10 years later

Allana

  It's been ten years since I saw my family, ten years of hard training and preparation.

  Few months ago, Padmé officially accepted her job as the Senator of Naboo, and she'll return today at the Capital of the Galactic Republic.

  It's been a while since she has been receiving death threats, and therefore, she has to be protected at all costs. I saw how a ship from my home planet landed carefully on the landing zone. And a proud smile was placed on my features as I remembered previous events.

Jedi Council Chambers, one week ago:

  "Padawan Naberrie, I'm afraid we cannot accept this." Master Windu told me.

"With all due respect Master." I started. "None of you know the Senator like I do. She's stubborn and it'll be hard for her to listen and accept orders from people that she doesn't completely know." Everyone in the room was staring at me. I gained a few whispers in agreement. "Look, all I ask is to be a part of the squadron. That way, she'll listen, please, I won't let you down. That's a promise." I finished. My Master was next to me, and I felt her comfort.

"Master Windu." Adi started, "You have seen the growth that my Padawan has had in these sixteen years of training." She made sure of giving the years I've been here an emphasis, making me smile proudly. "She has never let me down. I think this is the wisest thing to do." They all meditated for a moment.

"The first mission by herself it will be. If accepting we are, careful you must be." Master Yoda told me.

"I know Master, I'll be, you have my word."

"Anyone has anything to say?" Windu asked but the room was silent. I felt the trust of the Masters being placed on my shoulders and I was grateful for it with my whole life. "Then it's settled. You'll go, and you will report to us and Master Gallia every 48 hours, is that clear?"

"Like water Master."

Today:

  I approached the personal Security Guard of my sister and herself. I insisted that she should go disguised as a pilot, and Cordé, one of my sister's maids, agreed to go on her place. Everyone knew it was going to be dangerous, but it was for the Senator's safety.

"Captain, pilot." I greeted them. I was able to see the eyes of my sister get smaller, letting me know that she was smiling. "See? Told you, everything was going to be alright."

"I guess I was wrong, there was no danger at all." Typho told me as I smiled placing my hands behind my back. Then I felt it. Danger. Thanks to my training I was able to sense everything surrounding us at every moment, sense whenever something was going to happen. To always be prepared.

"Get down!" I screamed and in that moment the ship where Cordé was getting out from, blew up. The impact of the explosion made everyone on the platform fly backwards. I hit my head in that moment and a ringing flooded my ears. We got up from the ground and I grabbed my saber, while the Captain grabbed his gun and Padmé ran towards one of her handmaidens, who just gave her life for her.

  We all ran to check if everyone was alright. Everything was destroyed, pieces of the metal were all over the ground and the soldiers that were escorting Cordé out out of the ship were dead too, only another couple of assistants were alive.

   When my sister found the woman's body she took off her helmet and kneeled down beside her. "Cordé..." She whispered her name.

"Milady, I'm so sorry." Cordé spoke weakly. "I've failed you Senator."

"No." Said Padmé as her double gave her last breaths.

"Padmé, come on, you're still in danger here." I said as I grabbed her arm and pulled her. She stood up from the ground, her eyes not leaving the corpse of a friend that sacrificed herself for her.

"I shouldn't have come." She commented with tears in her beautiful eyes.

"You said it yourself, this vote is very important." I started to tell her.

"Ladies..." The Captain hurried us up, gaining a glare from me as I mouthed an 'I know'.

"You did your duty. Cordé did hers. Now, come, let's get you out of here." I gave a few steps forward to get inside of the building. My hand was holding hers and she still didn't want to move. She was paralysed. Knowing that sweet words won't work, I had to be harder. "Senator Amidala. Let's go. Now." I ordered. Her eyes met mine and I saw the sadness in hers and she saw the worry in mine. She nodded and squeezed my hand.

  We ran inside of an apartment that she owns here. While Captain Typho made sure that there was no longer a threat outside as I escorted my sister to her room.

  Once we were left alone, she changed her pilot clothes into a fancier dress, suitable for her.

"Are you alright?" I asked as I sat down on the bed.

"No. Cordé just died. I could've died, you could've died, everyone could've died." She said as one of her hairdressers helped her brown mane be placed in a more elegant way, in a tall bun adorned with a golden net.

"This is bad Padmé. A bomb was inside of your ship." I told her. "It's more serious than I thought." I told myself.

"I know. But I also told you, I have to do this. The creation of an Army for the Republic will make sure that there's war, and if I'm able to avoid it I will."

"I understand. But I have the feeling that even if you vote against it, as many others, something might happen anyway. It's just not...clear yet." I commented. "Look, while you're here I will make sure you're protected, you have my word." I said as I placed my brown hair on a simple ponytail, leaving my Padawan braid out. Padmé smiled at me as she stood up from her chair, her hair and makeup were done now. "What?" I asked smiling.

"Nothing. Is just...you've grown, that's all. A nineteen year old girl is going to give me orders." We both laughed.

"Indeed Senator, therefore, get used to it." She scoffed raising her eyebrows. "Now, you have a meeting with Palpatine I suppose, so, let's get going."

  Naboo's ex Queen smiled and nodded and as we walked out of her room towards the entrance of the apartment to leave towards the Senate, the rest of the Loyal Citizens Committee had arrived. "Ladies and Gentlemen, please follow me." I said after I greeted them. I was able to spot Dormé, a great friend of my sister and her handmaiden, she smiled at me and I smiled back.

  After we had arrived at the Senate, —and after a few seconds of waiting— we were sent inside of Chancellor Palpatine's office. I was surprised to find few of the most powerful Jedi in the room, like Masters Yoda, Windu, Fisto, Luminara and Mundi. I smiled at them and they smiled back at me. The family I never asked for but was grateful and lucky to have.

"Senator Amidala." Master Yoda greeted Padmé. "Your tragedy on the landing platform, terrible. Seeing you alive brings warm to my heart." The oldest Master commented, his words made me smile. I guess he literally spoke for everyone in the room.

"Do you have any idea who was behind this attack?" Padmé asked.

"Our intelligence points to disgruntled spice miners on the moons of Naboo." Master Windu answered, making me frown, cross my arms and hold my chin with my index and thumb as I thought about the events and the ones our intel is pointing at. A manner I adopted from my Master.

"I think that Count Dooku was behind it." The Senator spoke with her characteristic determination.

"He's a political idealist, not a murderer." Kai-Adi-Mundi commented.

"You know, Milady, Count Dooku was once a Jedi. He couldn't assassinate anyone. It's not in his character." Windu completed Mundi's idea, but I think he might be wrong. Like the Jedi just said, the Count was a Jedi. Time can make people change, even if they used to think in one way, their mind can change too. I believe that Dooku could be evil, even if everyone else seems to defend a fallen brother. 

"But for certain, Senator, in grave danger you are." Yoda said, and a cold shiver went down my spine as I remembered my nightmares. I was certain that I wouldn't let them come true.

"Master-" I tried to speak but Palpatine raised his voice, eclipsing mine, making me sigh.
"Master Jedi." He said as he looked at the window. "May I suggest the Senator be placed under the protection of your graces?" He said, as if he just read my mind.

"Do you really think that's a wise decision under these stressful times?" Senator Organa asked.

"Chancellor, if I may comment, I do not believe-" Padmé tried to speak but was quickly cut off by Palpatine too.
"The situation is not that serious?" He asked. I must admit even though I do not trust him that much, but he might be right. This was a way to make sure to keep my promise. "No, but I do Senator." I saw how Master Yoda looked at him narrowing his small eyes, as if he was trying to decipher something about him. I was able to sense the lack of trust towards the man that is standing before us.

"If I may." I spoke giving a step forward, raising my voice when the Chancellor was about to speak as he did with me seconds ago, gaining a disapproval gaze from Palpatine himself. "I realise all too well that additional security might be disruptive for you." I said as I looked at the Senator of Naboo. "But, as a member of your security squadron, and head of this small mission, Senator, may I suggest someone you're familiar with?" My eyes went from hers to Master Windu's behind her. "Perhaps an old friend like Master Kenobi."

"That's possible." Mace said. "He's just returned from a border dsispute on Ansion."

"Do it for me, Milady. Please." The Chancellor begged making me frown once more. "The thought of losing you is unbearable."

After a few seconds of a quite awkward silence, Mace spoke. "I will have Obi-Wan report to you immediately, Milady." He bowed before her and she did the same.

"Thank you Master Windu." Padmé told him.

"Padawan Naberrie." He bowed as well in a goodbye matter.

"Master, a pleasure." I said.

  After a short meeting the Committee and the Chancellor had, the Senator, her close circle and I, made our way back to her apartment, where we agreed to meet Master Kenobi to create a strategy to protect my sister.