After the short flight, to the Senator Palpatine's quarters, the two air shuttles landed on the landing platform. Palpatine, Queen Amidala, and her handmaidens, along with Anakin and Jar Jar got out of the first air shuttles. Captain Panaka and the Naboo guards got out of the second air shuttle. Palpatine led the small party into his quarters. " Your Highness, the rooms on the right side have been set up for you and your party. I will leave you now, so that you and your party can get cleaned up and rest some, before we meet in the anteroom."
Queen Amidala motioned for her handmaidens to go to her room. They showed Anakin and Jar Jar the room that they are to use. " Thank you, Senator."
Queen Amidala nodded, before turning away from the Senator and followed her handmaidens to the room that she was to use, while she was here on Coruscant. Twenty minutes later, Queen Amidala was sitting in the Senator's office, listening to Palpatine, and only two handmaidens were in the room, sitting right behind her. Captain Panaka walked past Anakin and Jar Jar and entered the room beyond, screening them, from the view for the moment. Palpatine stopped pacing and stood before the Queen, and was just shaking his head. " The Republic is not what it once was. The Senate is full of greedy, squabbling delegates, who are only looking out for themselves and their home systems. There is no interest in the common good ... no civility, only politics." He let out a weary sigh. " It's disgusting. I must be frank, Your Majesty. There is little chance the Senate will act on the invasion."
Amidala was silent a moment. " Chancellor Valorum seems to think there is hope."
" If I may say so, Your Majesty," the senator replied, his voice kind , but sad. " The Chancellor has little real power. He is mired in baseless accusations of corruption. A manufactured scandal surrounds him. The bureaucrats are in charge now."
The Queen rose, standing tall and fixed before him. " What options do we have, Senator?"
Palpatine seemed to think on the matter for a moment. " Our best choice would be to push for the election of a stronger Supreme Chancellor. One who could take control of the bureaucrats, enforce the laws, and give us justice." he brushed back his thick hair, worrying his forehead with a steepled finger. " You could call for a vote of no confidence in Chancellor Valorum."
Amidala didn't seem convinced. " Valorum has been our strongest supporter. Is there no other way?"
Palpatine stood before her. " Our only other choice would be to submit the matter to the courts - "
" There is no time for that," the Queen interrupted quickly, a hint of anger in her voice.
" The courts take even longer to decide things, than the Senate." She shifted purposefully, an edge sharpening her words further. " Our people are dying; more and more each day. We must do something quickly. We must stop the Trade Federation, before this gets any worse."
Palpatine gave Amidala a stern look. " To be realistic about the matter, Your Highness, I believe we are going to have to accept Trade Federation control, as an accomplished fact; for the time being, at least."
The Queen shook her head slowly. " That is something that I can't do, Senator."
They both faced each other, in the silence that followed; eyes locked. Anakin Skywalker, who was hiding behind the door, found himself wondering suddenly what had become of Qui-Gon Jinn.
* (pages 211-213 of Phantom Menace by Terry Brooks)