Chapter 10
"The Betrayal of Chancellor Palpatine the Just." Mara made a scoffing sound while reading the marquee. "After reading his journal it should read 'The Betrayal of Chancellor Palpatine the Jackass."
Luke chuckled as he purchased two tickets to the show. "As you can imagine this is an Imperial propaganda film. It should be interesting to see Palpatine's sanitized and whitewashed version of what happened." He handed Mara a ticket before opening the entry door for her.
"Thank you. It is nice to see chivalry hasn't died in the last thirty years."
"I'm sure you will find there are plenty of men your age that are polite and chivalrous. Commander Fel appears to be a fine young man."
A smile touched her lips as they strolled through the lobby. "He is a wonderful catch, but I think Jaina has latched onto him." She gave him a furtive glance. "Besides 'you' are men my age."
"Technically," he admitted. "We were born at the same time, but now I'm graying in the temples and closing in on retirement."
She stopped and ran a finger over the gray in his hair. "You look sophisticated." Her eyes raked down his body. "And you have held up very well through the years."
Luke blushed. "Are you trying to seduce me, Mara Jade?"
She broke out in laughter. "Maybe I am one of those women who strive for the unattainable." She grabbed him by the sleeve and guided him to the darkened theater and moved to in the back row. "Can you see alright from here?"
Luke frowned. "Are you suggesting that my old eyes might not be able to focus on that faraway holo projection?"
"No, I just know people have certain distances from the show that they prefer. She folded down her padded seat and sat down. "I like the rear because I don't want people at my back."
"I'll keep that in mind," he said jokingly.
She smiled wide in disbelief. "Was that some sort of play on words?"
"Certainly not. Grand Masters don't partake in jovial wordplay. We're the uptight frustrated types, remember?" He grinned letting her know he was teasing.
The lights dimmed and the two settled down to watch the holo. The beginning of the film had a slow written introductory crawl:
The Old Republic was at war. Millions of brave Clone Troopers faced off against the evil Separatist droid army. Chancellor Palpatine of Naboo works tirelessly to lead the Republic to victory…but there are those who wish to thwart his virtuous efforts.
Only through perseverance and tenacity will the Republic prevail.
Mara chuckled in the darkened theater before leaning over and whispered into Luke's ear. "Nothing about that man was virtuous."
The opening scene had Palpatine's advisors and security guards warning him that there have been threats on his life and that he should stay in his office and not go out into the public.
The man playing Chancellor Palpatine was tall, regal and exceedingly handsome with salt-and-pepper hair and a strong jaw. "No!" he theatrically pronounced. "I won't hide in my office when the people need reassurance during these dark days. They draw comfort from my presence. I represent the people of Coruscant and the Republic. I must show them that I have every confidence in the Grand Army of the Republic and the Coruscant Security Forces."
The next scene has the Chancellor visiting an orphanage, kissing babies and giving his best grandfatherly routine. Luke could hear Mara snickering and doing her best to not disturb the other holofilm patrons. She needn't bother. Half of the audience found the portrayal of Palpatine amusing. There was a visit to a children's hospital before the Chancellor's last stop—a soup kitchen in the poorest area of Coruscant.
Luke turned and whispered in Mara's ear. "I have a hard time believing Palpatine had a charitable bone in his body."
She laughed nodding in agreement.
The elderly statesman smiled warmly as the indigent humans and aliens flowed into the soup kitchen. The down and trodden cried tears of joy when they saw their fearless leader had risked assassination attempts in order to serve them food.
Mara leaned in to Luke. "Ugh…this is so sickly sweet I think I'm going to puke."
He chuckled. "You mean the Emperor never served bread and soup to the down-and-out?"
"More likely he sent Death Squads to clear out the destitute vermin."
Suddenly the atmosphere of the movie changed. Three men in tattered robes and hoods entered the soup kitchen. Their eyes shifted around the chamber, checking out the locations of the guards. A dark skinned man nodded to the others before all three reached under their robes pulling out lightsabers. "Death to the Republic!" they shouted as they started slicing and beheading innocent people aimlessly.
"What is this?" the Palpatine actor stuttered and cringed back in fear. "You are Jedi. You are supposed to be guardians of freedom."
The dark skin Jedi pulled down his cowl revealing cold black eyes and a shaved head. "The Jedi have been the lapdogs to the senate for too long. It is time that we rule the Galaxy!"
Palpatine moved forward his hands in a placating gesture. "Please don't hurt anybody else. It's me you want."
The leader of the Jedi gave a caustic laugh. "Do you think I care about these motherkriff'n beggars?" He then stretched his empty hand toward Palpatine sending Force lightning directly into the Chancellor's face. The actor screamed and rolled on the floor begging the Jedi to spare the lives of the innocents. The special effects crew then did a great job melting the handsome actors features into the distorted, wrinkly face Luke was familiar with."
The Jedi moved forward lightsabers blazing ready to chop the chancellor into little pieces before a platoon of Clone Troopers rushed in to save the politician and killing the Jedi.
The Captain of the guard called in the report. "The Jedi have attempted to assassinate the Chancellor in a coup attempt."
Luke went to whisper something to Mara just as she was leaning in to do the same. Both froze when their lips brushed against each other. Luke should have pulled back, but he didn't, it had been so long since he had been this close to a woman. He forgot how great it felt.
There was a bright flash of a holoimager before man a few rows in front of them stood and dashed out of the theater.
"What was that?"
Luke groaned. "The paparazzi. Our near kiss will be on every holonet show by tomorrow morning."
"You almost kissed a woman. Big deal. Perhaps we should really give them something to talk about." She grinned mischievously as she leaned in and gave Luke a quick peck on the lips. "There, if you are going to suffer over this, you might as well do the deed."
He looked at her lips as they pulled away and felt the blood thicken in his veins. He needed to get out of here before he did something he regretted. He stood and looked down at Mara. "I think I should go. You are more than welcome to stay."
She stood. "No, I think I know how this movie ends anyway. Spoiler alert: the Chancellor becomes Emperor and starts blowing up planets…probably under some innocent pretense… like it was blocking the path for a new hyperspace lane."
Luke couldn't help but smile. "I really don't want to see who they cast to play me blowing up the first Death Star. It'll probably be a cross-eyed duffus that just got a lucky shot." He offered Mara his arm as he escorted her out of the theater. "So, does that count as the date I owe you?"
She shrugged noncommittally. "I think it is half a date, but I'll cut you some slack. You probably need the remainder of the night to pen a response to the scandalous rumors."
He sighed deeply. "I probably will have to respond to the rumors." He turned to her questioningly. "What should I say? You are in this as much as I am. The public will want to know your identity and all the details."
She thought about it for a moment. "Tell them I am just a friend…and you were doing rescue breathing."
He poked her with his elbow. "Funny Mara."
"It is funny." They walked out of the theater and flagged down an airtaxi. "Don't tell them anything. I'd doubt they will discover my true identity and if they do I will simply say I look just like my mother the former Imperial Spy. I even took her name."
He blew out a breath. "I guess that will have to do, but realize they will give you a moniker. Before you know it you will be labeled the redheaded temptress or the green-eyed seductress."
"I'd prefer the Grand Master's erotic enchantress."
He shook his head. "You're enjoying this, aren't you?"
Her green eyes grew bright. "Immensely."
He looked down at her and grinned. "You know what? So am I."