The cargo freighter's landing ramp lowered with a pneumatic hiss, revealing a world Padmé had never expected to see in person.
Raxus Secundus. The Separatist capital. Enemy territory.
"I have to say," Peter whispered as they descended into the spaceport's civilian terminal, "this feels kind of cool."
"Cool?" Barriss raised an eyebrow.
"Like a spy movie. Going undercover in enemy territory. Very James Bond." Peter adjusted his civilian clothes—a jacket and pants that looked nothing like his usual Spider-Man suit. "Though I guess technically we're not undercover since we're here as Jedi. Openly. On a secret illegal diplomatic mission."
"That makes no sense," Barriss pointed out.
"Welcome to my life."
Padmé kept her expression neutral as they moved through the crowded terminal. Battle droids stood at security checkpoints, their photoreceptors tracking every passenger. Her heart hammered against her ribs, but years of senatorial training kept her face calm. Serene. Just another traveler on just another day.
A familiar figure appeared at the edge of the crowd—older than Padmé remembered, with lines of stress etched around her eyes, but still recognizable. Mina Bonteri smiled and opened her arms.
"Hello, old friend."
Padmé embraced her mentor, felt tears prick her eyes despite herself. "It's been too long."
"Far too long." Mina pulled back, looked at the three teenagers. "And you've brought companions."
"This is Mina Bonteri," Padmé said, making introductions. "She was my mentor when I first became a senator. Mina, these are Padawan Ahsoka Tano, Padawan Barriss Offee, and—"
"Peter Parker," Peter supplied, shaking Mina's hand. "Just a guy who swings around sometimes."
Ahsoka studied Mina with barely concealed suspicion. "You're a Separatist senator."
"I am," Mina said, her tone gentle despite Ahsoka's challenging stare. "Did you expect something different?"
Ahsoka didn't answer. She'd been prepared for a monster—some evil conspirator orchestrating galactic destruction. Not this middle-aged woman with kind eyes and a warm smile who looked like she could be someone's mother.
Which, Padmé had mentioned, she was.
"Come," Mina said. "My transport is waiting. We should leave before anyone takes too much interest in my Jedi visitors."
They followed her to a civilian speeder—expensive but not ostentatious, the kind of vehicle a wealthy senator might own. The ride through Raxus's capital city was surreal. The architecture was modern, efficient, utilitarian. No war damage visible. No signs of conflict. Just a functioning city on a functioning world going about its business.
It looked nothing like the evil empire Ahsoka had been taught to imagine.
"Padmé," Mina said as the speeder climbed toward the residential districts, "it's wonderful to see you again. I've missed you terribly."
"I've missed you too." Padmé squeezed her old friend's hand. "So much has changed since we last spoke."
"Everything has changed," Mina agreed quietly.
The Bonteri estate sat on the edge of the city, surrounded by native forest that had been carefully preserved rather than cleared for development. The main house was large but not palatial—the home of someone wealthy and influential, but not ostentatious about it.
"Whoa," Peter said as they landed. "Nice place."
Mina smiled. "Thank you. It's been in my husband's family for generations." Her expression flickered—something painful passing across her features before she smoothed it away. "Lux! Come help our guests with their luggage!"
A boy appeared at the top of the entrance stairs—about their age, dressed in well-tailored civilian clothes that screamed upper-class Separatist youth. His expression was polite but guarded as he descended to meet them.
"Aunt Padmé!" The guardedness vanished, replaced by genuine warmth. "It's so good to see you!"
Padmé pulled him into a hug. "Lux, you've grown so much! I almost didn't recognize you."
He ducked his head, embarrassed but pleased. "It's been a while." He reached for Padmé's bag. "Let me help you with that."
"Such a gentleman," Padmé said approvingly.
Lux turned to Ahsoka next, offering his hand for her bag. "May I?"
Ahsoka pulled her pack closer to her body. "I can carry it myself."
"Oh. Of course." Lux's hand dropped. He looked uncertain for a moment, then moved to help Peter and Barriss instead. Barriss allowed it with a neutral nod. Peter handed over his duffel with an apologetic shrug.
They followed Mina into the house—spacious, comfortable, decorated with artifacts that spoke of culture and education. She led them to a sitting room with large windows overlooking the garden, served drinks and small plates of food with her own hands rather than summoning servants.
Padmé accepted a glass, watched through the window as Lux walked alone into the garden below. "He's grown so much. I barely recognized him."
Mina stood beside her, following her son's movements with troubled eyes. "Time doesn't stop, even during war. Sometimes I think especially during war. These events are shaping him. Hardening him. He's losing his childhood to this conflict."
"With respect," Ahsoka said from across the room, her voice tight, "as a Separatist, didn't you help create this war?"
"Ahsoka!" Padmé's tone was sharp with warning.
Mina raised a hand. "It's all right, Padmé. It's a fair question." She turned to Ahsoka. "That's a very absolute perspective, dear. Black and white. Separatists bad, Republic good."
She crossed the room, met Ahsoka's challenging stare with sympathy rather than anger. "You might be surprised to learn that many people on my side of this war feel exactly the same way. That the Republic started this conflict. That the Jedi are oppressors. That we're the ones defending ourselves against tyranny."
Ahsoka shifted her weight, uncomfortable but not backing down.
"That's what my husband believed," Mina continued, her voice softening. "He thought he was protecting our family. Our world. Our future."
"Maybe we could speak with him," Barriss said quickly, sensing dangerous emotional territory. "Get his perspective on—"
"If only you could." Mina turned away, looked out the window at her son in the garden. "A year ago, he was helping establish a base on Aargonar when Republic forces attacked. He fought back. He was killed."
The silence that followed was absolute and terrible.
The door opened. Peter slipped out with a muttered, "I'm sorry. I'll just—I need some air."
The tension broke slightly. Barriss touched Ahsoka's shoulder gently. "Fresh air sounds good for all of us."
Ahsoka nodded stiffly. Before she left, she looked at Mina. "I'm sorry for your loss."
"As am I for yours," Mina said quietly. "I know you've lost people too. Master and Padawan, fighting on the front lines with Anakin Skywalker."
Ahsoka left without answering.
After the teenagers departed, Padmé and Mina sat in silence for a long moment.
"Anakin Skywalker," Mina said finally. "The Fearless Hero. That's what the HoloNet calls him, isn't it?"
Padmé nearly choked on her drink. "I—yes. That's what some people call him."
"I've been following the war coverage," Mina said. "Hard not to, given my position. Skywalker appears frequently. As do those others—the ones calling themselves the Avengers. They've captured quite a bit of attention across the galaxy. Even here in Separatist space, people watch their exploits."
"They're remarkable," Padmé agreed carefully.
"You've met them?"
"All of them. Some have become close friends." Padmé nodded toward the window, where Peter was visible talking to Lux in the garden. "You've met one of them already."
Mina followed her gaze. Her eyes widened. "Him? That boy is an Avenger?"
"Spider-Man," Padmé confirmed. "One of their youngest members."
"But he's—" Mina gestured helplessly. "He's a child."
"He's sixteen. The same age as Ahsoka and Barriss. All three of them fight on the front lines." Padmé's voice carried quiet pride and deeper worry. "Peter was one of the first to engage the Zillo Beast during Ultron's attack on Coruscant. He fought it hand-to-hand while trying to protect civilians."
Mina stared at the teenager in her garden with new eyes. "Spider-Man. I've seen footage. The red and blue suit. The impossible acrobatics." She shook her head slowly. "The Republic is incredibly fortunate to have warriors like that fighting for them."
"They're not fighting for the Republic," Padmé said quietly.
Mina turned to her. "What do you mean?"
"It's complicated." Padmé chose her words carefully.
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