Chapter Three: The Senate.
Queen Amidala sat in a comfortable chair before her Senator, listening to him as he explained the situation of the senate, overall it was not good news.
Thankfully her two friends, Eirtae and Rabe, sat near her, giving her silent comfort and encouragement.
In the next room sat Anakin and Jar Jar, they are accompanied by R2D2 (the droid who saved the Queen and her friends from trade federation turbolaser fire) and C3P0 (Anakin's prototype custom droid).
They can see the Queen but cannot hear what Is being discussed. Well, Jar Jar can't. Anakin and C-3P0 on the other hand are listening in with rapt attention.
C-3P0 via his advanced audial receptors which can pick up all kinds of sounds from up to half a kilometre in any direction. And Anakin via the force.
"-The Republic is not what it once was. The Senate is full of greedy, squabbling delegates who are only looking out for themselves and Their home systems. There is no interest in the common good...no civility, Only politics...its disgusting. I must be frank, Your Majesty, there is Little chance the Senate will act on the invasion."
The Queen frowned. "Chancellor Valorum seems to think there is hope."
Palpatine sighed sadly. "If I may say so, Your Majesty, the Chancellor has little real Power...he is mired down by baseless accusations of corruption. A Manufactured scandal surrounds him. The bureaucrats and corporations are in charge now." The man replied.
"What other options do we have?" Queen Amidala asked.
"Our best choice would be to push for the election of a stronger Supreme Chancellor. One who will take control of the bureaucrats, enforces The laws, and give us justice. You could call for a vote of no confidence In Chancellor Valorum." Palpatine suggested.
Anakin felt the room shift, even though it looked like nobody else did, he knew he felt something change.
'So That's what he wants, Power and influence.' Anakin realises. It was of no consequence, the young human had known the Senator was up to no good, the man practically stunk of evil.
Now it was just the issue of how the boy should deal with this information.
~ - ~
"He has been our strongest supporter. Is there any other way?" Queen Amidala asked.
Palpatine sighed like a man who was tired and had few options. "Our only other choice would be to submit a plea to the courts.."
The queen shook her head, a look of outrage in her eyes. "There's no time for that. The courts take even longer to decide things than the Senate. Our people are dying, Senator. More and more each day. We must do something quickly to stop the Federation." She insisted.
Palpatine winced, knowing what he was about to say wouldn't go down very well. "To be realistic, Your Highness, I'd say we're going to have to accept Federation control for the time being."
The Queen glared at him. "That is something I cannot do."
~ - ~
Qui Gon stands in the tall stately room of the Jedi Council Chambers. Here, twelve Jedi Masters sit in a semi-circle on comfortable chairs. They had summoned Qui Gon and his padawan the moment they were informed of their arrival back on Coruscant.
Qui Gon was just finishing his report on the situation of Naboo and their encounter with Anakin.
"-I believe I have discovered something of great importance. The force lead me to a young boy on Tatooine... his cells have the highest concentration of Midi-chlorians I have seen in a life form. It is possible he was conceived by the midi-chlorians." Qui Gon revealed.
"You're referring to the prophesy of the one who will bring balance to the Force...you believe it's this boy??" Mace Windu assumed.
Qui Gon frowned. "I don't presume-"
Yoda banged his stick on the ground. "But you do! Revealed your opinion is!"
Ignoring the elder of the order, Qui Gon continued. "I request the boy be tested."
The council all look to one another. They then nod and turn back to Qui Gon and his Padawan.
"Trained as a Jedi, you request for him?" Yoda asked.
Qui Gon nodded. "Finding him was the will of the Force...I have no doubt of that. There is too much happening here for it not to be."
Mace Windu pursed his lips. "Bring him before us, then."
Yoda hummed. "Yes, Tested he will be."
~ - ~
After the talk between Palpatine and the Queen, Anakin decides he needs to talk with her Majesty on the situation. Of course as a child he probably won't be respected or believed, but he couldn't just stand there and do nothing.
So he approaches the door he is stopped by two guards. "May I help you, boy?" One of them asks.
Anakin frowned, already not liking their tone. "I have something important to tell Handmaiden Padme."
Anakin wasn't stupid, he knew that Padme and Queen Amidala were one in the same. He had learnt to read body language and look for things that others wouldn't. This helped him figure out that secret rather easily.
The guards whisper to one another before finally deciding that one of them needs to use their commlink. The same one who talked Anakin was the one chosen to use the device.
"The boy is here to see Padme"
~ - ~
Rabe looks to the fully dressed Padme, who merely nods. "Okay, you may let him in." She replies.
The doors open, and Anakin enters the Queen's quarters.
Rabe greets Anakin as two other handmaidens come and go into the next room.
"I'd like to speak with Padme, if I could.
Rabe gave the boy a small but sad smile. "I'm sorry, Annie. Padme is not here right now."
Anakin raised an eyebrow. "So she isn't currently sitting in the next room, with heavy makeup and wearing a black dress?"
Rabe's eyes widened. "How did you?"
Anakin smirked. "Just because I'm young it doesn't mean I'm stupid."
The Queen speaks out in the next room.
"Who is it Rabe?"
Rabe swallows the lump in her throat before replying. "Anakin Skywalker, to see Padme, Your Highness, or as he says... to see you. He figured out our little charade."
The queen comes over into the doorway and studies Anakin. The boy respectfully bows and looks down before looking back up with a smirk. "Greetings Queen Padme Amidala."
Padme sighs. "You are a clever little boy, I'll give you that. You have my attention Anakin, what is it you came to say?"
Deciding not to reveal the whole truth, Anakin warns her of what he has found out. "You know of my abilities yes? It was the reason Qui Gon invited me along to coruscant."
Padme nods, wondering where this is going.
"Well I managed to overhear, completely by accident, Your conversation with Senator Palpatine. I know what he has recommended to you. But I believe there is something you should know."
Padme was a little angry that Anakin had listened in on a private discussion, but then remembered that he hadn't bee trained in his powers and possibly had no control over his actions at the time, so reluctantly decided to hear him out. "Go on."
"Palpatine felt giddy with joy over the thought of you suggesting a vote of no confidence In the current Chancellor. Does that sound like the way a good person would react to their friend's misfortune?"
Padme tried not to roll her eyes. This boy had no idea what he was talking about, and he had the nerve to come and tell her his misgivings with her senator while a crisis was ongoing on her planet!
She was about to dismiss him from the room, only to then freeze once the memories of his heartfelt support and comfort on the ship came flooding back to her.
She also of course knew of the disappearance and tragic death of the Palpatine family, leaving their fortune and connections to her senator. But the security force and independent inspectors had suspected no foul play, and so the incident had been forgotten.
Until now.
Could he possibly be onto something?
What was the Jedi saying again?
'Was this the will of the Force?'
Unfortunately, her rational head overrode her heart and reminded her that Anakin was a nine year old child, a force sensitive. Yes, but he was no Jedi.
She would stick with what she knew, not the suggestion of a boy who had no dealings with politics.
"I will take on your...warning." she told him.
And that was that.
Anakin nodded, seeming a bit sad. Could he tell that she didnt believe him?
No it was just her eyes playing tricks on her. He was untrained, he couldn't do that! Could he?
"Thank you, Your Highness. I'm sorry to have disturbed you." Anakin states before Bowing and leaving the room.
~ - ~
Queen Amidala sat in a seat alongside Senator Palpatine, they were currently waiting for the session to begin. Here they would fight for assistance, here they would plea for help.
Palpatine leans over next to the queen and whispers. "If the Federation moves to defer the motion...Your Majesty, I beg of you to ask for a resolution to end this congressional session."
Padme sighed. "I wish I had your confidence in this, Senator."
"You must force a new election for Supreme Chancellor...I Promise you there are many who will support us...it is our best chance... Your Majesty, our only, chance." Palpatine insisted.
Padme frowned. "You truly believe Chancellor Valorum will not bring our motion To a vote?"
Her senator sighed. "He is distracted...he is afraid. He will be of no help."
Valorum stands up and speaks. "The Chair recognizes the Senator from the sovereign system of Naboo."
The Naboo congressional pod floats into the centre of the senate room, facing the Chancellor's seat, the Press camera droids and the rest of the assembled Senate. Palpatine gets up from his seat and stands before his colleagues.
"Supreme Chancellor, delegates of the Senate. A tragedy has Occurred on our peaceful system of Naboo. We have become caught in a dispute You're all well aware of, which began right here with the taxation of trade Routes, and has now engulfed our entire planet in the oppression of the Trade Federation."
A second box rushes into the centre of the Senate. It is filled with Federation trade barons led by Lott Dod, the Senator for the Federation.
"This is outrageous! I object to the Senator's statements!"
Valorum frowns. "The Chair does not recognize the Senator from the Trade Federation at this time. Please return to your station." The man orders.
Lott Dodd reluctantly moves back to his place bur glares at both Valorum and Palpatine.
Now able to continue, Palpatine begins speaking again. "To state our allegations, I present Queen Amidala, the recently Elected ruler of Naboo, to speak on our behalf."
Padme stands and addresses the assembly. There is some applause at her appearance. Once it dies down, she begins her testimony.
"Honourable representatives of the Republic, distinguished Delegates, and Your Honour Supreme Chancellor Valorum, I come to you under The gravest of circumstances. The Naboo system has been invaded by force. Invaded...against all the laws of the Republic by the Droid Armies of the Trade-"
Lott Dodd once again interrupts, coming up next to the Nubian pod in his own. "I object! There is no proof. This is outrageous. We recommend a Commission be sent to Naboo to ascertain the truth!"
Valorum shakes his head. "Overruled."
"Your Honour, you cannot allow us to be condemned without reasonable observation. It's against all the rules of procedure!" The Neimodian reminds the Chancellor.
A third Pod representing Malastare moves into the centre of the room. Coming to a stop alongside the Trade Federation pod. Ads Moe, the Ambassador, addresses the convention.
"The Congress of Malastare concurs with the honourable delegate From the Trade Federation. A commission must be appointed...that is the law."
Valorum becomes nervous, about to say something in return only for his aids and vice chairman to take him aside and talk to him. The more they speak, the more powerless the man seems to become.
"Enter the bureaucrats, the true rulers of the Republic, and on the payroll of the Trade Federation, I might add. This is where Chancellor Valorum's strength will completely disappear." Palpatine whispers to his Queen.
Padme becomes angered and clenches her fist. This was what the Republic had come to?
This was how far it had stooped?
(End of chapter three)
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