The Unchronicled Adventures of Ahsoka Tano, Book Eight

Chapter Forty: Padme's Discoveries

PADME AMIDALA

Padme ran silently down a hallway in the Royal Palace of Aldera, heading towards the briefing room. Although she had third-level clearance, meaning that she could ask as many questions as she saw fit and about whatever she wanted, not everyone in the Palace knew who she really was.  

She knew that the higher-classed dignitaries of the Royal Court wouldn't take kindly to a person they thought was a mere nurse and governess to the Princess Leia and Lady Winter eavesdropping on their briefing. But, thankfully, she knew how to avoid such a political and social faux pas.  

Tucking herself into a quiet corner, she attached a listening device to the wall and, brushing aside a strand of her curly brown hair, put the matching earpiece in her ear. There was a fizz of static as the two pieces began respectively receiving and transmitting information. 

"...and now the situation is far out of our control," someone said. It sounded like the voice of Raymus Antilles, a friend of Bail Organa's.  

"But we must do something! The Onderon system is of too important to our cause to loose!" That, as far as Padme knew, was Enila Ajee, a middle-aged woman who was a part of the Organa family's large group of informants. 

"I'm sorry, but as of yet, we simply do not have the manpower and the ships necessary to mount an attack," Bail said, employing his most reasonable and convincing tone. "And besides, there is also the matter of remaining hidden from the Empire. If we are caught, then the rest of the Rebel cells we are backing will be left struggling without our support. And, consecutively, crushed." 

There were some murmurs of displeasure and some of concur, but Padme knew which side would win over. It was of no use trying to talk Bail out of his decision, and, with Mon Mothma on a leave of absence to recover from an illness, he was second-in-command. What he said was final. 

Removing and then pocketing her listening devices, she ran to the turbolift that would lead to the main hangar bay. If Bail would not send help, then she could at least do her best to help out with the fighting. 

During the four-minute journey down to the hangar, she sent a message to Bail and one to Princess Leia and Winter. Each contained a different explanation as to why she was leaving, but it was for the best. She had to make sure that her students would get along without her. 

As the elevator came to a stop and she hurried out into the hallway, Padme was nearly bowled over by an Astromec, more specifically an R2 unit. Startled and irritated, she said, "Be careful! You nearly ran me over, you–" 

And then she recognized the droid. The blue-and-grey swiveling headpiece, the white-and-blue body... This was none other than R2-D2, Anakin's old Astromec! 

R2 seemed to be just as shocked as she was. He beeped in wonderment, then butted up against her legs joyfully, almost knocking her over again. 

"It's good to see you too, my old friend," she said with a smile, bending down to rub the dome-shaped head, whose inner workings had saved her life more times than she could count.  

R2 beeped a question, asking her where she was going in such a rush. "I have to assist some old friends off-world," she replied. "Where were you going?" 

He replied that he was needed on the maintenance level, but that he was sending his destination and his task to another droid nearby as they spoke.  

"Why?" she asked. The droid said that it was because he was going to accompany her to her destination as her copilot. 

Padme tried to protest, but she knew how stubborn he could be. The digitized shrieking he was preforming was proof of that. "All right, you can come. Thank you, R2. I'll be glad for the help." 

She picked up the bag of essentials that she had hidden in a nearby locker in case she was forced to make a fast exit, then let R2 lead her to a small, chrome-and-yellow fighter. She smiled when she realized that it was of Nubian make. 

"You always understood my preferences, my friend," she said. Turning the engines on and bringing the computer online, she helped R2 into the hatch. Then they flew away from the Palace, and left the atmosphere. 

"All right, R2," she said, strapping on a flight earpiece. "Set a course for the Japrael system. We're going to Onderon."

*Padme has rediscovered an old friend... But what perils lie ahead for the former Senator Amidala and her companion, R2-D2? And what has become of the Rebels on Onderon, who are certainly now in danger from the likes of Darth Vader? And just what are the 'extra precautions' that the Emperor mentioned? You'll find out in the next thrilling chapter of The Unchronicled Adventures Of Ahsoka Tano!

Hey guys! Sorry I haven't updated recently... It's well, you know, the crazy time of year before school frees us into the gentle embrace of summer. I had a lot going on, and I was sick and didn't get to do much writing.

However, yesterday, the day before and today combined, I have three new chapters ready for sampling! The next two will be up momentarily!

Realize that you're not the Jedi you should be and may the Force be with you,

Sharron