Chapter 45
Home Front
It was a beautiful day. The sun was shining in the clear blue sky and it was warm for the season and latitude. It was hard to believe that somewhere beyond that blue sky there was a war going on.
Padmé briefly glanced up at the beautiful blue sky as she exited the massive Senate building and sighed. Ahead of her sat her waiting speeder, piloted by the loyal Captain Typho, ready to take her back to her apartment. Putting the tense, stressful Senate session firmly behind her, she climbed into her dark blue speeder and nodded to her one-eyed Captain to take her home.
The cool wind that rushed through the open speeder cockpit tugged at her complex hairstyle and refreshed her. Typho expertly wove through the chaotic Coruscanti traffic, leaving the stadium-like Senate building behind and heading towards the cluster of spires that was the Senatorial apartment block. But even when she reached her penthouse, she still had work to do.
There were reports to read and write, speeches to prepare, and perhaps even meetings with fellow Senators to schedule. For her work never ended. There was always something that needed doing. But as exhausting and time-consuming as it was, she couldn't imagine doing anything else. She'd given all her young life to serving her people and their interests, and she had no regrets.
Soon Typho parked the speeder in one of her building's parking lots and led her inside, cautiously glancing around, alert to any threats to her safety. Padmé waved farewell to him as she stepped into the lift that would bring her up to her penthouse and left him to his post in the mid-level lobby. In a few minutes, the lift-car stopped and opened into her Coruscant residence.
Sabé and Moteé were waiting for her. Moteé's lips thinned at the sight of her Lady's hair, slightly disheveled from the wind, but she made no comment on it. Together she and Sabé led Padmé into the bedroom and helped her out of her elaborate Senatorial gown and into something a little more casual and comfortable. Padmé's wind-blown hair was also remedied, erasing Moteé's thin-lipped frown.
With that task completed, Moteé left for the kitchen to prepare some caf and refreshments. Sabé remained with Padmé and the two of them prepared to dive into the stack of data disks that contained various reports and messages gathered during her business in the Senate building. A sudden chime heralding the arrival of a guest in the lift interrupted their efforts though, and Sabé went to see who it was.
"Oh hello Jar Jar!" Padmé heard Sabé exclaim in surprise and she hurried to greet her old Gungan friend as well.
"Heya-lo Sabé!" The goofy Gungan representative greeted. "Heya-lo Padmé!" Jar Jar cried when Padmé came into view. "Wassa splashin'?"
"Oh nothing terribly exciting," Padmé smiled as she gave her colleague a quick hug. "I was just going to start some boring paperwork."
"Ooh ouch, ouch," Jar Jar cringed sympathetically.
"Yes, one of the many necessary evils of the job." Padmé sighed. "Come and sit down." She invited.
Jar Jar gave a wide goofy grin and cheerfully ambled after Padmé into the common room. The gangly Gungan made himself comfortable on the couch while Sabé went to the kitchen to help Moteé finish up the snacks and drinks she'd been preparing. Padmé settled down across from her friend and struck up a conversation with him about some recent legislation she'd heard about being debated back home on Naboo.
Some might underestimate the Gungan, Jar Jar Binks, for his goofy appearance, strange manner of speaking, and inborn clumsiness. And when he was younger his naïve gullibility would've made their assumptions about him mostly correct. But his years of service to Naboo and the Galactic Republic had educated him, helped him calm down and mature. He was still vulnerable to some who knew how to take advantage of him, like Palpatine had in getting him to originally propose granting him his first emergency powers, but he was always learning and he would not make that mistake again.
Padmé hoped that someday soon Jar Jar, or some other Gungan like him, would rise to the rank of Senator in the Galactic Senate instead of just hanging around as a lowly Representative, a position with little influence compared to that of Senator. It was rare, but possible, for a single star system to have multiple Senators due to the fact that they contained multiple intelligent species. One example was the world of Mon Calamari, a watery world that supported the amphibious Mon Calamari and the squid-like Quarren. Each species had their own Senator and their own vote in the Galactic Senate. And that was what she wanted for Naboo, the Naboo and the Gungans with their own Senator and their own vote.
Sabé adored teasing her about that dream, among other things. "Bringing the Naboo and the Gungans together isn't enough for you." She would say, sometimes despairingly. "Bringing the Gungans into a joint active government isn't enough either. No, you have to do this too!"
But sometimes Sabé's lighthearted teasing would turn serious, worried. "If you don't slow down, your life will be gone before you know it." She would warn. "At this rate you'll be an old woman before you find yourself a man." Or, "If you don't stop and take the time for it, you'll never have children of your own."
She would wave Sabé off and smile. She still had plenty of time for those things. Twenty-five wasn't terribly old. There were many years ahead of her for a husband and children. Right now, Naboo as a whole needed her, and she would not let her home-world down. She would serve to the best of her ability until she was no longer needed, and then she could take time for herself with a clear conscience and happy heart.
"Padmé?" Sabé called, yanking Padmé out of her thoughts.
She was embarrassed to realize that she'd drifted off into her own little world while Jar Jar rambled on about some conversation he'd had with the obese Gungan leader, Boss Nass. "Yes?" Padmé replied.
"Senator Organa called." Sabé answered. "He'll be here in a few minutes to discuss some business about the Refugee Relocation Committee."
"Oh," Padmé sighed, glancing at the wall chrono and noting just how late it was. "I'm glad that you stopped by Jar Jar," Padmé began reluctantly. "But–"
"Messa understand," Jar Jar nodded. "Messa glad to speaka to yousa today. Bubbly luck." He grinned, giving her a little bow before swaggering to the lift.
"Good luck to you too." Padmé smiled, waving a quick farewell.
It was funny, in public Jar Jar could act just like a refined, dignified politician, but in private he was his silly old self. When the Senate was in session, he would walk slowly and gracefully and give speeches in a clear voice, almost devoid of his odd Gungan speech patterns. But in his off time he would amble around, swinging his long arms and legsabout casually, and his Gungan dialect would be back in full force. That annoyed some people, but Padmé didn't mind. She didn't want her friend to change too much, it was comforting and right for some aspects of him to stay the same.
Not five minutes after Jar Jar departed, Bail Organa, Senator and Viceroy of Alderaan, arrived. He was impeccably groomed as always, his dark hair neatly combed, his beard carefully trimmed, and his gray and pale blue suit and cape were simple, but of fine quality befitting the royalty that he was by virtue of his blood. But despite his hereditary position, he had earned his Senatorial seat through a proper democratic election. And in Padmé's opinion, he was a wonderful choice for the position.
"Good afternoon Padmé," Bail smiled, gratefully accepting a steaming cup of caf from Moteé.
"Good afternoon Bail," Padmé replied with her own smile. "Where should we begin?"
Sabé unconsciously fingered the smooth gray stone pendant she wore around her neck in a thoughtless nervous gesture. Padmé and Bail were still in the common room discussing policy. Moteé was attending to them, leaving Sabé to her own devices for the moment. And when she was left on her own with nothing specific to do, she tended to think.
At the moment she was mulling over the horrible thing that was called war. It was certainly the most evil activity ever dreamed up by intelligent life. And this hideous Clone War was no exception.
Millions died each month. Millions more were displaced, uprooted from their homes and forced to flee for their very lives. And still there was no end in sight.
And war, and the tensions that had preceded it, was what enslaved her friend to her position. If there was no more war, Padmé could relax, take a vacation, move on with her life. Without war, her Lady's sense of duty would not be tugged at, calling her to ever more service, ever more self-sacrifice. The end of war would set Padmé free.
While she loved and admired her old friend, she quietly feared for her. Her strong sense of duty was commendable, but Sabé viewed it as much as a curse as it was a blessing. Not since after Geonosis had Padmé been back on Naboo and not since she'd been forced into hiding had she visited with her family.
Before the war, Padmé had only had one week between the end of her second, and final, term as Queen of Naboo and when she accepted Queen Jamilla's request to take on the position of Senator of Naboo. Just one week to enjoy with her friends and family without the worries of being Queen or Senator. That simply wasn't enough.
And before that, her two terms as Queen ate up the second half of her childhood and the beginning of her adulthood. After the taxing, traumatic crisis with the Trade Federation Blockade she filled her time with rebuilding Naboo and working with the Gungans. Sabé could never remember a time in that period where she wasn't working on something.
I swear, Sabé sighed, it's like she's allergic to taking a vacation. Every time the idea was brought up Padmé would brush it aside. "Later," she would say, "some other time," or, "when things calm down a bit." Always she would bury the thought of time off under such excuses until it was forgotten.
She'll burn out if this keeps up. Sabé squeezed the smooth teardrop-shaped stone pendant so tightly in her hand that it left a faint reddish mark in her palm. It was a worry that had been growing in her mind ever since she had come to Coruscant to take Dormé's place. But she had yet to voice her concern to her friend for fear that Padmé would just make some vague promise of relaxing without any real intention of keeping it.
Sabé jumped slightly when Padmé's apartment comm buzzed for attention. Dropping her necklace from her hand and hurried to answer it. She pressed the accept key and the small hazy blue image of a man came into focus. Sabé swallowed a curse with an outwardly friendly smile.
"Senator Vorski, how may I assist you?" Sabé greeted politely.
"Good afternoon Miss Maybine, is Senator Amidala available?" The man, Senator Vorski, asked hopefully.
"I'm sorry, Senator Amidala is in a conference at the moment." Sabé apologized. "May I take a message for you?"
"I see," a brief look of disappoint flickered over the tiny blue hologram's face. "If you could have her call me when she is free I would much appreciate it."
"I will," Sabé promised, carefully hiding her reluctance.
"Thank you," Senator Vorski smiled. "Farewell."
Sabé breathed a sigh of relief when the comm connection was cut and the holographic image of Senator Vorski faded. Despite the polite, well-groomed, respected Senator image, Sabé personally detested him. She found his interest in her Lady inappropriate and a bit disturbing.
Senator Josef Vorski of the Voshi System looked to be a handsome dark-haired man in his mid-thirties. But he wasn't. His actual age was something nearly twice that. His vast bank account and wide influence allowed him to have costly cosmetic procedures that made him appear much younger and healthier than he was.
Vorski used his artificial good looks and impressive wealth to woo a long line of much younger lovers. He'd been tied to all sorts of women, from scantily clad Twi'lek dancer girls, to glamorous holo-film stars, and even to other female Senators. And now it seemed he'd set his sights on Padmé Amidala Naberrie as his next conquest.
It's disgusting, Sabé shuddered as she resumed her previous seat. He's old enough to be her father! If only I could give that pervert a piece of my mind…
But she couldn't. She didn't dare. The Voshi System, while not a close neighbor of Naboo, was a major source of important pharmaceuticals. If Sabé told him off like she wished to, or if Padmé was too harsh in refusing his advances, Vorski could very well use his influence to interrupt the flow of medicines and chemicals to Naboo out of spite. So Padmé's hands were tied, and Sabé's mouth might as well have been sewn shut.
Frustrated, Sabé returned to playing with her necklace. The simple pendant was a gift, and heirloom of sorts, from her paternal grandmother. It, along with a few old holos and flat pictures and some hazy memories were all she had left of that particular relative.
Her relationship with her family, by her own admission, wasn't the best. While she'd always gotten along great with her father and his relatives, her mother and her relatives were another story. Part of the reason Sabé had jumped at the chance to go to Coruscant and help Padmé was to escape the maternal branch of her family.
Naboo's Human population, in general, was not terribly concerned with bloodlines, nice families, and good breeding. Love and compatibility are more important to most Nabooans when looking for someone to marry. But for a small percentage of Nabooans, mostly those who could be classified as 'old money,' did care about those things. And unfortunately Sabé's mother was one of those rare people.
For as long as she could remember, her mother had tried to groom her for a subtly arranged marriage. Always she had been coached in how to behave, how to play the stupid social games that the rich and influential played. And Sabé was sure that every night her mother had dreamed of her beautiful elaborate wedding to some rich man from a well-respected family.
Sabé never wanted any part of that. She made that perfectly clear when she applied to the prestigious Theed Academy, and later when she signed up to become a Handmaiden. Her father was always supportive of her choices. But her mother was furious.
All her mother's dreams of marrying her daughter off and gaining a foothold in some rich old family were dashed. What man would want to marry a girl who had brains behind her good looks, the confidence to speak her mind, and the strength and skills to kick his butt? Not many, and certainly not the any of the kind that her mother had wanted her to marry.
Her father on the other hand had been proud beyond words at her achievements. His oldest daughter, a star student, and then a respected Handmaiden of the famous Queen Amidala. Sabé thought she could just have gone on to be an ordinary girl and her beloved father would still tell anyone who would listen just how wonderful his daughter was.
With such differing opinions on her, Sabé was amazed at how her parents managed to stick together. How they'd ever fallen in love in the first place was a mystery in itself to Sabé. But she supposed she was glad that they had, she was one of the results of their affection for each other after all.
And she was grateful that no matter what happened, or what she chose to do with herself, that at least one of her parents would always be happy. Now all she had to do was figure out what she was going to choose next. Now she had to try and decide on what the newest chapter of her life would be.
It wasn't that she was unhappy with her life as it was at the moment. She was quite content to help her oldest and dearest friend with her work, more than happy to keep her safe. But she had no plans on being a Handmaiden for her entire life.
I suppose my next goal in life ought to be straightening out my love life, Sabé mused. Or getting a love life in the first place, she sighed upon further reflection. A hopeless, pointless crush on a Jedi Master doesn't really count as having a love life now does it?
So what if he was handsome in his own dignified way? So what if he was infinitely patient, kind, and compassionate? So what if he had a smile that, even now that it was hidden under that beard of his, had the unnerving ability to derail any trains of thought she might've been experiencing at the time. Really, so what?
He was a Jedi. A Jedi Master. She had a much higher chance of landing a date with Vader than with Obi-Wan!
Not that she would ever ask the Jedi Padawan out on a date in the first place. He was more of a silly little brother to her than a love interest. Vader reminded her of a young cousin of hers from her father's side of the family. Sometimes he could be sulky and bratty, sometimes he could be goofy and hilarious, but there was always an undercurrent of sweetness to him. Mysterious circumstances aside, Vader was just like that.
Shaking her head Sabé twirled the necklace around her index finger. Maybe I should play match-maker for Padmé instead, she thought. 'Cause I think I'm a lost cause…
Late that night, Padmé sat at her little mirror and brushed out her brown wavy hair. She was nearly ready for bed, now dressed in a simple violet nightgown. Sabé and Moteé had been dismissed for the night and now she was alone with only her thoughts and worries for company.
With a sigh, she set down her brush and wandered over to her bedroom window. The blinds were down, but not closed, allowing narrow bands of light to cast a striped series of shadows on her far wall. She peered out through one of the cracks at the endless streams of air-speeders and city lights and sighed again.
After Bail had completed the business he came to discuss with her, he'd lingered for a while. He enjoyed some of her caf and relaxed enough to share some of his personal thoughts and worries with her. And now she found herself sharing many of those same concerns.
War was changing the Republic, and not for the better. The Supreme Chancellor seemed to be gathering more and more power. He acted reluctant when the motions were proposed and voted on, but he never once refused to accept what he was given nor did he ever try to kill the motions to grant more power before they were voted on.
Then there were the mysterious events that led up to the outbreak of war and the strange circumstances that swirled around everything. There were simply too many holes for Bail or herself to feel comfortable, and odd, unnerving coincidences. Bail even admitted to believing that there could be some conspiracy or two involved in the whole mess.
And the worst part was she couldn't really share her growing fears and suspicions with anyone or risk being labeled a Separatist sympathizer or even a Separatist herself. Never mind that that wasn't true at all, others would only see a dissenter, someone who was disloyal to the Republic. For her own good, she had to keep quiet and wait until something solid turned up, some evidence that confirmed some of her concerns.
Chewing her lip worriedly, her mind shifted to other worries as her hand found the Japor pendant she only took off when she climbed into bed or into the shower. Not all of her dear friends were safe and sound here on Coruscant. Some of them were light-years away, risking their lives for a crumbling Republic that was almost as worrisome to her as the recently created Confederation of Independent Systems.
Let them be safe, she prayed to whatever power was listening. Let them come home safe and sound again… Please let them come back to me.