Chapter 1.1
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In some ways Padme felt like she was waking up from a nightmare. Everything had been falling apart. Padme had been sure that she was dying, feeling the world fade from her consciousness. Now she found herself in a world of green and she felt safe. There was a comforting sense of peace that filled this place. 'Maybe I am dead.' Padme thought to herself, although this was not like any type of afterlife she had ever dreamed of. Looking down Padme found that she too was clothed in green; a pale green dress had replaced her hospital gown.
Then Padme sensed that she wasn't alone. Looking around there was no sign of anyone else, other than the strangely familiar presence. Padme wasn't used to sensing things like this. She knew that her parents had chosen not to send her to the Jedi for training because though she was sensitive to the Force it was more of a passive sensitivity than a true talent. Yet, Padme had noticed that the limited sensitivity that had always been her guiding light in life had grown stronger during her pregnancy and apparently it was still heightened. Padme closed her eyes and calmly focused on the presence trying to pin it down.
The presence seemed pleased by this as she sensed it starting to come in to focus and when she opened her eyes the sight that greeted her was a shock. There standing before her was Qui-gon Jinn just as he had looked all those years before when he was sent to help her and the Naboo except now his Jedi robes were in various shades of green.
He had small smile on his face and his kind gray eyes had a slight twinkle in them. "Greetings Padme Skywalker, it has been too long."
"Qui-gon? How? Does that mean I really am dead?" Padme was confused. She remembered the hero's funeral that was held for the Jedi standing before her on Naboo oh so long ago, watching as his body had been cremated. Yet, here he was standing before her? It was all too much for Padme on top of all that had happened to her.
"Easy, everything is going to be alright in time." Qui-gon said supporting Padme's weight and helping her to sit in a soft green chair that seemed to grow out of the green crystalline floor. "No, Padme, You are not dead. You are in suspended animation so that the Sith will think that you are dead. For the safety of the twins the galaxy at large needs to think that you are all dead. That they died with you on Mustafar. Once you learn how to hide from the Emperor you will wake up and continue your life and hopefully redeem your Husband from that which has made him a slave once more."
"What about you Master Jinn?" Padme asked looking into the kind eyes of one of the greatest Jedi she had ever known.
"I only exist in this place, I can never leave it without truly dying. Do you remember the Naboo Royal Gem that you carried with you as Queen?" At Padme's nod Qui-gon continued. We are inside of it. I believe that it is ancient and long forgotten technology. When I died all those years ago on Naboo I to awoke here and have lived within it ever since. It took me a long time to even begin to scratch the surface of its secrets. There is a great deal of knowledge stored here if you can access it. I have only just started to be able to interact with the outside world once more, so far only Yoda knows how to reach me here but he is going to teach Obi-wan. Surely though with all that is going on you have more pressing questions?"
"Are the Twins okay?" Padme asked worried about her precious children.
Qui-gon smiled. "They are fine and will be safe. I am the only one at this time that knows that you are not really dead. Luke is being sent to Tatooine to live with the Lars' and Leia will be hidden in plan sight, Bail Oragana and his wife will raise her as if she were their own little princess."
Padme closed her eyes and relaxed for a moment. When her eyes opened back up they were full of determination. "What do I need to learn and can we start now because I do not want to be separated from my family any longer then absolutely necessary?"
"First of all is patience. You have a lot you need to learn and it will take time. I will help you build upon your natural talents, the ability to hide and your innate sense of the Living Force. These will both serve you well when it comes time for you to leave. But there is still a great deal you need to understand about the Force if you are to survive long enough to have a chance of saving your husband. It will take a lot of hard work but I know that you can do it and since time passes faster in here they will be quite surprised at your progress."
"Yes, Master." Padme said acknowledging the role that Qui-gon was going to be playing in her life this time around.
Qui-gon gave a slight smile at this as he realized that she above all others knew how deadly serious of a matter this was. She knew how much had already been lost and was not totally ignorant of what hung in the balance. In this she still did not view it as a Jedi but then she hadn't even had her first lesson yet either.
"First lesson, close your eyes." Qui-gon said.
Padme had to bite her tongue, 'I already know how to do that one. This is not a joking matter.' Padme thought trying to remain focused.
"Now reach out to my presence like you did earlier."
Padme nodded and obeyed his instructions. She could sense Qui-gon was pleased with what she was already capable of. She also felt his mental smile both at the joke that had gone through her head and her determination to stay focused.
"I am going to let you see the twins, but we will have to take great pains to avoid being noticed as we observe them. And that is all we can do at this time, observe, any more would risk all that we hope for."
'I understand,' Padme sent through the Force. All of a sudden she felt Qui-gon's presence surround hers and then she was standing on the sands of Tatooine looking down into the courtyard of the Lars' homestead. Beru was sitting under the stars giving Luke a bottle. Luke was making sounds of contentment looking up at the stars while listening to Beru hum a lullaby. 'Already dreaming of the stars.' Padme thought with a smile. Then again the scene changed, the harsh sand dunes were replaced by the lush green hills of Alderaan so like her home. The architecture of the Oragana's palace was far different than anything you would find on Naboo. Padme found she was standing on a balcony connected to a nursery. Inside she could see her little princess sleeping soundly in her crib. Far sooner than Padme would have wished she was again surrounded by millions of shades of green. Then Padme realized she was exhausted.
"Once you improve your control it will get easier and you will be able to watch them for longer stretches of time but for now you need to rest. When your strength returns we will get to the real work." Qui-gon said his presence retreating a little to give her a sense of privacy.
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