We Pretend it's Alright

Chapter Four

Alliances Formed

Words- 4,770

We Pretend it's Alright

"Thank you for your time, Mister Blannk." Padme said kindly, forcing a smile as she ushered the fourth firm to turn down Anakin's case out the door of her office. After this, there was only one firm she had left to meet with. If they refused the case, it was back to the beginning. What if she searched for days and days and no agreed to work the case with her? Padme shook that thought from her mind. That would not happen, she just had to keep her chin up and her thoughts positive.

It was past nightfall now, and staring out the windowed wall of her office, her gaze found the Jedi temple. She wondered what had been said at the high council meeting this morning. Obi-Wan had mentioned this morning when he stopped by that the council would be meeting at noon, but that was hours ago now. A part of her wished to know what the Jedi thought of all this, but another part of her didn't.

Padme glanced at her watch and saw she had about a half an hour till her next meeting. Just enough time for dinner. Unfortunately she didn't have any food in her office, and as she had not brought threepio with her, she would have to venture to the cafeteria down the hall for a quick bite to eat.

Draping a shawl over her shoulders, the Senator of Naboo exited her office and toddled down the long hallway that her office was at the end of, moving towards the center of this level. She hadn't eaten since the morning with Obi-Wan, and she was positively starving. From the time she had left her apartment this morning, she had been going nonstop, the only questionable down time being the four hours she had wanted for Anakin. But she had been so worked up and overwhelmed during that time, she couldn't honestly call that restful.

Padme finally reached the cafeteria a few minutes later, and was surprised to find it more crowded than it usually was this late at night. Padme often worked late nights, and found herself just making it here for dinner before they closed down for the night, and only seeing a few others there as well.

But tonight the cafeteria was full of people, all talking loudly and very animated. She started to wonder why it was so crowded, and it dawned on her as she stood in the corner, brewing her cyanoberry tea.

While she had had been so focused on protecting and helping Anakin, she had completely forgotten that for everyone else, the only thing that mattered was that the leader of the republic was dead. This could mean so many things for the galaxy, and the senators in this building especially. According to protocol, if the Chancellor died, there would be a one month mourning period before a new chancellor was elected, and the vice chancellor would act as chancellor for that period. No wonder everyone was working late.

"Padme?"

Padme had been so wrapped up in her thoughts she hadn't noticed the young senator of the Plantora System come up behind her. Padme turned around at the sound her name, and was pleasantly surprised to see Riyo Chuchi standing in front of her, a plate of patot panak in each of the Pantoran's hands.

"Riyo, it is so good to see you." Padme beamed and picking up her tea and stirring it lightly, "I would hug you but I think we both have our hands full."

Both women laughed, and Riyo asked, "I grabbed an extra plate care to join me?"

Padme nodded, and they walked over to a small table in the opposite corner.

"Kind of a crazy past twenty-four hours, huh?" Riyo pondered, taking a bite of her flatbread sandwich, a thoughtful look on her young face.

"You don't even know the half of it." Padme sighed, taking a long sip of her tea and thinking over how much her life had changed in just one day. Before she could stop herself, tears had started forming in her bright brown eyes, and she couldn't hold them back.

"Oh I'm sorry Padme that was so careless of me. You were so close to him, this must be so hard for you." Riyo cried, looking horrified at herself. She pulled her chair around next to Padme's, and put a comforting arm around her shoulder of the slightly older woman as silent tears trickled down Padme's cheeks.

Padme's brow furled in confusion, not quite sure what Riyo was talking about. "What do you mean?" She choked out, turning her head to look questioningly at Riyo.

Now it was Riyo who looked questioning at Padme, asking "The chancellor? He was your mentor, wasn't he? I was under the impression you shared a close relationship."

A small laugh escaped Padme's pink lips, and before she could stop herself she was full out laughing. The circumstances were just too much.

The other senator looked at her in even more confusion, and a bit worries, and Padme stopped quickly, realizing what she was doing and that other people were starting to look around at her, probably all wondering why the pregnant lady as laugh-crying.

"Oh I'm sorry Riyo, It's not anything you did. I just… well recently the chancellor and I haven't been on the best of terms, and I can't honestly say I am too upset about his passing." She explained, wiping the last tears off her cheek. "Today has been quite a hectic day though, I completely agree."

"Oh, my mistake, but I am glad to hear that we are on the same page." Riyo smiled reassuringly, and Padme returned the smile. "I think The Republic is ready for a new leader." Riyo went on, "Someone who will lead us out of this war and into a new era of peace."

"And who do you suppose that new leader might be?" Padme asked curiously, taking a bite of her own meal, and wondering if Riyo was backing Bail Organa as she assumed she would.

"Oh I don't know." Riyo sighed, running a hand through her light pink hair, a tired smile on her face. "From what I have heard, Bail Organa is running as well as Mas Amedda, who has been the Vice Chancellor under both of the previous two Chancellors. You're supporting Senator Organa, I take it?" She asked, already knowing the answer.

"Yes, I believe he will be a good change for this republic, but honestly I can't say I have been that focused on it today." Padme confirmed, taking another sip of her tea, and hoping its stimulating effect would kick in soon.

"Hmm, yes I agree he would be a good leader, and I can't say I'm Senator Amedda's biggest fan either." Riyo agreed, and then hesitated, her eyes narrowed in thought, and she seemed almost unsure about whether or she should bring up what she was about to. "I heard a rumor this morning that you are… you're defending Anakin Skywalker. Is that true?" There was something more than curiosity in her voice, and Padme could detect almost a sense of concern.

"I am." Padme verified, looking down at her food. She didn't honestly think she was in enough control emotionally to talk about this in a public place such as this, where anyone could and was listening in.

"I just wanted to tell you that I wish help to help in any way with the case."

Padme couldn't help but look up at her colleague in shock. Was Riyo offering to help her in the trial?

"Are you serious?" Padme asked, needing confirmation of what she just heard.

"Anakin Skywalkers is a good man. I do not believe he killed his fellow Jedi, or murdered the chancellor in cold blood. This will be a huge case, and there is no way you can do it alone, especially in your condition. Joining the defense would be an honor for me." Riyo said sincerely, her voice steady and earnest.

"Riyo I cannot express what a relief this is, but I must make sure that you are a hundred percent sure about this? This case is going to be heavily politicized and there will be a lot of backlash against us. And not to mention that if we lose it could be very damaging for everyone involved." Padme admitted, not wanting the young senator to rush into this without considering all possible outcomes.

Riyo was silent for a few seconds before responding, "I went into politics to make positive change, to stand up for what I believe in. I believe in Anakin Skywalker's innocence, and I will stand up and defend him." Riyo proclaimed, sitting up a little straighter as she spoke and Padme could hear the pride in voice. "And plus," She added, a mischievous grin face, "If you're doing it, why can't I? Can't let you have all the fun now, could I?"

Padme found a smile stretching across her face and she nodded.

"Alright Riyo, I think you will be a great help in this case, and I look forward to working with you once again." She held out her hand and Riyo took it. It was nothing more than a hand shake, but it meant so much more the senator of Naboo. To know that she would not being doing this alone was comforting, and a load off her shoulders.

The two Senators talked about the case, and Padme gave a basic overview off what was going on, but nothing to specific as they still where in a very public place. It wasn't in till five minutes before her meeting that Padme realized the time.

"Oh I' m sorry Riyo I have a meeting with a firm, in…" She broke off, staring at her watch, before looking slowly back at Riyo. "I don't suppose you would want to come, would you? I am searching for a firm to back the case and this is going to be the fifth and last I am set to meet with. All the others have declined, asking it's too risky."

"I would be delighted too. In your office?" Riyo answered at once, standing up, and then helping Padme to her feet.

"Yes, all the way at the end of hall 5d." Padme confirmed, dumping their trash in the bin behind her, and the two set off, ignoring the curious looks of others still in the room.

"The firm is called Gehlert and Gehlert, and I have a good feeling that they will back this case. They are a smaller firm, but they have a history of taking cases such as this one, cases that seemed very clear cut, but turned out to be very complex and in the defendant's favor." Padme explained as they walked back to her corner office. "I would have loved to meet with them first but late tonight oddly enough was a better time for them."

"Oh I've heard of them I believe." Riyo said thoughtfully, her face twisted in concentration as she tried to remember something. "Weren't they the firm behind that brilliant smuggling case a few years back? The Defang one?"

Padme nodded. "That's exactly who I'm talking about. I can only hope they will do as much good for us."

We Pretend it's Alright

An hour later the two female senators were shaking hands with the representatives from Gehlert and Gehlert, smiles on their faces, and agreeing on a meeting time tomorrow morning at the firm's office space.

"Thank you again, and I look forward to our meeting tomorrow." Padme smiled, walking the twi'lek siblings to her office door, and opening it for them.

"As do we, Senator." Jinka replied, and she and her brother Helgo nodded to both senators, before taking their leave.

"Well that went great." Riyo said cheerfully, walking over to where Padme was standing by the door. "But if you don't mind, I think I am going to head out. It's almost eleven, and I still have a few things to grab from my office before returning home."

"Of course, I think I will head out myself soon. I'll see you tomorrow morning at nine." They shared a quick hug goodbye, and Riyo set off back to her office a floor above.

Padme went back to her desk, and gathering up some documents and files and placing them all in a large midnight blue messenger bag. She carefully laid it across her shoulder, and draped a deep red shawl around her torso.

The very tired soon-to-be mother turned off the lights in the office, and left, the door locking again behind her. She walked slowly back through the long halls, and took the lift back to the ground floor. Exiting the lift, she made her way back into the grand entrance hall, discovering it to be noticeable empty, and soon found herself walking down a side hall she know knew lead to the lift down to the detention levels. The elevator at the end of the hidden hall was guarded by four troopers now, Padme approached them, her head held high.

"Ma'am this area is restricted, I'm afraid I must ask you to-"

"I am Senator Padme Amidala of Naboo, and Prisoner 95746's certified Lawyer." Padme interrupted, and the clone fell silent. "I have an urgent matter to speak to my client about, and you will let me through to speak to him."

"I'm sorry Madam Senator, but the Senior Under-Secretary Olingen has left the building, and we were given strict instructions not to let anyone see Prisoner 59746."

"Trooper, what is your name?" Padme asked, a false sweetness in her voice.

"Striker, Ma'am." The clone answered, and Padme could sense the pride in his voice.

"Well Striker, you are doing a very good job here, and I really appreciate you trying to keep my client safe, as he is a hero of the war, and I would really hate to have to contact a commanding officer to gain entry to my client, but if you refuse my legal right to confer with prisoner 95746…" She trailed off, a gleam in her, and she waited for Striker to respond, as he exchanged looks with his fellow clones.

After a minute, he turned back to Padme, and answered, "Ma'am I will escort you to a meet With General Sky- Excuse me, I meant Prisoner 95746- for a period of ten minutes, but that is the best I can do tonight."

Padme had to stop herself from squealing with excitement, and instead nodded, saying, "Thank you very much Striker, I will remember this in the future." She gave him an approving smile. What she had said about protocol was not strictly true, and she did not have any power to find a commanding officer that would let her in, but she had a feeling that Striker knew this, and was helping her regardless. She couldn't help but wonder if this trooper had ever served under Anakin, given that he knew him by general Skywalkers. And she internally vowed that if someone ended up to blame for this, she would not let this come back and ruin this trooper, and he would be rewarded for this favor.

"If you will follow home to a screening room, we will run a check mandatory security check, and then I will escort you downstairs."

She followed Striker and another clone down a side hall and within five minutes was back at the lift. She smiled to herself as she zoomed down into the depths of the historic building, proud of her actions, and very excited to see Anakin and tell him the good news about the lawyer situation.

From the elevator she was escorted down more halls to a small room, which was considerably nicer than the one she had been in many hours earlier. This room was rather well kept and contained a large table, with four chairs sitting around it, all looking a lot more comfortable than the one she had sat in before.

"What is the normal function of a room such as this, who usually visits in a room like this?" She asked as Striker brought her inside.

"This model is one of the lawyer/client rooms, or family rooms Madam Senator." The clone responded, and Padme felt her dislike for Olingen grow. She should have been taken here earlier, not the poor excuse for a room she had rotted in for hours. After she proved Anakin's innocence, her next mission would be ruining the Senior Under-Secretary.

"We are bringing 95746 now Madam, it will only be a moment." A clone told her as she sat down at the table.

"Thank you very much, …?" She broke off, looking questioningly at the clone.

"Pointer is what they call me, Madam Senator." The clone answered, nodding to her, and leaving the room, closing the door lightly behind him.

No more than a minute later, Six clones escorted a very shaky, and for lack of a better term, out of it Anakin inside, setting him down in the chair across from her. They exited, and Padme moved to sit next to Anakin, who had slumped down face-first onto the table

"Anakin what is wrong with you?" She murmured, slightly panicky, guiding his head back upright, and turning it so she could get a good look at his face. It was covered in bruises, and he had a drowsy, faraway look in his blue eyes. "They are not going to get away with this." She murmured as she examined his injuries, especially a rather nasty knick in his check.

"Padme?" Anakin slurred, his eyes trying to focus on her, but failing.

"Yes Ani, it's Padme. I managed to get into speak to you again, but only for a little bit, but that's not important right now. Anakin what happened to you? Who did this?" She demanded, gazing worriedly at him.

"I 'sink they drugged me." He mumbled, and Padme had to hold his head from swaying. "I wouldn't speak and they did somthin' after a while. He said it'll loosen mah tongue for tomorrowah."

"Who said that Anakin?"

A smile split over Anakin's disfigured face and he laughed. "Olingen, I 'ade him soooooo mad." Anakin laughed again, and Padme just watched in astonishment. "Dis 'ill repress mah Jedi magic 'e said."

Padme looked incredulously at Anakin. What had he done that had made Olingen so mad? And Olingen decided drugging Anakin would repress his use of the force? Honestly, when Anakin was out of it, the force seemed to react to him almost subconsciously.

A couple years back, Anakin contacted a disease that had left him completely delirious and very feverish. He had asked the council for leave to go to a medical center for a little while, but had actually ended up going to Padme's for a few days, thinking he would fine. But she ended up having to take him to a center as he continually got worse. But while he had been at her place, the force had reacted excessively to him. Stuff was always floating around him, and she swore she felt something she had never felt before when she was in a close vicinity to him. This had later caused Anakin to say she might be slightly force-sensitive, but Padme had dismissed it, saying that Anakin had merely been so immersed in the force, that the presence of it would have been noticeable to anyone, but Anakin still thought it might be something more than that.

"Anakin, hey buddy, can you look at me baby?"

Anakin looked at her, but she wondered if he could really even saw her. What did they give him?

"Anakin I need you to focus, fight this off, okay? Use the force, temporally clear your mind, I know you can." Padme honestly had no clue if that was something he could do, but she figured it was worth a shot. She felt like she could vaguely remember him fighting off being drugged, at least for a bit.

Anakin nodded, and scrunched his eyes shut, and Padme held her hands tight against his face, closing her eyes, holding him steady as he started to sway.

Anakin allowed the force to seep into his mind, and after a five minutes, he opened his eyes again, and he saw Padme clearly now, her brown eyes studying his face concernedly.

"Are you feeling more, well, present?" She asked, her brow furled.

"Yeah, a bit. I can see and my mind isn't quite as fuzzy." Anakin said, and he smiled. "You came back to see me again."

"Of course I did." She scoffed, giving him a short hug, and a chaste kiss. "You'd of missed me too much." She teased, smiling back. "Plus, I have good news."

"Oh yeah? And what news would that be?"

"Riyo is working with me on your case, as well as a firm called Gehlert and Gehlert. We have our first official meeting tomorrow morning."

"That's great!" Anakin cheered, kissing his wife happily. "That's amazing news!"

"It is." She agreed. "But I wanted to ask you what you think I should disclose to them."

"Everything." He answered immediately, staring intently at her, "Them them whatever you need to."

"Okay Ani, I will."

"Good, and also I forgot to tell you earlier, but I put out a bounty for any information linking Sidious to Palpatine under the name of Jago Hagar." Anakin disclosed, and before adding, "It's the name I always use for bounties." And he gave her the frequency for the bounty as well.

"Okay, I'll make sure to check up on that." Padme said, and yawned, holding a hand over her mouth.

"Oh Padme, you must be exhausted. You should go home and sleep, don't want to overdo it, remember?" Anakin advised, glancing at a clock. "And besides, I think our time is almost up anyways."

"Yes I remember, and I think you are right my love." She smiled tiredly at him, and kissed him one last time, before standing up. "I'll see you soon, I promise. Love you."

"Love you too angel."

There was a short knock on the door, and it swung open, the six clones reentering, and escorting Anakin back out of the room.

"Madam Senator?" Striker asked, as he entered the room along with another clone. "We will escort you back to the main levels now. We took the liberty of calling you a ride home Ma'am."

"Thank you Striker, I appreciate that. You have done me a great service today, and I will not soon forget it."

"My pleasure Ma'am."

She followed the clones back through the dim halls and up the lift to the ground floor. From here a different clone escorted her to a speeder that brought her back to her apartment building.

After thanking the driver, Padme exited the speeder, and walked up the short set stairs leading up the building's entrance. As she walked she pulled off her shoes, sighing with relief as her feet were finally free of those torture devices masquerading as shoes. She was typing in her code to the building front door when a silky voice called out behind her.

"Senator Amidala."

"Yes?" Padme said tiredly as she continued to type in the code.

"Senator, I believe we have quite a lot to talk about."

It was then at Padme realized who that slippery voice belonged to, and she spun around slowly, her gaze falling on none other than Asajj Ventress.

"Ventress." She hissed, suddenly feeling very vulnerable with her shoes in one hand, and her other resting protectively on her stomach. "What do you want?"

Ventress let out a humorless laugh, and she walked forward, her arms held up in surrender.

"Don't worry Senator, I don't make it a habit of harming defenseless pregnant ladies." She sneered, still walking closer to Padme. "I simply wish to talk." She stressed the last word, a gleam in her blue-gray eyes. "I have information that might be of some us to you."

Padme was perplexed for a minute, before she remembered what Anakin had just told her."You have Intel on Sidious." Padme inquired curiously, certain Ventress was here for the bounty.

"Aren't you a smart one?" The Dathomirian mocked, and Padme's eyes narrowed. She did not have the patience to deal with Ventress right now, but she needed this information.

Against her better judgment, Padme lead Ventress up to her apartment, ignoring the woman's snide comments all the way up. Once she reached her doorway, she typed in the code, and pressed her thumb against a small pad that only activated past nine o'clock. She walked inside, dumped her coat and bag on the floor right inside, along with her shoes. She walked straight to a rather comfortable chair in the sitting room, and collapsed into it.

"Threepio!" She called, as she started to take her hair down. The golden droid came bustling into the room at once and Padme sent him to fetch a glass of iced Kopi tea, and a cold pack for her feet. Threepio returned in a minute, handing Padme a glass, and draping a cold pack over her feet.

"Thank you Threepio, that will be all for now."

"Oh of course Mistress Padme, happy to be of service to you." The droid bustled off, and Padme turned to look at Ventress, who was still standing in the entrance to the sitting room, looking at Padme in astonishment, and was it possible, respect?
"Well what do you have to tell me Ventress?" Padme questioned, looking tiredly up at the woman still standing silently in the entrance. "What information can you offer me?"

"I have video recordings of holo-messages of conversations between him and the leader's of the separatist forces I stole." She answered at once, now walking over and sitting gingerly on a chair across from where Padme sat.

"Is that all?" Padme asked, taking a sip of her tea, and looking skeptically at Ventress.

"I am also I'm the process of obtaining more information, which I should have in three days time." She added, begrudgingly.

"While," Padme started, sitting up slightly. "Why don't you give me what you have now, and bring me the rest if you obtain it?"

"When I obtain it." Asajj hissed, her nostrils flared. "And on the matter of payment?"

"A hundred credits should be sufficient."

"You insult me, Madam Senator."

"I haven't even seen the recordings yet, and as for this other information, I will pay for it when I receive it, no sooner. Deal?"

"Deal." Ventress said after a minute, and she pulled a disk out of her pocket. Padme had Threepio fetch the credits, and they made the exchange.

"One more thing Ventress." Padme said, her words stopping the woman as she was made her back towards the door. "I want to know how you knew to come to me with this? I was in no way attached to this bounty."

Ventress turned back to face her, a wicked smile on her thin face.

"I recognized Skywalker's bounty Alias, and as he is rather, unavailable, I thought beyond his ex-padawan, you would be the one to come too. I expect I would be the only to one too know too," She sneered, that gleam back in her eyes, and she started walking back to Padme.

"And why would you assume that?" Padme asked lightly, hiding her confusion, and discomfort at the way Ventress was looking at her. She was staring to regret bringing the Bounty Hunter up here.

"Oh sweetie, well the easy answer would be that you are his lawyer, but truthfully," She was now standing very close to Padme, and had kneeled down next to her, their faces inches apart, but Padme did not pull back, refusing to be intimidated. "I figured his wife would be more than happy to pay up." She laughed coldly as Padme's expression turned to one of shock, the brunette unable to stop herself.

"How-?"

"You wish for information on Sidious, do you not? Well let's just say it was once my task to find out everything about a certain Jedi who fancies himself your husband." Her laugh was humorless mirth, and it spilled out of her thin lips again as she watched Padme's shocked and confused expression. Asajj Ventress stood up, a sneer back on her face. "I'll show myself out." She laughed again quietly, sashaying back to the entrance and through the door.


AN:

Hello! Super fast update coming at ya! I was inspired, or just had way too much time on my hands with Thanksgiving break, but anyways a new chapter yay. This one's all Padme's point of view, and I will mostly just switch between her and Anakin at first, but later I think we will see from others as well.

Also to clarify, I am going to be using a lot of Characters from the Clone Wars TV series, so it might be a little confusing if you haven't seen it (And if you haven't you really should because it is the best!)

Timing in the Star Wars world and my story is going to be as follows. 60 seconds = 1 minute, 60 minutes = 1 hour, 24 hours = 1 day, 5 days = 1 week, 7 weeks = 1 month, 35 days = 1 month, 368 days = 1 year.

Anyways, that's all for now, but I'm starting to get really excited about where this story is headed, so please review and let me now if you are too! Or if not, what do you think needs to be worked on? Really any comments are helpful, and hearing from you all really inspires me to write more and faster!

Till the next chapter!

-Diamondgirl3;)