this chapter has been edited as of december 31, 2019

CHAPTER ONE

THE explosion came out of nowhere.

Artie's shoulder slammed into the duracrete landing platform, the impact enough to knock the wind out of her. She laid still for what felt like an eternity, too afraid to move, to see what damage her body had suffered. Artie's ears popped and roared as Padmé's ship dissolved into flames, a great fist of smoke rising higher and higher into the sky. Panicked screams erupted all around her, terrified cries of "Where's the senator?" filling the air. Artie groaned and tried to roll over, but her entire body pounded with pain and even the smallest movement was torture. With her ear pressed to the ground, Artie became suddenly aware of a pair of footsteps thundering towards her.

"Artemis!" Padmé yelped, falling to her knees beside Artie and gingerly turning her onto her back. "Are you alright? Are you hurt?"

"I'm okay," Artie huffed, wincing as another wave of pain hit her. With Padmé's help, she climbed unsteadily to her feet. Upon closer examination, Artie realized she was bleeding profusely from her nose, elbows, and knees, her trousers growing wetter and redder by the second. "What about you? Are you all right? Where's Cordé?"

Padmé suddenly looked like she wanted to burst into tears. "I—I . . . Oh, Cordé's gone, Artie," she wailed. "Whoever planted the bomb would have gotten what they wanted if not for her . . . I can hardly breathe, Artie, this is all too horrible."

Artemis took her teacher's hand and held it tightly. Padmé wore a simple guard's uniform, her long brown curls falling limp around her shoulders. Her disguise had saved her life. Artie could not bring herself to search out Cordé's body, but knew that wherever she had fallen she was donned in fine Nabooian robes. The faithful handmaiden had volunteered to act as Padmé in case of danger on Coruscant, while many advisers had waved her concerns off as frivolous and unnecessary. With a lump in her throat, Artie realized Cordé had been exactly right.

"We'll be okay," Artemis comforted. "Cordé . . . Cordé knew the risks. She was willing to give her life. She died honorably." The words felt empty and soulless, but it was the best Artie could muster. Her bones still rattled with shock as she stood there, clutching her friend.

"We need to get off the platform," Padmé hurried, "now."

Artie nodded anxiously. "I couldn't agree more."

Suddenly they were surrounded by guards. The pair marched off the landing platform and followed a narrow strip into the cavernous Senate Hall, smoke and fire still raging behind them.

• • •

THE REPUBLIC EXECUTIVE BUILDING was as pristine as it was large, and one could park a cruiser in the entrance hall if they wanted. Artie marched alongside Padmé, tears brimming her eyes as the loss of their friend truly seized her. With Captain Typho and his men flanking them, the pair headed straight for the turbolift that led directly to the Senate Chamber, where Chancellor Palpatine and the rest of the major senators were surely awaiting Padmé, ignorant that a deadly attack had occurred mere meters away.

"Remember," Padmé whispered to Artie as they stepped onto the lift, "our vote is against the absurd creation of this army. It will only lead us closer to war. No matter how the others bully, we must stand our ground." Artie nodded firmly and hoped her uneasiness was not obvious. She lifted a hand to her ear, both of which were pierced with decorative metal, and twisted one of the fashionable studs that ran up the length of her cartilage in a nervous habit she'd picked up. Her restlessness was apparently not lost on Padmé, who brought her hand back to her side and gave her arm a comforting squeeze. "If you're nervous, I'll do the talking." Padmé's voice was strained and feeble, but Artie trusted her to address the senators far more than she did herself. As an apprentice, she was not often expected to participate in strategic discussion, but Padmé encouraged her to practice here and there when the topic was somewhat casual.

It didn't seem like the casual sort of day.

The lift slid to a stop and the doors opened on a dim hallway with walls and floors of maroon velvet that matched the robes senators wore in court. Padmé led them down the corridor to an entryway that Artie knew led to the Chancellor's office. She'd been inside only once, and it had not seemed like anyone but Padmé was happy she had been there.

The doors parted and Chancellor Palpatine came into view, along with, to Artie's shock, three members of the Jedi Council. Among them was Master Yoda himself. Artemis had never seen a Jedi in person before, much less the oldest and wisest of them all. She inched closer to Padmé. Her stomach dropped as the Jedi rose from their chairs and Yoda hobbled over to Padmé, relief upon his wrinkled green face.

"With you, the Force is strong, young Senator," he warbled. "To see you alive brings warm feelings to my heart."

"Thank you, Master." Padmé dipped her head. "I am grateful to be here at all. My handmaiden Cordé gave her life so I could fulfill my duty. It is all thanks to her sacrifice." Her voice wavered, but she remained steady as a rock. "With me today is my student, Artemis Adhara. She is a devoted pupil and will be an observer of this discussion."

The Jedi offered them graceful bows with right hands over their hearts. Chancellor Palpatine lifted his palm in an acknowledging wave.

"Miss Adhara," Yoda drawled, "many questions, you must have. Brave, you are, to be here."

Artie remained very still, her heart thumping and thumping. "Thank you, Master, but I do not compare to the dauntlessness of Senator Amidala. Please, is there any information on who could have done this?"

"Our intelligence points to disgruntled spice farmers on the moons of Naboo," one of the Jedi supplied. He was bald, had dark brown skin, and dressed in drab, beige robes that were characteristic of Jedi. Artie had seen him before on the Holonet; this was Jedi Master Mace Windu, standing before her a real man rather than a hologram.

"I don't mean to disagree, Master," Padmé began, "but I believe Count Dooku was behind this. This act has a vile tone to it."

There was a stir of surprise at Padmé's accusation, but Artemis was glad someone had the guts to say it. She and Padmé had suspected corruption and ill-intent in Dooku for months.

"You know, my lady," Mace Windu attempted, "Count Dooku was once a Jedi. He wouldn't assassinate anybody–it's simply not in his character."

"He is a political idealist, not a murderer," another Jedi whom Artie had also seen on the Holonet agreed. Ki-Adi-Mundi, she believed.

Chancellor Palpatine rose from his desk and moved to stand behind a large podium, his old eyes surveying them all calmly. He cleared his throat. "Count Dooku has always avoided any kind of conflict," he said. "It appears, and has always appeared, that he has no desire to start a war. Why would he try to kill you, Senator? To what end?"

Artie sucked in her cheek. "Supreme Chancellor, I must agree with Padmé," she said, emboldened by some invisible strength. "There is a great chance that Dooku was at least affiliated with the assassins." She forced herself to hold Palpatine's intimidating gaze. "He has long been an adversary to our cause."

Arie watched him cross the room leisurely, halt before a floor-to-ceiling window that took up an entire wall and overlooked Cityscape. "Master Jedi," he said to Yoda in his slow voice, "may I suggest that the Senator be placed under the protection of your graces?"

"Sir!" Padmé exclaimed at once. "There is no—"

"Do you think that it is a wise use of manpower during these stressful times?" Senator Bail Organa of Alderaan interjected anxiously, casting Padmé a quieting look.

Palpatine brushed him off. "No amount of manpower is too costly when it comes to ensuring a close friend's safety, Senator."

Padmé drew herself up to argue. "Chancellor, if I may comment, I do not believe the—"

"Situation is that serious?" Palpatine finished for her. "No, no, but I do, my dear."

"Chancellor, please," Padmé begged, the formality gone from her voice, desperation taking hold of it now. "I don't want anymore guards. It's all—it's all becoming too much."

"I realize that additional security might be disruptive for you," Palpatine sympathized, though his tone remained quite firm, "but perhaps someone you are familiar with could be of service? An old friend, maybe? Like Master Kenobi?" He turned to Mace Windu for support.

"That's possible," Windu agreed slowly. "He has just returned from a border dispute on Ansion."

Kenobi. The name sounded familiar. Artie whispered in Padmé's ear, "You met him on Naboo, right? During the blockade crisis?"

Amidala nodded. "Yes. But his presence is not needed now. It's not necessary!" she raised her voice so the entire council could hear.

Artie knew her next words would earn her the scolding of the century, but she did not care. The thought of losing Padmé was torturous. "My lady," she said, "perhaps the Chancellor is right. At least until the situation cools, extra protection might prove useful."

"The pupil agrees!" Palpatine announced. Padmé threw Artie a look. "We'll have Kenobi assigned to you at once. You're a wise little thing, Miss Adhara, and your cooperation is appreciated." He spread his hands and smiled warmly at Padmé. "We are only interested in your safety, my lady."

"It's settled then," Windu conceded. "Senator Amidala, you've been outvoted. I will have Master Obi-Wan report to you immediately."

He bowed his bald head in farewell and strode out of the office. Padmé blew a furious breath through her teeth, her cheeks growing steadily pinker. "Oh, the speeches I will have for you to annotate when this is done," she threatened Artie, who was not a bit afraid.

Yoda harrumphed in satisfaction and lurched to Padmé's side. "Too little about yourself you worry, Senator, and too much about politics," he said. "Be mindful of your danger, Padmé. Accept our help."

With that, he turned away, and Padmé, Artie, and the rest of the group were excused, with spirits no higher than when they first arrived.

note.
thank you for reading!

( beautiful sign-off gif by sonatastark )