Chapter Text
The Senator let out a deep breath as she took a seat at the end of the long chamber. She held herself with all the grace and poise that Dooku had come to expect from the young woman, despite the soot and ash streaking her skin and matted hair from her misadventure in the droid factory. He inclined his head, indicating she was free to speak.
“You are holding a Jedi Knight, Obi-Wan Kenobi. I am formally requesting you turn him over to me, now.”
Dooku studied her for a minute before replying. “He has been convicted of espionage, Senator, and will be executed. Very shortly, I believe.”
“He is an officer of the Republic, you can't do that!” she gasped.
“We don't recognise the Republic here, Senator. But if Naboo were to join our Alliance, I could easily hear your plea for clemency.”
She narrowed her eyes at him, “and if I don't join your rebellion, I assume this Jedi with me will also die?”
Kenobi’s padawan – Skywalker – stiffened next to her, his hand involuntarily twitched over his lightsaber.
“I don't wish to make you to join our cause against your will, Senator, but you are a rational, honest representative of your people and I assume you want to do what's in their best interest. Aren't you fed up with the corruption, the bureaucrats, the hypocrisy of it all? Aren't you? Be honest, Senator.”
“The ideals are still alive, Count, even if the institution is failing,” Padmé replied.
“You believe in the same ideals we believe in! The same ideals we are striving to make prominent,” Dooku responded.
“If what you say is true, you should stay in the Republic and help Chancellor Palpatine put things right.”
“Senator, the Republic cannot be fixed. It is time to start over. The democratic process in the Republic is a sham, a shell game played on the voters. It will not be long before the cult of greed, called the Republic, will lose even the pretext of democracy and freedom. I daresay it already has.”
“I cannot believe that. I will not forsake all I have honoured and worked for and betray the Republic. I know of your treaties with the Trade Federation, the Commerce Guilds, and the others, Count. Including those responsible for the death of my bodyguard. I will not abandon democracy.” Her voice was calm and steady, well trained from her years as Queen.
“Ah,” he said, “I see you have not seen the news lately.”
“I’ve been rather busy, what with the attempts on my life,” she shot back.
“I am surprised that you were absent for the fall of the Republic into authoritarianism. At the behest of your own Representative no less.”
She furrowed her brow, “what?”
“The Senate voted to give the Chancellor emergency war powers, which he has used to form an army for the Republic. I have no doubt they are preparing to invade Geonosis as we speak, for daring to assert their right to self-determination,” said Dooku.
“You’re wrong,” she replied, “you’re just trying to intimidate me.”
He didn’t bother to hide his smugness as he slid over a holocomm and smirked as the Senator watched with perfect horror as Representative Binks introduced the motion. Her face crumpled as the motion passed.
Dooku watched as the young Jedi placed a comforting hand on her shoulder as the Senator struggled to compose herself.
Interesting.
“Perhaps you would be willing to reconsider your position?”
She sat up straight, jutting out her chin in defiance. “I will not give up. Besides, as I’m sure you are aware, I am merely a Senator, decisions about the future of Naboo are entirely the jurisdiction of the Queen and her Council.”
“This is no place for false modesty Senator, we are both aware of the very high esteem in which the Queen, her council, and indeed the people of Naboo, hold your opinion.”
“Why would I ally myself with those who wish me dead?” she shot back, her voice rising in anger.
Dooku paused. The Trade Federation resources that Viceroy Gunray would provide were essential to the approaching war effort. But Gunray is an idiot, he thought, and he has no shortage of dissenters within his own faction, it would not be difficult to arrange for one of them to take control of those resources.
He considered the woman in front of him. She was experienced in building coalitions and was considered a moral backbone of the Senate. Despite her youth she had gained no shortage of respect for her actions during the Invasion of Naboo.
She could be an invaluable asset. Gunray is disposable.
“Is that your price?”
“My price?”
“I will remove Gunray from the Council, you may even personally oversee his punishment on Naboo for the death of your friend, and you will see to it that Naboo joins the Confederation.”
Her face contorted into one of pure disgust, “you expect me to join a man who severs his alliances at the first convenience? You have misread me Count, I am not giving up on the Republic and I cannot be bought.”
“Then I’m afraid there is nothing I can do for your Jedi friends.” He waved a hand and the guards quickly cuffed Skywalker and relieved him of his lightsaber. “He is to stand trial for espionage.”
The Senator stood up, knocking her chair to the floor, “Ani!” she gasped, as they started to lead him away.
“Don’t give in Padmé! Don’t do what he says!”
“Ani I-.”
They held each others gaze for several seconds. She didn’t finish. He was removed from the room.
She whirled around to confront Dooku, fear and anger etched on her face. “What is to happen to me? Am I to be executed also?”
“I wouldn't think of such a thing. There are several notable Separatist prisoners being held by the Republic, you will do nicely as an exchange.”
“Why?”
“Why?” He quirked an eyebrow. The expression reminded her so much of Obi-Wan it gave her pause.
“Why not execute me? It’s what Gunray wants. I can’t imagine the Geonosians will be that happy to see me free either.”
“You are an intelligent and dedicated representative. You are also determined that the Republic can be fixed. I’m curious to see how long it takes for you to change your mind.”
She looked mutinous but before she could formulate a suitably cutting retort a guard entered.
“The trial has finished, my lord, the execution is about to begin.”
Anger flared in Padmé eyes. “I’m sure you gave his case due process in the last three minutes!”
“I have no doubt, my lady.” Dooku said, rising from the table, “Shall we go?”
She looked faintly sick as a guard placed cuffs on her, “to watch my friends be executed?”
“I understand Master Kenobi and Padawan Skywalker have gotten themselves out of many a stickier situation, I’m sure they can handle a few beasts.” He said as he swept out of the room.
When the Jedi finally landed in the arena, the Senator made quick work of her cuffs with a hairpin. With a few well placed kicks she liberated one of her guards of their blaster and jumped into the fray before they could blink.
Dooku watched as she headed straight towards Padawan Skywalker, shooting two droids that had taken aim at him as she ran.
Very interesting.
It seemed that Padmé Amidala may well be a valuable chess piece.
Patience, he thought. Right now he had a ship waiting for him and he wasn’t expecting to get off Geonosis without a fight.
Anakin escorted her back to Naboo. Padmé was quiet on the trip back, unable to stop turning Dooku’s words over in her head. He has to be wrong.
The Republic is fixable. The Separatists started the war. Democracy hasn’t crumbled.
She couldn’t shake the feeling in her gut, a nauseating knot of anxiety and uncertainty.
For that very moment she decided to put it aside and focus on the presence of anxiety and uncertainty loitering in the doorway of her room.
“Ani what are you doing there? Come on in,” she patted the space next to her on her bunk. He obliged, awkwardly listing to his right as he adjusted to moving with the mechanical arm.
Padmé was horrified when she was told what happened. Why would I ever join Dooku after that?
Not that it was ever on the cards, she reminded herself.
She gave Anakin an encouraging smile as he sat down next to her.
“So,” he started, “are we- I mean- um, on Geonosis- is it, um…” he trailed off. She suppressed a wave of amusement at his incoherence and took pity.
“I care for you very deeply Ani.”
He looked up at her, eyes wide and full of hope. “You do?”
“Yes, of course, but-.”
He looked down at his feet, crestfallen.
“Oh.”
“Maybe if things were different. But a war has just started. You will be needed to fight, our duty is more important now than it ever was.” She thought if she said it out loud maybe she could gather the strength to push her feelings down, ignore the pleading look in his eyes and the twisting in her gut.
He gave a shaky nod. “I understand.”
She took both his hands in hers, the metal hand cold against her skin, “I still want to be your friend.”
“Okay,” he said, looking up with a smile, “I do too.” Then something like alarm crossed his face. “You won’t tell anyone will you? About Tatooine? Not even Obi-Wan,” his voice was rising in urgency.
She had been trying not to think about it. Pushing away the haunted look in his eyes. Attempting to forget the horror that had turned her blood cold. She had just kept circling back to one question.
Why, despite all that, do I still love you?
She placed a gentle hand on his face. “No Ani, I won’t tell anyone,” she paused, “but I think you should tell Obi-Wan. He cares about you, he could help you understand what happened.”
He shook his head violently. “No! He’d tell the Council and they’d kick me out, he can’t ever know!”
She frowned, but nodded her understanding. Then she wrapped her arms around him in a tight embrace.
He sighed into her hair. “We’ll be landing soon.” He stood up to return to the cockpit. She returned to trying to make sense of the cacophony of thoughts running through her head.