"Master Windu? We've got a ship coming into range. It appears to be Acclamator class." Padmé checked the scannner readings while Mace checked the ship's viewports.
They had been traveling at lightspeed for three days and had just come out of it and had begun scanning the area for vessels. Padmé had been adamant that the bond was leading them, and he had to trust her. There was nothing else he could do. It was amazing to him that he was putting all his trust in something that just a few months ago he thought he could never accept.
He quickly brought his focus back to the ship's monitors. They were nearing the Outer Rim now and would have to be watching for pirate ships as well as smugglers.
"That's an old style Republic assault ship. It looks.." Mace faltered, not quite trusting his eyes. "It looks just like one of the ships the Republic lost to pirate attacks years ago. It was never recovered, and we were afraid it had been captured. Perhaps we should keep our distance. It is a heavily armed ship."
"Too late." Padmé responded. "They're hailing us."
"Naboo vessel. Please state your cargo and destination." The male voice crackled over the ship's comm system.
"This is Senator Padmé Amidala of the Galactic Senate, requesting permission to come aboard. I need to speak with your commanding officer."
Padmé glanced to Windu, who sat motionless, hands steepled under his chin, his slanting eyes gazing out the viewport.
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The young communications officer excused his entrance into Darth Sidious' quarters and stood with perfectly erect posture, though he was trembling in his black boots.
"What is it?" Darth Sidious hissed from behind his large black leather seat.
"There is a ship approaching sir, N...Nubian class."
"Allow it to land lieutenant and then bring the senator before me."
"Y...Yes sir."
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Padmé patiently awaited permission to land aboard the large transport. The same young man's voice began speaking within a few minutes.
"You may proceed."
Mace quickly rose from his co-pilot's position and hid himself in a storage compartment toward the back of the ship, hoping that they would assume that the senator had come for her child alone, but he could not ignore the ill feeling that kept creeping upon him. He checked the two lightsabers that hung from his belt for reassurance.
Padmé landed the ship within one of the huge transport docks. She took a deep breath and lowered the loading platform. Willing her rapid heart rate to slow down, she wished so badly to reach out to Obi-Wan. He was here on this ship, but she could not take the chance of allowing Darth Sidious access to her mind, so she kept her thoughts shielded and focused on the plan that she and Mace had devised.
She glanced down at her clothing and had second thoughts of exiting the ship without a blaster, but Mace had felt it important that she enter into these 'negotiations' as a diplomat, so as not to alert anyone to the nature of their true mission -- which was to rescue Obi-Wan and their son using whatever means necessary.
Upon exiting the cruiser, she was met with at least a half dozen armored guards. One man stepped up from the crowd to greet her. He was dressed in a military type uniform and appeared at one point in his life to have been a friendly young man, but no longer. His association with Sidious and the Dark Side had erased any amicable features from his face.
"Come with me." His words were a sharp command, and Padmé followed, noting that the armed guards quickly filed in behind her.
"Chancellor Palpatine." She said as the great black chair rotated around, and its sole occupant faced her.
"I am Darth Sidious, Lord of the Sith." Came a rasping voice from beneath the hooded cloak .
"Whoever you are," Padmé's sarcasm was heavy, feeling her courage and determination rise with each word. "You are holding a Jedi hostage here. Obi-Wan Kenobi. I am demanding his release."
The sith lord did not reply to her demand, but merely began laughing maniacally.
"By holding a Jedi Knight, you are in violation of Galactic Law! You are asking for war, and I seriously doubt that you are prepared for one."
"You have no idea what I am prepared for." Sidious spat out. "You have no idea the power of the Dark Side."
"You are putting yourself in danger Chancellor. You are risking many lives. My child being one of them. Give him back to me." Padmé's words and eyes reflected the fury that was burning within her.
"The only life I am risking here, senator...is yours."
The dark lord then turned to one of the armed guards flanking her. "Take her to the detention area. Schedule her to be terminated --immediately."