Him

Palpatine thanks a tall servant in Corellia's main hanger for his assistance with the ship. That was a quiet ride. She refused his lightsaber order, which surprised him quite a bit, but why didn't he fight her. He couldn't let her be armed like that, they'd be made up and if his Master ever knew of their affairs... What a disaster it would be. So, Palpatine reaches for a couple of chains hanging by the side of their vehicle.

"What is that?" She asks.

"You'll be my slave."

"What? Weren't we rich merchants looking for the stone?"

He grabs her arm, but not as violently as the night before. "You won't refuse this. With your vests you're either a Jedi or a slave, and guess which one you definitely don't want to be today?" He reaches for her neck with the open chain collar.

"No."

He's appalled that she would stand her ground like that. Doesn't she know who he is? But the thought vanishes when he remembers young Marilla, an image that has been haunting him since the night before.

"Please." He asks raging his teeth at some cost. That's nothing a Sith or a politician would say.

She's still holding on to her daring stare, but he notices a glimpse of surprise. Marilla unites her wrists in front of him. "No way I'm putting that on my neck."

He clips the collar around her hands and grabs on to the chains taking her with him. Exiting the hanger they reach a lively market place, filled with merchants and costumers. Different species bring out the colors in Corellia, there are flying Toydarians and droids following they're masters, some beeping others talking immensely. Palpatine observes Marilla looking down behind him. 'She's embarrassed.' A Jedi is not to express they're feelings lightly, yet Marilla seems to have done nothing but that for the past few hours. Everyone stares at the slave and some comment on Palpatine's vests.

After crossing half the market they reach the destination. A small stand hidden by shadows and a big awning. Palpatine approaches the wooden counter joined by Marilla at his side. In front of them an old fat man sits playing with a laser gun, he observes it closely with a monocle.

Palpatine clears his throat seeking the man's attention. The elder is bald and filled with birthmarks on his face, not like Marilla's these are ugly and grotesque. He sits upon a floating chair that takes him anywhere just with a simple thought. He notices Palpatine and Marilla.

"Oh, what can I do for ya, younglings?" he departs from the shadows reaching them not removing the monocle from his eye.

"Hello, my name is Paolo, a merchant from Taris. I'm looking for a special object I think you might know something about." Palpatine states.

The man observes Marilla, his eyes analyzing her head to toe.

"And who's that?" He points his chin to the Jedi.

"This is my slave."

The man narrows his eyes and Palpatine reaches for his lightsaber below the robe.

"All right. Follow me please." He shoots them a wide smile with the dirtiest teeth Palpatine has ever had to face.

The man takes them underground through a passageway below the stand outside. He never leaves his chair floating down the hole on the ground not needing any support. For the Sith and the Jedi there's a metal ladder on the side.

After climbing out the ladder Palpatine carefully pulls on Marilla's chains helping her down. He extends is hand to her so she won't fall, she looks at it and jumps down refusing his help. 'A Sith' Palpatine has to remind himself.

"So what is this object ya're looking for?" the man turns on a fluorescent light, which flickers revealing the dirtiest place Palpatine has ever seen. There are mechanical parts everywhere, a stone table in the middle filled with project plants and a few artifacts Palpatine doesn't recognize at first.

"It's something known as the Oracle Stone." Palpatine tells him, pretending not to feel bothered by the filth.

The man stares at Palpatine curious. "What makes ya think I know about this stone?"

"You're the great Baldo, aren't you? Official trader for the Hutts and big artifact connoisseur, I believe you know a lot about this stone."

Baldo's expression changes at the sound of the words "the Hutts", Palpatine knows how much employees of the Hutts wish to keep their identities secret. As an aspiring politician he holds a couple of important names under his belt, Baldo was one of those.

"Alright, maybe I do know something about the Oracle Stone, but I can't tell ya I don't have it with me."

"I didn't expect you would. But you can tell me where I can find it?"

"Yeah sure I can, but what's in it for me, rich man?"

Palpatine shoots a complied looks at Marilla. "I have some money."

"Mmmmm…" Baldo caresses his chin thinking. "Sure, I'd be down for some cred. But I want something else too."

Palpatine nods allowing him the proposition.

Baldo points at Marilla. "I want the slave."