two chapters in one day wow! vaca next week so i'm not sure how often i'll get to write and post.
so Soniee finally gets to get this over with and get home... maybe

It was a race through the halls of the senate building to reach the door to Padme's repulsorpod in time for the session to begin but just as they had rounded the last bend they were met by an unexpected retinue surrounding Palpatine himself.

"Chancellor." Padme bowed her head gracefully in acknowledgement.

Soniee looking nervously back and forth between them, followed her lead.

"Ladies." He smiled warmly but there was still something unnerving about him. Soniee couldn't place the sensation and pushed it out of her mind. Surely it was only the anxiety over meeting such a great leader. "I'm so glad I caught you before you entered the chamber. This must be Miss Ordo."

"Yes, S-sir, Chancellor." she stuttered.

He reached out for her hand which she offered in return, and bent to kiss it genteelly. When his lips touched her skin she received a static shock. "Enchanted." And for just a moment there was a flash of gold in his eyes. He let go of her and stood erect once more. "I'm sure you have prepared an excellent presentation for us today. I'm a little disappointed that it won't be necessary."

"It won't be..." Soniee repeated.

And Padme asked. "You mean that the Republic is already prepared to send aid to Mandalore?"

"I mean that no aid is needed." Palpatine gestured benevolently, continuing to smile. "I have just spoken to the Prime Minister and it seems that the threat is over. The Deathwatch has been eliminated and Sundari is at peace once again. Mandalore may retain it's neutral stance with no interference from the Republic."

It sounded wonderful, especially hearing it in the regal voice of the Galactic Chancellor, but something was still bothering Soniee.

She was almost afraid to ask. "You said you spoke to the Prime Minister?"

"Yes, yes. Prime Minister Almec has the capitol well in hand now."

"Almec?" Soniee suddenly felt faint.

A hand reached out to steady her and she looked up into a pair of blue eyes. "Are you alright?"

"Yes. I'm fine. A bit of a shock that's all." She nodded.

"Miss Ordo, may I introduce, Senator Lux Bonteri." Palpatine's smile seemed only to widen.

"It's very nice to meet you." Lux stepped back and gave her a polite bow.

The response automatically sprang from her lips. "The pleasure is mine."

"Well now." The Chancellor leaned back, hands clasped with an air of accomplishment. "With the mentoring of veterans like Senator Amidala and the encouragement of our young Mister Bonteri here, I'm sure Miss Ordo will do quite well on Coruscant."

Soniee's eyes snapped to Palpatine's face. "I'm sorry?"

"Oh no, I am sorry, I had yet to tell you. Prime Minister Almec knew of your eminent graduation from the Royal Academy of Government and expressed his wish to me that you should stay on as his representative to the Galactic Senate."

"Congratulations," said Lux somewhere beside her.

Padme finally spoke too, "It is quite an honor."

"But I didn't ask for this." Soniee protested. "I just wanted..."

"Humility as well." Palpatine chuckled but then grew serious. "Now we must make our way into the chamber. I don't want to keep Admiral Tarkin waiting. We must see to this Temple business. Such a shame." He shook his head sadly. He stepped out with his followers at his heals but then stopped again.

"Mister Bonteri," the Chancellor added. "Would you be so kind as to escort, Miss Ordo into the chamber? I think she might be more comfortable being attended by someone closer to her own age."

Lux glanced at her apologetically and then bowed politely to the Chancellor. "Yes, Sir. I would be honored."

"Ah the passions of youth." Why did he have to use that word? "Wouldn't we all part with a pile of credits to have their vitality again?"

A few of the senators and advisors around him chuckled and then walked on toward the great rotunda.

Padme touched her arm gently. "I should be going too. Will you be alright?"

"I'll be fine." She glanced over at Lux. "Guess I don't have to address them after all." She shrugged.

"We'll talk about this as soon as the session is over." Padme gave her a quick hug and then disappeared behind the door to her own repulsorpod.

After a few moments of silence Lux ventured. "Sorry about that. Not sure why some people feel the need to couple everyone off."

"It's not just that." Soniee turned and sighed. "I thought I'd be able to say my piece and then go home."

"You're from Sundari?"

She nodded. "Grew up on Concord Dawn but yes, before all this I was a student at the Academy."

"I was in Sundari once." He smirked. "Afraid I caused some trouble there."

Soniee bit her lip. "I remember. I was volunteering as a page for the peace talks. But, I think you had a valid reason. Hadn't your mother just died? I'm so sorry."

He nodded, lost in a memory. "Don't know what I would have done if Ahsoka hadn't followed me out of there. I might have been with the Deathwatch who came back to attack your city."

She wasn't sure exactly how those things were connected but she grasped on to what she did know. "Ahsoka's good at that, saving people."

"You know her?" he asked and his face brightened.

Soniee smiled. "She taught a class at our academy once and I just saw her yesterday."

"Ahsoka's here on Coruscant?" He glanced over her shoulder as if he expected the Togruta to suddenly run up the hall.

"She and Master Skywalker are investigating the Temple bombing. Or they were." She frowned. "It sounded like one of the issues on the senate floor today was something about removing that from Jedi jurisdiction."

"Yeah. We should probably get in there and hear what they have to say about it."

"I guess so." Was this going to be her life now, listening to senate hearings and voting on things? Homesickness tugged at her gut.

"Come on." He smiled at her. "It's not so bad."