SouL PurPosE

Chapter Four

When we landed in Aldera, the capital of Alderaan, Dorme was still sound asleep, which gave me the freedom to approach the palace. There was one problem, though. I wasn't sure security was going to let me see Bail. As Senator Amidala, I wouldn't have had a problem, but at the moment, I was wearing Dorme's face.

Just inside the foyer, as expected, I was stopped by a palace guard who requested my intentions.

"Would you please inform Senator Organa I have a message for him concerning a loyal friend?"

I wasn't sure Bail would understand my reference to the committee we had both once been members of, but I was hopeful.

Several minutes passed before the Senator finally appeared, although he seemed disappointed to see who was actually waiting for him. Surely, he had heard of my untimely demise by now.

"Wait," he said as some realization began to show. "Weren't you one of Senator Amidala's aids?"

"That's correct," I informed him with a smile as well as an extension of my hand which he took warmly between both of his. "Dorme."

"That's right. I'm surprised to see you here considering the circumstances."

He had released me but the news hung heavily about his shoulders. I began to wonder what all he'd heard.

"What exactly do you know about the circumstances? There are some rumors I'd like to clear up myself."

Senator Organa studied me for a moment. I knew that expression well. Quite well. He was wondering whether my assistant was trustworthy and if he should share any information with her at all. Somehow, I needed to convince him.

"I understand your hesitance," I told him before gazing at him rather intensely. "At this point, some things are better left unsaid."

I had said those exact words to him during the last Loyalist Committee meeting in my home, right before the Chancellor dismantled the Senate and declared himself Emperor. If only we had known then what we knew now.

Bail's eyes narrowed as he carefully weighed my words. I couldn't tell if he'd made the connection, but he suddenly turned.

"Walk this way, please," he said over his shoulder.

I followed him through the foyer, up a set of beautiful marble stairs, and then turned left to enter an office. I'd been in the palace many times, but never in his private room.

Once inside, he paused and gazed out the window toward a remarkable view of the Aldera Mountains.

"I'm going to assume you and the Senator were close and she shared many things with you. You should know that even though I was the one who took her body to Naboo, my personal assistant is who actually delivered it to her family. I didn't think it was safe to show my face in public. Not just yet. Not until I'm sure where the Republic stands."

"I understand," I told him. "I'm sure she would've appreciated your efforts and all the trouble you went to."

"Please, have a seat," he told me, motioning to a comfortable sofa covered with a deep burgundy cloth while he sat in a carved wooden chair across from me.

"Now. Tell me why you came all this way. I'm trying to guess, but I honestly have no idea."

Now was the critical moment. I couldn't tell him what was actually going on. He wouldn't believe me. Instead, I had to convince him to tell me the whereabouts of Obi-Wan – that is, if he even knew.

"You were right," I began. "Senator Amidala and I were very close; like sisters. I loved her and I miss her terribly. I was hoping you would tell me what you knew about her death. Exactly, how did she die?"

"Aren't you from Naboo?" he asked me, revealing a small grin. "It's my understanding your people don't ask a lot of questions about such matters."

"Consider me a rebel," I answered him, leaning forward to show how much I wanted this information. "Please, Senator. I need to know."

"Well," he replied, taking a more casual and relaxed pose, "I'm afraid all of my information is second-hand. Master Kenobi is the one who brought her to me and he only shared a few details. She was in pretty bad shape when she arrived."

Master Kenobi, I repeated in my mind. I had always considered him a Jedi I could trust; one who would always tell me the truth. I had no idea he would be the one who would try to save my life someday.

"Apparently, she had been attacked by Jedi Skywalker, her husband. That news came as a shock to us. Nobody had any idea she was married, although it would explain a lot."

"What do you mean by that?" I was doing my best to not be offended because I wanted him to continue.

"Surely you noticed. During the past, oh, I would say five years or so, she became much more focused on her work; more serious, and less social. It's true there was trouble within the Senate and with the Chancellor, but there was something else going on she wouldn't talk about. She just didn't seem very happy."

Had it been that noticeable? Of course, I was sad! Everything I had dreamed about having – in my career, as well as my personal life was not turning out as I'd hoped. It was very disappointing.

"I'd have to agree," I told him, trying to respond as my assistant would. "Her marriage to Anakin was pretty rocky."

"I'm sorry to hear that. She deserved a much better life than the one she got. When she passed, I was stunned, though not as much as Master Kenobi. He took her death especially hard."

So it wasn't just me! I thought perhaps I had imagined the hints of regret and the tears he had shed over my deathbed. He really did care about me. I just had to figure out what to do with that information.

"I believe the Senator considered him a close friend. If she were alive today, she would be highly concerned about his well-being. Is he doing all right? Is he safe?"

I was trying to be as nonchalant as I could, although this was the reason I'd come here.

"I believe he's as safe as he can be considering everything. He's with his own kind and they'll watch over him."

Bail Organa kept speaking about the Republic and how dangerous things were getting, about the bounty hunters searching out any remaining Jedi, but all I could think about was what he'd meant about Obi-Wan's 'own kind.'

Did he mean other Jedi? Did some survive and they were out there hiding someplace? I interrupted him at one point in his story to ask about the Jedi. Did he know how many had escaped?

"Just a few, I'm sorry to say. Master Yoda is in hiding, as well as Obi-Wan, and a few others who were out on missions at the time. Master Kenobi was smart to send out a signal to warn them to stay away from the Temple. I'm worried it's only a matter of time before they're discovered, especially now that Palpatine is in control of everything."

The name of that horrid man caused my fists to clench. If I had blood, it would be boiling right about now.

"Do you think there's enough Jedi to form a rebellion? To fight back?"

It was a question I already knew the answer to. The Jedi weren't soldiers, they were peacekeepers.

"I'm afraid not. To stay safe, they've scattered. I don't believe you'll find any two together. But I've said too much and I have much to do. Hopefully, I've answered your questions. Once again, I'm saddened about your loss. Padme Amidala was a great leader and a good friend."

"Thank you, Senator Organa," I told him. I was truly grateful for his time although he hadn't told me everything I needed to know.

"I'll have my assistant take you back downstairs."

Try not to let the door hit you on the way out, he might as well have said. Apparently, entertaining my aid wasn't high on his list of priorities, although it made perfect sense. The Republic was in shambles and there wasn't a damn thing I could do about it. Not while I was dead, anyway.

As I followed the young man Bail had ordered to escort me back to the foyer, I experienced a feeling as if the stairwell was giving way and I toppled over, landing on my butt before sliding down a few steps.

"Are you okay, Miss?" the lad said, offering his hand to help me up.

"Hey, he's kinda cute."

I recognized the voice and immediately realized we had a problem. Dorme was awake, which would certainly complicate matters.

/I need you to focus right now./ I demanded. /We have to make it down these stairs!/

/Okay, no problem! Calm down! Although I feel a little woozy. What did you do to me?/

I tried to move a foot, but it was apparently the wrong one, and again, we tripped and fell against the railing.

"Are you sure you're okay?"

Dorme smiled at the young man and reassured him she was fine, just a little hungover from partying the night before. He seemed to be much more interested in us after that.

"Here, let me help you," he said while offering his arm. "Are you from around here?"

/See? He's interested. We should get his name./

/We don't have time for that! Just put one foot in front of the other and this time, start with the right!/

/Wow/, she said in a highly sarcastic tone. /I didn't realize being dead would put you in such a bad mood! Maybe you could say please?/

I took a deep breath into a pair of lungs that no longer functioned and tried again. /I apologize. Can we begin again, pretty please? And this time start with the same foot? I don't wish to create a scene./

/See?/ she said. /Good manners always opens doors.../

/Dorme./

I had said her name in a voice I didn't use often and she had to know I was dead serious, pardon the pun. She also had to realize I knew a lot more annoying songs to sing later that night.

/All right, all right. Let's get going. Ready...on three.../

For as coordinated as I'd always believed both of us to be, it was extremely difficult to get the correct rhythm going. Once we did, we managed to descend the stairs without further incident.

That is until someone met us at the bottom and caused us to stumble while trying to stop.

"Your majesty," Dorme blabbered with surprise.

The proper response was for her to curtsey, although I wasn't used to doing such a thing and forgot to. What we ended up doing was more like a bad dance step performed by someone suffering from a back injury.

"Dorme, isn't it?" Queen Breha stated kindly, apparently not noticing or caring. "My husband told me you were here visiting. Come, let us have a word."