Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars or anything related to Star Wars. Nothing. Nada.
Chapter 7
The next morning after she readies herself Sabé unlocks the door and lets Saché come in.
A day passes, then two, then a few more without a word passing between them.
Saché tries to apologize, several times, but the only times Sabé utters so much as a syllable in her presence is when Padmé contacts them.
She notices the iciness, asks them what's wrong, but they don't answer.
Sabé is too mortified and Saché, for the first time in her life, truly seems to feel guilt. The foreignness of the concept seems to have humbled her into keeping her mouth shut for once.
Not that it helps anything between them. The silence only grows, the resentment poisonous and crushing.
"You can't stop speaking to me forever," Saché tells her, pleading with her through the door one evening before they leave Coruscant on a mission for Padmé.
"Watch me," Sabé mumbles to herself, steady in her resolve.
She isn't sure how long she'll actually be angry, not talking, but she knows she isn't ready to forgive her sister just yet.
They don't eat together, they don't go out, they work, and do it as well as ever judging by the lack of complaints from both Typho and Padmé.
"I'm going back to Coruscant for the vote in a few days, though hopefully the debate can put a stop to the vote at all," Padmé sighs after several weeks in Naboo.
Saché's brow furrows and she glances at Sabé.
Despite the rift between them they still read each other as easily as ever, and they're in agreement on this point. Padmé is braver than she is wise as far as her political ideals are concerned.
"Padmé," Sabé begins tentatively, "about that. We've been hearing rumblings. We aren't sure if it's safe for you to come back this soon."
They'd sent her away before that doomed Senatorial gala because of all the terrible things they'd been hearing, all the threats being made. A few weeks had changed nothing.
Padmé shakes her head and the holo flickers. "There are always rumblings, Sabé. I cannot allow fear to keep me from fighting this vote."
"It's more than the normal rumblings," Sabé reminds her.
They'd found money deals and contracts, all pointing to a very real possibility that someone might try to kill her before the vote.
"Yeah, you've really pissed someone off. Dooku is in it deep with the Trade Federation and they aren't your biggest fans." Saché bites her lip and looks to Sabé who motioned for her to continue. "We spoke with Typho. He agrees with us. We think he may try something with you to gain their loyalty."
Padmé nods. "Then I'll take precautions."
"They'll be expecting that," Saché tells her, frustration bubbling just under her grim expression.
"I'm not going to hide here and let this vote happen without a fight," Padmé snaps.
"We aren't asking you to," Sabé tries to sound soothing. "We just want you to delay your trip by a few days, but don't tell anyone. We'll send in several decoy ships. Cordé and Versé will go on one ship the day before your arrival. Saché and I will go on the day after your scheduled arrival and relay your orders, and a few days later you can come with a freighter."
Saché nods enthusiastically. She probably hates the plan and has a better one in her mad mind, but she's kept it to herself and let Sabé take the lead. She been nothing if not encouraging since their falling out, but Sabé wishes she'd argue her plans a bit. Strategy works better with dissent to strengthen it.
"First of all, I can't waste that much time. The delay would hinder my scheduled meetings with others that feel as I do about this vote. And don't say you can fill in for me, I'm not wearing court makeup much anymore and the other senators would notice. I can't afford to lose their support. Second, I'm not putting four lives in danger. It's bad enough always putting two of you up on the chopping block."
"It's our job Padmé," Saché whispers.
Padmé runs her hand over her hair, pulling it out of the elaborate knot.
"I know that. Every one of you are also my friends, though, and it kills me knowing you might die." She sighs. "I'll discuss alternatives with Captain Typho. I will not delay though."
"We aren't going to be able to reach Naboo any sooner than next week. We've been turning numbers and dates over for days now and the schedule we've come up with is tight but doable. You just have to be patient," Sabé tells her, wringing her hands just out of Padmé's sight.
"No," Padmé shakes her head. "Typho and I will come up with an alternative, but a delay is not an option."
"Padmé please!" Saché widens her eyes pleadingly.
"No," Padmé's voice is firm and full of finality.
The girls visibly droop and she sighs once more.
"I promise, I won't take any unnecessary risks. The Captain and I will figure things out."
"Your definition of unnecessaryis probably from your own personal dictionary," Saché mutters.
Padmé laughs. "Maybe."
Saché rolls her eyes.
Sabé looks back at the holo.
"If you aren't going to use our plan there isn't any real use in us coming to Naboo. We can just meet you on Coruscant."
Padmé nods in agreement and with that she wishes them a good night.
"That girl is going to get herself very dead if she doesn't start listening," Saché grumbles, "and getting very dead for her is our job. She's going to really put a damper on our income if she dies."
Sabé almost laughs, it's funny, but she bites it back.
Instead she goes to bed without telling her sister goodnight.
#######
The trip to Coruscant from the forest moon they had been working on is less than a day's travel.
They had traveled there disguised as an Outer Rim smuggling pair looking for a better income in the hopes of drumming up information from other smugglers and traders about the Separatists. It seems, however, that they're getting tighter lipped and the flow of info the girls found is little more than a trickle.
Travel back to Coruscant is just as silent as the journey away had been. Saché constantly tries to start a conversation, asking if Sabé if she'd like something to eat, pointing out constellations, remarking on the dress of their fellow travelers, but Sabé doesn't respond, she isn't ready to talk.
She goes to her room without a word once they're back on Coruscant.
When she emerges from the steaming fresher she's greeted by an empty room and a note on her datapad from Saché saying she's gone to get takeout.
Tossing the datapad aside and flops on the bed.
Suddenly, a loud noise comes from the main room that sounds suspiciously like her name, and draws her from her stupor.
She rolls her eyes.
Saché has forgotten her keycard again. She's probably doing it on purpose, to try to get Sabé to talk to her, and if it weren't for a stubborn sense of loyalty, she'd leave her sister in the hall.
Taking her time, she reaches the door there and finds no one there.
Perplexed, she turns and sees the holoprojector flickering.
"Padmé!" She rushes to the image. "We only just got back. Trying to make ourselves presentable."
"I can see that." Padmé laughs, gesturing to the towel around Sabé's head.
Sabé forces herself to smile. "It's the latest on Malastar."
"Hopefully it stays there," Padmé tells her, then she looks around. "Where is that sister of yours anyway?"
Sabé waves dismissively. "She's gone out to get food. Nobody's bothered to stock this place since you left for Naboo."
Relaxing a bit at the news her handmaiden isn't out disgracing the planet, Padmé nods. "Well then, you can tell her when she gets back: I'm coming in tomorrow."
Sabé takes a breath, hoping she's at least using precautions. "Well that's something. Please tell me you're at least using a decoy?"
Nodding solemnly, Padmé sighs. "Yes. Cordé and Versé will be on the main ship. Captain Typho has assured me he will personally inspect it."
Keeping her hands knotted together, Sabé forces another smile. "We'll be at the landing pad then. Get some rest Padmé."
Padmé doesn't say goodnight or switch the holoprojector off though.
"Sabé, is everything alright?"
She's squinting, probably trying vainly to clear the holo to decide if she can detect what's got her friend so quiet.
Laughing, false even to her ears, Sabé shakes her head. Padmé has enough on her plate without the fight between Sabé and Saché weighing on her mind.
"Yes. Why?"
"You seem sad," Padmé tells her. "You've seemed sad for a few weeks now. Saché too."
"I'm exhausted," Sabé tells her. It's partly true. "Something you should know about."
Padmé doesn't look convinced.
"Sabé, I think you, and Saché, should take a break. You've spent nearly two years either promoting Naboo or doing stars only knows what to gather information about the Separatists for me."
Pressing her palms to her eyes, Sabé shakes her head.
"Padmé, really? You think we would be able to sit back and take a break? We want to help. Unless you aren't happy with our work?"
Padmé makes a face, clearly annoyed at Sabé's emotional blackmail.
"Sabé you know that isn't it. Everyone needs a break. I took one."
Huffing, Sabé rolls her eyes.
"Only after we forced you to, and I'm willing to bet Saché's Correllian General Seasons 1-5 HoloCollection that you spent nearly all of it working."
Scoffing, Padmé attempts to look innocent. "I'm on a break."
"Right."
Padmé's expression softens and she smiles softly.
"If there were something wrong, you would tell me though, right? I know it doesn't seem like it, but I always have time for my friends. I'll make it."
Shaking her head a little more furiously than she intends, Sabé tries to brighten up her smile. "Of course."
"Padmé!" Saché's boisterous voice rings out and she rushes to the holoprojector, still laden with bags holding dinner.
Sabé takes them from her and then excuses herself from the room to begin going through whatever greasy, semi-edible food Saché has scrounged up.
Several minutes later Saché wanders in as Sabé is gathering up what she wants to take to her room to eat.
"Padmé asked me what's bothering you," she says after a moment.
Sabé doesn't respond, simply brushes past her and out the room.
Settling on her bed, she opens the plastic container and pulls out the greasy sandwich and starts eating when Saché comes to the door and knocks.
"Sabé?"
When it becomes clear Sabé still isn't answering, Saché's sigh echoes through the door.
"I'll see you in the morning Sissy."
#######
Not a word passes between the sisters as they make the trip to the landing pad.
The guards, aware of the many weeks' worth of tension, keep a safe distance from both girls.
Standing in the tower, with several people and things between them, Sabé and Saché can see the ship and its escorts slowly descending to them. When it touched down and the ramp lowers Sabé feels a slight bit of relief, Padmé is here and she'll have someone other than Saché to talk to…
The thought has no more formed in her mind when it happens.
The explosion shatters the window in the tower and knocks everyone down.
Lifting her head, Sabé looks frantically around, trying to reorient herself as her ears fill with an odd buzzing.
Her heart stops and her first thought is she needs to find her sister. She needs to find Saché.
Scrambling, she stumbles to where she had last seen Saché, shouting her name over and over again before someone grabs her elbow. The unknown guard yells but she can't hear him.
"I have to find my sister!" She tells him, even though she knows he can't hear her.
She can't even hear her own voice, only the vibration in her chest.
Tears start falling as she squints through the smoke and debris, screaming for Saché.
Someone pushes her from behind.
Turning she find Saché, bleeding from the forehead and hair askew, but otherwise apparently alright. She grabs Sabé by the shoulders and quickly looks her over before glancing around, still confused.
What in the nine hells just happened? She silently asks.
Sabé shakes her head. She's got about as much a clue as Saché does.
They both look down to the tarmac, then at each other, the realization that Padmé is still down among the debris and fire dawning on them.
Without thought, they race from the tower, tripping and tumbling down the steps and onto the smoke filled tarmac.
"Padmé!" Sabé shouts, still unable to hear her own voice.
As soon as they reach the site of the explosion, pushing past emergency droids and fire crews, Captain Typho rushes past them, pulling a visibly shaken Padmé with him.
Catching her look of devastation, Sabé knows they'll find no survivors but runs with Saché to the fallen bodies despite it.
Cordé is limp, soot covered, blood leaking from her mouth, and Saché shakes her head and covered her mouth at the sight of Versé crumpled only a few steps away.
They stay with their fallen friends until a pair of emergency workers come.
"We'll help," Sabé sees Saché mouth to them as she drops to her knees and gently assists them in picking up first Cordé and then Versé and putting them on the stretchers.
Sabé drapes her cloak over Cordé and Saché does the same with hers and Versé before they take them away, leaving the sisters in the smoldering remains of the destroyed transport.
Sabé slowly links her arm with her sister's and together they walk in the direction Typho had taken Padmé.
It could have been us, it could always be us, she thinks, insides shuddering at the thought.
They could be blinked out in a heartbeat.
Their fight seems silly and pointless now.
She squeezes Saché's arm and felt a few tears for her fallen friends slip down her filthy face.
"Sabé! Saché!" Padmé's teary, dim voice dully echoes out of the room with her as she hugs them. She buries her face in Sabé's shoulder and sobs. "It shouldn't have happened."
"Shhhh, it'll be okay," Sabé coos, pats her friend's shoulder, not certain she can even hear her.
After several minutes of trying to calm Padmé, they slowly make their way to the secured transport and then off to the apartment.
Padmé quietly vanishes to her room to change. She had been trying to tell them something, but the ringing in their ears hadn't entirely dissipated.
Once she's gone, an awkward hum fills the room.
Saché clears her throat, and miraculously Sabé can hear her.
"Sabé, I-I'm sorry. I overstepped. I know I overstepped. I can't protect you from everything no matter how much I may want to."
Sabé sinks into the nearest chair, running a weary hand through her hair and nodding. "I know, Sach. I know you have good intentions but…"
She'd hurt her, more than she probably understands. It was embarrassing and demeaning and a thousand other things she can't quite name. Overstepping was and understatement in her mind.
"The road to hell, right?" Saché shrugs, shaking her head. She smiles sadly. "I just don't want you to end up like mom."
A cold understanding finally hits Sabé. Saché hadn't just been worried for her, she'd been terrified. Sabé can't remember their parents really, all the awful things that had happened before their mother died, but Saché does.
"You really think I'm that weak?" Sabé finally asks, her voice breaking.
"No," Saché quickly answers, rushing to Sabé's side and dropping down. "But…love, it makes you stupid."
Sabé snorts, shakes her head. "For someone who dislikes the Jedi so much you seem to have as much scorn for that particular emotion as they do."
Saché rolls her eyes. "I don't pretend to be above it, I'm just…cautious." She scoots into the char beside Sabé, pulls her into a hug and presses a kiss to her hair. "Forgive me?"
"Always." Sabé shoots her stern look. "I'm still going to be mad for awhile."
"I know."
She smiles. "I love you to pieces Sach, but you really are an obnoxious busy-body."
"I know, and I take that as a compliment." She grins, her first genuine one in weeks.
"Somehow I knew you would." Sabé shakes her head and narrows her eyes. "If you ever do something like that again I'll skin you."
"Naturally." Saché takes her hand and squeezes it. "Sabs, I want you to be happy, but this thing with Kenobi, it's not healthy. It will only ever lead to misery."
Sabé nods.
Saché hadn't ended a great love affair. She'd just put out the embers of a friendship Sabé had foolishly wished were more.
A bit more bluntly than Sabé would've liked, but the results were the same.
"I suppose it is for the best," Sabé leans into her sister. "It was always hopeless."
She pressed her palms to her eyes until she sees stars.
"Let's hope I never run into him ever again. I'll die of embarrassment."