ED : Chapter 56: On An Incline II

Padme Amidala's aura possessed all the vibrant complexity I was accustomed to perceiving in the auras of senior Jedi Knights. Her will, drive, and passion to help the people of the galaxy were palpable parts of her.

The commitment to the ideals the Republic had been founded on so intense, it felt like I should be able to reach out and touch a sense of conviction unbreakable as quantum crystalline sheathing. This was no ivory tower idealist, either.

She was well aware that effecting positive change required unrelenting hard work, dedication in the face of adversity created by all those who were merely acting out of self-interest, plus a willingness to shoulder burdens and accept risks others would reject out of hand.

She was fearless in the pursuit of seeing her ideals carried through to fruition, without falling into the trap of zealotry.

When she'd been informed by trustworthy individuals of the possibility that fellow Senators were engaged in acts which ran counter to the safety and prosperity of the Republic, her very first question had been "What can I do to help?"

Looking at her with my eyes rather than my Force Sense, I was keenly aware of how devastatingly attractive a woman she was. Natalie Portman had certainly possessed beauty and a measure of talent, but in the end, she'd merely been a performer playing a role. Padme Amidala was every inch the substance showing up the shadow.

For the duration of my second life, I hadn't really given much thought to the differences between what I'd once looked like, and what I looked like now. Maybe it was due to much of my time being spent in near-isolation, or the fact I was constantly surrounded by people who didn't lend much weight to an individual's looks beyond the demands of decorum.

Whatever the reason, I hadn't really considered the ramifications of a visage identical to Hayden Christensen's, or a form in even better shape than a counterpart it grew more difficult to conceptualize in a concrete way with each passing year.

Experiencing the intense physical attraction Padme Amidala felt when her deep brown eyes swept over me prompted me to do so now. It was a heady thing, knowing a woman of her caliber was as affected by me as I was by her.

A man would have to be dead not to feel an unthinking flush of pleasure over being desired by a woman whose outer beauty was only matched by her inner appeal.

The several seconds we'd stood there in silence staring at each other since she'd come aboard, Padme's expression had remained coolly impassive. Now, I felt the moment she mentally shook herself. Sensed her aura grow stormy, as a low-key anger began to build then simmer behind an expressionless mask.

A mask which caused me to feel for the second time in my life like my pronounced empathic gift was a subtle yet intrusive form of violation. Had I been anything but what I was, I'd have had no clue the Senator felt anything beyond a faint irritation and mild discomfiture at my unannounced presence within her vessel.

A skilled negotiator and gifted stateswoman, she was a past master at keeping her true feelings to herself when she wished.

Moreover, I realized an instant later that attraction she felt toward me was doing me absolutely no favors. It took me a couple of seconds to realize why, then I felt like a fool as she coolly challenged my presence.

"I'm concerned with both the High Council's apparent indecisiveness, and it's decision making process with regards to personnel management. I trust you can see why, Jedi Skywalker?" Her brown eyes flashed dangerously as she dared me to answer her with some sort of Force-related dodge.

"There's nothing indecisive about the High Council's decision making, or anything difficult to understand about their personnel management, Senator. Obi-Wan expressed their present position with regards to the mission quite clearly, I'm sure.

Grandmaster Yoda remains convinced the possible diplomatic repercussions of sanctioned Jedi involvement in this S.B.I investigation are unacceptable" I replied in a matter of fact manner.

I was sure it was possible to stop looking into the depths of dark eyes which continued to flash with anger, so why couldn't I seem to muster the will to do so?

Her mouth working soundlessly for a couple of seconds, the jaws of the woman still elegantly coiffed for an intimate dinner rendezvous snapped shut so hard I thought I might have heard her teeth click.

I wished I could actually perceive in detail all the possibilities I could sense that razor-sharp mind considering and rejecting with lightning facility, but unlike her feelings, Padme's actual thoughts were closed to me.

It took me a moment to recognize why, then comprehend how that almost certainly came about.

"Ahh, Panaka, you sly vulptex. You ensured your young Queen was trained to close her mind to Force-sensitives. That's just exactly what a cagey, Jedi distrusting Chief of Security would do. Along with all the other intensive survival, self-defense, and combat training you were responsible for her receiving.

I wonder why this detail never made it into the movies?" These silent ruminations were interrupted by the voice of the woman in question a moment later.

"You wish me to believe the Jedi Order is now dealing in plausible deniability, as if they were the Trade Federation?" Her voice was a careful sort of skeptical.

The kind you might hear during tense negotiations, when one side wanted to be very clear about something, before committing to anything themselves.

The question and tone both serving to remind me, again, that I was dealing with one of the most able political minds presently living.

I sighed quietly as I released the frustration this conversation was causing me into the gently trilling serenity of the Force, then answered in a low, intent tone.

"I came here because I want to protect you. For the duration of the mission, I mean. If the Council wanted to stop me from doing that, I'd already be stopped, Senator.

That's what I want you to believe, because it's the truth." Outwardly, my tone and expression hadn't changed, but inside I was kicking myself for saying something like that.

"Get a farking grip on yourself!" I silently railed at myself for such an adolescent misstep. I wanted to crawl in a hole to avoid the cold calculation which had replaced the previous fire in the brown eyes, but there was nothing to be done but brazen it out in impassive silence as she deliberated.

Padme's eyes suddenly softened a little. Even as an expression of vague frustration increased the tension in her features. "Why? Except for Master Jinn and Knight Kenobi, no Jedi have done more for my world than you and your former Master.

Yet you've made it abundantly clear on four separate occasions you didn't even wish to exchange a greeting with me. I can't prove it, but I believe you went as far as causing a servant to trip, spill a tray of drinks, and cause a more than passing disruption to facilitate your avoiding being so much as congratulated by me the night of the Theed ball after that blackguard Vindi's capture.

It just seems like such a sudden and curious turnaround, Jedi Skywalker, so again, I ask you why? When did my safety become such a concern for you?" Padme's voice wasn't interrogative or demanding. It was a softly mystified sound, mixed with a latent, unformed suspicion due to the admittedly confusing facts in evidence.

"Seti Ashgad is going to be the next Chancellor. Throwing the support of the Core and Loyalist Factions behind his Vice-Chair's eventual bid for the Chancellorship was the other half of the price Chancellor Organa paid to gain and keep the support of Ashgad's Militarists these past seven years.

Chancellor Organa is an incredibly principled, caring, honorable, and able politician, but the only thing of value he didn't wager on his ability to find a diplomatic solution to the Secessionist Crisis was forcing Seti Ashgad to accept Mon Mothma as his own Vice-Chair.

It was his hope that, in the unlikely event he failed, Ashgad would prove a one-term Chancellor. One who would be succeeded by his own Vice-Chair in turn" I replied in a firm and unhesitating manner that seemed to surprise the slender, dark-haired woman opposite me.

Holding up a hand to forestall her asking what any of this had to do with her question, I hurried on.

"Your friend and colleague is herself a great politician, but she's bought into the lie that Sora Bulq is simply an ex-Jedi whose developed seemingly irreconcilable political differences with the Republic. From what my Master has told me, Senator Mothma isn't even certain we Jedi are telling the truth about Palpatine being a Sith Lord.

Let alone Sora Bulq being his Sith apprentice. Someone who thinks this war is simply a matter of the shattered relationship between Core and Rim is not the best possible choice for the Chancellorship, Senator.

You might as yet be unwilling to accept that the majority of those with real power in the C.I.S actually want the coming war, or that the Sith are fanning the flames of their resentment and hatred into a nearly ungovernable lust for revenge, but you aren't in the habit of denying the truth when confronted by it. That makes you someone incredibly important, to the Republic."

My answer seemed to have discomfited the young woman, but she quickly rallied and replied "Let's discuss what I learned tonight, and what we'll need to do on Cato Neimoida.

Captain Typho tells me you predicted my success this evening, and he's already attended to the material logistics, so let's go over what you know of the targets. Once we've covered that, we can develop our contingency plans."

Disliking how dishonest I'd been even if entirely truthful in a factual sense, I simply said "I'm at your disposal, Senator."

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