2 years later: Theed Primary Academy

"Tag, 'Abe, you're it!" said Padmé, who called her friend by her childhood nickname.

"Ugh, Don't call me that," said Sabé.

Sabé Pelare chased her companion around a Theed Primary Academy courtyard with the agility of a podracer. Padmé had a grin across her face as she ran throughout the courtyard past fountains gushing sparkling water, as her dark hair glided in the summer breeze. Dry leaves rustled over the paved stones, a few birds cawed overhead, and Sabé tailed her friend, even with Force speed. In the span of a few minutes, Sabé surprised her and Padmé was "it" again. Sabé, a natural trickster, appeared behind a column to ambush her friend from behind, and Padmé briefly felt jealousy toward her friend who inherited Force cloak.

"Eek!"

"Gotcha!"

"Reqo, you got me. I couldn't feel your aura, like you were invisible," said Padmé.

"Padmé... ney tranca pleska, it's just tag. I merely used Force cloak, a gift that runs in my family blood," said Sabé.

"Sorry, it's just that my father can be grumpy sometimes, he works long hours as a history and political science professor in the university. I must've learned some of his cuss words." Sabé snickered at the slightly embarrassing confession of her friend.

"Anyways, he may be wise yet stubborn, but he is a good father who has taught me many things in life to grow strong and independent," Padmé continued, ignoring the fact that her friend was close to laughing about her.

"I know Pad, but sometimes your dad makes me uncomfortable. He's always picky about who's allowed to be your friend and who can't, he's so controlling," said Sabé, keeping her snicker under control.

"Just saying, I feel as if I'm the only friend you have in this academy, and same goes for you. I often wonder, do you feel lonely or isolated?" she continued, as Padmé silently sat and listened carefully to her friend.

"Don't worry Sabé. I'm happy that I have somebody like you as my friend besides "Erie", you always understand who I am as a person, especially about our "Force-connection". Almost everybody is somewhat scared of us, but at least we have our friendship. About my dad, he strongly cares for my safety, even if I may not need it. Trust me, I've known my dad for ten standard years, and he's a good person inside. Just try to get more familiar with him," Padmé assured Sabé, who returned a faint smile from the consolation of her friend.

"Good to know that you aren't bothered by the fact that you have many rival classmates, nor by the fact that we are the only two Force-sensitives in this academy," said Sabé.

"Yes, I'm familiar with being rejected, my father never sat well with his class mates as he was so stubborn," elaborated Padmé.

"Really?" asked Sabé with some doubt.

"Of course Sabé, he was a lone wolf until he met my kind, strong mother. Now they've been together for over a standard decade and enjoy their company beyond what anyone could comprehend," said Padmé.

"That's sweet Padmé. Of course its good to know that they are happy together," said Sabé.

Just after Sabé finished her sentence, the academy bell chimed to indicate the last class transition period, alerting the schoolgirls to their responsibilities as students. Startled by the bell, the two girls swiftly returned to their school bags underneath their favorite lunchtime location, a stone bench shaded by a aged oak tree. As both of them packed up for the next class, Padmé glanced at her wrist chrono, and slung her school satchel on her shoulder.

"See you later," she said to Sabé.

"OK, I'll see you after session four." said Sabé in anticipation for their afternoon walk.

Padmé, dressed in her azure, gold-sleeved student robe, walked alongside her classmates through the marble hallways of the Primary Academy. As she approached the school hologram bulletin, she saw a poster reading: "Youth Legislative League Program at Theed University: Serve the Galactic Republic. Responsibility, Consistency, Service, Eloquence". Her brown eyes lit up, her dream career flashing in front of her gaze. A past quote by her father came to mind: "Politics, the craft of governing a society: leading with courage, representing with understanding, deciding with reason. If you get the power of a senator, which few have, never use it beyond a tool. It's not just for yourself: it's for the people you stand for."

However, Padmé felt conflicted over her desire to become a politician despite being compassionate, headstrong, intelligent, and Force-sensitive. Her heart was divided between her two loves: duty to the community and love for her family. She was reluctant to leave her family behind, the people who had loved and raised her since birth. Neither did Padmé would allow people throughout the Galaxy suffer from injustice. Thus, she decided to later discuss her career dreams with her parents. Quickly, Padmé downloaded the poster onto her datapad to discuss her aspirations with her parents after her last class of the day, which would pass with ease except for one classmate discussion about macroeconomics...

"Thus, I strongly suggest that we should raise taxes up by five percent to pay off the debt owed to Kuat for the construction of the fleet, and help the needy of Naboo," concluded Padmé in her speech.

"That's bantha fodder," muttered a student under his breath.

"High taxes don't solve everything but they can cause inflation from the rise of product prices by business to stay afloat. That's like digging a grave for the people themselves," critiqued a student.

"The last thing we need is a bigger government under Dear Leader Veruna," said a dark-haired girl.

"Quiet down students! An honorable Nubian can speak better than this! I know that the Labor Party is not popular here, but free speech is respecting other views that you disagree with," said the professor.

"Look guys and girls, I dislike Veruna too, but can't we all just get along? The last thing I want to hear on a last school day is antagi perst," pleaded Padmé.

(Note: antagi perst is the equivalent of the phrase "ad hominem" in Nubian.)

"Sapa berda," a student inaudibly whispered, unknowingly invalidating himself by calling his classmate a smart ass.

"You did pretty well, Padmé. You spoke with the words of a senator," communicated Sabé from afar.

"Thanks friend, but I am less than enthusiastic to mention how everyone reacted, except for my professor," said Padmé through her Force-connection with Sabé.

The bell chimed, and the students all packed up their holopads and utensils and left, leaving an isolated and upset Padmé and her professor behind. The professor felt pity for his top student, and decided to give her the highest mark for the speech final. Padmé wore an expression of confusion because she felt undeserving of the grade, but the professor simply gave her a thumbs up and encouraged her to follow her career dream of becoming queen and potentially senator.

"Regardless of what you peers said, we need a new, sensible, strong-willed, and sympathetic ruler of Naboo. I think that no matter what everyone says against you, those are not predictions. Learn to turn away from overly idealistic goals or ignore when necessary, my pupil, and concentrate on what matters most to you. Overall, I am happy to see you pass this stage of life, and I want you to at least remember this last lecture for you," assured the professor.

"Don't worry, professor, I'll be fine. It's been a pleasure learning from you," said Padmé. She did not agree with his anti-idealistic stance, but the rest of his words shone true to her.

"Goodbye, pupil," said the professor with a sad yet proud look on his somewhat wrinkled face with gray hair.

After Padmé's Promotion Ceremony

Padmé Naberrie, wore light-blue synth fabric attire with leather boots as she walked with Sabé, and looked straight away from the crowd of cheering students that threw their school gowns up in the air. After her valedictorian speech, she was unenthusiastic to meet her classmates from her rejection, yet still held an firm will to become an exemplary leader of Naboo someday. She could not abandon her values of family and public service, as they were her two driving forces behind her spirit. Sabé simply put her arm around her shoulders to comfort her friend who radiated feelings of confusion and pain into the Force.

"Why don't we have a snack at Gallo Bakery to cheer you up? You seem really bothered by your fellow classmates," said Sabé.

"Of course Sabé! How do you think I feel? I've been trash-talked and shunned by every one of my schoolmates over the most absurd thing ever, politics! Also, they don't care about the weak and the unfortunate of society, just their own self-righteousness," grumbled Padmé, her repressed anger boiling below the surface.

"Well, if you support a political opinion that isn't so great during these tense filled years of dealing with an agitated trade superpower, of course they would act up," said Sabé, shrinking back from the emotional outburst.

"I'll consider that fact. Otherwise, I stay with my ideas, not shaky popular opinion... At least I managed to expand the Naboo Galactic Relief Movement to Tatooine by pestering my dad to promote the expansion," said Padmé with slightly less anger.

"Oh really? That's impressive for a twelve year-old girl like you to sway the mind of a roughly thirty year old man," said Sabé.

"Please, don't flatter me Sabé. I feel less than stellar today, and I just want a damn pastry... with extra berry jam and a drink of Gallo Mount soda," said Padmé in a quieter tone.

As the two childhood friends walked through the streets of Old Theed, they saw the metallic hulks of skyscrapers stand in the distance, and passed adult clubs in the slums filled with debauchery and crime. Beside a shop, they saw a scrawny boy no older than fourteen shuffling in an alleyway wearing tattered clothes. His desperate gaze met her brown eyes, imploring her to give money for his next meal.

"Please ma'am, I'm starving. Some credits would be appreciated, " the boy said with formality, despite being in poverty.

"Here you go, enjoy your meal," whispered Padmé as she gave the boy a ten credit bill from her wallet. The corruption of Veruna sparked concern in the mind of Padmé; many gangs were rumored to engage in illicit moonshine importing deals with him. They continued on towards the pastry shop in the warm, semi-dry air, and reached Theed Cafe within a standard hour.

The order took little time, as the cashier was familiar with young Padmé and Sabé as customers. Oftentimes they would order jam filled pastries or shaak meat sandwiches, and this time they felt satisfied when receiving the warm Nubian dishes for lunch. Chatting about preteen crushes, summer plans, and hobbies helped Padmé find comfort from the verbal abuse by her classmates. Sitting together, Padmé and Sabé not only were independent schoolgirls, but friends who looked out for one another and trusted each other with a faith of durasteel. Whatever presented a hardship for one became the burden of the other. Yet Padmé still felt uneasy over her life crossroad, to become a queen living in solitude or become a Master Kereire with her family. During that same day, King Veruna considered the option of planning the demise of the Naberries...

Theed Royal Palace, Theed, Naboo

The throne room of the Monarch of Naboo was silent as usual, with its purple, gold-yellow edged carpeting hardly disturbed by ambassadors, senators, or Coruscant celebrities. Outside , the sky was darkening as the horizon wallowed the Naboo sun, and soon Theed was only illuminated by the moonlight of Ohma D'un, Rori and Tasa. Apparently the palace keepers had done their job well, so the King awarded them two Naboo days off duty. Veruna felt content with the flow of events of his reign since his approval increased by twenty percent for modernizing industries and implementing a defense fleet as a result of a one-time deal with Kuat Shipyards.

King Veruna looked out of the throne room and gazed at the emerging skyline with pride as he saw Nubian styled high-rises being constructed outside the historic sector of Theed. Their tall, majestic durasteel and super reinforced glass facade made them sparkle in the moonlight like their own palaces of old, housing multitudes of Nubians. As a result, Theed had grown to from a backwater settlement to a metropolis of five million within thirty years; it was now infamous throughout the Mid Rim for its history, culture, riches, and of course, the women. Soon his reminiscing ended from an interruption by a handmaiden named Saché, an older handmaiden at eighteen years old and a relative of the Pelare House. Veruna noted that he must be careful to avoid suspicion from the Naberries through his most trusted handmaiden.

Saché, a teenage brunette, wore the new handmaiden uniform, a pale red-mango gradient colored robe with a cloak of purple fireproof and acid resistant polymer fabric marked by the Naboo royal flower. Her hidden lightsaber and blaster rested in her pockets ready for protecting the monarch at quick notice. She pulled out a small silver hologram disc from the folds of her attire and held it out towards the King.

"Your Highness, you have received a transmission from Ambassador Palpatine," said Saché Erres.

Veruna thought about his close friendship with Palpatine, as he had mentored him in politics when he was campaigning for Prince. Also, he had shared a mutual interest in gaining power and influence. Both Veruna himself and Palpatine desired power for a sense of security to shape their environment to fit their ideals. Veruna craved power, as he inwardly feared the feeling of weakness he felt after his parents perished in a tragic speeder crash. Power was his only comfort to cover that wound in his heart, and he would fight to keep all his accomplishments secure. Recently, he had debated against the soon-to-be Princess of Naboo: Padmé of House Naberrie, and had been frequently criticized by the Naberries for his warlike policies despite the security they brought for Naboo.

"Understood, now leave us," said King Veruna, and Saché left the the monarch to allow him to talk with the ambassador and secret Sith apprentice. Veruna activated the hologram, and saw an image of a red-haired, middle-aged man appear.

"I see that the defense fleet of yours has been brought to reality. After all, the Trade Federation and Techno Union hardly trusts us, thus we must prepare for the worst: an invasion. Aldo, the economy has boomed recently. Of course I congratulate you for your will to make Naboo great again, alongside the will to protect your people. You are a man of vision. However, you are aware of the increasing protest against your activities, such as the Civil Security Intel Act a few years earlier. The pesky Naberries present a threat to the safety and peace of Naboo, as evidenced by their... alternate views and public influence as veterans," said Palpatine to inflate the pride and power mania of Veruna.

"Yes, the Naberries are a threat to the security of Naboo, the situation I face with them is quite sticky. I require some way to dispose of them, dead or alive, as they have been a thorn in my side for years. All that I have worked for may go to waste from their opposition," said Veruna with an expression of disgust at the mention of the prominent house of Nubian warriors.

"Acknowledged, Your Majesty and good friend. Looks like I have a special favor to give concerning the Naberries. I have connections with the Nubian Supremacist radicals, and they also possess a well trained army of hit men to eliminate them," added Palpatine.

The Sith apprentice knew that Veruna, the egotistical power grabber, would not refuse his offer, which was destined to remove obstacles to the galactic takeover by the Sith. The Naberries would never approve of an oppressive dictatorship. For the apprentice, the art of manipulation came naturally to Palpatine, as every person had a weakness that could be used to bend him or her to his will.

"Interesting offer, Ambassador, but I must have time to consider the situation carefully," said Veruna with a grimace on his face.

"Consider your choices carefully, Your Highness."

"I will make a decision soon, Ambassador and good friend," said Veruna. The hologram flickered out.

King Veruna sat up from the chrome edged throne, his legs tingling with numbness after extended time sitting down. Being King of Naboo was an exalted yet taxing position to attain, physically and mentally. Feeling tired from a long day of reading reports and revising laws and decrees by Parliament, Veruna wanted to go through his secret Force exercises in his bedroom. Of course, being the last remaining member of your royal blood was something to ignore while meditating to release his troubles into the Force. The radicals may have accidentally called an hit on his parents long ago, but he found a chance to turn the oppositions to his side within the extremist-nationalist group: a chance to kill the Naberries. The King acutely missed his parents, but still widely grinned with mania and ego, despite the contradicting feelings within; he had to validate himself as a strong, beloved leader after being orphaned. Power was his rescue from his troubles and a chance to make others show affection to him. yet the Naberries seemed poised to take that all away. Veruna was not a stupid man, but a patient schemer: waiting for four years until Padmé reached a high political status in order to effectively shock the population to accept his political direction was a sound option.

Clenching his fist, Veruna shattered a porcelain vase with the Force out of anger, and realized he had made a blunder keeping his Force powers a secret. Quickly, Veruna levitated the broken fragments to the floor beside the narrow shelf where the vase once stood. Relieved, Veruna cloaked his Force presence and entered his bedroom just as Saché passed by, confused by the surge of anger she had felt from the monarch. Once again with a suppressed sigh, Saché had to remind herself that Veruna was an emerging psychopath prone to ego rants and anger outbursts. She immediately notified a palace keeper on her comlink to clean up the shattered porcelain bits on the floor. Saché found herself reflecting on her grueling two years as a handmaiden to Veruna. In other words, the unfortunate handmaiden was supposed to protect a power-hungry psycho from danger despite being a potent aggressor to the Trade Federation, a much larger threat to Naboo. By serving the King, she was essentially dooming her home planet, the Naboo Force user society, and herself to destruction.

"How kriffing 'worthy' could this 'esteemed' duty be," Saché thought sarcastically as she walker back to her quarters. Upon arriving at her quarters, she changed clothing into her nightgown. She removed the purple cloak, and hung it within her wardrobe. Then she unfastened her utility belt, which contained her lightsaber and blaster, and placed it in her wardrobe. Saché took a deep breath, and briefly thought about King Veruna. How would an emotionally unstable person like Veruna enter office as King of Naboo? After changing out of her elaborate handmaiden robes, she brushed her teeth and settled into bed. Before she fell asleep, all she could hope was that Veruna was not a heart-over-head buffoon.