naboo. I noticed that the citizenry and officials of the Naboo and the Gungan peoples were gathering to honor the fallen Jedi Master.
That night gathering around the funeral pyre was me and my handmaidens, the newly elected Supreme Chancellor, the Governor, Captain Panaka and the honor guard of hundred Naboo soldiers, along with the about twenty Gungans and the members of the Jedi Council. Also there was a small clutch of Jedi Knights who had known the Jedi Master the longest and best.
And the young boy who from the desert planet, along with the newly Knighted Jedi that had been with the Master from the very being of the Battle of Naboo too.
I looked over at the young boy and saw that he was now dressed in loose-fitting, sand-colored Jedi Knight garb, and had the Jedi Master's lightsaber hanging from his belt, I saw a tear roll down the boy's face before the other Jedi put his hand on the boy's shoulder and whispered something to him.
Then the scenery changed once more.
There was a huge parade in the streets of the city of the Theed and the crowds line the streets cheered and began singing as the warriors and soldiers came down the street.
I stood at the top of the stone steps in the central plaza, watching the parade approach us.
Standing with me was Captain Panaka, the young boy, now Jedi Padawan and his new Jedi Master, my handmaidens, the Governor, Supreme Chancellor, the head leader of the Gungans, followed by the twelve members of the Jedi Council.
" Good morning Your Majesty!" Sabe` said coming into the room and opening the curtains so that the sun could come into the room.
" What the ..." I said as the scene disappeared as the sun shone into my eyes.
" We have a busy morning and breakfast will be here in five minutes." Sabe` said as she moved around the room.
I just laid there for a couple of minutes and realized that everything that happen was all but a dream, or was is...