AN: So this is the last chapter before we get into the events of RoS and that's going to be interesting. That means that our two favorite Jedi make their first appearance in this story Saturday. I can't wait! This chapter was a critical point because we get a lot of what I call "rationalization for justification" (hence the title of this chapter) from Padmé in here. That's all I'll say.

Read, enjoy, and review!

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Chapter Four

Rationalization for Justification

Queen Tyisha's words bothered Padmé more than she thought they would. She would have liked to say that the woman was wrong, that democracy would prevail and the senate would not fail them when it came down to it. But the fact of the matter was Tyisha had just thrown in her face what Padmé had been overlooking in naïve faith that good would prevail, that humanity would win out. Perhaps she sometimes underestimated the greed of the senate and it pained Padmé to admit that Tyisha was right. The majority of the senate was run by self-interest groups, corporations and alliances, who did trade with different systems. And if that weren't the case, it was filled with members whose affiliation changed depending on which way the wind blew. Rarely was there any interest in the common good of the people anymore.

But she was an idealist. She wanted to change that. She wanted to eliminate the gridlocks and the corruption. When she was younger, she used to believe that the Senate held too much power, power that they never used because they could never agree what was in the best interest of the people. It was one thing to abuse power, but to not use it because the components of the body couldn't agree was just as bad, if not worse. She remembered trying to convince Anakin that the senate did sit down and discuss the issues and agree what was in the best interest of the people and though it hadn't been a lie, it was rare that the overwhelming majority agree. Not only that, the issue that warranted such a reaction were far and few in between.

But that was okay. At least people had a voice. All the Republic needed was a good leader to help push a better agenda, an agenda for the common good. The corruption of the senate could be fixed, eliminated even, if they appealed to its leaders correctly… Couldn't it?

She believed it could, but then Palpatine's words came to her head.

We'll call it a test to see if they've learned anything in the course of this war.

And Padmé decided that's what it would be as she sat in the her pod a few days later, her hand on her abdomen as she put her full faith in the body of the Senate to do the right thing, to spend money, time, and resources into running the Separatists forces off Maya and restoring its economy. But her faith slowly diminished as she heard the arguments. Maya served no strategic advantage to the war. There was no rare sentient culture or people there. It would cost too much money and it would split the focus of the army. The Separatists might take advantage of it. It was too risky. Maya may have to be a project for a later date, after the war. But Padmé knew it was likely Maya wouldn't exist after the war if it continued at this rate. So Padmé steeled herself to get ready for the results she knew were coming. She wasn't disappointed. The majority had ruled against Maya.

Padmé was glad that the issue had taken up the whole session as she felt her emotions start to get the best of her. But even if that hadn't been the case, Padmé doubted she would have stayed there. This was all too much for her. What did this mean? What had happened to democracy, put in place to keep people's own self interest from ruling the galaxy instead of the good? What happened to it? She pondered this as she sat in the public fresher and let her tears fall.

Nothing happened to democracy, a voice in her head said. It still exists. It's just corrupt.

Padmé couldn't believe it. An entire people, sentenced to death…

Her com went off, but she ignored it, at least until she heard the message left on it. The chancellor wanted to see her.

She sighed and pulled herself together. Padmé wasn't in the mood to tell the truth. She wanted to go home and rest, take a few days off and get herself together. But she figured the chancellor would only give her another house call if she didn't come and that was the last thing she wanted.

By the time Padmé got there, the mask of Senator Amidala was firmly set.

"Your Excellency," she said with a nod of her head.

Palpatine nodded to her before looking at his guards and saying, "Leave us."

They promptly did so leaving Padmé and her former mentor.

"You can drop the act Padmé," he said to her. "I know this is bothering you."

Padmé didn't want to, but there was something about the way he said it that made her want to pour her heart out. She had no one else to talk to. Her family wouldn't understand and she wouldn't burden them with her political problems and Anakin was still away, fighting in a war that Padmé saw no end to.

"I can't believe it," she finally said as she sat down. "I don't understand it. The senate has sentenced an entire planet to death."

"Yes," Palpatine said. "Just like they sentenced Naboo. It was only your swift action that saved your home planet."

With startling clarity, Padmé realized that this was the second time the senate had condemned a peaceful planet to death. Her people had been dying and they hadn't believed her claims. Why would she exaggerate or make up something like that?

"This government needs swift reform if we are to maintain peace at the end of this war, if we want the people to keep their freedom and basic human rights without the senate interfering," Palpatine said to her.

"Majority rules," Padmé said bitterly for the first time hating the term.

"Even if the majority is wrong?" Palpatine said turning to look at her. "Surely you don't completely believe that."

"That's what democracy is. By the people, for the people."

"I think the senate has forgotten the 'for the people' part. Besides, sometimes you've been the sole voice of opposition on things you truly think are wrong for the people, know are wrong for the people yet certain leadership is trying to stay in power, keep money, uphold a reputation. Do you really think that majority should rule?"

Padmé didn't reply immediately. She was silent for a long time before she finally did speak, "Maybe not. But that's only because the wrong people have been elected to represent because they've tricked the people into thinking they have their best interest or maybe at first they did and sold out. Then when someone goes against the majority when the majority is wrong, they're made to look like they're the rebel."

"And it's that majority that just took away an entire planet's right to live," Palpatine said grimly.

Padmé couldn't find a way to argue with it. Palpatine was right.

"I agree. The republic needs reform. But how?"

"I have some ideas. I figure I may as well do something with these cursed emergency powers since I have them. I think the senate needs to be monitored."

"Meaning?" Padmé asked.

"I don't think the senate deserves to have direct control over their planets, not like this. I propose that just temporarily we hand over control to governors I'll personally appoint."

Padmé was alarmed by the suggestion, but she didn't feel as alarmed as she thought she should have been. Still, she asked, "You'll take away planet's rights to choose their representatives?"

"No. Of course not. It's just a temporary measure while we try to reform the government and end this war. As soon as that's done and after the senate has proven themselves worthy to rule the people who elected them, we hand them back control," Palpatine explained and then added grimly. "If we don't act quickly, while we can take the opportunity and do something about it, I'm afraid Maya won't be the last planet the senate sentences to certain doom and if not that anarchy and denial of basic human needs."

At that moment, the screams of the woman in labor rang in Padmé's head. It was agonizing and they rang of death. Death in childbirth was almost practically eradicated. It was rare to hear about it anymore, but would it come back in the awful aftermath of this war and as a result of the senate's error of forgetting the needs of humanity because of war? What shape would the galaxy be in after this war?

Padmé rubbed her head. She had a headache. The day's events had left her conflicted, confused, and suffering from more than a little heartache for not only the citizens of Maya, but all the citizens in the Republic affected by this war, her and Anakin included. Did she want her child to inherit this mess of a galaxy? To clean up after the mess its parents had made. Padmé didn't have to think about it. This government, this galaxy, needed reform if she didn't want her children to inherit a big mess and she would do everything in her power to make sure they didn't.

"What do you need me to do to help?" she finally asked.

"I need you to be my eyes and ears when I'm not around. Don't act any different than you normally would. You goal is still the same, to restore democracy and freedom and end corruption. I'll be in contact with you if anything else changes."

Padmé nodded as she got up and started to leave the office. He told her to get some rest as they both had a long fight ahead of them. She greeted him as she nodded in agreement. But she couldn't help but think that Palpatine was wrong. Her goal wasn't the same. Now it wasn't just the Separatists who were her enemies. It was now the very senate itself. In order to save democracy, she had to fight it.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Good to have you over Bail, Mon," Padmé said to her long time colleague and the young senator. "I've been so busy lately it seems like I just haven't had the time to do much of anything much less have lunch with two friends."

Threepio brought in refreshments and sat them on the coffee table before going back into the kitchen.

"Yes," Mon replied. "We've noticed."

Padmé became serious, the smile disappearing from her expression.

"Something tells me this isn't just a friendly visit," Padmé said bluntly. "What's going on?"

"Have you heard?"

"Heard what exactly?" Padmé wondered.

"Palpatine," Bail said grimly. "He's instated governors in the sectors to monitor the activities of the senators and temporarily given them direct control until the war is over and corruption is eliminated."

"You've been friendly with him lately. One would think he'd have told you," Mon pointed out.

Padmé kept on her mask. The fact of the matter was that she had known. She knew long before anyone did in fact. Palpatine told her about it weeks ago and personally explained his reasoning to her.

"He did mention eliminating corruption," she gave.

"And?" Bail asked her expectantly.

Padmé realized to be normal she should be outraged at this notion, but things had changed. She understood now.

"I think that perhaps this will be a wakeup call for the senate and misuse and abuse of powers that have taken place during this war. The people have been forgotten in the name of protecting them. Maybe now the senate will realize that democracy is being snatched away from them, and they'll put up a fight instead of going along with it like they always do," she said carefully.

"You say that as though you like the idea," Mon said to her.

Padmé replied indignantly, "Of course not!" and then continued, "I'm just saying that we can use this as an opportunity to rally the support of the senate and force an end to some of the corruption that's run rampant. This isn't good by any stretch of the imagination. But we can use it to our advantage."

"Of course," Mon said quickly. "I'm sorry for misunderstanding you."

"You're exactly right Padmé. We can use this to rally the senate and petition to get Palpatine out the office. If anything, he's done nothing but prolong this war and used the fear of a senate to take absolute control," Bail said. "I've talked to some other likeminded senators and if we can come up with something, they're willing to be on board."

"What did you have in mind?" Padmé asked.

"A petition to give directly to Palpatine so he'll know that there are people in the senate who don't agree with this," Mon replied.

Padmé nearly scoffed, but didn't. "Palpatine is well aware of who opposes him and this war."

"He'll be even more aware if we can get enough signatures to prove it," Bail said to her.

Padmé pressed her lips together. They didn't get it. Palpatine wasn't the enemy here. They could put him out of power and elect a new chancellor, but what happened when the senate put another leader just like him in if he were as evil as they said. The senate needed the reform. They gave Palpatine his powers and if he was misusing them, it was only their own fault.

"Don't you agree," Mon said when Padmé didn't say anything.

Padmé blinked. "Oh. Yes… Of course. I'm sorry. I'm just a little tired."

It wasn't a lie. Padmé was exhausted as she got to the end of her second trimester. Her focus wasn't as great as it had been before her pregnancy.

"Are you sure you're all right Padmé?" Mon asked in concern. "You seem different."

Padmé forced herself to sit up straight at that point. "Different?"

"Yes, ever since that day. When you fainted," Bail pointed out.

Padmé understood the implication. "You think it has something to do with Palpatine?"

"Padmé."

"No. It's okay. I understand." And Padmé certainly did. She understood that they were worried Palpatine was manipulating her somehow, bringing her over to his side. No matter how good Padmé now knew his intentions were, Palpatine knew how to play his cards to his own self interest. He was charismatic, able to invoke sympathy and understanding. It hadn't been nearly as bad as Padmé originally thought, nowhere near as bad as some of the senators who had sold out to their own interest, but still Padmé had no intention of being played. She would help Palpatine, but she would also tread with caution even if she was starting to see his point of view. She would not be used. She would do this on her own terms.

"Don't worry," she said determined. "I refuse to be anyone's puppet. But if we're to pull this off, we need someone to keep a close eye on him."

Bail and Mon nodded in agreement as they continued to talk it over. When they finally left, Padmé let out a breath she didn't know she had been holding. They were gone. She knew she was doing what she had to do, pretending she agreed with their ideology on how to save the republic and end the war. But Padmé couldn't help but feel she was betraying them somehow, not telling them what she had agreed to help Palpatine do. Maybe… Maybe…

Padmé's hand flew to her midsection as she felt her child move inside her womb and with that, she hardened her resolve. No. Bail and Mon thought Palpatine was taking democracy from them, but the senate had done that themselves and Palpatine didn't believe they could be trusted with complete control again. In fact, the people themselves didn't trust it and to be honest, Padmé was starting to feel the same way. They wouldn't understand that she was attacking this problem in a different way. This wasn't betrayal. In the end, they would thank her for this, even if she had to seemingly betray them in the process.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

AN: Going out of town this weekend and I'll have no internet… But I will have my phone so you'll get your update all the same.

Hope you enjoyed. Review Please!