The rest of the time onboard the royal cruiser passed peacefully. The Jedi refused to train with Travien again, probably due to the nature of his training but the handmaidens and Padmé were often seen in the Throne room working on their technique. It slightly concerned the Jedi that the handmaidens made visible progress each time they went to another practice session.

Something that was unexpected was that Travien had been spending a lot of time with Anakin. They had been trading schematics between each other. Travien seemed to be interested in getting Anakin to modify a small fighter design. The wings were narrow and pointed leaving the central control pod/cockpit completely exposed while he was often seen accessing the ship's onboard database to make modifications to the design of an unusual ship. It was a capital ship that was shaped like the beak of a bird of prey. It was a most unusual design and where it had started out at six hundred meters long it was now supposedly nine hundred. Nobody was quite willing to ask exactly what these designs were for and neither male was telling. Padmé suspected that Anakin didn't really know and was just enjoying the opportunity to design ships. She in fact had a sneaking suspicion as to what Travien was doing but decided to keep it to herself. If he was preparing then that was fine by her, he had already promised not to start a war, although Padmé was certain that he knew something she didn't.

Padmé shook her head at the thought and smiled. Most people would be worried with the amount of planning that Travien did that their relationship might be another plan of his and she was sure that under different circumstances she would be, but she had almost unlimited access to his mind whenever she wanted it. Travien himself had shown her how to get around his mind shields. What did concern her was the possibility of Travien predicting events inaccurately and jumping the gun on his war, but that was for another time.

She walked up to the door of the quarters that they shared and walked in and found that Travien was meditating for some reason. Padmé wasn't entirely sure why he was meditating this time as he normally only did that when someone had irritated him or he was…nervous. The Jedi Council suddenly sprang to her mind. He must be nervous about how they would respond to his presence. She shrugged off the thought, there was nothing either of them could do right now, and sent a small nudge at him through the Force. One thing that Travien had insisted on during her training was that she learn to use the Force without the flashy hand gestures that the Jedi used so often.

Travien opened his eyes and looked at Padmé curiously, "What's up love?"

She smiled at him, "We've just dropped out of hyperspace. We'll be landing on Coruscant in the next ten minutes."

Travien nodded and jumped up, "Well then, I had best sort my armour out, no idea what the Jedi might take it into their heads to do."

Padmé nodded silently as he began re-affixing the plates of armour to his suit. He looked up as he finished,

"Padmé, do remember what Gunray said just before we left Naboo?"

She frowned and shook her head, "No, what?"

Travien thought for a moment, "He had assurances that the treaty would be ratified by the Senate. That was what he said."

Padmé nodded, "Yes, I remember now, what's wrong?"

Travien smiled grimly, "Shield your aura Padmé. Tell Sabé and Eirtaé to shield theirs. The only person who could give that assurance is a Senator, the only reason is because they want the invasion to succeed. Concido's master has gone to quite a bit of trouble it would seem."

She nodded, blanching at the implication, "Are you saying that a member of the Senate is the Sith Lord?" she asked incredulously,

Travien shrugged, "Whether they're a Senator or just a member of staff I don't know, but it seems the most likely option. Now let's go shall we?" She nodded and they both left the room, heading up to the cockpit. Travien finally took notice and couldn't hide his amusement quickly enough. He always thought that some of the outfits that Padmé wore were funny but this one was hilarious.

They walked into the cockpit to find the Jedi already there. Travien ignored them, he may have tolerated them for Padmé' sake but they didn't mean they would survive if he had the chance. He walked up and stood behind the pilot. He had actually become quite friendly with Ric Ollie.

"How're we doing, Ric?"

The pilot smiled, "We're about to land, Lord Shan. You might want to head over to the landing ramp."

Travien nodded, "Fantastic, thanks Ric."

With that the Jedi walked out of the room with Travien and Padmé behind them. They felt the familiar thump of the ship landing and waited patiently. They were soon rewarded with the hiss of the door opening and the ramp lowering to allow them access. He walked down the ramp a step behind Padmé and noticed a man standing at the platform waiting for them. This was evidently the Senator Palpatine that Padmé had told him about, he was wearing an outfit that seemed all blue and black but was rather unremarkable otherwise. He allowed himself to reach out into the Force and grinned. Oh the Force just loved him. First he gets unfrozen into a time that has forgotten about the Sith with almost all of his valuable resources intact, then he finds that the Republic has no army and no experienced officers should it get one and now the upstart little bastard who dare call himself a Sith Lord was waiting at the fucking platform for him. He decided to wait before he told Padmé anything, this was a matter between Sith.

He could sense the Force barrier that the man was using. It as rather ingenious actually, he had to admire it for a moment. It allowed him to access the Force to his hearts content while all the time obscuring his presence from the Jedi. Unfortunately the barrier itself was heavily steeped in the Dark Side and therefore a great big bloody beacon to Travien. Padmé caught his grin,

"What's got you so cheerful?" she asked,

Travien's grin faded slightly, "It's not something you want to know about, love."

She frowned, "Tell me."

"Later, okay, we have a lot to get done first." She sighed and nodded.

Travien turned to one of the guards and pulled out a datapad, "Hey, Michael, can you do me a favour?" The guard nodded and walked up to him,

"Of course Lord Shan, what do you need for me to do?" 'Michael asked,

"This datapad contains a message I need sent. The destination is already programmed, could you get someone to send this off for me? Make sure no-one reads it first." He said quietly. Michael nodded and rushed back into the ship. As the guard left Travien turned to the rest of the group before they left the ramp,

"Can we keep my name and title quiet for the moment people, even from Palpatine? You can all just call me Travien for the moment; I'd like to keep everyone on their toes for as long as possible."

The Jedi Master raised an eyebrow at him and Travien got the message, "Except you two," he said gesturing to the Jedi, "You two just can't talk." Everyone chuckled at this, including the Jedi. They had grown to understand when the bodyguard was making a joke and there as no rancour behind his tone. They decided silently to just call him bodyguard. The rest of the group nodded slightly confused, even Padmé was caught off guard by the request but she acquiesced nonetheless. They walked down the ramp as another man, who had grey hair arrived followed by a large group of blue robed men who had their faces hidden by what looked like plastic masks. Travien inwardly snorted at the 'armour' they were wearing as they approached the two men.

Padmé nodded and bowed slightly, "Senator Palpatine, Chancellor Valorum, thank you for meeting with us." The rest of the group, including the Jedi bowed. Travien nodded his head. Padmé glared at him as she received a telepathic message from her beau,

'I gave up on the idea of a bloody conquest, I haven't actively tried to turn anyone to the dark side, I haven't actively tried to corrupt you and remove your innocence nor did I involve myself in the mass murder of every slaver on Tatooine. That change in my behaviour was for you, love. But there is no way in Mandalorian HELL that I am bowing before the Supreme Chancellor of the bloody Republic. I am a Sith Lord, Padmé. It is in my very nature to want that man dead. The fact that I nodded is an achievement in itself!'

Padmé huffed, "Fine, be like that." She turned to the Chancellor, "I apologise for my bodyguard, Chancellor, he was raised outside the Republic and lacks certain manners."

Both men nodded graciously and ignored Travien, a situation he was more than happy with as Palpatine began talking,

"It is a great gift to see you alive your majesty. With the communications breakdown we began to fear the worst. I am anxious to hear your views on the situation, although I think you have a great deal to tell me." He said with a quick glance towards Travien, "regardless, Queen Amidala, may I present to you Chancellor Finis Valorum."

The tall stern looking man bowed, "It is an honour to meet you in person your majesty."

Padmé returned the gesture, "Likewise Chancellor."

With that the impromptu meeting broke up with Padmé leading Travien and Anakin with her towards a small transport that would take them to the Senator's apartments where they could talk. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan stayed behind to talk to the Chancellor.

"Master Jinn, Padawan Kenobi. What is your report on the situation?"

Qui-Gon very nearly shuddered, "It is somewhat worse than I had imagined. We need to talk to the council immediately. The situation is far more complicated than I had predicted." Valorum nodded, resigned to the fact that he was not getting the information he desired.

Travien fazed back into the conversation going on. He had never been much good at politics and there was living proof. They were in the Senator's apartment at 500 Republica while the Jedi undoubtedly tattled on him to the Republic. The room was fairly tastefully decorated, mostly red which Travien could appreciate. There were several artefacts around the room which seemed mostly decorative but a few of them exuded the Dark Side. It was almost exhilarating to be near them and the younger Sith Lord could understand why the upstart kept them around.

He turned away from the large windows he was standing in front of, they gave an excellent view of the Coruscant skyline, and tuned back into the conversation.

Palpatine was talking, although the monologue was beginning to irritate Travien, "I fear your majesty, that the Republic is not what it once was. The senate is full of greedy squabbling delegates, intent on lining their own pockets. There is little interest in the common good. To be frank, your majesty, I have little hope that the Senate will act on this invasion." Travien frowned,

"That would be…tragic." He said slowly. Padmé winced at his tone of voice, knowing it meant that something bad would be happening to someone soon. Palpatine nodded in a sympathetic manner, obviously missing the undertones of the comment,

Padmé tried to reassure her trigger happy boyfriend, "Chancellor Valorum seems to think otherwise."

Palpatine sighed, "The Chancellor has very little real power, I am afraid. He is mired by baseless accusations of corruption." He looked genuinely saddened by this, "The bureaucrats rule the Republic now." Travien almost burst out laughing, oh this guy was good. Travien really doubted that he had the power to rule over a true Sith Empire, but he was one hell of a politician. Palpatine's acting was far better than his own.

Padmé sighed, "What options do we have?"

Palpatine was completely unaware of who was in the room with him and carried on, "Our best option is to push for the election of a new Supreme Chancellor, one who would control the bureaucrats." His speech slowed down as he made it look like he was thinking, "You could call for a no confidence vote in his leadership, which would allow the senate to elect a chancellor more capable of dealing with our crisis." Travien smiled, Palpatine must have spent decades on this plan. He had to admit it was absolutely genius and for someone with no military power it was rather impressive, but it was entirely political and far too dangerous.

Padmé looked offended and Travien knew she was. The idea of betraying a friend was something she abhorred,

"Chancellor Valorum has been our strongest supporter!" she exclaimed,

Palpatine nodded sadly and sent a Force compulsion at her to agree with his previous statement. Travien intercepted it before it reached her without Palpatine or Padmé being any the wiser. He was glaring at Palpatine somewhat, making the man slightly nervous,

"Our only other option would be to submit a plea to the courts." He said with a put upon air.

She huffed frustrated, "The courts take even longer to decide things than the senate. We need to do something now, senator. Our people need to be freed from the Trade Federation."

Palpatine sighed, "Realistically your majesty I think we are going to have to accept Trade Federation control over our planet for the time being." He said sadly,

Padmé turned to Travien, who walked around the sofa and stood in front of her so she could see him more easily,

"Travien, what is your opinion of this?" she asked regally. Palpatine looked surprised that she would ask the opinion of a mere bodyguard,

He thought or a moment before answering, "I think that we may have to start doing things my way. I sent a message off just after we arrived to set everything in motion. There is little chance of a peaceful resolution with the Nemoidians, I'm afraid."

She breathed out loudly, "What of the Chancellor, what do you feel about the No-Confidence vote?"

He shrugged, "You know my opinion of the Republic in general, your majesty. In this specific case though? I find that one thing remains constant in any large scale government." Padmé raised an eyebrow, "As my father said; only the strongest can rule." This caused Palpatine's eyebrows to shoot upwards, "If Chancellor Valorum cannot control his advisors then he has no business being in charge. Besides, the chaos within the Senate can only work in our favour."

Padmé frowned, "How so?"

"Remember, Gunray spoke of Senatorial support. A No Confidence vote renders the entire body paralyzed for a short time."

Padmé sighed, "Very well. You believe that I should do this? You believe that this is best for Naboo?" she asked, stressing the last question. It was a statement that puzzled Palpatine, but Travien understood. She wanted to make sure he wasn't jumping the gun on his Empire.

Travien shook his head, "I genuinely believe that this is best for Naboo." She nodded,

"Very well. I shall prepare to meet the Senate later. Will you join me, Travien?"

He smiled, "In a moment love, I need to ask the Senator something first." She nodded, slightly puzzled, and left the room, taking everyone else with her. Travien waited for a moment as everyone left the room and walked over to the windows, waiting for Palpatine to lose his patience. It didn't take long,

"You wanted to speak to me, Travien, I believe it was." he asked genially,

Travien nodded, "Indeed. I believe we are capable of a civil discussion, you and I." Palpatine nodded, something was very wrong here, but he didn't show it and remained silent. "Good. I believe that we can avoid any undue unpleasantness, however I feel that I should tell you, if you try to place a Force compulsion on Padmé ever again I'll take great pleasure in flaying the flesh from your bones, Sidious."

Palpatine's eyes opened wide in shock, "What…who…" he gathered himself, "I don't know what you are talking about, sir." He said indignantly and began to walk out when the door in front of him shut and refused to open,

"We are not done here yet." Palpatine turned to face Travien, "I knew you the instant I stepped out of the ship. Your apprentice wasn't all that impressive by the way. If I didn't know better I would say you deliberately sabotaged his training, but I really don't care one way or the other."

The aging senator decided to stop acting, "So, you believe yourself to be a Sith Lord, do you boy?"

Travien chuckled, "Oh I know I am. I admit I'm rather young but the circumstances are complicated. I have to say, that suppression shield you have up is a work of art, you know." Palpatine blinked for a second as Travien continued talking, "Do you have a similar one up here? I would expect that you don't want the Jedi poking their noses into your business, after all."

Palpatine nodded, "Yes I do. I assume you are hiding your abilities as well?" Travien nodded once, "Feel free to relax then, young Travien."

Travien smiled and dropped most of the barriers that were hiding his aura. The room was flooded with power and Palpatine was surprised to find that it was almost as dark as his own. There was the very real possibility that this boy was in fact a Sith Lord.

Palpatine gulped, "May I ask what you want to talk about?"

Travien smiled happily, "You, in a way. I'm curious about the current incarnation of the Sith. I find myself wondering why thousands of years of Empires have vanished into the solar winds leaving stories of nothing more than brutal monsters bent on murder, rape, oppression and destruction."

Palpatine waved him to sit down. They both took seats and Palpatine began talking, "I believe what you wish to know starts with Darth Bane." He briefly explained the rule of two and the progression of the hidden Sith. How Bane created the rule of two from the holocron of Revan.

At the end of Palpatine's history lesson Travien sighed, "I know the holocron you're talking about. It was sitting in the Temple of the Ancients, where my mother and father lived." Palpatine's eyes lit up as Travien continued talking, "The particular holocron Bane learned from was broken. Dad got pissed off with it and threw it against the wall before abandoning the idea of a holocron entirely. I hate to tell you this, but Bane was an idiot."

Palpatine's glared at the younger man, "On what do you base that, Travien?"

"When I took the throne of Dark Lord from my father, Darth Revan, and his Queen, Lady Bastila, I was fourteen years old. At that point any one of the million force user Sith in my empire could have challenged me, a fourteen year old blind kid, to the throne. If they won then they would have been the Lord of the Sith." Palpatine nodded slowly, "They did, frequently. I fought to maintain my throne. I was not the Sith Lord because I was the only one who could inherit the title of Darth. I was the Sith Lord because I was the goddamn best."

Palpatine gulped, "Darth Bane believed that while the greatest strength of the Sith was the infighting that culled the weak, it was also their greatest weakness. He believed that by having two Sith there would be no more fighting like that."

Travien huffed, "Have you ever heard of the law of diminishing returns, Sidious?"

Palpatine shook his head and Travien nodded, "Alright. Let me explain. When you make a copy of the original you lose something. It's infinitesimal and doesn't matter but you've lost it, following me?" Palpatine nodded, "Good. Now you make a copy of the copy and you lose something else, get it? You go down the line until you have barely a fraction of what you started with, still with me?"

"Yes, but I hardly see what this has to do with our current situation?" he snapped,

Travien glared at him, "Bane teaches his apprentice something, but forgets a technique. The Apprentice kills Bane, losing his knowledge forever, and takes an Apprentice of her own, she is now the master. Her apprentice kills her, but she has forgotten something. It continues down the line until we are here, a thousand years later. I wonder how much you were not taught because Bane was a moron listening to a broken recording."

Palpatine just sat there trying not to betray his shock at the valid point that the young man had raised, "You do make a compelling argument. However I get the feeling that this is not what you wished to speak with me about, Travien."

Travien nodded, "You are correct, of course. I wish to speak with you about Naboo, and Padmé in particular." Palpatine nodded to show that he was listening, "Leave Naboo out of your next scheme. I'm happy to leave you alone right now, you're not bothering me and I get the opportunity to indulge in a full scale slaughter sooner or later because of this, so I'm happy. On the other hand I've taken a liking to Naboo. After this you make sure it stays clear, understood?"

Palpatine sighed, "I believe you have made your point regarding Naboo, Travien."

He nodded, "Good. Next on my agenda, you can call me Lord Shan. That is my title after all."

Palpatine raised an eyebrow, "And may I ask what you are Lord of? I am the only real Sith here apart from yourself and despite your obvious power I am not quite ready to submit to anyone's rule."

Travien chuckled mirthlessly, "True. I am the Lord of the Star Forge." Palpatine's eyes widened again, "Good, you understand the significance of that." He relaxed back into the chair he was sitting in, "My last point is Padmé." Palpatine calmed himself down enough to only raise one eyebrow, "She is likely as highly trained in the Force arts as my mother was by this point." Palpatine interrupted him,

"Do you mean to say that the Queen is Force Sensitive?" he asked incredulously,

Travien nodded, "Along with two of her handmaidens, all of whom are under my tutelage." Palpatine gulped, "Indeed. Padmé is not yet a match for me but she soon will be. I'm using a perversion of a Jedi Technique to train her and it is working spectacularly. No, I'm not going to tell you what it is, either. My problem is that she lacks the…killer instinct that we possess. She is not interested in conquest, be it of worlds or individuals, which leaves me in the enviable position of watching her back." He paused for a moment, "Concido told me what you had planned for her."

Palpatine frowned, "I do not know anyone by the name of Concido."

Travien smiled briefly, "Ah, I believe you call him Maul. I believe he could be a rather impressive Sith but for a few glaring flaws and left him alive in the hope that he would improve. I do hope you taught him how to heal himself."

Palpatine nodded, "Indeed. Maul returned here several hours ago cursing madly, I assume that was your doing?"

Travien shrugged, "He attacked a Sith Lord with the intention of killing him and failed. The price for that is normally Death. I merely stripped him of the title of Darth and the name given with it. Concido is a word from my mother's native Talravian, it means failure. When he can prove to me that he is not then he will be allowed to call himself Maul again. Now we come back to you, though."

Palpatine gulped, Travien's features turned cold and harsh, "Your plan to kill Padmé is going to fail, horribly, so you know. I will not allow her to die. I have pledged myself to her and she has pledged herself to me." He leaned forward, "I am in a conundrum as to what to do with you. My instincts tell me to kill you in the most painful manner possible and yet my reasoning tells me to stay my hand."

Travien looked at him in a calculating manner, "I am in the process of calling back my old banner men. Those who once served me will do so again. You are not a threat to me, currently. If you should mount another attack against Padmé then I will be forced to bring you to heel. I have survived the Sith Empire and the best the Jedi Council could send after me. I will survive you. However, I feel that you could eventually be useful to me. We shall walk away from this incident unscathed, you and I. Do you understand me?"

Sidious leaned forward, "Do you truly think you can defeat me?" he asked threateningly,

Travien laughed and brought his full power to bear as he had against Qui-Gon Jinn. Sidious leaned back from the sense of not only power and darkness, but also control.

He brought his power back under his control, "Even if I cannot kill you, I will injure you enough that Padmé could easily finish the job and she will not take your betrayal of Naboo well at all." Sidious leaned back, thoroughly cowed and nodded,

"Good," said Travien, "Then we are done here." Travien stood up and left the room leaving Palpatine to consider just how horribly wrong things had gone. He had a lot of influence within the Senate, despite being from a minor mid-rim world, and influence meant power. On the other hand, power was a power all of its own. He had no idea of the Queen's Force sensitivity and would have exposed himself if Travien hadn't intervened. That scared him the most, Darth Shan evidently had a use for him and it was one that he was not being told of. That could only mean that Travien had successfully interpreted his plans or was making his own that would benefit from the current action.

What he had done to Maul or Concido now, was interesting. He was right, Maul had the potential to be better but he held his anger to close to the surface rather than merely using it when it was beneficial to him. Maul had indeed brought back the banner which Lord Shan used as a makeshift shelter and it had spurned Sidious on to making a detailed search on anything that he could find. He decided that he would have to modify his plans in the future. Darth Shan was not someone he could ignore. This would complicate matters. Maul was most likely dead; he could never hope to stand up to Travien Shan. Palpatine shook his head and left the room, he had a lot of thinking to do.

Travien himself was rather pleased with how things had gone. He was perfectly aware that he had almost no leverage on the Senator that could be used in a public forum. The only thing he could rely on at the moment was his power and training in the Force but it proved sufficient to bring Palpatine into line for the moment. He knew exactly what Palpatine was and he knew that the man wouldn't give up his title of Sith Lord so easily; it was why he had sent the details and schematics to the Star Forge just as they left the ship. It had contained several plans but he had no intentions of building an army just yet. Travien walked into Padmé's room, letting go of his plots and plans for the moment,

"Hello love. I'm sorry that took so long. I needed to know what our chances were in the Senate. You know me, always planning." He hated lying to Padmé but things had to happen in a specific order for everything to go right and correctly.

Padmé looked at him shrewdly, knowing his hatred of politics all too well. She began to enter his mind but paused as he put up a miniscule resistance. It was nowhere near enough to stop her and they both knew it but she paused and looked at him nonetheless.

"Travien, what's going on?"

He smiled sadly, "I need things to happen Padmé. I need you to act in a certain way and you won't be able to do that if you know what is coming." He paused, "If you truly want to know, then I won't stop you, and I'll tell you everything. If you can wait for the right time, then I ask you to trust me. What I am doing is for the protection of Naboo, okay? It means too much to the both of us for me to risk it, or you."

She nodded, "I hope you know what you are doing, Travien. I love you too much to lose you, but I won't let you attack the Republic while there is a chance it could restore itself."

He nodded, "I cannot attack the Republic as things stand. I have neither the will nor the resources. Right now all I can do is manipulate things to our benefit." Padmé nodded and hugged him, even though she was only wearing half of her clothes, "I'm sorry to have to push you, but I just want to be cautious especially with the Jedi around." He smiled and nodded. She grinned as the handmaidens surrounded him as well, "Good, now stand still while the girls measure you for new clothes." He sighed but raised his arms as indicated, trying to ignore the giggling coming from the handmaidens as the fourteen year old Queen bossed the powerful Sith Lord around.