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The apartment was a flurry of activity as beings and objects manoeuvred round each other, sometimes narrowly avoiding mishaps and collisions. In the centre of the eye of the storm was a small petite woman calming directing the flow of traffic.
She had met with Chancellor Palpatine, her former Senator, to discuss her transition into representing Naboo in the Republic Senate.
"I want to be where the people are Chancellor," said the soon-to-be Senator Amidala. “I want to keep in touch with the people I’m representing.”
"Milady, that is unadvisable. You are a former monarch and now a Republic Senator. You need a secure location to operate from."
"Chancellor I appreciate your advice but I think..."
"I have taken the liberty of procuring a residency for yourself and your staff. It is a penthouse suite in 500 Republica," stated Chancellor Palpatine.
Padmé stifled a gasp. 500 Republica was the most exclusive residences on Coruscant, where the wealthy and elite lived. There was an infamous waiting list and to be offered an apartment let alone a penthouse suite was an exceedingly generous offer.
"Chancellor, that is exceedingly generous but..."
"It has the latest facilities, a private parking space for your speeder and a most spectacular view of the Coruscant skyline. You can see the Senate, the Opera house, the Jedi Temple..."
Padmé's ears perked up at the mention of the Jedi Temple. It was a place of great interest to herself. Taking a moment and a deep breath to think things through, she then made her decision.
"I thank you for your benevolence Chancellor Palpatine, it is a privilege to be serving our people alone.”
"My dear Padmé, think nothing of it. If you’ll excuse me, I have a meeting with the Senator from Malastare.”
So here she was, Senator Amidala of Naboo, settling into her new home on Coruscant. She had visited the city-wide planet several times before - as a fledging youth and as the newly appointed monarch in the midst of the Trade Federation Blockade crisis. It was during that last event that a friendship was forged with a Jedi padawan who had been assigned to protect her. She wondered what he was doing now, whether he was on planet even. Perhaps he was in the Jedi Temple, training the young boy who became his apprentice at the end of the crisis. She supposed little Ani wasn't a young boy given that eight years had passed.
She hasn't heard from him in ten years, yet she was hoping to renew their acquaintance, and perhaps form a close friendship. That was the best she could hope for really, given the Jedi's ban on romantic relationships. Her teenage crush would have to subside.
She looked at the Temple in the twilight, feeling somehow a closer connection to him. "Wish I could be," she said softly, half to herself, half to him, "part of your world."