"Dark Tower"


Chapter Eight

The confrontation upset Padmé so much, that she escaped the courtroom and retreated to the 'fresher, where she cooled her heated face with a dampened towel.

It was unbelievable how bold Siri was! From the beginning, when the young woman had stepped into her home to supposedly protect her from harm, Padmé had gotten the strong feeling that Siri didn't like her. It was the combination of snarky comments and silent glares which had initially led her to the belief, but never before had the Jedi Knight displayed such rudeness or intimidation! And all due to a friendly smile?

Gripping the sides of the sink, the Senator took several deep breaths to lessen her own rising irritation, startled slightly by a rap upon the 'fresher door.

"Senator Amidala? Court is resuming."

Padmé recognized the voice of Attorney Dougin's legal aid. "I'll be right there," she assured him before checking her reflection. No matter how angry she was, she absolutely refused to stoop to Siri's level! Though she knew it wasn't Siri's threats which upset her. What seemed to upset her most was that Obi-Wan couldn't see the truth of who Siri really was! Was Anakin correct? Did Obi-Wan's love for her blind him to Knight's faults?

When Padmé had returned to her seat, the Judge entered the courtroom, forcing her to stand once again.

"Who's the next witness, Counsel?" Nelvin promptly demanded.

"I would like to call Senator Amidala to the stand for re-examination," Attorney Dougin surprised Padmé by the request.

After she had once again situated herself behind the podium, the prosecutor began. "I would like to ask you some questions about your abduction, Senator," she began.

"Objection!" Attorney Tablis was quickly on his feet. "There has been nothing left in doubt during prior testimony and Miss Dougin's question discloses new matter!"

"I know the law, Mr. Tablis," Judge Nelvin reminded him. "I am the Judge of this Court, and allowing re-examination of a witness is at my discretion, is it not?"

"Yes, Your Honor," the Defense admitted.

"Objection overruled then. Proceed, Miss Dougin."

"What happened that terrible night, Senator?"

She had already made her statement to Coruscant Security as well as the Jedi's, but for some reason, her attorney felt it was important to repeat.

"When I returned from a conference on Naboo, my ship was attacked, killing several of my staff. For my own safety, Chancellor Palpatine assigned the Jedi team of Knight Tachi and Knight Kenobi to guard my home. That same evening following their arrival, I was preparing for bed when someone came up behind me. The next thing I remember is waking up in a warehouse in the Lower Levels of Galactic City, my legs and arms bound to a chair, a scarf stuffed in my mouth."

"As you have already testified to the authorities, you didn't have a chance to see your attacker?"

"It all happened so fast," Padmé confirmed.

"How did they treat you while you were their prisoner? And if you'll notice, I did say 'they'. There were two of them, weren't there?" Rella pressed.

"I was not injured. And yes, there were two. When I awoke, I could hear them arguing."

"Did you recognize their voices?"

"No," Senator Amidala replied definitively. "They wore armor and rebreather masks with electronic voice disguisers."

"As if they were concerned," the Defense Counselor pondered, pacing in front of the witness podium, "you may know them?"

"Objection!"

"Do share, Tablis," Judge Nelvin leaned forward, his brow furrowing.

"Dougin is leading the witness!"

The dark, thick brows of the Justice rose and he leaned back into his chair. "Objection sustained!"

"I'll rephrase the question," Attorney for the Plaintiff replied with a confident grin. "Senator, you say your abductors were disguising their voices. Do you have any idea why they would do that or who they may be?"

"I can't identify them with any certainty, but I do know that one of them was a woman."

"How could you tell?"

The Senator smiled crookedly. "By the way she walked up to me. I'll admit there was no discernible feminine quality to her voice with the mask on, but I could just tell."

"And what did she say to you?"

"That she had failed before, but she was not going to fail again," the young woman replied, obviously shaken by the threat.

"When they were arguing, were you able to make out their words?" Dougin asked.

"Only a few. The woman sounded upset with her companion. Apparently, he was having doubts and didn't want to do what she'd asked him to."

"Which was?"

"To kill me." Senator Amidala bluntly replied.

"Only one more question," Dougin stated, obviously sympathetic to the young woman's discomfort. "Do you believe your abductor is in this courtroom right now?"

It took a moment for the young politician to compose herself, but the rumors of her courage rang true when her fiery gaze landed upon the Defense table. "Yes. I believe the woman was Siri Tachi."

"No more questions."

After Judge Nelvin quieted the audience, Bigel Tablis stood up and slowly approached the stand. "You say your abductors wore rebreather masks and armor."

"That's right."

"Such as those worn by countless bounty hunters across the galaxy."

"I suppose so," the brave young woman replied.

"Which means this pair could've easily been bounty hunters, looking to make a hefty income by ransoming a wealthy Senator such as yourself."

"There was no ransom demand," Senator Amidala pointed out.

"I'm inclined to believe there wasn't time to make one! Thanks to the valiant efforts of the Jedi Team of Tachi and Kenobi, you were released within hours of your abduction. Isn't that correct?"

"Partially," Senator Amidala corrected. "Obi-Wan arrived first and released me. Siri, a few minutes later."

"Because she was searching the levels for you, as her partner requested."

The young woman eyed the Attorney warily. "I wouldn't know about that. You'd have to ask her."

"What a splendid idea! No more questions, Your Honor." Tablis announced, returning to the table and leaning toward his client. Following a short, whispered conversation, he announced his decision.

"The defense would like to call forward the accused, Knight Siri Tachi."