Yoda hobbled into the Chancellor's office accompanied by Mace, where Palpatine was working behind his desk.
"I'll be with you in an moment, gentlemen," he called, not looking up from his work. Yoda approached and leapt up into one of the overly cushioned chairs Palpatine had at his desk. The vanity of the Chancellor had always left a bad taste in Yoda's mouth, but he hid his feelings well and Mace sat perched on the other chair so as not to sink too deeply into it.
Palpatine closed his data-line and looked up at the two masters. The Sidious inside him hated having to be so civil to these people, but the politician, Palpatine, found the deception positively intoxicating and loved the idea of his dark side rumbling away just below the surface, so close to, allegedly, the two most powerful Jedi in the order. It was hard sometimes to refrain from smirking the whole time they were in his presence, but he had learned to control such feelings so well, they had no clue about what he truly felt about them.
"Ah, my dear friends," he began, "It has been brought to my attention that the missing Security Chief of Senator Amidala is thought to be on the planet Geonosis and that he is in fact a former Jedi padawan called Obi-Wan Kenobi, the very one thought killed on my home world some ten years ago."
"Informed of this, by Senator Amidala we have been. To Geonosis, she is heading with my padawan."
"Young Skywalker?" Now there was a lad with promise. It had been difficult to forge much of a relationship with him over the last ten years, but he had been able to witness the raw power that the child possessed. Another few years, especially if his new plans over the war worked out, and the lad could be a potential replacement for Maul who was becoming an increasing threat, especially now he had his young acolyte, Ventress. But this was thought for another time. Right now the arrival of this former padawan had the potential to through an electro-spanner in the works and he needed it to be dealt with.
He had to admire the audacity of the youth to conceal himself so completely, even from the sith Master himself. He had met the man on more than one occasion and found him to be intriguing with a rare dry wit, but nothing exceptional. He was regretting not probing more deeply into the man's mind that first time they had met on Amidala's election to the senate. He had been a young lieutenant at the time, as Palpatine could recall it. Maul had been foolish enough to allow the man to live, which could mean only one thing. Maul wanted him for himself, further proving Sidious' suspicions that Maul was thinking of his end game with the sith Master.
With Amidala headed for the planet he could use this to his advantage and perhaps escalate tensions yet again. If he was lucky, he could cascade events towards the war he inevitably wanted. How could he make sure the Separatists were headed in that direction? Palpatine felt a surge of dark power wash over him as his new plan tasted so delicious in his mind.
"Good, I feel much better knowing she has a steady mind at her side for the negotiations. However, I would feel so much better if a Jedi Master were present."
"Preparing to leave, we already were," came Yoda's voice. He had never come to like Chancellor Palpatine and call him friend as he had with Chancellor Vallorum. After the accusations of corruption had ruined the man's career, he had disappeared from public life until ill health took him too early from the flow of the living force. Yoda couldn't help feeling he would have handled the Separatist crisis with more evenness than Palpatine, who seemed to be still smarting from the Naboo blockade, even though that incident had propelled him to his current position.
"Well then, I am so sorry to have delayed you with news you already had. Please give my regards to Senator Amidala and thank padawan Skywalker for his attentiveness. Bring our lost friend home safely, so that we can welcome him back from the dead properly."
Both Mace and Yoda rose and bowed to the chancellor and moved to leave. In the anti-chamber Yoda recognized the young Naboo officer heading in to see Palpatine.
"Private Nawe, to see you looking well, most wonderful is," and he bowed to the young, stern looking man before him. His facial reconstruction wounds were still a little puffy, but overall his physical appearance was almost back to the way he had been before the horrific assault perpetrated on him.
"Thank you, Master Yoda," he said quietly, bowing in return, "did you find Captain Latterie?" he asked with a sudden urgency. Mace and Yoda looked to each other and were about to answer, when the Chancellor's secretary interjected.
"The Chancellor will see you now, Private," he said and Nawe hesitated, waiting for an answer.
"Found, he has been, well and safe," Yoda replied taking the boy's hands and saw the relief wash over him, "to help him, we now proceed." The boy's forehead wrinkled in confusion. He understood that his captain had been taken by powerful forces. But the great Jedi Master Yoda was needed to help him? That didn't sound so good at all.
"Let me come with you!" started Nawe, suddenly.
"Private, the Chancellor is waiting," came the impatient voice of the secretary.
"Please, Master Yoda, I can help, I know I can be of some service to you."
Yoda released his hold on the boy.
"Sorry, I am, young Nawe, but here, you place is. Tell you this, your captain would. Protect your own people here, you must. Return with Latterrie we shall. See him again soon, you will."
"Private!" snapped the secretary, and Nawe waved him off for his final words on the matter to Master Yoda.
"You are right, he would say that. Please, when you see him, will you tell him how.." he paused for a moment, "how sorry I am for getting him into such a mess. I owe him my life and I have no idea how I'm ever going to be able to repay that."
"Serve your people, as he served them," came Mace's deep tones, "that would be a fitting tribute to your Captain."
Nawe nodded enthusiastically, content with their responses and he headed into the office.
As they left, Yoda looked over his shoulder to see into the Chancellors office just before the doors closed. He saw the Chancellor wrap his arm around Nawe and lead him further into the room.
"Ah, young Nawe, so good to see you looking so well," he overheard, "you know, my boy, I have been watching your career with great interest."
