Chapter Two

It was early the next morning when Padmé and her entourage made their way to the landing platform. It was a big day for the Republic, the day the vote would be taken to decide upon the question that was on everyone's mind: would there be an army of the Republic?

Padmé had not wished to resort to the subterfuge of using a decoy, but Captain Typho had insisted upon it. And so Cordé, one of the many handmaidens in her entourage, had dressed as Padme, taking advantage of the resemblance she bore her lady in order to protect Padme from the possibility of assassins. Padme herself did not think such drastic measures were necessary, but she knew that Typho would not rest until she agreed. And so she had.

Padmé stood with Typho as the small group of security men escorted Cordé onto the ship. They themselves were going to the Senate chambers in individual speeders. Padmé, who was dressed in a flight suit and helmet, watched with a hand on her hip as the ramp lifted on the ship. She turned to Typho and was about to tell him that he had been mistaken about the threat on her life when the ship exploded into a ball of fire. Padmé turned back in shock, and then she ran to the remained of the ship.

"Milady, no!" Typho warned. But Padmé did not and would not heed his words, and continued to run. The ship had been utterly obliterated, as well as all these on board.

"No!!" Padmé cried. "Cordé!!"

Typho appeared at her side. "Cordé did her duty, Milady," he said solemnly. "Now come, we have to get you to that vote."

Padmé swallowed hard, trying not to let her fear and sorrow make her hysterical. "I can't believe they would do this," she said softly as she brushed tears from her face. "Who could have done this? Who?"

"I don't know," Typho replied. "Obviously there are those who want this army at any cost," he stated. "And want to silent anyone who objects to it."

Padmé frowned. If that was Typho's way of getting her to back down, it had the complete opposite effect. "Let's go," she said, turning resolutely and walking towards the speeders. "I have speech to deliver."

Palpatine stood up in the pod that hovered in the center of the enormous chamber, a look of sadness on his face. He waited until Senator Orn Free Taa had completed his motion and crowds of senators were quiet before he spoke.

"My esteemed colleagues, I hate to interrupt, but I have just received some tragic and disturbing news. Senator Amidala of the Naboo system... has been assassinated!" he announced. The dire news was met with shocked silence, and so Palpatine continued, ensuring to keep up his appearance of utter desolation.

"This grievous blow is especially personal to me. Before I became Chancellor, I served Amidala when she was Queen. She was a great leader who fought for justice, not only in this honorable assembly, but also on her home planet. She was so loved she could have been elected queen for life. She believed in public service, and she fervently believed in democracy. Her death is a great loss to us all. We will all mourn her as a relentless champion of freedom... and as a dear friend."

The response this time was one of shock and horror, everyone wondering how this could have happened, why wasn't she protected better, what is being done to find the assassins?

Anakin stood in the wings, listening to the uproar in the senate, scarcely able to believe his ears. How could she be dead? How could this have happened?? Just then he heard a commotion at the far end of the corridor, and turned to see what was going on. It was Padme, dressed in a flight suit, a look of grim determination on her face. Her eyes met his briefly, and for that moment he could sense the depth of her sadness, her anguish. Before he could say anything, she looked away again and headed into the senate chamber. He followed, anxious to learn what had happened.

As Padmé's pod made its way into the center of the senate, cheers and applause began to sweep through the vast chamber as she was seen by her fellow senators. Palpatine saw her as well, and forced himself to smile. He stood up to address the assembly again.

"It is with great surprise and... joy that the chair recognizes the Senator from Naboo, Padme Amidala," he said.

Padme took a deep breath and then addressed the astonished senators.

"Less than an hour ago, an assassination attempt was made against my life. One of my bodyguards and six others were ruthlessly and senselessly murdered. I was the target but, more importantly, I believe this security measure before you, was the target. I have led the opposition to build an army... but there is someone in this body who will stop at nothing to assure its passage..."

At this, many of the senators shouted their opposition and yelled at Padmé. This did not deter her, however, and she pressed on.

"I warn you," she continued, "if you vote to create this army, war will follow. I have experienced the misery of war first-hand; I do not wish to do it again."

There was sporadic yelling for and against her statements.

"Wake up, Senators!" she cried. "You must wake up! If you offer the separatists violence, they can only show us violence in return! Many will lose their lives. All will lose their freedom. This decision could very well destroy the very foundation of our great Republic. I pray you do not let fear push you into a disastrous decision. Vote down this security measure, which is nothing less than a declaration of war! Does anyone here want that? I cannot believe they do."

Seeing that Padmé's words were starting to gain the sympathies of the senators, Palpatine decided he needed to do something. He stood up once again before she had a chance to continue.

"Due to the lateness of the hour and the seriousness of this motion, we will take up these matters tomorrow," Palpatine announced. "Until then, the Senate stands adjourned."

Padmé grew frustrated and angry. She looked at Palpatine, who merely gave her a sympathetic look. I don't think so, Milady, he thought, next time you won't be so lucky. I'll make sure of that.

"I will not leave Coruscant now," Padmé told the Jedi Council adamantly later that afternoon. "I have not worked for nearly two years to defeat this bill not to be here when the vote is taken!"

"We understand how you would feel that way, Senator," Mace Windu spoke up. "But you must consider your own safety. Whoever was behind this attack will not give up simply because they did not succeed this time. Next time they may not fail in their attempt."

Padmé sighed with exasperation. "Don't you have any idea who might be behind this?"

"We have assigned one of our finest Jedi to investigate this situation," Ki Adi Mundi replied. "But in the mean time, your safety is paramount, Senator."

"Master Mundi is correct," Yoda spoke up. "To Naboo you must go, Senator. A Jedi we will assign to keep you safe."

Padmé realized that the Jedi council was not about to change their minds, and so she resigned herself to their decision. "Thank you Master Yoda," she said at last. "I appreciate your concern."

"Don't worry, Senator," Mace Windu spoke up. "Obi-Wan Kenobi will get to the bottom of this, he's very resourceful."

Padmé nodded. "Yes, I'm sure he is. Thank you again."

"I have heard that Senator Amidala is leaving the capital," Anakin told Palpatine as they took their evening meal together. "Seems the Jedi are finally making an effort to protect her."

Palpatine nodded. "Yes, so it seems. I suspect that there is a reason they are anxious to keep her protected," he commented.

Anakin looked at him with a scowl. "Why wouldn't they?" he retorted.

Palpatine smiled at his young protégé condescendingly. "You are so naïve, Anakin," he replied. "I can think of at least two good reasons they are anxious to protect Padmé Amidala. One of them is a simple one," he stated. "Obi-Wan Kenobi. The second one is a little more complicated."

"What would that be?" Anakin asked, still not willing to consider that Padmé was involved with Kenobi.

"That the Jedi are secretly collaborating with the Separatists," Palpatine replied. "That they see Padmé as an ally with a lot of political clout who can help them with their treachery."

Anakin nodded, his hatred for the Jedi growing even more. "Do you have reason to believe this, Master? Proof that we can use against them?"

"What proof would you like?" Palpatine retorted. "The Jedi always have their own reason for doing things, Anakin," he reminded him. "Or have you learned nothing that I've taught you?"

Anakin heard the underlying accusation in his question, and swallowed hard. He knew that to anger Palpatine was always a bad idea; he had suffered more than once for questioning his master, and decided to say nothing more.

"Forgive me, Master," Anakin said at last. "You have taught me everything I know, I was wrong to question your wisdom. If you suspect that the Jedi are plotting against the Republic, then they must be. And Senator Amidala is in league with them as well."

Palpatine nodded, pleased at his apprentice's acquiescence. "Yes, so she is. The question is, what do we do about it? We cannot take on the Jedi, not until we can prove their treachery. But perhaps we need to consider other options."

Anakin didn't like where the old man's thinking was going, for he felt certain that he knew what he had in mind. "Such as?" he asked.

"I think you know," Palpatine replied. "Senator Amidala poses an enormous threat to the well being of the Republic," he said. "She has the political influence to tear this Republic apart."

"What are you suggesting?" Anakin asked. "That she be arrested?"

"No Anakin, she would only rally more support for her plot if we were to do that," Palpatine replied. "I am suggesting that she be eliminated."

Anakin nodded, unsettled by what his master was proposing. It certainly wasn't the first time that an enemy had been eliminated; Palpatine had used his apprentice's special skills more than once to rid himself of a troublesome enemy. Anakin was discrete and effective, the perfect assassin. He had killed many times, without compunction. But somehow the thought of killing someone he actually knew did not sit well with him.

"You like her too much I think," Palpatine stated sourly, sensing Anakin's reticence. "Your loyalties are compromised by your feelings."

"I don't like her," Anakin insisted. "I …find her attractive," he added. "I would like to have her body, but I'm not interested in her other than physically."

"I see," Palpatine replied, watching the young man closely. Lust was fine, it was dark and destructive, it could be used constructively. "Very well, then," he said at last. "Go to Naboo. You may do with her whatever you wish, only kill her when you're finished. Do you understand?"

Anakin nodded. "I will leave tomorrow," he said. "And Senator Amidala's plot will die with her."