Episode I: The Phantom Menace
Chapter 8: The Decision
Once Padme returned to her father's apartment after the unsuccessful – or in Palpatine's case, not so unsuccessful – session with the Senate, she changed into yet another elaborate costume and went into the sitting chambers to be alone and do some meditating.
Padme thought about Anakin and wondered if he would be trained or not, since he was so old. But she dared not try eavesdropping on anything or anyone at the Jedi temple. That was too risky. Someone would be bound to sense it.
She then thought back to some of her early teachings. Her father had taught her how only the most strong and powerful Sith Lords were able to draw into their conscious self and see into the future. She remembered trying to do this when she was ten years old and failing terribly.
"You must stretch out with your feelings," Sidious had said to her. "Clear your mind and keep it focused only on possibilities of the future. Only once you have done this will you be able to see glimpses of the future, and maybe when your older, perhaps visions."
He'd then left her alone to meditate.
She had tried many times afterwards, yet all she'd ever gotten were glimpses. When she was eleven, she'd gotten a glimpse of herself as Queen three years down the road. A year after that, she'd gotten a glimpse of two medium skinned blonde haired twin girls about eight standard years old. She had no idea whatsoever who they were or why she'd seen them. And last year, at 13, she'd gotten a glimpse of an elderly man who looked to be in his 70s maybe and had that of a rogue Jedi about him. When she'd told Sidious of her last two glimpses soon after, he'd told her they were people she was going to meet within the next decade and work with to bring about their plan of restoring the Sith as the Galaxy's Supreme Rulers.
Clearing her mind of all thoughts, Padme meditated and attempted to see into the future. After about ten minutes, finally, she began to see glimpses and then an actual vision of the future.
She saw herself returning to Naboo, capturing Viceroy Nute Gunray and, with the help of a Gungan Army, stopping the Trade Federation Act on Naboo. Anakin would destroy the Droid control ship orbiting the planet, and Darth Maul would die by Padawan Kenobi's blade in retaliation for the Dark Lord slicing down his master, Qui-Gon.
As her vision ended, her mind was set. She would go back to Naboo and make her vision a reality. Getting up off the couch, she approached a nearby floor to ceiling window and gazed out of it at the setting sun over Coruscant. It was a few moments after this that she sensed a presence approaching softly behind her. Looking into the Force, she discovered it was the Gungan Jar Jar.
She sighed irritably. What does this freak want now?
Although she knew he was now behind her, she chose to act as though she didn't and ignore him until spoken to. She didn't have long to wait.
"Yousa thinkin yousa people gonna die?"
Padme really didn't feel like talking to him. But being as she was Queen, she really didn't have much of a option. For a Queen never ignores a subject.
"I don't know," she finally responded, a tad warily.
"Gungans get pasted to ah?" Jar Jar queried.
Padme wasn't so sure she liked the idea of more Gungans, yet because of her vision remained civil with Binks. "I hope not."
"Gungans no dying without a fight. Wesa warriors. Wesa got a grand army." Jar Jar said this with a great deal of pride, she noted. "That's why you not likin' us mesa thinks," he added somewhat bitterly.
Yet before she could respond, the sitting room door slid open and Captain Panaka's voice was heard. "Your Highness!"
She turned from the window to see both Panaka and Palpatine striding in with smiles plastered on their faces.
"Your Highness," Captain Panaka repeated with a bow. "Senator Palpatine has been nominated to succeed Valorum as Supreme Chancellor."
"A surprise to be sure but a welcome one."
A surprise Senator, she couldn't help but think in sarcasm. She turned away from the pair as Palpatine continued to speak. "Your Majesty if I am elected, I promise to put an end to corruption."
I'm sure.
"Who else has been nominated?" she asked turning back to them.
Captain Panaka answered. "Bail Antilles of Alderaan and Ainlee Teem of Malastare."
"I feel quite confident our situation will provide a strong sympathy vote for us," Palpatine said seating himself on one of the sofas, still wearing that arrogant smile/smirk. "I will be Chancellor."
It took everything Padme had not to smack that arrogant, smug look off his face. "I fear by the time you have control of the bureaucrats Senator, there will be nothing left of our people, our way of life."
She heard him give a mental snort at that. "I understand your concern your majesty, unfortunately the Federation has taken possession of our planet."
It is time.
Padme knew Sidious wasn't going to be very pleased about her disobeying orders but…
"Senator. This is your arena. I feel I must return to mine." She turned to face her planet's Senator, observing the look of confusion that now adorned his face. "I've decided to go back to Naboo."
The confusion soon turned to shocked disbelief. "Go back?! But, your majesty, be realistic. They'll force you to sign the treaty."
"Force Me?!" She turned to him with a look of disgust. "I will sign no treaty Senator. My fate will be no different from that of our people." She turned to Panaka. "Captain?"
"Your Highness?"
"Ready my ship," she said, making for the room's exit.
"Your Majesty, please, stay here where it's safe," Palpatine begged.
"Safe?!" She whipped around once more to face him one final time. "It is clear to me now that the Republic no longer functions. I pray that you will bring sanity and compassion back to the Senate."
And with that, she exited the room and went down the hall to her own to inform the handmaidens therein to begin packing her things. By the time she finished changing into another one of her glamorous monarchical dresses, they were ready to go. All the while Sidious was trying to break into her mind. When he finally did, he began to mentally shout at her.
"I demand to know what's going on Lady Baynetta! What do you think your doing? This is not apart of the plan. The plan was for you to stay on Coruscant and-"
"Be silent my master! I know what I'm doing."
"You know what your doing?! How can you know what your doing?! You are merely a young child."
That comment enraged her. "Be silent Senator!"
"You can not go back! You will not go back! You will do as I order you! You-""Don't think you can tell me what I can and can't do Sidious. I am quite capable of making my own decisions and will not simply follow orders. Besides I have foreseen the outcome on Naboo."
She then cut off the connection before Sidious could respond and put up a shield block on her mind so he, or anyone else for that matter, couldn't break through to enter it.
Queen and entourage took a shuttle back to the public landing platform where the Naboo Royal Cruiser was docked. On the way, however, Panaka informed Amidala that the Jinn-Kenobi Jedi duo would be escorting her back to Naboo for her own protection. So she wasn't at all surprised to find Qui-Gon and Anakin together on the platform waiting for them as they arrived. Kenobi she spotted a short distance off, strolling the platform's entirety. She felt a sarcastic wave of pity upon seeing Jinn, though, quickly pushed these thoughts aside in case the Jedi felt them.
As they approached, the Jedi Master bowed. "Your Majesty. It is our honor to continue to serve and protect you."
She gave him one of her rare warm smile. "I welcome your help. Senator Palpatine fears the Federation means to destroy me."
"I promise you I will not allow that to happen."
They then boarded the ship and left Coruscant, destined for Naboo.