Notes:
The usual, not mine, no money derived from it
When Geonosis came into view, Padmé found herself unfortunately still bereft of any working plan. Plan's were Dormé's thing! She was the one who analyzed all possible outcomes of any given situation while Padmé was supposed to listen to the plans and then use only the parts beneficial to her when she sized an opening she could use and ran head first through it.
She reclined in her piloting seat and sighed, reviewing her situation. She was in a diplomatic and as such unarmed ship, with only an Astromech droid to accompany her. She had thought herself quite clever, striking several birds with one stone by being able to go and rescue Obi-Wan, investigate the people who wanted her dead, and most of all putting a safe distance between her and Anakin.
But now that she had reached her destination, quite the problem was rising to meet her: the people on this planet still wanted her dead. And she was about to place herself at their mercy.
Perhaps the blunt route could work.
She went to the sleeping quarters and rummaged in her drawers until she found a dress similar to the one her handmaidens, and herself on occasion, used to wear when she was still queen. She changed into it, taking particular care to make sure she cowl covered most of her face. She eyed her blaster before turning away from it, sighing. She would love to carry it with her but it would go against the farce she was planning to pull out, so it would have to stay on her ship. If it came to it, the heavy over layer of sleeves of her gown had been embroidered to hide vibroblades inside that would look like shiny ornaments to an unaware onlooker.
She walked back to the cockpit and directed R2 to help her place the ship in orbit around the planet, close enough to appear to be waiting for approval to land, yet still at a safe enough distance so the planet's defenses shouldn't be able to reach them. She adjusted her cowl one last time, smoothed her hands down her dress, and initiated contact with the Geonosian space port.
A grumpy looking Geonosian's face appeared on her communication screen and emitted a few sounds. Her ship's built it translating feature added subtitles at the bottom of the same screen when it recognised the dialect.
"I am Senate representative Naberrie of Naboo," she answered. "I come here on behalf of Senator Amidala. I am expected by Count Jard Dooku of Serenno."
Not for the first time, she was grateful of the old Nubian custom to have their elected monarch choose a name for themselves when their put forward their candidature. It was a way for the princes and princesses of Theed to show they were leaving their old lives behind and would dedicate all of their time to their function as the planet's leader, until their term came to an end. Then and only then would they rekindle contact with their kin and start assuming their birth name again. When she became a Senator right after her second term as queen ended, she hadn't seen the need in using her old name again when 'Amidala' was already so well known.
Though she hardly had gone to great lengths to conceal her real name, she had never used it in the political sphere either, only her decoy persona had, and Padmé was a common enough Nubian name that using it granted her a fair measure of anonymity. This came in handy when trying to stall the occasional paparazzi's attempt to pry into her life.
"If you want to meet with the Count of Serenno, you should seek him on his planet, Senate representative. Now be on your way before we make you leave. Republic ships are not welcome here."
Padmé discreetly glanced at the control panels of her ship, which showed its shields were in perfect working order. Nothing that would stop a planet's anti-space defenses, but it was enough to reassure her. She straightened in her seat and insisted. She had convinced people to her views under worse odds. She had managed to make a few Senators trust her after the diplomatic debacle that had been her intervention in the Senate while her planet was under siege before going back and solving the problem herself without the Senate's approval. Yet she had managed, she wouldn't lose to this Planet Security guard.
"I am certain you understand that in these troubled times, a suitable amount of discretion needs to be applied when negotiating with certain interlocutors. The Count is expecting me."
"And what would be the topic of said negotiation?"
"As I have just said," Padmé answered with a smile she didn't bother to repress since it was hidden by her cowl, "a certain amount of discretion needs to be applied." She let her voice grow more authoritative, "Now call him. Neither of us would appreciate a delay in this meeting because you and your colleagues didn't bother to keep yourselves appraised of my impending arrival."
The Geonosian grunted, obviously displeased. But after a few moments, Padmé received coordinates to an orbital position closer to the planet.
"Go to that position. I need to contact the Count to verify your claim."
"Please do," she answered in a sweet voice, completely at odds with the sharp tone she ha used seconds before.
As soon as the communication ended, R2 started beeping worriedly and she had no troubles interpreting the sounds.
"I know this puts us in the range of their canons R2, but we don't have a choice, we have to appear as though this is a planned visit. Don't let your guard down though, we might need to run away… Or go through their defenses to save Obi-Wan."
R2 whistled gravely and inched closer to the terminal he used to hook himself onto the ship's computers.
The minutes dragged on and Padmé could feel her resolve waver the longer she spent waiting in uncertainty. It should work. She had always vocally supported negotiating the peaceful exit of the Separatist Coalition from the Republic and had advocated against arming the Galactic Republic. Sometimes, agreements needed to be renegotiated and if the Separatists truly believed there was nothing left for them as members of the Republic, she wouldn't prevent them from leaving. If people agreed to meet with an open mind and make concessions, they wouldn't need to fall to barbaric practices such as war where the strongest would impose their terms on the loser, simply because some planets could not see eye to eye on certain interplanetary matters anymore. They were all adults here! With many lives depending on them. The least they could do was to ensure any change would be done with the civilians' best interests at heart.
Even though some of the people on this planet had placed a bounty on her head, her reputation should still shield her, especially if her interlocutors thought she was acting on behalf on herself, instead of realizing they had the very person they were attempting to murder on their doorstep.
But as time wore on, doubt settled in her gut and she began to wonder if she hadn't overestimated her own political weight. She was about to ask R2 to help her prepare the ship for as fast an escape as they could manage when her communication terminal flashed and her interlocutor came back online.
"The Count has confirmed your claims Representative Naberrie. Follow the path I am forwarding you and transmit the enclosed codes at the security border. Further instructions will be relayed to you once you have entered the atmosphere."
Padmé took a deep breath and pressed a button to save her newly acquired access codes. Her bet had paid off. Either that or she was walking straight into a trap. Whichever it was, it was now too late to back down.
.
Padmé walked behind her Geonosian escort with R2 by her side, head bowed, colorful layers of skirts swishing around her ankles and flowing behind her. It was truly unfortunate that her pretense to come here didn't allow for more practical clothing should she need to make a run for her life.
She looked down on her flame colored sleeves and forced her hands to loosen from the way they were clenched into fists by her sides. She did not know why the Count had chosen to humor her. If he was leading her into a cell, it was quite the elaborate trap he was setting up, she reflected as she was led into an ornately carved room that obviously served a diplomatic purpose.
R2 came to a stop at the door and whistled what she decided to interpret as an encouragement. The clever droid knew it would be allowed no further. Padmé looked inside the room and her breath caught in her throat.
Count Jard Dooku of Serenno was waiting for her inside. Alone.
He stood up and dismissed her escort before motioning to the seat directly to his right. It was a place of honor, and a different setting than she had expected.
She had assumed he would have invited some Geonosian officials to sit in on this meeting. His position inside the Confederation appeared to be even more important than what she had believed it to be. Beyond this obvious display of power over his allies, the seating arrangement was throwing her off balance. Had he had her sit opposite him, it would have meant he was understandably holding her use of deception to initiate this meeting against her.
This was different from everything she had envisioned. The situation presented all the markers of a diplomatic meeting between planets on friendly terms, between long-standing and trusted partners.
She walked up to Dooku, sketched a formal bow indicating the highest level of respect towards an equal, and took her seat. She didn't miss the way his mouth twitched in amusement when she took off the shawl she had been using to conceal her face.
"Padmé Naberrie Amidala, Senator of Naboo," he said after he too had taken his seat in their corner of the large table that could easily host about twenty persons at a time. "To what do I owe the honor of such an unexpected visit?"
His posture was open, she reflected while carefully choosing her words. She had prepared a discourse meant for aggressively negotiating with a hostile party, but it was far too harsh for the current dynamics. Furthermore, the Count clearly was entertained by her antics in finagling this meeting, expectant even, as though he already knew the true reason behind her presence here, which wouldn't be surprising. Beyond this, he did not appear to be cross with her as she had feared, rather the contrary.
"You are currently holding a Jedi Knight, Obi-Wan Kenobi. I am afraid this particular Jedi has been assigned to my protection because of my outspoken resistance in regards to the armament of the Republic. Unfortunately, as you have been able to notice, I have misplaced said Jedi on my way to Naboo, where I was retreating to avoid further attempts on my life. If it is in the realm of the possible, I would like to formally request that you hand him over to me as soon as you can part from him."
"As unfortunate as your escort's lack of sense of direction is, I am afraid my influence here can only reach so far. Had we been on Serenno, I would of course have been touched by your plea and could have been moved by some remnant of affection regarding my Grandpadawan into securing his safe release into your care."
Padmé perked up. Dooku was claiming kinship with Obi-Wan. Now this was interesting and belied the negative opening of his argument.
"But alas, though Geonosis is an ally of mine, I hold little sway over their internal affairs. Furthermore, we do not recognise the authority of the Republic here, Senator, and going through proper though obsolete channels shall do you no good. Your protector was trespassing in a territory where Jedi are unwelcome. As a result, he has been incarcerated and is waiting for his trial. But if Naboo were to join our alliance, I could easily convince the Geonosian authorities to hear your plea of clemency over a regrettable misunderstanding."
Ah. So these were her negotiation grounds. The stakes were high, and what he was asking for, she couldn't give him. But he knew that already, he was too well versed in galactic politics not to be aware that she was not a queen anymore and as such unable to make the decision he was asking of her.
"This is a tempting offer, Count, but I fear you are pleading your case to the wrong person. It is Queen Jamillia you should be petitioning with such a proposal." Padmé affected an embarrassed posture, and pushed an invisible lock of hair behind her ear. Naboo would never join the Separatists, but there was no harm in dangling the possibility in front of the Count, if only to keep him well disposed towards her.
"Unfortunately, I fear my queen will not welcome your advances with the warmest regard. I trust you are aware that a prominent member of the Coalition you lead happens to be the Trade Federation conglomerate."
She let the sentence hang in the air, hoping the Count would finish it for her to give her more information about his true goals. Fortunately, he didn't disappoint.
"If you are insinuating your planet joining us hinges on them leaving the Confederacy, I am afraid the Trade Federation is too valuable a system to lose."
"That is a pertinent concern. However, you will find the Naboo are forgiving people, who value peace more than most," she said with a thin smile. Truth was, she had found her people were far more forgiving than herself as of late, but the Count didn't need to know that, nor was it relevant the the current negotiations.
"The destruction they wrought on my precious planet and her inhabitants shall never be erased. Naboo could be willing to extend a hand in forgiveness, but only if the Trade Federation also takes a step towards us in return."
She did not like the Count and she distrusted his motives on a fundamental level. But he seemed invested in courting Naboo to his cause and she would be a fool to let the opportunity of reaching an agreement with the leader of the Separatist faction pass her by with the threat of a war breaking out looming over her.
She was shrewd enough to know that her latest actions in the Senate were only serving to delay an inevitable conflict. But her planet was pacifist. Her people had reaffirmed this was a core value they all shared multiple times during her terms first as their Queen and then as their Senator. She would honor this belief she shared with them from the bottom of her heart, no matter how distasteful the thought of having to play nice with the Trade Federation was to her.
The Count motioned for her to continue and she allowed steel to bleed into her voice. If she had to renew diplomatic relationships with them, it would be on her own terms.
"If the Trade Federation were to formally recognize having invaded Naboo ten years ago, destroying our historical heritage, pillaging several of our national treasures, destroying many natural reserves, starving and executing the populace after placing them in detention camps barely suitable to hold droids, let alone any living being, and give Naboo the proper financial compensation alongside giving back that which they stole from us, and more specifically from our national buildings, then I believe Naboo could be convinced into keeping a neutral role in an eventual upcoming conflict."
She could have sworn she saw the Count repress a smile at her passionate speech.
"To quote you, Senator, though you raise compelling arguments, I fear you are pleading your case to the wrong person. But despite this, I do find most of your terms acceptable and shall intercede in your favor should the Trade Federation agree to a meeting with you and your queen. I trust that in return of such a move on their part, Naboo would consent to opening negotiations to rekindle a commercial relationship with them?"
Though she wished for nothing more than to spit a refusal in his face, Padmé inclined her head regally and forced a placid smile to appear on her lips.
"Should such an event occur it would, of course, be highly beneficial for us all. But," she raised a hand to emphasize her point, "this would only be possible after the Trade Federation publically issued a statement available to every planet of both the Republic and the Coalition of Independent Systems, expressing their deepest regrets over their misguided actions taken against Naboo a decade ago. My presence here is a show of trust in the Coalition's integrity. Any further negotiation will require proof that you hold Naboo in as high regard as Naboo holds the Coalition."
And didn't saying those words leave a bitter taste in her mouth. But politics were made of constant negotiations with less than savory partners and if the future safety of her planet depended on her playing nice with the Federation, then she wouldn't let her ego and resentment interfere with her duty to the people who trusted her to defend their best interests in the interplanetary sphere.
"We are pacifist people, Count, and believe any disagreement can be solved through reciprocated communication and an open mind, not through violence."
The Count reclined in his seat and turned his eyes to the ceiling as he let out a long, theatrical exhale. Padmé hid a frown. He knew something she didn't.
"I wish I could believe you, Senator. Unfortunately, recent events have given me reasons to doubt your words. I wish you to know I do understand how the Trade Federation's terrible actions have impacted your planet in the most tragic ways, but I dare say I have proof that Naboo has renounced its pacifist ways."
"I beg your pardon?" Padmé blinked before scrambling to put her composure back together. She had thought this day couldn't surprise her any more than it already had, but clearly, she had been wrong. Naboo? Not pacifist anymore? This was such an outlandish claim the most inappropriate snort escaped her.
"Oh," the Count steepled his fingers under his chin, "could it be this didn't happen under your orders?"
He reached out to a holographic projector, and within moments Padmé was treated to the horrific sight of Jar Jar Binks, her handpicked representative in her absence, advocating for the Chancellor to be given emergency powers to create an Army of the Republic, and all this in her name.
She grit her teeth, fighting not to lose herself to her inner turmoil. She had always known Jar Jar wasn't the brightest soul. Pure, innocent, and loyal, yes. But lacking in the finer aspects of cleverness. Or as Sabé would put it, 'a political liability that should never be left anywhere near a public platform.' Despite this, she had never thought his admittedly simple mind was so dull as to be unable to follow the most basic of orders! How dare he break her trust, Naboo's trust, and drag her name in the mud, betraying everything she and her beloved planet had ever stood for?
The moment she was back on Coruscant, she was going to strangle him.
"I would advise against it. It would be difficult for you to uphold your end of our agreement from the inside a jail cell, Senator," the Count's dulcet baritone dragged her away from her dreams of blissful catharsis. She felt a blush heat her cheeks at the thought she had been thrown off balance so much she hadn't been able to prevent herself from vocalizing her thoughts.
Though why the Count still refrained from seizing yet another opportunity to press his advantage, she couldn't fathom. Perhaps he truly was interested in cordial relationships with Naboo. If this truly were the case, and the elaborate dance they had been partaking in since her landing was fully entrenched in truth, as him keeping on overlooking her diplomatic faux-pas seemed to indicate, then coming here might have been her best idea in quite some time and could save her planet's position in the now inevitable conflict in light of Jar Jar's actions.
"On the other hand, if you could make sure his person shall never be associated with you or with Naboo's politics again, it would go a long way in ensuring future cordial relations between your planet and the Confederacy. I could, in fact, use this gesture on your part to help the Trade Federation recognise the harm brought to your planet."
"I can assure you that the first thing I shall do upon meeting him again will be to fire him," Padmé spat. She and her sentimentalism. She should have listened when her handmaidens had suggested picking anyone but Jar Jar as the Gungan representative of her senatorial team but she had allowed the memories of his more or less fruitful help during the Naboo invasion to cloud her judgement. She was paying the price for her error now. Jar Jar would be escorted back to Otto Gungah and she would petition for a competent replacement post haste. She would drag the Gungan all the way back to his people's capital city herself if she had to.
Dooku aimed a genial smile in her direction that she didn't bother attempting to return. She was too busy dredging up ways to do damage control in light of her representative's recent actions to fake a smile at anyone.
Would she even be allowed to keep her position as a Senator?
Perhaps in light of this successful meeting and the promise of the Trade Federation finally paying a tribute to Naboo, she could, she reflected.
"Then I believe we have reached an agreement," the Count pushed his chair back and got to his feet. "If you would follow me, I do believe I have a token of good will to hand over to you to mark the beginning of this auspicious relationship between us."
Padmé fought the urge to scramble to her feet in haste and took her time to gather her skirts around her before standing up and draping her cowl back over her head.
"I believe you shall find the roads much safer for you to tread on than they have been of late."
End note:
Thank you for reading, if you have the time, I would love reading your thoughts about it