Chapter Six

As the ship came into landing on Coruscant, Everett felt a strange nervous energy bubbling up within her. Padmé was still dressed as a handmaiden, Sabé in a dark dress, face covered in thick makeup. Everett wore the same as Padmé, but underneath her veil, her face was made up. Not as much as Sabé, but enough to show her true identity as soon as she dropped the veil. Padmé had told her that as soon as they saw Senator Palpatine, Everett would be allowed to drop the veil, becoming a senator once more.

She was tired. Not much sleep was obtained on the spaceship or in her line of work. She and Padmé had been up late into the night, working on their plan. Working on a speech that Padmé would give to eventually give to the Senate.

Obi-Wan knocked on the door before the slid open. Everett managed to pull up her hood before he saw her face… not that it would matter. He had never met her before this time.
"The Queen is asking for you, milady." She didn't bother correcting him this time. "Senator Palpatine and Chancellor Valorum are waiting for you all." She nodded and he gave her a stiff, but informal bow.
"Will I see you again, Obi-Wan?" He blinked at her, a small smile playing on his lips. It made him seem more like a boy then a young man training to be a warrior. He shrugged in response, a light gesture.
"If the force wills it, but I am pleased to have made your acquaintance."
"And I yours."

Following him towards the exit ramp, Everett stood beside Padmé along with the other handmaidens. The Jedi, the Gungan, and Anakin descended first, bowing before Senator Palpatine and Chancellor Valorum. Then Captain Panaka, two guards, and the Queen descended with the rest following.
"It is a great gift to see you alive, Your Majesty," Senator Palpatine said. "With the communications breakdown, we've become very concerned. I am anxious to hear your report on the situation. May I present Supreme Chancellor Valorum?"

The Chancellor stepped forward.
"Welcome, Your Highness. It is an honor to finally meet you in person."
"Thank you, Supreme Chancellor."
"I must relay to you how distressed everyone is over the current situation. I've called for a special session of the Senate to hear your position."
"I am grateful for your concern, Chancellor." The Chancellor nodded.
"I had hoped Senator Alvera had been able to travel with your, Your Highness," said Senator Palpatine. "I truly hope no harm has come to her."
"None at all, Senator," Everett said. "I am completely well."

Stepping out from the sea of orange fabric, Everett lowered her hood, dark hair falling down.
"I managed to escape under a disguise. It is a pleasure to meet you, Chancellor Valorum." She bowed lowly. "And I am grateful to see you again, Senator Palpatine."

Both men smiled at her.
"It will be a pleasure to formally welcome to you to the Senate," Chancellor Valorum said.
"Might it wait until the current issue is resolved?" Everett questioned. The Chancellor looked confused at the question but nodded.
"It would mean you will not be allowed to state your case."
"Then so be it," Everett said. He nodded and Senator Palpatine led the group away.
"There is a question of procedure," Senator Palpatine began to tell them. "But I feel confident we can overcome it."

Feeling a gaze on her, Everett looked over her shoulder to find Obi-Wan watching her. A spark of confusion had been lit in his eyes. If she had time, she would find him and apologize, but there wasn't time for that now.

The group followed Palpatine into quarters that had been made up for the Queen. Taking a small rest, Padmé switched with Sabé, becoming the Queen who she was elected to be. It was strange, seeing Sabé without the Queen's robes.

When the rest was over, Palpatine returned to their quarters, handing a data pad to Everett. She started swiping through documents, reading the reports they had been given from Naboo.

Mostly lies, propaganda. It showed the people still working, still thriving normally, but Everett knew the truth. Everyone had been gathered up, put into camps. That's where she would be if she had stayed behind.

In front of Everett and Padmé, Palpatine paced the room, speaking as Captain Panaka came into to join them.
"… the Republic is not what it once was. The senate is full of greedy, squabbling delegates. There is no interest in the common good. I must be frank, Your Majesty, there is little chance the Senate will act on the invasion."
"Chancellor Valorum seems to think there is hope," the Queen said.
"If I may say so, Your Majesty," Everett spoke up. "The Chancellor has little real power. He is mired by baseless accusations of corruption. The bureaucrats are in change now."

She looked to Palpatine to see if she had that right.
He nodded at her, "I agree with Senator Alvera."
"What options have we?" the Queen questioned.
"Our best choice would be to push for the election of a stronger Supreme Chancellor. One who will take control of the bureaucrats and give us justice. You could call for a vote of no confidence in Chancellor Valorum."
"He has been our strongest supporter," the Queen murmured.
"Our only other choice would to be to submit a plea to the courts…"
"The courts take even longer to decide things than the Senate. Our people are dying, Senator… We must do something quickly to stop the Federation."
"To be realistic, Your Majesty, I think we're going to have to accept Federation control for the time being."
"That is something I cannot do."

Everett agreed with the Queen for the most part. They couldn't allow Federation control, but the courts might be the only way to save their people. Whatever could they do?
"I suggest presenting the Queen before the Senate," Everett said. "It would force them to listen to our head of state, who had to escape to save her very life."
"They will try to say that she wasn't in any danger," Palpatine said. "My young Senator, you have much to learn."
"Yes, but I haven't finished." She looked to the Queen. "If the Chancellor refuses to act, then we vote for no confidence in him. We should give them the chance to respond, to defend their case."

A low hum resonated in the back of Palpatine's throat.
"Maybe you are correct… that plan might work."
The Queen nodded, "I believe this plan might be the best course of action… but Senators, I will not condone an action that leads our people to war." The two nodded, Everett bowing gracefully to the Queen as their session ended.

I hope you are enjoying!
-Amy Thorton

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