Chapter 51

Padmé's face was devoid of expression as she approached Julie. Flanked by two Jedi, she was the picture of gravity, and Julie began to see exactly who she was dealing with.

"Thank you, Captain Rex," Padmé said as she reached the bar. "Well done."

"Your Excellency," Rex said, bowing to her. He stepped back to let Padmé speak to the prisoner.

"I hope you realize how much trouble you're in," Padmé began.

Julie scowled at her and looked away.

"The Chancellor is speaking to you," one of the Jedi, Coleman Kcaj, said sharply. "You will give her your full attention."

Julie looked at the Jedi, intimidated by his huge stature and the glare of his yellow eyes. She turned her eyes back to Padmé, hating her with every fiber of her being.

"This farce has gone far enough," Padmé continued. "I can't imagine how you thought you could get away with threatening me, but you won't."

"Does Anakin know you're doing this?" Julie asked.

Padmé smiled. "Anakin is not on the planet," she said. "Considering what close friends you are, I'm surprised you didn't know that."

Julie was about to retort, but thought better of it.

"Take her away," Padmé said.

Julie was escorted out by two clones, her hands manacled behind her back. The narcotics in her bloodstream prevented her from appreciating the gravity of her situation, and she went along peacefully with the clones to a waiting speeder.

Padmé walked out of the club, accompanied by Rex and her Jedi escort. "That went very well," Rex said. "Well done, Madame Chancellor."

Padmé looked up at him. "Thank you, Captain," she said. "I couldn't have done it without you."

It was very late at night when Padmé finally got home. She was exhausted from the long day, and the restless night she'd had the previous night. She checked her messages, hoping to see one from Anakin, but there weren't any. She frowned, wondering why he hadn't left her a message, but decided he was simply too busy to do so. She considered contacting him, but was far too tired to do so, and simply went to bed.

Detention Centre

Julie remained in a drug induced stupor as she was processed by clone officers. After being processed, she was brought into the cellblock, where she was made to change her clothes into a one-piece jumpsuit and flat canvas shoes. She was then put in a cell which was already inhabited by a rather surly looking alien.

Julie sat down on the hard cot across from her roommate. The alien stared at her menacingly, making Julie uneasy. The high from the death sticks was making her feel slightly paranoid, and the sight of the alien's eyes boring into her was not helping.

"What's your problem?" Julie asked at last doing her best to appear unafraid.

The alien stood up, showing how tall and imposing she was. She growled something that Julie didn't understand at her, and made move towards her. Luckily, she had a shackle around her left ankle, so she couldn't span the width of the small cell, much to Julie's relief.

As Julie sat on the hard cell, and the hours passed, the reality of her situation started to sink in. She was in detention. Was this for real? Or was the Chancellor simply using scare tactics to get Julie to stay away from Anakin Skywalker? But as the hours passed by, and the large alien she shared a cell with began to snore, Julie started to grow anxious. She was cold, and scared, and the magnitude of her situation was starting to sink in. Deciding she'd benefit from a little rest, Julie curled up on the hard cot and tried to fall asleep.

Outer Rim Territories

After leaving Carlac, Anakin and Obi-Wan travelled to the last of their destinations: Naboo.

Anakin was flooded with memories as they approached Theed. Naboo had always been a special place to him, and he was excited to be back.

"The candidate is up in the mountain region," Obi-Wan told Anakin. "Are you familiar with that area?"

Anakin smiled. "Yes, quite familiar," he said. "Do you have the coordinates?"

"Yes," Obi-Wan said. "Putting them in now."

The small mountain village reminded Anakin very much of the Naberrie mountain estate, surrounded by mountains and forests.

"So beautiful up here," Obi-Wan commented as he and Anakin walked through the small village.

Anakin nodded. "It is," he said. "I love this planet."

Obi-Wan smiled. "I wonder why," he remarked.

The two Jedi were welcomed into the home of Bradic and Juri Huston. They were an older couple who were raising their only son's child, a daughter by the name of Malika, who was 10 years old.

"Have you considered allowing Malika to become a Jedi?" Obi-Wan asked after a few minutes of pleasantries.

Bradic and Juri looked at one another, giving both Jedi the feeling that things were not going to go their way.

"We have," Juri spoke up. "At one time, we would have happily let Malika join the Order. But given what has happened recently, namely the slaughter of Jedi, including children, you'll understand our reticence."

"What happened to the Order was a tragedy," Obi-Wan said. "We are still mourning the loss of thousands of our brethren. But that is the past, and we need to look to the future. And younglings like your granddaughter are the future of the Order."

"We understand that," Bradic replied. "But given the recentness of the Purge, we cannot allow our precious Malika leave us to go to the Capital. Perhaps one day we will feel differently, but for now, this is how we feel."

Anakin and Obi-Wan looked at one another, disappointed, but not terribly surprised. In fact, they were surprised at how many parents and guardians had been open to letting their children become Jedi given the recent horrors that had befallen the Order.

"We understand your fears," Anakin said. "And we honour them. I'm a father myself, and I understand the bond you share with your grandchild. Thank you for your time," he said.

Anakin and Obi-Wan stood up and took their leave of the family. Anakin was quiet as they walked to their shuttle, as he thought of his children so far away. Obi-Wan could see how pensive his friend was.

"I want to go to the Capital," Anakin said as they lifted off. "I need to see Luke and Leia."

"Anakin, I understand that you miss them," Obi-Wan said. "But we have three more planets to visit before we can go home."

"I know," Anakin said as he steered the shuttle up to the ship. "I won't stay long, just a few hours to see them, then we can resume our mission." He turned to Obi-Wan. "I need to do this, Obi-Wan."

Obi-Wan smiled. "I understand," he said. "Very well, we'll go at once."

Detention Centre – Coruscant – the next morning

"Banks, you have a visitor," a clone announced as he entered Julie's cell.

Julie stood up at once. She smoothed down her hair as best she could and walked over to the clone. He immediately put binders on her, and then escorted her out of her cell. She rolled her eyes. "Are the binders really necessary?" she whined.

"Yes," the clone replied simply.

She scowled at him, which didn't faze him in the slightest. "In here," he said, indicating a small room. Julie entered, and was surprised to see her brother sitting within. "Sit down," the clone said, and, after removing the binders, locked her to the metal chair. Geoff watched in silence, waiting for the clone to leave before speaking to his sister. "You have 10 minutes," the clone informed them, and then left, locking the door behind him.

"Geoff! Thank God you're here!" Julie said.

"What is going on?" Geoff asked. "Why were you arrested?"

Julie averted her eyes, wondering how to spin what actually happened into something that made her look like a victim. "I was set up," she said.

Geoff frowned. "Set up? By whom? What were you arrested for?"

"By the Chancellor," Julie said. "She hates me, and set up this whole big scheme to get me arrested."

Geoff, who knew his sister quite well, knew that there was far more to the story than what she was telling. "I think that's bullshit," Geoff said. "As if the Chancellor of the Republic has nothing better to do than to set you up. The truth, Julie. All of it."

Julie frowned, annoyed that her brother had seen through her lies. "I…I was arrested because I was asking a bounty hunter how much he'd charge to …kill the Chancellor."

Geoff's eyes widened in shock. "You were plotting to kill Chancellor Amidala?"

"I was stoned," Julie explained. "I wasn't thinking! As if I'd do that!"

Geoff regarded his sister silently. "No? I know for a fact that you hate her, and I know why."

Julie looked at her brother angrily. "Can you blame me for hating her?" she spat.

"Yes, I can," Geoff said. "I've had the privilege of meeting Chancellor Amidala," he said. "She is a gracious, classy lady. This ridiculous jealousy you have because of Anakin Skywalker has gotten out of hand, because that's the crux of it all, Julie. This obsession you have for a man who is love with another woman has made you lose all sense of reason. And now look at the mess you've landed yourself in."

"It's all a misunderstanding!" Julie whined. "I didn't mean it! Surely, they will understand that, won't they Geoff?"

Geoff frowned. "I'm not a lawyer," he said. "But I'd say they have a pretty solid case if you're in here. Have you spoken to Uncle Dane yet?"

"No," Julie said. "I can't imagine what he'll say," she added.

"I'm sure you can," Geoff said. "Not to mention Mother and Father."

"Time's up."

Julie and her brother turned to see the clone standing in the doorway. He walked over to Julie and uncuffed her from the chair, and then stood her up to bind her hands behind her back.

"Please ask Uncle Dane to come," Julie said. "I need him!"

Geoff stood up. "I will," he said. "Take care of yourself," he said as the clone escorted her out of the room.

Julie was escorted down the cellblock by her clone guard, but not to her cell. Instead, she was brought to another room, this one larger than the last. She stopped in her tracks when she saw the Chancellor sitting in the room, along with a Jedi and the same man who had posed as a bounty hunter the previous night, Captain Rex.

"Keep moving," the clone said, pushing her into the room.

Julie felt her stomach do flip flops as she was cuffed into another chair, this time, face to face with the Chancellor.

"I'd like to speak to the prisoner alone," Padmé said, her gaze kept steadily on Julie.

"Are you sure, Your Excellency?" Rex asked.

Padmé nodded. "Yes, I'll be fine," she assured him.

"As you wish, Madame Chancellor," Jedi Knight Coleman Kcaj, said, and left the room with Rex.

Padmé waited for the two men to leave before turning her attention to Julie. "So, here we are," she said.

Julie did her best to appear indifferent, but her situation was starting to hit home, and all she could do was nod.

"How old are you, Julie?" Padmé asked.

Julie frowned, wondering where the question was coming from. "Twenty," she said.

Padmé nodded. "So young," she said. "Far too young to throw your life away so needlessly."

"Look, this has all been a big…misunderstanding," Julie said.

Padmé raised an eyebrow. "A misunderstanding? Really?"

Julie nodded earnestly. "Yes! I would never do anything like that!"

Padmé sighed. "Julie, do you take me for a fool?" she asked calmly. "Captain Rex heard you clearly, not once, but twice. Do you actually deny saying those words?"

"Well, no," Julie said, "but I was stoned! Surely, I can't be held responsible for saying something when I was stoned!"

"Of course, you can," Padmé replied calmly. "It was your choice to take drugs, wasn't it?"

"Yeah," Julie said.

"Then you are responsible for your actions while under the influence of drugs." Padmé said. "Do you have a lawyer?" she asked, standing up.

Julie looked up at her. "My uncle," she said.

Padmé nodded. "Good," she said. "You're going to need him." She walked over to the door. "I'm finished here," she said, knocking on the door.

The door opened at once, and Padmé left with her escort, not even giving Julie a parting glance.