Chapter 31 - To Friendship

I stay in bed a while longer, watching the sky turn darker and darker as the hour grows later. My eyes droop ever so slightly, unwilling to stay open in the lingering heat of my room. It's so comfortable, and cozy.

Eventually, I know I have to get up and eat. But I've got all this extra food, with which I have no idea what I should do. Several different dishes, a bottle of sparkling wine, and a large dessert cake, that by myself, I might eat in a month. I lay all these dishes across the table, and run my fingers through my hair. The time is 10:00 hours.

Suddenly, my communicator beeps. I press the button, and a small hologram of Bail Organa appears in front of me. He's dressed casually, in a thin shirt and baggy pants. I'm dressed similarly, in a clean nightgown that barely covers my breasts and falls all the way to the floor. Overtop I wear a deep red shawl that Anakin bought for me once.

"Good evening, Padmé," Bail smiles. "I've just returned from Christophsis. You wouldn't happen to have any extra dinner you could share, would you?"

"As a matter of fact," I grin, "I do. Take your wife with you, and we'll have some dinner."

He lets out a sigh of relief. "Thank goodness. I thought I might have to go out for dinner. I'll see you in a few minutes."

I laugh as he presses the "end call" button and his hologram flickers out of existence. It's been a while since I've had dinner with bail. He and I have always been close friends, ever since I joined the senate. And his wife is just as lovely. As the reigning queen of Alderaan, she doesn't get much time to see her husband, but whenever they're around each other it's like an electric current is flowing between them, that nothing can separate.

They arrive within a few minutes, bail still in the comfortable shirt and pants, and Breha, his wife, in a long flowing nightgown that covers her from neck to toe. It's sewn from silk and lace, and her arms are exposed to the cool night air.

"Breha!" I wrap the woman in a warm embrace. "It's been too long!"

"It certainly has," she breathes, pulling me just a bit closer.

"When did you get here?"

She shrugs, and gestures to Bail. "His transport picked me up, so the same time as him."

"Is Jar Jar here," Bail asks, almost afraid of my answer.

"No, he's out at the moment."

Bail lets out a sigh of relief and smiles. "Let's eat, I'm starving."

We move to the dining room, and I guide Breha to a proper chair. She smiles as I pull it out and then push it back in. I remember the oddities of being royalty. Its too bad she can't get out of it after four years.

"You cooked so much," Bail exclaims. "Did your company not show up?"

"Oh they came, but in the midst of our discussion, the meal was quickly forgotten."

He nods and begins to laugh. "Sounds like an eventful night."

"It certainly was."

"And its not over yet," Breha smiles, lifting her glass. "A toast, to friendship!"

Bail an I lift our glasses and clink them together ceremoniously. "To friendship!"

oOo

"This situation is impossible," Senator Horox Ryyder exclaims. "The Banking Clan must be persuaded to consider a treaty with the Republic! If not, we will be bankrupt within a month!"

A low hum falls over the senate room, the first I've heard in a while, as all the senators contemplate their assets together. I know I should step forward and offer my services, but that might mean a chance encounter with Senator Clovis. I don't know if I'll be able to handle that kind of situation.

I can feel their eyes turning to me. I'm usually the one sent to go on dangerous missions. Perhaps its because of my involvement in the battle of Geonosis, or the time when I was Queen, but the senate has come to rely on my to do their dirty work. I can feel myself about to cave, and offer myself as a negotiator.

It stays this was for a few moments longer, before I finally break the silence.

"I volunteer myself as an ambassador to the Banking Clan. I am confident I can convince them to pursue an agreement with the senate."

Its almost like there is a simultaneous intake of breath, a gasp of relief when I finish speaking.

"Thank you, Senator Amidala," the chancellor smiles. "If there are no objections, the motion will carry."

I glance back at Dormé, my maid, and she nods.

"The Galactic Senate thanks the Senator from Naboo for her time, and wishes her a safe journey."

"Thank you," I bow. "I will not fail."

oOo

I leave the senate room in a hurry, my hands clutching the fabric of my gown as I speed-walk through the halls. My shoulders shake and shudder, fear seeping into my very core.

Breathe, I tell myself, you can do this.

"Senator Amidala," a familiar voice calls from behind me.

I drop my skirt immediately, wheeling around to see the Senator from Chandrila, Mon Mothma.

"Mon," I sigh, wrapping my arms around her in a comforting embrace. "Thank goodness you're here!"

"It was very brave of you to volunteer your services," she says, squeezing me back. "But I fear for your life. Don't you remember the last time you had a run-in with Senator Clovis?"

"If you are referring to the stalking incident, that was years ago, and I had it dealt with."

"I know," Mon confesses, "I just worry about you."

I smile. "Its kind of you to think of me. But I'll be alright. I can take care of myself."

She nods. "Don't get into too much trouble, will you?"

"Of course," I tell her. "You can count on me."

"Senator," the chancellor calls from behind me, "I have something for you that may aid you on your mission."

I turn and smile. "Thank you," I say, as he hands me a small device.

"This should lead you to a much more reliable route through the sector, and there is a bit of information that may help in your investigation."

"I was under the impression that this was a diplomatic mission!"

"You can never trust the banking clan. Not really."

I nod. "Thank you. You can count on me"

oOo

"Are you sure this is a wise decision," the golden-plated droid asks from the back of the cockpit.

"It could be a bit reckless, but I know you can handle it, 3PO." I switch on the ship, and hear the engines purr. "We'll be in and out of there in no time."

I lift the ship off of the ground, and smile as I feel that surge of freedom that I always get when I fly. 3PO switches himself off behind me, leaving me in the endless silence of space. Its mesmerizing to watch the stars pass. They flicker in and out of existence, twinkling against the endless black canvas they're painted on. I take a deep breath, enjoying the absolute and complete isolation.

There's only one thing that could make this better.

I wonder what he's doing? If he's watching over Ahsoka properly, or if he's ignoring her. I hope he's acting like a father, just as Obi Wan did before him. She must look up to him now, and he'll have to set a good example.

It's a bit of a long way to Scipio, the home of the Banking Clan. I settle in for a long ride, leaning back in my chair and trying to keep my eyes open.

Suddenly, the ship begins to shudder. 3PO reactivates and goes into panic mode.

"My lady, are you sure the information from chancellor Palpatine is reliable?"

"Yes," I tell him, "it was secretly given to him by the supreme executive of the banking clan himself. If they leave the separatist alliance, it will go a long way to shortening this war." I spot the small planet appearing in the distance.

"We're approaching the system now."

Suddenly, a large hunk of metal appears before us, humming with electricity and life.

"My goodness!" C-3PO exclaims.

"This isn't right! That's a droid warship," I panic. "We're in the middle of a battle!"

I jump to action, quickly serving to miss the large ship ahead. My communicator beeps, and I quickly press the accept button.

"Naboo cruiser, identify yourself," a familiar female voice demands.

"This is senator Amidala."

"Padme?" Anakin begins to panic. "What are you doing out here?"

"I was sent on a special mission," I explain. "The senate was told the banking clan wanted to negotiate a treaty!"

"Get out of there as fast as you can," Anakin orders.

Suddenly, the ship begins to shake and shudder, and my heart drops into my stomach.

"Have we been hit," 3PO asks.

"I'm afraid it's much worse than that."

"Padme, what's happening," Anakin worries, his eyes flitting around as he searches for the source of our distress.

"I'm being pulled inside the droid cruiser by a tractor beam." I shake my head. "I will not be made a separatist bargaining chip. Continue your attack. You must destroy this monstrous ship!" My communication cuts out, jammed by the droids.

C-3PO almost shudders in fear. "It does not look safe out there, my lady."

I take a deep breath, feel myself shaking. "I see now this whole thing was a trap, and I'm afraid I walked right into it."