Episode III: Attack of the Clones
Chapter 10: On the Brink of War
Padme exited the Natalia twenty odd minutes after boarding, donned in a white pantsuit and her hair in an elegant bun. Returning to the Lars Homestead showed Anakin and Owen dropping the body of Shmi Skywalker-Lars into the ground and then shoveling the sand they'd dug up and dropping it back into the grave. Beru and Cliegg came out, along with 3PO, just as Anakin and Owen were finishing up and the funeral began.
While Cliegg was speaking his respects, Padme noticed that there were two other graves next to Shmi's. Searching Owen's mind told her that they belonged to his mother and paternal grandfather, Cliegg's first wife and father.
When Cliegg finished talking, Anakin stepped forward and knelt before his mother's grave, picking up some of the sand in his hands as he began to speak.
"I wasn't strong enough to save you mom," he said softly. "I wasn't strong enough. But I promise, I won't fail again."
He rose from the ground then, though he continued to speak. "I miss you. So much."
At that precise moment, Padme heard R2 approaching. She whipped around sharply.
Funny that I didn't see him on board the ship.
"R2, what are you doing here?" she asked.
He answered and 3PO took it upon himself to translate, even though she already knew what the droid had said.
"It seems that he is carrying a message from an Obi-Wan Kenobi. Hmm, Master Ani does that name mean anything to you?"
"Yes," Anakin answered, sounding a bit concerned. R2 beeped again and before 3PO could translate, Padme did so.
"R2 says it's urgent."
"Miss Padme, pardon me for asking, but how did you know what R2 just said?" 3PO asked sounding abashed.
"I can speak and understand droid," she responded with amusement.
"You-You can?" he asked in shocked disbelief.
"Of course I can, but never mind that now." She turned to Anakin. "Let's go see what the message says."
"Hmm. I have a feeling we may have to leave now," Anakin said, turning to the Lars.
Cliegg nodded in understanding. "Then I guess this is goodbye."
"Yes." Anakin shook hands with all three Lars' and Padme did the same.
"You can take that protocol droid with you," the older man said. "After all, it is yours."
"You're sure?" Anakin asked.
"Quite."
"Thank you all, for everything."
The Jedi gave a farewell wave before he, the Senator, and the droids headed towards the Natalia.
Once on board, they started the message.
"Anakin, my long-range transmitter has been knocked out," the holographic form of Obi-Wan said. "Retransmit this message to Coruscant."
Padme pressed the button that would do so.
Coruscant, 1900 Hours: Present Time
Antellica and Arica Grievous were rolling their eyes at the Senators whom were arguing over the recent Separatist movements. They were presently in Chancellor Palpatine's office in the New Republic Executive Building with Jedi Yoda, Mace Windu and Ki-Adi Mundi when suddenly Palpatine's Rodian Executive Administrator Dar Wac came rushing into the room and all talking ceased.
"Yes?" the Chancellor asked.
"We have an urgent message from Obi-Wan Kenobi that's being retransmitted from Senator Amidala's star cruiser, the Natalia."
"Plug it in at once," Palpatine said urgently.
It began to play...
"I have traced the bounty hunter, Jango Fett, to the droid foundries on Geonosis. The Federation has taken delivery to a droid army here, and it is clear that Viceroy Gunray is behind the assassination attempts of Senator Amidala."
"No surprises there," Arica muttered. Antellica snorted and Jar Jar, who was standing beside them, shushed them. The girls looked at the Gungan with disgust and openly mocked him.
"Quiet you must be," Yoda whispered and they shut up, drawing their attention back to Obi-Wan's transmission.
"The Commerce Guild and Corporate Alliance have both pledged their armies to Count Dooku, and are forming a- Wait! Wait!"
Obi-Wan suddenly drew his lightsaber and started deflecting blaster bolts which a nearby droidekar was shooting at him. Just as abruptly as this started, it ceased and Obi-Wan disappeared from the transmission; the message going blank.
Antellica and Arica gasped; they weren't the only ones. Jar Jar, however, was crying. "Oh Obi! Oh Obi!"
The twins had a powerful urge to kick something.
"More happening on Geonosis I feel, than has been revealed," Yoda was saying.
"I agree," Master Windu said.
Tatooine, The Natalia
"Anakin," Master Windu addressed, stepping into the transmission field. "We will deal with Count Dooku. The most important thing for you to do is stay where you are. Protect the Senator at all costs. That is your main priority."
Anakin lowered his head and nodded. "Understood master."
The transmission ended.
"They'll never get there in time to save him," Padme stated. "They'll have to come halfway across the galaxy. Look!" She pointed to a screen map of the galaxy and showed their current position. "Geonosis is less than a parsec away."
"If he's still alive," Anakin said carelessly shrugging.
Padme was somewhat confused over Anakin's behavior. "Anakin, are you just going to sit here and let him die? He's your friend, your mentor, he's-"
"He's like my father," Anakin barked. "But you heard what Master Windu said, he gave me strict orders to stay here."
Padme merely sniffed. "He gave you strict orders to protect me. And I'm not simply going to sit here when the Republic's on the brink of war. I'm going to help Obi-Wan." She began to start the engines of the ship, readying it for takeoff. "If you plan to protect me Anakin, you'll just have to come along."
Out of the corner of her eye, Padme saw Anakin grin at her before taking the co-pilot's seat and preparing the Natalia with calculations to Geonosis and lightspeed.
Coruscant
Silence followed Master Windu finishing up his conversation with Anakin until Senator Organa spoke up.
"The Commerce Guild is preparing for war, there can be no doubt of that."
"Count Dooku must've made a treaty with them," the Chancellor commented.
As if you don't know, Arica thought silently.
Suddenly, the Senator of Malastare, Ask Aak, spoke up. 'The debate is over,' the Gran said in his native tongue. 'Now we need that clone army.'
It turned out that Obi-Wan's investigation of the dart which had killed the bounty hunter priorly led him to Kamino and the discovery of the clone army Sidious ordered a decade ago. The twins learned of this by eavesdropping on Jedi conversations while stealthily moving about the temple.
"Unfortunately, the debate is not over," Organa argued. "The Senate will never approve the use of clones before the Separatists attack."
"This is a crisis," Mas Amedda said from where he stood. "The Senate must vote the Chancellor emergency powers. He could then approve the Creation of an Army."
Palpatine looked doubtful. "But what Senator would have the courage to propose such a radical amendment?"
"If only, Senator Amidala were here," Mas Amedda said and nearly everyone nodded.
After a few more moments of silence, Jar Jar spoke up. "Excuse mesa."
The Grievous twins and everyone else whipped around. Arica whispered the word "Freak" just loud enough for Antellica to hear and they both collapsed into giggles.
"Yes, Representative Binks?" Palpatine asked.
Arica sniffed and Antellica started to cough.
"Well yousa see," the freak said. "Senator Amidalee-"
"Amidala," Arica corrected coldly. Palpatine cleared his throat and shot her a look, but she was unfazed by it. She did shut up, however, as Antellica snorted softly.
"Yes, Senator Amidalee asked mesa to take hersa place in the Senate before shesa left, so I can do the emergency powers thingsa."
"Well," Mas Amedda started, but was cut off by Antellica.
"As Senator Padme Amidala's loyal handmaiden and decoy, oh and did I forget to mention that she also considers me to be her sister, I can not and will not have this," she started to laugh along with Arica, "this, this-"
"That's quite enough Antellica," Palpatine said looking slightly amused. "I think what Miss Grievous here is trying to say is that as most people think Senator Amidala is still on Coruscant, hiding in the Jedi Temple after the last assassination attempt, it would be better perhaps to have her do it. But perhaps we should let Jar Jar, I mean," he gave a cough, "Representative Binks, do it. I will call a meeting with the Senate in an hour. This meeting is now adjourned."
And Antellica and Arica fled the room before anyone could say anything to them.
Since the Senate wasn't to be addressed for another hour, Antellica and Arica decided to call their mistress to catch up on things. They told her and Anakin all about the meeting that'd just transpired, and she told them that she and Anakin were going to Geonosis to help Obi-Wan, but made them promise not to tell anyone. Afterwards, she asked about their breakfast with Yoda.
"Breakfast with Yoda?!" Anakin repeated in confusion.
"Yeah, we had breakfast with him this morning," Antellica informed.
"And so how was it?" Padme asked.
"Uneventful to say the least," Arica replied. "We had Blumfruit muffins, a popular food at the Temple, and the frog man (Anakin laughed) had some weird grimy stuff. We asked him what it was, and he said it was some type of green high gene stuff that was good for you. It also had what looked to be cut up sticks in it."
"In short," Antellica continued. "It looked like a mixture of grass and sticks with some type of brown sauce on it that looked like mud. He also put seasoning salt on it."
"So what did you talk about with the Grand Master Jedi Yoda?" she asked.
"Various things, like what it's been like training Jedi for hundreds of years," Arica said.
"We also asked him how old he was," Antellica added.
"I think he's around eight hundred standard years," Anakin commented, "or maybe it's seven hundred."
"Eight hundred and sixty-three to be exact," Arica informed. "He said his birth date was last month."
"Really, I didn't know that," Anakin replied.
"He was mainly curious about us," Antellica said. "As strange as it sounds. So we told him about how we became handmaidens and our lives before and after it all."
"What surprised me the most was that he actually seemed interested," Arica added.
Antellica looked down at her watch. "Well I think we should be getting ready for the Senate meeting right about now." She added in a whisper, "So we'll converse with you later, and I do hope you are successful with rescuing Obi-Wan."
"Thank you," Padme replied before she hung up.
Captain Typho escorted the Grievous twins to the Grand Convocation Chamber in the Galactic Senate Building to discover a slight surprise: the meeting actually started on time. Since the girls weren't acting as Amidala's handmaidens, they watched from a visitors' booth not far from Master Yoda, while Typho boarded the Naboo pod with Jar Jar.
"The Chair recognizes the Junior Representative of Naboo," Palpatine said in what sounded like a bored voice.
And without even thanking the Chancellor, the Gungan fool plunged head on into his speech.
"It'sa clear that thesea Separatists have made a pack with thisa Federation of the Trade."
Antellica and Arica openingly laughed at Jar Jar's pathetic way of speaking Basic, and they weren't the only ones. Other Senators and such were also laughing and some even shouted jeers at him. Binks, however, ignored them, and after pausing for a brief moment, continued.
"Senators. Fellow delegates. In response to the corruption of the Trade Federation, mesa propose that the Senate give immediately emergency powers to the Supreme Chancellor."
The Senate's response was shouting random things, though most of it was approval. Before the shouts could get too loud however, Mas Amedda stood up and called for order. Everyone quieted down and Chancellor Palpatine stood up with a troubled look on his face.
"So fake," Arica thought to her sister.
"What is?"
"The look on Palpatine's face."
"But of course."
"It is with great reluctance that I have agreed to this calling," he said, slightly hesitant. "I love democracy. I love the Republic."
Yeah right, Arica thought sarcastically as the Senators began to applaud their leader.
"The power you give me, I will lay down once this crisis has abetted. (Liar!) And as my first act with this new authority, I will create a Grand Army of the Republic to counter the increasing threats of the Separatists."
Palpatine seated himself at the end of his speech, and Antellica and Arica were just about to leave when they heard Master Windu talking to Yoda. They stopped to listen in.
"It is done then," Windu said while the frog nodded. He glanced over at the girls before continuing. "I will take what Jedi we have left to go to Geonosis and help Obi-Wan."
The frog nodded again. "Visit I will the cloners on Kamino, and see this army they have created for the Republic."
Master Windu gave a thoughtful nod and left, yet not before giving Antellica and Arica one of their own. After which, they found themselves the staple of Master Yoda's attention. He was standing before them with an observing eye.
"Alright are you girls?" he asked in concern.
"Quite," Arica assured, "yet if not so a little disturbed in the direction the Republic is going, what with having any army now and all."
"This is the very thing Padme has been trying to fight against for the past two years now," Antellica added, "but I guess desperate times call for desperate measures."
"Hmm." The small Jedi master appeared thoughtful before turning to Arica. "Sense that you want to come with me I do."
"Well...yes," she answered with slight hesitation, though slightly bewildered how he could've read a thought she had yet to think. "But only because, let's face it: how exactly would you get to Kamino? No offense, but I can't really picture you piloting a ship."
Yoda chuckled. "Pilot a ship I can, but come with me you both may."
"Okay, then we'll go tell Captain Typho and meet you at the Jedi Transport Center," Antellica said.
Yoda nodded and was off. They were soon to follow.
Typho wasn't too thrilled about the prospect of them going to Kamino and without him at that, even if it was with the Grand Master of the Jedi Order. Yet after shouting about it for a good fifteen minutes, he finally agreed. The handmaidens took a shuttle to the Jedi Temple and met up with Master Yoda at their planned spot. Twenty odd minutes later, the trio left with Antellica and Arica at the controls of a small cruiser.
Geonosis was the second of five rocky worlds orbiting a yellow sun in the outer rim. The planet had four large outer moons and eleven smaller and closer inner moons. Its dense asteroid rings were in an equatorial orbit, to which the smaller moons acted as tidal shepherds, and the planet regularly suffered from asteroid storms emanating from the rings. It is thought the rings were created by the destruction of a small inner moon in a collision with a two-kilometer wide comet. The rings were rich, and consequently mined by the natives in use of local factories.
Geonosis had a large diameter, but light gravity and dense atmosphere. With a weak magnetic field, harshe solar radiation storms were common, and on occasion mass extinctions occurred. The most persistent surface organisms were humble red rock algae while the semi-insectoid Geonosisans were driven under ground. It comprised a diminutive molten core with a rocky, desert world subject to flash floods which carved great highland canyons. Water made up a measly 5 of the surface.
During the time of the Geonosisan rule, much of the planet's architecture was similar in appearance to termite mounds, consisting of domes and buildings built in caverns and rock spires. One could easily mistake Geonosisan buildings for natural formations and the planet itself for uninhabited. But Padme knew better.
Flying the Natalia out in the open for long wouldn't be a good idea. They needed to find somewhere safe to land and hide. Finally, she spotted such a place.
"You see those columns of steam straight ahead?" she pointed out to her companion. "They're exhaust vents of some type."
"That'll do," Anakin said, steering the ship into the steam and landing. The pair had swooped pilot and copilot positions in hyperspace.
"Whatever happens out there," she commanded, wrapping the white cloak that went with the pantsuit she was wearing around her shoulders, "follow my lead. I'm not interested in getting into a war here. As a member of the Senate, maybe I can find a diplomatic solution to this mess."
Leaving the cockpit behind, Padme headed towards the ships' exit and heard Anakin quip, "Don't worry. I've given up trying to argue with you."
This brought a smirk to her lips as the boarding ramp was lowered and they exited the ship.
The atmosphere around them was steamy and slightly dark, yet not so much that they couldn't make out the narrow walkway directly ahead of them, which led to a hatched door. Jedi and Senator accordingly walked towards this and upon arrival, Anakin used the Force to open it. A narrow and mildly darker passageway lay ahead of them, but the pair once again walked on.
Distinctly, Padme couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. Anakin obviously felt the same, for he held out an arm to halt her from continuing on and told her to wait. No matter the fact that their surroundings couldn't be made out much, for a moment nothing could be heard, but then out of the blue they heard something give a screech behind them. Without looking to see what it was, the Sith Lady ran the passageway to its end and unhatched a door that was an almost replica of the one prior. A massive subterranean droid factory lay beneath. Turning, she saw Anakin fighting off the Geonosisans. Yet what she also saw were 3PO and R2 in the passageway as well for some reason, idly standing in the center of the action.
No matter, before any questions could be asked, next thing she knew, Anakin was running towards her, bumped into her, and she was falling into the droid factory. She heard him call after her and when she landed, she shot a glare up at him before he jumped down after her. It was then that Padme realized she was on a conveyor belt, which was moving towards a device that was stamping droid materials as they passed beneath it. If she didn't time it just right to go through when the device was up, she would be crushed to death. But she wasn't afraid, for Padme knew the Force would guide her. She darted through that and three other of the same devices without being hurt. Though just as she got through the last, a Geonosisan grabbed a hold of her arms and pushed her into one of the passing large metal and brown canisters which were moving in the air below her.
Once she fell in, she felt it rise into the air and approach warm hotness. Using the Force, Padme discovered that these canisters, including the one she was in, were being filled with hot fire and embers. As she got closer and closer to the fire, she weighed a battle within herself: to Force jump out and explain to Anakin how she could use the Force and answer all his countless questions or die burning to death. It was quite obvious which choice she was to go with just as she saw the fire device above and about to empty embers atop of her. She was just about to make a jump for it, and risk all of Anakin's silly questions, when the device suddenly stopped she felt herself and the canister falling.
It landed with a crash and she rolled out. Looking up, she saw R2 next to a control panel and instantly knew that this had been his doing.
She yelled a thank you up to the droid and it gave a loud affirmative beep, which meant 'You're welcome.'
Getting up, the Sith Lady suddenly found herself surrounded by a dozen armored Geonosisans. She looked around and smirked at them. Anakin was nowhere in sight, though, she knew he was still alive fighting somewhere.
Time to have some fun!
Just as they were about to step forward to handcuff her, she Force pushed them off the landing she'd fallen on and jumped off the landing herself. Falling next to the same Geonosisans, she Force pushed them into some toxic liquid that lay beneath them. She knew they couldn't survive in that. Next thing she knew, she was being surrounded once more, but by the same stupid battle droids that had invaded Naboo all those years ago.
"Hands up." The commander droid was pointing a blaster at her, yet she merely scoffed. She wasn't going to let some pathetic droid boss her around.
"I said hands up," the droid repeated.
Her only response was pulling the blaster from the droids' hand and blasting each and every one of the droids surrounding her. They had opened fire, but were all scrap metal in a matter of seconds. Running forward because she sensed Anakin's presence not far ahead, she was once again surrounded by enemies. This time is was droidekars with shield generators.
Won't be able to blast these. Just have to fry em!
And that's exactly what she did. In a flash of an eye, Padme dropped the blaster to the floor and began electrocuting the droidekars with Force lightning.
For a moment she merely stood to observe her handiwork, but then heard the sound of droids marching and a man's voice say, "Don't move Jedi. Take him away."
Anakin was obviously captive.
Not if I can help it.
She strutted up to them over a pace of approximately several hundred meters and said loudly, "Jango Fett, I presume. I'll have to ask you to release Jedi Skywalker."
"Who are you?" He swiftly whipped around. "Wait! You're Senator Amidala." He lifted his blaster. "Don't move or I'll shoot."
Padme merely laughed. "That's funny scum. Watch me laugh."
She continued on with this and Jango lifted the gun even more as he walked closer towards her. "I mean it Senator. Hands up and come quietly."
She spat on the ground in front of him, lifted her own blaster and began shooting some of the droids surrounding Anakin.
Jango then came over and grabbed her. She fought against him all the while shouting curses, but knew she was no match, for Jango was much larger and stronger than she was. Plus, he was also wearing armor. He put her on the ground, and after binding her arms behind her, pulled her from the ground by the hair that was no longer in the elegant bun it had been when she arrived. Once she faced him, the armored helmet anyway, she spat at him again and he struck her to the ground. By now they were surrounded by about twenty to thirty droids. Padme knew it was useless to fight with Anakin watching, so quietly surrendered. She smiled sadly at Anakin and he back at her as Jango led them out of the factory and onto a higher level, where two Geonosisan guards joined them.
After which, they were led into a circular structured conference room, where the secret Sith Lady saw that Count Dooku was waiting; seated on one end of the global table inside, which was practically as large as the room itself. Fett walked over next to the Count and removed his helmet, revealing a smirking face beneath which was aimed at the Senator.
She gave him a filthy smile in return and sat herself down at the table directly across from the Count. Anakin remained standing beside her, flanked by two Geonosisan guards still.
Padme had never met Dooku before, but she knew Sidious had told him who she really was. As such, he wouldn't dare harm her. She glared at the elderly, perhaps 70+ old man of silver hair and beard and donned in black robes, for a moment in silence and decided just to make sure.
You know whom I really am Count, she sent to him.
Why of course, Darth Lady Baynetta, he replied, mockingly confirming her assumption.
She then spoke. "You're holding a Jedi Knight; Obi-Wan Kenobi. I'm formally requesting that you hand him over to me now."
Dooku allowed a sarcastic smile. "We don't recognize the Republic here Senator. But if Naboo were to join our alliance, I could easily hear you plea."
Amidala was disgusted. "And if I don't join your rebellion...?"
"The New Republic can not be fixed milady. It is time to start over."
"I know of your treaties with the Trade Federation," she stated. "The Techno Union, all others Count. I will not give up all I have fought and served for and betray the New Galactic Republic."
Yet anyway.
"Thank you for your cooperation. I've done all I can for you."
"I'm sure," she said shortly, bringing herself to a stand.
"You and your Jedi protector here," Dooku said nodding to Anakin "will go on trial for breaking and entering into Geonosis in the hour."
Padme allowed a nasty laugh as he then gestured to the guards and they started to drag them off.
She and Anakin were each thrown into their own separate cell, and as she didn't have anything else better to do, meditated and had is so she'd come to within the hour.