They dropped out of hyperspace above a brown-tinged world that definitely wasnât Naboo.
âPadmĂ©, where are we?â Bail Organa asked, leaning over the console to check the navicomputer. âDid you put in the wrong coordinates?â
âNo,â his fellow Senator responded as she instructed the shuttle to enter the atmosphere, âweâre right where we need to be.â
Bail frowned as he found the name of the system theyâd arrived at. âBut â this is Aargonar.â
The Aargonarian leadership had recently asked the Senate to send delegates to ease tension during the transfer of power ceremony. The existing governor was stepping down in objection to the Republicâs treatment of Confederacy of Independent Systems, and his successor had been selected due to his interest in exchanging the planetâs neutral status for a Separatist one.
He looked at her sharply. âWhat are we doing here?â
PadmĂ© focused on adjusting the controls. âThe governor requested for mediators to be present, to make sure things donât get out of hand.â
âAnd the Senate voted to deny their request on the grounds that they are Separatist sympathizers,â Bail reminded her. He paused as they rocketed through the upper atmosphere, the shuttle humming slightly as they broke through and began slowing down. âFrom what I hear, they wonât be a Republic system much longer. PadmĂ©, what are we doing here?â
PadmĂ© hesitated. âI received intel that Senator Bonteriâs husband, Claydon, is here, seeking to establish a Separatist base.â
âHave you reported it to the Chancellor?â Bail demanded.
PadmĂ© offered a small chuckle. âYou think the Chancellor doesnât already know?â She grew serious. âThe Chancellor plans on issuing a strike force to wipe out the base. Iâve got to warn Claydon. I owe it to Mina.â
As much as he wanted to be angry with PadmĂ©, he couldnât. She loved Senator Bonteri, and Claydon was a good man, in spite of his political allegiance. Before the war began, Bail had actually become fond of the senatorâs husband, finding him to be an excellent conversationalist during otherwise tedious dinners.
âTheyâll hardly let two Senators waltz into a new Separatist post,â Bail pointed out gently. âIâm afraid we wonât get close.â
âAargonar still holds the Jedi in high esteem, and would do anything they ask.â
âWell, yes, maybe. But we donât have any Jedi with us.â
Instead of answering, Padmé turned the controls over to Bail and rose from her seat, exiting the cockpit. Bail let out a breath. Padmé was one of his closest friends, and he knew her well enough to realize that he was about to get roped into one of her escapades.
The cockpit door hissed open and he flicked on the auto-pilot. Bail turned to find PadmĂ© holding out a bundle of clothes to him. Suspiciously, he took them and let them unfurl. A tunic, some leggings, a utility belt, a long cloak â
It took him two more beats before it sank in. He rounded on PadmĂ©. âOh, no. No, no, no. You canât be serious!â
âWe canât pose as Jedi!â
âItâs illegal! Have you forgotten that?â
âIâm sure the Jedi Council will understand.â PadmĂ© smiled slightly. âYou donât have to come with me, Bail. Youâre free to take the ship once Iâve landed, if you promise to return for me in three days.â
âI canât leave you here alone,â Bail exclaimed. âI â PadmĂ©, this is ludicrous. We donât have Jedi abilities! If something goes wrong, if they ask us to prove ourselves, weâll be caught.
âWe go in and make it clear that we are only there for deterrence. Thatâs a large portion of a Jediâs job anyway; their presence alone is enough to make most beings back down. Weâll earn the trust of some government official who knows about the Separatist base, and weâll ask to see it. Itâs a reasonable request, and they know Jedi would never use subterfuge to destroy it. Itâs still at the stage where a Jedi could claim diplomatic immunity. I can get in contact with Claydon and⊠well, whatever he does with the information is up to him.â She looked up at him, determined. âI have to do this, Bail. I have to try.â
Bail sighed and shook his head. There was no argument that would sway her; she was, of course, right. âVery well.â
âThen get changed. Weâll be landing soon.â
* Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â * Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â *
The tunic was a bit small, but it would serve. The boots PadmĂ© provided fit reasonably well, but didnât match the arch of his foot at all. Bail hoped he wouldnât have to do any running in them. His shoulders sagged.  Iâm with PadmĂ©. Of course Iâll have to run.
He caught himself as the ship touched down on solid land. He returned to the cockpit to find that Padmé had already donned a set of robes. Used to seeing her in senatorial garb and evening gowns, he found it strange to see her in the unembellished tunic.
âWhere did you even get these?â he asked, peering at his own clothes. The darker color reminded him of Master Skywalkerâs robes.
âMine was made my seamstress. Yours I had to â ah, borrow.â
He shot her a look. âAnd youâll return it, of course?â
âOf course,â she responded, avoiding his eye. âOne last detail.â She reached into a crate at her feet and pulled out a smaller box. She opened it carefully and turned it towards Bail. Inside rested two lightsabers.
âWhat?â Bail recoiled, his eyes widening. âWhat have you â?â
âTheyâre not real lightsabers,â PadmĂ© said quickly, picking one up and showing him. âCaptain Typho designed it. If you hit the main button here, it releases a blaster bolt. Jedi donât carry blasters, but he refused to go along with this unless I had some type of weapon. And this knob here, if you twist it, it emits a thick smoke that would give us some cover if we needed to escape.â
Bail took the false lightsaber gingerly. âI suppose we do have to look the part.â He clipped the weapon onto his belt, then spread his arms. âHow do I look?â
PadmĂ© regarded him thoughtfully. âUncertain, uncomfortable, but the costume almost makes up for it.â
âI canât act like a Jedi.â
âJust act like your normal self, Bail. You already carry yourself much like Iâve seen Jedi do. Just throw in some wry remarks and youâll convince them.â
He caught her by the arm as she went to pass him. Irritation flashed across her face, but vanished a moment later. âAre you sure about this?â Bail asked quietly. âYouâre putting yourself at risk.â
âSo are you, by agreeing to come,â she said.
They stood in silence for a long moment. They were both nervous, Bail knew. Trying to go undetected into enemy territory impersonating Jedi was nerve-wracking enough, but if they were discovered to be Senators, here without the Senateâs permission, they would be accused of treason, or...
âYou know Iâll always be here for you.â
She smiled. âLetâs go.â
Bail let her lead the way down the shuttleâs ramp. Waiting for them at the platform was a bald human male with a full beard and a blaster at his hip. Two security guards flanked him, black helmets masking their faces. The man stepped forward.
âWelcome to Aargonar, Master Jedi. I am Deean Corre, head of the governorâs security force. I must say, we were not expecting your arrival. We had been under the impression the Republic would have nothing to do with our world and its democratic processes. We are honored to have you here, Masters â?â
PadmĂ© bowed. âSola Naberrie, sir.â
Bail followed her lead, bending at the waist and dipping his head. âGiles Durane, at your service.â
PadmĂ© clasped her hands in front of her. âWe apologize that we did not announce our intention to arrive sooner. The Chancellor asked that we keep this matter under wraps, to avoid any unnecessary attention.â
âOf course, of course,â Corre responded hurriedly. âI understand the precaution. If you would follow me, Master Jedi, I shall escort you to the governorâs chambers. I am sure you will have much to discuss.â
Bail exchanged a glance with PadmĂ©. She gave an encouraging smile. Bail allowed himself a deep breath. âIâm sure we will,â he responded mildly.
Â
**A submission for @finish-the-clone-wars writing Wednesday prompt, Infiltration**