Work Text:
The news arrived with a heavy heart and an even heavier sense that it was inevitable. The poll had just come in and despite the community she had gathered on the holo and the constant meetings with other Senators, Padme was looking at a very strong loss and an early kick from the election.
Padme took a deep breath and let it out slowly. She tilted back her head and let the loss wash over and through her. When she returned her gaze to her desk, she was set. Of course, Palpatine wouldn’t let her wrestle control from him that easily. The most obvious track was out, time to refocus on other avenues.
She closed the open document on her next speech and opened up the social media sites. Navigating the depths of the holonet took skill and time, especially when it came to politics. It seemed that the consensus among those sympathetic to her causes were disappointed but not surprised. She nodded along with most posts, ignoring the more rancid takes.
Padme sighed. It was a long shot, and despite finding that she did have support, Palpatine’s supporters far outweighed her own.
It was another idea tossed into the rubbish bin.
Padme scrolled endlessly, wishing that for just once, she could have a kernel of power wrestled from the old man’s hands. The war machine was unrelenting in its march and Anakin looked worse and worse every time he returned. That didn’t even touch on the reports that touched her desk or the horror stories told on the holonet. Fucking hell.
Her finger stopped moving, happening to stop on a random post. Here’s how Padme Amidala can still win – it was nothing more than a desperate attempt to put off the inevitable. Yet, Padme could only smile.
She hit the like button and closed the social media app. Mentally, she dragged back the idea of winning this election out of the bin and returned it to her desk. It was not quite yet over. Padme couldn’t give it up this early. She had to stand up strong.
Padme returned to her speech.
Padme lost and got kicked out early. It was no surprise. The second contender put up a longer fight before bowing out too. Palpatine was still Chancellor six years over his maximum period, and he was here to stay for another three.
Despite the affront to democracy, Padme could find that she could shrug off the loss. This time, she knew she had tried her best, and she knew her supporters tried their best.
The little sentence – here’s how Padme can still win – was passed around like a good joke. It was one of the most surprising things of the election. Even when she was out, people were still posting about how she could still technically win. When the second contender bowed out, Padme distracted herself from the growing despair by enjoying a collection of outlandish theories as to how Padme could still win.
Even when the election was said and done, holonews stations moving on, Padme still came across the occasional devotee.
It was slow to start and never did reach viral, so when her handmaidens finally mention it in their social media review, she waved it away. It wasn’t a meme far reaching enough to capitalise on, and their whole system was more geared toward her haute couture fashion.
Nevertheless, months and even years after the failed election (and through another one), the meme persisted, reappearing every so often. Just enough to give Padme a good laugh and not destroy the humour behind it.
She even discovered a page that was dedicated to documenting the usage of the meme. Several of the members had noted that Padme was prone to liking posts with it and she laughed as she read how this could totally mean that Padme could still win, guys, don’t you see?
It was a source of humour in days so dark.
Bali’s speech was winding down, eloquent words weaving a Republic so desperate for change yet choked by the hold Palpatine had on the Senate. He called for action; he called for change. He begged other Senators to realise that this war was destroying them from the inside out.
Padme’s heart tugged at his words. They were doing everything they could to stop the Republic grind itself to dust and yet the one who was supposed to be saving this galaxy was doing nothing.
Fuck. It was all so hopeless. Anakin was so destroyed – how could she welcome him home with the news that the Republic he was fighting for was eating its own limbs? When his eyes were so dead, and his soul crushed?
Padme lifted the remote when Bali switched over to questions. They both knew it would be a massive waste of time – too many people were still blinded by Palpatine, and too many more supported his dangerous ideologies.
Nevertheless, she paused when Bali did. Whatever the question was, probably something about what exactly they could do, Bali paused, cracked a smile and then, with full humour colouring his voice, said “Well – here’s how Padme can still win.”
The page had a field day at that. People were spamming comments, surprised that another Senator had picked up on a joke that was, up until this point, exclusive to Padme and her supporters. The page picked up a little more traffic but – for the most part – it never reached terminal viral and faded back into the woodwork soon enough.
It nevertheless cemented the joke into something that would be revisited every few months or so.
The Republic was gone. In its ashes, the Empire rose.
Padme stared up at the white roof of the room. She couldn’t focus on the noises around her, or the stiff bed she was lying on. She was consumed by the all-encompassing pain.
It hurt. It hurt so badly.
Anakin was gone.
Padme closed her eyes.
Emperor Palpatine mourns the passing of long-time supporter and dear friend Padme Amidala. From her courageous actions that brought her to the Senate as her time as Queen Amidala to her determination as Senator Amidala, the Empire recognises her actions and nobleness. To think that she was murdered by the Jedi she trusted so much is a mark of transgression that can never be forgiven…
> stop lying you shit heads padme didn’t support palpatine the slightest
> long time supporter??? are you mad???
> “the empire recognises that she acted in the interest of the people and not a wrinkled old man and sought to eliminate her” there i fixed your article
>here’s how padme can still win
It seems, even as people pass on, memes and holonet jokes are forever.
At first it was black humour – how could they so flagrantly discuss a deceased person like that? Then, it turned into a sign of hardship and lasting hope.
Here’s how Padme can still win – says a strip of fabric hanging from a restaurant. Go inside and you’ll meet a besalisk built like a shithouse but will give a free meal on the house for those in need.
Here’s how Padme can still win – typed onto the banner of a website detailing how to cover your tracks when on the holonet.
Here’s how Padme can still win – mere whispers, sometimes Rebel passcodes, sometimes just meetings between people who recognise that the Empire is just not right.
Padme, murdered by the Empire for daring to believe in the Republic. Padme, turned into the Empire’s propaganda dog touted out every Empire Day. Padme, clawed from the Empre’s grip and once more turned into a symbol of resistance.
Here’s how Padme can still win.
(On a lighter note, not six years after the collapse of the Republic, the holonet delved into a tizzy. Leia Organa, Bali’s adorable, adopted daughter, had leaned into the mic and said with all the fierceness a toddler can muster, “Here’s how Padme can still win!”
It was the beginning of Leia’s political life)
The holonet is breathless with anticipation. News reports have flooded in, a huge battle between the Empire and the Rebellion occurring over Endor. Adrenaline junkies and news reporters hop into their dingy ships and fly as close as they can. They witness the tides of war, the give and take between ships, streaming it live to the greater galaxy. It’s soon apparent that this could be the battle that marks the end. Of either the Empire or the Rebellion, it’s not quite clear yet.
The Rebellion is clearly throwing everything they have. If they lose this fight, then there will be nothing left for them to scrape together. Yet – news comes in, the Emperor himself is reported to be on the second Death Star.
The Rebel ships begin to back away. The holonet almost broke – is this the end? Have the Rebellion given up?
Then – quite suddenly, the Death Star exploded.
The tears of despair turn into tears of joy.
There is a chance.
Weeks later, the galaxy is holding its breath. Reports have come in. Horrific loss for the Rebellion. Thousands died.
But. In a shining beacon of hope. Luke Skywalker confirms that Emperor Palpatine is dead.
Its not done yet. There’s still an Empire in Coruscant – sorry, Imperial Centre. Palpatine might’ve been the figurehead, the one that lead the Empire, but his ideologies still live on. The system that is designed to crush trillions still steadily slogs on. As one netizen apply puts it, Emperor Palpatine is dead. Work still asking me if I can cover a shift tomorrow.
The Rebellion needs to do something more. The system is still here – the fascists are still in positions of power. Rumblings suggest that they’re planning to put the Emperor’s dog – Lord Vader – on the throne.
Weeks and weeks of no news.
Then – the holonews channels are overtaken by the symbol of the Rebellion.
“Good evening,” Leia Organa cut in. She was always a symbol of the Rebellion, long before it was revealed that she and her dad were sympathetic to the cause. Alderaan lives on. “I must apologise the long wait. The Battle of Endor was little more than a surprise to us all, and I must confess, we were scrambling to create a plan for what will come next.”
Luke Skywalker, the hero of the century, destroying not one Death Star, but two and killing Emperor Palpatine, stepped into the frame. The lightsabre on his hip was unmistakeable.
“I thought it would be best to get the message out about Palpatine as soon as possible. Good for moral, no?”
Leia crossed her arms. “It had its drawbacks. But we all need a little hope here and there.” She straightened again. “We have some news, and not just notifying the galaxy we’re not done fighting yet. Emperor Palpatine is dead, but his Empire and his ideologies persist. The time has come to tear down this system and build anew. We won’t be returning to the Republic to as it was twenty some years ago. A revised one, and hopefully a little more democracy than the last.”
“We can still fight back. But I must warn you – prioritise your safety. If it’s too dangerous, keep your necks down.” Luke said. “The Rebellion will continue – we’ll push for the Imperial Centre and then outwards. And I won’t be alone.”
“I will be with Luke.” A newcomer stepped into frame. He’s – disfigured. Only his head shows and it’s white and skin wrinkled like an avocado from scars. Unspeakable horrors have been etched into his bones. “I am Anakin Skywalker, and I will fight by my son and daughter.”
While people a reeling from that revelation – Leia started again. “Our mother has stepped forward. She has fought as the Rebellion’s secret leader since the Empire’s birth and now she will return to guide us to the future.”
Leia paused. Eyes flutter shut. “Here’s how Padme can still win.”
Some people were already typing out keyboard smashes into text post creators, but Leia wasn’t done yet.
Padme Amidala stepped into frame. It was unmistakeably her. It couldn’t be anyone else but her. The way she moved, the way she smiled, the way her eyes were so focused. Padme Amidala, back from the dead.
Here’s how she can still win.