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Phase 1

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Part 1

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Royal Palace

Theed City

Naboo

A few hours after the parade officially ended the hostility between Naboo and Gungans, I met some of Amidala's principal advisers. Incidentally, those were the same people who were responsible for her education as a politician, among other things.

First was Sio Bibble, an old man who was not a fan of mine. He was a staunch proponent for Naboo to pay no attention to the galaxy at large, making him a bloody idiot. He was a Professor of Philosophy who managed to get elected as the Governor of Naboo and thus was one of the most powerful and influential government officials on the planet. He was the head of the Royal Council. He was the one who had the most influence on deciding what warranted the monarch's attention.

More importantly, without even knowing it, Bibble had been playing on Palpatine's tune for years before we merged. His biases and policies made him the perfect fall guy in case Sheev decided to use Naboo as something more than a stepping stone.

Horacle Vancil came next. He was at least as responsible for Padme's state of ignorance as Bibble, if not more. He was supposed to be her chief political and economic adviser and teacher. That conversation I had with Padme last night? It was his job to enlighten her on the realities of the Republic and its economy.

Needless to say, Vancil failed spectacularly in that regard.

Lufa Shif was the education advisor of the monarch. She was supposed to be responsible for the general education of said monarch and high-level educational policies aimed at Naboo as a whole.

Finally, we came to Graf Zapalo, the scientific adviser of the Royal Council. He was tangentially involved with Padme's education. He was also the newest face on the Royal Council and thus likely to be least guilty of gross incompetence, if nothing else.

The Queen joined us in the Council Chamber, leaving her guards outside.

"I need answers!" Amidala demanded. She didn't bother sitting on her tall chair. Instead, Padme leaned on the round table in the middle of the room and glared at her key Royal Advisers.

"We're here to serve you, my Queen. What is the issue?" Bibble asked in honest confusion. His eyes darted in my direction and went back to the Queen.

"The tax bill you all claimed was a magnificent development for the Republic and Naboo in particular!" Padme fumed. "The same trade bill we got invaded over, and too many of our people died as a consequence!"

"I do not doubt that the Trade Federation would pay for their madness, my Queen!" Vancil bowed lightly. "The Senate would have no choice but remove their trade license!"

That was Padme's political and economic adviser. May the Force help that poor girl.

"Do you all agree with that sentiment?" I asked lightly.

"Of course!" Bibble narrowed his eyes at me. "I am sure that as the Supreme Chancellor, you'll see justice done."

"There will be no justice in the Senate. The Trade Federation and what it does is too valuable for the economy of the Republic to face any consequences that matter. That is something every one of you should know." I calmly shot back.

Bibble was an isolationist and a firm opponent of Naboo being anything but a backwater. He was one of the principal opponents to selling Naboo plasma as a cheaper energy alternative for numerous worlds in the Core. That initiative was Palpatine's, though he managed to convince the previous king it was the boy's idea. That was why Bibble didn't do anything to help the lad get re-elected. He didn't support Padme either because, for all her naivety, she knew a good thing when it was staring her in the face. The plasma sales brought prosperity to Naboo, which could not be denied.

Amidala nearly collapsed in her chair, getting everyone's attention.

"I know. I spent last night browsing the Holonet looking for proof, hoping that what you claimed last night was not the truth, Chancellor." Amidala's lips became a thin line. "I found more than enough supporting evidence to trust your words more than those of my supposed advisers and teachers."

Bibble paled at those words and threw me a murderous glare.

"The Trade Federation alone controls over seventy percent of the trade and transport in the Outer Rim. With their other Commerce Guild affiliate, the percentage is close to ninety. The bulk of the trade flowing from the Outer Rim is vital resources fuelling the Republic's economy." Padme fumed. "They have perhaps the largest military in the galaxy because they are the ones who have to secure the Outer Rim and parts of the Mid Rim against piracy. And that is the case because the Republic refused to do it decades ago!" She glared in turn at her principal teachers. "That was, of course, of no consequence. There was no reason to burden me with such knowledge or to think that forcing the issue against the Trade Federation could have disastrous consequences!" Padme glared at her advisers. "You disgust me!"

Four people stared at the Queen, speechless, while I gave her a proud smile. Padme took a few moments to rebuild her composure.

"Governor Bilbo, we require your resignation early tomorrow morning. You will retire quietly from politics and return to teaching philosophy. You will vanish from Naboo's political discourse. If you decide to be difficult, we will make sure you will face your share of the blame for the invasion of our home!"

"You signed the documents approving our support of the tax bill. You agreed we would stand our ground against the Trade Federation's asinine demands!" Bilbo accused. "If you want to play it this way, there is more than enough blame to share, so we all drown."

Shif and Zapalo stared at the Governor in disbelief while Vancil nodded slowly.

"You're out of order, Sio!" Shif glared at him as if he was a schoolboy who just messed up by the numbers.

"All I've ever done is for the good of Naboo. I warned our Queen and her predecessor before her that entanglements with the galaxy at large would be our ruin! And I was right!"

"Governor," I asked carefully. "Did you hope something like this would happen so that you could push your foolish political agenda?!" I demanded.

It didn't matter if it was true or if he was a short-sighted fool. In politics, sometimes just an accusation could be weapon enough.

Padme whipped her head up and stared at the Governor in disbelief.

"He wouldn't…." She shook her head.

"Of course not! Those are baseless accusations!" Bilbo denied.

"It's just gross incompetence, then!" I glared at the man.

"One way or another, we will have your resignation, Governor!" Amidala uttered in a frosty tone. "You've cost Naboo too much already!" Her furious gaze shifted to Vancil. "We will require your resignation as well, Councillor Vancil. Your teachings and advice have proven ruinous."

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Part 2

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Insidious rumors claim that Chancellor Sheev Palpatine interfered in an internal Naboo affair!

Naboo Chronicle

Thousands are still missing in the aftermath of the Trade Federation Invasion!

Theed News Service

543 Gungans confirmed dead in the battle of the Great Grass Plains! Over four hundred wounded were confirmed, with dozens still in critical condition!

Naboo News Service

Four hundred Neimoidians were confirmed dead by the Trade Federation during the loss of a Droid Command Ship above Naboo.

Galaxy News Network

Governor Sio Bibble resigns! Mr. Bibble cited health-related issues caused by his imprisonment by the Trade Federation as the primary reason for leaving politics so he could recover in peace.

Theed News Service

Royal Adviser Horacle Vancil retires from public service.

Naboo Royal Information Service

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Theed City
Naboo

Sio watched the news with morbid fascination. The now former Governor seethed with anger at the indignity he had to suffer the previous evening. He did his best to ensure that that bastard Palpatine would have a hard time because of it. How he managed to get elected as a Chancellor of the Republic, Sio would never know.

Others would have seen that as a boon for Naboo.

Sio knew better. Nothing good ever came from entangling with outsiders. Naboo enjoyed the Great Peace and the cultural renaissance that came with it by looking inwards and severing itself from the machinations of the rest of the galaxy.

If only that corrupt imbecile Veruna listened to reason. It was all Palpatine's fault, Sio knew. Without that damned man, the previous King wouldn't have had the connections needed to open Naboo up for trade so he could sell their precious resources to outsiders! That foolish decision not only made outsiders interested in Naboo but also increased Palpatine's power and reach beyond what a Senator of Naboo should ever have. Slowly but surely, the former Governor became convinced that Palpatine became Veruna's right hand, sidestepping the guiding hands and influence of the Royal Council.

The damned former Senator used his corrupt friend Hego Damask as an intermediary and a way to influence the King, preying upon his despicable habits. Sio was elated at the news of the Muun's death, only for Palpatine's election as a Chancellor to douse his merriment.

It was all Sio, and his like-minded allies, could do to ensure that after Veruna's abdication, his successor wouldn't be a like-minded creature. Amidala wasn't an ideal candidate. However, she was both young and idealistic - a good combination, which made her easy to influence.

The inevitable confrontation with the Trade Federation should have dissuaded Naboo's people from looking away from their precious world. At the same time, the gambit should have hurt the Federation enough to willingly cease its dealings with Naboo and thus end the sale of special plasma from their world's core.

Even after all he suffered, Sio still found it hard to believe that the Trade Federation dared invade. And that talk about Sith? What did shadows from the ancient past have to do with anything?! It was sheer madness!

On the holo, Palpatine finally dared show his face in public. He ascended on a wooden podium before the palace and smiled at the reporters.

"Good afternoon. I'm ready to answer questions. You first, young lady." He pointed at someone below the floating cameras.

Sio smiled in anticipation.

"Chancellor Palpatine, how do you answer the rumors that surfaced earlier today?"

"At this moment, I wear three hats. First and most important, I'm the Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Republic. Second, I am the former Senator of Naboo. I was privileged to represent my home and the whole Chommell Sector in the Senate on Coruscant."

Sio glowered at Palpatine's image. That Hutt-spawn couldn't simply ignore the accusations, Sio ensured they reached the right ears!

"Third, until I can find the time to properly deal with the estate of my dear departed friend Hego Damask, I find myself the owner of Damask Holdings, which is obviously a conflict of interests that must be resolved in a timely fashion." Palpatine smiled kindly at the cameras.

Sio had hoped no one would buy this performance. That man was a menace!

"Wearing my first 'hat,' that of the Chancellor, I would be overstepping my position by interfering in any way, shape, or form with local government affairs. The only possible way to do something like that should be by going through the proper channels. However, when I act as the former Senator of Naboo, the situation is practically and legally different. That is the case, at least as far as Naboo's government and those I had the honor to represent within the Chommell sector are concerned. This would remain true until my successor ascends to their post. Only after I can fully brief them on all affairs I handled in the name of Naboo and the Chommell sector until recently, I will be able to put down this particular 'hat' for good."

Sio shook with anger. He could hear the reporters mutter in respect. The holo briefly displayed images from the gathered journalists, and they all hung on every word that despicable creature uttered!

"I will speak plainly, and to the point so there are no misunderstandings on this point. I participated in a meeting attended by Queen Amidala and several Naboo government officials yesterday. We did discuss issues that pertained to the Invasion of Naboo and its consequences. I did so not as the Supreme Chancellor of the Republic but as the former Senator of Naboo and the Chommell Sector. In that meeting, I was in my role as the Naboo government official handling the issue in the Senate. That is a legal distinction with precedents going to the dawn of the Republic I am fortunate to serve."

Sio couldn't believe it! What would it take to take that grasping bastard down a peg?!

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Royal Palace
Theed
Naboo

Padme sat alone on her bed in her chambers. The events of the last few days shattered her world. Things she took for granted ever since she was a little girl turned out to be anything but.

The Republic, the shining beacon of hope and civilization, was a tainted shadow of what it was supposed to be. She didn't want to believe it the first time she faced the Senate. Padme didn't want to believe Palpatine either. Even after she saw it with her own eyes, a part of her refused to accept that the Senate would do nothing. She kept telling herself all she had done over the past week was because the legal way, the courts, would be too slow. She had to end the suffering of her people.

It wasn't until she spoke with Palpatine in her office that she began to lose her unshakable faith in the Republic and the Senate. Every explanation and example Palpatine offered turned into hammer blows against her reality.

A sleepless night spent browsing through the Holonet confirmed enough of his words to shatter her world irrevocably. The parade was a soothing balm that helped her recover from the blows, only for everything to fly apart during the meeting with her principal advisers.

Once again, Palpatine was right. The people she trusted betrayed her. They spat on Naboo's people, taking away their choices through outright lies and disinformation.

What was worse, Padme never saw the betrayal coming. She never saw through the lies.

She didn't bother to seek independent verification about anything they taught her. Padme could make many excuses; she was too busy. Those were the people she was meant to trust to educate her, or she did research the materials they carefully chose for her.

All the above was true, yet irrelevant. Padme was Naboo's Queen. She had a responsibility to her people and herself to do better.

The realization that she failed Naboo, her people, and her family cut deep. Padme didn't know who to trust with the lifeblood of her nation – the politics that governed it. There was only Palpatine. However, he was now the Chancellor. His duties lay elsewhere. Now he had to shoulder the weight of the whole Republic on his shoulder, and she didn't envy him.

Still, he was here, in the palace. This was perhaps one of her last opportunities to receive advice and wisdom from someone who told her the hard truth she needed to hear.

Padme stood up and hurried to the large closet holding some of her clothes. At the back, she had several outfits identical to those of her handmaidens. She quickly changed into one of them and quietly slipped out of her chambers.

Surely no one would suspect one of the Queen's attendants bringing a message to the Chancellor.

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