Chapter 5 – Monster
AN: I would have updated sooner, but my beloved parents decided they wanted to renovate the flooring in our house. Therefore my computer was buried under all the furniture from the bedrooms and I was unable to get to it for quite a while *scowls* Then I was distracted by my other fics and learning the Blood Diamond soundtrack ect and then Christmas came along and I was working nightshift :/ but I'm back with an update, so… :D
I hope all my dear readers had a wonderful day on Christmas ^^
~This is set about a month after the end of the last chapter~
Thanks to blackstardragon624, Lady Blade, Malcolm Young Fan, Emoen, Demoness Blaze, Ar-Ru-Vista-Frelia-Frame and Lady Logos for adding my story to their alert list.
Thanks to Angella Mycarely, Lady Logos, Vashwhyssrs and Necrosame for adding my story to their favorites
Carina: Awww thanks Carina! I hope you like this Chapter as well!
Solavah: I'm so glad you like it! And I totally agree with you :D
-o-
Senator Palpatine stood on his wide balcony. His gaze swept the glorious expanse of Coruscant, the tall, gleaming buildings and the bustle of the streets. He sighed, his face twisting into a grim smile as he envisioned the mass panic and fear that would radiate from every inch of this city as his clone army sweep over it, claiming it in his name. The smile grew as he imagined the tortured screams of the Gungan population as his army routs them out of the swamplands and massacres them. He scowled then as he remembered Maul's fall, the Zabrak would have been the perfect leader for his army. He was strong, young and loyal to a fault.
His thoughts then turned to the young Skywalker boy. The Medichlorian count that had been reported to him was almost impossibly high. He could do a lot with the child, he relished the thought. Training him will take time though...too much time. He needs a new apprentice to take the place of Maul. It was a shame, he decided, that the Zabrak had to die so inconveniently early...he was a promising pupil. One of the best Palpatine had trained so far. He would need to find someone else. He paused for a moment, remembering the notable former Jedi, Count Dooku. He might be of some assistance for the time being. He would have to contact him. He wouldn't quite compare to Maul, but then again, not many could. He sighed and turned back towards his room as a guard came up behind him, followed by a small droid.
"What is it, Gavyn?" he asked wearily, looking up at the huge, dark man.
"One of your probe droids has returned, My Lord." Palpatine winced slightly as Gavyn's voice echoed softly around the room, lifting a hand delicately to his temple. Gavyn lowered his gaze, waiting for an onslaught of verbal abuse.
"Excellent." His master replied shortly, "Bring it here and leave me."
Gavyn bowed, releasing a small sigh of relief and left the room. The droid floated over to a table and landed on it, projecting a light onto the far wall. As the images flashed by, Palpatine's eyes widened, then narrowed into a glare, teeth clenched.
"How. Interesting." He managed to grind out, eyes not leaving the projection. The droid beeped and kept projecting. Palpatine tore his eyes away from the images and began pacing his apartment, cursing under his breath. "GAVYN!" he yelled at the door. It opened and Gavyn walked back inside.
"My Lord?" The man looked nervous. And so he should, thought Palpatine. He knows what I can do.
"I want my cruiser ready in 10 minutes; I will be going to Theed."
"Yes, My Lord." Gavyn left the room, yelling orders as soon as he was down the corridor.
So, my apprentice, you choose to betray me, do you?
-o-
Palpatine was walking slowly from house to house, trying to find the one from the Droids images. Why could the residents not put something simple up, such as house numbers, infuriated him. He was nearly ready to destroy something when he discovered the girl from the droid's images. She was sitting on a
thin strip of grass, playing with some flowers. Watching her for a while, Palpatine waited to see if she would say or do something that would alert him to Maul's
presence. He saw her shift uncertainly and glance around her, her gaze finally
resting on him.
Palpatine started to walk forward when he saw her place her flowers aside. The young girl strode towards him. The Dark Sith was determined not to scare her. He needed her to lead him to his apprentice. He pushed the hood off as she neared him and smiled kindly at her.
"Hello child," he said as she stopped in front of him, "I'm sorry if I disturbed you. You...you just remind me of my granddaughter." He sighed, watching her carefully. The girl relaxed slightly.
"Hello Sir," she replied, "are you lost?" The child paused for a second. "Where is
your granddaughter?" As the girl tried to peer around him, Palpatine swallowed a sigh of exasperation.
"She's not here, my dear…she's with her parents. And yes, I need help finding a house around here. I expect you know where the town's healer lives?"
"Oh," Her face fell for a second,then she perked up again. "That's my Mama you're looking for! That's our house, over there. I can lead you to it." With a wide grin, the young girl took the dark Sith's hand, pulling him towards the house.
-o-
He had been walking every day for about a week now and he was finally able to mange around the healer's small cottage. Inyri was so relieved. Now that he was no longer stuck in a single room, his temper had improved slightly and he no longer snapped at everyone for their slightest fault. She would never have thought he would be so finicky, but he was even more paranoid about cleanliness than she was.
Inyri walked carefully through the small dining area where he was slouched over the table, asleep. His nightmares were becoming less regular now, to the relief of everyone, and he seemed to be sleeping peacefully now. She quietly shut the back door behind her as she left the house.
-o-
His sleep is dreamless; it is like floating through thick, black velvet. He has grown to love these quiet sleeps that he has been having lately. He always felt rested after them. This is different though, it's the first sleep he has had without a sort of nervousness underlying the peace. He hasn't realised it was there until it wasn't anymore. As he wanders further into the realm of sleep, he has a sudden foreboding feeling, like something wrong is about to happen.
His vision explodes into colours, and he can see Nyree walking with someone whose face is partially covered by a cowl. His vision is warped though, as if he is trying to peer through a bottle, and he can't make out any of the person's features. He feels that the person is evil, although he doesn't know why. All he knows is that Nyree will be hurt if he doesn't help her. He tries to move, but finds that he can't, there is something blocking him from getting to her. He yells, but no sound comes out.
He looks up to find the hooded man looking at him, a knowing smirk adorning the visible part of his face. Then he hears the laugh, low and evil. It is the laugh of his Master.
He woke with a gasp. It was a dream… nothing but a dream. All the same, a strange foreboding feeling settled in his mind.
Review, my dears, and I may happen to be making brownies *conspiratorial wink*