Padme looked out the window of the air shuttle and still could not believe that the whole planet of Coruscant was just one giant city. She noticed that the setting sun was gleaming off the tall buildings, as it was sinking further down on the horizon.
We will be landing at the Senate building in about five minutes. Oh, and there will be a small reception for the new Senators that are coming here and then afterwards, we can go to your office, so that way, you can have a look around there. Maybe, we might meet your office aide. the Senate guide came up to Padme and informed her what was going on, when they landed at the Senate building.
Thank you. Um . . . what building was that one over there? Padme pointed over to a destroyed building.
Oh, that? Well, that was once the Jedi Temple and now, it is off limits to everybody. If you are caught near or even inside it, you will be arrested for trespassing. The guide looked over to the once proud Jedi Temple.
I see. So, what happened to the Jedi that used to live there? Padmes first thought went to her ex-husband.
They were all killed, but every so often, there are rumors that a few of them have escaped and went into hiding. the guide had sadness come into her voice.
I see. was all Padme could say, as the shuttle began to descend further down, before approaching the landing platform.
The ship landed on the platform and Padme saw small groups of Senators that had returned to Coruscant, after the war and the fall of the Republic. The hatchway door opened up and the pilot got out first and stood by the step. First, he helped the guide out of the ship and she was followed by the Senator. Padme stepped off the shuttle and looked around. She noticed that most of the Senators, she didnt know, which is a blessing, because the older Senators would have known her as Amidala, but this time, she was going by her real name Padme. Senator Amidala is dead and it has been a year since her death.
Ladies and Gentlemen, if you would all please follow me, then the small reception will start now. the Emperors aide motioned for everyone to quiet down and to follow him into the building.
Padme followed one of the last groups inside the building. Once inside, she went over to the punch machine and looked around at all the people, who have gathered around the room. She was hoping to see someone that she knew, but so far, there was no one. The double doors opened up and four red guards came into the room. Everyone froze in their spot, when they heard it: the sound of the most feared man in the galaxy . . . Darth Vader. He was closely followed by the Emperor, who was followed by four more red guards. Padme just stood there and watched the very tall and menacing man, that was following the Emperor closely and not saying a word to anyone.
Well, Senator Amidala, I thought you were dead. the Emperor looked at Padme, with a sneer on his face.
Um . . . Am sorry, but you must have mistaken me for someone else. I am Padme, the Senator from Delaya. Padme looked at the Emperor and saw a shock on his face, when she told him that he was mistaking her for the late Senator of Naboo.
I see. Well, welcome to the Senate. I hope that we can work good together. the Emperor nodded his head, before moving on to another group.
Padme did notice that Darth Vader did turn his head and look her way, each time he and the Emperor stopped to talk to someone new. Twenty minutes later, the gathering was over and everyone was free to leave. Padme and her guide headed for her office, where she met her office aide, Jeanie. The biggest thing that she noticed was, she was in her old office. Padme and her guide said bye to Jeanie and then headed off to her apartment, which was in the same building that she had lived in, while she was here before. To her shock, she got the same apartment that she had when she was here over a year ago. After saying bye to her guide, Padme went into her kitchen and fixed her something for dinner. She had a very quiet night, watching the holo-news, before going to bed and having a restless night.