Chapter 34

I'll start a chapter countdown till the ROTS (Star Wars: Episode III) Chapters, from this one! Wait. Last chapter was 5, so 4!

Padmé was going on a negotiations mission to Scipio, she was supposed to get money for the Republic to fund their Clone Troopers by paying Kamino, a system of the Republic to clone them, which the skills needed, they have. Now, they were just negotiating

"As the Council of Five, we are surprised that you have come all this way, just for a bank transfer" The leader of the council said

"A transfer that has not been forthcoming" Another Muun identified

"By request of the Supreme Chancellor, I am here to expedite matters" Padmé told the council

"We would merely request that you meet with our special representative, who will go over the terms and conditions of your loan" The lead Muun requested

"Senator Amidala" Rush Clovis, former friend of Padmé, greeted

"Clovis!" Padmé surprisedly exclaimed

"You two know each other?" The lead Muun asked

"Sir. I was assured that this transaction would be free of prejudice and partisan allegiance!" Padmé exclaimed as she continued "This man is a known Separatist and traitor to the Republic!"

"Padmé!" Rush tried to stop her

"I can assure you Rush Clovis is our trusted and best negotiator" The lead Muun tried to assure

"I am sorry gentlemen, but I insist this man gets removed from these negotiations" Padmé apologised "But until then, we have nothing to discuss" She walked away to her quarters after that

Later on, when it became night on Scipio. Rush Clovis came into her house through the window. They both talked a while, and Rush revealed corruption in the banks and that the vaults are empty. They made a basic plan, and left. Padmé later wondered what Anakin would say if he came here, which would be impossible since he was in Dragitor, or in some invaded Republic planet, or a needed to be captured Separatist planet. She contacted the Chancellor for advice, who told her to listen to Clovis, which was his plans for his control over the banks. The next morning, she went to the Core Five Muun Council, and said she would accept Rush as the representative, if she was allowed in the vaults. Which they accepted. She was allowed in the vaults, and it would be opened first thing the next morning, later, they went to a place. So they could talk about the details of the plan

"Where are we?" Padmé asked

"My personal residence" Rush answered "It's a bit remote, but we'll have more privacy here" Rush then went onto the plans "Once I detonate the charge here at the main power source, the vault will go into immediate shutdown. No one will get in or out. This will give you very little time before the emergency generator cycles and takes over. You'll then use this to locate the exact files and download them from the mainframe. The vault is one of the most secure in the galaxy, but it was designed to keep people out. Once you're inside and the power is down, there is little they can do."

"You make it sound so easy." Padmé commentated

"If you don't mind, Senator, I will retire for the night." One of Padmé's handmaidens, Teckla, excused herself

"Of course, Teckla." Padmé gave the 'Go Ahead' sign

"The information we get tomorrow will go a long way to expose perhaps the real criminals behind this war." Rush commented

"These are war profiteers." Padmé sadly shook her head "I've exposed that before. Nobody cares."

"Truth is not on the battlefield." Rush corrected, and tried to kiss her

"It's late." Padmé excused herself "Good night!"

Later, in the morning. Padmé entered the bombs ad Teckla went to explode it, since Rush was detained, Padmé was confused for a while until she saw that Teckla wasn't there. She went in and the power went out a while later, she took advantage of her husband's force potential, which Anakin let, and saw her way to the mainframe and downloaded the data needed. Padmé came out, pretending to be annoyed. Rush and Padmé saw that the vaults were. She was arrested for espionage when they came to the Muuns later on. She was in a prison for who knows how long until she saw a familiar face.

"Ha ha ha, well well well. Lookee who we have here" The familiar face said, it was none other than Anakin Skywalker

"How long have I been in here?" Padmé asked

"About a few days" Anakin answered

"Ani! I'm so glad to see you!" Padmé exclaimed

"Well, I guess I'm not only useful for fighting wars and planting crops after all" Anakin smirked "They say Teckla's dead"

"Is it true?" Padmé asked

"Yes" Anakin answered "They say she had been shot at the bomb site"

"What exactly is going on here? You have to get me out of here. Clovis has" Padmé was interrupted by Anakin

"Clovis? What exactly does Clovis have to do with this?" Anakin asked

"Ugh, I can't explain it here." Padmé grimaced

"How could you ever put your trust in a man like Clovis after what he did?" Anakin asked

"It's for the Republic, Anakin." Padmé answered "Something is very wrong with the banks."

"Why is it that when Clovis is around, your excuse is always that you're 'doing it for the Republic'?" Anakin mocked

"Anakin, please" Padmé pleaded

"You know, maybe I'll just leave you here!" Anakin shunned off Padmé

"Ani."

"You've already been released into my custody. You better come with me before I change my mind."

"Anakin, please trust me. I can't leave without the files Clovis and I took from the vault."

"Where exactly do you suggest we look? The discs may be outside the city at Clovis' private residence."

"Fine. I'll do this for you, not for Clovis."

When they got there, they saw paper scattered all over and a messy house

"Someone was looking for the files." Padmé deduced "They must know Clovis has them."

"Well, maybe they found what they were looking for, and that's why he's missing. Ha! We can only hope!" Anakin sarcastically exclaimed

"Anakin, you're not helping things!" Padmé elbowed Anakin "You don't seem to understand how important these files are. They'll expose a corruption that goes to the very core of the Banking Clan." Padmé saw Rush "Clovis!"

"Padmé! I knew you'd come!" The scared man exclaimed and saw Anakin "You again?"

"Yes, me again." Anakin answered "All right, lover boy, where's the disc?"

I'm not about to hand over the information to some pilot." Rush denied

"I'm a Jedi Master who can save your life if you hand over the files!" Anakin exclaimed

That's when Anakin, Padmé and Rush was almost shot and they had to run. They ran from the Bounty Hunter and got on a sled, they all went on and Anakin deflected shots from the Bounty hunter as Rush drove, the Bounty Hunter, Embo, as Anakin identified, used his helmet as a sled, and R2-D2 homed the ship on Anakin's signal and flew the ship, making them fall onto the ship when they fell off a cliff. Embo contacted Sidious, or Palpatine as some know him, and said that he succeeded his part of the plot.

Chapter 34 done! Now, there is three more chapters till ROTS, possibly four if I write this chapter that will possible spoil the story more than the vision Sidious saw. NEXT CHAPTER: RISE OF CLOVIS