Sorry for waiting that long for an update, but I was very busy with my last exams ...
But here is, at last, the next chapter! Enjoy!
Chapter 6
Next evening, Jedi Temple
He had been there punctually but again he was alone in the Council room. The mysterious Jedi didn't show up. It frustrated him, made him angry; but nonetheless he had to accept it for this time being.
Once again he settled himself in Mace Windus seat, waiting what might come…but there was just silence, pure silence.
Just the wind…
Silence…
Whispering of the Death…
Long forgotten speeches of long gone Jedi Masters…
He wondered how often he had stood before the Council or had asked for a meeting.
Numerous times I guess…
He hated remembrances because they haunted him when he didn't need them. But these rooms were full of images from the past and because there was no one here since the rooms hadn't been changed since then.
I should have rearranged the Temple somehow…or demolished it!
The holoprojector sprang to life as it had just yesterday and again there was just the hooded person. A furious Palpatine had to learn that this transmission wasn't live. The Jedi just told him about his new mission and forgot about his so called homework.
"We're going to meet soon in person, Palpatine, but not today and not tomorrow. Furthermore I think we should define some rules…for the future of our…arrangement: It's me who give you the hints…and it's me who decide what you should now and what not. It's not this little master and servant game, I assure you, and it's also not a master- apprentice relationship. It isn't even a relationship in particular!
So, what's next: I want you to go to this Senatorial Party that is going to be held tomorrow and to stay there at least until midnight. But, please…do not try to make yourself that comfortable at the side of your…shall I really call them your friends?...they aren't real friend, you do know that, don't you? Conversation with guests might be a good exercise…
The day after tomorrow we're going to meet at a more informal place: Dexter's Diner. 2030. Ask for the kitchens' speciality."
How dare he…or she…to be that harsh and irreverent? I am a Sith Master, I am no…no…whatever!
He stood up with a whitened face. The Jedi did point out his or her rules quite well. He or she wanted him to obey…him! He hadn't obeyed anyone for decades! And he hadn't had that in mind!
But there was no other way by now than to obey…for a short time to reveal the mysterious Jedi in person.
While wandering down to the platform where his personal shuttle was awaiting him he has already given himself to his dreams how to slaughter this Jedi when he or she has been caught. There were so many ways to torture a Jedi… and yes, he knew it well, it would be a pleasure for him to stay on the Jedi's side while these long hours…
...or days….
Senatorial Party, next evening
I really dislike this part of my job…I hate it!
Kimea hadn't seen that many aristocrats, senators, courtesans, aides and officials in her entire life. Most of these beings were superstitious…and their behaviours were rude, cruel…
For this evening Kimea Tachi, aide to Senator Sona, was a part of their society. She officially belonged to them. Not feeling well at all she made the best for her situation, settled herself to Senator Sona whom she accompanied.
His Majesty hadn't shown up lately and Kimea supposed he denied his duty as Ruler and Emperor as well as he denied his homework.
It turned 2000, then 2030, at last 2100.
Senator Bail Organa went over to Sona and her, Princess Leia at his side. They greeted and went on with their conversation. Leia asked her some typical newcomer questions: How she'd like Coruscant? The senate? Her duties? Her flat? What her father had said when she decided to move to Coruscant?
"He wasn't happy at all. I guess he'd like to lock me into my rooms at home if he would have known it would help to keep me away from Coruscant."
"Dangerous times have come up again. Some Senators have been arrested, some have already been sent to prisons."
"Rumours…"
"No rumours, Kimea. Mon would have been arrested if…"
"Scht!", Bail interrupted his daughter harsh, "Not here! Not now!"
"Agree", Kimea looked away.
Dangerous times…yes, indeed. Especially for me…here…under the eyes of him.
Suddenly there was some moving in the celebrating society. Palpatine entered the halls, together with some of his aides and surrounded by his guards. The emperor settled himself in a dark and quit edge of the decorated room. Servants were offering drinks to them. Palpatine took a glass of wine.
Kimea felt he wasn't shielded at all. She could sense him; she could feel him in the Force. He didn't feel comfortable at this moment…
"Master Sidious! Glad you could make it to this party!"
Silence…
"You! You are in here?"
"Why miss a nice party and a little chit-chat? It is a pleasure to watch all these fools gossip while surrounded by spies."
"Where are you, Jedi scum? Why hiding when we are able to meet in person now."
"I do not hide myself. You've only lost your feeling for other individuals, even for the force sensitive ones!"
She could see him scanning the guests, face by face, everyone. She felt him searching for the force and force sensitive individuals but failed. Once again she hide herself, cloaked herself again. He just got a very little hint that there was another very force sensitive individual among all the non-sensitives. He hadn't been able neither to locate the direction the voice had been coming from nor if it was a female or male voice that had been spoken to him.
"Ah,…your Majesty, I won't make it that easy for you! Our little game has just started."
"Your game, Jedi, not mine. Fool, who're you thinking you are that you dare to waste my time?"
"Do I really waste your time? If so I shall leave you or maybe stole away that cist of mine…but then you won't get the information what's in this cist. It all depends on you…on your cooperation."
"There must be something important in it, am I correct."
"If you'd like to call it important? Yes, of course."
Murmurs came up when out of a sudden Palpatine rose from his seat and took careful steps down towards the great hall in which all the other guests were chatting, drinking, or even dancing. It might be years since the Emperor has done such unexpected actions. Even his aides froze at the sight: Palpatine wandering down the steps and then vanishing deeply into the crowd. Sate Pestage stunned, couldn't move and wasn't able to stop his master from doing so. Now it was too late…
He went carefully and slowly through the crowd. Without his wooden walking stick he sometimes felt uneasy. Being starred at was less uncomfortable than anything else. There was no mask as he once had as chancellor; there was just him…and his ugly grimace.
So? Now what?
In a hurry he looked around, tried to find some senators he once knew well but there was just Organa in sight, next to this new Senator from Chandrila. Where had all the others been when needed?
He moved forward, directly towards Organa and his companions.
Organas group, same time
They saw him coming near; he seemed to wish to talk to Organa himself or to join their company.
Why us? Out of a hundred guests and their companions he wants to share the evening with us? Worst choice…
Organa and Sona sighted, but didn't try to escape their fate. Even Leia didn't make a move, just made a faked smile to Kimea.
Palpatine arrived and greeted as there was nothing unspectacular to this kind of situation. Organa, Leia and Sona greeted back and bowed deep. Kimea forced herself to bow before him as well. Hate swelling deep within her but not showing to the outside. She wouldn't make it that easy for him to reveal her. Not yet. Not here.
She would determine location and time when to unmask herself to him.
"Does Mothma stay in contact with you, Senator?" Palpatine suddenly asked Sona who fell aback, his skin whitened. He was totally surprised.
"No. All I know about her is what was told in the official news in the senate."
"And your aide? Tachi, was it, wasn't it?"
"I haven't heard anything from her since her personal request on my com unit if I would move to Coruscant or stay away; about two weeks ago."
"You weren't that comfortable with your new job?" Palpatine seemed to be interested,…or he was just bored and tried to reawaken a conversation.
"My father was not."
"Your father?"
"Fathers are always overprotective to their daughters. It's in their nature."
Bail just nodded: "I agree. You're an only-child, aren't you?"
"So I was told." Kimea tried not to answer too coolly and harsh.
Her mother has died during her second pregnancy. Kimea refused neither thinking nor speaking about it. Neither has her father talked that much about it often. It was an open secret between them and their friends about what has happened 15 years ago. Far away on the sandy planet of Tatooine.
Her mother has been sick for weeks now. Her mood as changed as well. She was more depressed than normal and hardly spoke to anybody.
Siri Tachi couldn't help but hate her life on Tatooine. Somewhere in the nowhere.
For living as a normal family she has agreed to marry Obi-Wan Kenobi; her daughter was now legal. But doing nothing than wait and watch the years pass slowly by didn't satisfy her at all. She had missed her life as a Jedi the moment it was taken away from her. Even her family wasn't able to stabilize her mood.
And now, after some lonely years on Tatooine, she has learnt that their life wouldn't change again in a long time…it would even get worse: She was pregnant again.
Kimea remembered their parents' conversations and discussions about what to do next very well. Raising children here on Tatooine wasn't easy; questions were asked who they would be, where they've come from…
Teachings might be getting more difficult than they already had become.
But,…after all…their parents had decided to raise another child.
Siri Tachi died while giving birth to her son…
Palpatine stayed at their side as long as the party lasted. He seemed to enjoy himself in their little conversations although he wasn't welcomed. Organa and Sona gave up fleeing after a while; Leia didn't dare to let her father on his own. Kimea held up her force shield and fought against getting bored.
