Chapter 14
A young woman was driving a sporty blue and silver speeder through the calm airlanes above Corusant's political sector. She was what many would call beautiful. Her wavy brown hair was pulled loosely back from her face, highlighting full lips and dark eyes. She was dressed in a simply made red gown, but she wore it with a gentle grace that made the simple gown radiant. When she smiled all of the males within a hundred parsecs felt that the twin suns of Tatooine had just shone on them.
But she was not smiling now. Her brow was creased with a concentrated frown and her long white fingers tapped the speeder controls impatiently. She gave a sigh of relief when she reached her destination and sprung from the cockpit, smoothing her gown. It was very simple indeed. It was made of some thick dull material. It had a high rounded neck and slightly flared sleeves. The most decorative thing she wore was a woven black belt. Even the bit of shoes that peaked out from the ankle-length skirt were plain.
She walked briskly into the building, not even glancing at the people who smiled and moved to greet her. At last she stood before an ornate door. She typed a code into the control panel and the doors moved noiselessly back. She stepped into a meeting room as a tall man wearing a patch over one eye strode toward her beaming.
"Senator! I am so pleased to see you."
She nodded coolly. "Where is the Representative? I must speak with him."
Captain Typho was a bit taken back by her stiff tone, but he kept his composure and answered back. "He'll be here shortly, milady. He's in an important meeting."
"What could be more important-?" she checked herself sharply and took a calming breath. "Fine. I'll wait here. You may leave now."
Captain Typho raised his eyebrow and exchanged glances with the distinguished man who was standing near a panel of windows. The man cocked his head to one side thoughtfully but said nothing. After a moment Typho bowed and exited. The woman moved to a cluster of couches and sat on one primly. The man strolled toward her slowly.
"Senator Amidala, I'm sure you know how happy we are to know that you are safe." She didn't glance in his direction, just gave a short nod. He was looking at her oddly. "The Loyalist Committee has been unsure of what to do without your expert guidance."
She was tapping her index finger on her knee, but at least she managed a reply. "I'm sure the Loyalists have continued to do fine without me. They will follow their own paths." He didn't make any more attempts at conversation. He merely sat near her and watched her thoughtfully.
Footsteps in the outside corridor alerted them to the arrival of the Representative. The man stood as the door opened. A tall gangly creature with absurdly long ears clumped into the spacious apartment. The man spoke, "Representative Binks," and bowed respectfully.
The creature broke into a wide toothy grin. "Bail Organa of Alderaan! Mesa been wantin to speak with you for a longo timo."
Bail smiled. One could not help but smile at the amusing antics of the Gungan representative. "I have something to discuss with you as well, but someone is here to see you." He stepped aside and allowed the Gungan to see the small woman in red.
Representative Binks spread his freckled arms wide. "Padme! Mesa was so fearin for you! Wesa heard about the Genosis." He shook his head and his ears flopped. "Terrible, terrible."
She smiled ever so slightly and stood politely. "Thank you, Jar-Jar. We have important things to discuss."
He bowed his head. "Of course, milady."
She sat back down and waited until the other two sat. "First you should know that my being here must remain a secret. Tell no one I was here. Jar- Jar, for now you must continue to represent Naboo in my stead in the Senate. If any new issues are brought up I will tell you what position to take. For now, simply stand with the Chancellor. He has the best interests of the Republic in mind." This said she appeared to be finished, but Bail Organa spoke before she could move to leave.
"Senator Amidala, how do you feel about this clone army? We have both fought long to prevent its creation. Now it seems are cause is lost."
She treated him to a brief smile. "If not for that army, Senator Organa, I would not be here to speak with you."
He nodded his agreement. "But does it not disturb you that the orders for the creation of this army was started ten years ago? Do you not find that odd?"
She was a bit agitated. "The army was necessary. The Separatists made the first move of aggression. It does not matter why or wherefore or when this army was created. The army was created, it exists for the Republic and we must stand with the Republic." She softened and looked at the Alderaan senator earnestly. "The union of our Republic must be preserved at all costs and by whatever means." She stood and moved toward the door. "Now if you will excuse me, I've lingered for too long already."
The Senator and Representative sat silently for several minutes after she had gone. At last Jar-Jar spoke. "Wassa yousa thinkin, Senator?"
Bail sighed and looked blankly into the distance. "I'm not sure. I - " he sighed and shook his head. "I just don't know."
A young woman was driving a sporty blue and silver speeder through the calm airlanes above Corusant's political sector. She was what many would call beautiful. Her wavy brown hair was pulled loosely back from her face, highlighting full lips and dark eyes. She was dressed in a simply made red gown, but she wore it with a gentle grace that made the simple gown radiant. When she smiled all of the males within a hundred parsecs felt that the twin suns of Tatooine had just shone on them.
But she was not smiling now. Her brow was creased with a concentrated frown and her long white fingers tapped the speeder controls impatiently. She gave a sigh of relief when she reached her destination and sprung from the cockpit, smoothing her gown. It was very simple indeed. It was made of some thick dull material. It had a high rounded neck and slightly flared sleeves. The most decorative thing she wore was a woven black belt. Even the bit of shoes that peaked out from the ankle-length skirt were plain.
She walked briskly into the building, not even glancing at the people who smiled and moved to greet her. At last she stood before an ornate door. She typed a code into the control panel and the doors moved noiselessly back. She stepped into a meeting room as a tall man wearing a patch over one eye strode toward her beaming.
"Senator! I am so pleased to see you."
She nodded coolly. "Where is the Representative? I must speak with him."
Captain Typho was a bit taken back by her stiff tone, but he kept his composure and answered back. "He'll be here shortly, milady. He's in an important meeting."
"What could be more important-?" she checked herself sharply and took a calming breath. "Fine. I'll wait here. You may leave now."
Captain Typho raised his eyebrow and exchanged glances with the distinguished man who was standing near a panel of windows. The man cocked his head to one side thoughtfully but said nothing. After a moment Typho bowed and exited. The woman moved to a cluster of couches and sat on one primly. The man strolled toward her slowly.
"Senator Amidala, I'm sure you know how happy we are to know that you are safe." She didn't glance in his direction, just gave a short nod. He was looking at her oddly. "The Loyalist Committee has been unsure of what to do without your expert guidance."
She was tapping her index finger on her knee, but at least she managed a reply. "I'm sure the Loyalists have continued to do fine without me. They will follow their own paths." He didn't make any more attempts at conversation. He merely sat near her and watched her thoughtfully.
Footsteps in the outside corridor alerted them to the arrival of the Representative. The man stood as the door opened. A tall gangly creature with absurdly long ears clumped into the spacious apartment. The man spoke, "Representative Binks," and bowed respectfully.
The creature broke into a wide toothy grin. "Bail Organa of Alderaan! Mesa been wantin to speak with you for a longo timo."
Bail smiled. One could not help but smile at the amusing antics of the Gungan representative. "I have something to discuss with you as well, but someone is here to see you." He stepped aside and allowed the Gungan to see the small woman in red.
Representative Binks spread his freckled arms wide. "Padme! Mesa was so fearin for you! Wesa heard about the Genosis." He shook his head and his ears flopped. "Terrible, terrible."
She smiled ever so slightly and stood politely. "Thank you, Jar-Jar. We have important things to discuss."
He bowed his head. "Of course, milady."
She sat back down and waited until the other two sat. "First you should know that my being here must remain a secret. Tell no one I was here. Jar- Jar, for now you must continue to represent Naboo in my stead in the Senate. If any new issues are brought up I will tell you what position to take. For now, simply stand with the Chancellor. He has the best interests of the Republic in mind." This said she appeared to be finished, but Bail Organa spoke before she could move to leave.
"Senator Amidala, how do you feel about this clone army? We have both fought long to prevent its creation. Now it seems are cause is lost."
She treated him to a brief smile. "If not for that army, Senator Organa, I would not be here to speak with you."
He nodded his agreement. "But does it not disturb you that the orders for the creation of this army was started ten years ago? Do you not find that odd?"
She was a bit agitated. "The army was necessary. The Separatists made the first move of aggression. It does not matter why or wherefore or when this army was created. The army was created, it exists for the Republic and we must stand with the Republic." She softened and looked at the Alderaan senator earnestly. "The union of our Republic must be preserved at all costs and by whatever means." She stood and moved toward the door. "Now if you will excuse me, I've lingered for too long already."
The Senator and Representative sat silently for several minutes after she had gone. At last Jar-Jar spoke. "Wassa yousa thinkin, Senator?"
Bail sighed and looked blankly into the distance. "I'm not sure. I - " he sighed and shook his head. "I just don't know."