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Padme usually wasn't the type of person who was easily frustrated, yet right now, as of this moment, she felt about ready to lose her temper. All of the former senators were there and at first everything seemed to be going fine, but then everything flipped topsy turvy and all the people gathered started arguing. It seemed as if everyone there thought their opinion to be the right one. Nobody wanted to listen to anything anyone else had to say and if someone tried then voices were raised. Basically it was a huge waste of time and the former queen of Naboo could no longer take it. Her husband was out there right now putting his life on the line and they were standing around arguing. FInally she knew she had to say something or else she was going to crack.
"Are any of you even listening to yourselves?" Her voice rang out loudly above all the others who quickly quieted and turned their attention to the woman who had brought them all together. "You all claim to want peace for all the galaxy and yet you cannot even talk in a civil manner with each other. Right now my husband is out there along with a longtime friend and they are risking their lives, yet what are they risking them for if we cannot work together and figure out a plan best for everyone? If they succeed in the task they have taken upon themselves, we need to be ready because if we are not then the galaxy and everyone in it could end up in an even worse situation than they find themselves in now. Is that what you all want to happen?"
Senator Organa sighed and shook his head as he stepped forward from the group gathered. "You know that is not something we wish to happen Padme, but politics, as you well know, is complicated and this is not something we will be able to work out over night."
Another Senator Padme did not know, spoke up next. "No offense Senator Amidala, but it was your husband who helped cause this mess in the first place. Why should we trust you, a woman who stands by a known murderer? How are we to know for sure that you will turn on us the way your husband turned on the Jedi?"
Jar Jar Binks was quick to come to Padme's defense even though she was capable enough of taking care of herself. "Mesa thinks you should watch the way you speaks of Senator Amidala. Mesa has known her and young Ani very long time and mesa trusts her. She would not do anything to put mesa or you in danger; she cares and if she wasn't here right now we would still be under the rule of very bad dictator. Mesa will stand by her because mesa trusts her as should you."
Padme smiled thankfully in the Gungans direction before she continued speaking. "To be honest, I don't particularly care what any of you think about me or my husband for that matter, but I do ask you refrain from speaking badly about him when you do not have all the facts. what happened in the past is not the reason we are all gathered here today. We are here because all of us, despite the differences we may have with each other, care about what happen to the beings in this galaxy. We all took an oath to do what was best for all the worlds and those who occupy it. No matter the differences we may have, I would hope that everyone here agrees that Palpatine needs to be stopped."
"That is a given Padme, but what do you expect us to do? Anyone who stands up to him winds up dead." Organa stated with a deep frown. "You should know this better than anyone considering he sent people to kill you and has no idea you survived. If he thought for one second you still lived, well we all know he would do whatever it took to get you out of the way. I am not afraid to face death by standing up and doing right so if you have a solid plan I will stand by you, yet I want to make it clear I am not going to trade in one dictator for another. If Palpatine is taken down, we need to set up a system that will unite the government as well as the people. If you can bring me a thought out plan as to how we can do that, then I will do what I can to convince others to support your cause. I trust you Padme, I do, but times have changed. It's a dark time and one can never be too careful."
Yoda, who had been standing to the side listening in, decided it was time he spoke up. "A plan have we do if listening willing you are. In times dark as this, prudent it is stick together we do. to pull apart and let lies and half truths corrupt our minds, failure cause it will. Ask yourselves this you must, more innocent bloodshed can you handle on your shoulders? Give in to fear or fight against it, no in between there is. Choose you must and one chance receive you will. Willing to listen are you? If not then leave now you should. Choice up to you it is."
Everyone looked around as if they were waiting to see what the others would do before they made a final decision. It was Jar Jar who stepped forward first though Senator Organa was right behind him. "Mesa is willing to listen. Mesa represents the Gungans and we always do the right thing. If we must fight, then mesa will be standing front line. You saved mesa life and the life of mesas people and because of that mesa woes you a life debt and this is mesa way of using it."
TBC...