Chapter Twenty-Three: The Hours Before The Festival
"...want you two guarding the south entrance, you three the north - and you six - the fifth floor bedchambers. Jacen - do a security sweep of the grounds, have everyone register their clearance numbers. Meet me in the ground briefing chamber when you're done. I want to be present when the Chancellor's ship arrives in the atmosphere this afternoon."
Sabé frowned, tuning out Captain Panka's words when she saw several guards not quite looking at them - more over her shoulders. She followed their gazes and shook her head. "Captain - we have a visitor."
Panaka raised his eyebrows and turned around, only to let out a short chuckle. "Senator Amidala - care to say a few words?"
Padmé smiled, folding her hands before her while she walked into the briefing room. Her boots thunked against the marble floor. "It would be an honor, Captain. I thank you all for your service - tonight is a night for family, not serving. But I can only hope that this time next year, we all can stand beside our loved ones and not worry about an attack by immoral beings who seek to hurt time-honored traditions and innocent civilians."
The guards bowed, and with a gesture from Sabé all of them filled out of the briefing room.
"I would love to stay and chat, my dear...but that Master Windu has some things to discuss with me." Captain Panaka shook his head in exasperation, and embraced Padmé before leaving the briefing room.
Then it was just two of them, standing on opposite sides of the holo-table. Sabé side-stepped it and gathered her friend in a hug. "I thought you were arriving in two hours."
Padmé sighed, looking weary and much too old when she pulled away. "I have been on planet for a week - my family has held me hostage. My formal arrival is in two hours, just an hour before Bail's. I decided to sneak into the palace to visit some friends. Yané was particularly pleased."
Sabé wasn't terribly hurt her friend didn't contact her, but nonetheless she smiled and teased, "You've been on-planet for a week and didn't tell me? Jerk."
"Yes, thank you Sabé. Just what I needed to hear from you." Padmé, in all her beautiful realiga, looked out of place in the palace briefing room. She leaned against one of the counters and sighed.
Sabé's smile faltered, remembering the shocking transmission from the Jedi Order. She settled beside her friend and took her friend. "I'm sorry about Obi-Wan, Mé-Mé. These past few weeks...it must be hard."
"I don't know how Anakin is handling it," Padmé whispered, rubbing at her ring finger - where there was currently no wedding ring. It must have been around her neck, where it often hung during public events. "I have no idea. I got one transmission from him, but the girls were present and...he looked tired. Angry."
"I would be too. I am angry at Obi-Wan - and I barely know him anymore."
"I don't even remember our last conversation." Padmé blinked rapidly, trying to keep tears from flowing down her face and ruining her makeup.
"But you don't have to worry about remembering anymore. He's alive and well."
"Until Satine gets to him. Oh, I don't pity that argument."
Sabé couldn't help her nose wrinkle in disgust at the Duchess' name. She remembered a much younger, clean-shaven Padawan Kenobi panting above her, saying that woman's name instead of hers, not even realizing what he had done until an argument had occurred weeks later.
Shoving the memory away, Sabé nudged her friend's shoulder. "How much longer are you on planet?"
"Six days."
"Then we have a girls night one of those days - and no, you're not saying no. I'll comm the handmaidens, you'll come out of that Lake House wearing something horribly skimpy and five inch heels. And we'll all get wasted. Deal?"
"I can't drink with all my - "
"Then you're our designated driver."
Padmé opened her mouth to object, then closed it and shook her head. "Deal."
Just get through tonight, just get through tonight, Padmé kept thinking every time her picture was taken. She had abhorred leaving her family behind to celebrate the Festival alone, but being Senator prevented her from missing Theed's celebration.
It was impossible not to think of the possible attack Dooku was planning, or the Holo-news reporting that Duchess Kryze had been in the hospital for - days, or that Obi-Wan Kenobi was alive.
She just kept smiling so much her mouth ached, kept shaking hands, kept focusing on her keeping her formal arrival to the Palace of Theed perfect.
Sabé did step beside her at one time, whispering, "Anakin is part of the Jedi Security detail on the Chancellor's ship."
It did little to ease her worried conscious. In fact, it made it worse. Yes, she was able to see Anakin - but at what cost? How much of this secrecy could she take? How badly could Dooku wound him...again?
Padmé tried to keep her mask in place, the frigid look that made her colleagues cower in fear. Even the Queen didn't speak to her - but Bail did, because he was used to her silences, knowing there was a deeper reason behind them but never asking what the reason was.
She always appreciated that.
It was nearing late afternoon when they - guards, the Queen, Bail, and Padmé - made their way to the teeming landing bay of Theed Palace. She felt her shoulders gradually loosen whole the ship landed.
Ani's safe right now, nothing will happen.
Two clones stepped out before the Chancellor, then the Chancellor himself, smiling so wide he looked like an eel.
Anakin emerged last, flanked by Ahsoka and his clones Cody and Rex. A small smile crossed his lips when their eyes meet. Goofy was probably the best word to describe it.
She had a hard time pulling her gaze away.
Queen Neyutnee bowed her head.
Chancellor Palpatine took the queen's hands and gave a wider smile. "Greetings, Your Majesty."
Padmé stepped forward - it was her duty, as Senator, to be the one speaking. "Welcome home, Chancellor. I'm thankful to the Jedi for bringing you here safely."
"Yes, Senator, it is good to be back. Although," he gestured to Master Windu beside him, "I think the amount of security that has accompanied me is overkill."
Master Windu looked he was withholding a scoff. "With all due respect, Chancellor, where your safety is concerned there is no such thing as overkill."
"So you keep insisting, Master Jedi." Palpatine shrugged and began to walk away. "But I've grown tired of discussing it."
Queen Neeyutnee led the Chancellor away, talking about the new additions to the Festival of Light. She was followed by a majority of the crowd, whom were listening to the rulers converse.
Anakin brushed passed her, tapping out a quick rhythm on her shoulder while he walked just a few steps in front of her. It was code for I love you.
Padmé smiled, falling in step beside Ahsoka. "Anakin, Ahsoka, welcome to the festival."
Ahsoka spun around in a circle, her eyes wide while she took in the atmosphere. "I've never seen the Festival of Light. Sounds like a big event."
Anakin turned to glance at them. "They're expecting a large crowd, which means it will be difficult for Dooku to attack during the ceremony. That leaves the palace as the best opportunity for an ambush."
Padmé couldn't help worry trickle into her voice, remembering the nightmares Anakin faced every time he faced Dooku. "Are you that certain an attack is imminent?"
He sighed. "I'm afraid so - which is why I'm making Ahsoka your personal bodyguard."
Ahsoka bowed her head jokingly. "At your service, my lady."
"If there's trouble, Ahsoka will get you, the Queen, and the rest of your staff to safety."
"What about you?" Padmé asked.
"Hopefully, I'll be where I always am."
"He means saving the day," Ahsoka whispered.
Padmé shook off her unease and smiled. "Of course he does."
"Will your family be joining us in Theed, Senator?"
"No - they will be celebrating in my home village. It's...been many years since I had the pleasure of witnessing my village's celebrations."
"The sacrifices of a Senator," Ahsoka quipped.
Padmé forced a smile, watching Anakin's shoulders tense considerably. "Yeah... sacrifices of a Senator."
Satine woke in a cold sweat, trying to remember what her dream was about and failing. She pressed her lips together, trying not to cry. The bed felt so empty.
She hated this. She hated all this secrecy and lies.
Taking a deep breath, Satine drew her legs to her chest and tried to slow her hammering heart.
Stress wasn't good for her now.
Tears fell now. Satine turned her head, staring at the spot usually occupied by her riddur. It wouldn't be long before her body decided to be sick at everything.
She put a tentative hand on her stomach. It felt like her imagination, but there was a slight swell now.
Girl. It was a girl. They were have a daughter.
Satine hadn't been able to tell him that before the mission started. She'd only managed to send the sono and hope he recieved it.
She sighed, knowing she wouldn't be able to fall back asleep. The sense of foreboding was too strong.
"Festival of Light should be on anyways," Satine muttered while pushing the covers back.
"Master Kenobi made contact. He gave us a detailed plan on tonight's plot against the Chancellor," Master Windu paused at her lack of reaction, glancing to the senators before continuing. "There will three bounty hunters disguised as senate guards. Eval Moralo will be the getaway driver - Obi-Wan is the sniper - "
"He hates blasters," Master Skywalker muttered from one of the couches, more to himself than the assembled peoples.
"Yes - the sniper is loaded with stun blasters." Mace folded his arms behind his back, repositioning his feet on the living chamber carpet. "The bounty hunters have a Parwan that can pass through the ray shield around the main platform undetected. The attack is supposed to take outside."
"And here we thought it was a Separatist rumor," Queen Neyutnee murmured, drinking from her wine glass. She ignored the Jedi around her living chamber - the security heads to - and stood from the sofa. It was so quiet she could hear the fish tank bubbling away and her boots thunking on the floor while she strode to the window. The grounds were a flurry of activity - the Festival only came once a year, after all, and everything must be perfect.
She wasn't a very outspoken person, speaking only when necessary, preferring for her gaze to wither an arguer away to nothing.
She held the wine glass to her chest, tapping one manicured finer against the rim. "If these bounty hunters are supposed to be masquerading as senate guards - how are we ensure every guards identity? They are constantly switching throughout the night, and patrolling various parts of the palace grounds and Theed."
Sabé - sitting on the arm of a chair occupied by Senator Amidala - scoffed. "You leave that to us, Your Majesty. I can assure you that none of my men will not allow any guard - senate or otherwise - to let bounty hunters through the ranks."
Queen Neyutnee studied the handmaiden-turned-guard in the glass, mulling over an answer.
Chancellor Palpatine spoke, like something was amusing him. "My apologies, Madame Sabé, but I am afraid that even the most vigilant can be blind. Perhaps we should let the Jedi take care of security matters, and the guards focus on patrolling the grounds?"
"That is not a terrible idea," Bail Organa interjected. "I'm sure the public would appreciate the added security tonight."
"You speak like Naboo is dangerous," Ahsoka Tano quipped.
Only the politicians it produces, Queen Neyutnee thought, draining the wine glass. She met the Chancellor's gaze in the window, a cold chill working up her spine when he smiled. "We shall use His Excellency's plan, Sabé. It makes the most sense. Master Skywalker and Windu - you two will be in charge of arresting the bounty hunters, correct? And Padawan Tano will be guarding us?"
Mace Windu nodded. "That is correct."
"Then I don't see why we're still having this conversation."
Author's note: hellooooo! Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, happy Wednesday! :D
Enjoy this chapter!
ii Digestive Reader ii