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Three
"The Supreme Chancellor will see you now, Senator Amidala," a pink skinned assistant said.
The Senator of Naboo nodded stiffly, careful that her elaborate headdress did not shake or wobble. She walked toward the office of Supreme Chancellor Palpatine, where two blue-armored guards with large ceremonial blasters draped over their shoulder opened the door.
As she walked across the office, the black Cyrene silk of her gown flowed around her feet and rubbed gently at her ankles.
"Ah, Senator Amidala! What a pleasant surprise. When my staff alerted me that you had requested an appointment, I told them to schedule it as soon as possible." The Chancellor wore robes of velvety deep blue, as he often did. He stood and walked over to the Senator.
"I thank you for agreeing to meet with me so quickly, Your Excellency." Padmé said, as the chancellor took her hands.
"Not at all, I am pleased to see you return to the Capitol safely. I would be most interested in hearing your account? of our new army. You were one of the few non-Jedi who witnessed them in person, after all. Well, on our side, at least." He laughed slightly at his own joke.
Padmé forced a smile, even though her stomach felt a little queasy. "That is what I am here to discuss with you, Chancellor."
"Oh, very good. I value your opinions greatly, Padmé."
"I am glad to hear that, Chancellor," Padmé said formally. It would not do to get too comfortable in her old friend's presence these days. "I feel that in the past week since this war began, we have neglected one very important ideal that has helped keep the Republic intact since its inception,"
"Oh?" The chancellor looked interested. This was a good sign; perhaps she could convince him. One could never tell for sure with a master politician.
"Peace, Your Excellency."
"Peace? Peace is impossible," he said sounding surprised as he bowed his head.
"Impossible? I will never believe that. It is more imperative than ever that we sue for peace. Thousands of sentients are dying every day, every hour, because of this war. Innocent civilians who—"
Palpatine interrupted her, speaking a firm but soothing tone. "Yes, thousands are dying because the Separatists are attacking our systems. They cannot be reasoned with. If there was hope of a diplomatic solution, my negotiations prior to the onset of the war would have found it
"So we will fight until either our side or theirs is unable to any longer? Will we stop there? Or will we keep fighting until none of our enemies remain?" Padmé asked incredulously.
"We will fight for as long as we must. At all costs, the Republic must be preserved. Surely you agree with that." Palpatine implored her with a small sigh that Padmé barely heard.
"He's not the same man who was my Senator from Naboo," Padmé thought.
"Of course the Republic must be preserved; it has existed in this form or another for 25,000 years. The Republic is the single greatest achievement of galactic civilization. It has saved countless trillions of lives, by brokering peace and preventing war. There has never been a situation like this since its incorporation, one where we are divided against ourselves. We can end this war before it reaches a point where no one can stop it. You can end this." Padmé hoped that her impassioned speech would break through Palpatine's resolve and convince him that peace was the answer.
The Chancellor sighed. "Your optimism and naiveté are vast, my young friend. War is the only option at the moment. We will fight until we cannot fight any longer. Democracy will be preserved - this I promise you."
His ferver and militaristic response shocked her. "Is democracy enforced with a knife, democracy at all, Chancellor?" Padmé asked rhetorically.
"I see you will not be easily dissuaded, Senator and I respect your views," Palpatine said with a dark look on his face. "However, the point is moot. I doubt the Separatists would agree to treat with us regardless. War is our only course."
"We shall see. Thank you for your time, Your Excellency." Padmé bowed and made her way to the door with an uneasy feeling in her heart.
She was more focused now then ever. If Palpatine would not heed her concerns, she would find others who would. She would not give up on peace anymore then she would on breathing.
----
Padmé stood in the elegantly designed room, wearing one of her red formal gowns, mulling over her recent conversation with the Supreme Chancellor.
In the 18 standard hours since their discussion, she had been wondering how he could have changed so much. He had been in favor of peace, he sued for peace repeatedly prior to the outbreak of hostilities. Why would he stop now? She had no answer but knew that she would have to help inspire the Republic.
Padmé waited in a large vestibule of the Caamasi embassy. She had an appointment to see the senator for Caamas, Eeshrin Ot'Hyne, 30 minutes before.
It was not in the nature of the calm and caring Caamasi to keep one waiting for any length of time. They took guests very seriously and had a special code for dealing with them.
It was a busy time, and with the war on, Padmé had no right to complain about a small wait. Still, she couldn't help but wonder why he would keep her waiting.
The entire office smelled of spices and wood; it was the smell she associated with the Caamasi, and yet none were present at that moment.
As if in answer to her thoughts, the door opened and one of the senator's aides entered. "The senator will see you now," the aide said as he opened the door for her.
Padmé walked into the room to find Senator Eeshrin Ot'Hyne's back facing her. He was staring out one of the long row of windows. This alarmed Padmé more. She counted the Caamasi Senator as a friend; to see him so standoffish was odd.
"Senator Amidala, what may I do for you?" he asked in clear but throaty basic. He did not turn around.
"Senator, I come to you to speak of peace. You were one of my strongest allies in opposition to the Military Creation Act and I—"
"I understand that you may have given up on a peaceful settlement to the war, Senator, but not all of us have." The Caamasi spoke with uncharacteristic anger in his voice. "Coming here to ask me to support war, when you know my species loathes it, is unbecoming. I had thought you respected me more than this. The chancellor should have come himself."
Padmé was confused. "I'm afraid I do not understand, Senator. I am, as ever, a proponent of peace. I just yesterday pleaded this case to the Chancellor himself."
"Perhaps you were not as clear and eloquent as usually are, Senator." Eeshrin Ot'Hyne said to her. He motioned her over to his desk and pointed to a flat screen built into the red wood.
He pushed the play button, and Padmé watched as the familiar visage of the Supreme Chancellor appeared at a press conference.
"Chancellor, you recently had a meeting with Senator Amidala of Naboo. She was against the Military Creation Act, one of the strongest voices championing peace. How would you characterize her attitude now?"
"Senator Amidala is patriot and a staunch Republican. In our meeting she reassured me that the Republic would stand first and foremost in her mind. That it must be preserved. The Separatists attempted to have her executed prior to the outbreak of hostilities and she was present at the Battle of Geonosis. So she knows and understands the stakes of this war more then most. I would direct further questions to the Office of the Senator of Naboo."
Outraged by the contortion of her words in the Chancellor's remarks, she turned to the Caamasi Senator who was studying her carefully.
"He totally misconstrued my words. I am unsure if it was intentional or not, but I am sure that I was clear in my desire for peace. If he thinks his actions at that press conference will cow me into supporting a war where no one will win, he is mistaken. If you will excuse me, it seems I must set my own house in order." Padmé was slightly relieved to see a grudging respect in the Caamasi's violet eyes as she left.
----
"The Chancellor is unable to see you at the moment, Senator. Perhaps you can try back later," the Chancellor's aide said.
She had left the Senator Eeshrin Ot'Hyne and proceeded directly to the Chancellor's office to discuss the matter further, only to be rebuffed at the door by one of the Chancellor's minions.
The Clone Wars may be going on in the far reaches of space, but on Coruscant, she was fighting a different kind of war. A war in an arena where she could win.
Padmé turned and left. She had plans to make.
I will not stand for this. If Palpatine wants to play this kind of political game with me, I will be more than happy to oblige.
