I do as Anakin instructed of me for the next several days. I feel conflict about staying quiet and disappearing when the Republic needs voices like mine to speak out now more than ever.
Regardless, there is too much at stake. Right now, I'm not only endangering myself, but also our baby and my colleagues. I would die for the Republic, but I cannot allow my unborn child or others in the Senate to be endangered on my behalf.
A wave of panic flushes through me when I receive word from Threepio that the Chancellor's office has transmitted a message through to my apartment. Mas Amedda, Palpatine's lackey, appears on the screen of my electronic handheld. He speaks robotically, merely informing me that my presence is requested for a special Session of Congress—I suppose I don't have much of a choice but to attend.
On the day of the Congressional Session, Dorme wakes me early. It takes me a large amount of effort to rise from my bed. This surprises me because I did not have a sound sleep by any means. Worry and anxiety about Anakin, the baby, and our safety in general have kept me restless and uneasy all night.
"You all right, My Lady?" She asks me.
"Yeah," I answer back quietly, feeling the baby stirring within my belly, "I'm fine. Just getting close, I suppose."
"Few more weeks." Dorme says to me with a smile for the purpose of exciting me and cheering me up.
However, I cannot return her smile for the life of me.
She dresses me in a large purple dress. The gown is very formal and bulky, which will be more than appropriate for the quality of the meeting. The gorgeous gown has a number of layers, all of which come in varying shades of purple, velvet fabric. Dorme completes the ensemble with a metal, circular headpiece, which compliments three ornate broaches that are pinned to my shoulder piece.
"That should do it." Dorme says, looking at me and admiring her skills with pride.
Midday approaches quickly, and just before the sun begins to dip down on the city's horizon, Captain Typho arrives at the veranda with a transport to take us to the Senate Chamber.
"I wonder what this will be about," Typho says to me, as we gently soar through the lines of streaming sky traffic. "Perhaps we'll finally get some knowledge about these attacks and whatnot."
I nod quietly.
"Or maybe now that the war is over, he'll announce the return of the emergency powers." He adds, but it seems more of an effort to restore hope and optimism in my somber face.
Our entourage arrives at the docking port and I exit the craft and march slowly with Jar Jar, Montee, and Captain Typho over to the entrance of the building.
"Imperial Guards," Typho whispers to me, "What business do they have greeting politicians at the door?"
As we approach them, they turn to me and ask, "Name and purpose."
Their request comes so robotically, I almost feel like I don't need to answer them. They seem so lifeless, so abnormal, that they couldn't possibly be interacting with a human being like myself.
"Senator Amidala," I answer, "I'm here to attend the Congressional Session. I received invitation from the Chancellor several days ago."
"Do you have identification?" The guard asks me through his solid, scarlet helmet.
"Yes," I reply, handing him the ID card that was issued to me and all the other delegates by the Department of Security at the start of the war.
"Very well, please proceed to your designated seats." The guard says, turning to the side, waiting to interrogate the next Senator.
"Seats—like this is some sort of show." I say under my breath to Typho. I don't think he hears, but it's irrelevant. I said it more for myself anyway.
We approach the designated pod. A picture of my face is on a large, floor length screen by the entrance doorway.
This is new: an advertisement of each Senator's faces by their appropriate seats, blatantly alerting anyone strolling the halls to where everyone—anyone—can be found. Something about seeing my face and the way my eyes stare to the nothingness of the screen's electronic space sends a chill throughout my body.
I hear a deep, grumbling voice booming from the depths of the chamber. Someone is speaking to the Senators. I know it's Chancellor Palpatine, but he sounds changed…aged.
"…and the Jedi Rebellion has been foiled." He says slowly.
I am only able to catch the end of his statement.
We all sit quietly in the pod. I focus my eyes down to his central podium. He stands between his two advisors, Mad Amedda and Sly Moore. He is wearing a heavy, scarlet robe, and a cloak's hood is placed over his head, concealing a large amount of his face.
Why? I wonder.
Suddenly a figure approaches me from behind and swoops into the seat adjacent mine.
Bail looks at me with a welcoming grin.
"I was held up. What's happening?" He asks, turning to look down at the Chancellor, who currently holds everyone's attention. The Senate Chamber is so quiet, so intently hanging onto his every word.
I clear my throat and reply to him softly, "The Chancellor has been elaborating on a plot by the Jedi to overthrow the Senate."
Almost immediately, Bail snaps back, "That's not true."
How does he know? How does anyone know?
"According to the HoloNet transcripts, he's been presenting evidence about it all afternoon." I say, handing him the handheld electronic reader.
He takes it and begins scrolling through the text furiously. I can tell he's not really reading any of it. I can tell he doesn't' want to.
"And the Senate will go along with it, just like they always do." He retorts sounding frustrated. He looks around at the thousands of pods containing Senators who sit at full attention, in awe of their damaged Chancellor.
"The remaining Jedi will be hunted down and defeated!" His growling voice promises throughout the Hall. Before barely finishing, the thousands who have gathered in the Chamber burst into applause. Do they know what they're applauding?
I look around and see the open, empty gazes that the nearby delegates have allowed to take over their faces as they listen to Palpatine speak.
"Any collaborators will suffer the same fate. These have been trying times, but we have passed the test." He says with vigor, and another booming round of applause follows.
"The attempt on my life has left me scarred and deformed. But I assure you my result has never been stronger." Palpatine bellows to the crowd, sounding as though he accomplished what no man was able to before him.
But, of course, these brainwashed members of the Senate thrive off of every word he says. Their cheers continue to ring through my ears. I look around at the chaos that has broken out in the place where order and structure are supposed to reign supreme. I refuse to clap even once.
Bail is looking around too. He looks perturbed. I worry he's about to do something rash—something that will get him into trouble.
"The war is over. The Separatists have been defeated, and the Jedi Rebellion has been foiled. We stand on the threshold of a new beginning." He says, looking up the ceilings of the Hall.
For the first time I catch a far glimpse of his face. From what I can barely see underneath that shrouding hood, he looks pale. His skin is as gray as the Senate pods, and his hands, held out in front of him, look just as withered. What actually happen to him that night?
I shake the thoughts from my head before they have a chance to enter. Truthfully, I don't want to know. I don't want the answers because I won't be able to accept them. I don't want to think that Master Windu and the Jedi Order are all traitors who have plotted against the Chancellor, Senate, and Anakin. However, I don't want to believe that Palpatine is about to stand here taking credit for ending the war and being the victim, either.
"Well, this is the moment where we discover if he intends to return the Republic to democracy." I say to Bail, raising my eyebrows and turning back down to listen to my former friend and colleague.
As the claps die down, Palpatine looks out over his army of Senators. I can tell his next words will be crucial. This really is the moment our cause has been waiting for all this time. Will he stick to his word? Is he even thinking of Senators like Bail and me right now?
"In order to ensure the security and continuing stability, the Republic will be reorganized into the first Galactic Empire—for a safe and secure society." He says, his voice could probably be heard throughout the galaxy.
My mouth drops open in disbelief. I feel heat behind my eyes. Everything we've worked for—everything we've tried to do and preserve—means nothing now. It's all over. Our cause has failed and we will surely suffer consequences. I feel a black hole opening in my stomach, swallowing my heart and insides into its empty, cold abyss.
"An Empire that will continue to be ruled by this august body, and a sovereign ruler, chosen for life. An Empire, which I assure you, will last for ten thousand years. An Empire ruled by the majority…ruled by a new constitution." He continues, promising things that are so corrupt, so authoritarian, only the most brainwashed group of Congress would accept it and listen to him without objecting.
I shake my head and turn to Bail, utterly revolted, disgusted, with the abomination of creatures I call my colleagues.
"So this is how liberty dies, with thunderous applause." I spit in a soft voice. Despite the blaring chants and cheers from the blind, brainwashed Senators, I know Bail has heard me. I can see it in his eyes when he looks at me, then down to his hands.
"We cannot let this happen." He says back, and moves to stand up.
But I stop him before anyone notices that he is about to rise.
"No! Bail, no. Not now! There will be a time." I say to him.
He takes his seat again, but leans into me.
"Padme, if we don't do something now, there will be a newly issued Empire. We've worked so hard. We've done so much. We cannot give up now that he's gone this far with this power."
I can barely hear him over the chants and applause, but I reply with more warnings.
"No. Bail now is the most important time for us to be quiet. We have to stop this. We have to be good Senators and sit in our seats and clap for the Galactic Empire. Vote in support of his power; vote to make him the Emperor. You have to, no matter how much it kills you. It's the only way to get your name off of any suspicion lists and in the clear."
I cannot believe I'm saying these words. They come out so bitterly, I feel as though I taste acid.
Bail looks at me with the most dumbfounded expression. But the cheers continue to ring on, and I find an opportunity to explain more.
"Bail, don't you see what's happening? Fang Zar has been arrested and executed for treason. Terr Taneel has been arrested and will be interrogated too. Palpatine is using the Petition as a list of traitors. We'll all be submitted for questioning if we act now. Vote in support of all of this. Clear your image. Tell Mon Mothma and the others to do the same before we all suffer the same fate. Make them suspect nothing. There will be a time to fight back, but it's not now." I explain to him.
He studies my face for a long moment. I know he sees the worry in my eyes.
"Fine. Then once all of this settles down, you and I will return to putting a stop to all of this." He adds, almost asking for my partnership.
I turn back to the audience of Senators, jumping out of their seats, cheering at supersonic volumes for their new Emperor, who stands at his podium, with his white hands raised to the ceiling as if he is some sort of deity—a savior, coming to the galaxy to rescue us all.
I think of Bail's request—of a time when we can resume our discussions of going against his rule. I wonder when it will come. I do not give him a reply. I can't. I can't guarantee him anything right now. I can't even guarantee l will live long enough to see it.