A/N: Ok, I am so, so sorry this has taken so long. I was hit by writer's block and then went to Spain. So, here it is. I just hope people are still reading this! And even if no one is, I will not abandon this. There are too many of these fics that are abandoned, and I intend for this to not be one of them. It may take a while, but it will be finished.

Watching Star Wars

EXT THEED - NIGHT (FX)

The Palace can be seen in the distance.

INT NABOO PALACE - THRONE ROOM - THEED - NIGHT

NUTE sits in a strange, mechanical walking chair, which moves beside SIO BIBBLE. A group of armed GUARD DROIDS march behind them.

NUTE: Your Queen is lost, your people are starving, and you, Governor, are going to die, much sooner than your people, I'm afraid.

''Well, that's deep…'' Anakin muttered.

Padme just rolled her eyes.

BIBBLE: This invasion will gain you nothing. We're a democracy. The people have decided...

NUTE: Take him away.

BIBBLE is taken away as OOM-9 approaches NUTE.

OOM-9: My troops are in position to begin searching the swamps for these rumoured underwater villages... they will not stay hidden for long.

INT NABOO SPACECRAFT - MAIN AREA

The ship is asleep. The lights are dim as PADME walks into the main room. She goes to a monitor and watches the BIBBLE plea recording. JAR JAR is stretched out in a chair, snoring. ARTOO is to one side, cooing as he rests.

PADME appears tired. She senses someone watching her and turns around with a start. She sees ANAKIN sitting in the corner, shivering and looking very dejected.

PADME: Are you all right?

ANAKIN: It's very cold.

''It takes some getting used to.'' Luke remarked.

''It did.'' Anakin replied.

She goes over to him. He looks up at her with tears in his eyes. He is holding his arms to keep himself warm. PADME gives him her over-jacket.

PADME: You come from a warm planet, Ani. A little too warm for my taste. Space is cold.

ANAKIN: You seem sad.

PADME: The Queen is... worried. Her people are suffering... dying. She must convince the Senate to intervene, I'm not sure what will happen.

ANAKIN: (he pulls something from his pocket) I made this for you. So you'd remember me. I carved it out of a japor snippet... It will bring you good fortune.

ANAKIN hands a wooden pendant to PADME. She inspects it, then puts it around her neck.

PADME: It's beautiful, but I don't need this to remember you by. Many things will change when we reach the capital, Ani. My caring for you will remain.

ANAKIN: I care for you too. Only I...

''Seriously, can you be a little more obvious?'' Hux asked sarcastically.

''I know right, how does she not see this?'' Phasma added.

''I knew!'' Padme exclaimed indignantly.

''What?'' Anakin jolted in his seat and blushed bright red.

''Calm down, Anakin.'' Padme said with a smile.

ANAKIN is disturbed about something. Tears are in his eyes.

PADME: ...Miss your mother.

ANAKIN looks at her, unable to speak. She hugs him.

EXT SPACE - PLANET CORUSCANT (FX)

MOVE with the ship as it heads toward Coruscant.

INT CORUSCANT - CITYSCAPE - NABOO SPACECRAFT - DAY (FX)

The spacecraft flies over the endless cityscape of Coruscant, the capital of the galaxy.

INT NABOO SPACECRAFT - COCKPIT

ANAKIN looks out the cockpit window in awe.

''Seeing Coruscant for the first time has that affect on you.'' Leia sighed.

''When I first saw it, my eyes were literally popping out of my head!'' Luke exclaimed, remembering. He felt as though he was 20 again, young and naïve. What he wouldn't give to be that age again… Leia seemed to know what he was thinking and smiled at him.

RIC OLIE: Coruscant... the entire planet is one big city. There's Chancellor Valorum's shuttle. And look over there, Senator Palpatine is waiting for us.

INT NABOO SPACECRAFT - DAY (FX)

The ship flies through the cityscape of Coruscant.

EXT CORUSCANT - SENATE LANDING PLATFORM - DAY

Supreme Chancellor VALORUM, SEVERAL GUARDS, and SENATOR PALPATINE stand on a landing platform.

The sleek Naboo spacecraft lands on the platform high above the street level of the galactic capital. The ramp lowers. OBI-WAN, QUI-GON, JAR JAR and ANAKIN descend the ramp first and bow before PALPATINE and VALORUM.

CAPTAIN PANAKA, TWO GUARDS, QUEEN AMIDALA, then PADME, RABE, EIRTAE, and MORE GUARDS descend the ramp. QUEEN AMIDALA stops before the group. ANAKIN and JAR JAR stand to one side, looking at the huge city. PADME smiles at ANAKIN. PALPATINE bows before the Queen.

PALPATINE: It is a great gift to see you alive, Your Majesty. With the communications breakdown, we've become very concerned. I'm anxious to hear your report on the situation.

''Yeah, sure.'' Han muttered.

''Han!'' Leia hissed.

''Oops.'' Han said quickly. ''I didn't mean for that to come out…''

Leia just rolled her eyes.

May I present Supreme Chancellor Valorum.

VALORUM: Welcome, Your Highness. It's an honour to finally meet you in person.

AMIDALA: Thank you, Supreme Chancellor.

VALORUM: (cont'd) I must relay to you how distressed everyone is over the current situation. I've called for a special session of the Senate to hear your position.

AMIDALA: I am grateful for your concern, Chancellor.

PALPATINE starts to lead QUEEN AMIDALA and her RETINUE off the platform toward a waiting air taxi.

PALPATINE: There is a question of procedure, but I feel confident we can overcome it...

JAR JAR and ANAKIN follow the QUEEN, PALPATINE, PADME, RABE and EIRTAE to the taxi.

QUI-GON and OBI-WAN stop to speak with VALORUM as they watch the group head towards the taxi.

QUI-GON: I must speak with the Jedi Council immediately. The situation has become more complicated.

Obi-Wan looked over at Anakin.

''What? It's not my fault my fathers the force!'' Anakin exclaimed.

''Virtual high five for my son and any of my relatives.'' The force added, much to Leia's dismay.

''Ooh! Ooh! I want one!'' Luke exclaimed.

''Do I get one?'' Han asked excitedly.

''Anything for my wonderful grandson-in-law!'' the force responded.

Leia buried her face in her hands. Padme was in a similar position, as was Kylo.

''Hey, Ben do you not want one?'' the force said, mock sad.

''Please stop…'' Kylo said miserably, voicing Leia and Padme's thoughts perfectly.

INT PALPATINE'S QUARTERS - ANTEROOM - DAY

QUEEN AMIDALA is sitting listening to PALPATINE. EIRTAE and RABE stand behind the QUEEN; PADME is nowhere to be seen. ANAKIN and JAR JAR are waiting in an adjoining room. They can see the Queen but cannot hear what is being said.

CAPTAIN PANAKA enters, then goes into the room with QUEEN AMIDALA.

INT PALPATINE'S QUARTERS - LIVING AREA - DAY

PALPATINE is pacing as CAPTAIN PANAKA enters. EIRTAE and RABE stand to one side.

PALPATINE: ...the Republic is not what it once was. The Senate is full of greedy, squabbling delegates. There is no interest in the common good.

''Like it changed much…'' Leia muttered quietly, so no one heard except Han.

''I know right.'' Han snorted in an equally small voice.

I must be frank, Your Majesty, there is little chance the Senate will act on the invasion.

AMIDALA: Chancellor Valorum seems to think there is hope.

PALPATINE: If I may say so, Your Majesty, the Chancellor has little real power... he is mired by baseless accusations of corruption. The bureaucrats are in charge now.

AMIDALA: What options have we?

PALPATINE: Our best choice would be to push for the election of a stronger Supreme Chancellor. One who will take control of the bureaucrats and give us justice. You could call for a vote of no confidence in Chancellor Valorum.

AMIDALA: He has been our strongest supporter?

PALPATINE: Our only other choice would to be to submit a plea to the courts...

AMIDALA: The courts take even longer to decide things than the Senate. Our people are dying, Senator... We must do something quickly to stop the Federation.

PALPATINE: To be realistic, Your Majesty, I think we're going to have to accept Federation control for the time being.

''How could you even do that? How can she even ask of that?'' Breha breathed.

''Ruling a planet is hard.'' Padme sighed.

Bail nodded ''Really hard.''

AMIDALA: That is something I cannot do.

EXT TEMPLE OF THE JEDI - DAY (FX)

A unique building with it tall spires stands out against the Coruscant skyline. A small transport passes by the vast temple.

INT TEMPLE OF THE JEDI - COUNCIL CHAMBERS - DAY

QUI-GON stands in a tall stately room. Twelve JEDI sit in a semi-circle. OBI-WAN stands behind QUI-GON in the centre of the room.

The Senior Jedi is MACE WINDU. To his left is an alien Jedi named KI-ADI-MUNDI, and to his right, the Jedi Master, YODA.

QUI-GON: ... He was trained in the Jedi arts. My only conclusion can be that it was a Sith Lord.

KI-ADI: Impossible! The Sith have been extinct for a millennium.

MACE WINDU: I do not believe the Sith could have returned without us knowing.

YODA: Ah, hard to see, the dark side is.

MACE WINDU: We will use all our resources here to unravel this mystery and discover the identity of your attacker... May the Force be with you.

OBI-WAN turns and leaves, but QUI-GON continues to face the Council.

YODA: (Cont'd) Master Qui-Gon more to say have you?

''He always had more to say.'' Obi-Wan muttered. ''Kind of like Anakin.''

''Excuse me, Master?'' Anakin shouted.

Vader grinned under his mask, thankful no one could see.

QUI-GON: With your permission, my Master. I have encountered a vergence in the Force.

YODA: A vergence, you say?

MACE WINDU: Located around a person?

QUI-GON: A boy... his cells have the highest concentration of midi-chlorians I have ever seen in a life form. It is possible he was conceived by the midi-chlorians.

Anakin brushed his hair back with an air of superiority, everyone around him rolling their eyes.

''I prefer the term 'the force''' the force said, the same air of superiority in his voice.

''Well, at least now we know where Anakin got his condescending qualities then.'' Padme muttered.

''I am not condescending!''

''I have the ability to make your life very hard!'' the force threatened.

Padme put her hands up in surrender, a smile dancing on her lips.

MACE WINDU: You're referring to the prophesy of the one who will bring balance to the Force... you believe it's this boy?

QUI-GON: I don't presume...

YODA: But you do! Revealed your opinion is.

Several people laughed at this.

QUI-GON: I request the boy be tested, Master.

The JEDI all look to one another. They nod and turn back to OBI-WAN and QUI-GON.

YODA: Trained as a Jedi, you request for him?

QUI-GON: Finding him was the will of the Force... I have no doubt of that.

MACE WINDU: Bring him before us, then.

INT QUEENS QUARTERS - CORUSCANT - DAY

Anakin, tentative, walks down one of the long hallways in Senator Palpatine's quarters. He stops before a door that is flanked by a GUARD.

The GUARD speaks into his commlink as ANAKIN looks around a bit nervously.

GUARD: The boy is here to see Padme.

''Someone's got a little crush…'' Snoke mocked.

''I- No- I- It's not- Crush? I- '' Anakin stuttered. Seeing that he was fooling nobody, he shook his head ''Never mind…''

RABE: (v.o.) Let him in.

The doors open, and ANAKIN enters the Queen's quarters.

RABE greets ANAKIN as TWO OTHER HANDMAIDENS come and go into the next room.

RABE: I'm sorry, Ani, but Padme is not here right now.

The Queen speaks out in the next room.

AMIDALA: (O.S.) Who is it?

RABE: Anakin Skywalker, to see Padme, Your Highness.

The QUEEN moves into the doorway and studies ANAKIN. ANAKIN bows and looks down, then takes a peek at her.

AMIDALA: I've sent Padme on an errand.

ANAKIN: I'm on my way to the Jedi temple to start my training, I hope.

''That's great, just tell her your whole life story…'' Phasma muttered.

''I- I- was not!'' Anakin stuttered (again).

''It was an irrelevant piece of information.'' Phasma pointed out.

Anakin opened his mouth to say something, but wisely shut it before anything (even more) stupid could come out.

The QUEEN just stares at him.

Phasma snorted.

Anakin glared at her but said nothing. Well, nothing that could be heard other than some angry mutterings seemingly sounding like ''Stupid Phasma… stupid force… stupid life… stupid holofilm… I hate my stupid life.''

This provided laughs for everyone.

ANAKIN: (Cont'd) I may not see her again... so... I came to say goodbye.

AMIDALA: We will tell her for you. We are sure her heart goes with you.

ANAKIN bows again.

ANAKIN: Thank you, Your Highness.

''That was an awkward interaction.'' Hux said.

''I think we all agree on that one.'' The force added.

The QUEEN disappears behind the doorway, and ANAKIN exits.

EXT CORUSCANT - GALACTIC SENATE BUILDING - DAY (FX)

A large, distinctive looking domed building stands out amid the cityscape of Coruscant.

INT MAIN ROTUNDA - GALACTIC SENATE - DAY

The Senate chambers are huge. Thousands of SENATORS and their AIDES sit in the circular assembly area. CHANCELLOR VALORUM sits in an elevated area in the centre. SENATOR PALPATINE, QUEEN AMIDALA, EIRTA, RABE, and CAPTAIN PANAKA sit in the Naboo congressional box, which is actually a floating platform.

VALORUM: The Chair recognizes the Senator from the sovereign system of Naboo.

The Naboo congressional box floats into the centre.

PALPATINE: Supreme Chancellor, delegates of the Senate. A tragedy has occurred which started with the taxation of trade routes and has now engulfed our entire planet in the oppression of the Trade Federation.

A second box rushes into the centre of the Senate. It is filled with Federation trade barons led by LOTT DOD, the Senator for the Federation.

LOTT DOD: This is outrageous! I object to the Senator's statements!

''Really.'' Padme asked, arms crossed across her chest.

''They really have the audacity to say that?'' Breha asked.

''Ladies and gentlemen, I give you, the Senate!'' Leia announced.

''That is sadly accurate.'' Bail said.

VALORUM: The Chair does not recognize the Senator from the Trade Federation currently. Please return to your station.

LOTT DOD reluctantly moves back to his place.

PALPATINE: To state our allegations, I present Queen Amidala, recently elected ruler of Naboo, who speaks on our behalf.

QUEEN AMIDALA stands and addresses the assembly. There is some applause.

AMIDALA: Honourable representatives of the Republic, I come to you under the gravest of circumstances. Naboo system has been invaded by the droid armies of the Trade...

LOTT DOD: I object! There is no proof. This is incredible. We recommend a commission be sent to Naboo to ascertain the truth.

''Oh my gosh…'' Bail said, his head in his hands.

A third box representing Malastare moves into the centre of the room. AKS MOE, the Ambassador, addresses the convention.

AKS MOE: The Congress of Malastare concurs with the honourable delegate from the Trade Federation. A commission must be appointed.

VALORUM: The point...

VALORUM confers with several of his AIDES and VICE CHAIRMAN MAS AMEDDA. PALPATINE whispers something to the QUEEN.

PALPATINE: Enter the bureaucrats, the true rulers of the Republic, and on the payroll of the Trade Federation, I might add. This is where Chancellor Valorum's strength will disappear.

VALORUM: The point is conceded ... will you defer your motion to allow a commission to explore the validity of your accusations?

QUEEN AMIDALA is angry but remains composed.

AMIDALA: (angrily) I will not defer... I have come before you to resolve this attack on our sovereignty now. I was not elected to watch my people suffer and die while you discuss this invasion in a committee. If this body is not capable of action, I suggest new leadership is needed... I move for a "vote of no confidence"... in Chancellor Valorum's leadership.

''…So. That happened.'' Han said, slightly in awe.

This causes a great stir in the assembly. A loud murmur crescendos into a roar of approval and jeers.

ASSEMBLY: Vote now! Vote now! Vote now!

CHANCELLOR VALORUM is stunned and stands back, speechless. His Vice Chair, MAS AMEDDA, takes over.

MAS AMEDDA: Order!

Things settle down a little. The Federation box settles next to AMIDALA.

PALPATINE stands next to AMIDALA.

PALPATINE: Now they will elect a new Chancellor, a strong Chancellor, one who will not let our tragedy continue...

The screen went black.

A/N: finally! I finished this chapter! Yay! See you next time!