Chapter Seven
Everett was lounging on a sofa, still reading through a data-pad. Their time in the Senate was just hours away. She was half-asleep, her exhaustion threatening to take over. She was afraid to sleep after her dream, though she knew her paranoia wasn't logical.
The door slid open, and she sat up, trying to look regal. She saw Anakin and instantly relaxed.
"The boy is here to see Padmé," a guard said. Rabé poked her head out from the backroom.
"Let him in."
Anakin walked in, stopping in front of Everett.
"I'm sorry, Ani, but Padmé is not here right now."
"Who is it?" called the Queen.
"Anakin Skywalker, to see Padmé, Your Highness."
As the Queen came to the doorway, Everett stood, instructing Anakin to bow and he followed her lead.
"I've sent Padmé on an errand," the Queen told him.
"I'm on my way to the Jedi temple to start my training, I hope. I may not see her again… so… I came to say goodbye."
"We will tell her for you," the Queen promised. "We are sure her heart goes with you."
The little boy bowed again, looking nervous to have been so long in the Queen's presence. Everett hid a smile, if only knew who was really behind the mask.
"Thank you, Your Highness." He turned, walking out of the room.
When he was gone, the Queen looked to Everett.
"The only downside to letting Sabé be my decoy is I find myself getting close to people only having to lie to them further down the road." Everett nodded in understanding. The Queen, whom Everett truly needed to start addressing as Padmé, slipped into the backroom, the door closing as she too prepared for the upcoming Senate session.
The two hours passed quickly, too quickly for Everett's taste. She was allowed to sit in the box, but she wasn't allowed to add her own input until she had been formally introduced as a Senator of Naboo. It was an old tradition, but not one she would fight to change.
The chambers were huge, bigger than she had been told. It was a cavern basically, with circular floating assembly areas for each delegation. They were put against the walls, all of them looking to Chancellor Valorum with his aides in an elevated area in the center.
She sat, dressed once more as a handmaiden. It had been Captain Panaka's idea. Allow the senate to think she was still trapped on Naboo, make the senate believe she was in danger and one of their own.
He had been put out when the rouse had finally been shown to him. He had scolded her profusely, then hugged her as if she was his own daughter. He then congratulated her on how well she played the part of a humble, meek handmaiden.
"Of which you might have become if not for your victory." She smiled softly.
"Gregar would not have allowed me to become a handmaiden, you know this." He shrugged at the mention of his nephew.
"Ah, but he allowed you to become a Senator?"
"So that he can be assigned to my detail when I am eventually forced to spend most of my days here."
He had laughed just as Senator Palpatine walked through the door to bring them to the Senate session.
And here they were, Padmé slightly panicking, Palpatine and Captain Panaka worried, the handmaidens feeling the tension from their Queen, and Everett wondering how life had gotten here.
Chancellor Valorum's voice startled her out of her musing.
"The Chair recognizes the Senator from the sovereign system of Naboo." Their platform began to rise and float into the center.
"Supreme Chancellor, delegates of the Senate," Palpatine said as he stood. "A tragedy as occurred which started with the taxation of trade routes and has now engulfed our entire planet in the oppression of the Trade Federation."
Very quickly, a second platform rushed into the center of the Senate. Everett wasn't surprised to see the Federation trade barons in outrage.
"This is outrageous!" Lott Dod cried. "I object to the Senator's statements!"
"The chair does not recognize the Senator from the Trade Federation at this time," Valorum said. "Please return to your station."
Senator Palpatine took a deep breath as the platform of the Trade Federation moved away.
"To state our allegations, I present Queen Amidala, recently elected ruler of Naboo, who speaks on our behalf."
As the Queen stood, there was a light scattering of applause.
"Honorable representatives of the Republic, I come to you under the gravest of circumstances. Naboo system has been invaded by the droid armies of the Trade…"
Before she could continue, the Trade Federation raced forward again.
"I object! There is no proof. This is incredible! We recommend a commission to be sent to Naboo to ascertain the truth." Another platform with the Congress of Malastare came forward as well.
"The Congress of Malastare concurs with the honorable delegates from the Trade Federation. A commission must be appointed."
Turning, Valorum conferred with several of his aides as Everett leaned in close to the Queen and Palpatine.
"Enter the bureaucrats, the true rulers of the Republic and on the payroll of the Trade Federation, I might add," Palpatine said. "This is where Chancellor Valorum's strength will disappear."
The Chancellor turned back to them, raising his hand to quell the loud whispers.
"The point is conceded… will you defer your motion to allow a commission to explore the validity of your accusations." The Queen shook her head, anger seeping through her.
"I will not defer… I have come before you to resolve this attack on our sovereignty now. I was not elected to watch my people suffer and die while you discuss this invasion in a committee. If this body is not capable of action, I suggest new leadership is needed… I move for a "vote of no confidence" … in Chancellor Valorum's leadership."
The quiet murmuring of the crowd turned into loud crescendos of roars of approval and jeers. They all started chanting.
"Vote now! Vote now! Vote now!" The Chancellor sat down, stunned, and speechless. His vice chair, Mas Amedda, took over, calling them to order.
"And now they will elect a new Chancellor, a strong Chancellor, one who will not let our tragedy continue," Palpatine said to the Queen.
Everett overheard him and silently questioned him. He seemed proud, almost like he wanted to be Chancellor. She shook her head, scolding herself. The Senator was just doing his job. One she would be faced with too as soon as Naboo was safe.
The "vote of no confidence" would keep the Senate busy, and they would not be in attendance other than Senator Palpatine. He would need to know who will be elected and whom they should put their vote for… not that they would have a say.
Everett was beginning to wish she had allowed Chancellor Valorum present her officially before the Senate, then her vote would count for something. But she would enjoy her last bits of freedom until that day.
I hope you all are enjoying Everett. I know it seems like she is a pretty calm person and maybe not all flushed out with emotions, but rest assured, she is fiery like Padmé, and you will see her temper further on.
-Amy Thorton
All Rights belong to Disney and Lucas Films.