*** Chapter Four***
When Padme was nearing her 12th birthday she was finally old enough to apply for the Junior Legislative program. Those around her know the application was only a formality, the administrators of the program where just as anxious to have Padme to apply as Padme was to apply. Padme should have had great confidence going into the process, but was often a poor measure of her own ability. Padme stressed over every word of her application. It was only after Padme arrived on Coruscant for the program did she believe she had really earned the spot.
The Life and Times of Amidala, the People's Queen, By: Softa Jiane, Oralist and Historian
As the ship left hyperdrive and entered Naboo space, Leia noted that there were still a couple of X-wings patrolling, which was typical on a plant transitioning from Imperial rule to New Republic entrance.
In the past year, the New Republic had built up their own sort of process. First, a military action to wipe out any remaining imperials. Imperial soldiers were given the opportunity to disavow the Empire and if they did, they were allowed to go, to return to their lives either as civilians or as members of the New Republic armed forces. Officers were sent to a magistrate to be evaluated for war crimes, those charged would be sent to a New Republic prison to await trail and those considered innocent would be released. Once the plant had been mostly cleared of an imperial presence, the New Republic humanitarian core would arrive, providing simple staples like food and more complex aid like helping business and farmers take control of their business and instate fair labor practices.
Then, once the planet was in process to be stabilized, a team of subject matter experts would arrive to start evaluating the plant for more long-term aid and for other things, like population, GDP and the like that would be important in negotiating the plants entry into the New Republic. When the subject matter experts completed their evaluation, Ambassadors in the diplomatic core would be called upon to negotiate the terms of entry. Sometimes, this was with leadership already in place on the planet, plenty of planets had kept their leadership, at least as figureheads, during Imperial reign but many had not. For the planets that did not, the Ambassador would appoint a local provisional governor who would be charged with working with locals to implement a government of elected officials. Finally, once the planet was ready to formally enter the New Republic, a contingent of dignitaries would arrive to attend a series of parties and events to mark the occasion. The dignitaries were often the entitled children of nobility from richer worlds, serving no purposes beyond being rich and pretty and giving the New Republic a sense of legitimacy.
Naboo had been well protected during the time of the Empire. While not immaterial, the humanitarian aid needed was small compared to other worlds and the government was eager to enter into the New Republic. Leia was hopeful her job would be easy, the last four worlds she had visited had been badly marred by imperial rule and they were hesitant to enter the New Republic. Meaning that Leia had now offered up a net negative in an attempt to build the New Republic, the worlds needing large amount of humanitarian aid and offered very low tax revenue. While a boring part of government, tax revenue was unfortunately the only they would be able to run.
When the Rebel Star landed on Theeds, the Capital city f Naboo, the traveling party was standing in front of the doors, waiting to step on the yet another new planet. Luke took the first step off the ship, as the official security escort, this is what both safety and etiquette demanded. Though more importantly, Luke had the impending feeling that something was not right.
Before both of his feet were formally on the ground of the landing pad, Luke heard the release of blaster fire and in less time than blast could travel through the air, Luke had pulled his lightsaber off his belt, activated and deflected the shot. Leia jumped out of the ship behind him, a blaster he did not even realize she was carrying and fired in the direction of the fire. Luke deflected the next shot with his lightsaber and Leia fired again, blind, as neither of them had yet seen the assailant.
Lightsaber at the ready, Luke examined the nearly enclosed landing pad, there was a door for ships to fly into and there was a door existing and there was a balcony for maintenance, Luke quickly identified that was where the shots were coming from and crouched to make the leap up to the balcony. Somersaulting 3 and half meters in the air to land on the steel catwalk.
Luke quickly spotted the assailant dressed completely in black, but they had already started to retreat. The assailant was humanoid, but Luke could not pinpoint an exact specious or gender as he chased the shooter down the catwalk and through a door that lead outside. By the time Luke caught up with the assailant, they were jumping onto a waiting speeder. As the assailant made their jump, the hood on the persons head lifted up just enough for Luke to make out a piece of a tattoo on their neck. A crescent with a piece of a star that looked to be nine or ten sides. Luke ran to the edge of the catwalk, but the assailant got away before Luke could stop them.
Luke returned to the inside of the landing pad and jumped backed to the main floor where the ship hand landed in just enough time to see a tall humanoid man with blue skin, nearly half a meter taller than Luke. The man was wearing a New Republic special security uniform.
"I'm Commander Erikson, Special Security, I've been sent to escort Ambassador Organa to the royal palace, what Happened here?" He asked, though his voice lazy, as if he did not care about what had transgressed.
"Shots fired from the catwalk, I followed them, but they got away. They had a speeder waiting." Luke explained.
"Imperial sympathizer?" Leia suggested.
"Unlikely, this planet got tons of problems, least of which are the Imperial sympathizers, but no way to know for sure." The Commander stated.
Luke and Leia looked at each other confused, neither had heed altered to other problems. "You mean, no one is going to investigate?" Luke questioned.
"He got away, no one got hurt." The Commander shot back.
"But…" Luke was about to launch a protest before Leia interjected.
"We understand resources are tough and appreciate your service to the New Republic. We are all just guest on this planet, and we will let the local Naboo authorities deal with this incident the way the wish." Leia quickly found the diplomatic solution to the issue at hand, even though she was irritated that the designated security team was uninterested in dealing with a real security threat.
"Exactly, your Highness, we will have the local authorities deal with the investigation." The Commander said with a fair amount of smugness in his voice.
"Should we contact the local authorities" Leia questioned, concerned at what transgressed while still attempting a diplomatic high road.
"Princess, I assure you, I will contact them as soon I am sure you have been brought to safety. Right now, I am meant to take you palace, where you will be staying during your time on Naboo. And where you will be safe" The Commander said, having sobered up a bit.
"Sure, Commander, lead the way." Leia said wearily, already put off by both the firefight and this Commander who seemed to be in charge of the New Republic security force charged with the diplomatic contingent's security.
Luke and Leia fell into step behind the soldier as the existed the landing pad to ground transportation. Luke leaned over to Leia and said, "I thought I was unnecessary, that there was not a security threat." Luke said, knowingly.
"And I could have handled it myself." Leia responded, under her breath so that the soldiers could not hear their bickering.
Before Luke could counter, the group was loaded into a luxury speeder. The garage doors revealing a sunset that shown bright against the green roofed marble buildings.
Luke was in awe, we had been to countless number of moons and planets that past five years, each one always had something he had never seen before and Naboo was no exception. The grass lining the streets was an emerald green, the fronts of buildings a milky white. The people on the street where dressed in loud elaborate dressings in all colors. There were fountains flowing with water, canals which small crafts zipping around. The planet was unlike anything Luke could even imagine.
While Luke was amazed at such a sight, Leia felt a deep sense of melancholy. "Are you okay?" Luke questioned, picking up her sudden change of emotion through the force.
"It's silly really, but I had always heard that Naboo and Alderaan had a slimier land scape and climate, but I was not prepared at how similar everything would really be." Leia explained.
Before Luke was able to respond, a loud roar of a crowd overtook the speeder and the Luke and Leia looked out to crowd that looked angry, holding signs that said things like "Let Naboo rule on its own" and "Queen Shear, Speak for your people."
"What's this about?" Leia questioned the soldiers riding with them in the speeder.
"Oh, you know, the uneducated locals protesting what's good for'em." Commander Erickson replied nonchalantly.
Leia frowned, she disliked the soldier's tone, but realized this matter was best dealt with privately than in this current moment and made a note to figure out who he reported to. If this was how new Republic soldiers talked, they may as well still be imperials.
Leia lowered her voice and turned to Luke, "This isn't normal, I've never seen protest like this before. I hate to put your holiday on hold, but can you hit the streets get a sense of what's going tomorrow. This could derail the entire negotiation. I don't have any notes on this."
Luke nodded, secretly relieved to have a project to keep him busy. Luke had never actually taken a holiday in his life and was unsure what he was supposed to do with so much non-productive time.
By the time the speeder reached entrance to the palace, the roads were so clogged with protestors that the speeder had to travel slowly, and the palace security officials had to line the street to create a barricade. Leia knew there were people who dissented on entering into yet another intergalactic government, but on all other planets it had been a radicle isolationist view, especially on a world like Naboo that depended greatly on trade treaties for survival. Without intergalactic cooperation, Naboo would be an economic wasteland and the quickest and easiest way to ensure the planets continued property would be through entrance into the New Rebellion.
Finally, the Speeder was out of reach or protestors and officially on Palace grounds. Leia considered these arrangements and wondered, given the circumstances, if it did not make sense for the diplomatic contingent to stay somewhere else. When the Queen had accepted the opportunity for entrance into the New Republic, she had offered up a wing of the palace, and the offer aligned well the budget conscious New Republic.
The palace grounds themselves seemed vast. The lawn was well manicured, interrupted only by well-groomed topiaries and colorful blooming flower gardens. Though the sun had nearly set, the grounds were illuminated by a hundred little glowing lights. Neither Luke nor Leia were able to determine if these were organic or if the lights has been placed to illuminate the garden at all hours.
The actual palace had been constructed in the same green domed, pale stoned, pillared architecture as the rest of the planet, but the palace was large enough that to a casual observer it looked more like museum than a residence, though not exactly private one.
Leia sent a silent prayer to the Universe that the speeder would take them around to a private entrance where should could consult with the subject matter team in advance of meeting with any Naboo officials. Her prayers were not met and instead the Speeder stopped at the grand entrance of the palace.
"The Queen is waiting your arrival. There is a small reception in your honor." Said Commander Erickson. "And they've asked that we take any droids to your rooms."
Leia got out of the Speeder and Luke followed, wishing that they'd been allowed to keep C-3PO, at least that he'd asked the protocol droid what to do when he met the Queen of Naboo, instead he did the next best thing. "What do I do about etiquette?" Luke asked as the walked toward the large double doors flanked by two women wearing all red.
"You're not from Naboo, and you're a Jedi, which I think gets you out of most of the greeting rituals. I think you should be safe with a simple bow at the waist, as a security escort, keep your eyes up instead of directing you gaze to the floor floor and keep in brief, I don't think you need to be released by the Queen." Leia said, though it did not sound exact.
"Your sure?" Luke questioned.
"No, but there should probably be Jedi Etiquette guidelines. I mean, I'm sure there used to be but they've been mostly lost at this point. Given that Jedi travel a lot and are not meant to diplomats or dignitaries, I think what we've come up with would be respectful and fair in any court on any World." Leia proclaimed.
"Fair enough," Luke said and then started mentally reviewing exactly what he was supposed to do when he met the Queen.
When Luke and Leia got closer to the doors, the red dressed Woman pushed them open. Luke and Leia walked through into a grand entrance. The floor was silky marble and the grand staircase was intricately carved wood the color of mahogany. The walls were adorned with oil paintings depicting the History of Naboo. The celling went nearly 10 meters into the air and stopped only by a green dome the same color as the roofs the lined skyline of Theeds.
The two did not stand there long, before 10 identically girls walked down the stairs in near perfect coordination. Each girl looked to between the ages of 12 to 14, wearing a long pale pink dress adorned with yellow chiffon creating both a sense of elegance and innocence. Their hair was plaited into two breads down their back. Their descent down the stairs felt slow and powerful, like a wave in slow motion. As they reached the bottom of the stairs they fanned out and waited at a sort of attention that lacked the locked knees straightness that usual came with position, but kept all of the same straightness. Once each girl has taken their place an 11th girl descended the stairs. She was dressed differently from the rest in a black gown adorned with silver ornamentation that flared out into a skirt six times the width of the girls the hips. The girls face was painted entirely in a powder white makeup, her lips painted a drastic red and eyes was been dressed in the same black and silver as her dress. Atop her head was a sort of headdress that must have added nearly 30 centimeters to her height.
When she reached the bottom stair she paused and then Leia look a deep curtsey with her eyes pointed to the ground. "You Majesty, we are honored to be a guest in your house." Leia greeted.
Luke followed Leia's lead, and gave the quick bow they had discussed in the entry way. Unsure if it was truly formal enough for this sort of occasion.
"And it is an honor to meet you, Princess Leia and Jedi Skywalker." The Queen said, as Leia rose from her curtsey. "Would you care to join my handmaidens and me for dinner. It would be a humble welcome to my planet, but I would be elated if you were able to accept my invitation." The Queens girlish voice was masked by a slow and measured delivery if she was speaking to someone who had only rudimentary understanding of basic rather than a native speaker.
"Your Majesty, Queen Shear, we would be delighted to accept your invitation for dinner." Leia replied, replicating the same deliberate speech pattern.
"Then I shall escort my guests to the dinning room." The Queen responded.
This seemed to be some sort of que, the handmaidens just as ascended the stairs in a nearly identical fashion as they descended. The Queen and her guest then followed.
As the party moved through the palace, Luke worked hard to keep his gaze focused on the path head of him instead of letting his eyes linger on the visual feast presented by the art and trimmings. Each room they walked through presenting a different style, color or material. Luke was especially entranced by the room that looked like a forest. The ground was soft moss, the walls a green covered stone and trees that seemed to grow out of the floor. Through the force, Luke was able to confirm that the room was not actually alive, but was instead a non-organic piece of art.
After what was most likely unnecessary tour of the palace, the party finally arrived to the dinning room. The Handmaidens each walking towards their seats in the same choreographed precision they had shown with all of their movements.
The Queen took her place at the head of the table, leaving the spots at her left and right hand open for her guests. Luke and Leia took their positions in front of their chairs, waiting for the Queen to direct the next move. The thing about etiquette is that as long as you are not being looked at for ques it is more about being astute to your surroundings than memorizing new rules for each planet. The other nice thing, is that inevitably, the more ostentatious the protocol, the easier to follow along.
The Queen took her seat and her handmaids followed they continued show of etiquette. Finally, once the dinner party had settled into their seats, the Queen spoke. "I appreciate your respect for the customs of our World, we understand that to those not from Naboo they seem excessive. I have arranged the simplest dinner royal customs allow."
Leia responded, "We appreciate your hospitality and we welcome the opportunity to experience your generosity in the manner in which it is intended." Her speech measured as if she was engaged in a sort of vocal dance with the Queen.
The Queen nodded towards a more plainly dressed servant standing by the door which started the dinner service. First wine and then a clear broth was severed.
The Queen inquired after her guests' journey. Leia in turn, asked the Queen how she'd enjoyed her recent holiday to the lake country of Naboo, something that had been published in the local gossip rags.
After a more hardy soup and a salad had been served, the table was presented with a third dish that consisted of some sort of yellow pink fish fillet and a dark brown bean that looked oddly familiar. Luke looked down at his plate with hesitation and then asked, "Your majesty, I hate to be rude, but these beans that you have served look a lot like favttie?
The Queen nodded and then said, "Jedi Skywalker, it is not rude to ask what you have been served, these are in fact favttie beans, they are one of most important agricultural crops, but are rare outside of Naboo and a couple of other planets. I am surprised you recognize them."
Luke shared a glance with Leia, who graciously addressed the Queen about the beans. "You Majesty, both Jedi Skywalker and I as well as the entire Alliance had the opportunity to enjoy these beans. Unfortunately, we both found out that we share a severe allergy, I would not mention it, but I did not want you to think we were being rude."
"A rare allergy, I advise you to be careful with that you eat during your stay, but I will be sure to adjust my kitchen." The Queen replied and again nodded to the servant in the corner of the room who cleared their plates away.
"I greatly appreciate the accommodation." Leia responded and spoke up again then now that the delicate dance of etiquette had been broken by the unfortunate discussion of favttie beans allergies.
"You Majesty," Leia said, "I do not mean to be rude, but I did want to inquire about the protestors we saw on the way in. The communication I had received made it sound as if Naboo was ready for entry into the New Republic, but from what I witnessed…" Leia trailed off.
The Queen, a near perfect diplomat at such a young age, seemed ready for a response. "I expected that you would have this question. While there is a small but increasing contingent of isolationist, but as you know entering the New Republic is essential for Naboo's ability to continue. My term is up in a year's time, and there is a fair chance that if our entry into the New Republic is not fixed by that time, Naboo will refuse and my planet will not survive."
"I understand," Leia responded, knowing there was more than the Queen was letting on.
Dinner ended and while Leia was anxious to see what her subject matter experts had found, she knew it was late and that they had already retired for the night. Leia bade Luke a good night and then entered her assigned suite. It was just as opulent as she expected.
She pulled out her Comm Unit, hopeful she would be able to find Han. Communication did not work while in Hyperspeed and Han and Chewie had been doing some work for the New Republic in the Outer Rim, meaning his ability to find connection had been limited. It had been over a week since they were last able to talk.
Leia selected Han for her contact list and held her breath while the unit connected, hoping very much that she would be able to see his face. Nothing about this mission was shaping up as she expected and talking to him would be a comfort.
Leia was quickly disappointed; the call went to the messaging service on the Falcon. Leia left a message, explaining where she was and for how long, the usual, if he got chance come join her few a couple of days.
Once she was done with the message Leia started taking down her braids one, by one. This had always been the time she had herself to reflect. Already Naboo was shaping up to be a more difficult planet than she expected and she hadn't even had a chance to talk to her subject matter experts. They always had surprises, rarely good ones at that.