Before we begin I would like to apologize for my lack of updates in the last week or so. To make a long and rather boring story short I've recently gotten a second job (college bills don't pay themselves unfortunately) and as a result I have had less time or energy to write. The schedule should pick up again in September after I head back to school but until then updates will likely come at a much slower pace. Well, enough of my yammering, on with the show!
"And in the political world today the Galactic Senate was rocked by scandal as a clique of approximately 25 Senators was arrested on charges of conspiracy, obstruction of justice, and treason against the Republic due to their recently revealed connections to the infamous Weequay pirate gang led by Captain Hondo Ohnaka. This organization of brigands is infamous across the Outer Rim Territories for its leader's greed and ruthlessness.
While information on the arrest is scarce, credible sources in the Judicial Department have confirmed that the "Gang of 25" as they are now being called received multiple bribes from the pirates in exchange for using the diplomatic powers of their office to get the pirates out of altercations with Republic law enforcement. It is also believed that these Senators leaked to the pirates the locations of valuable cargo vessels and unguarded planets within their constituent sectors in exchange for a cut of the stolen treasures.
Senator Palpatine, representing Naboo and the Chomell Sector had this to say at an emergency session of the Galactic Senate.
"It is deeply disturbing to see this forum of the people descend to such a sorry state. There are those that say the glory days of the Republic are gone, and they would use this shocking turn of events as proof of the Republic's inexorable decline. I say that this cannot be so. We are a great Republic still, a force to be reckoned with. But I will not argue that the Republic is plagued with a terrible ailment, which with time and inaction, could result in the collapse of all that we hold dear.
This is not rampant fear mongering my friends. This is the truth. We all know that the truth hurts, but now is not the time to assign blame or point fingers. Now is not the time to ask where the proper authorities were when this horrific crime was taking place. Now is the time for action. Now is the time for decisiveness. This revelation that so many of our colleagues were in league with vicious pirates should be a clarion call to every honorable Senator. Let us now repair the rift caused by these dishonorable men. Let us see that justice is done to the citizens of the Republic who were the victims of these pirates. Let us declare for the whole galaxy to see that on this day we move forward, ensuring that progressive change will lead to a better, more wholesome tomorrow."
"And again that was Senator Palpatine addressing the Galactic Senate, calling for political reform and justice for the victims of these treacherous attacks. The whereabouts of Captain Ohnaka and his pirate gang are at this moment unknown. Rumors indicate that Ohnaka's pirate fleet has fled to somewhere in the vicinity of the Sertar Sector, but we must stress that at this moment this rumor is unfounded. Ohnaka is considered armed and heavily dangerous and is not to be approached. In the aftermath of this scandal opinion polls have shown a massive drop in popularity for the Valorum Chancellorship, which critics argue was inattentive of perceived warning signs and ineffective in its campaign promise to stamp out corruption. While Coruscant insiders believe that Chancellor Valorum will manage to be elected to a second term in office, it will likely be with a significantly reduced majority in the Senate, severely weakening the Chancellor's hold on power. This is Rule Davenbay, reporting live from our HoloNet News studio on Coruscant. We'll be back right after these messages."
The holographic screen deactivated as a figure in a dark room contemplated recent events. The figure had little desire to waste his time by watching corporate puppets peddle their wears to a gullible and greedy populace. They appealed to such worldly and trite needs, and such affairs were beneath him. A small spark of discontent fermented in the pit of his stomach. He tried to push it down and ignore it, but the words continued to buzz through his head.
Sidious was late in reporting in. He should have received this information directly from him, not from some anchor on the evening news. As if Sidious had sensed these thoughts from a great distance (which, the aging Muun thought was not unlikely) a beeping began to sound from his comlink. But instead of the hooded form of Sidious that the Muun had expected he instead received a text message on the holoscreen.
Unable to speak in person, was ambushed by Chairman of the Commerce Committee relating to this incident on way to landing pad. Trust by now that you have seen the outcome for yourself. The plan went off without complication. Will be stuck in meetings for the rest of the night. Will meet at the aforementioned time and place. Apologies for not conveying this in person. Appearances must be kept.
And that was that.
Darth Plagueis, Dark Lord of the Sith reread the message twice and let out a noise that was equal parts snarl and world weary sigh. His apprentice forgot his place. Not once in this abrupt message of his did Sidious refer to Plagueis as Master, as protocol dictated. Plagueis shook his head. Sidious had always been paranoid. Plagueis had been assured that his comlink was the most secure communications device in the galaxy, incapable of being sliced into. And yet Sidious insisted on never referring to his Master by his proper title unless he was absolutely sure that they were alone. Communicating over the HoloNet, no matter how secure the frequency was a constant source of anxiety for his apprentice.
Plagueis fixed himself a glass of whiskey and considered the situation. The message was just clear enough that the recipient would know what he was talking about, and was just vague enough that, should the message by some impossible manner fall into enemy hands it could not be deciphered by outside sources. It had been months since he had last seen Sidious in person. At times Plagueis wondered if Sidious had become too immersed in his guise as a politician. For hours on end during their increasingly fewer discussions the apprentice spoke less and less about the Sith and the Force and more about obscure rules, convoluted legislative plots and political machinations of such length and depth that Plagueis could barely comprehend them. Sidious however seemed convinced that these pedantic procedures could and did advance their cause and so Plagueis gave his blessings to proceed.
As the years had gone by and as Sidious found himself growing more accustomed to the rigors of Senatorial duty Plagueis realized that the execution of the final steps of the Sith Grand Plan had been for the most part carried out by Sidious, not Plagueis. Plagueis pondered this. It was the role of the Master to lead the Sith, but as he grew older Plagueis found the corporeal world to be less and less attractive. At times he wondered why the Sith would bother to try and master the physical world when they could become masters of the spiritual. Plagueis knew that he was close to that which he coveted above all, the secrets of life everlasting.
Immortality was his, hovering just out of reach. He just had to unlock one or two more doors that stood in his way and the final victory would be his. The great mysteries demanded his absolute devotion. He hadn't time for politics.
And yet a small nagging voice in the back of his mind continued to speak. "You are becoming irrelevant Plaguies. Without even knowing it you have handed Sidious the reins of power. For the last ten years it has been he, not you, who has ensured that the final phase of the Plan was put in place and executed properly. It is he who has been paving the path to our Order's final ascension. While you hide in your little hole playing mad scientist it is Sidious who makes the practical decisions. He governs the Sith while you experiment. Do you think he doesn't resent that? If so then you are a fool."
Plagueis tried to banish such thoughts from his mind. Sidious understood why Plagueis had taken this path. It was indeed true that in the past such actions that Plagueis had taken would be construed by the apprentice as an act of weakness, but Plagueis believed that he had instilled in Sidious a perfect loyalty. The days of the apprentice killing the Master were long since over. The rule of Darth Plagueis would institute a new regime. If the Sith were to finally triumph and endure there had to be harmony between Master and Apprentice. Bound together by the inexorable will of the Darkside of the Force Sidious and Plagueis would become two halves of one whole.
Sidious, the personification of the physical world, and Plagueis, the epitome of the mystical; together they would be invincible. It was not necessary then for Plagueis to fully understand the game that his apprentice played, so long as his apprentice delivered tangible results. Upon further reflection Plagueis realized that he wasn't entirely sure why Sidious had seen fit to remove those specific 25 senators from power. Sidious had merely claimed that their removal would aid the Sith cause, and that had been all that Plagueis had needed to sanction their downfall. He had been far too entranced with his research to give the matter further thought up until this moment.
Were they actually guilty of the crimes they had been arrested for? Had Sidious uncovered their culpability and leaked his information to the authorities? Had he framed them? Why exactly had he had them removed? Had they opposed his goals in the Senate Chamber? Had they been former allies who had betrayed him? A combination of all of this, or had he done it for none of these reasons?
Plagueis did not know, and a part of him did not care. The other part of him knew that he should have been more involved in his apprentice's affairs, but Plagueis could not argue with results.
Plagueis may not have been an expert in the finer subtleties of Republic politics, but he could grasp the end results of Sidious' machinations. A scandal of such immensity would severely damage Valorum's credibility, weakening his hold on power and paving the way to his ouster from office and Palpatine's rise to the Chancellorship, with Plagueis not far behind. The revelation that several Senators of the Republic had aided marauders in the Outer Rim would cause further damage to the relationship between the central government and the outlying regions, building up the growing discontent and anger with Republic incompetence that would spark the coming civil war.
Sidious had done well, and Plagueis allowed this victory to erode the anger that he had felt at Palpatine's inability to actually call and keep his Master properly updated. Sidious was a fine manipulator, and such a skill had made him invaluable to the cause of the Darkside. His manipulation was indeed his greatest asset. He was such a convincing politician.
Plagueis banished his few remaining doubts and roused himself to return to his experiments, having drank his whiskey. The Grand Plan was in safe hands. Sidious would be the key that Plagueis needed. In time Sidious would rise to the Chancellorship, and then he would appoint his Master Co-Chancellor, for he would then have the power to do so. And together they would rule the galaxy. Plagueis was assured that nothing could stop them. Sidious was ambitious, as any Sith should be, but Plagueis was convinced that this ambition had been tempered with loyalty and gratitude; loyalty to the one being who had made Sidious who he was, and gratitude for the power that Plagueis had and would in the future grant to him.
For Darth Plagueis the Wise things were looking bright indeed.
"And that is why I would like to propose to this Committee the following amendment, which, in light of this recent scandal I believe shall restore the trust that the Outer Rim once held in the Republic..."
It has been a fruitful day. Several of my political opponents have been permanently dealt with, and with them out of the way I am now one step closer to the position which is rightfully mine. The Chairman of the Committee continues to chatter inanely. He doesn't realize that the damage caused by this scandal is permanent, and that the people's faith in their elected leaders has only been further eroded. In time it shall shatter completely, and the people shall beg for one strong man to lead them. I shall happily answer that call.
However as I sit here at the conference table pretending to pay attention to this proposed amendment to the new trade agreement I find myself considering, not my success, but rather an unwanted burden that hangs upon my neck like a heavy chain.
My "Master".
I can sense him even from such a great distance away. He is a doddering fool who has the unmitigated audacity to believe that he controls me. No one controls me. He is upset that I have not contacted him yet to report upon our most recent plan. Or rather, my plan. He always refers to these plans as "our plans" even though it is I who not only conceives of the plan but ensures that it is carried out to completion.
I do resent our working relationship. He has spent years locked away in that lab of his. That which he searches for, the secret of eternal life is indeed a goal worth looking for, but his obsession with immortality has come at a cost to the Grand Plan. The success of the Sith relies more upon our triumph over the physical than it does the spiritual. We have more immediate priorities. Once the Jedi are dead and the Republic has been torn down we may then pursue the great secrets. But Plagueis wastes his time and mine, allowing valuable opportunities to fall by the wayside. Plagueis has allowed his contacts with the influential and the powerful to languish, contacts which could have made my job easier, but Force forbid that my job be easier.
I have done more than my fair share. He orders me about as though I were still that petulant teenager on Naboo that he had discovered all those years ago. But I have grown beyond that. I have grown beyond him. Who is he to order me about? Have I not proven myself the superior Sith? Have I not proven myself to be more clever, more resourceful, more productive? What has he to show for his years locked away with nothing but his experiments for company? Nothing!
In the time he has wasted courting the Darkside I have become a Senator, systematically ensured that corruption spread rampantly across the galaxy, weakened the Valorum administration, and created the groundwork for the greatest war that the galaxy has ever seen, a war that will catapult the Sith straight to the top of the pyramid as the undisputed leaders of the galaxy. I have done all of this and much more, and Plagueis has the gall to call himself Master. He would coast through life, not lifting a finger to aid me as I built up the Sith Order. He would ride my coattails to the top, and he would have me appoint him as Co-Chancellor. Co-Chancellor! I've never heard a more ludicrous thing. The Senate and the people would never hear of it. Supreme Chancellors have always been elected by the Senate and are always members of the Senate when they are elected (the times when Jedi were elected Chancellor were extraordinary cases and do not count). That is how a parliamentary system of government works. They would never stand for an outsider to be made their leader, especially an executive of a vast holding company. Public opinion is firmly against the megacorporations, and to see the Magister of one of the largest corporations appointed as Chancellor would be absolute political suicide.
But Plagueis does not and cannot understand this. He thinks that just because we are Sith we can do anything we please. There are some things that even the Sith cannot accomplish. We are limited by the realities of the real world. But he refuses to see reason. How I loath him.
And yet, I know that I need him. He must be close to uncovering the greatest secret of all. I still need his wealth, his expertise. Without it I cannot yet attain the Chancellorship for myself. It will happen soon. I will be the one to succeed Valorum, and when I am firmly enthroned in the trappings of that office which is my birthright I shall rid myself of the burden that is Plagueis. The old fool thinks that I am his willing servant. A part of him thinks of me as his son.
Such heresy is revolting. No Sith can care for another. He had hoped that he had curbed my ambition and instilled in me a loyalty to him.
He was wrong. It is as my Father once said. I am an animal, I cannot be domesticated. Not even a Sith can tame me. I know from instinct not to bite the hand that feeds me, but the time is fast approaching when Darth Plagueis will become completely redundant.
I recall that Plagueis once said that the art of manipulation was one of my greatest assets. It truly is. I have fooled many into believing that I am harmless. I have fooled my colleagues in the Senate. I have fooled the press. I have fooled the Jedi. I have even fooled Plagueis himself. He thinks me loyal. He thinks me his servant. The ungrateful scum. My ambition has never been tamed, it has merely been hidden beneath layers of calculated deceit. He is secure in his position of power, believing himself to be invincible.
I look forward to that day when I prove him wrong. That day is not today however. I may be vindictive and cruel, but I am patient as well, and that patience holds my less desirable attributes in check. And so I wait, knowing that I shall soon have the power and the Mastery that I covet.
For me, things are looking bright indeed.
