Chapter Twenty-One

"I'm sorry miss, but a civilian cannot simply walk in and demand an audience with the Jedi Council. They are, after all, quite busy."

The young female padawan behind the main desk in the foyer of the Jedi Temple was so friendly, I couldn't be upset with her, but I had reached the end of my rope, and I had nowhere else to turn! Someone here had to help me!

"Listen," I practically begged the young Chalactan, "all I want to do is speak with one of them. I don't care which! Surely, someone could take five minutes to listen to me! It's very important!"

I wasn't going to give up. I'd already decided to camp out in the Temple foyer if I had to, perhaps tie myself to one of the pillars, but as I watched the receptionist's face, I determined I wasn't going to have to do something so drastic after all. Someone had walked up behind me. I just hoped it was someone who could help.

I turned to face a dark-skinned, bald man, with a rather serious look on his face. His robes were slightly different than the other's, and had a different texture to them.

"Is there a problem?" he addressed me, and I licked lips, which had suddenly gone quite dry.

"Yes," I answered him, "My name is Dorme. I am the handmaiden and personal assistant to Senator Padme Amidala, representing the Chommell Sector and Naboo."

"And how may the Jedi assist you today?"

"That all depends," I answered, deciding to press my luck. Time was growing short. I needed help and I needed it now! "On whom I'm speaking with," I continued bravely. "I'm afraid I don't have the luxury of time, and I do not wish to keep repeating my story."

One eyebrow snaked upwards on the man's hairless scalp as he regarded my demand, his arms crossing in front of him. "Mace Windu," he admitted finally, "Jedi Master and Council Member."

"Oh, good," I exclaimed, hoping Master Windu was the one I needed to speak with. "I'm concerned about the senator," I began, strolling away from the desk, assuming the Councilman would follow me. "She's not acting herself lately. Quite the opposite, in fact. Almost as if her mind's been replaced, or tampered with somehow."

"What makes you think that?"

He had followed me, and I decided to cut my story short and get to the important details before I lost his attention. "Before going on holiday, she had voiced an opinion of opposition against the upcoming Military Creation Act. She was adamantly against it, as a matter of fact, but now..." I quieted my voice intentionally as a pair of Jedi walked by. "Now, it seems as if she's completely changed her mind!"

"I can appreciate your concern," the Jedi Master consoled me,"but as a free citizen of the Republic, isn't she allowed to do that?"

"No!" I knew I sounded irrational, but he wasn't understanding the seriousness of this situation! "She wouldn't do that! Not after all her hard work and effort! It's as if someone has coerced her, or perhaps they're blackmailing her to change her mind! And change her vote! She would never do that of her own accord! I know she wouldn't! You have to believe me!"

"Fine, fine," Master Windu said, raising his hands to motion me to calm myself. I attempted, but wasn't sure if I'd succeeded or not. Worry and stress had been building up inside me for days. It didn't matter anyway. I needed to prove my point, and decided to share everything as quickly as I could.

"It's not just that, Master Windu," I continued. "But she's shown a sudden distrust and dislike for the Jedi."

"Oh really?"

His surprise at my statement pushed me down that particular path of conversation. "Perhaps dislike is too kind of a word," I explained. "Hatred would be more accurate, and as you know, the senator has always been a strong supporter of the Jedi."

"I wonder what would've caused such a transformation?" the Jedi wondered aloud before turning his focus back toward me. "When did you say these changes began occurring?"

"About two weeks ago, following her return from Tosuna."

"Tosuna?" he repeated, a hand coming to rest upon his mouth, as if he were deep in thought. "Tosuna," he once again said, walking a few steps away before turning back toward me. "Tosuna is where Master Kenobi went on holiday as well."

"Do you think that's a coincidence?" I asked him. "Has Master Kenobi been acting strange too?"

"I'd have to discuss that with his Padawan," Master Windu told me, and for the first time in two weeks, I saw a glimmer of hope in resolving this situation.

Speaking with Chancellor Palpatine had done little good. He saw nothing wrong with the senator's demeanor, and seemed pleased she had changed her opinions. It seemed I was the only person in Coruscant who could tell something was desperately wrong with Padme.

"But let me assure you," he continued, causing that previous glimmer to fade before my eyes. "Before I go sticking my nose where it doesn't belong, the Jedi Council does not make it a habit of interfering in the personal lives of one of their own. If Master Kenobi and Senator Amidala have had a personal rift, it is their business, and there is nothing I can do about it, as long as it does not interfere with his position as a Jedi. I'm sorry."

Following his apology, the Jedi Master walked away, leaving me alone and frustrated in the lobby. The man had actually been no help at all! I was beginning to wonder if there was anyone in the galaxy who would believe me when I told them something had possessed the senator! She was not herself!

"Pardon me, I couldn't help but noticing you seemed somewhat distressed. Is there anything I can do to help?"

I turned my worried face toward the source of the kind voice, and beheld a young man with lovely blue eyes; one who was also sporting a padawan braid.

"Anakin Skywalker," he introduced himself. "Don't you work with Senator Amidala?"

"Yes," I breathed out. I recognized him. He'd been in the apartment a couple of times, and Padme spoke well of him. Or at least she had until returning from her trip.

"Do you have time to talk?" I asked him, "Something's very wrong with the senator and nobody will listen to me."

"I'll listen," the young man told me.

And I believed him.