DISCLAIMER: All the Star Wars characters here on out belong to George Lucas. I'm just borrowing them for a little bit...
One by one all five of us left the handmaiden position under Queen Amidala. I was the last to go, seeing Rabe, Sache, Eirtae, and Yane be replaced by other girls. Rabe went back to her people on the other side of Naboo for awhile. Sache, from what I understood, became the head of the newly-formed Nubian Militia - although I heard that later on she got a position in the Ministry of Defense, which relocated her to Coruscant. Eirtae became a member of Queen Jamilla's court - all her training in protocol continuing to be put to good use. Yane, always the expert in fixing electronics, opened a repair shop off the Theed Main Square. I was the last handmaiden to go - a mere two weeks before the coronation of Jamilla. Everyone else had found their calling, but I hadn't. What was I supposed to do?
Sabe arrived back at her apartment after attending the coronation of Queen Jamilla. It was really hard to believe that Padme was no longer in office - although a few rumors, according to Eirtae, had been circling that the new Queen was to ask the former to become the new senator. Her life was back to normal - no more running around as Queen Amidala, no more attending to her every need, no more royal business. She was just Sabe - the former handmaiden. *I have no idea what to do with my life now,* she thought. She hadn't seen any of her former comrades in awhile - not even her best friend. Throwing her bag in a chair, she walked into the kitchen to get a snack. She wasn't at all aware of the life-changing events that were just around the corner.
Over the next few days, I was known to the neighbors as Sabe - not Sabe the former handmaiden, not Queen Amidala's handmaiden, just plain old Sabe. Now I'd have to say that was the greatest time in my life. A few days later, I received a summons to go to the castle . . .
Opening the door, Sabe was shocked to find a palace guard standing there. Not just any palace guard, but one of Captain Panaka's cavalry. "Her Royal Highness Queen Jamilla has asked that you appear before her at the castle today at 1:00. May I give her your word that you will be there?" The girl was really taken aback by this. What did the new Queen want to see her for? "Um . . . yes, of course! I'll see her at 1:00 today." "Wonderful." The guard bowed before he turned around and left.
Sabe decided to go visit her old friend Yane before she went to the castle. She found her shop easily - it was right off the Square. She went in, hearing a chime announce her presence. Business was good for her friend - broken electronics were piling up on the tables and against the walls, tagged so their owners could find them. The girl, wiping off her hands with a rag, walked out from a back room so she could presumably help the new customer she was expecting. "Sabe! Its so good to see you again!" "Yane!" The two hugged before one asked, "How's your life been since you left the handmaidenship?" "Its been great. The shop is doing really well, as you can probably see, and I haven't been getting any complaints." "That's the Yane I know! You were always the best person I know fixing electronics." The younger girl smiled before she inquired about Sabe's new life. "Actually, there really hasn't been one. I actually was summoned to the castle earlier today by the new Queen." "I'm kinda curious to see what she wants. You did say you wanted to stay in politics, right? You always were good at it." "It would be nice. I don't exactly know what to make of my life right now - I have nothing to support me, nothing to do day-by-day, and that's what I need." "Yea - well, good luck! I've got to get back to work and get a few comlinks out and back to their owners." "I'd better be heading to the castle, too. I'll see you later!" With that, she walked out of the shop while the owner got back to work.
It felt weird to be walking through the castle again - not in handmaiden garb. The same guard who had visited my apartment earlier had met me at the front gates. He took me inside the castle and escorted me to the throne room, where I met Captain Panaka for the first time since I left . . .
"Sabe," he said, "how are you faring?" "I don't know what to make of my life right now - its weird being out of this job." "I think you'll like what Queen Jamilla will offer you. I believe it will suit you well." He opened the throne room doors and announced to the Queen and few members of her court gathered, "I would like to present Sabe Krigare, former handmaiden to Queen Amidala of the Naboo." Remembering that she needed to head in after that, she walked in and approached the Queen with a lowered head. She curtseyed and stayed down until Jamilla commanded her to rise. "I would like to present a proposition to you, Ms. Krigare. With the beginning of my new term, the treaty between Kamino and Naboo has come into effect. An ambassador to Kamino from Naboo is needed to keep this treaty in alignment. With the recommendations of Captain Panaka of the Royal Guards and Governor Bibble, I offer you this position. Do you accept?"
I was stunned . . . oh, boy was I stunned. I was expecting to be asked to become, say, Governor Bibble's assistant or something - not something as high as a Nubian Ambassador . . .
"Forgive me for asking this, Your Highness, but what significance does the treaty hold?" "Its an understandable question. The planet of Kamino is new to the Republic and therefore is vulnerable to attack. It isn't that far away from Naboo and, if necessary, we can dispatch our forces to back them up. Your duty will be to become Naboo's voice in governmental affairs on the planet and report back your findings." Sabe thought quickly - this was a once-in-a-lifetime chance. "Then, Your Highness, I accept the position."
Before I knew it, I was receiving the Ambassador's "uniform" and filling out paperwork. Things got set for me and, after I wrapped up affairs around Theed which would most likely occur throughout my absence, I left for the Main City in Kamino.
. . . and so Episode 2 begins! Want me to continue? Drop me a review!
