Devilish When Respectable

"Is this the place sir?" the driver asked, and Palpatine looked up from his tablet. Indeed they were in the agreed upon location. A storage facility, and one that was far from any of his other businesses. He had a unit here, under an alias, it was one that held some… sentimental things. It was the perfect place to meet an undesirable fellow that he could not trust anyone else to stand in his stead.

"Yes," Palpatine replied and put down the tablet, donning a pair of sunglasses and adjusting his long coat. "Drop me here and wait around the corner, I will summon you when I am finished." The old man instructed, and covered his head with a hat. He took up his old-fashioned cane as he stepped out of the luxury vehicle, the driver leaving him there as instructed.

Palpatine walked into the warehouse and past the men standing guard just inside the doorway. He swept past, they knew better than to stop him, and made his way up the stairs to a mostly empty office above where many of the storage units lay, where his 'guest' awaited him.

In the room stood a hunched figure, wearing a leather jacket with a hood, a black tshirt, and cargo pants tucked into combat boots. A quick glance spotted a knife tucked into one boot and dog tags hanging around his neck. The most striking aspect of this man, was of course the eyes that peered out from behind a skull-like mask. Grungy white and two red lines painted down almost like tears.

"I saw your work," Palpatine said with no preamble. "Well done, I should imagine that she will have a hard time avoiding questions." He chuckled and reached into his coat pocket.

"I wasn't expecting her to rush out when she did… but it does throw a dispersal on her character," the man rasped in an accent Palpatine could not place, his voice further disguised by the mask. He let out a cough, and Palpatine could not tell if he was ill or simply smoked.

"It doesn't matter, it works out for both of us in the end." Palpatine handed the man an envelope, stuffed full of notes, payment for a job completed.

"Do you have any other work you wish me to carry out?" the man asked.

"Not currently, but be assured, I know that if I need a job done, I know who to call, Grievous," Palpatine chuckled at the little name the man had given himself. He was sure it was probably very scary to the little people on the street and made the man feel like he was powerful. How quaint.

"Heh, I am sure you do, a man like you will have many enemies I am sure. The rich always do," Grievous laughed, which again became a cough. Palpatine regarded him coolly.

"I shall contact you if I need anything further," the older man said dismissively. With a nod of his head, Grievous turned away and strode out of the office, their business complete. Palpatine waited a few minutes to hit send on the message ready to be sent to the driver, and by the time he'd sauntered back down to the street, the car was pulling up.

There was a lot to think about. Now that Amidala had survived, there would be more planning in regards to the campaign, just in case she was foolish enough not to give up her bid for his seat.

She would not win of course. Already he had his people asking the questions of self-sabotage, and having evidence suggest a story that he wanted. There wasn't much to it, the only point that irritated him was the way the Skywalker boy defended her. Anakin was supposed to be his son! Swearing fealty to his adopted Father… Ungrateful whelp. Still, the boy remained useful, until that usefulness ended, he would keep trying to convince Anakin to give him information on Amidala. He could at least do that.

He read through the tablet as they drove back to his office, having removed the hat, glasses and coat. He decided he had to visit the accountant soon, to get an idea on how his current operations were going. It would be quite the trip but he did not like to go too long without checking in.

The tablet chimed and he opened the file, ah, he'd been waiting on this report. His watery blue eyes scanned the information and he smirked. So… Maul had decided to make an alliance. With a transport company of all things. Palpatine let out a little chuckle. He wondered if Maul's gang of miscreants had taken the merger well. Was the boy going to get himself into more trouble or was he going to actually succeed for once?

He kept scrolling, reading through the information, a little smug smirk on his wrinkled face.

"Stupid boy," he muttered to himself, " don't you know you're nothing without me…?" He shook his head. The fool could try as much as he wanted, but unless he came crawling back, he would amount to nothing! Just seeing how far he had fallen made Palpatine's lip curl in disgust. How very pathetic and pitiful the Zabrak had become. Perhaps taking the boy with him back then was not the best choice… but he had at least served his purpose thus far.

As the wheels turned in his mind, Palpatine wondered if Maul could become useful again, perhaps, if someone were to dig too deeply, there would need to be someone to stand in as the perpetrator?

That could be easily arranged.

Returning to his office, he had his secretary fetch him a coffee, it was all he really kept her around for… that and keeping his appointments in check. She was efficient and good at keeping things in order… but beyond that, social interactions she was practically braindead.

All the better to avoid asking questions that did not need answers. The fewer idiots he had to deal with, the better.

He took to his chair, and turned it from his desk, looking out at the setting sun over his city. For it was his city. And he did not plan on letting it go.

Once, he had been forced to surrender control of the little isolated town that had once been firmly under his control. Were it not for that foolish woman spreading her malfeasance. She had always caused trouble for him, though his fondness for her had blinded him to her treachery. He should have known better than to give in to such weakness.

He was older now, he had learned to be stronger.

Once, the little town housed a thousand people or so, and all would hang on his every word. They would obey his laws, his commands. He was their prophet - he spoke and it was gospel.

In his youth he had never found religion to be of great interest, though when people believed, when they had Faith… well they would do almost anything. He had taken an interest then. When a person had Faith, they would do almost anything in its name.

Palpatine glanced at the tablet in his hand again, his eyes scanning the words. He remembered Maul's mother… a woman far too like Palpatine himself. Oh they made a wonderful team, and she was indeed a great spiritual leader, but he could never fully trust her. She was too devious, too controlling, and she had started to believe the words they spouted. That was part of the danger.

True, one had to live it as genuinely as possible, but it was dangerous to let oneself fall completely into the role. One must remain above the narrative. It was this fact that meant the night of the fire, he'd been able to survive.

He recalled all his loyal followers, how they had been so very devoted - his sermons had been inspiring, had they not? So inspiring, he had been able to part his parishioners from their money, from their families and their own thoughts. He could scarcely believe how easy it was. Clearly his lessons and his words were helpful to those pathetic people. He wasn't really saying anything wholly untrue. He had given them purpose! Meaning in their lives and a place to belong!

So often in life, people did not know their rightful place. They clawed for things that were never meant for them! Of course they would be unhappy if they were striving for something that was utterly unattainable.

He had done wonders for those ignorant and pitiful people! He had given so much! The absolute disgrace made his stomach turn. Completely ungrateful! He had given so many years of his life and for what?

The fire that had burned it all - right when deliverance was at hand! He had finally showed them how powerful faith could be, and how they did not need all the trappings and luxuries forced on them by commercialism and the media. Extravagance was a false happiness! He had taught them that! Had they just listened to him, they could have lived calm and peaceful lives. They simply had to do as he had instructed! It was for their benefit after all.

Palpatine let out a sigh as he stared out the window to the sky now stained a reddish purple. He soothed the front of his designer suit and reclined in his high-backed leather chair, his fingers tapping on the armrests.

He had certainly learned his lesson, Faith was important, but it was not the only factor. Had he had more than Faith, that fire may not have happened had he had a little more than Faith.

He remembered it blazing behind him as he'd fled into the night, the little Zabrak boy in tow.

"Father! Where are we going?!" the boy had asked, snivelling like the weak little child he was. Sidious had little patience for it. They had to go!

"Keep moving boy!" Sidious snapped, dragging him by the wrist. "You will walk the path! You will keep your Faith!" They made their way through the dark, through the bushes and trees surrounding the little town. He'd had to prepare for this eventuality. Through the woods, in the darkness was a small shack and the only functioning vehicle outside of the ones he had authorised for his security committee.

"Father, what is this place?" little Maul had asked, stumbling over sticks and rocks on the overgrown path.

"Silence!" Sidious snarled, he'd had enough stupid questions. "Another word and I will leave you for God's judgement in the dark where all of the Devil's beasts lurk awaiting the Faithless that linger too long…" The boy whimpered but said nothing more. Smart enough to not be left behind to be savaged by wild cats it seemed. Upon reaching the shack, he unlocked it with a key around his neck, and threw the tarp off the car hidden beneath. An older model, but still in perfect working order. The keys were left in a safe at the back of the shed and only Sidious had the combination. Perfect for a quick escape, and also to protect it from anyone else being able to get in.

In the distance, the fire had grown, perhaps the entire temple was ablaze now. Fine. If those ingrates wanted to stop his deliverance from God, they could all burn. Every one of them. Even his other children and his wife had proved a disappointment. The boy had only joined him out of fear.

He did recall one… her blue eyes blazing as much as the flames that had begun to rise around her. She had not been afraid. She had been angry. Had he the chance, maybe he should have taken her instead.

The car started after a spluttering start, and Father Sidious shoved Maul into the back and threw a blanket over him.

"Not a sound," he warned.

The chaos back in the town, no one saw his car slip away into the inky darkness. He had learned much from the people of Dathomir, but their usefulness had come to an end.

Let them burn.

He didn't rightly know what had become of Dathomir since then. Was that fool Talzin still there? He wasn't sure, and that thought kept coming back to him. Perhaps he did need to ensure the past was dead and buried.

The door opened and he heard his secretary entering.

"Your coffee, sir," she said quietly.

"Just leave it on my desk if you please, Francesca," he told her with a wave of his hand. He heard the clatter of the cup and then her retreating steps. Before she got to the door however, he spoke again. "Do you believe in God, Miss Burtoni?" he asked. He heard her steps pause.

"Yes," she replied and he smirked, still facing the city below.

"You follow his teachings then? Go to church and obey your Priest?"

"Yes of course," she said with no hesitation. He almost laughed.

"That's very good, Miss Burtoni, I think that perhaps in these uncertain times, you will need Faith."

"I have faith, sir, always," she assured him, then he heard her leaving the office.

"I'm sure you do, girl," Palpatine said quietly to himself. "Faith is important of course… but only if you have the power to bolster it. After all, there is no sacrifice too great for the sake of a true goal."

Notes:

Hello!
I hope you are all well! Apologies for the late chapter, I had a lot on my mind yesterday and I actually forgot what day it was! I hope you enjoy this chapter, even though there's not Zai or Maul, sometimes it's fun to delve into the mind of an asshat. I mean... villain. At least we got an itty bitty flashback in there! Lil Smaul being tormented in this AU too. T^T RIP.

As always, I appreciate all of your comments and feedback, it's really helpful and really makes me smile!

In the final verse of chapter 3- Fives and Zaiya embark on their dangerous mission in: Beauty in Danger!