Tejas felt the tension in his shoulders disappear the moment he heard Padme speak, He hoped his lecture helped bring her out of her trance-;like state. "Where are we?" Padme repeated. She looked at the gray exterior of the house before her. .A short man with eyes the color of violet, and light brown hair stood in the doorway and smiled.

"Padme, this is Neel. He's a friend of mine." Tejas answered.

"It is a great honor to make your acquaintance Young Lady Padme. Padme." Neel repeated slowly. "That is a magnificent name."

"Thank-you Sir. " She answered. Neel smiled again before moving away from the doorway.

"The 2 of you must be famished. Come in, dinner is ready." Neel said cheerfully. Padme looked to her teacher who stepped into the house quickly. She followed him to a large dining table set for 3.

"Sit down Padme." Tejas instructed. Reluctantly Padme did ,as she was told.. She looked to her right just as a serving droid entered the room from the kitchen area. The droid said nothing as it put heaps of a green mashed food on each plate. It left quickly. She watched as Tejas began to eat.

"What is this?" Padme asked, confusion in her voice.

"Lady Padme, it is a dish from my home planet. It has all the nutrition your body needs. Eat up, it is best hot." Neel replied.

"It's delicious." Tejas said. After he spoke these words he continued to eat quickly. Padme picked up a spoon, and took a bite. She couldn't say she liked it truthfully, but it was food, and it was not meat. These things she was grateful for. She continued to take tiny bites as she listened to the conversation between the stranger and her teacher.

"it's awful what Palpatine did."Neel said

"Yes, it is. Word travels fast." Tejas answered.

"How can it not?" Neel replied. "He is now the ruler of the Galaxy. Everyone is talking about it. Everyone has an opinion. Neel paused for a moment, and gazed at Padme. "I understand Lady Padme that you were to be queen."

"I was". Padme answered, keeping her emotions hidden from the stranger.

"Such a shame." Neel replied slowly. "You would have made such a... lovely queen."

"She still can be... One Day." Tejas said quickly.

"Yes, she can be." Neel replied with a smile. "How old are you now Padme?" Padme forced a smile. She didn't want to answer that question.

"She's 15". Tejas answered.

"I'm sure Tejas has taught you many things Padme." Neel continued.. Padme dropped her spoon on the plate in front of her.

"She is a great student, she works very hard." Tegas said.

"I'm sure." Neel replied slowly. "What is your favorite subject?"

I can't choose just one." She answered.

"Do you cook?" Neel asked.

"Yes she cooks very well. Tejas answered quickly.

"What is your speciality?" Neel asked gazing onto Padme's eyes.

"I don't have one Sir." She answered Since the moment she entered this gray house she had been fighting the urge to bolt. It took all the energy she had not to show fear. "Thank-you for the meal sir. We should go, staying here too long may put you in great danger."

"Don't worry about me Young Lady Padme."

"Sir, if Palpatine isn't 100 percent confident we're dead. He will come looking for us." That's why we left the house. Isn't it Tejas?" Her teacher glanced at her, but said nothing.

"You and Tejas are welcome here. I am not afraid."

"Forgive me, but you should be."

"We're staying here Padme." Tejas said. "We're safe here. I'll get our things from the Star Yacht, I should have done that when we arrived."

"I'll do that." Padme said quickly, rising from the uncomfortable chair she had been sitting in. Tejas nodded in approval, and Padme exited the gray house as fast as she could without running.

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Padme entered the Star Yacht, and ran to the it's refresher. Suddenly she was overcome by nausea, and almost immediately threw up the. food she had eaten. She cleaned herself up quickly, exited the refresher, and found a seat She looked at the truck she had packed. She didn't want to bring her things into that house. She didn't even know what planet she was on, but she imagined herself leaving it, Sleep soon claimed her. An hour passed before she awoke and looked around. Thankfully, she was still on the Star Yacht. She stood up and walked to the controls. She didn't know much about flying, but she contemplated trying her hand at it. She couldn't leave her teacher behind. She had to convince him to leave this place with her. She heard footsteps behind her, and turned to find herself staring into her teacher's eyes.

"Padme, I was worried about you. Let me help you with our trucks. What are you doing by the controls?"

"Tejas, please let's leave here. I've had a bad feeling since we arrived,""

"You have had a difficult few days." Tejas answered calmly.

"That's not it! Please, trust me, and let's go... now."

"No, I told you we're safe here. I trust Neel."

"You shouldn't." Padme answered. She watched as Tejas picked up 2 trucks. Her stomach did a flip flop, but she followed her teacher.

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As Padme reentered the gray house, a chill went down her spine. She followed Tejas down a narrow hallway to a bedroom, the door was wide open. Padme walked inside with her teacher who put the trucks down. Padme still felt ill. 2 beds were in the room and Padme sat on one. Tejas sat on the other. "Don't worry Padme, We will be fine. One day you will be queen." Tejas said.

"Maybe if I survive."

"You will", Tejas answered authoritatively "Go to sleep." Padme closed her eyes, but didn't sleep. She heard Tegas snoring in the bed next to hers..

The next sound she heard was Neel's voice. "Breakfast is served!" Neel called. Padme didn't move, the idea of another meal in this place brought on a fresh wave of nausea. She heard movement in the room, and her truck being opened Moments later she felt something being thrown on the bed.

"Padme get up, Tejas said. "I will leave the room so you can dress". Padme opened her eyes, and sat up in bed. Her eyes focused on the dress Tejas had taken from her trunk. It was long, turquoise, and had a V neckline. She watched as Tegas left the room, closing the door behind him. Moments later she heard another door open and close. Slowly, she got out of bed, and carefully made it. She noticed for the first time that the bedroom she was in had a refresher attached to it. She grabbed her dress, and quickly entered the refresher. She washed and dressed as fast as she could." Padme are you dressed?" She heard Trjas ask.

"Yes." Padme answered. She watched as Tejas reentered the room. He smiled.

"Are you ready?" Tejas asked.

"We should leave." Padme whispered.

"I will talk to you later. We don't want to keep our host waiting." Padme smiled, and followed Tejas to the dining area. The droids were gone, and 3 plates were piled high with fruit.

"You look lovely," Neel said smiling at Padme."

"Thank-you." Padme answered. She quietly ate her fruit , and listened intently to the conversation between Neel and Tejas.

Padme was relieved when Tejas looked directly at her, and addressed Neel, "Will you excuse Padme and I for a moment?"

"Of course Tejas." Neel answered, Padme and Tejas rose from their seats. They walked back to the bedroom they had stayed in. Tejas shut the door and turned to Padme.

"When are we leaving?" Padme asked..

"Padme there are very few places to go, and again I trust Neel." Padme was silent for several long moments. She looked inside her packed trunk to make sure everything was there, it was. "Let's get out of here." She said picking up her truck and facing Tejas.

"Padme I know you're frightened, this is a very uncertain time, but you will thrive. You are a strong, charming, beautiful young woman, and I have taught you well."

"I know Tejas. You taught me to be a leader.

"No, I didn't, you were born with that ability. I just gave you tools and an education."

"I still have plenty to learn. I don't think I was ready to be queen."

"You were Padme, and one day, you will be a powerful woman."

"I only want power to help others, otherwise it's useless. Tejas you said there are very few places to go, but we can go to Naboo. We will be safe there, my family will take you in." Tejas smiled. He grabbed his trunk. Padme followed him out of the room, and to the front door where Neel stood.

"I hope to see you again, Tejas, old friend,""Neel said. He opened the door. His violet eyes locked onto Padme and would not let go. She wanted nothing more in that moment then to look away, but she didn't. She forced herself to talk to him.

"Thank-you for your hospitality Sir." Tejas placed his hand on Padme's right shoulder and turned her around to face him.

"Good-bye Padme."

""What? Tejas I'm going with you."

"Padme, every powerful man, has a powerful woman who stands beside him. You are staying here, and Neel will make sure you marry a man of power." Tejas said.

"No! I don't want that! Don't leave me here. Tejas, Please, I want to go home, I want to go back to Naboo."

"Padme, there is nothing left for you there. This is what is best for your future. I am just a teacher, a teacher with nothing left to teach. Neel knows powerful people. He will make sure you marry well."

"No!" Padme said running to the door. She was almost out of the house when she felt the grip of a droid on her body, holding her back. Tejas looked into his student's fear filled eyes, the drod's grip was causing her physical pain. He looked away. He turned back to his long time friend Neel.

"Please, have your droid let go of her." Tejas requested.

Neel took a step closer to Tejas, and stared into his eyes, but his words were directed at Padme. "You are safe here, Young Lady Padme. No harm will ever come to you in my home." Neel quickly glared at his droid, and it let go of her. Neel's eyes quickly returned to Tejas.

"Don't leave me here Tejas. How can you do this?" Padme asked, keeping her voice steady.

"I thought I made myself clear,'' Tejas answered." I'm doing this for you.""Goodbye friend. Take care of her." Tejas said to Neel.

"I will." Neel almost whispered. Padme watched Neel retrieve something out of his clothing. Neel reached out his hand to his friend. Padme felt tears sting her eyes when she realized as the men shook hands Neel passed credits to Tejas, and he ran out of the gray house without looking back. The next thing Padme heard was the sound of the gray front door, being closed, and locked.