Hi everyone, I'm alive, and I haven't given up on this. I've just been dealing with the biggest writer's block you wouldn't believe, and I've been busy with graduation and my new job. I'll admit I was a little nervous in getting back to writing this. It took me a few weeks to write this chapter out. I hope you guys will like it. Fair warning: I'm still not good at writing action scenes. Also, for those of you who get confuse over which Padme I'm talking about: in present tense I'm going to try to refer the older Padme as Lydonia, but in flashbacks she'll be referring herself as Padme. As for the Panakas: I'm going to have the older Panaka referred as Lieutenant, Captain Quarsh Panaka as Panaka, and Captain Typho as just Typho in case anyone gets confused on that.
Chapter 10
Why did these things always happen to Anakin? That's a question everyone had asked for as long as Anakin could remember. Just when he manages to escape one danger another one follows. That's what was going through Anakin's mind as he and Ferus fought Malorum in the streets of Theed before the battle moved up to the rooftops.
Because the roofs were built slanted, it made fighting Malorum much more difficult as Anakin worked to maintain his balance while fighting. Ferus seemed to fair better than Anakin did because he pressed his attack against Malorum. Anakin could sense the onlookers watching from below. He could sense their fear and awe at this spectacular fight of lightsabers as the men moved as if in a choreographed dance. However, this death defying dance was nowhere as easy as it seemed to be from down below as Anakin tried to figure a way for him and Ferus to get out of this alive.
This Malorum was good, better than Anakin had given him credit in the beginning. While Anakin and Ferus struggled, this guy seemed to balance himself as if he was made of air. Definitely on the same level as Ventress.
"You know," Malorum said as he blocked a strike from Anakin on his right. "My spy was the one to inform me of your little trip in this sector." He talked as if he were discussing the weather.
While Anakin had suspected it, to have it confirmed was another thing entirely that it nearly cost him his balance. He tried to center himself, calling on the Force to keep himself from falling and continue the battle. Maybe if they kept him talking they could discover more.
Ferus obviously had the same idea. "Why all this? For a comb? The Emperor doesn't have enough for it."
Anakin tried to cut Malorum off, but it seemed that whatever brashness the younger man had the other day was gone as he quickly moved from Anakin's sneak attack.
"Same reason Ryoo Thule had to die: to get everyone out into the light. Two birds, one stone."
He was toying with them Anakin realized. They had to get out of here before the Stormtroopers or bounty hunters caught up. He caught a glimpse of Ferus' face and saw the same realization. They had to find a way to escape, but how? By now every street surrounding them would be filled with Stormtroopers. His arm throbbed from that blaster bolt, and he knew Ferus' strength was waning the longer he continued.
Suddenly, Malorum made a swipe at Ferus' legs and he barely managed to move out of the way before he lost his footing and began to fall off the roof. On instinct, Anakin reached out with the Force to stop him before he completely fell off. Unfortunately, Malorum took the opportunity to swing at Anakin's neck. It was so close Anakin could feel the heat of Malorum's red lightsaber mere inches from his face where his own lightsaber blocked. He was forced to let go of Ferus, and he could see him holding desperate to the edge of the roof. Anakin bent backwards, letting Malorum's lightsaber slide off his. Somehow, he managed to retain his balance as he turned to face Malorum again. He could see Ferus regaining his footing before coming back to join the fight. Seeing the coming of his other opponent, Malorum quickly moved to block his attack, but Anakin was just as quick to slash his leg. Malorum screamed in pain, and he almost lost his balance, but surprisingly didn't. Hand over his wound, he glared at them with hatred burning in his eyes.
Anakin didn't expect the fierce Force shove, and neither did Ferus until they were flying off the roof at terrifying speed. Anakin felt his body land on a canopy, ripping through it before he landed in crates of fruit, followed by Ferus. Pain slammed through Anakin and he was sticky all over, but he was alive and so was Ferus. He could hear people screaming around him before he got up shakily on his feet. Ferus seemed to be better than him, grabbing his arm before dragging him away from the scene, shoving past terrified pedestrians before ducking into alleyways.
Now that he had mostly recovered from his fall, Anakin lead the way, feeling the Force guide him. He couldn't remember the exact way to the Lasara home, but if they could hide from the Imperials for just a little-
"Ani!"
All of a sudden Anakin stopped with Ferus nearly colliding against him. On his right where a sewer lid had been removed was the last person Anakin had ever expected to see again. "Jar Jar?"
The Gungan representative was motioning him to come. "Yousa hurry. Dey not find yousa in da sewa."
The event was so bizarre, but Anakin didn't have time to ponder before he was climbing in after Jar Jar with Ferus following him before sealing up the sewer. The three of them were still as they heard footsteps running above them before it was quiet again.
Jar Jar pulled out a glowrod, and for the first time, Anakin saw the happy Gungan he remembered as a boy. "Mesa so smilen to seein yousa!"
Anakin found himself smiling too. "Good to see you too, Jar Jar."
000{{*}}000
"Diary?" Dorme repeated.
They were hiding in Rabe's apartment above her dance studio. Rabe's husband must have been working at the palace which explained the emptiness in it. After changing into some fresh clothes, Padme had settled at Rabe's kitchen table with a cup of tea. Motee had commed them quickly to let them know that Anakin had escaped with Ferus, and they had passed the message that Padme had been found and was safe.
Now after realizing what Pooja had meant, Padme had discussed her theory with Rabe and Dorme. "Yes, I can't believe I didn't think about it before. It's so obvious now. When I became Princess of Theed my Grandma Winama gave me a diary to write down all my thoughts and told me that most politicians had one, including my grandfather and my great-aunt Padme. The first time my Grandmamma Ryoo showed me my aunt's comb, she admitted that my aunt used it to unlock her own diary. What better place to record secrets than your own diary?" Padme asked them. She could see her former handmaidens were skeptical, but the idea was plausible. Padme continued, "Before the election between Bon Tapolo and Reggie Costil, Queen Celestine, her council, and her security guards were killed in a bomb explosion."
Rabe and Dorme both nodded, remembering their history lessons. It had been one of Naboo's darkest events since the Gungan Wars until the Blockade, and what made it nightmarish was that nobody knew who did it. Theories had been made for decades with no proof as to who did it.
"My grandfather, Luke Naberrie and my great-aunt Padme Lydonia were among the victims killed in the bombing. Around that time my Grandmamma may have assumed the diary had been destroyed in it, but now…"
"You think it wasn't," Rabe finished for her.
Padme nodded. "Yes, I believe my great-aunt may have hidden it before her death, and now that I think about it, I think Lieutenant Panaka might know where it is, or at least some idea."
"Panaka?" Dorme asked, surprised. "Our Captain Panaka's father? Gre-Captain Typho's grandfather?"
"He was good friends with my great-aunt before she died. Maybe she entrusted him with it incase something happened to her, or maybe Pooja, and the Lieutenant may have found out during one of Pooja's memory lapses," Padme explained.
"But why would Palpatine wait till now to bring it all up?" Rabe asked.
Padme thought for a minute, her mind coming up with all kinds of different theories. She remembered Pooja telling her that her aunt knew secrets that could bring down the greatest families of Naboo. The Palpatines had been a noble family for as long as history could remember. Some said that they were possibly descended from the first royal family. Had her aunt known a secret so horrible it could ruin Palpatine even today? Maybe she was over speculating. Maybe Palpatine wanted her aunt's diary to control the families of Naboo. Maybe it was both. One thing was for certain, she could not let Palpatine get his hands on that diary.
She debated her theories with Rabe and Dorme. Both of them were uncertain that Palpatine would go to such trouble, but knowing from experience that a lot of Padme's ideas ended up being correct.
Her mind made up, Padme turned to Rabe. "Do you still have those special brooches from the old days?"
The brooches were recording devices Padme had used during her time as queen. When her terms had ended, each of her primary handmaidens had kept one or two for their services. The brooch Rabe had kept was a water sprite with blue and green gems, but behind it was a tiny device that would allow Padme to record what she needed it to.
With her new disguise of a thick, dark blue cloak, Padme, Rabe, and Dorme headed towards their destination. Padme had looked up Lieutenant Panaka's address to find him living along the edges of the Solleu River where he had been living on his own since his wife passed away. It surprised her, but then she remembered the stories Captain Panaka and Typho had told her of him. He had been caught in the bombing that had killed Queen Celestine and so many others, and had been one of the very few guards that had barely survived. It had been one of Padme's greatest fears during her years as queen and senator when her guards and handmaidens had sworn to protect her with their lives at any cost. If they didn't die in their line of duty, they could have been injured to the point of disability like Lieutenant Panaka and Pooja. How could Padme continue to live with that on her conscious?
Despite the Lieutenant's actions at her grandmamma's funeral the other day, Padme couldn't assume that the Lieutenant would automatically help her. After all, despite the years his son and grandson had served her, she had never spoken to him face to face, but she didn't believe he would turn her over to the Emperor.
The house that the Lieutenant lived in was nice, despite the overgrown weeds, and the need for a fresh layer of paint. Naboo made certain that all its veterans were well taken care of and provided for.
Padme was bracing herself to go up to the door when Rabe grabbed her arm. "Our Captain Panaka," she whispered.
Sure enough, Padme saw Captain Quarsh Panaka making his way towards the house from the east sidewalk. He hadn't noticed them yet, so Padme, Dorme, and Rabe quickly hid in the overgrown shrubs next to the house. Through the branches, Padme watched as Panaka made his way up the steps and rung the door chimes. He waited for a minute then rung again. There was no answer. Next, he started knocking on the door with his fist. Still no answer. Padme watched Panaka's expression become annoyed and angry before beating on the door much harder.
"GO AWAY!" a voice Padme could only believe to be the Lieutenant's roared from inside.
"Father! Open up!" Panaka yelled.
"I have no son! Get the kriffing hells off my property and go back to your master!"
Padme and her friends looked at each other in surprise.
"Father, I would prefer not to have this conversation outside where the whole neighborhood can hear. So let me in or I'll blast my way in!" Panaka threatened.
It took a couple of minutes, but then Panaka was let in.
Padme turned to Rabe. "Help me up." Getting on her shoulders, Padme peeked through the window to find the Lieutenant sitting beside a fire. She noticed empty bottles of Corellian whiskey beside him, and realized that he was most likely grunk. Panaka seemed to be yelling at him over something. Taking out her brooch, she pressed it against the window glass and was able to hear what was being said.
"-not even 1500 hours and you're drunk off your ass! What's worse is your behavior yesterday in front of the Emperor himself!" Panaka yelled at his father. "I am about to become Governor of the Chommell Sector, and I cannot allow my own father to behave treasonously!"
Padme flinched as she listened. What was this about Panaka becoming governor? In the last months of the Republic, the Chancellor had planned to appoint governors to oversee all star systems in the Republic. Listening to Panaka right now made Padme grateful that she and her friends had hidden themselves from Panaka. She watched as the Lieutenant got up to his feet, stumbling a bit. Something seemed off.
"Governor? I suppose that should make me proud: Quarsh Panaka, Captain of the Guard, servant of Naboo bought by the power of one man," the Lieutenant slurred.
"Watch where you speak, Father. This is no longer a Republic, and if you continue this behavior, you have an excellent chance of being arrested and ruining our entire family all because of your idiotic opinions," Panaka warned.
Padme watched as the Lieutenant leaned into Panaka's face, the latter wincing probably from the smell of alcohol.
"At least I have opinions," the Lieutenant rebuked his son. "I am not some puppet believing whatever the top dog tells me."
Padme saw Panaka tremble with a rage he could barely contain.
"Think, Father. Loyalty as a family makes our fates intertwined, surely you can see that," he hissed.
"See?" the Lieutenant scoffed. He chuckled bitterly. "I am an old ruin. I don't see as well as I did." He turned away from Panaka and leaned on the fireplace. "Go back to your Emperor, boy. From what I hear, he needs you to catch a couple of "rogue" Jedi again."
Padme watched Panaka clench his fists before he took a step towards his father. "You may have been a renowned palace guard back in the day, but don't you forget: I can put you in the same institution your friend Pooja Janren is in."
Padme saw the older Panaka froze stiff at his son's threat.
"Goodday, Father." With that, Panaka made his way out the door.
Padme hurriedly climbed off Rabe's shoulders, and the three women hid in the shrubs just as Panaka came outside. They held their breaths as they watched Panaka through the branches leave the property. They waited a couple of minutes after he left before they finally sagged in relief.
That is, until the window above them shattered, spraying pieces of glass onto them.
It was so sudden and unexpected, a startled gasp escaped Padme and a small shriek from both Dorme and Rabe. Padme looked and saw one of the whiskey bottles lying in the dead grass a few feet from the shrub she hid in.
"Who's there?!" the angry voice of Lieutenant Panaka shouted.
Oh no. Padme froze. He had to have heard them. She glanced at Rabe and Dorme and saw the same fear she herself felt. They were lucky that the shrubs were overgrown that they hid them from view, but if the Lieutenant looked closer he would be able to make them out from where he stood.
"Show yourself!" the harsh yells contained no slur Padme noticed. She didn't think the old guard was as drunk as Panaka had believed him to be. She risked looking up and saw him holding a blaster, his eyes scanning the overgrown landscape of his yard. She felt a tug on her sleeve, and turned to Dorme. Her former handmaiden's expression showed fear and a desperation to get out of here.
"You have ten seconds to reveal yourself before I start blasting!" his threat shocked Padme, but Dorme's hand kept her from jumping.
"Ten. Nine. Eight."
"Padme, he really will shoot us," Dorme whispered urgently.
"Seven. Six."
Padme couldn't think fast enough. Time was running out, and she needed answers.
"Five. Four."
Who knows if she'll get another chance.
"Three. Two. O-"
"Wait!" She tore out of Dorme's grasp and flung herself out of the brush, and into the Lieutenant's view. "Wait," she gasped, picking herself up and holding her hands out to show that she meant no harm.
The Lieutenant, whom seconds ago was filled to the brim with furry was now staring at her like she was an apparition. His mouth was agape, and his eyes looked as if he couldn't believe what he was seeing.
"Pa-Padme?"
The hood of her disguise was still up, covering her from all outsiders, but with Padme looking up at him, he had a clear view of her face. Padme knew it was risky, even borderline stupid, but she hoped that it was worth it.
"Lieutenant Panaka,"she spoke in the voice she had developed in her years of the senate, clear and strong. "I am so sorry to trespass like this, but I am in dire need of your help. Please, let me and my friends some inside."
At this, Dorme and Rabe crawled out from the brush and stood at her sides. This seemed to shake the Lieutenant out of his stupor. He lowered his blaster, but he looked at them with suspension. Given the burned scars on his face it was quite intimidating, but Padme refused to be scared, meeting his gaze unflinchingly. Finally, the Lieutenant sighed, turning his blaster off and hoisting it on his side.
"Get in here. Stormtroopers will be patrolling this area soon."
It was late afternoon, and the sun was beginning to set. Padme, Rabe, and Dorme hurried into the Lieutenant's home, with Padme hoping that the risk would be worth it.
000{{*}}000
65 BBY
Spring was coming. Padme Lydonia could feel. When she was young she loved all the flowers that would bloom everywhere. Their sweet smell filling the air. It was a season of rebirth and new beginnings. However, that wasn't what Padme was feeling right now.
She was sitting at the window seat in the Naberrie's front parlor above Winama's shop, looking out at the city of Theed. It was night time, but Padme couldn't sleep. She hadn't been the only one earlier though. Jobal had come down earlier after having a nightmare about her father. She had fallen asleep on Padme's lap, and Padme still brushed her hair with her fingers. It was a soothing task, but Padme's thoughts were on the dinner she had attended two weeks ago.
Veruna and Costil's confrontation repeated itself for the thousandth time.
Costil's gamlbling.
Veruna's secret affair.
Padme knew that she shouldn't have been surprised. After all these months of interning at the palace, Padme had been privy to many things the people of Naboo would find scandalous and abhorrent. However, something told her that the things she had heard that night were more than just habits both men wished to keep hidden.
Costil admitted to borrowing credits off of Veruna, his political enemy. Did he have such gambling debts he would resort to other people as well?
And Veruna? Costil accused him of having an affair with a young girl, a teenager. On Naboo, while the people elected those as young as preteens, their legality age was much stricter than many star systems in the Republic. On Naboo, while children could vote as young as eleven, based on their merit and intellectual development, the youth became fully independent of their parents or guardians at twenty-one. It was a strict and outdated law. Some of the Naboo were even considering lowering the age, but not yet. If Veruna was having an affair with a young woman while she was under the protection of her parents or guardians, he would be arrested for rape, and the poor girl ruined in Naboo society.
It wasn't just the confrontation between Costil and Veruna. Since that night, it seemed as if a veil had been torn off of Padme. She recognized the smallest hints and it disgusted her of the amount of lies and corruption that infiltrated the Queen's court and the families of its members. It was heartbreaking.
Padme looked down at Jobal, her sweet and innocent niece. Just a few days ago Jobal and Ruwee announced to their families their plans to join the Refugee Relief Movement upon finishing the school year. Luke and Winama were both proud, and Ryoo, while she seemed hesitant to let her only child leave her so soon, was also proud of her. The two children seemed so happy and certain of their futures, while Padme struggled with her own.
Padme found herself thinking and wondering if she should quit her internship and pursue a different career. Maybe she could become a historian, an artist, or maybe a teacher. Maybe she should join Jobal and Ruwee in the Relief Group. After all, she would be helping people directly and make a difference in their lives instead of tiptoeing her way around politics. It wasn't the first time these thoughts had entered Padme's mind. It made her feel guilty when she remembered all the sacrifices her parents had made for her to have this opportunity, but how could she continue like this? Feeling as if the weight of the stars was on her. She missed her mother, and she missed the way her father used to be. She could use their support right now.
She heard the tap tap of silk slippers on the floor. She turned her head to see Ryoo walking down the hall in her blue dressing gown, her dark hair braided over her shoulder. She walked until she was right in front of Padme.
"Dreams again?" she asked, looking down at Jobal.
"Yeah."
Ryoo sighed, taking the other side of the window seat. She looked down at her daughter, a soft but sad look in her gray eyes. Ryoo had always been a great beauty for as long as Padme could remember, but now she looked like a sad and tragic one.
"And you? Have you been dealing with dreams?" Padme asked Ryoo.
Her sister looked out the window at the Naboo moon as it shone on the sleeping city of Theed. "I keep expecting to wake up and see him next to me," Ryoo whispered.
Jon Thule.
Padme was too young to remember their courtship, but she could remember their wedding day. She could remember how beautiful and happy her sister was dressed in her wedding gown with lorixa blossoms arranged in her hair. She could remember how handsome Jon was and how nervous and excited he was as he waited for her sister to walk down the aisle. It was a fairytale wedding like the ones her mother and Mammy use to tell Padme. With a love like that, Padme could only imagine the pain Ryoo was going through on top of losing their mother, and dealing with their father's unstable mind.
Padme held out her hand, and Ryoo tookit, squeezing it gently.
"Thank you, Padme. I don't think I would have been able to get this far without your help."
Padme could feel tears building without her consent and she turned her head so that her sister wouldn't see the guilt in her eyes. She closed them and swallowed before speaking again. "I'm happy to help," she said, but her words tasted like ash.
Ryoo frowned. "Padme, is something wrong? You know you can tell me anything."
Could she? The things Padme would hear in court… she knew that if anyone was aware of what she knew she would have powerful enemies that could ruin her. Not just her, but her family and friends. How could she burden her sister with those fears?
"It's nothing," she lied. Already she could feel shame building in her, but months of practicing her politician's face showed nothing. "It's just some of the work in court that's overwhelming. Maybe I'm just tired."
"Or you're feeling burnt out?" Ryoo offered.
Padme looked up at her sister and saw understanding in her eyes. "Something like that."
Ryoo rubbed her thumb over Padme's hand in a soothing gesture. "I know there are some things in court you can't tell me, but… just remember Padme: you have friends in court. Luke, Pooja, and Gregor. Oh, and of course, Sheev," Ryoo grinned.
Padme could feel her cheeks blushing as she looked down at her lap where Jobal was sleeping.
Oh Sheev.
These last several weeks had been wonderful. During classes they would pass notes to each other behind the teacher's back, and share conspired grins. At the palace, Padme would sneak off into the gardens during her breaks to meet up with Sheev, and they would talk until Padme had to return to Lady Veruna. When they weren't busy with studies, work, or family duties, Padme would meet sheev outside of the city and they would fly together in his speeder across the valleys. Padme believed with all her heart that if she didn't have Sheev she would have gone insane from all the lies and schemes and at court. She looked up to see her sister still grinning at her before she stood.
"Alright, I think it's time to get the two of you to bed."
Carefully, Padme helped Ryoo lift Jobal into her arms and carry her back to her room. Padme whispered a goodnight to her sister and then turned in to her own room. However, sleep continued to evade her. Her thoughts went back to that conversation between Veruna and Costil. Why couldn't she let it be? Because after months of interning under Lady Veruna she knew both men. Neither of them truly cared about the Naboo, only their own gain. Which made her think of the worst case scenario of the situation.
If Costil was using and spending credits like water, what's to stop him from bankrupting someone or have a debt collector come after him, his family, and friends. While Padme had no respect for neither Reggie Costil nor his sister Regina, she did like Councilor Naul Costil, his wife Lille, and their children. If Costil became king he could bankrupt the monarchy.
As for Veruna, all Padme could think of was the poor girl he was seducing. Was the girl being blackmailed, or was she naive into believing that Veruna was in love with her? Padme knew from Lady Veruna herself on what kind of a player Ars Veruna was to know that he was just using the girl. If Padme could find out who this girl was, could she save her, help her see the truth? Would she be willing to come forth and tell everyone who Ars Veruna really is? Padme had heard plenty of stories in her time here in Theed about girls who had slept with older people whether willingly or unwillingly, and if the truth came out, how people would look at them as if they were whores.
She couldn't let Veruna or Costil get away with it.
All of a sudden, the fire she felt that had inspired her to pursue a career in politics and make a difference in people's lives was reignited. She would find out the truth, get proof, and present it to the people even if she had to go to the Queen herself.
000{{*}}000
Several days had passed, and still Padme couldn't find anything. With her schedule it was impossible to even try to follow Costil and Veruna around.
It did help that Lady Veruna had been allowing Padme to sit with her during meetings with the Council and the Queen. During these meetings, Padme would observe Veruna and Costil, but neither of the men so much as looked at each other or even acted suspiciously.
However, Padme noticed other things during these court meetings. Like how Captain Blantyre kept a sharp eye on Tapalo and Palpatine than any other councilor members. How Princess Viola Blantyre sometimes clenched her fists so hard that you could see red cuts in her hands. Or how Secretary Bowen would tap his datapad nervously while checking his chrono. It wasn't just Costil and Veruna that worried Padme, it was the whole court who each carried a secret. It sickened Padme, but what could she do? How could she proceed? She had no answers.
The meeting ended so the Queen and Councillors could take their break and eat lunch. Normally, Padme would enjoy this opportunity to go see Sheev in the gardens, but he had commed her to let her know that he wouldn't be able to make it. So Padme walked through the gardens by herself, eating the blossom bread Ryoo had made the night before, and smiling in greeting to the palace gardeners as they worked.
Padme's thoughts focused not only on the court's secrets, but also the Trade Federation. They seemed to know that the change in leadership would happen soon, and were planning to trap the Naboo like a hermit spider with her prey. Celestine's terms were nearing their end, and soon Bon Tapolo or Reggie Costil would be the next leader of the Naboo. It was terrifying. If only there was another candidate, someone who actually cared about Naboo, and would stand up to the Trade Federation.
Padme realized that somebody was calling her name. She turned around, and saw two women dressed in orange handmaiden outfits. As they got closer, Padme recognized one of them.
"Pooja!" She flung her arms around the older woman who returned her hug just as fiercely. Padme had seen, but hadn't spoken to her friend in a long time due to their duties. It was so good to see her.
They pulled back, and Pooja was smiling at Padme. "I haven't been able to talk to you in a long time. How are you doing?" she asked Padme.
"I've been busy. With my studies, internship, and helping Ryoo, I've had my hands full," Padme explained.
"According to Gregor, those aren't the only things you've been doing," Pooja raised a sly eyebrow.
Padme felt herself blushing as she realized that she was talking about Sheev.
"Don't be embarrassed, kid," the other handmaiden spoke. "It's our job to try and know everything in court."
Padme looked at the other handmaiden and was startled by what she saw. This woman looked as if she could be Padme and Ryoo's third sister. Her features weren't the same, but they were similar enough.
"Padme, this is Line Olnick. She's sister to Dian Olnick of Olnick Land Holdings, and my sister handmaiden. Line, this is Padme Lydonia, Lady Veruna's intern. The girl I've told you and the others so much about," Pooja introduced.
Line looked at Padme, and tilted her head a bit. Almost as if she was studying her. Padme wondered what she saw: a teenaged girl dressed in black with lavender that loosely fitted her figure, and her dark wavy hair pulled back by a golden pixie comb. Line straightened then offered her hand for Padme to shake. "It's an honor to finally meet the Padme Pooja's always talking about."
Padme shook her hand. "It's a pleasure."
An idea suddenly popped. Handmaidens served the Queen. They were trained to know court protocol, serve, and protect the Queen from all harm. They were also to blend into the Queen's shadow as beautiful wallflowers nobody would notice. They had the Queen's ear, so maybe Padme could confine what she had heard between Costil and Veruna to them.
Before she could ask them, Pooja asked what her plans were for that night. The Queen was giving Pooja and Line the night off so they could spend time with their families. Pooja planned on having dinner with her mother and daughter, and had invited Gregor and his wife along with Line and her fiance. "It would be so good to catch up, and you and Line could get to know one another," Pooja said to Padme.
Padme had not been expecting this, but it would be so good to see Pooja and Gregor outside of work settings. Also, she would like to talk to Line more. She seemed like someone who would know how to deal with the predicament Padme was in right now.
She turned to Pooja and smiled. "Yes, Pooja, I would love to come to dinner. What time should I come in?"
000{{*}}000
So what'd you guys think?
Yes, I brought Jar Jar Binks into this. As a kid I liked him because he was so funny. So I won't have anybody making me feel bad about bringing him in even if it's only for a little bit.
Other than that though, what do you guys think of the rest of the chapter?
It took me a few weeks to write and type this chapter out. I don't know when I'll be able to publish the next chapter with my busy work schedule, but I'll try to get it up as soon as I can.
Thank you all.