Chapter Three
Galactic HoloNet News Vol. 531 53/22.10.6
Galactic City, Coruscant
Senator Padmé Amidala of Naboo has been arrested for apparent involvement in the assassinations of Senator Lex Dio of Uyter and Senator Haviso Looruya of Yir Tangee. She was taken into custody by the Senate Bureau of Investigation's Captain Fey'lya yesterday afternoon.
Evidence of the toxic substance apparently used to poison the two senators was discovered on the Naboo senator's person by the security captain.
"We believe we have apprehended the prime suspect in this case." Captain Fey'lya told GHN following the arrest. He offered no further comment.
The senate-appointed attorney, Ms. Talya Os believes that the case is "cut and dry."
"Miss Amidala had the motive and the access to the chemical used in the murders, as well as intent. With the evidence obtained by Captain Fey'lya, my colleagues and I firmly believe that this case will be resolved quickly."
A preliminary hearing is set for tomorrow afternoon.
d.h. marshall/GHN Reporter
"Come forward Knight Kenobi." Master Yoda gestured with two digits of his clawed hand. Although considered to be one of the most deadliest swordsman in the Jedi Order, the diminuitive master was but sixty-six centimeters tall. Not only did his size deceive people, but his easy-going manner as well. Obi-Wan knew that underneath the veil of composure was a cunning warrior and a fierce negotiator. But he also knew Yoda as a trusted friend and advisor. Ever since the death of Qui-Gon, his own Master, Obi-Wan had been confiding in Yoda, especially when it came to troubles with his own padawan. Today, his visit did not concern problems with Anakin, but something he considered much more serious.
"What troubles you, Obi-Wan?."
The young knight moved to a kneeling position in front of Yoda's chair, noting the typical dimness of the inner room of the Jedi Council; its only lighting filtering through the vertical blinds cascading down the room's windows. Yoda tended to prefer the dimness and Obi-Wan had always assumed it was due to the climate of the Master Jedi's home planet. Dagobah consisted of dense marshes and vegetation, as well as a thick fogged atmosphere that eliminated any natural sunlight.
His eyesight adjusted quickly.
"It's about the arrest of Senator Amidala."
"Hmmm." The small Jedi Master hummed as his eyes squinted, concentrating on Obi-Wan's face. "Think the senator has been falsely accused, do you?"
"No. I mean…yes." Obi-Wan stammered, immediately reaching up to run his fingers through his hair. "I don't know. I thought I was sure she was guilty, but there's something…" He paused, looking up past Yoda to the streams of sunlight pouring between the slats of the blinds. "Something's not right. The evidence is there." He continued. "She somehow came into contact with the Otagornum and then there's the holo recording of the committee meeting. The senate attorneys believe it's enough for a conviction."
"Then why doubt it, do you?"
"I'm not sure Master. The Force was telling me something. Following the arrest, I had assumed it would inform me that justice had prevailed – that I had done my job, but it didn't. I still have a bad feeling about this."
"Trust your feelings, you must, Obi-Wan." Yoda's ears tilted slightly forward and Obi-Wan recognized from experience that the ancient master was listening to the Force. "Perhaps overlooked something, you did."
Obi-Wan thought over his words for a moment and then nodded slowly. "Or perhaps I don't know where to look."
"The Force, reveal it to you in time, it will."
"But time is not what I have a lot of, Master. The hearing begins tomorrow." His impatience began to rear its ugly head and Obi-Wan had the strongest urge to rub his beard.
"Then perhaps discuss this with the senator you should, and not with an 874-year-old Jedi Master." Yoda's ears dropped and he notably relaxed in his chair.
Obi-Wan grinned back at the kind and gentle green face. "I suppose I should. Thank you Master Yoda."
He found Padmé in a single holding cell located in the Coruscant Judicial Building. She still wore her luxurious senatorial dark blue velvet gown and Obi-Wan noticed with some distress that it was a sharp contrast to the dull gray cell she was standing in. She had her back to him, staring blankly out the transparisteel third-floor window.
"Senator Amidala." He spoke gently, noting that she had not yet acknowledged his presence. Stepping closer toward her, he gave in to the urge to touch her, bringing a comforting hand up to place on her shoulder, her name coming out almost in a whisper. "Padmé."
"What do you want?"
He was taken somewhat aback by the anger he felt in her sharp words and watched as her head quickly dropped.
"I'm sorry. It's been a rather…frustrating day." She turned then toward him and smiled. "I suppose you came to ask me questions."
"If you wouldn't mind." Obi-Wan replied, smiling awkwardly at her.
"May I offer you a drink?" She replied, her humor failing to lighten the situation. Neither of them smiled in response.
"Padmé. I need to know how you came to have the chemical Otagornum on your hand."
The young senator glanced down to her fingertips, rubbing them together slightly, noting the green color having almost completely faded away.
"Otagornum." She murmured, still staring at her hand. "The gungans use it as a recreational drug. I haven't been to Naboo in a long time." Her voice became wistful.
Fine. She was going to make this difficult. But he wasn't leaving until he got some answers from her, even if he had to use the Force to obtain them.
"Think Padmé. Were you in Senator Looruya's offices at any time other than during the Loyalist Committee meeting two days ago?"
"Yes."
Obi-Wan felt as if his heart skipped a beat.
"After the meeting, I was furious. I went to the chancellor and demanded that something be done about the senators I suspected that had separatist ties. They are undermining everything we are trying to achieve in the name of democracy!"
Obi-Wan saw the spark of concern in Padmé's eyes and he secretly admired her passion for her position, although he tended not to trust politicians as a whole. She was different though. She seemed to be so eager, so determined.
So innocent.
"Where did you go after you left the chancellor's office?"
"Home. He didn't give me any straight answers, didn't make any promises. I was frustrated, so I went home."
She moved across the small cubed space to sit on the lone cot. Obi-Wan followed and sat next to her.
"I came to the senate building early the next morning, intending on contacting several of the committee members to try and gain their support. When I got to Senator Looruya's office, his door was already open, so I went in."
Obi-Wan watched as the dark brown eyes before him took on an empty, distant look. "He was lying face down on the floor. There was a cup of spilled wine on the desk that had dripped onto the rug."
Obi-Wan waited through a long pause, prompting her to continue with a single word. "And?"
"And I knelt down to check his pulse. I put my fingers on his neck, but I didn't feel anything. He was already dead."
"You touched Looruya's body?"
"Yes." Padmé focused her attention on the knight seated next to her.
"That could explain the drug residue on your hands. Did you tell the officials this?"
"I tried. Apparently, the security monitors didn't record my presence – at least not when I said I was there. But I could have been mistaken about the time. I'm not sure what time I got there." Again her head bowed and her voice softened. "I'm not sure of anything any more."
"Well I'm sure." Obi-Wan surprised himself and the young senator as he reached over to grasp ahold of her hand. "I'm sure that you're not guilty, and I'm going to prove it. I just need some time."
And this time, she returned the smile he offered while he gently squeezed her hand. "Are you going to be okay here?"
"Sure. I mean, it's not the Coruscant Regent, but it will do." She replied with a wry grin.
Their attention was immediately drawn to the door as a security official entered carrying a covered tray. "Your dinner, senator." The middle-aged guard placed the tray on the floor and then left the room, closing and locking the durasteel door behind him.
"Care to join me?" She continued to tease as she rose to move toward the square silver tray on the opposite side of the room, but Obi-Wan stopped her movement, pulling her roughly behind him. From underneath the lid on the tray, he could hear a distinct ticking sound and then the Force clearly telling him to run.