. "Padm\u00E9 didn\u2019t want to say anything, but the sooner Anakin returned the better. She still didn\u2019t know what she was going to say if Obi-Wan contacted them. With a sigh she left the terrace and went inside the villa to where Senator Nalanda sat surrounded by files and flimsies. \u201CThe vote was deferred again,\u201D she told Padm\u00E9. \u201CAsk Aak pushed it forward saying we can\u2019t trust the Separatists to be decent, Bail interceded.\u201D She paused, looking past Padm\u00E9 with a frustrated expression. \u201CI should have been there.\u201D \u201CThe assassins would eventually have succeeded, m\u2019lady,\u201D Padm\u00E9 reminded her, sitting down on the couch opposite. \u201CYou\u2019re safe here, the Republic needs you alive.\u201D \u201CBut I can\u2019t do much good hiding,\u201D Nalanda protested. \u201CI've worked for nearly a year against this vote and much longer to set up the summit and I won\u2019t even be there when either of them happens.\u201D \u201CI am sure Representative Pela can manage in your stead,\u201D Padm\u00E9 said. \u201CM\u2019lady,\u201D Preya the housekeeper entered with a holocron, \u201Cit\u2019s your handmaiden Rian\u00E9 from Coruscant, she says it is urgent.\u201D \u201CThank you,\u201D Nalanda cleared some space on the table for the holocron, Padm\u00E9 rose to follow the housekeeper out but Nalanda waved her to remain. \u201CThis is somewhat unexpected, Rian\u00E9,\u201D she said to the hologram. \u201CMy apologies, m\u2019lady,\u201D Rian\u00E9 said in a nervous voice, shifting uncomfortably. \u201CBut I would not have contacted you if it were not urgent, Representative Pela has disappeared.\u201D Nalanda was stunned, as was Padm\u00E9. What is the reason for this? Padm\u00E9 wondered, Danta\u2019s not the type to abandon his duties. \u201CHe was last seen in Senator Organa\u2019s office,\u201D Rian\u00E9 continued, \u201Cthat was yesterday morning. I didn\u2019t realise anything was wrong until several of his appointments contacted me and asked where he was. The Jedi are assisting Coruscant Security with the investigation, but I knew you would want to be informed.\u201D \u201CYes, yes, of course, thank you Rian\u00E9,\u201D Nalanda replied, recovering herself. She paused for a moment as if to decide something. \u201CInform Senator Organa and the others that I will be attending the summit as originally planned.\u201D \u201CBut m\u2019lady\u2014\u201D \u201CThank you, Rian\u00E9,\u201D Nalanda interrupted, \u201Cthat will be all.\u201D And before her handmaiden could protest again she deactivated the holocron. \u201CM\u2019lady, I must inform you that you are taking an unnecessary risk,\u201D Padm\u00E9 said. \u201CYour life is still in danger until the assassins are uncovered.\u201D \u201CThen you will have to come with me then,\u201D Nalanda replied, piling up what was on the table and placing it in a case. \u201CI intend to leave within the hour.\u201D She started to leave the room. \u201CI can only do so much to protect you,\u201D Padm\u00E9 persisted as she followed her to the back of the villa. \u201CI am sure you will find yourself equal to the task, Master Naberrie.\u201D The senator retorted, deliberately resorting to formality to remind Padm\u00E9 of her place. \u201CThat\u2019s not the point,\u201D Padm\u00E9 argued. Nalanda slowly turned to face her and Padm\u00E9 could sense no fear at all in the young woman. \u201CMaster Naberrie,\u201D Nalanda said in a controlled, patient voice, \u201Cas I told you I have worked hard to set up this meeting with the Separatists and I intended all along to have a voice in it. If you plan to protect me, you will just have to come along.\u201D It slowly dawned on Padm\u00E9 as Nalanda finished her packing that she had no choice. \u201CThe transmitter is working but we are not receiving a return signal,\u201D Obi-Wan said, scratching his beard as he studied the small dish on the wing of his fighter. He was risking everything by informing the Jedi Council of what happened here, there was a reasonable chance that his transmission could be intercepted but Obi-Wan knew that it would be well worth it. \u201CArfour, can you boost the power?\u201D Arfour gave a chattering noise that Obi-Wan interpreted as negative. \u201CCoruscant\u2019s too far, we\u2019ll have to try something else,\u201D he pressed slipped into the cockpit and a few keys to change the transmission point. \u201CI\u2019ll send it to Anakin on Naboo, it\u2019s much closer.\u201D Soon enough the signal of Nalanda\u2019s ship appeared on his screen. \u201CAnakin, Anakin do you copy? This is Obi-Wan Kenobi.\u201D But instead of Anakin answering, it was Padm\u00E9. \u201CIs there something wrong, Obi-Wan?\u201D She asked as he got out of the cockpit to send the transmission. \u201CMy long range transmitter has been knocked out,\u201D he explained to her. \u201CI need you to transmit this message to Coruscant.\u201D \u201COne moment,\u201D she said, and at her signal he continued with his message. \u201CI have tracked the bounty hunter Jango Fett to the droid foundries on Geonosis,\u201D he began. \u201CThe Trade Federation is to make a delivery of their droid army here,\u201D Obi-Wan continued as Nalanda and Padm\u00E9 watched him, \u201Cand it appears that Viceroy Nute Gunray is behind the assassination attempt on Senator Nalanda.\u201D At this moment Nalanda caught Padm\u00E9\u2019s eye, should they have been surprised? \u201CBoth the Commerce Guild and the Corporate Alliance have pledged their allegiance to Count Dooku. Yet, there seems to be something going on that I haven\u2019t yet been able to place, all I know is they plan to combine the droid armies and are forming an\u2014Wait! Wait!\u201D He ignited his lightsaber and deflected a few blaster bolts, after he stepped out of the hologram a droideka came into view. In Chancellor Palpatine\u2019s office the same message was being played watched by the Chancellor and several senators. Watching also was Yoda, Mace Windu and Renust Nju. \u201CMore happened on Geonosis I fear than has been revealed,\u201D remarked Yoda. \u201CI agree,\u201D Mace replied, he stepped into the transmission. \u201CPadm\u00E9, we will deal with Count Dooku. The most important thing you for and Anakin is to stay where you are. Protect the senator at all costs, that is your first priority.\u201D \u201CUnderstood, Master,\u201D Padm\u00E9 said, bowing her head in respect. The hologram dispersed and Padm\u00E9 and Nalanda were once again alone in the cabin of her starship. \u201CWe need to get moving,\u201D Nalanda said, calling for the pilot to make the jump. \u201CBut senator!\u201D \u201CI\u2019m not changing my mind,\u201D Nalanda reminded her. Padm\u00E9 knew better than to argue further. \u201CI\u2019ll just send this to Anakin, he needs to know what\u2019s going on and where we are going.\u201D \u201CPerhaps he could rescue Obi-Wan then meet us at Imbroglio,\u201D Nalanda suggested. \u201CI don\u2019t think that would be a good idea,\u201D Padm\u00E9 said, imagining the telling-off Anakin would get from his Master. \u201CYes, but Geonosis is only a parsec from Tatooine,\u201D Nalanda told her. \u201CThey have to come halfway across the galaxy.\u201D Padm\u00E9 hesitated, she did have a point. \u201CI\u2019ll just tell him what has happened,\u201D she said. \u201CHe can take it from there.\u201D Back on Coruscant, there was still deep debate in the Chancellor\u2019s office. \u201CThe Commerce Guild are preparing for war, there can be no doubt in that,\u201D Bail Organa said. \u201CCount Dooku must have made a treaty with them,\u201D remarked Palpatine. \u201CThe debate is over,\u201D said Ask Aak in is growling language, \u201Cnow we need the clone army.\u201D \u201CUnfortunately the debate is not over,\u201D Bail countered, \u201Cnot has it even begun with the Separatists.\u201D \u201CMaster Windu, how many Jedi can be sent on such short notice?\u201D Palpatine asked. \u201COut of the thousands of Jedi in the galaxy, two hundred can be sent,\u201D the Jedi Master replied. \u201CBut surely is it not premature to act before the summit has begun?\u201D Renust Nju interjected. \u201CVery true,\u201D Bail agreed. \u201CAny action taken now will be taken as an act of war, something we are all trying to prevent.\u201D"@en . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . "Attack of the Clones (AU)/Chapter 18"@en . . "Padm\u00E9 didn\u2019t want to say anything, but the sooner Anakin returned the better. She still didn\u2019t know what she was going to say if Obi-Wan contacted them. With a sigh she left the terrace and went inside the villa to where Senator Nalanda sat surrounded by files and flimsies. \u201CThe vote was deferred again,\u201D she told Padm\u00E9. \u201CAsk Aak pushed it forward saying we can\u2019t trust the Separatists to be decent, Bail interceded.\u201D She paused, looking past Padm\u00E9 with a frustrated expression. \u201CI should have been there.\u201D \u201CI am sure Representative Pela can manage in your stead,\u201D Padm\u00E9 said. \u201CBut m\u2019lady\u2014\u201D"@en . .