(Video)

[politicallyinclined]

(This is technically her second network post (the first being here). She shows her face this time, calm, collected - as much as she can manage anyway.)

To my fellow members of the First Breath, I would like to properly introduce myself: I am Padmé. I come from a planet called Naboo and I am well-acquainted with visiting other worlds.

(Even so, this shift has been a shock.)

Are there any healers onboard? If so, I wish to speak with you.

Comments

[provenforce]

[ The fact that her grandfather was a very notorious citizen of Naboo is probably a good reason for her to not ever visit.

She hesitates for a moment, she still is unsure of the title, because she feels like she's claiming it from the ether. No one named her Jedi, but she knows it's expected of her to call herself one all the same. ]

I am. You're familiar with Jedi?

[politicallyinclined]

(Unless she has the protection of someone like Padmé who would never accept attacks or insults hurled Rey's way. Palpatine was a one of a kind monster; his children and grandchildren shouldn't bear his punishment. Justice doesn't work like that.

You are one, Rey. A strong one.)

I married one. (Why keep that a secret any longer?) I also worked closely with them when I served as Queen and then again as a Senator for Naboo.

[provenforce]

[ Rey looks surprised at that revelation, if only because she didn’t know that Jedi got married. Leia had, of course, but she also insisted she wasn’t a Jedi. Maybe that was the difference? ]

I didn’t know there were any Jedi that had gotten married.

[politicallyinclined]

(The Jedi aren't suppose to get married. Such unions are seen as intrusive and detrimental to their ability to remain unbiased. Justice should be at the forefront of their minds; not romantic love.)

I can only speak for the one. It's...forbidden.

[provenforce]

Oh.

[ She frowns lightly, shaking her head. ]

That doesn't seem right. I'm-I was at my strongest when beside someone I cared for.

[ Which hadn't been great when facing Palpatine, for some reason. ]

You must be from before the Empire, then. I don't think there's enough Jedi left in my time for them to be mad about something like that.

[politicallyinclined]

No, there wouldn't be many left behind after they were slaughtered. On Palpatine's orders. (Even though Anakin played a hand in that carnage - in ways she will never be able to stomach - she doesn't believe he is himself. Palpatine preyed on him when her back was turned.)

I'm sorry you must live in such dark times. The Jedi were a force of good. Even if I didn't agree with all of their doctrines, they tried to bring stability and justice to the galaxy.

[provenforce]

Oh. You're from then.

[ Rey bites her lip, looking away from the screen for a moment. ]

I was actually born after the Empire was overthrown. My masters both grew up during the Empire's reign. Though they never entirely went away even after Palpatine was killed... The first time.

There are few Jedi that exist in my time, but I was lucky enough to find masters Luke and Leia.

[politicallyinclined]

I'm sorry the Empire existed at all. (She has been made aware that time shifts unexpectedly, but it is jarring to meet someone from...the future. Someone who knows Luke and Leia.)

Will you... Would you mind telling me about them? Luke and Leia?

[provenforce]

From what I know about it, Palpatine was working on it for a long time, I'm sure it wouldn't have been possible to know it was happening until too late.

[ This she's sure of, since he somehow managed to keep an entire fleet of Final Order ships and the fact that he was still alive in a cloned body under wraps for 30 years. ]

I can but why would you- [ Things click into place for her. Leia didn't talk much of her mother or father, the biological ones, at least. but she'd shared some things with Rey, enough that when Rey looked at Padmé she realized the reason why she looked so familiar was those features she had given to her daughter. And grandson. ]

You're their mother.

[politicallyinclined]

He is a Sith Lord. All they crave is power. None of his deeds should have been trusted. I am not the only one who was remiss in noticing how, with each turn, he seemed to benefit.

(Give her five minutes with any of his bodies and she will gladly throttle him.)

Why? (She repeats, a sad smile answering that question. Rey comes to the answer on her own and Padmé nods softly.)

I gave birth to them before I arrived. I can't say I'm going to be much of a mother. They deserve so much more.