Chapter Ten
The Naboo Cruiser headed neared the lush green planet, Everett sitting beside Ric Olie in the cockpit. Obi-Wan and Captain Panaka stood behind her, talking to Olie.
"I have one battleship on my scope," Olie told them.
"It's a droid control ship," Obi-Wan observed.
"They've probably spotted us," Captain Panaka said.
"We haven't much time then," Everett said, standing from her seat. "I'll inform the Queen."
"I'll escort you," Obi-Wan said. "I must find my Master." She nodded and followed him towards the Queen's quarters.
She had redressed into her handmaiden clothes. The horrid shade of orange still hadn't grown on her. It didn't match her skin tone and clashed with her eye color. Even Rabé had winced when Everett had pulled the fabric over her head.
Obi-Wan eyed her from beside her and she looked over at him.
"Obi-Wan?"
"Just… the color of your robes does not bring out your eyes." She forced a flush from appearing on her face, covering it up with a small cough.
"I despise this color, but all of us have made sacrifices, I guess."
"Your ability to find humor in our current circumstances should be applauded."
A small content smile graced her lips.
"My brother would disagree."
"Really?"
"Yes, he was very blunt."
"Was?"
She realized her mistake to late, smile dropping.
"He passed away."
"Ah, I'm sorry to hear that." Her shoulders tensed.
"Thank you for your condolences."
They didn't speak again, Obi-Wan leaving her outside the Queen's quarters. She went inside, casting a look over her shoulder as he walked away to find Qui-Gon. Padmé called out to her, and she turned back.
"Yes, milady?"
"I'm not Queen at the moment," Padmé reminded her.
"Yes, but I'm not calling Sabé milady until she's out in public."
"Rude," Sabé teased.
"Could have her arrested," Eirtaé muttered. Padmé smirked, shaking her head. She looked to Everett.
"Have you any news?"
"We will be landing soon. I hope Jar Jar is prepared."
Padme nodded, "He is." The young queen smiled. "I believe that we will be successful and get back what is ours!"
Everett was not the type of person to get ahead of herself. She thought through every outcome and normally believed that she would fail. Padmé's confidence was a bit overwhelming.
"I'm sure we will be," she murmured. She moved over to the wall, hitting a button to reveal the window. She gazed out on Naboo as the ship started lowering into the marshlands.
Jar Jar left as soon as they landed, and Everett was second off the ship. Captain Panaka called after her, but she ignored him as she spun around in the grass, much to the crew's amusement.
"If I am going to be stuck on Coruscant for the rest of my life, Captain, I'm going to enjoy the greenery even if something could kill me in the next ten seconds."
"There are plenty of gardens in Coruscant, young senator," Qui-Gon reminded. She grinned at him.
"But not enough, sir, and there aren't as many trees."
At her words, Captain Panaka laughed. Qui-Gon looked at him in confusion and the man quickly sobered up.
"Senator Alvera climbs trees faster than a squirrel."
"You jest," Everett chided. "But I do scale them rather quickly I suppose."
"How fast?" Anakin asked. He was staring at the dense greenery in awe. Far from what he was used too on Tatooine.
"Faster than is acceptable for a senator," Everett winked. Anakin grinned at her, a cheerful look that she quickly returned.
"Can you teach me?" he asked eagerly. She glanced towards the way that Jar Jar had gone.
"Sure, we have time… Ask Master Qui-Gon first."
The sandy haired boy turned to the Jedi, positively buzzing with excitement. Qui-Gon looked to Captain Panaka who shrugged.
"We should be safe and if we're attacked, they will be safe in the trees."
"Agreed, go along Anakin." Anakin cheered and raced to Everett's side. "Go with them, Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon ordered.
Everett turned her head, confused that the younger Jedi would have to accompany them.
"For the senator's protection." Obi-Wan nodded and jogged over to them.
"We'll be within eye-sight," Everett told Captain Panaka. He tossed her a blaster, and she caught it with ease. She grabbed Anakin's hand and pulled him towards a giant tree that loomed over them.
She pulled off the robes she was wearing, underneath a pair of comfortable black pants and a green/yellow shirt. She kicked off her shoes, relishing in the feeling of the damp grass.
"No shoes?" Anakin questioned.
"Shoes are desirable for some and not for others… Right, you ready?"
For the next half-hour, Everett taught Anakin how to climb the thick trunk, how to find places to put his hands and feet even if there wasn't a branch. He managed to get about ten feet off the ground before stopping.
"I think I'm high enough," he said with a lopsided grin. "I'll do more next time."
Obi-Wan and Everett were below him and Everett smiled up at him. She glanced at Obi-Wan, who's arms were crossed, a worried expression on his face.
"Anakin, do you think you can get back down?" The boy's face dropped for just a second before a determined look came on his face.
"Yes."
Slowly, much slower than he had going up, Anakin managed to get back onto the ground.
"I did it!" he whooped.
"Good job," she said.
"You didn't climb though," Anakin said. She stared up at the tree, her nightmare coming back to her.
"Well… I haven't done it since I became senator."
"Please!"
Taking a deep breath, Everett scaled the tree, higher than Anakin had gone. When she came to her last stable branch, she looked down, waving at Anakin and Obi-Wan. The younger of the two had his mouth wide open while the older was turning a bright red. She guessed she was about twenty-feet up.
Leaning back, she stared up at the willowy leaves. She felt at ease up high, her nightmares were just dreams. Her eyes closed and she murmured a silent prayer to the goddess. If there ended up a war, she hoped she could remember this moment. Remember the peace.
"Senator," Obi-Wan called. "Jar-Jar is returning."
And just like that, Everett remembered who she was. A senator of Naboo with a duty to help the Queen. She needed to act like it. She sat up, climbing down. Obi-Wan caught her on the last jump, helping her firmly to the ground.
"Thank you," she murmured. He nodded, walking beside her on the way back to the ship. Anakin skipped ahead and for a moment, she envied his childish ways.
I hope you are enjoying! I never understood why Padmé didn't seem more childish and so I decided to make Everett sometimes act her age. Yes, she's a senator and very mature, but even she needs a bit of fun in trying times. And I thought working on her friendship with Anakin would be helpful if I decided to continue this story through all the films.
-Amy Thorton
All Rights belong to Disney and Lucas Films.
