Chapter 11

Chapter 11

Coruscant

Early Friday Morning

"Darth Mard I will try to see you again before duty carries me off Coruscant." Palpatine said as he pulled the Darth's hood over his head and disappeared down the ship's ramp.

Palpatine doffed the Darth's cloak when he entered the tavern stashing it in the supply closet. He made his way quietly into Sellan's bedroom where he changed clothes. Noticing her alarm was set to wake her shortly he turned it off and went to the kitchen. A half hour later he knocked on her bedroom door the entered carrying breakfast for two.

"Papie! Your back early and you made breakfast again. Let me throw something on and we'll go sit down and eat."

"The floor in here is good." He said sitting down and placing the tray in front of him. Sellan joined him on the floor. As they ate Palpatine relaxed in the joy her company brought him. It was a conundrum to him. He couldn't share his greatest accomplishment, becoming a Darth, with the person who he enjoyed being with.

After breakfast Sellan went to deal with tavern business. As the door closed behind her he removed the Sith cube and placing it carefully in front of him Palpatine entered a learning trance. He knew this would be his last one for a while and his aim was to devour all the knowledge on a level before proceeding deeper.

When Sellan looked in on him at lunch the force let him know she was there and he waived her away. When she checked again at dinnertime the force pushed him out of the cube. Palpatine got up dressed and went to his reserved corner table to eat with Sellan.

They had just settled down when their attention was drawn to the front door as a very well dressed gentleman entered "Senator Freey!" Palpatine said rising to greet the new comer.

"Oh, there you are Palpatine. I thought for a moment I might have the wrong establishment."

"Is something wrong?" Palpatine asked all ready knowing the answer to that and any other question that came into his mind so easy was Freey to read.

"No, not at all. I was sitting around the suite getting everything picked up for our assignment and it occurred to me that as close as you and I have become I had never met Sellan. You've talked about her, as I've talked about my family and friends. I decided it was time to met her."

"Then you shall. Sellan may I present the honorable Senator Freey direct representative of the Supreme Chancellor. Senator Freey Sellan."

"It is an honor young lady." Freey said taking her hand and executing a very courtly bow.

"The honor is mine." Sellan replied dropping into a curtsy as regal as Freey's bow.

Palpatine watched this take place with a bemused grin. Freey's manner was the result of years in royal service and seldom varied. However less than a quarter of the ladies Freey greeted managed anything close to a proper response. Sellan's near perfect response surprised and amused Palpatine.

As they escorted Freey back to Palpatine's private booth Palpatine took pride in the way Sellan, playing the part of tavern owner, placed a special order with the kitchen, took care of Freey's coat and did several other things all the while appearing to give Freey her full attention. Until Mara showed up to complete the foursome. Sellan introduced her to Freey as her sister. Freey's greeting was responded to in kind again and then the foursome settled in to the booth.

The meal was fantastic. The kitchen staff preformed miracles given what was normal fare. Dinner conversation started light with Freey regaling Sellan with an account of Palpatine's and his adventures on Naboo. Of course he portrayed Palpatine as a great hero. Had Freey not used real names Palpatine would not have realized it was the same event.

"You're a hero and you never told me!" Sellan said glaring at Palpatine.

"Senator Freey makes it all seem grander than it was." Palpatine protested.

"Nonsense my boy, now be quiet and take your due. False modesty never advanced any career." Freey countered then added. "By the way can you be ready to go tomorrow afternoon?"

"Of course Senator, but I thought we had a week of preparation meetings?"

"We will be told officially tomorrow morning what I have already been told unofficially. 'Conditions on Maridia require our immediate attention. Briefing disks will be provided for our study on route.'"

"Our transportation?"

"A small freighter than can carry a few passengers. It has had the cargo area modified to serve as our living area while we are on Maridia also. The ship is loading fuel and supplies as we speak."

Seeing a look of concern on Sellan's face Freey addressed her directly. "Do not worry about us. If it appears that real trouble is brewing we will leave and they send in the Jedi. They are better suited to dangerous conditions. Palpatine and I will handle the easy ones. Besides when Maridia asked they specifically requested non-Jedi representatives."

'I'm about as non-Jedi as you can get' Palpatine thought before speaking "Then this is our going away celebration. Let's party!"

Senator Freey who Palpatine knew as a very conservative party participant among the social elite really let his guard down and partied with a joy that Palpatine had he not seen it would not have thought possible. Freey regaled the group with tales of intrigue and misconduct always leaving enough details out so that you were not able to determine just whom he was talking about. Palpatine was content to sit back and with an arm around Sellan enjoying the evening. Out of habit more than anything He switched to viewing the Strands of Power in the tavern the only surprise was across the table from him he expected to see a thin line from Mara to Freey but instead of a cool yellow, friendship, line or even a light gray, tolerated acquaintance, one it was bright red with passion on Mara's end and Freey's end was turning from yellow to rose as he watched. When he switched from viewing the Strands of Power. Sellan whispered into his ear "I hope Freey isn't the type to take advantage of Mara."

When the evening turned to early morning and the tavern started emptying Freey finished the current story, Something about a guy trying to impress a girl about beating a Jedi only to find out the girl is a Padawan, Then he started his good-bye's. Mara offered him the comfort of a nearby bed. Freey left with her. Palpatine retired with Sellan to her quarters adjourning the tavern.

The next morning Palpatine opened the door to Senator Freey's suite instructing the droid following him to place his bags by the door. He then went to find Freey. All he found was Freey's bags packed and ready to go. As the droid was moving Freey's to join Palpatine's by the door Senator Freey showed up looking very chipper.

"Senator, you look happy this morning."

"Palpatine my boy, I feel better than I have in months. That party last night was just what I needed."

"Really sir?"

As he donned his court robes that he had out then checked his appearance in a mirror Freey said, "Yes I wasn't always a stuffed shirt. In my younger days I ran away from my family and all their connections. I spent ten years traveling around, I was a cargo roustabout in a trans-shipping terminal off some lifeless planet. I even shipped out on a couple of freighters. That ten year period was one of the most enjoyable in my life."

"You have to meet the Supreme Chancellor in one hour." Freey reminded him.

"Yes we do. Droid take all the bags to the holding area. Palpatine let us go and get our orders. Freey replied as he headed off his robes swirling around him.

Their audience was short almost to the point of being dismissive. A quick round of glad handing, a transfer of Data chips, ending with a 'I have full confidence in you' as they were hustled out the door.

"That was quick and pointless." Palpatine said, "He could have sent a note with the chips to your suite and accomplished the same thing."

"Almost. The difference is now he can truthfully say he meet with us." Senator Freey replied.

"Thus putting us on the spot if anything goes wrong."

"You're getting the hang of this. Let's go check out the freighter they have chartered for us, it will be our home until we complete this mission. Then we can have one last meal at the tavern while they ship our bags to the freighter." Freey said leading the way to a transport tube.

Arriving at the freighter Palpatine suppressed a chuckle as Freey let out a quiet curse when he saw a droid removing the last of their bags from the transport pallet. "Well Palpatine I guess lunch will be on board."

"I do believe you're right again." Palpatine said, "I'll use the terminal over there to send my good-byes to Sellan," 'And Darth Mard' he added mentally.

"Give my love and regrets to Mara as well." Freey called out as he approached the terminal.