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Chapter 28

Location: Personal Chambers of Emperor Sheev Palpatine

Month 8 Day 1 Year 28 BBY

The sounds of a chronic cough fill the large marble walls. The wheezing coming from the bedside of an old man, close to his late seventies. He wheezes through his chest and reaches for the oxygen mask that he is prescribed to wear during the night hours and wee morning hours. His wheezes die off as he breathes in the pure H2O into his old lungs.

The damage from the attacks from the Jedi had taken their toll. He had been in his mid forties and healthy as an ox when the Jedi had tried to overthrow him. He had been fighting a Jedi Master named Mace Windu at the time. Mace Windu had blocked his usage of force lightning and sent them towards his body. The toll on his body couldn't be felt back then as it could now. The scarring on his lungs and chest had become worse with age. The force lightning had left his face deformed and scarred. Not that he had cared for his appearances in his mid to late forties, as he relished in the fear and disgust found by his subjects. He relished in their fear in the dark side of the force- one of the many things still keeping him alive today. If Darth Maul hadn't have come in time all those years ago and killed Mace Windu, the Empire would not have survived. He is alive thanks to Maul and his loyalty. Well- as much loyalty as a young sith of the time had been able to give.

Now with thirty years have come and gone, his loyal pet dogs were aged as well as him. They are his Generals and most highly experienced fighters, but a new generation had grown up. The first true born children of the Empire are now fully grown and ready to start their own families. A generation that his own flesh and blood are a part of.

In his youth, he had reddish blond hair. He had been considered a dashing young politician on the parliament of his home planet of Naboo. He had caught many admirers but never had considered settling down with a woman. Sheev had always known he was made for bigger and better things.

That is why he trained with Lord Plagueis. A wise old Munn who had had plans of ruling the galaxy with a appertenice by his side. Sheev had never cared for his old and weak master. He had waited up until the final moments before they were to reveal their plans to the Senate to kill the old bastard. He had taken control of the Senate and commanded the forces since. He was the most powerful being in the galaxy- until the day his future body appeared on his radar in the Imperial Academy. He along with his loyal Generals thought the testing on the young women had failed. And long and behold it hadn't. The lab had been destroyed one night after there was an attack made by the rebellion at the time. Sheev had never been sure who had been behind allowing them to escape, but it didn't matter now.

He takes off his oxygen mask. The med droid beeps at him off his newest levels of oxygen. His lungs were continuing to fail him. The med droid's assumptions were that he would be needing some sort of artificial lungs before the end of the year. The artificial lungs would bid him time- perhaps a few more years before he'd need to transfer his life force into his willing son or unwilling son. He could live on using his son's body as a vessel for at least fifty years or so and then during that time he can work on perfecting the process of creating another vessel just as powerful as the young man who had been described by Inquisitor Maul as a raw talent within the force.

In time you will come to see your place, Skywalker.

Location: Imperial Naval Academy

Month 8 Day 1 Year 28 BBY

Anakin rubs his eyes from the lack of sleep. He'd taken a second shift at the detention center last night, namely to practice his mental techniques on some of the accused in a case Maul had him working on. He had been able to gain information about several small pieces of info about the transportation of some stolen goods off of Coruscant. It is trivial and insignificant, nothing Maul could care about. He only took on the case because Count Dooku asked him to investigate it.

Anakin has become Maul's lackey, taking on several questioning positions on his three to four time a week shifts at the detention center. Maul had made it very clear that Anakin has to earn his keep here prior to being fully trained in the arts of an Inquisitor. He has to do the dirty work before being put onto some of the actual cases involving rebels or Senators for that matter.

He rubs his eyes again. The lack of sleep is getting to him. He had started fall semester classes the day prior and is exhausted. He has no idea how he's going to be able to keep up with all of this and keep up his training with Maul three to four times a week. He has no time to do anything else- let alone think about what transpired during his brief visit to Naboo.

He hadn't seen her since that incident a few weeks back. He has been busy with his training so he has a legitimate reason for avoiding her. What can he even say to her? That he was sorry for kissing her back? Not happening.

He knows he'll have to speak to her eventually and he isn't sure what to say other than that it was a mistake and it can't happen again. He knows she's in danger if she were to become romantically involved with him again- any woman interested in him can't be caught up in such dangerous acts. He knows as heir to the Emperor he won't put her or anyone else at risk for him, even if it means not pursuing a romantic relationship with her as long as he chose to help the Jedi and rebellion. Qui-gon had made that clear. Ben knew this too, but Anakin couldn't help but notice the time Ben had been spending with a certain young woman.

He had watched Ben stumble over his words and caught his friend staring at the young woman he considered as an older sister to him, Sabe'. Sabe's personality suited Ben's well. Sabe's personality isn't wild in any sense of the word and she has a well suited mind on her shoulders. Unlike her younger sister whose wicked wildness is what he loves about her….

He groans trying not to replay that kiss over again in his mind. He had been dreaming about her every night since that kiss had taken place. Every…. single…. night... and then the dreams turned into him cradling her body and hearing his father echoing laughter in his ears. He thinks this is a warning from the force for him to heed his dreams and to stay away from her if at all possible for a while. It is too dangerous to put her in a predicament of her husband finding out about their shared kiss either. It had not been so innocent on either of their parts- and she initiated it.

That is the most puzzling part of his thought process. She had been the one to kiss him. She hadn't pulled away either. It had been him to pull away first. Was she that lonely without her husband's attention? It didn't seem that Rush was ignoring her in any sense of the manner, in fact it seemed completely opposite as if Padme' had been the one ignoring him. Perhaps she had realized how much of a mistake it had been to marry him last year. Perhaps she is considering leaving him.

Anakin couldn't think about that small glimmer of hope. The idea of her being free to once again choose someone right for her would make the world a difference and leave him vulnerable for his enemies to use her against him- including Inquisitor Maul. Their mind training had been getting more intense with each session. Qui-gon had been practicing with him as well to work on shielding his thoughts on anything other than the info of who was connected to the rebellion- and somehow Anakin had projected his shared kiss with Padme' during one of their latest sessions. Maul hadn't said much of it other than to not project any sort of feelings to anyone who could use them against him. Maul seemed like he was actually training him for the better and to excel at being an Inquisitor.

His eyes the training room he has entered with the other second year cadets within the Academy. Today after everything he had already been through, he would meet his mentee for the year. He plants himself next to another recruit talking with his buddies about whom he thinks he'll be assigned. Anakin ignores their insilence and eyes Ben hovering on the side of the training room. He leans back listening to the Grand Admiral begin rattling off about welcoming our newest members to the Imperial Navy Academy.

He crosses his arms as he begins to hear shouts and names being called as students begin to form lines behind the Grand Admiral. His eyes are drawn to a small figure, a female Torgua. She stands in the Imperial gray of the uniform. She's young- maybe 16- too young to be attending the Academy. Her blue eyes are set in front of her, but he's drawn to the young female. It's as if the force is buzzing in his ears. He narrows his eyes and senses her casting out her own senses. He crawls back within himself, shielding himself with help via the force.

She's a little powerhouse….

" Ashoka Tano is the youngest life form to be accepted into this Academy and the member of our second years that we feel is accomplished enough to mentor her is Ensign Skywalker.

Anakin blinks as he hears his name being called. She's my mentee? Had he heard that right? He had been chosen to take on the youngest person to be admitted to the academy for training.

He feels his own body stand up and the girl named Ashoka's eyes are on him. He gulps as he feels the prickling of her senses casting out. He tries to leave a boundary there so she cannot feel his force powers.

He watches her exit the line and come forward to greet him warmly. She salutes him and holds out her hand. " I'm Ensign Ashoka Tano. It is a pleasure to meet you Lieutenant Commander Skywalker."

Anakin nods his head uneasy. He senses Ben observing them out of curiosity. Is this your doing?

I have no idea what you are talking about.

There is a smugness in his friend's voice, He had some input in his little mentee and he knows it.

She's force sensitive. I'm guessing Qui-gon is aware of this. Am I supposed to try and recruit her?

Perhaps, but that is up to you, if you feel after a time that she's worthy of training as a Jedi.

Is that how you felt about me? Was I worthy enough?

You were a troublemaker Anakin. I didn't have a choice to train you either so suck it up.

Ashoka's eyebrow lifts as her commander does not answer her greeting as she snips out, " You know it is rude to not greet your fellow cadets. I'd think you're not pleased to have this honor."

Anakin does not shake her hand after hearing her snipping. He crosses his arms across his chest replying, " Well Snips, it's a pleasure to meet you, but the big leagues aren't for kids."

She narrows her eyes and mutters, " I'm not a little kid. I'm 16 and old enough to kick your ass."

The last part of her insult is in a smaller whisper of a voice so others around her cannot hear. If she were to be overheard she'd surely be the first in her class to have demerits. She'd keep her reputation intact. She had a fighting spirit and knew when and where to use it.

Anakin's own eyes brighten at her threat. She meant it in every sense of the word as he replied, " Well Snips, I'd like to see that. Maybe I can teach you something."

Ashoka crosses her own arms and comments, " My name isn't Snips. It's Ensign Tano to you."

Anakin's cockiness entered his voice this time in his reply, " No, I think my name for you will be Snips, you're a bit snippy with people."

She mutters, " Just with you. You insulted me by not shaking my hand and calling me a child. You're not much older than me."

He snorts at her arrogance. Yes, Ben had found a perfect mirroring fit for him in this young girl. He states, " I did not insult you. C'mon I am a busy man so if you want a quick tour of the place, you better come with me now."

She huffs out a quiet response, " Lead the way."

To Be Continued...