As the war between the Republic and the Separatists continued to intensify, many have been driven from their home planets, and it has been up to Senator Padme Skywalker and her daughter Gabby to secure aid for them.

Gabby managed to call in a few favors from some of the royal families of Enchantra and some new ones they met along the way to help those driven from their homes find shelter and work. But now, all eyes were turning to the Banking Clan and the planet Scipio.

In an attempt to remain independent from the Republic and the Separatists, all operations are divided, and money transactions are performed in a neutral zone surrounding the main vault. For operations to continue, there had to be no war on Scipio. However, worry about the stability of the Banking Clan was brewing within the Republic as the wellspring of money may be in jeopardy. By request of the Chancellor, Padme went to Scipio, and she brought her kids and their horses.

When they got there, though, they were told the guards had to wait outside. And that included the horses. But Remix pointed out he was not a guard.

"I'm afraid one of our Banking Council members is highly allergic to horses," said the banker Mak Plain. "We mustn't risk any equine hair getting inside."

Carousella, however, became more concerned about her girl's safety. And she was right to be, as the Senator and her kids were being watched by bounty hunter Embo from above, and he sent in a probe to follow them.

"We'll be okay, girl." Gabby said, stroking her horse's muzzle.

The senator and her children walked in and met with the Banking Clan Council of Five.

"As Council of Five," said one member. "we are honored but surprised that you have traveled all this way for a mere bank transfer."

"A transfer that has not been forthcoming." said Padme. "By request of the Supreme Chancellor, I am here to expedite matters."

"Of course. We would merely request that you and the princess meet with our special representative, who will go over the terms and conditions of your loan."

A door opened, and that was when a familiar Scipio senator entered the room.

"Senator... Skywalker." Clovis said, seeming like he had trouble using Padme's married name.

"Clovis!" Padme said, surprised to see him.

"You two know one another?" asked a council member.

"Sir, I was assured that this transaction would be free of prejudice and partisan allegiance." Padme said. "This man is a known Separatist and traitor to the Republic."

"Didn't he try to crash Mom and Dad's wedding?" Boba whispered to his sister.

"That's what Crescent told us." Gabby whispered back.

"Padme," Clovis started.

"I can assure you," said the council member. "Rush Clovis is our most trusted and best negotiator."

"I am sorry, gentlemen," said Padme. "but I insist this man be removed from these negotiations. Until then, we have nothing further to discuss. Time to go, kids."

With that, Padme left, her children following closely.

Later, the Skywalkers were at some quarters they were staying in, when someone began to sneak in over the balcony.

Teckla, Padme's aide, dismissed a servant for the night, when she turned and spotted someone behind Padme. And before whoever it was could get to Padme, they were tackled by Carousella, who then pointed her horn at him, and Padme pointed a gun she had, and so did Boba. And Gabby threatened to use her powers.

"I wouldn't try anything funny if I were you," said Boba.

"Ah... How did you get blasters into the neutral zone?" Clovis said. "Had your children carry them, perhaps? And might I say, Gabriella has grown since we last met. And you have a son now, I see."

"We're resourceful. And if you think we're friends here, you're wrong." Gabby said.

"Now, why are you breaking into my quarters?" Padme asked.

"Padme, you don't understand what is going on here." said Clovis. "I need your help."

"Last time you needed help, Padme nearly ended up poisoned." Carousella said. "And then you tried to crash her wedding to steal her away from Anakin."

"That's not true." Clovis lied about that last part. "Padme, you stole data files from me."

"That revealed the location of a Separatist droid factory sponsored by you!" Padme said angrily.

"Look, it's not safe. We can't talk here."

"Oh, it's not safe here alright." Carousella said, pointing her horn again.

"Not because of you," said Clovis, and he started to leave.

"Senator," began Teckla. "I don't believe-"

"It's alright," said Padme. "I want to hear what he has to say."

Padme sent her kids away with Teckla, but Carousella stayed and hid behind a wall to listen in on the conversation. Clovis told Padme that there was no money in the bank.

"That's absurd," said Padme, and Carousella silently agreed. "They were ready to give me the funds today."

"Oh, they will give you your first installment, yes," Clovis said, taking out a credit and making it disappear like a magic trick. "but they're robbing one side to save the other. The entire Banking Clan is on the verge of collapse."

"Collapse? Where's the evidence?"

"In the vault. The accounts are sealed there, and no one is allowed to see them besides the Core Five."

"Convenient." Padme said simply.

But they didn't know then that they were being watched by Embo, who was preparing to shoot.

"Well, now that you're here," said Clovis. "you must put pressure on them."

"And do what, exactly?"

"Help me gain access to the vault."

But Padme pushed Clovis away and said, "You're insane to think I would ever trust you. I'm sorry, but I cannot help you."

And then a blaster fire shot, and Clovis pulled Padme down.

"Take your hands off me!" Padme said, getting herself up and getting to the wall for safety.

Clovis grunted as he dodged more shots.

"I've risked everything to tell you this," said Clovis. "Don't you see they're trying to kill me because of what I know?" The blasting suddenly stopped. "Please believe me. Our past must count for something. I can't stay here. Think about what I ask."

And Clovis disappeared over the balcony onto a craft.

Padme later informed the Chancellor of what Clovis told her.

"If what you're saying is true," said the Chancellor. "then this information Clovis is offering is vital to our security. I need you to be very clear in this matter, for the Republic. Is he telling the truth?"

"Yes, I am sure." Padme said.

"Perhaps, then, in this scenario, it would be best for you to trust an old friend and do what he suggests."

Padme had the kids wait in the quarters while she went to talk to the Core Five again.

"I've decided to accept Clovis as the representative of this transaction," said Padme. "as long as I can go into the vault and accompany the fund throughout the entire process."

"No outsider is ever allowed into the vaults." said a Core Five member.

"I come with the authority of the Supreme Chancellor. If you have something to hide, then that is something we should discuss."

"Hide?"

"I think considering last night's attack on the Senator," said Clovis. "it is only fair that we are transparent and agree to these terms. What harm will come of it?"

The Core Five looked at each other, and then declared that the vault would be opened first thing in the morning.

Padme and her kids accompanied Clovis to his personal residence. It was pretty remote, so they would have more privacy.

While the grownups went over a plan, Gabby and Boba brushed their horses.

Teckla soon went to retire for the night.

Padme looked at her children and saw that they were tired. Gabby was already laying under Carousella's wing as they both fell asleep.

"It's late." Padme said. "Good night, Clovis."

Padme and Boba left the room to get some shuteye.

Clovis looked at Gabby as she was resting. Padme never answered him as to who Gabby's father was, but he still felt sure that she was his daughter. He approached the child and stroked her hair, making the child stir. He froze for a moment, but when the child calmed down, he carefully tried to pick the child up.

"What do you think you're doing?" Carousella asked quietly, but loud enough for Clovis to hear.

"I... I just thought the princess might appreciate a more comfortable bed." Clovis said.

"She's fine here, thank you." Carousella said. "She's slept underneath my wing dozens of times."

"Perhaps you could allow me to tuck her in just this once?" Clovis asked. "A child deserves to have a parent do so."

"Well, you're not her parent. Padme is. And her father is Anakin Skywalker." Carousella said.

"Stepfather." Clovis corrected, not knowing he was wrong. "I am certain she is actually mine."

Carousella snorted as though holding back a laugh.

"She looks nothing like you." The musicorn said. "A paternity test will confirm you are not the father."

"Well, then, I'd like to see for myself." Clovis said.

"Alright, then I'll get you a test." Carousella said, and she used her magic to pull a single hair from Clovis's head as a DNA sample. "You'll know soon."

While Clovis and Padme went through with their plan, Gabby and Boba contacted their uncle to see if he and Lamenta made any progress with the inhibitor chip research. Caroline was helping as well. She might not have had magic of her own, but she was excellent at organizing notes, and helped as much as she could with research.

"So far, no luck with potions." Carmine said. "But we're working on creating a spell that should evaporate the chips from the inside without harming the clones."

"Have you found anything helpful within healing magic?" Boba asked. "If they're something that doesn't belong, the spell might recognize them as an illness of some sort."

"That's a possibility." Caroline said. "We'll give that a try."

"I suggest starting with the nectar of poinsunna flowers. They're very powerful with healing. And try doing as much as you can with Boba's DNA." Gabby said.

Since Boba was the only unaltered clone, it made sense that perhaps his DNA would hold answers to getting rid of the chips and saving the Jedi.

Later, Clovis and Padme returned with information while the kids sat and played. Just like Clovis said, the vaults were empty.

"The Chancellor must see this immediately." said Padme.

Padme quickly turned off the device and gave the drive to Clovis as three Muun entered the room.

"Senator Amidala, you are under arrest for espionage." said one of them.

The kids were horrified when they heard this news.

"No, there's been some kind of mistake." said Clovis, he and Padme standing up.

"Take her away." said the arresting Muun. And Padme was taken away.

"Mommy!" Gabby exclaimed, trying to go after her mother, only for Boba to stop her, knowing they couldn't do anything right now.

"It's going to be okay, kids. I have powerful friends," said Padme, unafraid outside. "The Chancellor will hear about this."

Someone was quickly notified of Padme's arrest, and the officers were met by none other than Padme's husband Anakin Skywalker.

"This way, Master Jedi." said the officer, guiding Anakin to the correct cell.

Padme was sleeping in her cell, until the door opened.

"Well, well, well. What exactly is going on here?" Anakin asked.

"Ani, I'm so glad to see you." Padme said.

"Ah, I guess I'm not only useful for fighting wars after all."

"How long have I been in here? Where are the kids?"

"A few days. The kids are on the ship I came on. Boba contacted me when you were arrested." Anakin explained. He took a seat beside his wife.

"They say Teckla is dead. Is it true?"

Anakin sighed and said, "Yes. She was found shot at the bomb site."

"By who?"

"They don't know. The Muuns say she sabotaged the power grid. What exactly is going on here?"

"You have to get me out of here. Clovis has-"

"Clovis?" Anakin interrupted. "What exactly does Clovis have to do with this?"

"Ugh, I can't explain it here."

"How could you ever put your trust in a man like Clovis after what he did?" Anakin asked angrily.

"It's for the Republic, Anakin." Padme answered as calmly as she could. "Something is very wrong with the banks."

"Why is it that when Clovis is around, your excuse is always that you're 'doing it for the Republic?" Anakin said, and a bunch of briars and tiny cacti started to grow around him. "Oh great, now I'm stress growing."

Anakin started to leave the cell.

"Anakin, please..." Padme said, getting her husband to stop.

"You know, maybe I'll just leave you here." Anakin said angrily.

"Ani."

"You've already been released into my custody." Anakin sighed. "You better come with me before I change my mind."

The couple left the building.

"Anakin, please trust me." Padme begged. "I can't leave without the files Clovis and I took from the vault."

"Where exactly do you suggest we look?" Anakin asked.

"The discs may be outside the city at Clovis's private residence."

"Fine. I'll do this for you, not for Clovis. But if he lays even one finger on Gabby..."

"Don't worry. He won't." Carousella said, she and the kids approaching them. "I don't trust that man any better than you do, Anakin. But Padme is right about getting those disks."

Anakin told R2 to have the ship ready in case he needed him, then the kids and Remix got on the craft with Padme and Anakin, and Carousella flew after them.

The group soon entered Clovis's private residence. It was a mess.

"Cozy place," scoffed Anakin.

"And you thought my room was messy," said Boba.

"Someone was looking for the files." Padme said. "They must know Clovis has them."

"Well, maybe they found what they were looking for, and that's why he's missing." said Anakin. He chuckled and said. "We can only hope."

"Anakin, you're not helping things." Padme and Carousella said at the same time.

"You don't seem to understand how important these files are." Padme said. "They'll expose a corruption that goes to the very core of the Banking Clan."

"And Anakin, I know you love your wife, but you need to trust her." Carousella said, lifting up Anakin's left hand with her muzzle and removing his glove to expose his wedding ring. "Remember your vows to each other?"

Anakin looked at his ring and started to remember, but his thoughts were interrupted when Padme exclaimed, "Clovis!"

"Padme, I knew you'd come." Clovis said. He tried to wrap his arms around Padme, but she pushed him away.

Clovis looked at the Jedi and said, "You again."

"Yes, me again. Padme's husband, lover boy. Now where's the disc?" Anakin asked.

"I'm not about to hand over the information to some pilot." Clovis said.

"I'm a Jedi Knight who can save your life if you hand over the files and keep your hands off my wife." Anakin said, a cactus popping out in front of him.

"Since when can he do that?" Clovis asked, surprised by Anakin's sudden use of magic.

"That's not important now. So, what's it gonna be? You gonna give us the disc?"

"What, so you can leave me stranded like last time?" Clovis said.

Gabby and Boba both looked back and forth as their father and Clovis bickered.

"You flirted with the woman who was engaged to him then." Carousella pointed out. "Did you expect him to hug you and become your best friend?"

"Yeah. And now, it depends on how well-behaved you are. And that includes around my children."

"Can you both stop bickering so we can get out of here?" Padme asked.

The group began to head on their way, until Anakin and Gabby both sensed something wrong, as did Carousella.

"Get down!" the father and daughter both exclaimed, and blaster shots were fired again.

Anakin used his lightsaber, and Gabby and Carousella both used magical shields.

The adults got onto the craft while Carousella and Remix carried the kids and began to run through the snow, but the craft was shot down.

Gabby created a soft pile of snow for them to land on and then spotted the bounty hunter going after them. Boba tried to stun him with his gun, but the grownups slid away, and the bounty hunter kept going after them.

The craft slid like a sled, too fast for Gabby to grab them with one of her plants, and they kept zigging and zagging back and forth so much she couldn't use the Force to grab them without risking them flying out and getting hurt. And they soon came to a cliff.

Luckily, R2 caught them on the ship, and the horses and children soon joined them, and they all quickly boarded to get away. But, Darth Sidious had hoped for this to happen, and now was ready to take matters into his own hands.