Sheev Palpatine, Masterchef and possessor of such succulent secrets as the seven best herbs to go with fried gizka put down his broom. He wiped his forehead and looked about his latest acquisition. Several rooms in sub-basement four of the Jedi Temple. Or to be more correct, the ancient cultist hideaway the Jedi Temple was built on. Sheev wondered what the rooms had been used for. Of course, considering their descendants maybe he shouldn't. He glanced over to where a knot of Jedi 'volunteers' were helping.
"Okay all, time for a snack," he called out and began distributing the iced buns. The apprentices tore into them, well almost all of them.
"Something the matter Mako?" Sheev asked the disinterested apprentice.
"Um, no, I'm just." said the youth, who seemed to be concealing something.
"Well then, how about this," said Sheev as he produced an eclair from another bag. All eyes, including Mako's were riveted on the confection.
"Is that, chocolate?" said Hela.
"Why yes, Ivorian chocolate, so it is. Well, Mako, how about I trade you this chocolate frosted eclair for whatever you have found?" said Sheev.
The boy looked at the eclair, paused and then revealed what was in his hand. It was a small red trapezoid. Sheev noted how the points had left small cuts in the boy's hand. He quickly picked up the device and handed Mako the eclair.
"Do you have any more?" said Imras looking at the bag the eclair had come from.
"That rather depends," said Sheev. He paused for effect. "On how many of these things you can find," he added with a smile.
The apprentices redoubled their efforts after the break, managing to clean the rooms to a spotless sheen and come up with four more trapezoids. Palpatine thanked them, shared out the last two eclairs and reminded them that if they found any more of the devices, well, he had a supplier.
"Next!"
Atop a building in the industrial district, Palpatine pulled out one of the trapezoids. He held it in his palm and concentrated. About him, warm air flowed as heat escaped from a great shaft set into the planet itself,
"Attend, seeker of the truth and listen. These are the teachings of Kane Sato, better known as Darth Severus" came a voice.
"I suppose you can teach me the true meaning of power?" asked Palpatine.
"Yes."
"Abilities and powers not possessed by the mundane or the weak-willed?"
"Yes."
"Power to rule over all that I survey?"
"Yes."
"Domination of the Galaxy?"
"Yes!"
"The destruction of my enemies?"
"Yes!" the trapezoid was visibly shaking.
"The knowledge to make the perfect souffle?"
"Ye, what? No." the voice seemed to be tripping over its words in surprise.
"Not interested then," said Palpatine and turned his hand. The trapezoid fell.
"Wait, no, I can grant you..." pleaded the voice as it fell to the depths. No one really knew how far down the shaft went. Palpatine had heard it reached all the way to the actual mantle. There would be few young Jedi to tempt down there. Or anyone. oh well.
Palpatine reached into the bag.
"Next!"
"Anakin!" called out a voice.
Anakin paused. He was in the process of sneaking out for another night as the Deliverator. Behind him were some initiates.
"Yes," he said.
"We all know what you're doing. We want in too," said Hela.
"Yeah. We've almost cleared out the entire temple," said Mako.
"So, can we work for Palpatine too?" said Imras.
Anakin thought for the moment. He was busy. Some help would be good.
"Yeah, sure. Come on," he said.
Darth Maul, one of the Galaxy's deadliest warriors, master of stealth and assassination tried not to shuffle his feet as his master regarded him.
Hugo Demask paced across the room.
"We had located the Holocron?"
"Yes, my master."
"It was in the collection of Boss Nagan."
"Yes. my master."
"You had seen it with your own eyes?"
"Yes, my master."
"We had offered to purchase it, if not entirely legally, then at least respectably"
"Yes, my master."
"The exchange was tonight, Yet here you are with our case still full of Hyperium and no Holocron?"
"Yes, my master."
"What, the hells happened?"
"I, I do not know. The Elani Family are equally baffled. Only the top family members and the guards have access."
"Totally loyal guard, I presume?"
"As can be possible, master."
"A mystery then, I do not like mysteries Maul. Find out, and find that Holocron."
"Yes, my master."
The Deliverators stood in front of their new employer.
"Well done everyone. In fact, so well done I feel we need to celebrate," said Palpatine as he raised a cover revealing a large brown object.
The Deliverators looked on in wonder.
"Is that..." began one.
"I call it, Death by Chocolate!" cried Palpatine with a laugh as he passed round implements. The Deliverators laughed too.
In a corner, the fabled Holocron of Darth Bane whined and cajoled, but everyone ignored it.
Later they all went to toss it into the vent.