Those Crimson Drops
By: Camigwen
+ PROLOGUE
She still remembered that fateful day, the day her family's world came crashing down around them. They were so happy, after hearing news of the Clone War's end. Happy because, after all the years she had fought within the Senate for an end to the war, it was finally over. Padmé Amidala could come home to the family who missed her so dearly and worried for her even more so. She could resign from the Senate, as she often spoke of doing after the war's end, and do what she had talked and giggled about since the end of her term as Queen - start a family.
Padmé would come home, but not in the way any of them had expected.
When Bail Organa's ship touched down, she had expected to see her sister practically running off the ramp of the Alderaan cruiser to greet her, but instead watched in horror as Bail emerged, Padmé limp in his arms. "The Jedi killed her," he had said. "There was nothing my medical staff could do to save her. We arrived too late. I'm sorry for your losses."
Yes, losses. And that was what made Padmé's death even more tragic; the fact that the child that had been growing within her womb had died along with her.
She remembered feeling angry towards her sister for not informing them of her pregnancy, angry at Bail for not being able to save her sister and her unborn child, but most of all, she was angry at the Jedi. No, she hated the Jedi. Padmé had always thought highly of the Jedi Order and stepped forward to defend them when someone dared threaten their name, and in the end, she received no thank you. Only a death sentence.
The Jedi were murderers, schemers, traitors...people she never wanted to see again. For, if not for them, her dear little sister would still be alive. Laughing, loving, smiling, and raising the child that was denied the chance to live.
"I do not want the Jedi to get involved in this, reformed or not."
Queen Kalrondra looked a bit taken aback, confused by Sola Naberrie's sudden outburst. She eyed the woman suspiciously, curious as to the reasoning behind the sudden surge in her anger. "What? I do not understand. You ask for a private investigation to find this stolen object, but do not want the Jedi involved? If I beseech a private investigator, word would still leak out somehow to the bounty hunters and the galaxy would begin its own chase. Sola, the Jedi are trustworthy - they have proven themselves to be that. What makes you think otherwise?"
Her fist slammed down hard upon the Queen's desk, a desk that her sister once sat at. "How dare you ask me that question when you know the answer, Kalrondra. The Jedi killed Padmé, they killed my sister. And you want them to be the ones to find the one thing that was precious to her? What makes you think they won't destroy it like they did her?"
"Sola, you are being irrational. Clearly this generation of Jedi is different from the ones that revolted against the Republic at the end of the Clone Wars. The structure of the Order itself has been reorganized and none of the original Council members, or anyone who was trained during the days of the Old Republic, sit on the Jedi Council. In fact, I don't even believe there is a Jedi Council anymore."
Sola sank back in her chair, sneering as her eyes dropped to the flawless marble tile at her feet. "A Jedi is a Jedi, nothing can change that."
The Queen sighed, her frustration with the distraught woman building. "I still don't understand why you want this particular object retrieved. There were other objects stolen when your sister's grave was robbed - jewels, silver and gold plating, Nubian emblems...all objects of importance. Yet, this...it doesn't even have any value to it, I--"
"It has value to me." She raised her gaze from the floor to meet the Queen's. "When Bail Organa brought my sister's body back to Naboo, she was clutching this worthless object in her hand. I don't know what it is, or what it symbolizes, but it was precious to her...and that's all that matters. So, I am not about to let a bunch of greedy thieves take that way from her. The jewels be damned, they can be replaced. My sister's necklace cannot."
Kalrondra took a moment to collect her thoughts and allow Sola the chance to calm herself. She had to find it, Naboo owed that much to the Queen and Senator who devoted her life to helping her planet, but wasn't sure how to. She wanted to entrust the mission to the Jedi, but Sola dismissed the notion. If only Sola would give them a chance, then maybe she'd be able to look past the cloud of hate that she had thrown up around the Jedi name and see the good that they had become.
"Give the Jedi a week and if nothing is found, I will contact a private investigator as you wish." Sola shook her head disapprovingly, but Kalrondra continued. "I've met the head of the Jedi Order, Luke Skywalker. I'll entrust this mission solely to him and no one else. Please Sola, give them a chance - give him a chance."
"Skywalker," Sola breathed. She knew that name. It was the name of a Jedi that had protected her sister during start of many assassination attempts on her life. Anakin Skywalker. So, the estranged little boy from Tatooine that her sister had spoke of did indeed have relatives. The Jedi gift - no, curse - must run strong through the Skywalker line. It was a pity, really.
However, Sola had to admit that Anakin had been the only Jedi she had liked, the only one she had ever met, really. She had even teased her sister in regards to him - jokingly, of course, for it was common knowledge that relationships were forbidden to the Jedi. And he had saved her sister's life, so perhaps this relative of his would be decent enough to find and retrieve Padmé's necklace. If he didn't, then he would prove that the Jedi were still, and would forever be, corrupt.
"Fine, do it. But, only a week - no more, no less. And only the one, Kalrondra. Only Skywalker." She stood, the layers of fabric that made up her gown sliding off the chair to the floor as she did so. "I will be checking up on your progress, I assure you that." Turning, she gave the Queen no room for response as she exited, not even bothering to await proper dismissal or escort.
Kalrondra frowned, shaking her head as she reached forward and lightly tapped a panel on her desk. "Yes, patch me though on a secure, private channel to Coruscant."
To be continued...
Star Wars is © George Lucas.
06.17.05