From an intersecting narrow street behind them, another crowd suddenly spilled onto the boulevard. They bore signs reading WILA PRAMMI.
'Wila Prammi, the third candidate,' Obi-Wan noted. Yoda had briefed the Jedi on the two candidates opposing Prince Beju.
The Deca Brun crowd surged forward, and the Prammi supporters ran to meet them.
Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon were caught in the middle. All of a sudden, signs were used as clubs, and fists and feet flew as the two groups attacked each other. Obi-Wan looked at Qui-Gon. This was not a time for lightsabers. Neither of the two groups had blast weapons. But still, the Jedi were in danger. They were in the middle of a brawling mob.
A burly Galacian man holding a laser sign suddenly lunged at Obi-Wan, his sign held high. Leading with his left shoulder, Obi-Wan went into a roll. He sprang to his feet only meters away as the sign glanced off someone else's shoulder.
Two Deca supporters held Qui-Gon's arms as a third pulled a fist back to strike him. Qui-Gon employed a classic Jedi escape technique, twisting his body and striking upward with his head. The two Deca supporters were left with sore arms and ringing ears. They looked around for Qui-Gon, but he was already gone, heading for Obi- Wan at the sidelines.
'We can't do anything here,' he told Obi-Wan. 'Let's keep moving.'
They dodged a Wila Prammi supporter as she tripped a Deca supporter, then smashed him on the head. 'The road to democracy can be a rough one,' Qui-Gon observed as they hurried past. 'But on Gala, it seems rougher than most.'
The Grand Palace of Gala rose before them, an impressive, sprawling white building with two tall towers. Surrounding the windows and inlaid in the tower spires were sparkling blue azurite crystals and gems in mosaic patterns. The roof was gilded. Together the gold roof and glittering mosaics made the palace shimmer, as if it weren't quite real.
The Jedi were led through vast hallways to the receiving room, where Queen Veda waited. She was dressed in a gown of shimmersilk that appeared to change color when she moved. Different shades of blue and green were sewn in fluttering panels that appeared and disappeared as she walked forward to greet them. Her gold headdress was studded with blue and green crystals.
Qui-Gon barely made note of her elegant dress. He was shocked to feel her living Force. Or rather to not feel it. It was so dim. The Queen was only in middle age, yet he sensed a serious disturbance, as if she were extremely ill, or dying.
Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan bowed their greeting.
'I welcome the Jedi to Gala,' the Queen said. Her voice still rang with firm authority. Qui-Gon wondered if she had gathered her strength for the meeting, wanting to appear well. Galacians were known for their distinctive pale skin, a bluish tone they called 'moonlight.' But the Queen's skin was not luminous, but an unhealthy-looking color reminiscent of bone.
'We have brought a shipment of bacta as a gift,' Qui-Gon told her. 'We left it at the spaceport loading dock.'
'It is desperately needed here,' the Queen answered. 'Thank you. I'll arrange to have it distributed to the med centers.'
Qui-Gon watched her face carefully. He read only relief and gratitude in her pale blue eyes, the color of ice shadows. She gave no indication that she'd heard even a whisper about Prince Beju's plan. Still puzzled about her health, Qui-Gon studied her the way a Jedi studies, without seeming to stare. He was surprised when she boldly captured his gaze, her sharp eyes knowing.
'Yes,' she said softly. 'You are right. I am dying.'
Qui-Gon felt Obi-Wan's start of surprise next to him. He knew the boy had not noticed the Queen's illness. Obi-Wan had excellent instincts, but often he lacked a connection to the living Force.
'My condition simplifies meetings such as this,' Queen Veda continued, waving a jeweled hand. 'I can be direct, and I hope you will be the same.'
'We are always direct,' Qui-Gon answered.
Queen Veda nodded. She lowered herself into a gilded chair and gestured for the Jedi to do so as well.
'I have thought a great deal about what I wish to leave behind,' she began.
'Gala needs to be a democracy. The people have asked for it, and I have granted it as my last act as Queen. That will be my legacy. There is great unrest here in the city, and in the countryside. My husband, King Cana, ruled for thirty years. His intentions were good, but corruption invaded our council of ministers and the governors of the surrounding provinces. A handful of powerful families controlled the high posts. My husband was not able to stop it. Now I am afraid of civil war. The only thing that can prevent it will be free elections. So you see why I have asked for Jedi monitoring.'
Qui-Gon nodded. 'What do you foresee as problems we might encounter?' he asked carefully. He didn't want to bring up Prince Beju. He wanted the Queen to introduce the topic. That would tell him where her sympathies resided.
'My son, Beju,' she said flatly. 'The last in line of the great Tallah dynasty — a fact he does not let you forget for a moment. All his life he has waited to rule Gala. He has not forgiven me for calling elections. He will be some trouble for you, I'm afraid. If he wins the election, he will retain the monarchy.' She shrugged. 'He has some support. But what he cannot inspire, he will buy or steal, I'm afraid.'
Qui-Gon nodded, trying not to show his surprise at the mother's harsh words about her son.
'I will not oppose my son,' Queen Veda continued. 'It is true that I've denied him his birthright. I owe him my loyalty at least. I won't endorse another candidate publicly. But privately, I wish my son to lose. It is not only best for Gala. It is best for Beju. I wish him to become a private citizen, to be rid of all this.' She waved her hand to take in the immense chamber. 'I saw what this power did to my husband. It corrupted him, and he was a good man. I do not want to see my son suffer the same fate. He's only sixteen. He will understand in time why I've done this. He is also my legacy,' Queen Veda finished softly.
