The Queen walked over to the window and looked out the window, seeing the skyline traffic zoom by. As she stood there, she kept thinking about everything that has happened so far. She has seen it somewhere before and then, she remembered that it was in her dreams, that she had a couple of days ago. Now, she began to wonder if it was a dream or was it a vision of things to come.
" It's time to be going, Your Majesty," Senator Palpatine said, as he gathered up a pile of data cards from his desk.
" What? ... Yes, let's be on our way." The Queen said, as she turned from the window and began heading out the office.
Palpatine ushered the small group into the antechamber, where Anakin and Jar Jar sat waiting for them.
" Why don't you come with us?" Rabe, the Queen's handmaiden said, looking at him, her voice a whisper. " This time, you won't have to listen from behind the door."
Anakin and Jar Jar looked at each other startled, and then, they got up from their seats and followed her. After everyone changed clothes again, Anakin began to look around for Padme, but didn't see her.
" Please lead the way, Senator," The Queen requested of Palpatine, and beckoning for Anakin, Jar Jar and Captain Panaka to follow them.
" If the Federation moves to defer the motion, Your Majesty," Senator Palpatine was saying to the Queen, his head bent close, his voice low and insistent. " I beg of you, to ask for a resolution to end this session and call for the election of a new Supreme Chancellor."
Amidala didn't look at him, continuing to advance, towards the Naboo's senate box. " I wish I had you confidence in this proposal, Senator." she replied quietly.
" You must force a new election for Supreme Chancellor," Palpatine pressed on. " I promise you, there are many, who will support us. It is our best chance." He glanced toward the podium and Valorum. " Our only hope."
There was raise of murmur, from the assemble, as they all caught sight of the young Queen of Naboo, standing at the entry of the Naboo box.
" You truly believe Chancellor Valorum will not bring our motion to a vote?" she asked quietly.
The Senator just shook his head, and his high brow furrowing. " He is distracted. He is afraid. He will be of no help to us."
Stepping into the Senate box was: Queen Amidala, her handmaidens, Captain Panaka, joined by Senator Palpatine.
The Naboo box detached from it's docking and floated a very short distance, towards the Supreme Chancellor's podium. They waited for permission to advance all the way. Supreme Chancellor nodded in the direction of Palpatine. " The chair recognizes the Senator from the sovereign system of Naboo."
The Naboo box glided to the center of the arena. Palpatine rose to his feet, taking in the assemblage, with a slow sweeping gaze that drew all eyes towards him.
" Supreme Chancellor, delegates of the Senate, " his voice boomed in the chamber. " A tragedy has occurred on my homeworld of Naboo. We have become caught up in a dispute, one of which you are all well aware. It began with a taxation of trade routes and has evolved into an oppressive and lawless occupation of a peaceful world. The Trade Federation bears responsibility for this injustice and must be made to answer ..."
A second box came rushing over and this one belonged to the Trade Federation. It was occupied by the Federation's Senator, Lott Dod, and handful of trade barons in attendance.
" This is outrageous!" the Trade Federation senator thundered, and gesturing towards the podium and Valorum. " I object to Senator Palpatine's ridiculous assertions and ask that he be silenced at once!"
Valorum swiveled briefly in Lott Dod's direction and lifted one hand." The chair doesn't recognize the senator from the Trade Federation at this time." The Supreme Chancellor's voice was soft, but steady." Return to you station."
Lott Dod lowered his himself back into his seat, as his box slowly retreated.
" To state our allegations in full." Palpatine continues. " I present Queen Amidala, the recently elected ruler of the Naboo, to speak on our behalf."
Amidala rose to a light scattering of applause. Moving to the front of the box, and facing Valorum. " Honorable representatives of the Republic, distinguished delegates, and Supreme Chancellor, Valorum. I come to you, under the gravest of circumstances. In repudiation and violation of the laws of the Republic, Naboo have been invaded and subjugated by force, by droid armies of the Trade Federation ..."
Lott Dod was on his feet again, voice raised angrily. " I object! This is nonsense! Where's the proof?" He did wait to be recognized, as he turned to the chamber at large. " I recommend a commission be sent to Naboo to ascertain the truth of these allegations."
All Valorum could do at the moment, was shake his head." Overruled." Lott Dod threw up his hands, as if with that single word, his life had become hopeless. " Your Honor, you can't allow us to be condemned, without granting our request for an impartial observation. It is against all the rules of procedure!"
A third box glided forward, to join those that of Naboo and the Trade Federation. The chair recognized Aks Moe, the senator from the planet of Malastare. Aks Moe put the thick, heavy pads of his hands on his hips. " The Senator from Malastare concurs, with the honorable delegate from the Trade Federation." His voice was thick and gnarly. " A commission, once requested, must be appointed, where there is a dispute of the sort, we have encountered here. It's the law."
Valorum hesitated. " The point is ..."
That's when he trailed off, very uncertainly, left the sentence unfinished, and turned to confer with his vice chair. Together with their aides, the chair and vice chair, they engaged in a hurried discussion.
" Enter the bureaucrats, the true rulers of the Republic, and on the payroll of the Trade Federation, I might add" Palpatine whispered to Queen Amidala. " This is where Chancellor Valorum's strength will disappear." Palpatine said, with a tone of heaviness.
Valorum had a worn look on his face, as he came back to the podium. " The point is conceded. Section 523A takes precedence here." He nodded in the direction of the Naboo box. " Queen Amidala of the Naboo, will you defer your motion, in order to allow a Senate commission to explore the validity of your accusations?"
Amidala stiffened in total surprise. Her voice was edged with anger and determination. " I will not defer," she declared, eyes locked on Valorum. " I have come before you to resolve this attack on Naboo sovereignty now. I was not elected Queen to watch my people suffer and die, while you discuss this invasion in committee. If the Chancellor is not capable of action, I suggest new leadership is needed." she paused for a second. " I move for a vote of no confidence in the Supreme Chancellor.”
There were voices that rose immediately in response, some in support, and some in protest. Everyone in the room stood up and began to shout, echoing throughout the Senate chambers. Valorum just stood there, speechless, very stunned and in total disbelief, as he just stared at Amidala. She saw his face etched in sudden shock, as the impact of her words just registered. Amidala just stood there, facing him boldly and waiting for him to say something.
The vice chair came up, took control of the podium, as Valorum slumped down into his chair. " Order!" Amedda bellowed. " We shall have order!"
The assembly quieted and the delegates reseated themselves. A new box floated to the center of the chamber. The vice chair recognized Edcel Bar Gan, the Senator from Roona. " Roona seconds the motion for a vote of no confidence in Chancellor Valorum." Bar Gan intoned in a sibilant voice.
Amedda didn't look to pleased." The motion has been second." He turned to look down at Valorum, who looked at him with uncomprehending eyes, distant and lost.
" There must be no delays." Aks Moe of Malastare declares in a loud voice. " The motion is on the floor and must be voted on at once."
Dod was back on his feet. " I move the motion be sent to the procedures committee for further study ..."
The Republic Senate erupted anew, chanting loudly. " Vote now! Vote now!"
" You see, Your Majesty, the tide is with us," Palpatine announce quietly to the Queen.
" Valorum will be voted out, I assure you. They will elect a new Chancellor, a strong Chancellor, on who, will not let our tragedy be ignored ..."
Amedda was back at the podium, and began addressing the chamber. " The Supreme Chancellor requests a recess."
Amidala looked at Valorum and she saw that he was looking straight at her. In his eyes, she could see betrayal come to the Chancellor's face. She sat back down, as the box floated back to the dock. She felt really bad for doing what she did, but she didn't have a choice. Her people were dying and they needed justice to be done for those, who have already died. They had to make the Senate see that what the Trade Federation was doing, was unlawful and they need to be stopped.
They all headed back to the quarters that they were staying at. The Queen and Rabe went into her sleeping quarters and helped Amidala get out of her dress, so that way, she could lay down and relax some. Sabe waited until Rabe left the room and she came into the room. " I take it, it was bad?"
" You can say that. There is no way we are going to get any kind of help from the Republic." Padme said sitting down on the bed and began rubbing her temple.
" What do you mean, my lady?" Sabe asked pouring two cups of tea.
" Just what I mean, Now, they are going to be tied up with a new election of Supreme Chancellor. So, they could care less about what is going on, right under their noses." Padme said taking the cup from Sabe and taking sip of the tea. " So, what now?" Sabe asked taking a sip of her tea.
" I don't know ... I don't know." Padme said in a quiet voice, looking up to her best friend and had tears coming to her eyes.
Now, the only thing she can do is, wait and see what happens in the Senate. Hopefully, someone will be voted in, that will help them with their plight.
* (pages 217-226 of Phantom Menace by Terry Brooks)