*** Chapter 12 ***

Naboo is infamous for its ridged adherence to custom and tradition. While any off worlder would view Padme totally and completely compliant, she often bucked tradition, favoring more casual events. A prime example being that The Queen would often host garden parties instead formal sit-down luncheons. While scandalous, it quickly became a welcome departure for those who would attended often.

The Life and Times of Amidala, the People's Queen, By: Softa Jiane, Oralist and Historian

Luke and Palak returned to back to the protest to hear more stories of how Nabooans wanted nothing to do with any intergalactic government again. They were now sitting on a park bench away from the protestors eating Julliet, a shaved ice treat covered with a thick cream sauce and local fruits.

"The Isolationist must have some sort of leader, like an organizer?" Luke questioned.

"Yeah, there are a few people, but they really are just organizers. They want to see a full democratic government that represents the people and lets them make their own choices. The spread of the Isolationist has been grassroots, people having conversations homes and wanting action." Palak explained.

"But don't people know what being isolationist would really mean?" Luke asked as he slurped up a spoon full of flavored ice

"Well, maybe not, but they know what intergalactic government looks like and they're not fans," Palak replied.

"But, we're different than the Empire," Luke countered.

"But they're also just as much upset with the Old Republic. Memories are long here, and the Old Republic has been gone less than thirty years," Palak explained. "You have to admit, you have your own bias."

"How widespread is it, I mean most of planet or just a very loud, but small contingent?" Luke questioned, pivoting the conversation.

"That's a great question. We don't really know. On other planets, the government and other organization would be really interested in keep pulse, but we elect a monarch that makes ultimate decisions for our world. There is no reason to keep pulse on the populace once you have ultimate power and this queen's not been popular for a while. Even before talk of entering the New Republic started, it was unlikely she would get reelected, so she has nothing to lose and if the New Republic is beneficial, she had gets a legacy as the Queen who made it happen." Palak explained.

"I guess you would be the expert." Luke conceded.

"Yes, yes that would be me." Palak accepted the complement with sarcasm.

"Seriously though, it's helpful." Luke explained. "Look, it probably pretty obvious at this point, but I'm supposed to be getting the full story on the Isolationist."

"I figured so much, Luke Skywalker, wondering about and trying to ask question?" Palak put her hands up in mock surrender.

"So why did you let me shadow you?" Luke questioned.

"I wanted you to know the truth. I wanted to the New Republic to know whether you agree with the Isolationist or nor their still good people and their concerns are still valid. The Queen may make decisions, but you have the opportunity to influence what happens more than me or any one out their protesting. You can make their voices be heard."

"I'm…I'm really not that powerful, I'm really just security, just trying to make sure there's not a bigger threat here." Luke explained.

"I wasn't meaning to suggest, but I did want at least someone from the New Republic to listen." Palak explained quickly.

"I'm listening," Luke confided

"I know, I'm glad."

Leia was sitting in the conference room waiting for the Handmaiden to arrive to discuss all of the additional activities that were planned when the dignitaries. While Leia had a moment of silence before her meeting continue, Leia reflected on her meeting this morning with the Madam Madden. While it did not go horribly wrong, it was a brutal reminder that the New Republic was still so limited against so many potential threats. Some days it felt like the New Republic was on top, each day a new world was freed, and new worlds were agreeing to join the New Republic on their will, The New Republic was not capturing worlds like the Empire, they were doing things differently. But nothing about Naboo thus far had been easy. Distress among the populace, weird trade patterns, shooters at the landing bay and Leia had not even started actual negotiations.

Leia was interrupted from her thoughts when the same Handmaiden from this morning entered the room, her dress different than what she wore earlier. Leia wondered what the palace budget was for keeping these young woman dressed, it was grotesque, the New Republic could probably feed an entire planet for a year for what they were spending.

"Princess Leia how are you this evening?" The young woman questioned.

I'm fine and you?" Leia questioned.

"I very well, thank you."

"Alright then, what else would the Queen like." Leia's ton was biting. She was weary of additional requests and she had allowed the miserable day to get the best of her.

"Yes, sure," The Handmaid was a bit thrown by the curt response. "She would like to hold an extra banquet to welcome everyone in the gardens. She feels it would be good for her image as Queen Amidala often did the same."

"Fine, that seems reasonable." Leia agreed, hoping everything would be this easy.

"And she would also like to host an overnight excursion to the Lake Country. She feels it is some of Naboo's most beautiful land and it would be a shame to miss it."

"Anything else," Leia grimaced, worried.

"A few more things, the banquet in which Naboo will formally join the New Republic, will actually be a formal ball with traditional dancing and music and she would like an annual celebration every year to commemorate the occasion." The handmaiden replied.

"Anything else?" Leia was tentative, these last two requests were not egregious, but changing venues was going to be a security nightmare.

"No, that's all. The Queen also wanted me to let you know she is very excited to start formal negotiations."

"I'm as well." Leia gave a half simile, attempting to hide her discontent.

Once the Handmaiden was out of ear shot, she sent a message to Luke, Erickson and Liv Gosermore, who had been studying the geography of the planet, would hopefully be familiar with the Lake Country, the other two would be able to help set up a security contingent.

Luke arrived first and Leia was surprised to see him dressed on the colorful garb of Naboo.

"You've gone local?" Leia commented as he sat down.

"Camouflage, no one would talk to me unless I dressed this way." Luke mumbled, self-conscious of the attire.

"It's a good look for you." Leia said dryly.

Before Luke could counter, Liv arrived with Erickson just at her heals.

"Ugh, if I've not done enough already for today," He exclaimed as he plopped down one of the conference room chairs, his knees where too high to actually scoot under the table.

"Look, I'm not exactly thrilled to be here either, but we all have a duty to do." Leia countered and then started her request. "The Queen has asked that our dignitaries travel to the Lake Country for a night. I am currently in zero position to say no to this request, so we need to start to understand the security needs of the situation as I expect they will be substantial."

"I can't go." Erickson quickly stated.

Leia rolled her eyes and then turned to Liv, "What do you know about the Lake Country?"

Liv pulled out her data pad, read for a moment and then said, "It's extremely isolated, Comm doesn't work there but there are some gorgeous homes. And based on what I'm seeing, we need a local guide to show us around. Even with a speeder and Nav computer it is easy to get lost."

"I'd rather not ask the Queen for the resource; besides, she'd probably just send one of the children that do her bidding. Luke, you've met some locals, anyone you can trust?"

"I've been here two days, it's hard to fully trust anyone in such a short amount of time, but I have been spending time with an Oralist named Palak Ramy, she may be able to go." Luke mentioned.

"Can you ask?" Leia questioned. "I think you'll need to leave tomorrow to be able to have enough to finish the security evaluation before the dignitaries arrive."

"Yeah," Luke agreed.

"We should go over the exact security needs, Erickson, do we have enough people to manage the sort of events the Queen is asking?" Leia questions.

"We've got all the New Republic can spare right now." Erickson scoffed.

"Fine, It's settled then, it doesn't matter what the security needs are, this is it. I guess there's no need mulling over it any longer." Leia replied with a forced smile.

Small group dispensed for the night, headed to their quarters to do additional work or rest.

When Luke arrived back in his room, he picked up his comm unit and paged Palak, hoping she would answer.

"Luke, you haven't gotten enough of me today?" She joked as she picked up on the other end.

"Something like that." Luke replied. "What do you know about the Lake Country?"

"Quite well, my parents have a house there, I've spent every summer of life country." Palak replied, "Why?"

"I need to go there on a sort of security thing." Luke replied.

"You cannot go to the Lake Country alone, it's pretty isolated."

"So, I've heard." Luke lead.

"And when are you going?" Palak questioned, catching on.

"Tomorrow, hopefully?" Luke replied, working to keep his voice light. The ask seemed almost ridicules now that he had started.

"Hmmm, if only I didn't have to work tomorrow." Palak replied.

"Oh, totally, I understand, do you know someone else who could help?" Luke asked embarrassed.

Palak ignored Luke and kept on, "If only I had a job that encouraged going off adventures with interesting people and hearing their stories." Palak continued.

"Wait, so, you'll come?" Luke asked confused.

"Yeah, I'm not going to turn down the opportunity to hear Luke Skywalker's stories. You're the last of the Jedi. You are willing to tell me some of your stories?" Palak replied.

"It feels like a far trade." Luke replied, feeling a bit relieved.

"Good, I meet you at the Palace in the morning." She confirmed.

"See you in the morning." Luke replied and then they let their connection drop.

"Bridge, Bridge, " Palak yelled once she was sure the Comm unit had disconnected.

"What?" Bridge yelled back as she found Palak in the small study in their shared flat.

"Luke Skywalker just asked me to go to the Lake country tomorrow." Palak replied.

"And I assume you said 'no'?" Bridge's voice was questioning, but she already knew the answer.

"No, I mean, I said Yes." Palak exclaimed, beyond exciting.

"Can you change your mind?" Bridge used her condescending big sister voice.

"The stories I could hear, and he could be valuable." Palak replied, excitement building

Bridge rolled her eyes and said, "Fine, you can go, but we're going to do things my way."

"Ok, fine." Palak replied, and the two sisters began planning