A million questions swam through Rey's head with no answer in sight for any of them, it seemed. This Darth Plagueis… while obviously a Sith Lord, judging by his title of "Darth," was most definitely not someone who she was familiar with. A trickle of fear stirred within her, as she worried that this was someone who she needed to know, if she wanted to fit into the role as being from this timeline. Yet, in all of her time here, she hadn't really heard any of the Jedi really delving much into the history of the Sith, so she concluded that just playing the "dumb Jedi" would probably work, since after all she doubted many Jedi even cared to remember the Sith of old in very much detail.

"I'm sorry, Chancellor, but I'm afraid that I'm not quite sure who that is."

Rey watched, as cool flames seemed to erupt in the Chancellor's eyes.

"I thought not, since after all I'm sure that it's not quite the type of tale that would be shared amongst the Jedi," Palpatine paused for effect, as he laid his hands out on the table, before bringing them together in a conjoined fist. Then, he leaned forward, as though he was telling her one of the deepest secrets known to mankind. "Darth Plagueis was a Dark Lord of the Sith. He was so powerful and so wise, hence his title, that he was able to use The Force to influence the midichlorians, in order to create life." A flicker of confusion ran through Rey at the mention of midichlorians. The term was alien to her and she had no clue what it meant, though it seemed to have something to do with the force. She decided that she'd have to ask Ben later and if he didn't know anything, then perhaps Master Yoda would. "He had such a knowledge of the dark side," the Dark Lord continued, "that he could even prevent the deaths of the ones he loved, in order to keep them from dying," the Chancellor shot her a wink, "I do suppose, sort of like you." Definitely not comfortable with being compared to a Sith Lord, Rey shifted and felt a sudden twist in her gut.

Her jaw tightened.

Palpatine, however, was too wrapped up in his tale to notice any of this. "One day," Palpatine went on, "Darth Plagueis became so powerful that the only thing he was afraid of was losing his power," the Chancellor chuckled, "which of course, he eventually did. For, Darth Plagueis had taught his apprentice everything he knew and that same apprentice killed him in his sleep." The Dark Lord smirked, "it's ironic really. He could save others from death, but not himself. Never himself."

Rey narrowed her eyes curiously, "and what of his apprentice? Do you know what became of him?"

A flicker of rare surprise quickly flashed across the Sith's face. Apparently, he had not been expecting that question.

"No one knows, dear Rey… no one knows," the Chancellor murmured.

I do, liar.

Palpatine sighed, "though I suppose what I mean to tell you is that you should be careful about who you choose to trust Rey. With powers as great as yours, you must be one of the most careful of us all. Although, please don't take offense to that anecdote I told you, for I meant none, if you feel I drew compairisons, because at the end of the day it doesn't matter what you are, be it Sith, Jedi, an average citizen or even a politician, like myself. At the end of the day, it will never matter. So, my dear Rey, I want you to know that while a great many people out there may try and manipulate you for the grand powers you hold, trust me when I say that I would never do such a thing and if you ever need someone to talk to, I am of course always here and willing to listen. After all, I am a politician and that's what we do," Palpatine attempted to joke, to which Rey faked a smile, "but in all seriousness, Rey, if the need ever arises, I truly am forever in your debt, so please come to me, if you are ever in need of anything. You have a friend in the Senate," the way Palpatine said this all sounded incredibly genuine and honest, even when assessing him by way of the force Rey could pick up no bad intentions stirring within him.

She had to give it to him for that at least. He was a very talented actor and it showed all throughout history.

That fact also made her wonder though, what this whole conversation would've been like if she hadn't been from the future and was instead in the dark as to who Chancellor Palpatine actually was.

She truly couldn't say that she knew the answer.

"Thank you Chancellor," she responded in kind, just as their food finally arrived.

Again, Rey was astounded by the sheer beauty of everything in the restaurant, for never before had she been to such a high class place and to be honest, so far the free wine and food appeared to be the only positive things about this whole outing.

As she took her first bite of Sushi, her palet was filled with a tasteful explosion of color. The rice had been cooked to perfection- something she had never been able to quite master herself-, the seaweed was tender and smooth with a hint of saltiness filling her senses, the fish was fresh with the most perfect of textures and everything else that lay within the roll was somehow deliciously perfect.

This place was good.

A few minutes of silence lapsed between her and the Chancellor, as they worked on their meals, before finally the Chancellor spoke once more, as he nursed his second glass of wine.

"My dear Rey, it's come to my attention that despite our blooming friendship," Rey almost choked on her food in surprise, "I hardly know anything about you. So please, do enlighten me, for I must say that I am most curious."

Continuing to do her best to hide her surprise, Rey swallowed, before speaking in turn, "well Chancellor, I don't know if there really is much to say," Rey thought for a moment, as she did her best to decide what and what not to tell him, "I'm from Jakku and then, one day I set off to become a Jedi. There's not much more about me that would interest you than that."

Strangely enough, Palpatine seemed oddly interested by what she'd said, even though Rey was sure that everything she'd just said didn't really have much room for follow up questions. After all, Jakku was basically nowhere and all Jedi set off to become Jedi at some point, so why was the Chancellor looking at her, as though he were observing a lab rat?

"Very interesting," Palpatine murmured… "very interesting, indeed." He took another bite of his Lobster dish, before continuing on, "I thought that Jedi were taken as babies to the Temple, yet you say that you set off to become a Jedi. I find that very curious, dear Rey."

Kriff.

A shiver snaked its way up Rey's spine, as she realized that she'd totally messed up.

"Well that's normally how it goes, Chancellor," she replied, forcing a smile on her face in an attempt to defuse any suspicions that the Dark Lord of the Sith might now have, "however, I just happen to be in the minority that come to the Temple, later in life. I suppose I was around…" Rey did her best to think of an age that would sound alright, "seven," give or take twelve years, "when I set off to become a Jedi. My parents had just died and I was just lucky enough to have a Jedi find me shortly after."

She desperately hoped her story would work.

"Curious," Palpatine simply murmured back, before his eyes turned sorrowful, "though I must say that I am terribly sorry about your parents," Rey had to force herself not to stab him through the heart with her plasma blade, for it was his fault in the first place that they were dead, "I know how that feels. My own family was slaughtered aboard our family starship. It was most awful and I just happened to be lucky enough… and I suppose also unfortunate enough, not to be there when it occurred. Sadly, the criminal" Palpatine spat out the word, "has yet to be found. So trust me when I say that I understand what you're going through and just like I said before, if you ever need someone to talk to, I am here for you, dear Rey."

A sprinkle of confusion and curiosity ran through Rey and she found herself wondering if the brutal deaths of his family were what turned him to the dark side. Then again, this was Palpatine, so she supposed that it was just as likely that he actually was the criminal and had just covered it up.

She'd probably never know.

"Thank you Chancellor, that is very kind of you and I am terribly sorry about your own family, just as well."

The Dark Lord of the Sith simply bowed his head, "thank you."

They resumed their meals.

Since he and Ahsoka had some extra time before picking up Rey that night, due to some kind of thing Rey was doing with Palpatine, they'd decided to go to Dex's for dinner with Obi-Wan.

Anakin remembered that at some point, earlier that morning, Rey had explained the extent of what was happening, but to be honest, Anakin really hadn't been listening, since all he could seem to think about was how unfair it was that the Chancellor was taking Rey instead of him.

Those dark thoughts of jealousy and envy left his mind though, as he sat gathered around a table with his former Master and Padawan. There, Anakin found himself enjoying a hearty meal, while they joked around with each other.

Anakin loved moments like these, where the burdens of their lives, the Jedi Code and the Council just all seemed to disappear.

When it was just them.

Obi-Wan, Ahsoka and himself.

Once finished, Obi-Wan paid the check and the three made their way to their feet, as they prepared for the walk back to the Jedi Temple.

As soon as Anakin opened the door, the crisp, cold air of the evening assaulted him, making him involuntarily shiver.

"Perhaps, we should have brought a speeder," Obi-Wan quipped in relation to the weather, seeming to share the exact same thoughts as his former apprentice.

Yet, a smile lit up his Padawan's face at the notion, "if we decided to take a speeder, I doubt we would've even left yet with how long it takes Anakin to choose one that he likes."

"I don't take that long," Anakin protested, as he worked to defend himself.

Both Obi-Wan and Ahsoka shot him disbelieving looks.

As they turned down a less populated street, Anakin suddenly felt the levity of their situation plummet, as a brisk chill suddenly seemed to rattle his bones.

Something was wrong.

Both Obi-Wan and Ahsoka seemed to have noticed it too, as the group suddenly came to a halt.

For a long moment, nothing happened and all Anakin could see was a few people walking down the streets, while the wind whispered in their ears.

Then, before he could even blink, an unknown blaster went off, sending a bolt straight down towards them with unparalleled speed and accuracy.

As it headed straight towards Anakin's exposed chest.