Chapter 77: Padme Gets A Wake-Up Call

(Van: POV)

As I left Obi-Wan alone with his thoughts I truly hoped he would leave the order like Qui-Gon and I have.

He's a good Jedi and a good man, and I enjoy calling him an ally and friend.

I would hate for us to end up on opposite sides.

Because I have no doubt in my mind strife will happen between the Jedi Order I will create, and the one loyal to the Republic.

I just hope I can avoid yet another bloody Jedi Civil War.

Such thoughts rolling around in my head I suddenly found myself running into Palpatine, Padme, and their entourage.

"Ah knight Sunrider, hello again." Padme told me.

"Hello my queen." I replied. "Oh and no need to refer to me as knight Sunrider any longer. For just a short while ago I resigned from the Jedi Order." I revealed.

Shocking everyone.

Including Palpatine. But I didn't miss that brief gleam in his eyes when I said I'd left the order.

Man he really has a hard on for me.

Too bad for him I am straighter than an arrow.

"That is surprising news my boy. Might I ask, whatever possessed you resign from the order?" Palpatine spoke.

"Many things chancellor." I replied. "But the biggest reason is how the Jedi hardly acted while your home planet was under the thumb of the Trade Federation." I spoke.

Giving Palpatine some truth so he wouldn't sniff out the whole truth.

"I see." Palpatine mused. "Thank you for that. But I fear the blame for the events of Naboo lies not only with the Jedi but with the Republic as well." He spoke. "But thankfully the horrible ordeal has come to an end."

"Yes, and now Viceroy Gunray and the Trade Federation will face the consequences of their actions." Padme spoke passionately.

'Oh, this more naive girl.' I thought.

Time to start finally opening her eyes to the reality of things. Her corruption begins now.

"Yes. I agree with you your highness that Gunray and the Trade Federation should face justice, I just wonder if it will be that simple." I spoke.

"What you mean kni-I mean Mr. Sunrider?" Padme asked.

"Oh nothing really. Just a passing thought." I said. "Well I don't want to hold you up any longer. Excuse me." I said.

I then left before Padme could ask me anything else.

But I noted the curiosity in her eyes, which means the gears in her head are now turning.

Excellent.

I hope something fruitful comes out of our little conversation just now.

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Lying in my bed in the room in the royal palace Padme and the Naboo graciously provided me, I watched a horror holovid.

*Knock Knock*

But stopped it when I heard a knock on my room door.

Getting out of my bed I went to open the door and found Padme standing there, dressed in her hand maiden disguise.

"Yes, may I help you?" I asked.

"The queen sent me to check up on you." Padme replied.

Playing along.

Since if people find out the queen of Naboo was visiting the room of a young man close to her own age in the middle of the night well...even in the Star Wars universe people can't get enough of gossip and scandals.

Hence Padme's disguise right now.

"Oh, then please come in then." I said.

I then let Padme into my room and closed the door behind her.

Then I went to go and take a seat on one of he couches in the room.

"So, to what do I owe this late night visit your highness?" I asked Padme. "If it's your hand in marriage I'll kindly have to refuse. I would rather not end up a queens consort." I joked.

"What-No!" Padme replied.

Getting a blush on her face as she did.

"I did not come here for that Mr. Sunrider."

"Please, call me Van. We're too close in age for you to me calling me Mr. Sunrider" I spoke.

For it makes me feel old and I'm not.

Physically at least.

"Ok then Van." Padme spoke. "I came here tonight to finish our conversation from earlier. No, rather I came here to find out what you meant when you said in no uncertain terms Viceroy Gunray and the Trade Federation might escape justice for the crimes and acts they committed against Naboo and its people." She explained.

Telling me my hopes from earlier were not misplaced.

With just a few words Padme understood what I was trying to truly say to her earlier.

It's scary how good she is at reading subtext.

Then again I guess that's why she becomes such a prominent senator in the future.

Which I still wish for her to be.

Just one who isn't afraid to get her hands a little dirty.

"Well queen Amidala, I wouldn't say the Trade Federation and Gunray will escape justice entirely. They'll have to pay reparations for damages and loss of life most definitely. Gunray and his allies in the Trade Federation who actively participated in this attack might end up in pirson. But as a whole the Trade Federation wouldn't be going anywhere." I explained.

"But they attacked and occupied a member world of the Republic." Padme said.

"Yes, they did." I spoke. "But you're missing the big picture here your highness. The Trade Federation is an essential existence to the Republic and therefore cannot simply be gotten rid of."

"Why not?" Padme asked me.

"One of the oldest reasons in existence, money." I replied. "As you probably know the good and resources that keep the Republic economy afloat come mostly from the Outer Rim territories."

"Yes." Padme spoke.

"Good. Now the transportation of said goods and resources from the Outer Rim territories to a majority of the rest of the Republic is handled by the megacorporations such as the Techno Union, Mining Guild, Corporate Alliance, and the Trade Federation. But those megacorporations don't simply transport those goods and resources, they make sure they reach their intended destinations. By providing their own security. For the Outer Rim territories are rife with pirates, warlords, slavers, and a whole lot of other nasty and unsavory types. Who thinking nothing of hitting the shipments of the megacorporations. That is why those groups have such large military forces. For they basically keep order in the Outer Rim which keeps the Republic economy from crashing and burning." I explained.

Padme looking at me like I slapped her across the face after I finished speaking.

'She can't really have not known any of this, right?' I thought.

"That can't really be true, can it Van?" Padme asked me.

'Looks like she really didn't know any of what I just told her.' I thought.

Making me wonder how someone as smart as Padme had no idea of the realities of the Republic and in turn galactic economy.

It just doesn't make sense.

Unless someone deliberately kept her ignorant.

One man coming to mind.

Sidious I'm looking at you.

Well whether the Sith Lord did or didn't cause Padme to be ignorant where certain matters or realities are concerned doesn't matter right now.

What does is that she become aware of them quickly.

And wouldn't you know it she has the perfect person to teach her about such things sitting right in front of her.

A job I humbly accept.

"No, it be true your highness." I told her.

"But what about the Republic Judicial Forces? Aren't they keeping peace in the Outer Rim territories and the rest of Republic space?" Padme asked.

"In some parts yes, but in others there is no Republic Judicial Forces presence at all. Entire planet's, systems, and even whole sectors of space are left to fend for themselves. Especially since the Republic has been lowering the budget allocated to the Judicial Forces for centuries. For a lot of people in the government think because we have had no major galaxy-wide conflicts in almost a 1,000 years there is no need for them to pay for a military. But that type of thinking is wrong." I said. "A military force will always be necessary."

"But having a military force just invites conflict." Padme spoke.

"No, it does not." I immediately retorted. "Sure, in some cases a military force does invite conflict, but that is only in a small percentage of situations. Most often than not a military force is simply around to protect the safety and security of the innocent and defenseless. That's why many planet's, systems, and sectors have developed their own security forces and self defense forces. To protect themselves. I'm sure if Naboo had its own military force then things with the Trade Federation would've gone a lot differently, and you would've not have had to go and beg and plead with the Republic to save your people. A Republic who I might remind you did not even come to Naboo's aid after those holofeed's of what was happening on the planet, during the Trade Federation illegal occupation of it, went out over the holonet." I spoke.

At my words Padme was left utterly speechless.

I also so a new gleam in her eyes and the wheels turning in that pretty little head of hers.

Me getting a feeling I might've just gained a new ally.

But only time will tell.

Padme kept silent for another minute before speaking again.

"Thank you for your opinions Van. You've given me much to think about and consider." Padme told me.

"Any time." I replied.

Padme then say her goodbyes and I saw her out of my room.

I then went to sleep with a huge grin on my face.

For it seems everything with her is going according to plan.

I can't wait to see how her future self turns out now.

I'm sure it will be quite interesting.

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A/N: Yes, my readers Van has begun corrupting Padme.

Corrupting her pacificist idealism that is.

But Padme won't turn into a militarist or anything. She'll be mostly the same, only without so much talk of peace.

I hope you enjoy the new her I will create for this fic.

Also I am not putting her in the harem so stop asking Padme simps.

I mean I'm one too, but I've already chosen the three girls for the MC's harem for this fic.

So yeah.

Next up, yes I decided to kill Maul.

As for the Nightsisters I'll figure something out.

And for those wondering if Van will get his clone army then the answer is yes, for remember my friends the Kaminoan's do not have a monopoly on cloning in the Star Wars universe.

Hint: Thrawn Duology written by Timothy Zahn.

Oh and speaking of everyone's favorite blue-skinned, red-eyed alien who is a cross beteeen Sherlock Holmes and Alexander the Great he will make an appearance in this fic.

Until the next chapter my friends.

May the Force be with you.