Coruscant
The cloaked figure gripped his brooch as he chanted the ancient words in a tongue long forgotten. The death of Darth Maul was most unfortunate. His apprentice had been integral in his plans and with him gone, changes would have to be made. He would again have to wait patiently for the moment-but he knew the moment was coming. The rediscovery of the One proved it. What was once lost was found. The prophecy so stated-that when the chosen one was found, the Sith revenge would find.
He smiled. It was possible that Darth Maul's death held greater promise than his survival would have. Darth Sidious understood perseverance. For a thousand years the Sith had been taught patience: for a thousand years his predecessors had prepared the way for this moment.
Sidious stared out over the balcony in the direction of the Jedi Temple. It was still too soon to deal with the accursed Jedi, though now they might be a greater threat. He needed to know what they knew-if they suspected that the Sith had indeed been reborn. He knew that there were those who had reason to suspect-but he also knew one of those was dead.
And there was still the Trade Federation. The Viceroy in particular knew too much; and recent Senate actions might make him desperate enough to reveal the hand of Darth Sidious in the Naboo blockade.
Not that the galaxy would believe his words, but it was too soon. He turned slowly to face the young blonde woman kneeling behind him.
"My Lord," she whispered as she raised her face.
"You must prove yourself worthy," Sidious hissed. "I have a task for you."
Galactic Senate Building
Amidala sat straighter as her shuttle approached the Senate building. Her whitened face hid her increasing nervousness. Panaka and her three hand maidens sat quietly beside her. She wanted to be inside before the Trade Federation Viceroy finally made his first appearance in court. There had been a week of discussions-apparently the Viceroy feared for his life. She almost smiled. There were many on Naboo who would oblige him, but she suspected it was the mysterious Sith Lord-the rumored mastermind of the Naboo invasion-he feared. She shivered at the memory of the warrior who had fought and murdered Jedi Master Qui-Gon.
"Your Majesty," Captain Panaka said. She noted his fingering of his blaster as he opened the shuttle door.
She smiled as she realized they'd arrived. She stood and straightened her black dress, then stepped toward the shuttle door. "Wait, your Majesty," Sabe said as her handmaidens positioned themselves. Panaka and two maidens stepped out first. Her smile grew at the sight of the new Supreme Chancellor.
"Your Majesty," Palpatine said with a smile and a slight inclination of his head. "Justice awaits the Trade Federation."
Amidala nodded her head. "Is it justice? We have learned nothing about why the Trade Federation invaded Naboo." There were so many questions. The Jedi Master had hinted at a greater threat. Why Naboo, she'd wondered many times since the battle. Nothing made sense.
"The truth can be elusive." Palpatine said quietly. "It is enough for the court to know the Trade Federation violated Galactic law and our sovereign rights."
She glanced around as they started to enter the huge building. "If the Sith..."
Palpatine frowned. "Sith?"
"Sir," she said softly. "Members of my council said that the Federation were working with a Sith Lord. I believe the two Jedi suspected this too." She'd found a few references to this mysterious group in the Coruscant library. She found it hard to believe that no one had heard of them for a thousand years.
Palpatine chuckled. "Your Majesty, the last Sith died one thousand years ago." He stopped walking. "The Jedi have their own dark secrets." She paused, curious at this. "Not all Jedi serve what they call the light. Some chose a path of darkness."
"I didn't know," her eyes narrowed slightly. "And this Sith warrior?"
"Most likely one of these dark Jedi," Palpatine said. He motioned for her entourage to advance. "Your Majesty," Palpatine continued. "I don't think mentioning this dark warrior would serve any purpose except to embarrass the Jedi. There are those who would be willing to believe the Jedi were involved." She pondered his words as they continued walking.
Bail Antilles pulled his robes tighter as he stepped out of his shuttle. He still couldn't believe the crowds and the public fascination with this trial. Fortunately, Coruscant Security forces had set up a perimeter from the docking platforms to the Senate building. The members of the tribunal and witnesses could make their way without having to fight their way through the hordes of onlookers and press. Senator Bil Londar, the lead judge, had ordered that no one involved in the case speak to the press. There were still leaks and some fascinating rumors. His favorite was the rumor about the Sith being involved.
He stopped when a young dark-haired woman approached him. "Sir," she said with a quick handshake. "Senator Bil Londar has asked to see you."
"Oh," he glanced at the woman, trying to remember her name. She seemed young to be a senatorial aide.
"I'm Mon Mothma-" she said quickly. "-the senator's new aide." Now he remembered. She wasn't that old, having just graduated from the University of Chandrila. He remembered reading about her in the monthly senate journal-she was nineteen or so.
"Something come up?" He asked as they walked down the grand corridor.
"I'm not sure, sir," she said. "But I suspect it has something to do with a challenge made by the Viceroy's lawyer."
Bail started to growl something about lawyers but stopped as loud voices permeated the building. They both turned toward the underground entrance just as the tall Neimodian appeared surrounded by a security escort. He started to motion for Mon Mothma to accompany him to the Chandrilan senator's chambers, when someone shouted. He turned quickly, just as the Neimodian Viceroy collapsed on the floor. He swore to himself as he watched the security captain contact someone over a comlink. Another guard knelt by the Viceroy and shook his head.
"He's dead," Mon Mothma said softly.
"It looks like it. We should find Bil Londar."
"It's an interesting development, sir"
"It seems so." He didn't wait to find out more. A crowd was already gathering around the body.
"Sir," Mon Mothma said. "Senator Bil Londar will need to know."
Bail took one last look at the scene. An interesting development indeed.
Tierma Brial leaned on the third floor railing that overlooked the Grand Corridor. He admitted to being pleased that Gunray's security escort had not wanted him to accompany his client to the courthouse. He glanced around the center of galactic power and smiled. That smile quickly turned into a frown as he realized that all his dreams of attaining political office were about to end-this trial would destroy all his political ambitions. The gods had yet to look upon him with any sign of favor.
"Hello," a female voice said.
Brial turned. The speaker blinked her eyes and smiled at him. Maybe the gods were not so cruel, he thought as he quickly took in the woman standing next to him: blonde and relatively attractive. "Yes..." His acknowledgment was cut off by the sound of voices from below. They both turned in time to see the viceroy enter via the underground entrance. He glanced at his new companion and again tried to introduce himself. Several shouts brought his attention back to the scene below-just in time to see his client sag to the floor. Brial stared at the gathering crowd. "I'd like to see you later-" he said, "how about I meet you at the Senate bar..." He frowned, the blonde was no where in sight.
He continued to look for her as he made his way down the grand staircase. The security captain shook his head when the lawyer joined the group.
Brial stared at the body for several minutes then took several deep breaths. Viceroy Gunray was dead, there would be no trial-Brial understood that Gunray's lieutenants had made separate bargain with the prosecution. He gripped his briefcase tighter: his future looked brighter already.
Senate apartments
Queen Amidala Naberrie silently watched the flotilla of ships that always seemed to be crisscrossing the Coruscant sky and felt homesick. She missed the green fields and the canyons of Naboo. She'd had enough excitement to last a lifetime, and now she had a planet to rebuild. "I disagree, Supreme Chancellor Palpatine," she said after several minutes of silence. "The Senate has gone too far. The Trade Federation deserves punishment-but what the senate proposes will ruin them." She turned so she could see Palpatine standing in the shadows of the sunset.
"The Galactic Senate believes this will send a clear message that such actions can not be tolerated."
She didn't have a new response. She'd talked to a dozen senators in an attempt to convince them that the Naboo were against the wholesale ruination of a government. There was some support but not enough.
"I have-" Palpatine continued, "-managed to convince the sanctions committee that there be a yearly review. Too many do not have your ideals." He took two steps toward the balcony door. "You will be returning to Naboo?"
She smiled, her first real smile since she'd arrived just a few days earlier. "Yes, we're leaving tomorrow." It would be good to be home and to start the tasks before her. There were still things she needed to do before she left-people she wanted to see, including the Jedi who had helped her and her people. Especially the boy. She wanted to see Anakin again before she left.
"Your Majesty," Palpatine said from the doorway. "I will wish you a safe journey then."
"Thank-you, Supreme Chancellor. I wish you good fortune in your endeavors to bring peace and understanding back to the Galactic Republic." She smiled at him. Palpatine understood better than many what the galaxy needed in these troubled times. She just hoped he could carry out his grand plans for restoring the Republic to the honor and ideals of the past.
Jedi Temple
"Master Windu," Obi-Wan said as knelt before the council members. "The Trade Federation Viceroy has died."
Mace Windu glanced at the other members of the council before motioning for Obi-Wan to stand. "So we understand. It is perhaps coincidence?"
Yoda tapped his staff. "A coincidence it is not. There rumors are."
Obi-Wan studied Yoda for a minute then nodded his head. "The Viceroy apparently blamed the Sith." This caused some murmurings that quickly quieted as Mace stood.
"This is what we feared."
"Master Windu," Obi-Wan said quietly, reluctant to interrupt. "There are other rumors. There are those who blame the Jedi."
"I see," Obi-Wan watched as Master Windu clasped his hands. "The trial?"
"Over." Obi-Wan had been involved in settling many disputes in his life-Naboo should have been one of many. Yet in the course of less than a month, he'd lost his master and friend; gained an apprentice; and an ancient enemy long believed dead had been discovered alive. "What I don't understand is what the Sith stood to gain from the Federation invasion of Naboo."
Yoda was silent for many minutes before he spoke softly. "Hard to see is the darkside. In plain sight can it hide."
"Master?" The council members also focused their attention on Yoda.
Yoda gripped his staff. "A diversion, an opening move. Two there are: no more, no less. A new apprentice the master will seek."
"Time," Mace said as returned to his chair. "We have time."
Obi-Wan only noticed Yoda's reaction. The ancient Jedi Master knew far more than he let on-and the almost imperceptible grimace Obi-Wan wasn't even sure he'd really seen made him wonder if time truly was their ally.
Only time would tell.
Outside the Jedi Academy
"Hello," Amidala said as she sat next to the young boy. Annie's smile grew.
"Hi. I wish you weren't leaving."
"I have to...Will you be okay?" She asked quietly.
He nodded as he bit his lip. "I suppose. I don't know anybody here, and the others ignore me."
"Give them time."
"I don't want to," he said. "Why can't I begin my training now?"
She laughed. "Because," she said kindly. "There is more to your life than just being a Jedi Knight. Which star is Naboo's sun?" They both looked up at the night sky. The light pollution dimmed most of the stars so Amidala pointed toward the northwest. "There. It's one of the stars in the hilt of the Sword. Appropriate. Unfortunately, it's hard to see."
Annie laughed. "I guess. I'll remember you..." She reached over and hugged him.
"I hereby invite you and Obi-Wan to next year's celebration."
Annie pulled back, the smile fading slightly. "What celebration?"
She laughed again. "I'm queen-I'll think of something, like-" She paused to think of a title. "-Like the Festival of Peace. To celebrate the new unity between the Naboo and the Gungan. And of course the Jedi are invited. See you in a year." They stood and Annie waved good-bye as he reentered the Jedi Academy. She turned to look at Obi-Wan.
"Take care of him. He's special."
Obi-Wan nodded. "I know." She wondered why he frowned.
"And you, are you all right?"
"I've been better." Again the Jedi had a distant look.
"You miss Qui-Gon. He was a good man."
"And a good friend. I spent over half my life with him." His voice faded away.
She understood his grief, it was still hard for her to deal with the death of her own family so many years ago. "Who was the assassin?" She asked quietly. Obi-Wan stiffened then seemed to force himself to relax.
"I don't know," he replied softly. There was a long silence, then Obi-Wan bowed. "Be careful, your Majesty." She stared after his retreating form. Something in his tone hinted at a warning. But why did he feel the need to warn her.
Sabe stepped out of the shadows and bowed. Amidala acknowledged her bodyguard silently. Her ship was scheduled for an early departure and there was much work before her. She took one last look at the Jedi Academy, then turned to leave. She would ask Obi-Wan some day about dark Jedi: what they were, and why they were so secret.
Lord Sidious had seen enough. The Jedi were aware of something-but not enough to openly challenge him. They would now seek clues to his existence. But the future was plotted-the Jedi in their ignorance had seen to that.
There was very little the Jedi could now do to stop him.
"All is going as I have foreseen." He said to the night air.