III

Less than an hour goes by and I find that I am already dressed in a beautifully dark and dramatic gown. My handmaiden, Dorme, has done my hair in an intense up-do in record time.

I arrive at the Senate Chamber later than I had hoped for, however. My crew and I rush through the halls towards our designated platform. Breaking out into a brisk, speedy walk, I can hear bits and pieces of the Congressional Session as it begins.

"Order! We shall have order! The motion for the Republic to commission an army takes precedent, and that is what we will vote on at this time." Mas Amedda, aid to Chancellor Palpatine opens the session, then backs down making room for the Supreme Chancellor to take center stage.

"My esteemed colleagues, excuse me," he begins, "I have just received very tragic and disturbing news. Senator Amidala of the Naboo System has been assassinated but an hour ago."

I can hear bits and pieces of this as we trudge through the halls. A mixture of shock and surprise sends a wave of silence throughout the vast arena. Who gave them this information? Who knows what had happened already? Who assumed I died in the attack?

"This grievous blow is especially personal to me. Before I became Chancellor, I served under Amidala when she was Queen. She was a great leader who fought for justice, not only here in this honorable assembly, but also on her home planet."

I run faster than I should be. I am desperate to reach our designated platform.

I hear the Chancellor continue, "She was so loved she could have been elected Queen for life. She believed in public service, and she fervently believed in democracy. Her death is a great loss to us all. We will mourn her as a relentless champion of freedom…and also as a dear friend."

Through the uproar and chaos, I hear a second voice give their opinion on the matter of my apparent death.

"How many more Senators will die before this civil strife ends!" I hear the notable voice of Ask Aak call. "We must confront these rebels now, and we need an army to do it!"

"Why weren't the Jedi able to stop the assassination? Are we no longer safe under their protection?" I hear the voice of Ambassador Darnsana shout before the Senate. I hope the question is rhetorical. The Jedi have done enough for us. I beg they will not be thrown into this mess.

Senator Orn Free Taa's booming voice comes next. I hear his pleas for increased security. Timing could not be better. As he is known for adamant support of the Military Creation Act, I can use this to present myself and make my address.

Our platform entrance is in sight. We hurry in, breathlessly and Captain Typho and Dorme take their seats.

"Take a seat, M'Lady." Typho whispers to me.

I do not listen. I keep my back to him, standing firmly at the front of the platform. Why should I take a seat when I'm moments away from speaking to my fellow Senators?

"…needs more security now! Before it comes to war." I catch only the last of Orn Free Taa's words as his deep voice booms throughout the Chamber.

I roll my eyes. It was such a typical response from someone so single-minded and worrisome of his own accord. He was unlike any other Twi'leck I've ever seen.

For a race known for their beautiful body shapes, and sensual, seductive mannerisms, Senator Taa was the complete opposite in every way. I've met plenty of Twi'lecks to confirm that he was nothing like the ordinary, common being of their race. He was fat, blubbery, and selfish. There was nothing sensual about his voluminous, cylindrical body shape. His cranial tentacles hung with mass to his sides rather than on his posterior side with grace and elegance like every other Twi'leck. The number of necks he had seemed to change every time I saw him, depending on how his crew dressed him.

I feel fortunate that I have a crew who wants me to look dramatic and beautiful when necessary for my job. Regardless of Senator Taa being male, his crew dresses him in the most unflattering robes imaginable. There is no way to make him look less flattering in the robes in which his crew dons him with.

Amid my hateful thoughts on him, I am startled when I hear Chancellor Palpatine address Senator Taa's statements. Chancellor Palpatine and I go back far too long for me to even recount. I feel at ease when I see him standing there as Head of the Senate—Head of the Republic. I know he will stand with me on the issue of Military Creation. I know he will allow me to have my moment.

"Must I remind the Senator from Malastare that negotiations with the Separatists are continuing? Peace is our objective here. Not war." Palpatine says firmly with an emotionless countenance.

I am always baffled at his ability to tolerate and be unaffected by the arguing and shouting of the thousands of senators around him. Even now as he makes a statement that causes more reactionary arguing, he and his advisors stand in the center of the arena, completely neutral and phased by neither the support nor the opposition that the senators are passionately yelling out to them, refusing Mas Amedda's commands to quiet down.

It is now or never. This is my time.

"My noble colleagues, I concur with the Supreme Chancellor. At all costs, we do not want war!" I declare, flicking the controls on my platform's control panel, setting the pod in motion. It glides down, hundreds of feet to meet eye level with the Chancellor's podium and the other hovering platforms.

I look into the eyes of my ally, the Chancellor, and also into the eyes of Aak, Taa, and Darsana, all supporters of the Military Creation Act. I want to smile to myself for my most opportune timing with what I am about to proclaim to my colleagues.

Silence spreads like a virus throughout the Senate once again. After a moment passes, and it becomes evident that it is in fact, me, Senator Amidala, making this speech. There is an outburst of cheering and applause at my presence in the arena, even small, obligatory applauses come from those who seemed not as happy to see that I, in fact, did not perish in the attack.

"It is with great surprise and joy the chair recognizes the Senator from Naboo, Padme Amidala." The Chancellor said with a controlled, but relieved smile. I can hear that is genuinely very happy to see me alive.

Thoughts swim through my head as I prepare for what I am about to say. I do not know who to be mat at, who to place blame upon, and whom to deem the villain in this mess.

"Less than an hour ago, an assassination attempt was made against my life. One of my bodyguards and six others were ruthlessly and senselessly murdered." I begin, knowing I could use this sick massacre to my advantage in the argument against the bill.

I feel my voice begin to shake with emotion as I think once again of Corde and my staff. However, I continue to press on. I must give them something to think about. I must give them what they deserve.

"I was the target. But more importantly, the security measure before you was the target." I boom with emotion and passion to the hall.

There is silence. It is eerie. I wonder if I am being too harsh, too aggressive.

I continue, "I have led the opposition to building this army. But there is someone in this body who will clearly stop at nothing to assure its passage, even if it means cutting down a few delegated and political officials."

Muttering and conversation between individual platforms start to spread throughout the chamber. I hear many of the Senators starting to boo and yell at me. Perhaps they think I am speaking directly to them? But, perhaps that's exactly what I want.

"I warn you, if you vote to create this army, war will follow. I have experienced the misery of war first hand; I do not wish to do it again." I try to say over the rising volume of jeers directed at me.

Looking around the chamber, I see particular senators throwing their fists in the air in opposition. They're yelling, gesturing, and trying to force me to quiet down. This only empowers me more.

I see a smug look of victory on Orn Free Taa's face. This sets me over the edge. Enough is enough. I will not let him have his victory after I've already suffered enough today. I'm through trying to play nice. I've kept a calm and reserved face thus far with all the skill and practice I have acquired. Inside, I want to scream looking around the room and seeing how many of my fellow colleagues who have stood by my side for years, now booing at my plea, supporting this bill I so strongly oppose. They are throwing direct blows at me with no sympathy. Maybe a direct blow to them is what they need.

"Wake up, Senators! You must wake up!" I scream trying to overpower their boos and jeers. "If you offer the Separatists violence, they can only show violence in return. Many will lose their lives. All will lose their freedom. This decision could very well destroy the very foundation of our great Republic."

The senate hall gets surprisingly quiet. They begin to listen to me once more.

"I pray you do not let fear push you into disaster. Vote down this security measure, which is nothing less than a declaration of war." I plea. I have their attention. The chamber is motionless. I can taste the victory now.

"Does anyone here want that? I cannot believe they do." I finish, feeling victorious. Regardless, I've done everything I wanted. I was passionate. I was blunt. I was direct.

To my misery, an undercurrent of booing and groaning rises once more. There is nothing that I can say or do anymore that will get through the thick heads of these delegates. They are blinded, whether by hatred of me, or fear of my attacker.

I see Orn Free Taa move his pod next to mine. He addressed the Chancellor, "My motion to defer the vote must be dealt with first. That is the rule of law."

I send a glare his way and hope he sees. When I turn to Palpatine, he sends me a sympathetic look. I know he understands my position. I know he wants the Senate to agree with me. I know he listened to me. He knows, as well as I do, that there is nothing more to be done right now.

"Due to the lateness of the hour, and the seriousness of this motion, we will take up these matters tomorrow. Until then, the Senate stands adjourned." He declares.

My platform moves back to its docking place and I feel as if every Senator in the hall, myself included, can see the defeat written across my face. I can't believe he just dismissed my case like that. Did he do it to spare me more boos and jeers? Does he really think my cause is that far lost? That there is no way we can win this vote?

The small control panel viewscreen lights up and pings with a message. I look down to read it, realizing that it may look to nearby platforms as though I am looking down, crying at my defeat.

The message is a request from Chancellor Palpatine. He requests a private meeting in his office. I don't know what to make of this. I want answers. I leave the platform and head for the door before session even officially ends.