V
I set aside my worries surrounding Anakin's nightmare when I receive an invitation to Senator Bail Organa's office several days later. The invitation is both unexpected and strange. Bail and I have always been close and on friendly terms. We've shared similar ideals and viewpoints on a number of issues in the Senate. However, an invitation to his office for an afternoon meeting was not something that was casual for us as colleagues especially that he had requested I present myself alone. Throughout my career, I've received my fair share of faulty invitations sent by assassins or bounty hunters, especially since the chaos of the war. This fills me with worry and suspicion.
Dorme dresses me in a heavy, flowing dark purple cloak sizeable enough to hide my secret pregnancy. The intricately beaded and embroidered design makes the gown's sheer size seem formal and acceptable, rather than excessive or suspicious. My hair is also designed in intricate twists held in place by a headpiece that stretches across my head.
I prepare myself for whatever this meeting will entail as Captain Typho and two clone troopers escort me into a small taxi speeder and off into the streaming traffic lines headed towards the Republic Executive Building.
"You seem tense." Captain Typho says casually to me, smiling and looking out across the city.
"I'm worried. Senator Organa and I are colleagues, yes, but to be cordially invited for a meeting like this? I just don't know what this could be about." I reply to him.
Moments later, we are disembarking the taxi and I march my way by myself into the entrance halls, strutting down a series of corridors until I find the office marked for Senator Bail Organa.
"Ah, Senator Amidala! Glad you could make it." Senator Organa greets me at the door.
When I enter his mauve-hued office, I find a small gathering of various Senators sitting in a cluster of chairs and couches on the far right of the room. I see Mon Mothma sitting in a chair adjacent two others. On the couch that faces the chairs sits Senators Giddean Danu, Fang Zar, and Terr Taneel all dressed in their formal Senatorial robes. This brings me a sigh of relief, as my voluminous dressing now feels appropriate and fitting.
"Thank you. Hello, everyone." I say to the small company, gathering my dress and taking a seat in the chair on the far left, leaving the center chair for Bail.
"So, you're probably all wondering why I sent for you all so suddenly and cryptically." Bail begins, taking off his overcoat casually and setting it on his desk chair. He comes over to the open chair and takes a seat among us.
The several of us exchange weary glances back and forth, but continue listening to him as he explains himself.
"You see, Senator Mon Mothma and I decided to contact the few of you because you are all very passionate and dedicated to your beliefs and ideals in regard to the Republic."
"Can you explain any further, Senator?" Senator Danu replies gripping his chin with a firm, concentrated fist.
"Simply put, we believe that many recent events regarding the Congress have gotten a little…out of hand." Bail explains, searching for the right, safe words.
"We have noticed quite a bit of strange activity going on. Irrational decrees, continuing amounts of power being distributed to the Chancellor, and more. We know we are not the only ones noticing these drastic acts. That is why we called out to you." Mon Mothma explains softly.
Things are starting to fit together now. The speculation of this as a strange, Separatist setup is completely expelled. However, I was not expecting to be summoned to a secret meeting that would be commentary on recent acts of Congress.
There is a small moment of silence between all of us. No one reacts negatively to the meeting; however, none of us are quick to reply to either Bail or Mon Mothma.
It is Bail who speaks again, breaking the silence.
"We're just seeing a strange string of events that we feel go against many of the Republic's fundamental rights. We do not want to see this power shift get out of hand. I mean, now that he has control of the Jedi Council, the Chancellor has ordered governors to oversee all star systems in the Republic." He explains as his maidservant droid brings refreshments to the center table.
"When did this happen?" Fang Zar asks, speaking out for the first time.
"Well, that decree was posted this morning." Bail responds with an expression that puts emphasis on the purpose of this meeting.
"Do you think he will dismantle the Senate?" I ask the group, hoping to delve deeper into this conversation.
"Why bother?" Mon Mothma answers me with a look of hopelessness, "As a practical matter, the Senate no longer exists."
The group of us looks back and forth to each other for words of advice or comfort through this troubling issue. It is hard to accept the Senate being reduced to a level of irrelevancy.
Giddean Danu finally replies, "The Constitution is in shreds, amendment after amendment."
"We cannot let a thousand years of democracy disappear…without a fight." Bail responds, using a very cautious and reserved tone at the end of his statement.
"What are you suggesting?" Terr Taneel asks, though we are all thinking it.
"Suggesting? I apologize, I don't mean to sound like a Separatist." Bail defends softly, with raised hands and a serious expression.
"We are not Separatists trying to leave the Republic. We are Loyalists trying to preserve democracy in the Republic." Mon Mothma tries to clarify, looking at Bail for mutual agreement on the definition of their stance and what they are trying to represent.
I look to the three sitting on the couch before speaking.
"I cannot believe it has come to this. Chancellor Palpatine is one of my oldest advisors. He served as my ambassador when I was Queen." I reflect, still having trouble accepting that he is at the epicenter of this shift in democracy.
"Senator, I fear you have underestimated the amount of corruption that has taken hold in the Senate." Danu replies, clearly swayed and now in agreement with Bail and Mon Mothma.
Accepting this is still hard for me. I have worked with Palpatine for so long. He has taught me so much and has always kept my safety as priority. It pains me to think that after all that, I am now to see him as this corrupt leader that must be taken out of office before our democratic society becomes authoritarian.
"The Chancellor has played the Senate, as well. They know where the power lies and they will do whatever it takes to share in it. He's become a dictator. The Senate has made him a dictator." Mon Mothma elaborates on the tactics of the power-hungry nature of the majority of the Senate.
This makes sense. The Chancellor is not seen as a bad man to many people in the Republic. Most of the Senators adore him through all of the war and chaos. If seeking more power is his ultimate goal, the Senators will undoubtedly give it to him, and if he promises them more power in return, they will give him whatever he demands without question. This theory alone is chilling and fearful.
"This is why we cannot continue debating about this any longer." Bail begins. He rises from his seat and begins to pace the room. "We have decided to do what we can to stop it. Senator Mon Mothma and I are putting together an organization—"
But I stop him from continuing.
"Say no more, Senator, I understand. At this point I think some things are better left unsaid." I interrupt.
We all know what Bail was about to say. However, this can be considered an act of treason. Despite all of our agreeing comments, and how we feel on the issues, this is an informal meeting for something of this nature. Before we go talking of forming rebellion groups and going against the Chancellor, I think it is wise to keep some things from being blatantly said, just until we can form our group of trusted politicians who will be on our side.
Bail does not object and seems to agree with my decision to cut him off.
"Agreed. And so we will not discuss this with anyone. Without everyone in this group agreed?" He finished.
This is the moment of truth. This is where the six of us will either agree to keep this meeting confidential, or leak it to someone.
I see the other Senators take a moment to think about the gravity of the situation. Fang Zar strokes his wiry, white beard while he thinks on his position, and Terr Taneel and Giddean Danu look out the window to the cloudy skies to contemplate accepting this heavy secret.
My mind immediately goes to Anakin. He and Palpatine have always had a good relationship. Palpatine always kept a watchful eye on him during his training as an apprentice, and even through the war has guided him through recovery after his toughest and most stressful missions. Ever since having rescued him from Grevious's clutches, he's been spending more and more time with him, which has led to his strange appointment onto the Jedi Council.
The more I think about it, the more convincing Bail and Mon Mothma seem. If the Chancellor has the power to appoint Jedi onto the Council as he did with Anakin, what other appointments can he make? Who else can he send off to war? What else can he order that can change the course of everyday life for the Republic?
Maybe there does need to be a line drawn with how much power the Chancellor is being given. Maybe joining this group is not an act of rebellion, but a necessary job for someone like me who holds democracy and the preservation of natural and individual rights at the highest priority of my career and life. With voices like ours, we can surely rally enough Senators to our cause to rein in his excessive power that we gave him in the first place.
In a mere moment I feel fully supportive as a member of this group. However, the thought of keeping this all a secret from Anakin does trouble me. Perhaps there is a way I can let him in on the secret. After all, if any Jedi can get to the Chancellor with as much ease and conviction as we need it would be Anakin.
"Since we are still in the planning stages of where to go with our feelings and beliefs on the matter, we cannot stress enough the secrecy of not only this meeting, but our motives and thoughts as well. That means those closest to you—even famiy. No one can be told." Mon Mothma reiterates.
I feel a wave of uneasiness inside me. Keeping this a secret from Anakin will be harder than I can even imagine. I will hate having to keep this from him when I know he may be able to help us. However, there is nothing I can do. I have to give me word to this group. They trusted me enough to invite me here and let me in on their secrets. I owe it to them to keep it and not say a word, despite my deepest urges.
Once I've made my decision, I decide to speak up. I do not want to take too long. I do not want anyone to suspect that I have a reason to second guess hiding a secret from anyone.
"Agreed." I promise after a long, contemplative moment, becoming, for the first time, a rebellious politician, and a wife with a hidden secret.