Chapter 4 - Meet and Greet
The maidens wait for me in the formal dining room. Two guards accompany me to the hall, their eyes alert and focused. They both carry long rifles, intricately embellished, with gold moulding around the wood of the handle, and long golden stripes up the sides of the barrel. Their faces are sullen, almost angry.
I try to breathe evenly, but my heart beats out of my chest, nervous that someone will recognize me, that someone will notice my absence.
I'm so afraid.
The doors to the dining room swing open wide, and announcers alert my handmaidens that I'm arriving. They all look at me, their eyes wide with wonder and with fear.
My expression never changes, and their eyes follow me as I round the table to my place.
They all wear the coral dresses, made of satin, shining in the pale light. All of them stay completely silent, as the other leaders and officials begin their meaningless talk.
"Your majesty," the representative from Palatia begins, "we have met here tonight on the subject of the Gungan resistance in Palatia."
"What is it that you need," I ask. The resistance has been carrying on since before I was born, so I'm well acquainted with the enmity between the Naboo and the Gungans.
"The Gungans have broken through the barricade at Derisaé, and are making their way to our reserves at Mornine."
My heart falls for a moment, a disturbing new development. "Is there no way to seek a cease-fire with the Gungans?"
"No," the representative says. "They are too persistent, and have taken too many of our troops."
"Would they really refuse to send representatives for a conference?"
"Undoubtedly," he says, a grim look on his face. "We will have to mobilize troops to stop them."
"No. I will not let our people kill hundreds of Gungans without reason."
"But, your majesty-"
"My word is final, representative," I interrupt. "We will send a request for a cease-fire. Until then, we must regroup and fortify our ranks. Do not attack unless you first are attacked."
"Yes, your majesty," the representative pouts, angered his idea was disregarded.
"Is this all we are here to discuss," I ask, eager to have this over.
"No, your majesty," another noble person interjects. "We need to discuss the senator for the Naboo. You said you wanted the representatives to come forward with a candidate?"
"I did."
"We have decided on two final candidates, though one was more favoured."
"Tell me the names."
"The less favoured candidate is Liam Odonte, who had 26% of the vote, and the other is Sheev Palpatine, who had 74%."
Sheev Palpatine? Though he has been senator before and is the most experienced, he is clearly a man with only his best interests at heart. "I would prefer candidate Odonte, but it is clear that the decision is in favour of Candidate Palpatine. Therefore, we shall place Candidate Palpatine into the roll of Senator. However, Senator Lapis' term is not yet finished. We shall wait to instate him until Lapis has retired his position."
"Very good, your majesty," the noble person says, a wide grin on his face. "A toast to your health."
All the diners stand, and raise that glasses. "To Queen Amidala, may she be remembered in the reign of queens!"
They all take large sips of nectar, and and sit again, clearly ecstatic.
Sabé looks over at me, one eyebrow lifted. She must suspect something. I meet her gaze and stare back with the same intensity. She looks back now, trying to shake that feeling.
I'll have to talk to her later.
"Captain," one of the representatives says, "you said that there were eight maidens coming to dinner."
"There were," Typho says, "but one of them is ill and cannot attend dinner."
"How unfortunate," the representative says. "I take that she is just as beautiful as the rest of these lovely women."
"Representative-" I scold, "-these women are here as my protection, not for your enjoyment. Kindly keep your lecherous thoughts to yourself."
"Excuse me, your majesty," the representative chuckles awkwardly.
"Is something funny," Typho asks.
"No, sir," the representative says. "Nothing at all."
"Good."
oOo
After dinner, the representatives are taken away to their rooms, and the maids come with me to the parlor. All of them are completely silent as we walk through the twisting halls of the palace.
Typho opens the door for us, and waiting inside are three couches and one single chair, presumably for me. The maids make themselves comfortable on the couches, but I don't sit down. Instead, I stand among them, silent and proud.
"The Queen wishes to welcome you to the Naboo Palace," Typho begins. "It is very important to her that you are here. Ever since she heard about the project, she has been wanting to meet you."
"Please," I say, "introduce yourselves for me."
Each maiden stands up and introduces herself, monotonously and perfect. Sabé looks at me with a suspicious look as she says her name.
"What is the name of the one who is sick," I ask Typho.
"Padmé," he says, "and she wishes she could be here."
"I'm sure she does."
oOo
The next morning I wake early, and my maid helps me dress for the day, dressing me in a black dress made almost completely of feathers. It shines in the pale light of morning, and makes me feel even more regal than usual. She guides my body through the silken fabric, helping me dive into the expanse of heavy material.
Suddenly, the alarm begins to wail. The maid quickly puts my makeup on, and then I am escorted through the halls, briskly walking, carrying my skirt. My heart beats so fast my body doesn't know how to keep up, but somehow I keep my calm exterior. The guards who surround me breathe quickly, panting as they race through the halls with me in tow.
We run out of the palace, and into the second security bunker, a large durasteel structure hidden underground. The guards keep me under a watchful eye. Silently we wait for someone to arrive, to tell us what's going on.
Bang bang bang.
The door vibrates, and we all step back, just slightly.
"Let me in, it's captain Typho," a familiar voice tells.
One of the guards lets out a sigh of relief and opens the door.
The person who stands before us is certainly not captain Typho.
"Gotcha!"
A tall, grotesque changeling stands before us, a wide grin across his pale grey face. He holds a thin blaster, and aims it right at the foolish guard's forehead.
"Bye bye," he smirks, and pulls the trigger.
The guard's body flies backwards, his back arching and a low wail escaping from his mouth. The other guards quickly draw their weapons, but they're not fast enough.
The changeling shoots again and again, killing all of my other guards one after another.
When he's finished, I stand alone with him, surrounded by the bodies of my guards.
"You're coming with me, your majesty," the channeling orders.
I don't say anything, but widen my stance under my dress, making myself harder to drag.
"Don't bother struggling," the channeling says. "It won't work." He fiddles with the setting on his gun, and points it at me now.
"Wait," I say. "What is it you'll gain from killing me?"
"I'm not going to kill you. I'm bringing you to my employer so he can kill you."
"Who is your employer?"
"That's private information," he says. Then he pulls the trigger.
I watch as a circular beam of blue light races towards me, and feel my body slump to the floor.
Then, everything goes black.