Chapter 12

Chapter 12

In-route to Maridia

Palpatine ejected the data chip from the viewer as Senator Freey said, "Even on the third viewing that is remarkably incomplete. The information is straight from the Republic public database augmented by star charts of trade routes. Not a word about the dispute."

"I agree Senator but as you pointed out previously there is nothing we can do now."

"Your right Palpatine. I just get frustrated. The real question before us is rather gross incompetence or malicious intent is responsible for sending us into this situation unprepared." Freey stated as he reclined back and appeared to survey his office. As with most republic projects Freey was never contacted as to what he wanted. A large office for him with an adjoining ornate conference room, a closet of an office for Palpatine, along with minimal living quarters for the two of them had been hurriedly built in the cargo hold of the freighter. "Either way it doesn't matter now. We will address that when we return to Coruscant. For now why don't we tear down that wall between our offices? That way you will be able to breathe at your desk." Freey said.

It took a few days time, a commodity that they had in abundance, but soon all remnants of the wall had been spaced or stowed in several hidden areas. "Much better." Senator Freey said as he surveyed their handiwork, adding "This not only improves our communication, but when anyone from Maridia visits us here they will have a truer appreciation of your responsibilities."

"Those are kind words Senator." Palpatine replied.

"Not at all Palpatine, only the truth. I plan to seclude myself tomorrow to get ready for our landing the day after. Would you mind going over the final details with our pilot?"

Not at all Senator, It would be a pleasure." Palpatine said looking forward to being alone with their young pilot. The force had revealed things about him to Palpatine. Things Palpatine needed privacy to exploit.

That night Palpatine entered the cockpit smiling and asked "Mr. Cayer do you mind if I sit down? There are things we should discuss before landing."

"No." was the cautious reply as he indicated the co-pilots seat.

"Thank you," Palpatine replied sitting down before continuing. "Before Senator Freey went into seclusion to prepare for tomorrow he asked me to go over the details about tomorrow and the following days with you."

"I've been briefed. I land you two safely then stay out of sight until your boss back there says we leave. Sounds simple enough."

"That it is. On the outside." Palpatine answered then asked, "Do you mind my asking how you ended up piloting us Mr. Cayer? I figured a young man like you would be flying military ships."

"Yea well that's a painful story."

"You can tell me." Palpatine replied using a force nudge along with his words.

"I was in fighter training doing real well, actually too well. I was lining up on targets before they appeared. The service tested me and found my mita-colaria count was high and I had developed force sensitivity. A fact I'd tried to hide. Turns out the officer in charge didn't like Jedi. Why, I don't know but his dislike had me flushed out of the service quicker than you could imagine. I spent my time after that bouncing around from job to job. One day I was hanging around a cargo port on Coruscant when an old cargo pilot took pity on me and after a lot of hard work on my part I became his co-pilot and business partner. One night, when I was working on the ship while we waited for cargo on some backwater planet, he got into a bar fight and ended up dead. I inherited the ship along with all the bills. Luckily for me I have an old friend in the government who occasionally gets contracts thrown my way."

"How did the Jedi miss you?"

"Born and raised on Coruscant. They just missed me was what they said. When the service flushed me out I went to them, but I was too old they said. I tried to find someone to teach me but no one would go against the Jedi Council."

"An interesting tale." Palpatine said while thinking, 'Now to convert him.' "I have a few extra things you could do to help us. But these things will require you to learn techniques that must be kept secret. Think on this and when I return in an hour let me know if you are willing."

When he returned Cayer agreed. Palpatine said, "Senator Freey and I are going into these negotiations blind. No doubt all we see and hear will be carefully controlled. We need someone who can travel around without arousing anyone's concern."

"I'm your man. But what's so special about doing that?"

Palpatine started to stand as he did he used the dark force to create a noise diverting the Pilot's attention. When Cayer turned to say something Palpatine clouded Cayer's mind. "Hey were did you go?"

"I'm right here." Palpatine said dropping the cloud effect allowing Cayer to see him standing just a few feet from the copilot's seat.

"That is a neat trick. I can see how that would be useful."

"Good we can begin then. Cayer I need you to pick an event in your life that made you very angry. I want you to remember every little detail and just let your anger build." Palpatine watched through the force as Cayer tried but faltered. "Come on you useless sot. You pathetic excuse for a Human. I've seen alien children do this exercise without any problems at all." Palpatine said.

The comments angered Cayer and allowed him to hurdle the mental block he was facing. Suddenly Cayer could feel the dark force reaching for him. "Do not fear this force embrace it. Let your anger feed it. This is the power source for your new abilities." Palpatine coached.

The two of them then spent the rest of the night together Palpatine indoctrinating Cayer into the Dark force and training him in simple cloaking techniques.

Chapter 13

Maridia

When Cayer dropped his ship out of hyperspace approaching Maridia. Palpatine and Senator Freey occupied the normally empty seats in the cockpit, Palpatine in the copilot's Freey in the engineer's seat. While Cayer was exchanging information with Maridia approach confirming the three antiquated planetary defense satellites were programmed to recognized him as friendly prior to getting too close Palpatine and Senator Freey were enjoying the view and commenting on just how green and blue the planet was. Senator Freey then looked at the orbiting satellites that had Cayer concerned. "They appear to be rather old models of standard republic issue," He commented.

"Old and cheap to maintain." Cayer countered adding, "If you look at the display they actually have very few satellites. The standard one for communication with the Republic, The three defensive ones, the rest weather, and basic planetary navigation. They don't have the extensive planetary communications and surveillance ones that you normally see. This should be an interesting place to visit."

That perception was only heightened as the entered the atmosphere and flew over endless green mountains before approaching the coastal plain that was home to the capital and only city on Maridia "City". Comments about the various sights diminished and then ceased when first Cayer then the others noticed the small patch of Ferro-concrete they were expected to land on.

"Didn't buy any more than they had to." Senator Freey observed.

"Yes and they really saved on the landing aids... There are none." Cayer countered his attention otherwise locked on the approaching pad. Despite their concerns they were soon down, and centered on the pad Cayer noted with pride.

"Is this the greeting party you expected?" Cayer asked as a procession of horse drawn wagons approached piled to overflowing with dirt.

"I don't believe so. But I should go check." Freey said.

"No Senator, Let me. This obviously is not the official party. I will find out what is going on while your wait here." Palpatine said.

"Ok, but keep your eyes open. This group might be the problem we are here to fix."

"I will Senator." He replied heading towards the exit.

"I am Vallaron of Roads Greetings." the lead figure said as Palpatine descended the ships ramp.

"Greetings Vallaron of Roads I am Palpatine aide to Republic Senator Freey. May I inquire what your business is so close to our ship?" he asked focusing on the Lines of Power for the group before him. It was quickly obvious that Vallaron was the leader of the group the blue lines radiated from him like wheel spokes from a hub.

"Palpatine aide to Senator Freey our High Priestess is coming to greet the Senator. Anything that is a part of Maridia and not natural is an abomination to her eyes. We are here to cover the offending Ferro-concrete with dirt."

"What about our ship?" Palpatine asked as visions of them moving into a dirt floored hut passed through his mind.

"It is yours," he said with a shrug that was the universal 'what is one to do' gesture adding, "The ground is Maridia. Our responsibility is to cover the offending Ferro-concrete."

"Please go about your work I am sure Senator Freey does not want to interfere with your customs."

"Thank you." Vallaron said waiving the carts behind him forward to deposit their loads along with the workers to spread it as Palpatine returned to the ship.

Vallaron and his crew having finished their work were just passing out of sight when, from the other direction appeared a procession of brightly colored horse drawn carriages. "Palpatine this looks more like our greeting committee." Freey said.

"Yes Senator." Palpatine replied lifting the ornate Senator's cape onto Freey's shoulders before donning his own Aide's cape.

"We are ready. Activate the viewer by the ramp please." Freey said to Cayer over the ship's intercom. As they left the common area headed for the ramp.

Palpatine stood beside Freey as they watched the procession draw to a stop opposite the ship and various dignitaries disembarked milling around for a few minutes before sorting themselves out. When they started to approach the ship Palpatine started to lower the ramp. Freey stopped him saying, "Give them a few more moments. We are higher in the pecking order and I want to reinforce that."

"Sir?" Palpatine questioned appearing to be puzzled.

"In a short time we may have to twist a few arms to get a peace settlement. Now is the time to establish that we have the power to twist those arms. Good they have stopped and are waiting. On my right side Palpatine two steps behind." Freey finished clearly in his element.

Palpatine activated the ramp then fell into place as they descended the ramp and approached the delegation. Freey stopping six feet from the group.

"Greeting I am Fraylac the third of Cabinetry, speaker for the council. To my right is Royarta, Head Priestess for the Goddess of Maridia" A man of average height for Maridia to judge by the delegation with powerfully built shoulders and arms that confirmed his working background. Tinges of gray highlighted his hair and full beard. He was obviously a man in his prime who was used to getting things done.

"Greeting Fraylac the third of Cabinetry and Royarta Head Priestess of Maridia. I am Senator Freey representative of the Supreme Chancellor and this is my aide Palpatine. How may we assist you?"

"That is tomorrow's business. Today we ask you to join us in a feast celebrating your arrival." Fraylac said.

"We are honored." Freey replied.

"Join me in my carriage your aide may ride in one of the staff wagons." Fraylac said.

"I do not mean offense Fraylac the third of Cabinetry but Palpatine needs to ride with me."

"I an sorry but my carriage only holds two." Fraylac replied.

"Perhaps it would be acceptable if Palpatine rode with another councilor this time. I am sure arrangements could be made on our next trip for the two of them to ride together." Royarta interjected.

Palpatine looked closer at the woman who made that comment. Her position beside Fraylac only served to accentuate her small size. He estimated she stood 1.4 meters and massed a little over 45 kilos. The thick multi-colored Lines of Power that she served as a terminus for indicated she was one of, if not the most powerful person on the planet. Before he could signal him Palpatine watched Freey execute a bow involving a backward step, One he normally reserved for the Queen of Naboo, saying "A generous offer that we accept."

With that Fraylac came forward and escorted Freey to the second carriage. Royarta took her seat in the lead carriage and Palpatine was escorted to a seat with a group of two council members in the third carriage.

Casual conversation with the two council members during the 2 kilometer long ride into city revealed a lot to Palpatine. The council of trades ran Maridia to their benefit. The Priestess acted as a buffer protecting all natural resources and the people's rights. From the way it was said her opinions had the effect of law. Indeed the few stone building appeared to be built of found stone not quarried. A closer examination of the city's layout revealed the builders fit the city in to the natural contours of the coastal plain moving a minimal amount of earth. As one would expect the majority of the city's building were two to three story wooden structures.

The caravan stopped at a large four story structure that occupied a city block. "Our meeting hall," said one of his companions, Phing of buildings he remembered from the introductions. Palpatine followed them in and found himself in a hall the size of the building with very few internal posts. Everything appeared to be made from the various trees found on Maridia and the decorative touches done using intricately carved and inlayed contrasting woods were superb. Knowing their reactions was being observed Palpatine let Senator Freey speak first. "Magnificent this is the finest wooden building I've ever been in."

"That is true I know of no other building where the wood work is as spectacular as this one." Palpatine said to Phing.

"Thank you both for your kind words. This was built by craftsman from my guild generations ago." Phing stated.

"I am surprised that some of the Republic's elite don't have members from your guild off planet building for them." Palpatine said.

"They have tried and while the Priestess didn't ban our traveling, We understood her concerns for our overall well being. Besides the cabinetry guild earns enough republic credits for us to buy what we need off world."

"Then all is as it should be." Palpatine said.

"Yes, that is a good way to say it. All is as it should be." Phing replied. The banquet was better than most Palpatine had attended in the past. The food was fresh, simply prepared and conversations light. It wasn't until they were back in their office aboard the ship that Freey and Palpatine sat down to compare notes.

"I learned nothing of consequence Palpatine how about you?"

"Just a few things. The Priestess is the de facto head around here. She speaks and it is as good as law. All the republic credits are earned by Fraylac's guild. Finally, although it is not official this is a closed world. The only contact is when ships call to pick up Fraylac's cabinetry. Maridians do not travel off planet."

"I noticed nothing that would dispute that. I guess we wait for tomorrow. By the way where is our pilot?" Senator Freey asked.

"Taking a little walk I guess." Palpatine said

"Remind him when he returns not to get into trouble. I will be in my quarters until tomorrow." Freey said retiring to his quarters.

Palpatine cleaned up what little mess there was putting their full dress outfits into the cleaner before he retired to his room and as he did for approximately one third of his nights put a force lock on the door. He then removed his Sith cube from its hiding place in his travel bags placing it in front of him. It was the next morning when he exited the learning trance, returned the Sith cube to its hiding place and unlocked the door.

"Ah there you are Palpatine. I trust you slept well." Senator Freey said

"Yes, the night passed far to quickly. I see our wandering pilot has not returned."

"No and I am a little worried. Did you have a talk with him earlier? I don't want some space ball upsetting our mission."

"Senator I did talk with him and he is aware that if he causes problems the consequences would be severe." 'Far more severe than even you realize.' Palpatine added mentally.

"Good our ride should be here in an hour. Do we have anything to discuss before they get here?"