"Are you certain of this, Your Majesty?" said Sheev Palpatine, concern evident in his tone.

"I am quite certain, Mr Palpatine." said Queen Amidala firmly.

"I feel I must protest this course of action." said Palpatine.

"It's not the end of a world. I am making a pizza. " said the Queen.

"But."

"No buts. master Palpatine. Now smile for the holo droids."

The Queen finished adding ingredients, smiled for the media and placed the pizza in the oven. Palpatine regarded it in much the same way a bomb squad considers a ticking device. Eventually. the timer went off. Palpatine flinched, but withdrew the offending, thing.

After it had been cut the Queen offered him a slice.

"Oh no, Your Majesty, I couldn't possibly." he protested.

"I insist," said the Queen.

With everyone watching Palpatine picked up a slice, tried his best not to grimace and took a bite. The dreaded sweet sensation hit like a vibroblade.

Pineapple. The horror, the horror.

While the Queen played to the media, Palpatine went to find something to clear his mouth. With no organic superlube available he settled for a glass of Morkov Citrus Bitter from a nearby stall. While washing away any trace of the fruit he spied young Skywalker. The boy trotted up.

"Hello, Mr Palpatine" the boy said.

"Hello my boy." said Palpatine.

"Um, are you alright?" said Anakin.

"I shall be fine presently. I'm actually more surprised than anything. The Queen has dangerous and radical views." said Palpatine.

"The Queen? Oh right, you Naboo are an Elective Monarchy." said Anakin.

"Yes, quite right, Just to be clear, I did not vote for her, nor am I likely to again."

"Why' that?"

"Come, let me show you." said Palpatine and walked back to his stall and questured to the offending pizza.

Anakin regarded the remaining slices. To his eye it looked like every other pizza at the expo.

"Hello Ani. Would you like a piece?" said the Queen, handing Anakin a slice.

Anakin took a bite then grinned. "Yum. It's delicious."

The queen took a moment to look at Palpatine, "You see, civilised beings like the Jedi appreciate it."

Palpatine threw his hands up, "Woe betide the Galaxy then." he said in mock horror.

Anakin looked about "Excuse me, Your Majesty. I don't mean to be rude, but is Padme around? I would like to talk to her." he said. The Queen smiled. Anakin looked around confusedly, then at Palpatine who was also smiling and pointing at the Queen. "What?"

The Queen smiled again. "I am Padme." she said.

"But, but. You're, you're the Queen." said Anakin.

"Yes. I am. What did you want to talk to me about Ani?"

Anankin looked left and right, then stepped back. "Uhh, nothing really. I just wanted to say hi. Look, I better go." he said before running off.

Padme watched Anakin until he disappeared into the crowds, she then looked at Palpatine who, as usual, was smiling.

"Well?" she said.

"In short order, I believe the answers are 'Yes', 'Fairly obvious', 'Quite delightful' and 'Just give it time, these things work themselves out.'" said Palpatine.

"Does? How? What? Any?" said Padme briefly as she realised each question had already been answered. "I see then. Well, thank you Mr Palpatine for the holo-op. Just one question. Why? I know you didn't vote for me. Was it just for the publicity?

Palpatine nodded, "That's all, although I do like to consider myself a patriot, no matter who sits on the throne." he then essayed a short bow as the Queen departed.

"It is said that the Force has a will, it has a destiny for us all", murmured Plagius as he moved about his laboratory. About him flasks bubbled, extracts dripped from condensers and the moans from a test subject mixed with the hum of centrifuges to make a melody of sorts. Plagius checked the progress of various experiments, made notes and observations. Everything was proceeding as planned. Good, good.

Bwong.

Plagius paused. What was that?

Bwong.

He moved through the laboratory until he found the device. It was a metal sphere, decorated with beatial mouths suspended in an AG field within a small force shield. As he watched a small bearing flew out of the mouth, hit the shield and then fell to a collection plate at the base of the device.

Bwong.

Plagius tried to remember what this was. No doubt it was important, it was in his laboratory after all. Problem was, everything here was important and all bent towards fulfilling the Great Plan. So which particular piece was this? As he was thinking the door chime sounded. Dinner! Right on time. Plagius was a hungry Sith Lord. He went to eat his favourite meal and forgot all about the resograph indicating in it's crude mechanical way, that things were amiss...