The room was dark. Rats stirred in the corners of the chamber, yet they immediately scurried away. Darkness or not, there was definitely a presence still within the room. Multiple presences, in fact. A silent onlooker stood in the hallway, staring into the room with unwavering eyes. He could only be seen because of the light coming from the other end of the long corridor behind him…and because he was short enough to have the light from it cast over his back. Behind him, completely in the shadows, another person watched quietly.

Small hands, shaking ever so slightly, moved in the darkness. One hand grasped a handle while the other searched for a switch of some sort. One click later, a gentle hum began to resonate in the room. It was high-pitched and unstable. A beam of light of deepest blue revealed itself within the room, and the hands that held it became visible. They were light-skinned and humanoid…shaky, but also calloused. A deep breath could be heard and seen as the blade and hands rose and fell. The blue light began to flicker, off and on.

A gruff voice from the hallway called out something that was barely audible. Another click sounded off. This time the hum was even, though still high-pitched. Anxiety seemed to set in, and the hands began to shake a bit more. Taking another deep breath, the youth pulled the beam of light closer to his body, illuminating his face and light brown hair.

Another couple of clicks sounded a distance away, and a deep green beam shined in the hands of another young child, this one also humanoid, but almost as green as the saber.

"Ready, we are, yes?" A voice low to the ground called out the question from the nearby hallway corridor. Even though none could see it, the smile on his face was felt warmly within the room. "Then, begin!"

Rise of the Empire
Chapter 2: Sinister Blessings

Neither child moved for a moment. The young boy looked forward toward his adversary, doing his best to keep his hands steady and his stance proper. The green one, now revealed by the light of her saber to be a female, advanced slowly and twirled her lightsaber for good measure. The young boy took a step back in precaution, and his hands started to shake again. With a smirk on her face, the girl pointed her blade forward and poked it at him. A sharp gasp escaped the boy's lips and he leaped backwards, quickly grabbing his forearm. The burn was only a slight one, but it had certainly gotten his attention. This wasn't practice anymore…this was the real thing.

Remembering his training, he closed his eyes and mentally called upon the Force to take their place. Eyes could be deceived, he reminded himself, but the Force was always aware. He would trust in it…this girl's range with a weapon was longer than he imagined. The boy's face contorted as he concentrated, remembering his purpose in this battle.

Then, the boy did something no one expected. With his eyes shut, he let loose a guttural yell and charged in toward the female. The girl inhaled sharply and reacted, poking her lightsaber at his chest. As sharply as if he had seen it with his eyes, the boy planted his left foot and spun to the side of her thrust, deftly parrying it as he did. Spinning the saber around his head, he quickly struck at the female's shoulder, but she leaped into the air and over his head. A moment later than he probably should have, he realized what was about to happen. Quickly, he dove to the side as she struck at his head. Barely evading the attack, he rolled to his feet as she turned in midair and landed, facing him with lightsaber at the ready.

She changed her strategy now and charged at him, yelling and grabbing her saber with both hands. As he rose to his left foot and right knee, she was upon him, and she brought her saber down toward his head with a powerful overhead swing. Quickly, he scrambled for possible actions…only one stuck out in his mind. Acting on that impulse, the boy tossed his lightsaber blade across his body from his right hand toward his left. At the same time, he quickly lunged forward, using his right hand to grab both of the girl's wrists from underneath. Her attack was halted short of the boy's hair.

Knowing he couldn't hold her for long, the boy began the next part of his plan. With his eyes still closed, his left hand quickly snatched at the lightsaber handle, relying upon the Force to find it. He felt his fingers connect with the handle, but they flung it away instead of grabbing it. Darn! He hadn't snatched deep enough to curl his fingers around the handle! Both fighters grunted as the girl began to struggle…one hand wouldn't hold two for long…

Suddenly, it dawned upon him! Opening his palm, he called out to his weapon. Come to me, saber! If he could get this to work, the match was his…

Click!

YES! The boy felt the impact of the weapon on his hand and quickly wrapped his fingers around the blade.

The blade…

"AAAH!" Pain overruled panic, and the boy dropped the lightsaber onto the ground and leaped backwards a step, letting go of the girl's wrists in the process. He hadn't been using his eyes, so it hadn't dawned upon him to check which direction the blade was facing after he turned it by missing…

And instantly, the advantage was entirely hers. Before he could recover or get more distance, the girl jabbed him at the waist a couple of times with her blade. He attempted to back up after the first one, but the second strike was enough to make him forget his legs, and he slipped to his knees.

She advanced toward him for the killing blow...

"Enough. Won, you have, Barriss."

The female deactivated her saber and bowed toward the hallway, and the lights of the room reactivated, revealing the other children lining the walls, as well as Master Yoda in the hall. Young Barriss Offee was quite capable with a light saber, and unfortunately, it would probably be a good while before this young boy would face her again. The onlooker from the hallway walked into the room and commented.

"You have won, and young Skywalker is humbled. But, no shame is there in this loss, no..." Master Yoda's face was amused, and he clapped. "Same age you are, but equal in experience? Not at all..."

Yoda walked by the young boy and patted his head lightly. "Asked for this match, you did, young Skywalker...what have you learned?"

Anakin, still on his knees, frowned lightly and bowed his head. "I need to be more patient...my understanding of the Force isn't strong enough for lightsaber combat yet. And I am not ready yet to fight with my age group." The onlooker noticed as his fist balled, then opened once more.

Yoda nodded and faced the boy, wrapping his hands tightly around the head of his twisted cane. "True, that is..." His wrinkled fingers reached for the boy's chin and tilted it up slightly. "…but a quick learner, you are, Anakin. Do well in the future, you will."

Such a vote of confidence from Master Yoda was not something to be scoffed at, but Anakin was beyond encouragement. He longed to be with kids his own age…but his understanding of the Force was only that of a 5-year-old. That meant training with the 5-year-olds. There was no one in his classes to talk to that would understand him in the least…this had been his chance to change that, but he had failed. A blank look crossed his face as his frustration attempted to creep up…

Meanwhile, the onlooker in the shadows of the corridor held in a laugh. Yoda's speech was quite the understatement. This kid's talentwas absurd.

The other younglings along the walls of the room began to talk amongst themselves, and both Anakin and the onlooker remained silent, listening to them go. Barriss is amazing. Anakin used a dirty trick...he'd never beat her in pure lightsaber combat. Not a single one of them showed any verbal respect for Anakin's techniques, but this fellow knew better. Anakin, unfortunately, did not, and it was beginning to show on his face.

"Children, quiet...quiet...good." Yoda remained still, his eyes focused upon young Anakin. As the room grew silent, he could see the determination in the boy's eyes, and immediately he knew. Even if no one had dared to say anything on the subject, this boy would still have sensed their disapproval. He licked his lips before speaking, his voice deeper and filled with concern. "Eldest of the younglings, you are, Anakin."

The boy's eyes drifted away from his greenness. Yoda watched him carefully.

"True that is, but expect you to be the best of the younglings, we do not." Yoda smiled slightly as Anakin's eyes refocused on his own. The determination was still there, along with something else. Disappointment. Yoda made eye contact with the boy. "I fear enough weight from your own shoulders, you bear."

Yoda looked around to the rest of the children and smiled. "That shall be it for now, younglings...return in the afternoon!"

As the kids scurried away, Yoda hobbled out of the center of the room and toward the hallway, finally paying heed to the special visitor he'd had today. It was rare for anyone to have such interest in the training of younglings...it was even rarer for the interested to be as...high-profile as the Chancellor of the Republic. And yet, here Chancellor Palpatine was, watching in amazement as two kids--probably a quarter of his age or less--wielded lightsabers in a most awkward manner. Perhaps he was interested because he himself could not do better...Yoda was quite uncertain. Curiously, he looked into the eyes of the gentleman. "Enjoy yourself, did you?"

Palpatine smiled lightly and nodded to the green fellow before him. "It was...incredible."

The energy in the chancellor's voice witnessed to his words. Yoda bit back a chuckle...he had trained youth in the Force for ages, and yet, he often felt just as amazed as Palpatine did. Yoda remained silent and watched the chancellor, and the politician went to talking once more.

"It's rare for a politician to see a Jedi in action," Palpatine said, "and even seeing children duel is a special treat for one as...cloistered as myself." Even as he spoke, his eyes drifted back to the center of the room.

Yoda noticed his distant gaze, as well as the look of concern that washed over his face. He turned slightly to follow it. Anakin was still inside the room, fiddling with his lightsaber. An honest attempt not to sulk, Yoda concluded.

Chancellor Palpatine glanced down to Master Yoda and watched as the short one's ears perked. "...would it be troublesome if I were to talk to him?"

Yoda pondered the situation for a moment, resting his weight on his cane and repetitively adjusting his grip as he considered it. Then, with a smile, he nodded and walked past his visitor and out of the training area. Yoda heard the footsteps echo down the hall as Palpatine walked into the room, and a knowing smile crossed his face.

Why not, Yoda found himself thinking on his way out. Shielding Anakin away from those who wished to speak to him would only lead to more insecurity in the boy. It would be good for him to have occasional contact…as long as it were very occasional. Despite the seriousness of his thoughts, Yoda found himself holding back a chuckle as some other thought shooed the seriousness away.

Why not? Why shouldn't Anakin get to talk with his greatest fan?

This day just kept on getting better, Palpatine declared to himself.

It had begun when he had sensed the feelings of anticipation in the halls of the Jedi…hints of something big coming up, though he had no clue what exactly it could be. Deciding it was time to pay an impromptu visit to the Jedi, he made his way to the temple.

True, he had not been amused when he realized those hints of anticipation were actually anxious thoughts of children. Yet, when he discovered what they were anxious over, he quickly found reason to be interested once again. The eldest of the Jedi younglings—those yet too young and inexperienced in the Force to become Padawan—was facing off in a match with the second eldest. The spar had been requested by the younger one, who wanted to see where he stood.

Apparently, he didn't stand anywhere yet…only grovel at the feet of the other competitors and hope for a mistake. At least, Palpatine figured, that's what Anakin Skywalker probably thought of himself at the moment. As Palpatine watched the young boy fiddle with his lightsaber, he recognized the effort for what it was. He's attempting to keep his mind off of it, Palpatine reasoned. A lot of good that would do…these types of things had a way of haunting young souls.

He imagined he must have looked quite out of place, walking across the mini-arena to meet the boy. A 40 (plus) year old non-Jedi walking around in the Jedi Temple was out of place indeed. But how often did one get to touch such fertile soil without anyone watching? It was too good an opportunity to ignore.

As he neared the rear of the boy, Palpatine decided for the frontal approach. "Forgive me for interrupting your brooding…"

The young boy showed no recognition of the voice behind him, and simply continued to fiddle with his lightsaber, trying out the different settings and holding it steadily. It was almost as if he were attempting to ball his fist around the saber handle. "I'm not brooding…I'm thinking…"

"Yes..I bet your mother's heard that one a thousand times…"

That's what Palpatine wanted to say, but the logical part of his mind suggested it wouldn't merit anything to throw the child's psyche any further into chaos at this moment. Besides, this one was growing on him. Palpatine took a knee next to the child, and watched him from a side angle. He calculated his words carefully, going for strongest effect.

"I know very little about being a Jedi…your training methods, fighting styles…they are all foreign to me. But there is one thing I do know…"

Anakin did not respond.

Palpatine paused, considering the boy's fight again. Anakin hadn't really had a chance to prove much. At his level, matches were quick...the first mistake would probably be a critical one. And he'd yet to gain the technique to face off with that girl...she'd obviously dueled before, and he certainly had not. At least he'd shown the ingenuity to keep her on her toes for a bit.

"Master Yoda is quite impressed with you," Palpatine said. "As am I." He watched as the boy turned to look at him, and he looked back in confidence. "You may not have won your fight today, but the fact that you fought at all is incredible." Anakin's eyes shifted slightly, and Palpatine noticed the confusion within them. That's when he realized that the Jedi were keeping secrets…

It truthfully was beyond rare for a boy of Anakin's age to be taken in as a Jedi. The peaceful times had allowed the Council to stick to their code in full, and part of that was that you did not train a boy who was too old. This boy was the result of the rarest of broken rules, and irregularities were to be expected with him. Yet, the fact remained, and it had to be told, Palpatine decided. "What you did today…no one has ever done that." He would let that fact linger for a bit. "No one has picked up a lightsaber and fought before training with it for at least a year."

The look of surprise on Anakin's face intensified as he began to realize that he was in a very special situation. Although he couldn't remember when, someone had once mentioned before that he was too old to just be starting his training...but if what he was saying was true...

Palpatine continued, leaping upon that element of surprise. "You want to train with your own age, but you have to understand most Jedi are trained from age 3 or 4…"

Surprise shifted to amazement on Anakin's face, and Palpatine smiled. Anakin was starting to get it now, but he would make sure it was clear just how extraordinary this course of events was..

"Basically, you've learned in 3 months what it took most of those other children the better part of 6 years to learn." Palpatine paused and licked his bottom lip lightly. "The Masters are not ones to acknowledge such things to you, but you are advancing at an incredible rate."

Anakin seemed to consider what he had said, and then turned to face him. Palpatine couldn't help but notice the look of surprise on his face, and he found himself wondering why it existed. He had just laid everything out there for the boy to see…what other confusion could there have been?

The boy made eye contact with Palpatine once more, but as if he had seen him for the first time. His eyes were piercing, and he managed to pose his question with some minute amount of authority. "Who are you?"

Palpatine was visibly taken aback by the question, yet at the same time, he was greatly amused. How often did a politician of his caliber and stature end up in a place where his name was an unknown? And yet, here he was talking with a boy who only knew he had a very unfamiliar face.

Playing the part of the stiff politician for a moment, Palpatine coughed and replied. "Why, I am Supreme Chancellor Palpatine of the Galactic Senate…"

The boy nodded at the long name, but then recognition slowly set in his eyes. Confusion followed shortly after, and then those piercing eyes refocused on the chancellor's.

"If you're really the chancellor, then why are you in the Jedi Temple?"

Palpatine opened his mouth to respond, then thought better of it. Glancing to his left and right as if checking the room for eavesdroppers, he covered his mouth with a hand and whispered quietly. "I'm avoiding paperwork for a few hours…"

The joke took a moment to sink in, but then Anakin smirked and broke into a giggle. Palpatine chuckled goofily along with him, and then a moment of silence passed. Palpatine decided it was time to move on.

"Well…I suppose I shouldn't be missing the entirety of the day…I better head back soon."

Anakin nodded and smiled warmly. "Good luck with all that paperwork!"

Palpatine nodded and rose from his knee, and patted the boy on the head playfully, mussing his hair. "HEY!"

"Anakin, I just want you to know…if you keep growing at the rate you've been growing at, you'll be the most powerful Jedi in the galaxy…easily."

The words sunk in quickly, and Anakin nodded.

"Don't let anyone fool you into thinking otherwise…I believe you'll be the best." He squeezed lightly on Anakin's head with his fingers, then let go and began to walk. "Off I go!"

"Chancellor Palpatine?"

Palpatine paused and turned around. "Yes, Anakin?"

Anakin flashed Palpatine a warm smile of appreciation. "Thanks a bunch!"

The lightest beginning of a smile crept onto Palpatine's face, and soon became a fairly warm smile of its own. "No problem. See you!"

The chancellor walked out of the room and into the corridor…

This day couldn't have gone any better, Palpatine declared to himself. True, it had been a far less informative journey to the Jedi Temple than he had first hoped for. Yet, Palpatine knew his activities today could still prove significant somewhere down the line. Children's memories were vivid, and he had done well to make a first impression with this one at such a young age. It was a rare occasion for anyone outside the temple to speak to a youngling before he was fully indoctrinated in the Jedi Code, and now Palpatine understood why.

This boy's potential was amazing, Palpatine realized. But, at this age, he was very much still a child. Still impressionable…still fearful and weak. It was a huge mistake for Master Yoda to allow such a boy to be reached by an outsider of the Temple. Palpatine had planted a single seed in fertile soil just now...might it grow into a spy for him within the Jedi Order in the future? Or could that seed become something far better?

Palpatine quickly calmed himself. This was definitely not the place for dark thoughts, especially such excited and dangerous ones about the future. He needed to leave the Temple before his mind got him in trouble.

To be continued...

Author's Notes:
Sorry for the delay on this chapter. I actually had it fully written a week and a half ago, but then I did a full point of view shift on the chapter. Then...the site ate it. A 4000 word document became a 200 word mix of random words from the piece. Man, was I mad.

A thought: I hate how this site keeps removing spaces from my story when I change something...

A warning: considering the end of the semester is approaching, I can't guarantee that I'll be cranking these chapters out at a faster pace any time soon. I'll try to get at least one more chapter out before May. Beyond that, we'll just have to see. Thanks in advance for being patient, and feel free to review! If you've got any questions, I reply to the majority of reviews that ask questions or bring up interesting points. I'd prefer you post them to my forum (This One's Personal), because then other people who may be thinking the same way can get an answer...but I'll answer either way. But either way, give me your opinions...