(Video)

[politicallyinclined]

(Since she has been made aware of her prior stay, Padmé decides to use her tablet to send out a message. She is pale, but strangely resolved to this new plight. Her hair is ornately braided, but her clothing is plain. She's just happy to have clothes and to be rid of that white gown!)

Greetings, everyone. Some of you might recognize me; I want to speak to you if that is the case.

(The faster she is up to speed, the better.)

For those I am encountering for the first time, hello. I'm Padmé. Some of my family is present and -

I would like very much to protect them. I'm sure you can understand the feeling.

Comments

[politicallyinclined]

She...has a son? That's wonderful! I would love to meet him.

And, yes, I am. I can understand why things would be complicated for him, but I am his grandmother nonetheless. I want to help.

Is it too much to ask you to tell me everything about her?

[jedied]

I'll let him know you're here. He's become close to your husband while they've both been here.

[ The jury's still out on whether or not she thinks that's a good thing, but so far no one's died. ]

I'll tell you everything I can. I only got to know her during the past year, but she was already well-established as a hero and a leader by the time I joined her Resistance. Did you know the Organas? She was raised by them.

[politicallyinclined]

I think I can see the complication.

(Another Sith? She can't keep her eyes closed; she can't be afraid of that outcome.)

The Resistance is the force that opposes Palpatine, yes? I've known Bail Organa for years. He is a very good friend. I know he would be good to her.

[jedied]

You can probably see some of it, though I would rather let Kylo tell you about himself first.

[ Though she cares for him, she's still speaking as someone who saw Kylo as an enemy first. That isn't how she wants Padmé to think of him before they've even met. ]

She stood against Palpatine's forces and those who followed after -- that's another thing Kylo can tell you more about. She was raised as a princess, and followed in your footsteps to become a senator during more peaceful years. You'd be proud of the person she is now.

[politicallyinclined]

I will always listen. Jumping to conclusions helps no one.

(And the damage done to Anakin...to Kylo Ren... It will take a long time to heal.)

I would have been proud of her if she did none of that. But seeing as she is a Skywalker and an Organa, she was destined for greatness from the beginning.

[jedied]

I am guilty of having made some hasty judgments toward both him and your husband in the past. But I meant what I said when I said I'm invested in their well-being. Kylo and I are Force-bonded; it's something that just happened, without either of us knowing one another. And I'm tethered to Luke here.

[ Which makes all the interpersonal conflict fantastic! ]

I wish you could know her. Maybe she'll find her way back here eventually.

[politicallyinclined]

I think that is forgivable. When someone presents themselves as powerful and scary, being defensive is natural.

(Vader is intimidating without saying a word. If Kylo Ren is the same, she understands, Rey.)

Force-bonded? That occurs most often between Jedi Masters and their apprentices. Then again, the Force seems to do as it likes and when a need arises, it finds a way.

That makes us family.

(Welcome to the Skywalkers.)

If she does, I will spend as much time with her as possible.

[jedied]

It helps that we're not on opposing sides here.

[ Rey nearly flinches at mention of family; she'll have to tell Padmé sooner or later about her actual parentage. Though she doesn't think she'll be rejected, it still feels wrong to hide her connection to the man who'd taken so much from Padmé's family. ]

That's very kind of you to say. I grew up without my family, but Leia welcomed me as if she'd always known me, and even your husband seems strangely protective of me.

[ It's very, very weird to have Darth Vader on your side, but she doesn't hate it nearly as much as she'd expected. ]

[politicallyinclined]

I don't think we ever were. The Sith know how to confuse and deceive.

(That isn't Rey's fault. Palpatine failed everyone connected to him. She will see Rey as a blessing and nothing less.)

You are a good person. What more do they need to know? Those who are blessed by the Force are connected. Think of it as a family chosen by fate.

(Darth Vader has always been drawn to the Light no matter how he tried to stay in the shadows.)