Chapter 2

Ashya checked her reflection one last time before the Chancellor's private speeder arrived at the private Senate arena docking bay. Two guards cloaked in red stood waiting to greet her along with the Chancellor's personal assistant.

"Mrs. Ramiras, I am Late'ka Drinn, personal assistant to Chancellor Palpatine. Thank you for coming."

She nodded in greeting and held out her hand to shake which Ms. Drinn accepted. "It is a pleasure."

"The Chancellor has a limited amount of time for this interview. You have twenty minutes," Drinn continued as she took the reporter up to the Chancellor's private office.

"I understand," she glanced around taking in the lavish finery the Chancellor's office had to offer. Ashya turned on her holorecorder as the Chancellor entered. He looked horribly disfigured from the last time she had seen him and it took all of her control to avoid gasping, but she couldn't help the grimace that crossed her pretty features.

"Ahh, Mrs. Ramiras, a pleasure to see you again. Please, come and sit down," he said politely.

She took it as an order – his tone did not invite refusal. She sat across from him wondering where to begin. /How did one begin the interview of a lifetime with a window of twenty minutes/

"I assume you are appalled by my disfigurement," he began regretfully.

She jerked her head up from where she had been staring at her datapad and her face flushed. " My apologies, Chancellor. I am merely concerned fro your well being. You were only just rescued not long ago. If I may be so bold as to inquire how it happened?"

He chuckled, a harsh grating sound that caused the hair on the back of her neck to rise.

"You are a bold one," he said sounding quite delighted. "You have asked the question everyone else fears to ask this morning. I can see it you know – on their lips. But out of fear they refuse to ask. For your courage, I shall reward you with an answer."

Ashya waited breathlessly.

"Early last evening several Jedi Masters entered my office in attempt to assassinate me! I have no skill with a lightsaber but four of them came at me with their sabers drawn as if I were some sort of dangerous criminal."

Ashya gasped. "Surely they wouldn't!"

"Yes, my dear. The Jedi are traitorous. They have been plotting all along to over throw me," he said in a voice that sounded perilously close to a whine.

"What did you do? How did you escape?" she asked with eagerness.

Why eventually Master Windu dropped his blade and I picked it up. I had to defend myself you know. They were trying to kill me. I summoned my security and young Skywalker heard the commotion. He came to my aide once more and saved me from almost certain death," the last words were said in a whisper.

Ashya for once in her talkative life was completely speechless. Something wasn't right, but she couldn't put her finger on it. It seemed very unlikely to her that Master Mace Windu would be so clumsy and drop his blade and even more unlikely that the Chancellor with no lightsaber skills whatsoever could manage to stay alive against four seasoned Masters. There was a tale here – she just wasn't sure what.

Palpatine suddenly stood and walked toward his window. Maintenance droids had replaced the window almost as soon as Master Windu had broken it. "Ashya my dear, you seem preoccupied."

She colored and turned her attention back to her job, trying to push her conflicting feelings aside. "My apologies, Chancellor."

He waved a hand graciously. "It is of no concern. A Jedi rebellion is difficult to imagine, isn't it?" he said knowingly.

"I admit, I am having trouble understanding why they would try to kill you, Sir," she admitted.

He turned back to face her. "Those who are in power will do almost anything to keep it, Ashya. Surely you have heard this before. The Jedi are power hungry. They sit in their lofty tower and ignore the needs of society, while secretly plotting to take over and rule for themselves."

She furrowed a brow at that. "I have never heard that saying before but it does make sense."

He smiled coyly and Ashya had to stop her self from shuddering as he came closer to her. His smile was revolting. "I look forward to seeing your story on the HoloNews this evening. Correct me if I am wrong, but don't you have family among the Jedi?" he asked nonchalantly.

Her insides turned to ice. How did he know? Only trusted friends and her boss knew that information. "Yes. My cousin is a Jedi Master."

He nodded silently. "I thought I had remembered. Soon everything will be made clear. Things are not always as they seem. You seem ordinary, but I can tell you have a small amount of the Force in you. Trust your instincts. They will serve you well. If you will excuse me, I must prepare for my audience with the Senate." He stood, clearly indicating the end of the interview.

Ashya could not move for several long minutes. A cloaked guard came in to retrieve something for the Chancellor a few minutes later and found her staring into space. "Mrs. Ramiras?"

She shook herself from her reverie. "Yes?"

"The Chancellor's speech is about to start. All civilians are to be in the Senate arena."