AN: This chapter is going to be multiple parts encompassing the 7 years from when Percy arrives on Naboo, to the start of the events in The Phantom Menace. I am going to have Percy bouncing between different jobs utilizing his blessings from the gods that supported him. And this chapter is heavily inspired by The Father by Procrastinating4237. Please go check out his work. Please note also the year. I am going to start including the years to help with pacing. The Phantom Menace starts in 32 BBY. While the story is different, with older characters, I am going to have it start the same year. Also note that 40 BBY is the same year the last chapter took place. The palace guards are also very OC as I want to make a way for Percy to utilize the blessings.
Chapter IV (Part 1):
Padme's POV (40 BBY)
It was three weeks later while Padme was accompanying the Queen that she saw Percy for the first time. At first she did not even recognize him. It was the yearly inspection of the new palace guards. Guards started with training led by the Head of Security Quarsh Panaka. If the Queen and Panaka approved they officially joined the guard as general enlisted. Then they had three more years before they were considered official palace guards. The first year was served as a rotation of city guard and expeditionary forces. The second year, guards were required to work with mechanics and ships. And the final year bodyguards for the politicians and other high ranking officials.
Padme had decided to accompany the Queen to inspect the new guards. They arrived to the training yard to a scene of chaos. There was a massive brawl going on. It looked like all the guards had ganged up on someone. Gregor Typho, Panaka's nephew was desperately trying to break up the brawl.
The person at the bottom of the pile was taking a severe beating but did not seem to have given up. Panaka let out a curse from beside her and rushed to help his nephew. They managed to stop the fight. While Panaka yelled at the guards, Typho spoke with the victim.
Standing there, with a black eye, bleeding lip and temple, and with bruised knuckles stood Percy Jackson. He grasped Typho in a brotherly arm grasp. Padme realized that they appeared to be the same age. Which meant they were all the same age. She also realized that Percy was very well defined, though she would never admit it.
Trying to get out of that train of thought she turned to the group being chastised by Panaka. She gasped in shock. Though they had numbers advantage, the group appeared to be in worse shape than Percy.
"Well that is not something you see everyday, the guard beaten solely by one man." The Queen said to her. Padme couldn't help but to agree.
Panaka turned to Percy after finishing berating the others.
"Jackson, you okay?" Percy nodded, keeping his mouth shut. "Good step forward. This is our Queen." Percy who had stepped forward, quickly dropped to a knee, head bowed in a position of submission.
"Jackson here, is my best recruit. Top of the class, beat out all the others by a landslide. Even managed to beat a few of the records. He tells me that he had military training before this." Panaka said in quick sentences. Padme was impressed. Usually all the recruits were basically the same. To have one beating records was unusual, especially for someone not from this planet.
The Queen reached a hand out and grabbed his chin. She made him look up into her eyes. Percy's eyes briefly flicked over to her, and widened in surprise, before turning back to the Queen.
"You pass. Panaka, the other top 4 guards also pass. Punish the rest that were fighting. The others will be evaluated next month to see if they meet the criteria." The Queen let go of Percy and started walking away. Padme hurried to follow. She heard Panaka yelling at the guards in the background.
"That was quick my Queen." Padme said hesitantly, not sure if she should speak.
"It was, but I will not have fighting in our ranks. Clearly Panaka trusts this Jackson fellow. I took the other four because we need some new blood this round. Besides..." She stopped at this and gave a pointed look at Padme. "You clearly could not keep your eyes off him."
Padme spluttered and started blushing hard. The Queen did not give her time to respond, and started striding away.
- TIME SKIP -
*1 Year Later*
Padme's POV (39 BBY)
She had stayed as far away from any of the new guards if she could help it over the past year. After what the Queen had said, she wasn't sure what to feel. While she did acknowledge that Percy was good looking, she just didn't like him. Something about the story he fed them after awakening from his injuries did not sit right with her.
She was standing behind the Queen, in the middle of a council meeting, when she next heard Percy's name. The people of the capital loved Percy. He worked day and night to make the city better, ridding it of crime. He had broken up drug rings, kidnapping and slavery auctions. He went out of his way to help the people of the city. He did such good work that he was invited to work another year towards that part of his training.
Last she heard he was working with the expeditionary crews to trace the underwater passages through the Core of the planet. Most people did not volunteer for this task as they were afraid of the subterranean undersea monsters. From what she had heard, Percy jumped at the offer.
The first mention of Percy was during this meeting. Panaka was in the middle of talking about the monthly security report when Typho busted into the room. In his hands was a datapad.
"My Queen, forgive me for the intrusion, but I have the most urgent news. We have finished the mapping of the underwater passages. And when I say mapped I mean fully mapped. But I also bring bad news. Our lead surveyor, Lieutenant Jackson, has been apprehended by the Gungans." This last part was met with gasps.
Ruwee, who was part of the council as an advisor shot to his feet.
"Is he okay?" He asked worriedly. It seemed after all this time that he still cared about what happened to the boy he saved.
"Last transmission we received claims he was. Apparently he stumbled upon the Gungan capital and Boss Nass did not take to kindly to that. The Boss requires that the Queen sends someone to negotiate his release. Luckily, Percy was able to transmit the cords of the capital before being apprehended." Typho stumbled out, handing the datapad to his uncle.
It was while Typho was giving his report that I grew worried. From rumors they had heard, the Gungans executed those they caught trespassing. It was rare that they offered to negotiate the release of a captive, according to the rumors.
"We will send someone at once. Because of the status of Boss Nass, I will need to send someone to act in my stead. Due to her familiarity with the prisoner, my handmaiden Padme will accompany Typho and a squad of guards to negotiate the release of our Lieutenant. This council is dismissed." The Queen said. The room quickly emptied besides Ruwee, Padme, the Queen, Typho and Panaka.
"You will go at once. Panaka, I believe you mentioned that most of the dangerous sea life had been cleansed from the passage ways?" The Queen asked turning to her Head of Guard.
"Yes. Lieutenant Jackson made it his mission to do so." Panaka told her crisply.
"Good. Then we must make haste to rescue him." The Queen said. Everyone left to go prepare for the rescue.
Her father caught up with her outside the council chambers.
"Be careful out there. And bring that wayward boy home." Her father patted her on the back and left. I went to prepare for this mission, hoping my espionage training part of the handmaiden job would be enough.
Following Percy's map had been easy. He had dedicated months to map every inch of these tunnels. It was uncanny the level of accuracy. They made record time reaching the Gungan capital. As they arrived, they all were impressed by the underwater architechture.
They were escorted into the underwater hangar by two Gungan ships. Once inside they requested an audience with the Boss Nass to negotiate a prisoner release. THe guard gave her a look of confusion at the term prisoner.
(AN: I am not even going to attempt to emulate the Gungan accent) "We have no prisoner here and the Boss is busy." The lead guard said.
Typho who had been in charge, let me take charge.
"We received a transmission that you had one of ours prisoner and were willing to negotiate a release. I am here on behalf of the Queen of Theed, and request again, that we have an audience with the Bossness." Padme demanded frustrated.
The guards shared a look then the lead one said, "Be it on your heads not ours."
He motioned for her and Typho to follow but the other guards were to stay with the ship. They followed the Gungan through many passages before reaching a set of double doors. Their guide spoke briefly with the door guards, then slipped inside. He came out a few minutes later and motioned them inside.
Clearly they had interrupted a big feast. But the surprise was even greater to witness Lieutenant Percy Jackson sitting at the place of honor sitting sharing stories with Boss Nass. The hall went silent at their entrance and the both the Boss and Percy looked their way. Percy's eyes widened while the Boss face hardened.
"What is the meaning of this? We are having a monumental feast, and you have interrupted it." The Boss thundered standing up.
"If your Bossness will forgive us, I come on behalf of the Queen of Theed to negotiate the release of your prisoner, Lieutenant Jackson." Padme tried to say.
"Prisoner? Prisoner? Gungans would never try to imprison the Sea Warrior. I will admit we did apprehend him but that was before we realized who it was. This feast is in his honor and in honor of the treaty we have established." The Boss said to cheers.
"I am confused your Bossness. Is this Sea Warrior, the man sitting besides you? And what treaty." I asked trying to figure out what situation we had gotten into.
"It is indeed! And the treaty, is one between us and you of Theed. For many years we have had conflict between or peoples. The Sea Warrior helped us to write a treaty that will bring peace and trade between our peoples. He promised us to bring it before the your Queen." Again cheers rang through the hall.
We were invited to join the feast as guests of honor besides Percy. I was sat next to him. I felt many eyes on us. Percy leaned toward me and whispered.
"Will the Queen understand that I negotiated on her behalf? I had to think on the spot to try and free myself and that is what I came up with."
"I'm sure she will. She likes you, and she has been meaning to negotiate with the Gungans for years." I replied eyeing the dishes in front of me warily.
Later when the feast ended, I was officially handed the treaty. I bowed to the Bossness and watched as he exchanged warm farewells with Percy. We made it to the ship, and Percy guided us through the quickest way back to the capital without needing to consult a map. On the way back, I read through the treaty so I would be prepared to present it to the Queen. My eyes widened in shock. This was beyond good. This could unite the planet together for many centuries to come, united in peace and trade.
The Queen welcomed the treaty with open arms. Planet wide celebrations were held. Percy was the person of honor, at every single one of them. The only one he showed up to was the one that welcomed Boss Nass to sign the treaty with the Queen. I was the only one who witnessed him sneak out early. I followed him.
It was nighttime and you could see and hear people partying everywhere. I followed Percy to an empty balcony. It overlooked the water. Moonlight shown down, illuminating Percy. He was beautiful. More and more was I seeing this. I just didn't realize what was happening to me. I never had feelings for anyone. I saw Percy looking up at the stars. There was a strange constellation that had seemed to appear above us. It was a woman holding a bow and arrow. The arrow appeared to be pointing at Percy and by extent me.
"Hello Zoe, hope you are well. Tell your sisters, the stars that Bob says hello." Whatever Percy was saying was clearly meant to be private. As I turned to leave, I tripped over my own feet. I fell, the thud of me hitting the ground echoed around the balcony.
Percy turned around, eyes like a cornered animal. When he saw me, his eyes calmed. He walked over and helped me up. I was embarrassed. Clearly I had interrupted something important to him. But he didn't seem to mind.
"Are you okay?" He asked eyes looking over me for injuries. It made me blush.
"Yes. But the question is are you okay? You left the feast early." I asked quietly.
He chuckled quietly. There was a sad and haunted look in his eyes. I wanted to help him. to calm get rid of his sadness.
"Just to demons resurfaced. I don't like feasts and certainly hate being the center of attention." He said. He certainly was telling the truth. He downplayed anything he did. He denied the mapping and the treaty being credited to him.
I was broken from my musings by his next words. "Here, let me walk you back to your chambers." He offered catching me off guard.
I quietly accepted and we walked back in silence. There were strange feelings running through my body. I enjoyed being in his presence. All too soon, we reached to the shared chambers of the handmaidens. Outside he looked uneasy.
"Thank you for accompanying me back to my room." I said gratefully.
"It was no issue. My mother would have hurt me if I did not make sure a woman made it back safely at night" He said blushing slightly.
It was at this moment something overcame me. Without thinking, I leaned forward and kissed the man I was slowly gaining feelings for. It was quick but it was heavenly. I stepped back and blushed super hard. I entered the chambers shutting the door as fast as possible. I leaned against the door afraid to move, to think, unsure why I had just done it.
I heard footsteps walk away fast. I hoped I did not just ruin whatever friendship was between Percy and I. I slid down to the ground and groaned, extremely frustrated. I heard a chuckle. One of my coworkers and best friends Sabe was sitting on the middle couch. Being a few years older than the rest of the handmaidens, we all went to her for advice.
"So... how was your night Padme." At these words I put my head in my hands to hide my deepening blush.
AN: And that is a wrap. A lengthy chapter. This is part one of the lead up to the Prequel Trilogy. We can see the budding relationship between Padme and Percy. Please review and comment with what you like or if you have any questions. Let me know what you think. Thanks and see you soon.
Last Updated: 11/22/20