Darth Manul's Note: this chapter is powered and charged by Gauss-Ostrogradskiy theorem. We hope the latest can be violated in the AU as well as Obi-Wan and Palpatine can be strange a bit there.

Chapter 14. Castling

Having loaded the last container with dirty dishes into the ion-cleaner, Shmi tiredly fell on the chair. Serving the canteen of the Jedi Temple was not just a prestigious job, but also was hard work. The most difficult time of the day was supper, when all the Jedi hurried to come to take the last piece of very good and tasty food. Although the life of any Jedi was regulated by the Code and strong discipline including moderation in the pleasures, they spent too much energy in meditation and training during the day to refuse from taking as much food as they wanted. The team in which Shmi worked served only one of many partitions the canteen consisted of. That day was rather ordinary except that one Zabrak Master argued with the team leader about the composition of his course (besides, it was the meat of a rare animal from the planet far-far away) and an unknown restless padawan felt something in the Force and jumped up with a lightsaber, so that three Shmi's colleagues had to wash a five-meter area. However, this everyday test had been finished successfully and she was able to sit into the comfortable chair and to think in silence.

It was certainly time to consider her plans for the nearest time; many strange things had happened since that remarkable conversation with Qui-Gon and his friend. At first, she did not pay any attention to the latter: most of the Jedi in the Temple were interesting or charismatic creatures, so that she could always easily find a companion for talking. She liked Palpatine's manner of behavior and assumed that he could become her friend one day; however, his opinion was, perhaps, significantly different, but not the opposite. He started visiting the Temple nearly every day; it was especially unpleasant that he did it at the supper time and his tries to talk to Shmi or to make her paying attention to him were completely ill-timed. He had possibly understood it at last and since that he did not call Shmi off the work, but just stared at her from the opposite corner of the hall. The unusual thing was that no other maid noticed him and once Shmi had even taken a Tatooine amulet, which had to protect her from the Sand Ghosts, but Palpatine was, as it could be expected, rather real person.

What was it possible to do? Of course, there always was a way to complain the Jedi-guards about him and they would watch that he would never come to the Temple again. However, she did not hurry to do so: working at Watto's shop, she learned well to differ strange from danger and to feel (she could never explain this) whether the customer could try to deceive her or not. Palpatine was not dangerous, although she felt some little anxiety during his presence; at least, as she understood in their conversation, he was a politician, so that he could hardly be a robber or swindler. The latter seemed to be true despite all maids were talking the same words about the totally corrupted government. Well, what may one need from a poor and unknown servant-maid in the capital of the Republic?

Shmi drunk the rest of Felucian tea, put the cup into the cleaner, put the coat on, and left the Temple through the back door. It was much easier to take a taxi-speeder at the neighboring street, so that she decided to move there. A familiar lantern at the corner of the Council Tower was blinking strangely as someone was trying to discharge the fire on wood by blowing on it. She thought that she had seen a real fire on wood only once in her life. However, Shmi could read and knew from books that sitting near it could awake an ancient feeling of being in a tribe like in a big family. Those thoughts affected her strangely: it began to seem that she had not been remembering about something important for a long time and, perhaps—

The lantern suddenly lit brightly. An immobile figure wrapped in black cloak stood on her way. There was no time to think that the loudest cry would not be heard on the noisy streets of the Coruscant; however, when she tried to call someone to help her she could not do that: her throat seemed to be grasped so strong that she even could neither breathe nor make a sound. Her attempt to run away also failed: an unknown force held her with no movement. A figure approached. When it put the hood down, Shmi suddenly recognized Palpatine. At the same time, she felt that it was possible to run again, but she did not—it was not clear why exactly. Palpatine's face was happy and afraid at the same time.

"Shmi?" he asked quietly. "Can we talk right now? Just a little, please."

Qui-Gon and Anakin had just finished the deep meditation after an important lecture when Master's comlink beeped.

"Cos,— Oh, forgive me. Yes, Chancellor! Qui-Gon Jinn is here."

"Let's leave these formalities, Qui-Gon. I need help which only you can provide. That's because I've just looked around: there are only–"

"Wait a second, my friend," Qui-Gon stopped Palpatine. "Ani, there is a blue ball hidden at the training ground. Try to find it using the Force just as I told you at the last lesson." He returned to comlink: "Sorry. Please, continue."

"…forgive me, but they are just as I have described!" The chancellor, it seemed, had not interrupted his angry speech.

"It's a pity! However, how can I help you this time?" Jinn asked in hope he had not missed anything important.

"Jinn! You see, the situation is both stupid and real at the same time. By the… certain reason I have to leave my post for a while, but although I have tens of assistants here, I can't rely on any of them: they will simply betray me…" at this word, Qui-Gon felt something bad pricked his heart. "…as soon as I will lose my power even if it would be temporarily."

"And what then?" Qui-Gon suddenly had a strange and impossible guess.

"If it is possible, Qui-Gon, just for my sake: can you hold this position for a few days? I know, this is very difficult, but I will arrange the things as I remain the Chancellor and you simply need to be there to protect me, and for some other reasons." Although Palpatine offered Qui-Gon an extra power, his voice sounded imploringly.

"Cos, this is so—" the Jedi could not finish: a blue ball, stricken by the Chosen One just for fun, hit him; usually the Force helped Qui-Gon to catch things in such situations, but now he was deeply in the conversation.

"Sorry, Master!"

"Oh, it is all rai— by the way, have you already passed the obstacle course today?" Anakin shook his head. "Well, try the furthest right now." The Master sent his apprentice away again.

"…and completely safe: you will have only chances, no responsibilities for you!" His comlink reasoned.

"This is illegal," said Qui-Gon sadly. "The Council will not approve it."

"I will make—" Palpatine's voice suddenly changed to the low bass, but recovered quickly: "I will make it legal."

"At least, what would I say to Ani?" Master Jinn asked.

"Em… why don't you want to take him with you?" Offered the Chancellor. "Yes, I think it would be the best variant. So, do you agree to help me?"

Qui-Gon silenced. It was not an easy choice. He did not believe that the Council would give its approval. And the power was not definitely the thing he had ever dreamed of: the Living Force had been giving him pacification all his life. He remembered that Palpatine was a politician, so that any of his deals could be a hidden trap. He looked at the comlink: it was looking as it had switched off.

"Cos?" Qui-Gon asked uncertainly. No one responded. What was happening there to the Chancellor? May be he really needed a guard? Master Jinn looked around to find his apprentice…

"Qui-Gon?" The comlink cried suddenly.

"Cos? Are you all right?" The Jedi asked quickly.

"That's all right! I have just connected to the guarding department of the Temple and ordered something, so that you can come to my office immediately."

"W… wait, we haven't agreed yet!" Exclaimed Qui-Gon amazed.

"How dare you..? Qui-Gon, you are my last and only hope! My only real, you can't understand this, r-e-a-l friend!" Palpatine cried in deep worry.

"Cos… what did the Council answered?"

"They have agreed of course! So, can I wait here for you in an hour or I shall call to the Temple again and tell them you have failed this mission? Remember: no responsibilities for you—"

"Well, of course, if it is a mission. Cos, you will certainly have to tell me how this could happen!"

A standard message about the new mission had been delivered to his comlink.

As soon as master Jinn and his padawan entered the Chancellor's cabinet, the doors closed immediately. However, there was no Palpatine! Qui-Gon felt danger. The silence was oppressive. He showed his apprentice to protect him from the back by gesture and moved to the small door on the right. Opening it, he heard the sound of the lightsaber being switched on. "Ani!" he cried and run to the big room. Anakin was standing with a lightsaber in front of the hologram of the Chancellor.

"What's this time, Cos?" Qui-Gon asked angrily.

"Nothing at all, my friend," Palpatine smiled. "I only have ordered not to allow anyone to exit the cabinet. This is only for the state secret safety! You can still remain there and even order to deliver anything you want. I will return, perhaps, by the next morning. Have a nice day!" he smiled again and disconnected.

Chancellor Palpatine had never executed any deal unplanned. This time was not an exception. He had had a short, but very thoughtful conversation with Shmi the day before and learned that Anakin could become a problem on his way to learn his darling (now he was sure about it) closer. He had ordered not to worry him at all, he had postponed all the meetings and receptions of foreign delegations, and, last but not the least, he had solved the problem with Anakin and his post elegantly and robustly. Now he was standing at the terrace in his best suit (a few others he had left in his own apartment) and calling the number learned by heart.

"Lord Sidious, your Majesty!" A polite voice saluted.

"How is the mission being done?" The Chancellor asked in low bass.

"It is in process, your Majesty. We will finish it in one or two days just as you have expected."

"Good, good. However… I have an unusual task for you." He continued sweetly: "Very simple indeed."

"I am ready, Lord Sidious!" The voice responded.

"Reserve a table in the High Cloud restaurant to the name of Ostor Garsky for the evening. And do not be greedy this time." He felt he had forgotten something important. That was it, damned pragmatic! "Also, order a lovely bouquet of cute Uhan flowers, care about it personally. That's all."

"Yes, my Lord!" He disconnected.

Palpatine breathed. They say that the love softens people. Was he a person yet? The insignificant servant he had just talked to had to be killed in less than a day. An irony. All his life was a great irony. It seemed to be the time for something epic. Maybe— No, this would be vulgar and stupid. Well, he had just to wait a couple of hours to meet Shmi near the Temple. And then everything will come as he had not expected, but he expected only that. An irony again.

Suffering from boredom, Qui-Gon and Anakin had already "managed" the Republic greatly by the evening. Anakin had disassembled half of the tech he could find in the Chancellor's cabinet and he had not touched another half, constructing something undefined from the extracted parts, only because he was afraid Palpatine would not come the next day and he would have nothing to do after. Qui-Gon just had had a good lunch and a tasty dinner, and was choosing between asking for tea or for the supper; he had also drunk three quarters of the bottle of ardees on the table and installed newly ordered soft and comfort chairs instead of the old ones, which were too tough and cold. The folder "Top Secret (drafts)" on Palpatine's computer was boring and the "Top Secret (final)" was protected by password which consisted of hieroglyphs Qui-Gon could not enter even using the Force. Anakin had already offered to call the Neimoidian delegation without caring about the fact they would not be able to exit, but reasonable Qui-Gon refused, motivating that decision with the consideration that the delegation would also remain to sleep there. The boredom was awful. When the holophone beeped, Qui-Gon did not ignore it, although the chancellor strongly prohibited to answer any calls.

"Darth Sidious? Well, my poor former master. You can tell your friend that his 'dead' Obi-Wan is now with me and he is very-very angry! How many Sith have to be there in the Galaxy? Prepare for our visit, you, epiur!" The Zabrak in black cloak hissed, finishing his speech with, perhaps, an alien curse.

Qui-Gon stood shocked. Although he could not even understand the meaning of the message, he learned that his former apprentice was alive and that fact was definitely dangerous for his career and further life. Was he able to solve the newly appeared problem in his own favor? Time would show.

Something exploded in the back room with a quiet bang: Anakin was deep in his experiments…