A/N: I own none of the characters, they belong to the great George Lucas. Lucky him! But, I do own Zankou, Ghanima/Chani and Alia (just three names which I'm borrowing from Frank Herbert's Children of Dune) so no stealing! I've decided this will become an Obi-Wan/OC.

Chapter 25

There is unrest in the Galactic Senate. Several hundred Solar Systems have declared their intentions to leave the Republic.

This Separatist movement, under the leadership of Count Dooku, has made it difficult for the limited number of Jedi Knights to maintain peace and order in the Galaxy.

Senator Amidala, the former Queen of Naboo, is returning to the Galactic Senate to vote on the critical issue of creating an Army of the Republic to assist the overwhelmed Jedi...

The amber city planet of Coruscant came into view as two yellow Nubian Fighters flew toward the planet. Following them was a large sleek Nubian Cruiser and one more Fighter. It was the wee hours of dawn as the Cruiser entered the atmosphere; mist on the ground, and the sky still a bluish-purple like a bruise. Inside the Cruiser, a hooded Jedi, the Lieutenant and two security officers addressed the Senator.

"Senator, we're making our final approach into Coruscant." The Lieutenant stated formally. She said very good,and nodded as the entered the Cityscape.

The ship skimmed across the surface of the city landscape; the sun glinting off the chrome hull of the spacecraft as they navigated between the buildings of the capital planet. Arriving on the Landing Platform, two Nubian Fighters landed on one leaf of a three-leaf-clover platform. The Nubian Cruiser landed on the central leaf, and the third Fighter landed on the remaining platform.

A small group of Dignitaries waited on the platform to welcome the Senator. One of the Fighter pilots jumped from the wing of his ship and removed his helmet. The pilot, Captain Typho, Senator Amidala's Security Officer, moved over to two female pilots.

"We made it." He said with a sigh of relief. "I was wrong; there was no danger at all."

The ramp lowered and two Nubian guards appeared. Senator Amidala, her handmaiden Versé, four troopers and theJedi Knightdescended the ramp. Amidala was more beautiful now than she was ten years earlier when, as Queen, she was freeing her people from the yoke of the Trade Federation.

The Dignitaries started to move forward as Senator Amidala reached the foot of the ramp, relief swelling over them. Suddenly, there was a blinding flash and a huge explosion. The Dignitaries and pilots were hurled to the ground as the Starship was destroyed. Klaxons blared and alarms sounded as Captain Typho and the other two escort pilots got up and ran to where the Senator Amidala laid dying.

Beyond, R2 and R6 were dropped down fromtheir respective Nubian Fighters, and rolled towards the wreckage. One of the female escort pilots knelt beside Senator Amidala, and removed her helmet. She was revealed as the real Padmé Amidala, completely grief stricken, and the woman behind her removed her own helmet. It was Ghanima and she sighed heavily as Typho ran to a stop next to her.

"Cordé..." Padmé trailed off as she gathered up her decoy double in her arms. Cordé's eyes opened and she looked up at her.

"...I'm so sorry, Milady...I'm...not sure I...I've failed you, Senator." Cordé died in Padmé's arms, in which she was hugging her and fighting tears.

"Milady, you're still in danger here." Ghanima stated formally, beating her cycloptic companion to the punch. Padmé lowered Cordé to the ground and rose to her feet. She looked around at the devastation at her feet. So many people had died because of her already--these people were just more on the list.

"I shouldn't have come back." She sighed with tears still brimming her eyes.

"This vote is very important. You did your duty--Cordé did hers. Now come." Typho said, but Padmé didn't respond at all; not a sound, not a movement or even any sign of life in her eyes.

"Senator Amidala, please!" Padmé turned at Ghanima's urgent voice and the threesome walked away. R2 let out a small whimper,which R6 responded to,and they rolled on after them.