my decoy looked at me in fear and terror. Padmé looked the most horrified of them all, grabbing my hand and squeezing it to make sure I was alive. I squeezed it back with the most pressure I could muster in my small little hand.

"Our only hope is for the Senate to side with us," Bibble cut through the fearful tension, looking straight at me, "Senator Palpatine will need your help."

"Either choice presents great danger," Indirá quietly informed as she looked at the Jedi in front of her, glancing back at me with her peripheral vision.

She suddenly turned all the way around to face me full on, staring at me with slight fear in her dark brown irises.

"To us all," she whispered, looking at me for confirmation. I nodded my head at her and turned to face the Jedi, who was currently staring at me with curiosity in his wise, grey eyes.

I made sure to keep my eyes as hidden as possible while still trying to make eye contact with the Jedi before me.

"We are brave, your Highness," I countered, turning to stare at Indirá. She nodded at me, her eyes casted bravely towards me. My words had spoken volumes to her. I told Indirá to be brave, that we wouldn't give up, that we had hope.

Hope.

What a beautiful word. It was a gorgeous word that symbolized the feeling one gets when they have faith in their cause. A word that symbolizes the winning factor in a battle.

Yes, we had hope. And if we continued to have hope, we would surely win.

"If you are to leave, your Highness, it must be now," the Jedi stated, looking away from me and towards Indirá, who by now had recovered herself and nodded shortly at the man in front of her.

Indirá looked at me for a split second, waiting for my orders. I nodded just a smidge, hoping that she caught my message.

She nodded in return and turned back to the Jedi.

"Then, I will plead our case to the Senate." Indirá nodded her head firmly at her words.

Everyone, including me, nodded at the decoy queen.

The Jedi began to lead our group through the entrance to the hanger. Indirá stopped just before she was about to go through and addressed Bibble in front of her.

"Be careful, Governor."

Bibble nodded at Indirá, turning to me as I was about to make my way out the archway.

"Tell the Queen to stay safe," Bibble requested, looking at me softly as he said it.

I smiled at him with worry, knowing his words were directed at me.

"I will. And stay safe as well, Governor. You too, Captain."

Panaka and Bibble smiled at me fondly, before I followed the rest of the handmaidens out the walkway.

*＊✿❀○❀✿＊*

A/N: Hello! First of all, sorry this took so long. I had to rewatch the first couple scenes of the movie to get the action down. Action is not easy to write, folks! This also ended on a bit of an anticlimactic note, but I really wanted you guys to get another chapter so here you go. Next chapter will definitely be Clarissé and Padmé going to Tatooine. I just couldn't fit that section in here. Anyway, see you soon and goodbye!

Fun Fact: Clarissé has excellent handwriting, like calligraphy level handwriting. She's a nice person to have write your documents and signatures.

Word Count: 4038 words