driftfleet | 01 ★ video & action

Who: Padme Amidala
Broadcast: Fleet-wide
Action: The Marsiva
When: Jan 19th, evening

[ It's cold.

That's the first thing Padmé thinks in her half-awake state. It's cold like metal, like space. Whatever she's laying on is lumpy and uneven. Some part of her mind thinks wake up, you're in danger!.

Her eyes snap open and she sits up quickly. Her body is tense, like she's ready to run or fight at a moment's notice. Her elegant headdress and long robes might make it a bit more difficult, but Padmé is used to them. She scans the room for threats, and her eyes settle on a device not too far away. It's unfamiliar, but she knows it's a recording device transmitting to nearby ships. It unsettles her that she knows that but not how she got here.

She could turn off the feed if she chose but she might as well try to communicate. Whoever is watching already know she's here. Padmé sits up straight, trying her best to look confident and approachable. As she speaks, it's clear she's choosing her words carefully. ]

Hello, everyone. [ She realizes that she has no idea who she's addressing, only that she's speaking to someone. Or many someones. ] My name is Padmé. [ She carefully uses her first name, rather than Senator Amidala. On the off-chance these people don't know that she's a Senator, she doesn't want to tip them off. ] I would greatly appreciate any information about my current situation. I'm afraid my memory is rather vague.

If the people in charge are receiving this, I would appreciate the opportunity to speak with you.

[ She doubts she'll get a reply, but she says it anyway. Although it irritates her to no end, she's careful to avoid inflammatory words like 'kidnapping' or 'hostage.' She's decidedly Not Happy about any of this, but her political poker face is strong enough to hide it from people. Most people. ]

Thank you.

[ She shuts off the feed and her expression shifts from careful calm to determination. Kidnapping Padmé Amidala? Never ends well. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Well, there goes the possibility that she wouldn't be recognized. But this woman certainly has her interest. Urgent business already? ]

About what, may I ask?

[A small part of her is disappointed that there's no recognition in Padme's face--but she has no reason to see a resemblance.

This, she decides, is a conversation best conducted privately. If only it could be had in person.]

Of course. These ships--this fleet, it's somewhere outside our galaxy, but several people from our worlds are here. From different times and different places.

[Wait, wait, wait, she hasn't even introduced herself. Introductions should come first. On the outside, she might be all business, but inside, she feels like the universe just turned upside-down.]

My name is Leia. [Never mind the surname for now.] I'm...[honoured to meet you, shocked that this is happening, wishing desperately that I'll meet your approval] pleased to meet you.

Pleased to meet you as well, Leia.

[ She senses more than sees that Leia wants something, was expecting something. Padmé doesn't know what, though. ]

I'm sorry, "different times?"

Yes--different times. When I was dragged into the Fleet, it was the year 39, but for you, I'm sure that's still well into the future. It takes some time to grow accustomed to it, but as the Atroma has seen fit to bring us from several different times, it's vital to know.

And additionally-- [Now that she has the woman before her, a lifetime of imagined conversations vanish from her mind. How can she possibly ] I need to speak with you about your family.

[ She tries to wrap her head around it. She can't not quite, but if it were true, the Atroma are far from anything she's ever known.

Leia mentions her family and Padme's heart drops. Her first thought is of her family on Naboo. Worry overtakes her features. ]

Are they okay?

Yes. Please don't be concerned--it's a matter of the future.

[This is going terribly, as far as Leia's concerned. Five minutes of speaking with her mother, and she's already worried her. She might be as even-voiced as ever, but it feels like her words aren't serving her with any reliability at all.

But it's too late for regret. There's nothing left but to carry on.

(She still can hardly believe this is happening.)]

I can't tell you everything. [Obviously.] But it's important that you know--

[Just say it.]

Padme, I am your daughter.

[ There's a long, long pause. "Year 39." "Be ready for anything you and Leia might talk about."

"We're going to have children. Twins."

Padme can't breathe. Suddenly everything falls into place, so clearly that now she has no doubt. (She has Sola's eyes, Shmi's smile, that little wrinkle that Anakin gets when he's thinking hard.)

When she can finally breathe again, there's only one thing she can say. ]

Oh.

[ It's half-spoken, half-breathed. It's surprise, recognition, and something close to reverence. ]

[ Another pause, another breath and the words just tumble out. ]

Anakin said children-- I didn't know he meant here.

[ Padme feels put on the spot. She's sure Anakin would have told her, but Leia got to it first.

A little quietly and awkwardly, but sincerely: ] Leia... it's a pretty name.

[There are several long, painful moments in which she can do nothing except wait and watch her mother absorb the news. She's on tenterhooks, waiting for some kind of reaction she can answer.]

I'm sure it's a lot to take in.

[I'm sorry for the shock.

She could have waited for Anakin to make explanations--the thought only occurs to her then--but who knows what he would have said? He hadn't exactly been friendly, the one time they'd met, and he knows of Leia only what Luke has told him.

No, she'd had to speak to her. This might be momentarily uncomfortable, but the alternative would be unacceptable.]

Thank you. [Her own voice grows quiet.] I'm told you came up with it.

[BUT NEVER MIND THE FACT THAT SHE DOESN'T SPEAK WITH FIRSTHAND KNOWLEDGE. Time to change the subject!]

My brother is here, too. I'm sure you'll hear from him soon.

[ Quietly: ] What's his name?

[ She'd like to be braced, ideally. Perhaps her conversation with him-- with her other child-- could be easier. Though she doubts it. She still struggles to reconcile "Leia" and "my daughter" beyond simply knowing that it's true. Beyond seeing the similarities. It's unreal, it's... a lot to take in. ]

Luke. [A pause, and an addendum that's unlikely to mean much to Padme.] Luke Skywalker.

If you have...questions...I can try to answer them.

[ There's a brief twitch of a smile. Two "L" names.

But that flash of a smile fades quickly. ]

I don't even know where I would begin. I'm sorry, this must be difficult for you.

Don't worry about me.

[She's the one who initiated this, after all. It was her choice to reach out, to tell her this way, and she'll live with the consequences.

(Worry about me, some tiny part of her wants to contradict. The skinny-limbed eleven-year-old who'd wondered who her first mother was, maybe. I'll take a second mother before I will a second father. It's irrational and unvoiceable, but it's there.)]

We...don't have to talk about this now, if you'd prefer. [And then, a little hasty:] But I would like to meet you--once you've been assigned to a ship.

[ Time. She needs time. Some of the tension in her shoulders eases. Padmé doesn't even have a fraction of the answers she needs, much less answers Leia will undoubtedly want. ]

I... need some time. But of course I will meet you and your brother.

I understand.

[It's a shock, and if Leia's honest with herself, she probably needs time, too. She hadn't even seen Anakin until she'd been part of the fleet for some time, and even then, she'd barely spoken to him. She'd had time to steel herself, and to present herself the way she'd wanted him to see her.]

I'm the Communications officer for the Windrose. If you need anything.

[She turns off the feed, mostly because the thought of Padme doing so first is strangely troublesome--even though there's no reasonable explanation why.]

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