Palpatine sat on his chair, looking over the inky black sky studded with stars. He never tired of the view. A man who didn't know would call him sentimental, but most knew better.
He liked the dark void and all the promise that darkness held.
Usually he sat with his back to the view, but this time he had purpose.
The Force stirred, and he stifled a smile.
'Come, stand with me.'
Palpatine gestured to the space on his left side and the man stepped up. There was no noise. No swish of clothing, no footfall. Even the man's breathing was so controlled that it was barely audible. Unless you were listening for it. Palpatine marvelled once more at the man's self-control while remembering to keep his own self under firm check.
The man standing beside him was not to be underestimated. He was an anomaly in the Force, almost as much as Vader was. A man who had no Force but was force-sensitive in the extreme.
It amused Palpatine immensely that the man was so – so – deaf to his own power. But even more so, it kept the Emperor on his feet. It provided a challenge and a stimulus that he missed from before he'd conquered the galaxy.
There was no greater threat to himself than an honest man who didn't understand the power he unconsciously wielded.
He eyed the man. He was dressed completely in shades of blue cloth so soft that there wasn't even a whisper, his cloak of darkest blue had discrete threads of silver and red embroidered on it that could only be seen in certain lights. His arms were folded as he waited for instructions, the helmet that hid his face did nothing to take away from his presence. There wasn't a visible weapon on the man.
They stayed looking out the viewport for a while, a silence that many would find unnerving, but not his Left Hand.
'I have a job for you.'
Still the man said nothing and stared impassively out the window.
'There is a Jedi that is proving particularly tricky and troublesome. One that only my Left Hand can deal with.'
The man inclined his head in acknowledgement of his position and held out a hand. Palpatine deposited the required information chip.
'Find him and destroy him, Scott Tracy.'
'I will, My Emperor.'
The door swished open and the mechanical breathing announced the arrival of the Emperor's Right Hand. Without missing a beat Vader strode up to stand at his right side.
Palpatine rarely had both Hands in the same room, but it gave him a perverse pleasure to see the two together.
The hatred they felt for each other was palpable, and he smiled, feeding off it.
'My Master, we will shortly arrive.'
'Thank you, Lord Vader.'
Scott hadn't even acknowledged the Sith's approach but he knew better than to tempt the wrath of Palpatine.
'Vader.'
'Tracy.'
It was the barest showing of respect, and it caused their mutual master to laugh. It was not a pleasant sound.
'Come, my Hands. It is time to show the Rebel Alliance what we are made of.'
Both Hands bowed to him and left for the bridge while Palpatine stayed and considered the journey that had brought Scott Tracy to him.