Dark's Day14
Padme sat down on her bed and pressed a button on the data pad. It sprang open and Padme noticed a dusty view screen. She rubbed it with the sleeve of her long gown, and bought it closer to her face. Her heart beating slightly quicker than usual, she pressed the button marked "Play" and an image of Dorme appeared on the screen. It starred silently out, not really seeing anything. There was a pause and then Dorme's voice began to talk. Padme listened, concentrating on nothing else.
"If you are listening to this, and you are not me, then I am dead. This data pad contains an account of my life and times, since my eighteenth birthday. Up to, I guess the day of my death.
I was born in Theed, the capital city of Naboo. My family were kind and loving, although not rich. We were in fact very poor. I had three sisters, and one brother. I had a happy childhood, and I did very well at school, exceptionally well infact, I was top in most of my classes. My favourite subjects were political studies and games, when the time came for me to leave school I wanted to find a career that would incorporate both my loves.
I won a scholarship to Naboo's "Bodyguard and Security personnel Academy". There I began training to become a royal handmaiden. It was a risky but well paid job. My family were concerned about my choice of career, but they learnt to accept it. Besides they needed the money.
At the academy I learnt politics, ethics, weapon training, etiquette and of course how to be a decoy. The thing that was mostly drummed into our heads was the importance of being willing to give our lives for the safety of Naboo. I wasn't overly fond of this idea, but I loved the danger and risk of being a bodyguard.
As I wanted to be a handmaiden I also learnt other skills, hair styling, keeping up with fashion and secrecy to name just a few. Three years of extensive training later I was ready for my first assignment. I applied for and was granted a position as one of Queen Jamilla's handmaidens.
I was little more than a maid. I ran errands, mended clothes and helped her dress. The queen never left the capital, so I did not travel and she had bodyguards who carried the blasters. This was not what I had spent three years training to be. After six months I began to hunt for a new job.
Padme Amidala Naberiee, was the ex young queen of Naboo. She was the glorious ex monarch who had led our people through the Trade Federation Invasion, and she needed another bodyguard. Secretly I applied for the job. I was short-listed and had an interview with the senator herself. She was lovely, clever and beautiful with a determination and love for her people that few politicians had.
At the interview she must have taken to me, because a week later I was given the job. I handed in my resignation to Queen Jamilla and began a dangerous new life, as a bodyguard in the political arena. I was only twenty-three years old.
For the first two months, we remained on Naboo. Where myself and my three fellows Corde, Sabe and Verse were given extra weapons and decoy training. I could handle a blaster, thermal detonator, and many other types of weaponry with skill and efficiency.
Two weeks later we received our fist assignment, we were to travel to Coruscant with the young senator for a vote in the senate. Corde was to travel as Padme, while Padme, Verse, several others and myself were to travel simply as pilots in the Naboo fleet. Sabe was to hold the fort back on Naboo.
We expected an assassination attempt would be made on Padme's life during this mission. And I was astonished when Corde volunteered to decoy for Padme on this mission. But then again Corde always was Padme's most devoted handmaiden. Corde had been with Padme since her days as queen.
The journey to Coruscant passed safely. I was flying my private Naboo cruiser just behind the Naboo royal cruiser. My R5 unit aided me as ever. My entire luggage was on board my own ship.
We landed on one of Coruscant's many landing platforms on a misty morning. I noticed the disguised Padme disembark from her ship and speak to Captain Typho her head of security. Then I watched Corde disembark from the Naboo royal cruiser as Padme, Verse and many other Nabooian service officers behind her. Corde reached the end of the platform, which promptly exploded. Corde, and Verse were thrown into the air along with the other crewmembers. Padme ran forwards, and I automatically drew out my blaster and ran after her. My heart was thumping madly against my stomach.
Padme arrived in time to see Corde die in her service, I found Verse's body it was charred and blackened. Captain Typho beckoned me over and together we escorted Padme to the senate building. The remains of our escort and our droids following behind us. Poor representative Binks was practically crying. I couldn't cry, my duty was to protect the senator at all costs. Corde and Verse had done their duty, I had to do mine.
When Padme was safely at the senate building, under the watchful eye of captain Typho he dispatched me off to unpack at Padme's official Coruscant residency. Myself, and four members of Padme's security team made our way via air taxi to the apartment. Padme's R4 and my R5 units with us.
Once there I unpacked Padme's clothes, and my own. They were all identical copies of Padme's even the night attire, so that I could double for her at any time. Then I had to dispatch holo messages to Queen Jamilla and Sabe informing them off the attack on Padme's life. And assuring them that she was still alive. Then I had to organise a temporary security guard around the building, until Typho arrived to finalise the arrangements.
Seconds after I had finished Padme and her political party arrived; Padme had changed at the senate building into a more official green gown. Typho handed me her pilot's uniform that I had to put away. The moment I finished that, I had to help Padme into a blue gown ready for her audience with Supreme Chancellor Palpatine. I restyled her hair and then I changed into an ornate handmaiden's gown. My blaster hidden underneath.
We took Padme's second Naboo Royal cruiser to the chancellor's office. Where after a brief wait we were issued into Palpatine's office. Our party was mostly myself, Padme, Representative Binks, Captain Typho, Padme's security chiefs and several other Naboo personnel members.
Sat already in the Supreme Chancellor's office, were the three highest members of the Jedi Council. The wise and powerful master Windu, the pensive Master Ki-Adi-Mundi and the tiny but completely powerful master Yoda. Yoda came forwards to greet Padme, but my eyes weren't on him.
They were on the man sat in the black chair, behind a desk, Supreme Chancellor Palpatine himself. Never had I felt such awe towards a man before. He seemed to emit an over powering attractive aura. I felt as if I was under a spell."
Padme slammed the data pad shut, she was fighting tears. How could Dorme possibly have found that, that MONSTER attractive? But curiosity killed the Ewok, and Padme reopened the data pad and continued to listen to Dorme's tale.