• Padme •

"It's an honor to serve you, Grand Duchess." Rex said to the woman who he had linked arms with and led through the halls of the senate building. Isma stared blankly, using her silver walking stick as a guide as well. She smiled softly at his words. "Thank you, Captain. But please, you can just call me Isma." "Of course, Grand Duchess." He replied with a half smile and Isma laughed. "This- You are nice. It's not often I get treated like this." Rex raised a brow. "Like what?" Isma sighed. "Normal." "I don't believe I understand what you mean." "My whole life people treat me different, like less of a person just because I'm blind." Rex looked at the woman, Really looked at her. She didn't seem like any less of a woman just because of her disability. "Well, I may not know you well but I think you seem pretty alright to me." Isma smiled softly again and pink flushed her pale cheeks. "Thank you, Captain. I think you're pretty alright as well."

"Lady Isma!" Padme said as soon as she and Rex had made it to her office. Rex led her inside carefully and she took a seat across from Padme. "I am so glad to see that you arrived safely to Coruscant!" She added as she took the blind woman's hand with a kind smile. "I will leave you two to your discussions." Rex said politely. "Grand Duchess, if you need anything at all just contact me." And with that he left the two women to talk politics. "I take it you had a smooth trip." Padme said, slowly starting up a conversation. Isma nodded, pale green eyes looking right past the senator. "I'm glad to hear it." Padme said with a kind smile. "I wanted to talk to you a bit myself before you appeared before the senate." Isma sighed at this. "Senator Amidala, please. I stand firmly in Statera's belief that we wish to remain neutral in this war." "I know this, and I respect it." Padme began. "But, I wanted to speak to you one to one first." Isma shook her head. "There's always something else, isn't there?" Padme persisted. "There are so many advantages that the Republic could gain from your alliance, so many lives could be saved." "Senator Amidala, you are not listening to me." Isma said as she stood from her seat, her face stern and her pale eyes looking right past her but focused and intent. "I will not risk the lives of my people, nor the lives of a special race, just because it is beneficial to you and your cause. It may save lives of others but these are my people." Padme looked rather surprised by the outburst of the Grand Duchess. "With all due respect, Grand Duchess Isma, you are not an Elemental yourself, therefore why push yourself to speak for them? Perhaps your brother can-" "Padme I believe this conversation is over." Isma snapped, lifting her walking stick from the place she placed it when she sat down. "Lady Isma, I meant no disrespect please," "Now if you will summon my escort I would like to get some rest before I appeal before the senate. Good day, Senator Amidala."

Captain Rex escorted Isma back to her quarters for her time at the senate. Once she was safely there she unlinked her arm with him. "Thank you, Captain." She told him with a soft smile. "Of course. If you need anything else I am more then happy to assist you." He added before left her, door closed and Isma all alone. Once she could sense there was no one else around, Isma sighed in relief. She tossed her walking cane over on the bed that had been provided for her. "Finally." She said with a sigh. She walked over to a vanity and picked up a brush and began brushing her long black hair. For someone who was totally blind she didn't seem to have any trouble seeing. She sighed, blind eyes looking at the mirror even though she saw nothing. "I know you're there." She said firmly. She turned, brush still in hand. "I can feel a darkness from you." Isma said, blank stare looking straight past whoever was there. "You're stronger then I thought." A deep voice spoke out as a man stepped forwards out of the corner of her room. "My name is Count Dooku," The man said and Isma narrowed her pale eyes, even if she couldn't see him she could sense him. "And I have a proposition for you."