Padme sat in conference with Boss Nass and their advisors.
They had brought all the Gungans into Theed as soon as they could.
Right now the palace was practically overrun by the lizard like
creatures. Padme had been in meetings constantly for the last week.

"Your Majesty, Your Honor, something must be done immediately.
Soon these attackers will begin attacking the Naboo." The young
advisor spoke in a frantic voice. Padme tried her best to calm him.

"Do not worry advisor Ralse. We will take action." Another
advisor, an old woman named Sarrin, spoke up.

"We should go to the Senate. They will send an army to help
us." Alotar Skywalker shook his head skeptically.

"We all know the Senate is useless, and even if they were to
help us there is no military presence ruled directly by the Republic.
The only armies in this galaxy are the armies of individual planets."
Sarrin looked ready to argue. Padme was quick to put a stop to it.

"Alotar is right. We cannot rely on the Senate. We will have
to go elsewhere."

"Whosa we be askin' for help?" A female Gungan asked. Everyone
was silent as they considered the very good point the Gungan had
made. Finally Padme spoke.

"We shall have to devise a plan to counteract this problem.
Advisor," she paused and looked at the Gungan questioningly.

"Mesa name is Tiri Jirns." Padme nodded and sent her a small
smile.

"Advisor Jirns, you shall be in charge of developing this plan.
You will report to Our husband and Captain Tarpals. You may leave and
begin your work." Tiri bowed and left the room, her ears flopping as
she went. Padme looked to the rest of the advisors.

"We shall need to send someone to collect information on this
new threat. Alotar Skywalker, I leave that to you." With that Padme
got up and left the room. Her handmaidens trailed after her.





Sabe was really beginning to wish the Jedi knew nothing about
her pregnancy. Of course she knew that that would be just asking for
trouble, but being watched by high and mighty Jedi knights day and
night was really annoying.

At least before she had been kidnapped only Yoda, Mace Windu,
Anakin, and Obi-Wan had watched over her. Obi-Wan had been cold but
even he hadn't treated her like a Sith whore. These new guards acted
as though she'd gone with Mortis and Obi-Wan willingly.

The one guarding her at that particular moment was
particularly annoying. All he ever did was stand by the door and look
at her with distrust. The only good thing about him was that he never
tried to speak with her. She wasn't much of one for idle chitchat
these days.

The one thing she looked forward to were her daily visits from
Jairon. He was always nice to her. He took care to ignore the Jedi
guards. Apparently he didn't care for them either.

He brought her news of the palace and of Theed. Sabe had
refused to leave her room for any other reason than to go to the med
ward for checkups since she had returned.

He also frequently asked for her help. He was new to the
abandoning your life to serve another thing. Sometimes he needed a
helping hand. Sabe was only too happy to oblige.

The truth be told Jairon reminded Sabe of herself. Both of
them were intensely loyal to the ones they protected and very devoted
to their jobs. Neither had any patience for goofing off on the job.
Which Sabe had to assumewas why no one ever took their minds off their
assigned tasks when in either ones presence. Sabe had long ago
perfected her steely glare and Jairon reportedly had an interesting
way with words.

Sabe often wondered just what was said about them both during
late night sabacc games. She knew only too well that she was not well
liked among those who did not know her. Those who had only a passing
acquaintance with her respected her, but only good friends seemed to
truly like her. She was happy to be able to count Jairon as one of
them.

Jairon often spent time trying to get her to leave her room.
He claimed being cooped up in the palace with no fresh air was
detrimental to her child's health.

Sabe had held out for nearly two weeks before finally giving
in and going for a walk in the palace gardens. She found that she
enjoyed it, except for the knight following them but that couldn't be
helped.

"Jairon, what do you think of this new threat? Could it be
connected to the Sith in some way?" Jairon seemed to have already
thought of this before.

"Yes." Sabe was dismayed at his answer. He appeared apologetic
but continued. "It seems as if every major difficulty Naboo has had
since Amidala became the Minhara has been somehow connected to the
Sith. I don't believe this is any different." Sabe sighed and looked
to her feet, which she couldn't see.

"I suppose you are right, but I wish you weren't."

"That makes two of us."