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The meeting had gone terribly. Padmé had expected discord among the Partisans, but it seemed Gerrera had completely lost control of his people. She shuddered as she remembered how the meeting had dissolved into a shouting match between Gerrera and Kosan.
“What about the Wookiees on Wawaatt?” Kosan had yelled. “Tarkin has them locked up, doing force knows what! They’re depending on us, and you would have us give up and flee!” She had stormed out of Partisan command not too long afterwards, taking several other lieutenants with her. Sabé had chosen that time to mention they really had to go, so Padmé had taken the opportunity to recommend an (admittedly well-needed) lunch break. As a result, Padmé sat and ruminated over some stale ration bars the Partisans had intercepted a few weeks before.
As much as Padmé sympathized with Lieutenant Kodak’s position, she could see Gerrera’s point- Partisan fighters were dying in droves now that a fresh shipment of Walkers reached the struggling imperial garrisons. Coupled with the expanding blockade, Padmé worried how much longer rebel operations could continue before they were either trapped or permanently cut off from other cells. Two weeks of fighting, and already the sentient cost to Partisan forces was staggering, not even counting the thousands of Wookies who were arrested in the following planet-wide crackdown on ‘Crimes against the Empire.’
‘Crimes against the Empire,’ she thought derisively, 'what a farce!’ It seemed like anything was a crime against the Empire these days, especially after the Senate’s latest Bill against public dissent and gathering. The imperials on Kashyyyk were using it as an excuse to arrest as many Wookies as possible by labeling Life Day gatherings as illegal. As a result, festivities had to be kept either private or well hidden.
In the Shadowlands, where the last of the partisans were currently laying low, Life Day preparations were in full swing. Padmé watched and smiled as a few Wookies lay down colorful mats with small trinkets and baubles. ‘It’s good that beings here can remain positive, even in the face of imperial subjugation.’ She would be sad to leave the planet, even though she saw the wisdom of living to fight another day. Kashyyyk’s rich forests full of vibrant life inspired her, even as the empire did its best to process them into nothingness.
Sabé sat down next to her, ration bar in hand, interrupting her gloomy meditation. She slowly unwrapped it, staring at the high-starch compressed nutrient block with a level of suspicion generally reserved for only the most corrupt senators. Cautiously, she prodded the beige concoction with a single finger, watching with rapt attention as the cracker-like surface held its ground. She made a slightly grieved face and slowly raised the bar to her mouth, purposefully making a show out of eating it and broadcasting her opinions of it with her expressions.
Padmé began to laugh at Sabé’s antics. She grinned back, asking, “How are Eritaé and the twins?”
Sabé waved the secure comm link she was using to text home base and responded, “Eritaé said she just put them down for a nap. Luke and Leia were apparently exhausted after getting to play with their cousins.”
Padmé smiled at that. It had been dangerous to send them to Sola to meet their extended family, but she was glad she did it if the twins were having fun.
“Eritaé said the Empire’s making noise about completing the blockade around Kashyyyk,” Sabé continued on. “Padmé, I don’t know how much longer we can stay here.”
Padmé sighed. “I know. I told Saw we had to leave before the next daylight cycle.”
Sabé nodded at that. “I wish we could stay longer,” she said, pausing to chew another bite of her ration bar, “we haven’t even gotten a present for the twins!”
Padmé resisted the urge to groan at that. “I completely forgot! I’ve been too busy trying to keep our allies from falling apart- Luke and Leia are going to kill me!”
Sabé began looking around for anything the twins might like, frantically eying flowers, creeping vines, and particularly interesting pebbles before the holiday market caught her eyes. She shook Padmé enthusiastically.
“Right there!” She said, pointing down at the mats with small, shimmering ornaments. “I bet Luke and Leia would love an authentic Life Day gift!”
Padmé grinned back at her. “I still have a few credit chips left, we might be able to find them something small.”
Sabé stood up and held out a hand, which Padmé gladly took. Hand in hand, they walked over to the first of the mats, where a Wookie was carving small pieces of bog glass into Kashyyyk wildlife. Padmé pointed out a piece of red glass about the size of her thumb that had been carved into a slyyyg, fire slugs native to Kashyyyk. She picked it up and admired the curly details along the body of the slug and the thin sensory stems that had been painstakingly rendered.
“Luke would love this,” she murmured as she turned it over in her hands.
Sabé nodded in agreement. “He’s been really keen on animals lately. How much for the slyyyg?” She asked the craftsman in front of her. “We only have credits, I hope that’s OK.”
“Credits are fine,” the Wookie responded in Shyriiwook, “I’d like 40 credits for it.”
Padmé quickly counted out forty credits worth of the small bars, and handed them over with a smile. “Thank you, my son will love this.”
Putting the slyyyg in her purse and her hand back in Sabé’s, she turned around to look at the other colorful mats in front of her. “What do you think Leia would like?”
Sabé considered as she looked around. One Wookie was selling small jewelry, which she knew Leia would love. Next to her, however, was a mat covered in plant clippings. Leia had taken an interest in plants after Eritaé had introduced her to the greenhouses of Naboo. A small Bonshyyyr sapling sat in a red and black pot, drawing Sabé’s eye.
“There,” she said, pointing at the Bonshyyyr. “It’s perfect for Leia.”
Padmé smiled softly. “Absolutely.” As Sabé moved to pay for the tree, an approaching figure caught her attention. Lieutenant Kosan was approaching her, a determined light in her eyes.
“Senator,” she said in greeting. “I wanted to wish you a safe journey back.”
Padmé nodded. “Thank you. Have you decided to stay on Kashyyyk?”
“I have,” Kosan replied. “I can’t leave, not while there’s still so much to be done. I’m sure you understand.”
“I do.” Padmé paused. “I wish you the best of luck against the empire- may the force be with you.”
Kosan nodded. “Thank you, may it be with you as well.” With that, she turned and disappeared deeper into the market just as Sabé returned to Padmé’s side.
“It’s time for us to go if we want a chance at running that blockade,” Sabé murmured in her ear.
Padmé nodded in agreement and they turned back towards their ship. “I hope the twins like their gifts,” she said with a grin.
Sabé smiled back, “They had better! We had to outrun the entire garrison for these!”
Padmé giggled at that and joined in on Sabé’s overstatement. “We had to sit in meetings for weeks!”
Sabé threw her arms out to her sides, gesturing grandly, “We had to scrounge up credits from Force knows where!”
Padmé’s giggle became a full laugh as she smiled fondly at her partner. With Sabé it was easy to remain positive, even when things were serious. Sabé quickly kissed her on the forehead before settling into the captain’s chair in the cockpit.
“Force, I needed to laugh!” Padmé said as she sat in the chair next to her.
“I’m glad I could help,” Sabé said wryly. “I know this stuff weighs on you, Padmé. Just let me know when you need to laugh again.”
“Thank you, Sabé,” Padmé said as they entered hyperspace, stars streaking beyond them.
“Any time.”