Him

The morning came fast. He was never late for anything, and he was proud of that commitment, even if most days all he wanted was to stay in bed. His father was one of those men few people dared to cross, if Father said, "Get up" Palpatine would. Coming to school his habits did not change, especially with such early classes. But this time he was late.

After getting properly dressed, Palpatine ran down the hallway and then the stairs. Pass the cantina, a lovely protocol droid was recollecting the food students didn't eat. Palpatine fetched a sweet bun out of her cart, having to put up with a high-pitched "Hey!" behind him.

He reached the outside auditorium just in time, as Principal Johnes was ready for his annual speech. The Principal stood on the center section of a wide stage in the auditorium, rows of seats below Palpatine. Next to him Jedi Master Yaddle, a green little creature of brown hair, sat in a chair too big for her size. Palpatine's teachers sat beside her upright and smiling. The place was filled with students from every year or level and on the right side of the stage there was a sitting area exclusive for the Jedi students. And there she was, smiling at one of her counter parts. Palpatine hadn't been able to forget her since the night before. The beautiful Togruta.

His gaze broke off as the microphone screeched letting everyone know it was time for Principal Johnes' moment to shine.

"Welcome new and old students, another year starts today. As always these are some happy times, which shall become fastidious when the end comes, for some of you are graduating this year to enroll into Naboo's Legislative Youth Program, while others are moving on to bigger events. As Principal of this prestigious house of learning I here by declare this to be a fantastic year for our finalists and an interesting one for our newly arrived students. As always, we welcome in our friends from the Jedi Academy in Coruscant, this year led by Master Yaddle." Master Yaddle stands and waves at the students, who clap respectfully at the Jedi. "Master Yaddle's class shall help our graduates with their house and school work so that they can dedicate some of the extra time to prepare employment or program applications. No violence will be permitted in TU, we shall respect the Jedi and their ways. Other lines of business include making sure you have your class schedules in order, so you can avoid long lines at the…"

Someone touched Palpatine's shoulder, distracting him from the Principal's speech. It was Mas Amedda, a blue Charigan from Champala and also Palpatine's best friend.

"You came in late!" he states hugging the red head.

"Mas! It's great to see you! How are you?"

"I'm all right, and extremely excited about this year."

"Shhh!" Some Twi'lek boy complained.

Mas pulled Plapatine with him and they walked towards one of the University gardens leaving the auditorium behind.

"You? Excited? I can't seem to believe that." Mas was probably one of the laziest people Palpatine has ever met.

"Aren't you? It's our last year at this torture then we'll start the Youth Program, and I heard there are some beautiful female older creatures there." He raised his eyebrow.

The word beautiful reminded Palpatine of the night before, of Marilla. "Well, I guess. I'm not sure I'm graduating this year though."

"What are you talking about, Palpatine? It's our last year! We've been in this place long enough if you ask me!" Mas was also one of the most excitable people Palpatine's ever met.

"Yes, but last year, after the cantina incident, Principal Johnes agreed to let me stay for one extra year as punishment, instead of expelling me right that day."

Mas chuckled at that. "Well, if I were him I'd want you out of here as fast as possible."

"You know my father, Mas, he'd kill me if I was ever to leave this place before graduation, he just wants what's best for me…" Palpatine's father would also kill him if he knew how his best friend truly was. Luckily, Mas never enrolled in Palpatine's crazy schemes to seek trouble.

Palpatine had been to the Principal's office at least fifty three times in the last three years, that wouldn't be inexcusable for any student, unless you were Palpatine. His father had always managed to change Johnes' mind, and with it there was always some kind of punishment, this being the worst one of all. Since they first enrolled in TU, Palpatine and Mas had been discussing their lives as members of the senate, possibly serving the Queen. This achievement kept drifting away as Palpatine always fell for the dark side of things and let himself be carried away by trouble.

"Well, I'm sorry you'll be staying for another year… But what will you do anyway?"

"Finish failed classes, I guess…"

"Boys?" Behind them a metallic sweet voice called out. It was a Hologram coming from an R7 unit, Professor Lufta Shif was talking in a shaky projected blue. "Please head down to your house's headquarters, we're assigning your Padawan servants now." The hologram shut down and R7 unit rolled back, probably to find more "Boys".

"Uh, can't wait to see mine." Mas rubbed his hands excitedly "Wait, but you're staying in the same household, aren't you?"

"Yes, don't worry we can still have late nights of X-wing sightings together, Mas!"

"Amazing!" he yelped.