'Remember to make a long xesh." said Bron. He had taken Shmi to a local practice range, now they were in a booth looking down at the holo target.
Shmi looked over at Bron, "A long xesh?"
"Sure feet apart, blaster in both hands out in front, knees bent a bit." said Bron.
Shmi did as she was told, gripping the Slthel and Weise blaster tightly. "Like this?" she said.
"Good, but relax. Also, lean forward a little so you can line up the target with the blaster and your eyes."
"Okay, I must look silly, my bottom is sticking out now."
"We Mandalorians say the best fashion on a battlefield is alive. And I assure you your bottom looks very fine to me. Try shooting the target now."
Shmi looked down over the top of the blaster at the holo target. She concentrated, squinted and fired. The shot missed as did the next two.
"Sorry, I'm afraid I am no warrior." she said.
"Nonsense, you are just starting out. Hmm, try this," said Bron. He fiddled with the booth controls and the image changed from concentric rings to a toydarian. Shmi, gritted her teeth, adopted the stance and fired, the shot hit, striking the image in the elongated snout. The next few shots all hit as well.
Bron collected the shot data on his pad and presented it to Shmi. "There, not bad at all. You just needed some motivation." he said.
Shmi looked at her date, "Thank you," she said before kissing him.
Plagius and Maul regarded the strange device. As they did, oneof the mouths shot out a small sphere.
Bwong.
"What is it master?" inquired Maul.
Bwong.
"I am not sure. There will be a pad in here somewhere. We must find it."
As the Sith searched for the manual the device continually fired. After some searching, they found it and read the contents.
"Aha! As I thought. This is a mechanism of Darth Riktor the great Sith mathematician."
Bwong.
"What does this device do?" said Maul.
Bwong.
Plagius read further. "It is a resograph. It measures the balance of reality with respect to the Grand Plan."
Bwong.
Plagius ignored the device. "It says that the device should remain inert so long as the plan is on track and not being disrupted by outside sources."
Bwong. Bwong.
"I predict that, should the Jedi learn of the Plan and bend all their resources to its end then the..."
Bwong.
"firing of the balls would be on the order of one ball..."
Bwong.
"per week?"
Bwong.
Both Sith looked at the steadily firing resograph in alarm.
"So what the hell is happening now!" said Maul.
Yoda looked suspiciously at the small cutting of the Dark tree sitting in a small pot in his quarters. Palpatine had clearly approached the tree, taken the cutting and then present it to him. He clearly knew of it's nature if not fully recognising it. He also knew of the prophecy! Yet the man seemed so indifferent to the entire Dark Side. What was this man? Was he an ally, enemy or something else. Yoda knew well that the Galaxy was vast and strange. He knew that the conflict between Jedi and Sith was not the totality of existence. So again, what was Palpatine.
"Speak to Skywalker I must. Insight gain I will. Discover Palpatine's plans a priority is." he said.
Palpatine selected ingredients, mixed them and then tried the result. Success! He quickly made another sample and ran to his office where Millicent was working.
"Here, try this," Palpatine said, offering his analyst the cup filled with a brown steaming liquid.
Millicent eyed the bowl suspiciously. Her boss was a genius, but not everything suited her palate. Last week there had been candied insects. Before that had been a curry she swore could also substitute as starship fuel, although the creme liqueurs had been nice. Still, this was the best job she ever had, the price was only to being a gourmand test subject. After a moment she took a sip. Then she quickly drank the entire bowl. For a change the sample had been delicious!
"Wow!" she said.
"I take it the balance is to your satisfaction then?" said Palaptine beaming.
"It's amazing! What is it? The taste is familiar, I can't place it though." said Millicent.
"It's chocolate, my dear. Mixed with sugar and milk in, oh I won't bother you with the details. Keep working on the Vortrelceliad, I look forward to your conclusions." said Palpatine.
"Well, it's already clear that the Sages saw the entirety of existence as cyclic, chocolate? I've had that only a few times. It's nice but quite bitter." said Millicent.
"I know, I know. Amazing what you can do with a few common ingredients. Sugar from Feranian cane and Alderaanian Nerf milk, Lekosa Nerfs to be precise."
"Are you going to be serving this at your restaurants?"
"Yes, but there's more! I shall invent an entirely new shop. One that only sells chocolate. Hmm, I will need a manager. You! Would you like to run Corruscant's first exclusive chocolate store?"
"Um." was all a shocked Millicent could say as her boss capered about.
"Yes, I can see it all! I'll get Anakin to help you out for deliveries. This is going to be big! The entire Galaxy will know and praise the name of Palpatine! Ahahahahahahaha!"
Millicent found herself laughing along with him.
It was late at night at the residential apartment block. In one of the halls, Anakin Skywalker stood vigil. He tried to calm himself, repeating the mantras he had learned since joining the Jedi and the nursery rhymes his mother had taught him to make life on Tatooine seem less harsh. Neither worked. So he paced, keeping a wary eye on the lift doors. After what seemed like forever they opened. Out of them walked a tall, dark-robed figure, cloaked in a privacy screen and openly wearing a vibroblade and blaster. It approached Anakin and bowed before speaking.
"I have come for Shmi Skywalker." said the figure.
Anakin gulped, "You will have to get past me for that," he said.
"Very well, a duel. How shall we contest against each other? By blade or blaster?"
"No, my mother desires a clever and sharp mate, we shall dual riddles."
The figure paused, then nodded. "I accept. As I am the challenger I shall go first."
"There is a house. You enter it blind, but come out seeing. What is it?"
Anakin smiled, he knew this one. Of course, he did. "A school," he answered.
"Very good Anakin, your turn." said the figure.
Anakin scrunched his face up as he attempted to remember the riddle. "As I was going to Santives, I met a man with seven wives. Each wife had seven sacks. Each sack had seven cats. Each cat had seven kits. Kits, cats, sacks and wives, how many were there going to Santives?"
The figure raised a gloved hand and made a show of counting. "Seven wives you say?" he said and Anakin nodded. "That is far too many, I only want one, which shall be my answer by the way."
Anakin nodded, because that was indeed the answer.
"Well then, young Skywalker here is my next riddle. My first displays the wealth and pomp of kings. Lords of the earth! Their luxury and ease. Another view of man, my second prepares. Behold him there, the monarch of the stars!" said the figure.
Anakin had forgotten this one because, well there had been so much to do. He knew it had something to do with ships, that's what 'monarch of the stars' meant. He couldn't remember what the first bit was. What was it about kings and their displays? Was that a place? Then he remembered.
"Courtship! Because that's what you're doing!" he said.
The figure nodded, "Just so. Your turn, but make it easy, I do wish to prevail here tonight."
"What we caught, we threw away. We kept what we didn't catch. What was it that we kept?" said Anakin.
"You throw away what you catch and keep what you don't? This isn't one of those dreaded Jedi koans that make no sense?" said the figure and he scratched his head.
"You don't know? Do you?" said Anakin, who had been surprised by the answer himself.
"No, no. Give me a moment. It will come to me. Hmm, lice! Or nits as we call them. One of the many reasons we wear our hair short. Now, for the riddle guaranteed to get me through. Alive without breath. As cold as death. Ever thirsty, never drinking. All in mail, never clinking." said the figure.
Anakin did not know that one. He tried to think of all the myriad alien species out in the galaxy, both thinking and not. Unfortunately, nothing matched exactly and so he shook his head after a while.
"Nope, beats me, I give up," he said after a while.
'I suppose it was unfair to ask someone from Tatooine that. The answer is a fish." said the figure, "So, may I pass?"
Anakin paused, "No, one more question. Do you love my mother?"
The figure shrugged and disengaged the privacy screen revealing a stranger. "While I am sure Shmi is a fine woman, that is for my cousin Bron to answer. Who, by now has snuck up to the window and carried your mother off to the ceremony. My name is Talan. Poor Bron was so nervous he would have trouble answering 'What is your name?' at the moment. So we decided on subterfuge, which is perfectly allowable by custom. Now, we should hurry if we are to not miss anything."
Anakin and Talan departed for the ceremony to observe Shmi and Bron exchange wedding vows.
Later, at the reception, Anakin sat at a table watching people dance or move about the dessert table. His mother and Bron seemed very happy, it was just...
"You okay Anakin?" said Millicent as she sat down beside him.
"Yeah, I'm fine. How about you? Shouldn't you be dancing? Seeing if there is anyone here you like?" said Anakin.
"The Mandos talk endlessly about weapons and armour, the others either want trade secrets or think they're the Maker's personal gift to women," said Millicent.
"Talan said Bron could barely speak today, he was so nervous. It's probably the same thing, you are quite pretty you know," said Anakin.
"Why thank you Anakin. Say, care for a dance?" said Millicent as she rose.
"Yeah, okay," said Anakin.
The dance floor was very crowded and it was not long before they bumped into another couple.
"Oh sorry, hey, hi Padme," said Anakin.
"Hello to you too Anakin. And who, is this?" said Padme.
"Oh, this is Milicent, we work together. Hey Millicent, this is Padme, she's a Queen you know," said Anakin.
Millicent however was not paying any attention except to Padme's dance partner.
"Millicent Young," she said.
"Paulo Okere, how do you know the happy couple," said the man.
"I work with Shmi while I study at GalCenU, Classics."
"Classics? What is your opinion on the Karbakar?"
"Oh, I love that one. Lon drolla, hesh akar tol."
"Von dal mol manad pol,"
The two continued reciting lines of the ancient epic to one another, oblivious to their former partners. Eventually, Padme grabbed Anakin by the hand and dragged him off the floor.
"Well, Anakin Skywalker, what do you have to say for yourself?" she demanded.
Anakin shrugged and glanced over at Millicent and Paulo still staring into each other's eyes and reciting Mando'a poetry. "Um, it's nice that she's found someone,"
"Nice? Your date just stole mine!" said Padme.
"Nah, we just work together," said Anakin. He raised a hand to stop Padme, "Don't bother, they're falling in love."
"And you know this exactly how?"
"I am a Jedi. It's fairly obvious if you use the Force. They look just like mom and Bron do,"
"Damn. I don't get to meet many people my age as Queen you know,"
"I know Padme, you just have to be patient."
"I'm tired of being proper and queenly and patient."
"Then why not quit? You Naboo only stay elected for four years, that must be ending soon,"
"Not run again? I, I don't know,"
"Yeah, you could start studying to be a lawyer and be a normal person."
"You really think so,"
"Yup. You could go travelling the Galaxy for a year. Lots of young people do that."
'That sounds, really tempting. It's a pity you're not older. You could come with me."
"Nah, I'm a Jedi remember. It's not allowed."
"Not allowed? Jedi are not allowed to love?"
"Oh, that. It's attachment and possession that's forbidden. Compassion is encouraged. We're supposed to love everyone."
"But not anyone in particular,"
"Nah. It often ends badly. The people who did that thought that they were special, different when they were just like everyone else. Jedi can get angry, jealous and possessive except that we also have lightsabres, mind-control and TK."
"But not you Ani, you're different."
Anakin shook his head, "Nope, not at all. For example, I like you. A lot really. Because you rescued my mom. And from when I first met you. That doesn't mean anything, because it's not like you think that way about me in return."
"No! Of course not."
"Well then, it's settled. I always worried about that, what if you actually did like me too, because that would be really awkward. Thanks, Padme!"
With that, Anakin ran off blissfully unaware of the young woman finding a seat and wringing her hands.
"Yes, it is awkward," she said to herself.
Anakin soon found Palpatine.
"There you are, my boy. How is the wedding?" said Palpatine.
"It's okay. The main was really amazing," said Anakin.
"Thank you. I'm so pleased it was so well appreciated. Have you tried the dessert?"
"A little. It was mostly gone when I got there,"
"Not to worry, there's more out the back,"
"Okay, I do still feel hungry."
"Only to be expected, you're still growing. Come on, we'll see who else is out back. By the way, did you know the Queen is here?"
"Yup, we had a good talk about things. Mostly to reassure her that I'm not some obsessive lunatic with a crush. Imagine being such a creepy weirdo."
"Quite so Anakin, let's go find the ice cream."
Maul and Plagius crouched behind a makeshift barricade as the resograph scored a deep groove in it.
"The shield just failed!" said Maul above the din.
"Then we shall have to wait until it runs out of balls," said Plagius.
Some more minutes ticked by as the device tore the laboratory apart with no indication that the supply of ball bearings was coming to an end.
"This is madness!" cried Plagius as years of work was ruined before his eyes.
"Don't worry master, I'll deal with this," said Maul. He rose and extended a hand.
"No, you fool!" screamed Plagius as the Zabrak conjured crackling energy and hurled it at the device. There the energy crawled over it and then, magnified sprayed coruscating fire all about the room, destroying what was still intact.
"You idiot! It's immune to the Dark Side. Riktor didn't want future Sith fiddling with his sacred results." yelled Plagius.
"What do we do master?" asked Maul.
"Run!"
Quickly the Sith retreated as the resograph tore the building apart behind them.