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The Senatorâs Help
The Queenâs spacecraft made it to Coruscant and landed on a platform high above street level. Supreme Chancellor Valorum, several guards, and Senator Palpatine greeted them as they descended from the ramp. Palpatine was surprised to see how the Queen had matured since he had last met her. Communicating to her by holoprojection had not prepared him for the beautiful young lady now standing before him.
âIt is great to see you alive, Your Majesty. May I present Supreme Chancellor Valorum.â Palpatine stated.
âWelcome, Your Highness. It is an honor to finally meet youâŠâ Valorum said.
As Valorum droned on with his greeting, Palpatine cast an appreciative eye over the queen. He would have to get to know her better.
Padme noted the Senatorâs interest in who he thought was the queen. Perhaps she could turn this to her advantage. The Senator invited them to come to his quarters right away, but Padme motioned to the âQueenâ to delay so that she would have time to prepare. The Queen and her staff were shown to their quarters. There, Amidala resumed her role as queen and dressed in a lime green outfit with a white headdress topped with a black fan like appendage. She carefully applied the white makeup and the red highlights on her lips and cheeks. Amidala sent Captain Panaka on a mission to obtain some information she needed. The Queen accompanied by Eirtae and Rabe then went to Senator Palpatineâs place.
The Senator greeted the Queen and her party. He noted the there was something different about the Queen, but he attributed it to her changed wardrobe. The Senator went on about the state of affairs within the Senate.
ââŠthe 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 sytems. There is no interest in the common good...no civility, only politics...its disgusting. I must be frank, Your Majesty, there is little chance the Senate will act on the invasion.â
âChancellor Valorum seems to think there is hope,â Amidala replied.
âIf I may say so, Your Majesty, the Chancellor has little real power...he is mired down by baseless accusations of corruption. A manufactured scandal surrounds him. The bureaucrats are in charge now. â
âWhat options do we have?â asked Amidala.
âOur best choice would be to push for the election of a stronger Supreme Chancellor. One who will take control of the bureaucrats, enforces the laws, and give us justice. You could call for a vote of no confidence in Chancellor Valorum.â
âHe has been our strongest supporter. Is there any other way?â
âOur only other choice would to be to submit a plea to the courts...â
âThere's no time for that. The courts take even longer to decide things than the Senate. Our people are dying, Senator...more and more each day. We must do something quickly to stop the Federation.â
âTo be realistic, Your Highness, I'd say we're going to have to accept Federation control for the time being.â
âThat is something I cannot do.â
Captain Panaka approached Queen Amidala and whispered something in her ear.
âSenator, could we continue this discussion in private?â
âCertainly.â He escorted the Queen into his private study and closed the door.
âWhat did you wish to discuss?â
âSenator Palpatine, even though you say the Senate may not act, I know you wield significant influence and could do much to promote our cause especially if you were to take a more active role in presenting our case.â
âIâm doing as much as possible as it is.â
âWhat about the help you gave to the Horanian system with their conflict. You managed to push a resolution to that conflict through the Senate relatively quickly.â
âThat was a totally different situationâŠâ
âWas it because of the special arrangement you had made with the Grand Empress of that system?â
Palpatine started to become suspicious of this line of questioning. How could Amidala know about the sexual favors he received from the Empress?
âUnderstand Senator,â Amidala continued, âI will do anything to help my people. Anything.â
âI see, butâŠâ
âYou seem hesitant. Perhaps it is because of my age. Let me assure you Senator that I am completely mature and a legal adult in the Republic.â