Sheev Palpatine, possibly the only sentient being alive who knew all eleven ingredients used by the Cult of Darth Sanders was taking a break and casually viewing the other stalls and attractions being set up for the Chomell Mid Rim Expo when he heard a familiar bellow.

"This dish is so spicy, Kessel has a competitor!"

Palpatine followed the voice until he reached the stall in question. A Human was berating a Devaronian subordinate.

"Absolutely bloody useless! If I should just pick the next rando off the street they will be better than you," yelled the Human.

"In fact, they would be better than even you, Mr Sai," said Palpatine mildly.

"I hardly think that's..., Sheev Palpatine! What are you doing here?" said Sai

Palpatine smiled, "I am a local. As such my cooking can be seen as Naboo cuisine."

"Liar, how many ingredients does Hyperfusion ship in from this damp little world?"

"About as many from Serrano as you would find in any Restaurant du Sai, I believe."

"Heh, point. I hear you are the Jedi's preferred caterer. Never had them down as being fancy eaters,"

"But quite challenging. Quite an extensive variety of species, more so than the Senate. How's cooking for the corporate elites?"

"It pays well enough, but they're not what I'll call imaginative. I sometimes feel like a McMandos burger flipper,"

"A well-paid burger flipper,"

"The best and you better believe it,"

"So, how about a challenge then," offered Palpatine.

"I'll thrash you like last time,"

"That was on Bithia and it was by a technicality,"

"The Bith would say that being technically correct is the best kind. How about burgers?"

"Very well, who shall be the judge?"

After a moment it was decided that Hugo Damask, a being, who, heading the IGBC was a banker and thus partial to all and none would be a suitably impartial and non-partisan judge. It would also be useful to see how the Grand Poobah of the Sith reacted to the Chosen One, Not that Sheev Palpatine thought Gardaram Sai needed to know that. Thinking of Anakin, Palpatine wondered how he was doing.

Anakin made a few adjustments to the fluid control valve. The pressure had to be just right. Too little and it could not reach the top. Too much and it would spray everywhere creating a massive sticky mess. He made a motion with the hydrospanner, the valve did not budge. A bit more force is needed. His tools were a few metres below him as he worked on the waterfall tower. Remembering that using the Force for such a mundane task was not for 'knowledge or defence'. Anakin looked down. Oh well, he did seem to have quite a few helpers.

"Can someone hand me the magnawrench?" he asked.

"I'll get it for you,"

"No, I'll get it."

"He asked me."

Anakin sighed and intoned a quick calming mantra as a small scuffle broke out as three young Naboo women attempted to identify, locate and retrieve the requested tool. Eventually, with a deft shift of the hips and application of an elbow to scatter her rivals the victor trotted over and handed up a magnawrench.

"Thank you, Erin," he said as he took the tool.

"No, thank you, Master Jedi. Do you need anything else," said Erin.

"Nope, just a minor twist, and there, all done," said Anakin as he performed the last adjustment. He then began to climb down.

"Do you need a hand Master Jedi?"

"No, I'm fine."

Anakin got back down to the ground and wiped his brow. Naboo was nowhere near as hot as Tatooine, but it was still a warm day.

"I've got a cool drink for you, Master Jedi," called out another young woman as she bounded over from a refreshment stall, deftly keeping the light green liquid and ice cubes within the pitcher.

"Thank you, Nadia. You're too kind, but I am no Master Jedi. My title is Padawan Learner. An apprentice if you will," said Anakin as he took the pitcher and then drank.

"Just an apprentice?"

"Yes, studying to be a Jedi is long and difficult. Few Human Jedi become Knights before they are twenty-five standard and only become Masters after a minimum of twenty more years. That is if they become Knights at all. Many do not and remain an apprentice their entire life."

"That long?"

"No, you'll surely be a Master at, at twenty-two standard!"

"Or even twenty!"

Anakin shook his head, "I appreciate your confidence ladies, but that would be next year. I am not yet even a Knight. It will be many years of hard work and service before even that," he said to a chorus of disappointment.

Nadia took the brief lull to twirl a lock of her hair, "I heard that while the Jedi do not marry, they are allowed to let off some steam? Relieve any frustrations?"

Anakin suppressed an inward sigh, reminded that as a Jedi he must guide truthfully at all times, "It is understood that all Jedi are living beings, just as you are. We can be tempted, and so sometimes we give in. No one has been booted from the order over it. Still, as a Jedi I must maintain the deepest commitment, the most serious of minds to better serve you all. So ladies, to love one of you would betray that commitment to all of you, to all sentient life."

"That is so deep."

"And wise."

"Do you really love all of us?"

Anakin nodded, "Yes, yes I do. Now I need some help in erecting the barrier. We don't want any children falling into the chocolate river,"

He had no shortage of volunteers.

Hugo Damask, head of the IGBC and secretly Darth Plagius looked at his security detail, nothing unremarkable given that he was one of the wealthiest beings in the Galaxy, but also secretly his apprentice, Darth Maul.

"Why are we doing this? Why there are many, multiple and interlocking reasons. First, we are maintaining our cover. Second, we can sow dissent amongst those present. Third, the Locus of Therbia indicated that something significant to the fulfilment of the Great Plan shall occur here," said Hugo.

Maul shivered, "Before it caught fire and exploded,"

Hugo nodded, "Yes, before that minor hiccup." He neglected to mention that the many arcane prognosticators devised by the Sith had been more erratic than he had been led to understand. Mostly because he felt there was something very wrong. Also, Maul was an idiot.

Maul sniffed, "And of course, it is Palpatine's cooking,"

"Of course, but be mindful my apprentice. The Plan, a thousand years of preparation is drawing to a close," said Hugo, wondering if his apprentice was not as stupid as he appeared.

Intent on cosmic destiny or the prospect of a good meal both Sith missed a group of youngsters finishing a hard day's work.

Anakin thanked Tabitha for being so kind as to carry his tools and Moire and Adelle for helping move the spare barrier poles before entering the admin tent. He walked over to the makeshift desk where Padme was busy working on a pad.

"Waterfall tower is all set up," he said.

"Good."

"Channel for the river has been dug,"

"That's nice,"

"So tomorrow I'll fill it with molten lava and can I get a volunteer for the virgin sacrifice?"

"Very well, wait. What?" Padme's head shot up.

"Are you angry?"

"No, I'm not angry. I'm just stuck in here while every woman on the planet is free to throw herself at you."

"And fail, because while attractive and certainly earnest they are simply no match for an Angel I happened to meet ten years ago."

Padme got up from the desk and walked up to Anakin. "You said..."

"They live round the moons of Vega or something,"

Padme looked up and smiled, "That has to be the worst pickup line in the Galaxy,"

Anakin looked down, "I was nine,"

"I remember."

"So, I have no trouble resisting all the women in the Galaxy because they all have to wait behind her,"

"Me."

"Yes. And because she also understands duty and commitment she won't ask."

"No, I guess she wouldn't."

"So it's okay then."

"What if it wasn't, what then?"

"A perfect Angel would never do that. However, it would be foolish, not to say selfish to demand such perfection of another."

"Anakin."

"Padme."

"I'm not perfect," she said as she moved up.

"I know," he said as he moved down to kiss her.