I do not own anyone.

RWBY is owned by Rooster Teeth.

STAR WARS belongs to Lucasfilm.

Chapter 2: Evil's Soft First Touches

Palpatine drank in the fresh, cool air of his home world. The lush greenery surrounded the pathway he walked to the gates of his family estate. The sandy brown stone making up the entire foundation of the massive archway that formed the gates to his mansion. As per Naboo customs, the building was as much a work of art as it was a place of residence. Such was expected from a noble house of the cultured world he called home. Especially one that held the throne in the days before it was elective. The domed green roof of the main building shone with a vibrant luster that matched the healthy vegetation of the gardens that were tended to daily. While he was not one for lavish things, the gardens served their purpose well. Well enough that he planned to continue using them in the future, but on a smaller scale. A powerful man, using a well-tended garden as a sign of humility, and a quiet spot for meetings he would rather keep private.

The effect certainly worked of the young he had following him.

"Woah." The scruffy little girl gasped as she stared at garden in wonder.

This child, known as Ruby Rose, took in the scenery with all the excitement and curiosity that was to be expected of one her age. The journey back to Naboo was uneventful for the most part. The girl was well behaved when she did not get too excited. She was respectful and polite, however that might be due to fear of offending someone. That was not what he desired from the girl, he wanted her to be deliberate and thoughtful with her actions. What she displayed was habit, something developed for minimal effort. A result of her time under the claws of the Trandoshans? Or perhaps it was the teachings of the now deceased woman? Either way, it was a small start to what he would have to instill in her down the line.

As he traversed the stone path, surrounded by plant covered walls, he felt her stumble and nearly trip as she lost focus, ogling everything her eyes could see. The closer they got to the main entrance to the mansion, he felt her hand tighten in his grip.

"You live here!?" She croaked in a mix of shock and amassment as she stared as the estate of his House.

Palpatine looked down at her with a friendly smile. "I do. And now, so do you."

"Really?" She asked, now sounding bewildered. "You mean it?"

"Yes. From now on, you shall be staying here with me. Where you will be safe."

He studied her reaction. The child's silver eyes had dropped to the stone walkway for a moment. He thought about probing her thoughts with the Force but decided against it. It was unnecessary, he knew she would accept his offer. She had nowhere to go but with him. Also, he did not want to risk her lashing out with her own powers. Even if she does not mean to harm him, she is still a child and without training she can cause a substantial amount of harm if he agitates her with his own abilities. Not to mention she'd be taken from him in that scenario. While not an unbearable loss, still a wasted opportunity.

"You really want me to stay with you? What if I make a mess?" She twiddled her fingers in uncertainty.

"Are you going to make a mess?" He inquired with false suspicion.

"No!" She cried, before turning away in shame. "I'm clumsy."

Palpatine let out a short laugh. "Well, how would you like to fix that?"

"Hmm?" She looked up at him in confusion.

"I can teach you not to be clumsy, so you don't make a mess. That way, you can stay in my home." He offered as they stopped in front of the grand display that was the front entrance. A ten-meter-tall archway, with green metal doors with twirling vines and patterns inlayed across them. It was an old piece from the more archaic days of the world, but it stuck around. Palpatine wanted to be rid of it for something more secure, but he had to keep it to maintain his supposed standards as a noble. An overhaul of the entire estate to suit his personal tastes would draw attention, and he wanted his actions within his home to stay private.

"You can?" Her excitement resurfaced at his offer.

His smile broadened at her taking the bait. Small steps made a stark difference. She needed to understand her role as a student long before she learned the truth. That way, when she swore her destiny to that of the Sith, she would transition easily. It would take time, but it would be worth it.

"Yes, I can teach you lots of things, Ruby."

"Like what?"

He paused for a split-second to consider his words. How should he pitch the idea of gaining power to a child? Should he pitch the idea at all? Or should he approach it from a different angle. Then again, perhaps he should just keep it simple. She was a child, and it was best to make it easy to understand.

"How to be strong."

Her eyes lit up at the words and he knew he chose correctly. Children had dreams of becoming powerful, but in a more playful way. For now, he would use that.

Not waiting for her reply, he took out a circular holocommunications device and clicked the activation switch. After a few short beeps, the projector panel lit up and the small translucent, blue image of a man popped up on top of it.

The man was dressed in the garb of Naboo law enforcement, or what equated to it for him. The hologram gave them a cursory glance before giving a polite gesture of greeting. "Welcome home, Ambassador Palpatine."

"Glad to be home, Captain. Would you be so kind as to allow me inside? I'm afraid the scanners in the archway are malfunctioning." They weren't. The scanners were not responding due to his tagalong, but it was best to play helpless. Bodyguards took their jobs seriously when they were treated well, paid well and under the assumption that their client genuinely needed protection. The threat of suddenly losing their income kept them on their toes and the appreciation of their employer instilled a sense of loyalty.

"They are working just fine, sir. We are detecting someone who is not registered with the system." The Captain of Palpatine's estate guard answered formally.

"Oh." He turned to Ruby, who stared at the device with fascination.

"So, cool." He heard her whisper.

"Disregard the anomaly, she is my ward and I expect her to be treated as such." Palpatine kept his tone polite, but still gave off an air of authority.

The Captain responded with a respectful bow before calling to someone outside the hologram's image. Within moments, the large gates slowly parted, revealing what could be described as a paradise.

Up ahead of them, the stone path came to a crossroads, with a two-meter-tall water fountain decorating its center. All around the world was a beautiful arrangement of exotic plants taken from across Naboo. Palpatine was tempted to expand the collection for the sake of displaying his role in galactic politics but decided not to. It was best to pretend his loyalties lay with his homeworld.

As they passed a bush filled with thorny red flowers, he heard her gasp repeatedly as new sights entered her vision.

"Are you a wizard?" She asked suddenly.

Palpatine nearly burst out in laughter, but he managed to control his amusement. Keeping it to a small chuckle, he gave his answer.

"No. What gave you that idea?"

"You can summon ghosts to open gates." She answered quickly. "That's what wizards do."

"That was not a ghost." He had underestimated the girl's lack of technological knowledge. Her life on Dantooine must have been the most basic it could have offered. No wonder the Trandoshans found them such easy prey.

"Yes, it was." She argued. "It was all see through and blue. That's what ghosts look like."

Palpatine stopped and kneeled down to her level. Holding out the holo device, he pressed a button and a three dimensional display of the garden appeared. Ruby stared at it. Wondering what she was being shown.

"Does this look like a ghost to you? It's blue and transparent like one. But it's not a person." He questioned gently. Wanting to gauge her ability to learn.

"Transparent?" She asked, struggling to pronounce the new addition to her vocabulary.

"See through, my dear."

"Oh." She said, absorbing the knowledge, then turning back to the hologram. "If it's not a ghost, then what is it?"

"It is a picture made from light. It is called a hologram." This was tedious, but perhaps he could use this to build her trust. As well as her mindset as his student.

"Hologram." She repeated, waving her hand through the image. It distorted and cracked from her interference. He could see she found the response amusing, but she stopped, lowering her hand she studied the display further. This pleased Palpatine. The girl was intelligent after all.

"How does it work?"

Satisfied with his little test he deactivated the holo display. "That is something rather difficult to explain. But if you want, I can teach you that as well?"

She gave him an enthusiastic nod. "I want to be smart like you."

Palpatine did not know how to feel about that. All his life, his family had seen him as a conniving and manipulative fiend. Were they wrong? Absolutely not. But still, he could count on his fingers the number of times he ever received compliments from his family about the aspects of him that were objectively useful. All of them coming from his weakling of a mother.

He didn't drop his warm smile. "And one day, you will be."

Placing a hand on her dark hair, he gently stroked it, focusing on the color gradient. Black to red. A perfect representation of his order. "But first, we must settle one thing, my dear."

"What's that?" She didn't shy away from his touch like before, good she trusted him.

"We must give you a new name."

"Why?" She asked, not out of concern as he expected. Just curiosity.

"You shall be staying with me from now. I only think it fitting we give you a name for your new life."

She looked away, he caught a hint of nervousness on her face. "You're so nice to me." She mumbled. "But I can't do anything for you. I couldn't do anything in the village but hide. I always broke things, and everyone thought I was nothing but trouble."

Palpatine remembered the villagers. The only one who showed her any sympathy was Marrdun. The rest appeared indifferent. He was thankful. It made taking her with him all the easier.

"Do not worry about that." He moved his hand from her hair to her cheek. Tears were welling up in her eyes. "I brought you here to give you a new life. A life few in the galaxy can ever dream of. You are clumsy now, Ruby. But I promise that one day, you will be sharp as a blade in both mind and body."

He knew she did not fully understand his words, but he wanted to see if she got their meaning.

"So, if I stay with you, I'll be smart and strong?"

His smile broadened. "Yes."

"Smarter and stronger than the people in the village?"

He thought he heard a hint of ambition in her words. "It will take a lot of demanding work. It will hurt. But in the end, you will become more powerful than all of them together."

He saw excitement burn in those shining eyes. Good. She was taking the bait. "Do you want to be stronger?"

Again, she nodded with enthusiasm. "Good. From now on, your name shall be Ruby Palpatine."

Palpatine strolled the darkened corners of his home. The guards were out patrolling the gardens and border of the estate. The capital city of Theed was the safest place on the surface of Naboo, but it wasn't petty thieves the Ambassador was concerned with. The King of Naboo was making some interesting investments and it would be silly to think that he did not have agents watching all of the nobles. The fool only rose to power due to the efforts of both him and his master. Both sharing a mutual interest in Naboo joining the galactic community.

The marble halls of the mansion were silent and empty. As expected, most of the mansion's staff were asleep, save for a select few he had chosen for the newest member of the House. His adoptive daughter. In all his live, he never would have thought he would need to do this to get an apprentice of his own. But as he concluded before, the girl's age kept him from simply initiating her into the order. She wouldn't understand and then she would make mistakes. Mistakes Plagueis would learn about and ultimately punish him for.

Coming up on a large red door. It would open for him, if he wanted but he changed the setting of this room in order to provide a sense of privacy and personal space to his new investment.

Raising a hand, he knocked thrice on the crimson metal. The resulting clangs echoed across the shadowy passageways. The door slid open revealing a woman in her mid-thirties in a blue tunic and long skirt. She had dark hair and was starting to develop wrinkles, but she held a fit figure and was energetic despite being Palpatine's elder by nine years.

She had a disgruntled look on her face as the door slipped open, one that vanished the moment she saw him. Replaced by a sudden look of nervousness then a polite smile.

"Good evening, sir." She greeted him with a slight bow.

"Good evening, Aluum." He pretended not to notice her nervous reaction to his arrival. The look of disapproval was something he had come to expect. As the primary caretaker of the estate, she had to be firm with all the staff working there while Palpatine was away. It was her responsibility to maintain everything for him, as well as harbor the blame should something go wrong.

"I was not expecting you so soon." She glanced back into the room where young Ruby was supposed to be.

"Weren't you?" Palpatine turned down the corridor to an ornate timepiece that hung suspended against the wall. It still functioned, even with its advanced age. "From what I can see, this is the time I said I would return."

He saw her glance to the side within the room. "Is something the matter?"

"No. Nothing is out of place, sir. Everything is in order."

He did not need the Force to feel the fear wafting off of her. It was written all over her face. Not in the mood for her poor deflections, he decided to skip to the end. "Is Ruby alright?"

She looked as if she were about to answer but a sudden series of creaking sounds made her flinch. The sound was then followed by a childish giggle.

Not waiting any longer, he leaned past the threshold and peered inside. The large bedroom was in good condition. It had been remodeled throughout the day to accommodate for the youth as per Palpatine's instructions. He made a note to Aluum not to bring any toys. The girl would have a difficult path ahead of her and he did not need to deal with here developing an attachment to material objects that had no use.

Under Aluum's supervision, the wardrobe had been filled with the latest in Naboo fashion as to give the girl the display of a noble. Such was necessary. The girl would be noticed by the masses. Best to keep their opinions of her positive.

In the center of the room was a bed large enough to comfortably suit two adult humans and that was when he found his target.

Ruby had disheveled the bed sheets by jumping on them repeatedly. Now that she had received a proper bath and clothes, she was starting to look the part he wanted her to play. Her messy hair was smoothed out allowing him to see the colors from here. Her torn clothes were now replaced with specially ordered pajamas. As her namesake suggested, she had an affinity for the color red.

Aluum gasped and rushed over to the bed and grabbed her by the wrist, halting the unruly act. "Young lady. If you are going to live here, you shall learn to behave!"

The caretaker's made the girl freeze, even as Palpatine approached, she dared not to move, worried that she had done something terribly wrong.

"It's alright, Aluum." Palpatine said with smile as he closed in on the pair. "She is simply excited to spent the night in her new home. Can you really blame her?"

Aluum took a breath before giving a polite retort. "If she is going to represent House Palpatine, she must learn proper manners and etiquette. Such unruly behavior is unacceptable."

"All in good time. I trust you'll take the lead with her education?"

She gave an affirming nod. "I shall plan out her entire curriculum."

Her answer brought a slight wine from the child. Palpatine needed to add one thing to that. "Make sure you leave enough room to make it flexible. I plan to bring trainers from off world to be her instructors."

"Off-worlders?" She asked, sounding troubled by the words alone. "Why would you bring outsiders to instruct her, sir?"

Palpatine shifted his features and set them into a grimace. "The death of Kim's family brought up some unpleasant memories. I do not plan to jeopardize her by being lax in her education."

The sudden change in his demeanor did the trick and Aluum did not inquire further. "Very well. I shall plan accordingly."

"Good." Palpatine gradually returned to smiling. Not too quickly, but just slow enough to convince her of his satisfaction. "Now, if you wouldn't mind. I would like to say good night to her. We've all had a long day and I wish for her to have a comfortable first night."

Aluum said no more to Palpatine, but turned to the girl and reminded her to behave in a softer tone this time. Ruby gave a nod and relaxed as the supervisor gracefully exited the room.

When the door slid closed, Ruby grumbled before sitting down on the edge of the bed in front of Palpatine.

"Did she treat you well, my dear?"

Ruby grumbled for a moment, clearly upset that Aluum had ruined her fun and scared her. He did not need an answer. His estate supervisor was predictable and dedicated to her work. It was why he chose her to be Ruby's caretaker. If needed, she could assign one of the other housekeepers to watch the child until either she or Palpatine could do it themselves.

"She's mean." The girl replied, crossing her arms.

"That is because she wants what is best for you." He reached for the corner of the bed sheets and unfolded it for her. "Do you like it here?"

She jumped over to the area that was exposed, landing on her back with a giggle she said. "It's so cool. Everything is so big, it makes me feel tiny."

"Bigger than the hut you lived in before, I'd imagine."

The comment made her go quiet and Palpatine did not need to guess why. The woman, Verdina, had taken up the role as Ruby's mother for the past two years. As per her statement that morning, the villager's were not very fond of her. Breaking things when she sought to lend aid The leader had stated that the general opinion of her was that she was some sort of bad omen. No one dared challenge the woman as most of the males were smitten with her.

With the woman dead, there would be no one to defend her when the villagers wanted to cast her out. Then in comes Palpatine the humble Ambassador, ready to take in a lonely orphaned girl and offer her a life of peace and plenty. The thought almost sounded like those plays the girls in Theed's children schools would whisper about. He always thought they were absolute rubbish. The irony of it almost made him laugh.

The girl pulled the blanket over herself and turned away from him. This got no reaction out of him, not at first. A bit of silence to convince her that he felt a hint of shame for bringing up the tragedy. While she was eager for the improved living conditions, she was still a child and children formed attachments very easily and were terrified of losing those they had bonded with. With the loss of her mother figure, a hole had formed in her heart.

It made sense and was what he wanted. One must be accustomed to pain if they are to serve the Dark Side. He was not entirely sure if the grandeur of the estate would put her in a more receptive mood. The child's excitement was a welcome change from the timid and weak creature he had tolerated on the way here. With the distraction of her new home in place, he had just reopened a still bleeding wound.

Reaching a hand across the bed and held her shoulder in a gentle grip. "Ruby. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have brought that up."

"They hurt her because of me." She admitted with a hiccup. "I was too loud."

He heard her sniff, already starting to cry. "I know must miss her, but don't fret, my dear. I'm here for you."

Ruby became quiet for a moment, then she slowly turned herself over with puffy red eyes. "You won't leave me?"

"No."

"You promise?" She asked, eyes filled with desperation.

"I promise."

He sat on the side of the bed and took her trembling hands into his own. Giving her the comfort that she needed. As the light of Naboo's moon passed in to the room through the trasnparesteel he had installed in all the windows, his form darkened on the side that faced away from it. Covering his face and the majority of his body in blackness. It had the same effect on Ruby, only her shadow was split evenly down the middle of her face. One eye, shining in the light, another drowned in darkness.

The silence between the two ended when the youth made a request. "Can you tell me a story?"

Palpatine did not move, he only inquired. "What kind of story would you like?"

Ruby pulled the blanked up further in embarrassment. The darkness cloaked her face further, offering her its first gift. "She used to tell me stories of heroes. Of people with magic and glowing swords coming to fight monsters."

Palpatine chuckled, knowing exactly what she was referring to. Or more accurately, to whom. "Were these heroes called the Jedi?"

She gave a nod, the blackness rising and retreating as she moved. He decided to dig a little, to see if she knew something else. "Did these heroes fight other people with glowing swords?"

Again, she nodded. "She called them the… the Seth?"

"The Sith." He corrected, maintaining his light tone. "What did she say about them?"

"That they were mean. They like to hurt people for fun."

Palpatine did not object. Indeed, there were many Sith in history who fit that description. According to the scriptures he received from Plagueis about the era in which the Rule of Two was created, that sort of behavior was common. Not anymore, granted, Sidious did enjoy showing his dominance within a situation, but still, if it did not benefit him, he would not waste his time.

This was his starting point. He would subtly show her that the Sith of today were not the Sith of old. All the while doing the same for the Jedi. Revealing the unflattering truths behind the noble heroes they were fabled to be. Key word being 'were.'

"I know many stories about the Jedi and their rivals, the Sith." He admitted, turning he face into the light, revealing the kind smile he always gave. "Is that what you would like to hear?"

"Yes, please."

Palpatine wanted to give her a different perspective of the Sith. That they were no longer butchers and warriors. That they were not just violent or to put it in a childishly simplistic manner, evil. They were intelligent, disciplined, cunning, well learned and above all, powerful.

While he certainly had a laundry list of candidates to choose from the past thousand years, none of them would hold the interest of a five year old girl. It had to be entertaining as well as informative.

Then it came to him. He did not need to start with those descended from Darth Bane. There were Sith that came before who were exemplars of their kind.

At the moment, she saw the Jedi and Sith in black and white. Even if she knew next to nothing about either. The names were familiar to her and if he did not show her a different perspective, she might follow what the galaxy peddles, and he would be forced to discard her.

"Very well." He reached out and rubbed the top of her head. Casting the shadow from his arm over her remaining eye. Gently, he nudged her into the pillow, covering her face in shade. "Get comfortable. This is an old tale and I want you to enjoy it."

Retracting his arm, he took in the image he saw. A child, wrapped in the embrace of the dark. "Now, I shall tell you a story. A story of a great man who managed to save the galaxy."

And keep the Sith alive, although, Sidious doubted the man ever expected that his legacy would be the inspiration for the creation of the Rule of Two and consequentially, the survival of the Sith.

"A long time ago, when the galaxy was a much harsher place than it is today, the Galactic Republic was at war."

He felt her feet shift under the sheets, she was already liking the story ad he had not even introduced the star.

"A culture of warriors known as the Mandalorians had declared that the strongest should rule the galaxy and began to raid world after world. Burning cities and destroying homes."

He felt a wave of grief rush over him through the Force, followed by one of anger. Good, she was resonating with the tale already.

"The Republic fought back, but they lacked skill to combat the Mandalorians' prowess on the battlefield. In their desperation, they turned to the Jedi Order for aid."

He felt the anger ebb slightly. She was curious.

"The Jedi refused to help the Republic. Opting to observe the war from the safety of their temple, believing that the truth of the conflict would reveal itself."

He felt her anger return in full force, easily surpassing what he had sensed before. He felt the bed shake slightly while she remained perfectly still. Good.

"But there were those in the Order who disagreed with the decision of their leaders. Two young knights spoke out against the Council and gathered others to go out and face the Mandalorians. One of these knights was named Alek. The other's real name was lost to time, but to this day, the galaxy knows him as Revan."

Palpatine stepped through the threshold, glancing back at the sleeping child. He could barely make out her silhouette in the dark room. She had enjoyed the story, and even hoping that the Dark Lord of the time would teach the Jedi a proper lesson. That had been a better reaction than he had hoped for. Granted, he left out some details, the entirety of the story known only to those who lived it. But still, it had served its purpose. As the ancient Lord of the Sith had inspired Darth Bane, his legacy would inspire this child. Palpatine had sparked her interest, and now he had to turn that spark into flame. A flame that would grow into a wildfire to burn those who would oppose his goals. Satisfied that she would not awaken while after he left, he made his way down the halls.

As he wandered through the mansion, he allowed his awareness to expand, sensing the locations of his staff. All the housekeepers were in the residential wing. All were asleep. The guards were patrolling the gardens and perimeter. All active and alert with a second shift resting in private quarters he had invested in just for them. Ready to be called to combat with the push of a button or if one of the officer's implants detects he no longer drew breath. No changeling would be impersonating his command staff without rousing the entire security force.

Even so, he often felt that I was not enough. While many would consider it paranoia, he was adamant on having an impregnable fortress for a home. Especially now, with that fool Veruna sitting on the throne.

His tenure as King of Naboo was never meant to be an optimistic one. Especially with the means of how he had assumed the throne with Plagueis and Palpatine's help. Even if Palpatine's part in it was minor and admittedly negligible.

The deal Veruna had made with Plagueis and the Trade Federation for the trade and export of Naboo's vast reserves of plasma had begun to backfire on him. Public opinion of him was worsening little by little each day. Even the Gungans were rearing their slimy heads from their swamp cities as they lived over the largest reserves of the rare resource. One of the cities had sent threats of violence.

How ironic that for a man of such ambition, he lacked the foresight to see this coming. Did he believe the greater galaxy would support his claim to the throne once the deal was signed? If he did, then he was a bigger fool than Palpatine gave him credit for. His right to the throne depended on the opinions of the people and noble families, and a precious few of the latter were willing to assist him should he continue to fall out of favor.

Palpatine had seen it earlier today. When he had left his new ward in the hands of Aluum, he paid his majesty a visit. Veruna kept his composure, but Palpatine could see it. Written all over his face was the slow build up of stress born from the growing competition against him. Palpatine would have laughed at his incompetence if he could. It was becoming apparent that Veruna would eventually break his agreement with Plagueis. Eventually, it would be one of the only ways to save his failing reputation.

The funding of a fighter defense program for Naboo's space was a sham at best, a poorly conceived excuse at worst. The one thing that could damage his rule more than a bad deal was a war that he ultimately started. Either with the Gungans or the Neimoidians. Even if the latter were sniveling cowards, they would not hesitate to fight back if struck first. Especially if it looked justified in the eyes of the Senate.

That left Palpatine in a difficult position. On one side, he had Veruna scrambling for both local and Senate support. And on the other, he had Plagueis, backing the Federation in their scheme to advance Palpatine to the Chancellorship and bring the Grand Plan one step close to completion.

Which side he was one was a simple guess. Plagueis was his teacher and had great expectations for him. Going against him would cost too much even if abandonment was the only consequence. Betrayal at any juncture would be certain death. Even if Palpatine gained the Kim's position by morning, he would still be no match for Plagueis on the political landscape, not to mention the industrial, financial and covert advantages the Muun held over the entirety of Naboo. And Sidious dared not even imagine a personal confrontation between the two of them. Not yet at least.

As for Veruna, the man also had a substantial amount of power when compared to what Palpatine currently held. Was Palpatine afraid of him. Not at all. Unlike Plagueis, the man was an ordinary being. Put him in a room with Palpatine alone and the former would be dead within seconds. The unlikelihood of a personal confrontation only made the remaining possibilities all the more likely. If the fool wanted, he could engineer an entire incident in which Palpatine, and the entire estate would just vanish and after just acquiring his newest investment, Palpatine had to take every precaution he could. Granted, it would be costly, but the stress Veruna was experiencing would have an impact on his judgement. Sooner or later, he would snap. The best bet was that when he did, all thoughts of Palpatine being a threat were gone.

Entering his personal study, Palpatine rounded the desk and took a seat. After confirming that he would not be disturbed, he activates his personal terminal built into it. A second later, the bright blue image of an elegantly dressed Muun appeared atop his desk.

"Lord Sidious." Said Darth Plagueis with a tone and expression of neutrality.

"Master." Sidious replied respectfully.

"Did your meeting with the other Senator's go well?" The Muun asked in a cordial manner.

Sidious caught on to the change immediately. His master was fishing for something. Did he know that Palpatine had swayed some of the Senators against the Federation? No. The meeting wasn't an official vote, merely a means of sharing opinions in a welcome environment. The effects of his actions were still weeks away and how would Plagueis know even if the policies suggested were even his idea. There was only one other event that his master could be referring to.

"At first. The Senators had some discouraging opinions about many of your business partners."

Plagueis gave no sign of interest, understanding that the opinions of residents of the Galactic Core on those of the outer galaxy were always disapproving.

"And later? I know there is more to this story."

"After dinner I learned that Senator Kim's family had died in a crash."

"His entire family?" Plagueis asked.

"Yes. All of them besides the son the Jedi took."

"Mm. Quite the tragedy." Plagueis commented, rubbing his long fingers against his well pronounced chin. "The news must have been hard for him."

"Yes, it would not surprise me if he decided to retire once the funeral service was concluded."

"The journey back to Naboo must have had a somber tone to it."

Sidious saw through the assumption. "Not at all."

Seeing Plagueis raise an eyebrow, Sidious continued. "Our transport attracted the attention of Trandoshan slavers. They boarded the station we gathered on after destroying the ship."

"Yes. I am aware of that." Admitted the Dark Lord. "I am also aware of the fact that you were quite the hero during this straining event."

Sidious knew it was not a compliment. He did not want Palpatine to stand out for anything other than being an outstanding exemplar of moral character. While this ultimately did help boost his image among the Senators, it displayed a side of Palpatine that would make the Jedi suspicious if they examined the sight soon after his departure. He had allowed his concealment in the Force to fall at certain moments. If any Jedi were present, the power of the Dark Side would have alerted them to his presence.

"You had best explain how that came about, Sidious. Before I reevaluate your qualifications for the Chancellorship." Plagueis did not change his tone, but the intend behind the statement was clear. It told Sidious all he needed to know. Plagueis thought Sidious had a lapse in self-control.

"It was not so much an act of heroism, more me acting out of curiosity." He replied with a calm expression. Not a smile, lest he anger the Muun.

"Curiosity? Care to see of you can catch my attention with that?" Plagueis challenged.

Now Sidious smiled. "I believe I may have found a promising individual among the slaves the Trandoshans captured."

"Promising in regard, Sidious?"

"Someone with a strong connection to the Force." Sidious admitted without pause. This was it, he had to convince his teacher of the value of having someone acting in their stead while they pulled strings in the Senate.

The Muun furrowed his brow. "This individual. You wish them trained?"

Sidious gave a slight bow before answering. "With your permission, master."

Plagueis was silent for a moment, but Sidious did not look up to see the Muun's face.

"Your intention is to train this candidate to become our agent, I presume?"

Sidious smirked but forced it down before raising his head. "Yes, in time she would become our knife in the dark."

"A Sith Assassin." Plagueis looked off to the side, pondering the notion.

Sidious did not like the notion of her simply becoming an assassin. Not content with her power in the Force being constrained to something so limited, but he need not voice his objection. Only allow Plagueis to formulate his own ideas.

"When the time comes for us to reveal the Sith to the Jedi, she shall be the face they see." Sidious added, putting in a small hint of prideful enthusiasm.

After a moment of quiet contemplation, Plagueis gave Sidious his answer. "Very well. You have my permission to train her in the ways of the Sith."

He raised on of his hands and extended one of his long fingers towards Sidious. "But you are to reveal nothing about our identities or the Grand Plan unless I deem it so."

"As you wish, master."

"How old is this individual whom you believe holds such promise?"

"Around five standard years of age. I brought her back to Naboo with me."

Plagueis gave a disapproving look. "You should not have done that. If you wish her to be our agent then there should be no connections to your public persona, Sidious."

"I had no alternative, master." Sidious protested. "Senator Kim was present the entire time. Including my fellow ambassadors and the other Senators. They all knew I had rescued her and planned to take her with me. It would bring more suspicion if I did not show her to the public."

The disapproval faded from the Muun's face as he mulled the implications over in his head. Sidious could guess what he was thinking. She could be more than a simple assassin. She could be an asset to the Grand Plan. If she performed well enough, her accomplishments would reflect off of Palpatine and only elevate him further within the Senate. Perhaps she could become his replacement as Senator of Naboo once he took the position of Chancellor.

"I suppose it cannot be helped at this point." Plagueis conceded. "Should you require guidance for her training, contact me."

"Actually, master. There is one thing in which I would like your assistance."

"Speak then."

"I would like to borrow two of your Sun Guards. Or the information on whomever trained them."

Plagueis looked intrigued. "You want her to be trained in the Echani Martial Arts?"

"I do." Sidious confessed.

"Why the Echani? Why not Teras Kasi? Or K'tara? Those two would be far more suited for assassination work and the latter would be far more fitting for the child of a Senator who desires nothing but the safety of their progeny."

"Call it a hunch." Sidious said thoughtfully. "But I have the feeling that it would suit her far better than other forms of unarmed combat."

"What do you base this hunch of yours on? I am not compromising my sources based on guesses."

"I believe she may be of Echani descent." Sidious answered, voicing his suspicions. "Though she is human, her eyes are a shining silver. Is that not a trait common among the Echani?"

This gave his master pause. A scientist as well as a businessman, Plagueis could not help but find such possibilities interesting.

"It is." He spoke with a hint curiosity. "My Sun Guard are of the Thyrsian subspecies, but the similarities are there. If possible, I would like for you to send me a sample of her blood for examination. If this is true, I wish to see the child in person. I never considered the effect crossbreeding has on midi-chlorians."

"As you desire, master." Sidious accepted, wanting to know just how unique his prize was as well. "As for a trainer. Can I call on members of the Sun Guard?"

"No." Plagueis said with finality. "The Sun Guard are not to be seen in the public. Besides, I believe the standard Echani from Echan would suit a female student better."

"When should I expect the trainer to arrive?"

"Give me a month. Echani are dedicated to their craft, finding one willing to invest their time on a single pupil will be a challenge."

"I'm sure you'll be able to convince them." Sidious complimented evenly.

"Do not let this backfire on us, Sidious." Plagueis pointed another accusatory finger at his apprentice. "No matter what this child does, remember that she is your responsibility. Whether she becomes an asset, or a liability is entirely dependent on you. And should you come across anymore individuals you believe we could make use of, take them to the compound on Mustafar."

The projection of the Muun disappeared, leaving Sidious alone in his study. Pleased by the victory he had just scored over his master. A Sith Assassin, as if he would allow any being trained by him to limit themselves to such a role.

The he contemplated the timeframe. A month, which was good. Now he had plenty of time to begin the girl's education and exercise. She would need discipline.

And he would have time for his visit to Dathomir after the first week was over. Things were proceeding smoothly. He just needed to play his cards right. Patience was needed for this to work in his favor, and he had the patience of a saint.

Hello. Hope yall are enjoying the story.

For you super fans out there. Let me know if I get terminology wrong.

See ya next time.