Anakin awoke slightly earlier than the other students so he could get away before they had the opportunity to continue their verbal assault on him. He needed a clean mind without any distractions before he went With Dooku to meet Sidious.
He got dressed into his robes and left the room, still full of sleeping students, without looking back.
He made his way to master Yoda's chambers where the Grand-master predicted his early arrival and let him in.
"Ready are you?" Yoda questioned
"I have to be. I can't let Sidious win again." Anakin replied grimly
They continued to talk for a short whole. The duo then walked to the hangar bay where they were greeted by Dooku.
"I shall take Skywalker to the senate buidling where we shall be greeted by the chancellor. Today will be an introduction for what is to come." Dooku pair
"Go I will with you for today. Make sure all goes well I will" Yoda replied
"That will not be necessary. I can handle young Skywalker. He is in safe hands." Dooku responded trying to get Yoda away
Yoda locked eyes with Anakin who gave an agreeing look. Reluctantly Yoda accepted.
Yoda frowned as Anakin and Dooku left the hangar in Dooku's geonosian made ship.
Dooku piloted whilst Anakin sat in the backseat. They didn't talk much on the way and Anakin felt a great urge to Jab his lightsaber through Dooku's back, but he had to hold back; he had bigger fish to fry.
They landed at the senate building and as they walked towards the main entrance of the building Dooku walked behind Anakin with his hand on the boys shoulder causing a great unease. Chancellor palpatine and 4 senate guards came out to meet him.
"Meet Anakin skywalker" Dooku proclaimed
"I am familiar with the boy my friend, thank you" Palpatine replied, "Now my boy where to begin?"
Anakin remained composed despite the massive urge to try and kill him. He knew that despite his power Palpatine would still defeat him in his current child form. He would have to wait a while before killing the monster. Anakin and Dooku followed the chancellor inside and into his private office where he requested the guards and Dooku to leave them alone.
"I once told you I would watch your career with great interest, and that is exactly what I am going to do. I want the best for you, and this scheme will be perfect. We will get to know each other very well which will put you miles ahead of any of your peers in your future." Palpatine told the child
I mean technically he isn't wrong. I was miles ahead of them: it's just they were all dead and I was second in command of the entire galaxy
"I look forward to it" Anakin replied trying to hide his hatred for the man.
"I will take you on a tour of the senate building, and let you get to know some senators. In addition Master Yoda has given permission for you to stay a few nights here in a luxury room over here." Palpatine informed the boy
Anakin quickly realized what Sidious' game was. He wanted to make Anakin go against the Jedi way of not taking luxuries . It was all a big game to lure him away from the Jedi. The student who had called Anakin out for it was right, he was going against the Jedi way, however, he had to do what must be done.
"Thank you " Anakin said
Palpatine proceeded to escort the small child around the magnificent, and elegant senate complex, including, the senate chambers as well as the the elusive and enormous senate room which contained the pods and the chancellors station in the center. Anakin had been here a million times both as Anakin and Vader, so he didn't pay much attention tot he tour, but did keep a keen eye on his former master.
"How are your Jedi studies going my boy" The chancellor said out of no-where
Anakin, not sure what to say, simply replied, "Pretty good, I think. "
"Goood." Palpatine replied with his eerie voice, "I am certain you will soon become the most powerful, and respected member of that order"
He's trying to do what he did last time. Make me want power and respect which will turn me away from the Jedi code. I could make it seem as though his efforts are working and then he may give us intel sooner, however, that could just get him confident and execute his plans earlier. I can't do much until I am older, so the more intel we can get now to weaken him will be useful in preventing the clone wars and order 66. Even as Vader there was a lot he didn't tell me about the war and how he arranged it, so intel would be valuable. Ill have to be careful.
"I would like that, but craving power isn't the Jedi way" Anakin responded, making it appear that craving power was certainly on the table to give him a false sense of security.
"I am sure you will do great things" Palpatine spoke encouragingly
Anakin's nerves tingled. He did this last time. Make me have a goal to impress the chancellor which included a pursuit of power and losing my way.
I think i should engage in small talk to try and build a close relationship with him. That way I can continue to gain his trust making it easier to take him down later.
"Why did you go into the senate?" Anakin asked in a childish curiosity.
"I wanted to save the republic. The republic is corrupt, many senators are only interested in themselves, and that has caused large problems in the galaxy. Such as crime, and slavery" Palpatine replied but with a tint of emphasis on the final words
Anakin gave a frown. Those words still held a dark shadow over him. He has always been a slave. First to Watto, then to the Jedi and then to Sidious. He was only set free by his son, and he is still free despite returning to the Jedi. he knows who he is and won't obediently accept the Council blindly.
I Haven't told him about my slavery, so he must have picked it up when I arrived on Corussanct by reading my mind or something like that. He must be using this to make me feel anger towards my slavers.
"When I was on Tatooine I was a slave until I was rescued by Master Jinn." Anakin spoke sadly
"I'm so sorry my boy. I didn't know. it is good that you have been freed from that horrific world. What I would do to end such heinous acts" Palpatine said trying to incite anger in Anakin.
"I would do anything to free the slaves. Even kill Jabba the hut, and the other Slavers." Anakin replied with a half truth
Palptaine gave a small grin, "Yes I am sure you would."
It's working. He thinks I would resort to anger to take revenge which is a very Sith trait, so he should have confidence in my ultimate turn which will allow me to gain his trust and betray him later.
"Now my boy. I must leave for important Senate matters. Why don't you go and make yourself home in your chambers. It should be far superior to the accommodation at the temple." Palpatine said with a smile
He isn't wrong. The youngling dorms are not very good. Around 30 students packed into a space not much larger than a tennis court. Students were allowed no possessions except their robes, and the beds were small, plain and rather uncomfortable. It resembled a prison more than it did a school. In fact students weren't allowed to leave the temple unaccompanied until they were 18. However the intention was to prevent attachment and greed, and get students used to respecting what they have, and not to crave. Most students came to the temple at a very young age so underwent this deprivation of luxuries their entire lives, so they were used to not possessing anything and having any personal space which allowed them to be sufficient with the bare minimal and not crave more. However, despite being a slave, Anakin did have at least a couple possessions and personal space, so the prison like conditions of the younglings life in the temple came as a shock, as he had expected a magnificent and luxuries Jedi life which would be far superior to life as a slave, however, this didn't turn out to be true, and led to Anakin craving more, because, unlike the other students who had no outside experience, he knew that there were luxuries in life and he craved them.
Anakin gave a small respectful bow before palpatine called for a senate guard to escort the boy to his room.
Sisious POV
Once alone Sidious gave a slight cackle and grin.
This is going better than I expected. Young Skywalker will soon be mine, and tomorrow I shall test his respect of the Jedi code.