| abstract
| - Back on Naboo, Viceroy Nute Gunray of the Trade Federation had summoned Sio Bibble with no other reason than to taunt the Governor of Theed. He sat on a mechno-chair which bore him across the room where the Governor was surrounded by battle droids. “When are you going to give up this pointless strike?” Gunray snapped. “I will give up the strike when the Queen—” but Gunray cut him off. “Come, come Viceroy your Queen is lost,” the Neimoidian said. “Your people are starving!” Yet this moved Bibble not one iota. “The Naboo will not be humiliated!” he declared. “Not even at the cost of innocent lives—” “Not even your own life, Governor?” Gunray interjected. “The odds on you living out until the end of the week are not good. Enough of this,” he turned to the droid. “Take him away.” Yet Bibble resisted to the last. “The invasion will gain you nothing!” he retorted as he was dragged out. “We are a democracy! The people have decided, Viceroy. They will not live in tyranny…” The doors closed behind him and Gunray turned to the battle droid commander. “My troops are in position to begin searching the swamps for these rumoured underwater cities,” the droid droned. “They will not stay hidden for long.” “See to it,” Gunray said, dismissing the droid and directing his chair to the window so he could contemplate the Naboo twilight. They said it was beautiful but the Neimoidian didn’t agree, after all that was not what he was here for, was it? “Padawan!” Shakya Devi fought the dark assassin, from appearances she seemed to be winning the fight. Taking everything that was dealt to her in her stride. Padmé knew better, her Master always made fighting look effortless even if what she was doing what complicated, or she was falling apart. “Go, protect the Queen!” Shakya said, blocking another powerful blow that almost knocked her over. “One of us has to survive! GO!” Padmé stood there no longer, racing to the door, wishing she could do something for her Master, offer her own skills. Yet Padmé knew her Master was right, if both Jedi fell… Just as she got to the door Padmé turned her head, the same moment she did the creature’s lightsaber burned a hole through her Master’s chest. Groaning, Shakya fell to the floor like a discarded doll. “No!” Padmé shouted, she couldn’t watch this again, not now, not ever. Padmé and her Master’s murderer traded a long stare, yet instead of retreating as she had done before, the red lightsaber blade rushed towards her… With a start Padmé woke, shaking and shivering from the memory. It’s only a dream, she told herself, dreams can’t hurt, not now. Yet there was still unspoken threat, would that creature be on Coruscant, in the Temple? With a deep breath Padmé dismissed her fears; they couldn’t rule her, ever and looked over to the other side of the room. Nalanda had cordially asked one of her handmaidens to share a room with her and Larené had offered. The handmaiden was sleeping peacefully. What was that? she suddenly felt a stirring in the Force accompanied by soft footsteps. Was it Qui-Gon, no he might be a Jedi Master but his tread would be heavier. Not even Obi-Wan, it had to be Anakin. Without hesitation Padmé got to her feet and wrapped her cloak around her, she crept to the door and followed Anakin. She found him standing in the cockpit, shivering as he looked through the viewports. But there was nothing to see save the strange, blue liquid-looking shapes that made up what was known as hyperspace. “It’s late,” he heard Padmé said, Anakin turned around and saw her standing behind him. “You’re a Jedi too?” He asked, shivering again as he looked her over. “I didn’t think girls could be Jedis.” Padmé smiled, she wasn't sure why she hadn't told him now, but somehow it touched her as if Anakin had first known her before she knew she was Jedi. We are too often defined by what we are, her Master had once said. “I’m only a Padawan learner, but one day I’ll be a Jedi,” Padmé said, she took his hand and he followed her back to where a small sleep-couch had been set up for him. “What’s it like?” Anakin asked. “I mean, where Jedi live, what is it like?” Padmé paused for a moment, how could she best describe it? “It’s very big, the Temple,” she began with a smile. “Lots of rooms, statues of famous Jedi…” Padmé finished with a shrug. “You’ll see it soon enough,” she promised. “Are you cold?” “Yes,” Anakin said, hugging himself. Padmé took off her cloak and wrapped it around him. “You come from a warm planet, Annie,” she said. “Space is cold.” “I…I made something for you,” he said, reaching into his pocket and pulling out what looked like necklace. He gave it to her, she examined it closely. “It’s a japor snippet,” he explained. “It’ll bring you good luck. I made it because I wanted you to remember me, but now…you’re here.” “How could I forget you,” she said, roughing up his hair. “You seem sad,” Anakin said suddenly. Padmé stared at him, Qui-Gon was right, the boy was perceptive. “I…I had a bad dream,” she confessed. “I lost someone very close to me, and I keep seeing her die.” She looked off into the distance. “I hadn't known her very long, and things have happened so quickly.” She looked at Anakin. “Many things will change when we reach Coruscant, Annie, but I’ll do my best to make sure caring for you isn’t one of them.” “I know,” Anakin said quietly. “I won’t stop caring about you, either. But…” his voice broke and tears trailed down his cheeks. “I know, you miss your mother” Padmé said softly, cradling him in her arms. How long they sat there Padmé didn’t know, but eventually Anakin fell asleep and Padmé left him, tucking the cloak around his sleeping form.
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