The Daughter Of Sabé Darred

"Is there any point in even continuing this charade?" Sabé asked, frustration filling her words. She was being visited by her two dear friends and fellow senators, Bail Organa and Mon Mothma. They were now sitting in the common room of her senatorial quarters, having what she supposed would pass for a nice conversation or rather a political debate.

"What other conclusion is there?" Senator Bail Organa asked. "Padmé . . . Senator Amidala encouraged us to keep a low profile, to vote for the Emperor, and to pass quietly in the Senate. She knew the politicians had lost. The battle for freedom can not be fought in the Senate."

"And where can it be fought?" Sabé asked, her expression set in stubborn determination. "In a full scale war? What forces do we have? Without the Jedi there is no soldier on the side of the Republic."

"Sabé," Mon Mothma spoke at last, "I know you feel, well, obligated to right all this, but no one can take the blame for what happened. Not Naboo, nor Amidala or even yourself. But we must use different means now."

Sabé rose from her chair and moved out onto her balcony. Mon moved to follow her, but Bail shook his head and motioned for her to remain, while he went after their fellow Senator.

He wasn't quite sure what to say when he stepped on the open balcony, but Sabé had not let the silence linger. "What now, Bail?" she had asked quietly. He wasn't sure what she meant, but she turned to face him, forcing a gentle smile. "How is your daughter . . . Leia, isn't it?"

"She's well. We just celebrated her third birthday less than a month ago."

"I know," Sabé said, her voice was barely louder than a whisper. "Padmé would have been proud of her."

Bail couldn't suppress his look of surprise.

"Bail," she said waving her hand, "Padmé was my dearest friend. Even politicians need a friend they can trust. I knew she was pregnant. We had thought the baby was a boy, but when she passed away and you were suddenly in possession of a baby girl, I figured it out." Then a wry smile came across her lips, "The look on your face only confirms what I have long suspected."

"What I'm about to say," she continued. "I don't say as a Senator, nor a politician. I am speaking as a fellow parent. My little Kyra is about to be two years old." She paused for a moment, "I don't want my child to grow up in the world we live in now. She doesn't deserve this . . . Empire." There was venom in the way she spoke the word. "I took my best friend's position as Senator, two days after she died. I worked hard for her sake, but now, all my efforts are for my daughter."

Bail at last found words, "That is a noble reason, Sabé, but the way you are going about this cause-"

"You think I should recant my campaign for the return to democracy." She shook her head. "I know you were friends with Padmé from the time she was named Senator, but I knew Padmé from the day she was Queen. I was her primary handmaiden, her decoy." She laughed a little. "It sounds like a insignificant thing, but the decoy had to be just as politically savvy as the Queen, for one was never to know when she was acting in the Queen's stead. When Padmé went on to be Senator, I worked in the Palace as a Political Liaison, but we were still the closest of friends. I was perhaps the only one to know of her marriage. In all that, I became the obvious choice to succeed her."

"The point is, Bail, all those years ago, Padmé and I both believed that freedom and democracy were worth fighting for, even dying for. I don't think she'd approve of my sitting on the sidelines and doing nothing."

"She wouldn't expect you to sentence yourself to death," Bail said.

"No, but she would expect me to do all I could, if not for her sake, then for the sake of her daughter and my own daughter."

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Jerica moved about her quarters, pacing nervously. The lavish dress she wore was dragging softly against the ground as she walked back and forth in the room. In a few short hours, she would be attending the festivities in honor of Empire Day, Palpatine's charade of a celebration.

Even as she moved down the corridors to the grand room of the Emperial Palace, Jerica's anxiety had not passed. She could feel that something was wrong, different. Senators regarded her coolly as she entered the room, but none dared to associate with her. If they did so, it would appear that they shared her beliefs. Whether they shared her convictions or not, being seen with her was a risk they could not afford to take.

If I recant, Jerica thought to herself. I might be able to save my neck. She dismissed the thought just as soon as it came. Taking a handful of her dress skirt in her hand, she glided across the floor to get herself something to drink.

Just as the Senator took her first sip of the drink, chimes sounded, announcing the presence of the Emperor. All attention turned to the platform that held the throne. Jerica felt more uncomfortable, but she held her peace. Taking another sip, she willed her heart to steady.

"A grand Empire, that is what we celebrate." Palpatine said. "The Republic of the past evolved into something grander, into the government we now conduct. Yet, nothing can exist without change, and so tomorrow at a historic convening of the Senate, a change shall effect the whole of the Galaxy. A bill shall be passed that will ensure a better Empire."

At the end of his speech, Palpatine's gaze somehow found her. She couldn't help but shudder. Somehow she did not expect this change his was speaking of to be good.

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Jerica had not lingered at the celebration of Empire Day. Shortly after the Emperor's speech, she had begun to feel very sick.

Returning to her chambers, she had decided that she just needed rest. Tomorrow had the potential to be a devastating day, and she would need to be prepared. She had a thought to go for the advice of some allies she knew, Bail or Leia Organa of Aldernan, Mon Mothma, or even Mollon, but to go to them now, at this hour, would definitely arouse suspicions. Convictions or no convictions, she didn't want to put her friends in danger.

Tossing and turning in her bed, sleep alluded her. Her thoughts drifted to the past, when she was young and it was her mother who dwelled her in Coruscant. What would her mother do in this situation? Would she have recanted, apologized to the Emperor? Would she have joined the ridiculous rebellion?

Thoughts spun in Jerica's mind, robbing her of sleep. It was in the early hours of the morning that she finally pushed her fretting aside, forcing herself to doze.

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Among the throng of Coruscanti security, Kirn Torek looked about the quiet Coruscant streets. Hidden the disguise of a storm trooper, he was patrolling the streets, enforcing the curfew that had been imposed on the civilians. Well, he considered At least the thugs are forced to go in at night.

It made his smile to think of how he had gotten himself into the this disguise. He had convinced the previous owner to surrender it. The Jedi might have been extinct, but some of their teaching still survived in the underground. Kirn was a force sensitive, and while it was impossible to be trained as a Jedi, he had come into some . . . knowledge, that had given him some Jedi skills, including the ability to use mind tricks and a lightsaber.

Now in the somewhat restricting armor, he marched with a regiment, until they came into the shadow of 500 Republica. There the troop halted, and the squad leader drew his gun. The rest of the squad followed suit, including a slightly confused Kirn.

His gaze moved about the street. This was the residence of hundreds of senators, probably the most secure place in the galaxy. Why had they stopped here?

A specific building caught his attention. He focused on a particular set of windows, knowing that was the residence of the Senator of Naboo. Suddenly, while studying the windows, he saw them burst into a spurt of flame, an explosion. Startled, he at first didn't notice that it was one of many taking place all around.

Senators' quarters were rocked with explosions, assassinating whoever might be within those rooms. It sent a chill up his spine, as he realized and comprehended all that was going on. He was too late.