Archive: My site and the m_a archive. Anyone else, just ask. I
won't say no.
Category: I'm not at all sure, but it's an AU, h/c, angst, and
POV. Yeah, I think that's all.
Rating: G, I guess. Nothing happens here.
Warning: I'm sure I'm not following Canon somewhere. After all,
I'm not all that familiar with anything in this universe
besides the movies, the comic adaptation and what I have been
reading here.
Spoilers: A lot for TPM. In fact, it happens right after the
ending
Summary: Queen Amidala thoughts as C-3PO's message arrives.
Disclaimer: Everything here belongs to George Lucas, who is
god. And I'm not making any money out of this... so it would
really be pointless to sue me for it.
Content: Q/O.
Feedback: I love it. It's inspiring... and if anyone would have
time to detailed feedback, I would really appreciate it.
I still do not know why I am doing this.
I am Queen of Naboo, I was chosen to protect my people.
Then why I am sitting here, listening as Senator... no,
Chancellor Palpataine tries to convince me to sign the Trade
Federation's deal, as a show of peaceful intentions?
How could I have voted for him, instead of maintaining my faith
on Chancellor Vallorum?
I am only 14 years old... but unlike other girls my age, I am
not allowed to make any mistakes.
And I fear I made a terrible one.
A mistake I might not be able to rectify.
Still, I have to try.
I open my mouth, ready to tell Chancellor Palpatine that his
suggestions are unacceptable, when the doors of the audience
room open quite violently, and little Anakin runs towards me,
obviously very excited about something.
"'Dala... Your Majesty... Please! Come here! We... I ... I have
to show you something!" He is at my side in a second, and tugs
my sleeve as Palpatine and my Senators look quite insulted.
"Young Anakin..." I begin, hating to use a formal tone with
him. "I am in a very important reunion with Chancellor
Palpatine. I will go later."
"But... But... It's REALLY Important!!"
"Your Majesty..." Captain Panaka enters the room, and I can see
signs of excitement in his face. "...It is a matter most
urgent"
"Very well." I rise, very grateful to be able to dismiss my
Senators and Palpatine. Every meeting I have with him gives me
a dreadful feeling of... something wrong in the air.
"Chancellor Palatine, I offer my apologies. We will continue
our talks tomorrow."
The holographic image bows and disappears as I walk out,
following Panaka and Ani, who is still jumping with excitement.
"What is it?" I ask, barely maintaining my patience. "The
Chancellor..."
"We found Obi-Wan!!!" Ani's words block out anything I could
have said. "But he is in trouble..."
"We received a message in Tandoryan, your Majesty. " Panaka
explains, as we hurry to Master Jinn's quarters. "It was coded,
but Ani managed to decipher it. He says it's from an android he
built in Tatooine..."
"It is!" Ani interrupts, harshly. "It was from 3PO! He's with
Obi Wan!!"
"The message comes from a unit O-P3C..." Panaka begins to
explain. He looks very shaken too... After all, he did formed a
good friendship with Obi-Wan on the way to Tatooine, a
friendship who turned in sheer idol worship when he learned of
Obi-Wan's sacrifice.
I understand him. I also feel a deep admiration for such a
brave man. And if I wasn't aware of how Master Jinn feels
towards his Padawan, I would let my heart dream of Obi Wan.
"It's our code!" Ani's voice pulls me out of those thoughts,
and I'm grateful. He is also very dear to me... If only he were
older. "O-P3C is C-3PO backwards! Besides, who else would have
thought of sending the message in Tandoryan?"
"What did the message said?" I ask, our half run almost over.
It must be a strange view for anyone. The Queen, dressed in one
of the most complicated royal attires, her personal guard's
Captain, and a little boy running across the Palace and yet
pretending not to run.
"Kenobi is in the hands of a bounty hunter... He's going to be
sold in Datoine. We have the coordinates of the ship..."
"Datoine is part of the Republic!!" I cannot stop my indignant
tone. That someone in the Republic allows slavery, that someone
could pay to capture a Jedi Knight... that's against all my
beliefs. "The Senate must hear about this!"
"But we have to save Obi-Wan first!" Anakin looks at me with
disbelief. He is too young to understand.
Finally, we reach Qui-Gon's quarters. I am not sure of how to
breach the subject, how to tell Master Jinn about the message.
Even when his disposition has got a little better, he still
spends every day meditating, his face full of sorrow.
When he opens the door, you can almost see the exhaustion in
his back. He seems somewhat older, tired. Worse than when he
accepted the Council's decision regarding Anakin's fate.
"We found him!!" Ani almost jumps over Qui-Gon, making him step
back, his eyes round we surprise. "We have to save him!!"
"Master Jinn..." Panaka begins, following protocol. "We
received a distress signal from a ship... A droid there..."
"C-3PO." Anakin interrupts, anxious to act.
"C-3PO" Concedes Panaka. "claims that Obi-Wan Kenobi is going
to be sold in Datoine."
"My ship is at your disposition." I finally say, Qui-Gon's eyes
fix in Anakin, then in me. "My personal guard is small but my
people will help you anyway you need. It's the least we can
do." But he only shakes his head in negative.
"I cannot accept, your majesty. I cannot ask you to put your
planet in danger for my account."
The man is as stubborn as ever, even if his voice doesn't carry
the sarcasm it had in Tatooine.
"I am not doing it just for you, " I say, trying to maintain my
royal calm. "Anakin saved the planet, and he wouldn't be here
if it wasn't for you and Obi-Wan's sacrifice. We own him our
freedom." He opens his mouth, probably to object. I won't let
him. "If it will make you feel better, I will make a formal
request to the Jedi Council to help us free Obi-Wan, as he is a
hero for all the Naboo and Gungan."
I turn around, paying no attention to Qui-Gon's surprised
stare, to Anakin's scowl, to Panaka's soft smile.
I am the Queen.
It's time to act like one.
The meeting with the Jedi Council was as frustrating as any
talk with the Senate. The 'Peace and Patience' of the Jedi Code
can make anyone want to scream.
But I managed to stay calm. And in some fashion, they
understood. Master Jinn still doesn't has their authorization
to search actively for Obi-Wan alone, but the Council will send
a representative to review the situation.
By the time Master Windu arrives, there might still be time to
save Obi-Wan.
I'm immersed in my thoughts when Captain Panaka enters my
quarters, his face pale. It's not a nice sight. I've known him
since I was able to walk, and I cannot remember of a single
time I saw him pale.
"Captain, is there something wrong?" Stupid question. There
must be something wrong to cause that expression on his face.
"Your Majesty... A ship has just took off, ten minutes ago." He
tells me, barely containing his shock. "It is piloted by
Anakin... and it appears that Master Jinn and R2-D2 are with
him."
"Their course? I cannot believe it. Master Jinn didn't
disobeyed the Council when they practically forbade him from
doing anything, and now that they're bending, he chooses to
act. Or maybe it was Ani's idea. That wouldn't be a
surprise.
"They're going straight to Datoine." I nod, and Panaka waits
patiently. I know that he wants to go too... I wish I could
go...
"Take a ship and follow them. They might need help." He looks
at me, surprised, but then bows, indicating that he will follow
my orders. "I will explain everything to Master Windu and the
Jedi Council."
My Captain leaves, and I look through the window. Somewhere in
the sky, Ani, Qui Gon and R2 are looking for Obi-Wan.
Somewhere, far away, Obi-Wan is suffering because we choose a
path without thinking on the consequences.
And I am here, on the planet, having to choose a new path.
I have made mistakes in the past.
It is time to put them right.
I activate the computer on my throne, and type my password.
"Computer, display all the files on Senator Palpatine. I want
to know all about him, his past, and his movements. All about
his associates, and family." If what I fear is true, then it
will be hard to find evidence.... but I have learned too much
in this day.
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