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Chapter 16 – Chessboard
Palpatine and Xizor's body language was all too easy to interpret. Standing in the shadows of their usual meeting chamber, the disgruntled pair stood with arms crossed, irritation oozing from them as Vader walked in.
"I'm starting to wonder what value you bring to this alliance of ours," Xizor greeted.
"I've wondered the same about you from day one," Vader retorted, not missing a beat.
"At least I am punctual. I don't devalue our Emperor's time."
"Does berating me make good use of that time, Prince?"
Palpatine shuffled forward. "We'd both like to know what made you think you could take unscheduled leave on Tatooine yesterday, and miss a crucial meeting!"
"My apologies, master, I can expl–"
"Imagine my surprise when I tried contacting you and saw your shuttle beacon was in the Outer Rim! And then my comlink request went unanswered! I want answers, Vader, and I want them now!"
"I was investigating a potential Jedi fugitive. My sources advised me to avoid all communications, as the fugitive was said to have a vast underground spy network."
"Did you slay him?"
"Yes," Vader lied smoothly. "The mission was quite productive." True in and of itself, Vader justified.
"Well, at least your absence served some useful purpose," the Emperor snarled. "I dislike being left in the dark. Try to limit the number of covert sieges you undertake – understood?"
"I will do my best, master."
"Hmph." Palpatine scuffled over to the holo viewing console. "Tell me, did you spot anything of significance on the 500 Republica footage?"
Vader's neck grew warm from having to keep digging his hole of lies deeper.
"No. Nothing out of the ordinary."
"Really? How disappointing. I was so sure Viceroy Organa would make an appearance."
"I saw no sign of him." Again, technically true.
"Very strange," Palpatine rubbed his chin. "Less than two weeks until his jubilee celebration, and he hasn't made use of his Imperial Center apartment."
"He must be coordinating everything from Alderaan."
"Perhaps. But you do remember what the man looks like, don't you?"
Before Vader could respond, Palpatine switched on the holo viewer. An image of five politicians filled the air, all dressed in rich finery. In the center stood Bail, and to his immediate right was…
Padmé. Wearing one of the shapeless, tent-like gowns she'd used to conceal her pregnancy.
"This was taken at the Viceroy's jubilee celebration five years ago," Palpatine explained for Xizor's benefit. "Organa has remained unchanged since then. Not true of all his colleagues, right, Vader?"
The question was meant to sting, to inflame the scars on Vader's heart as Palpatine was so fond of doing. Xizor observed the two Sith closely, trying to piece together the holo image, Vader's discomfort, and Palpatine's sadistic grin.
Palpatine grinned because he misread Vader's sullen silence. It was not shame and anguish that made Vader bite his tongue, but calculated fury. He'd come here planning to steel himself against his master's deception, but being confronted with it like this… he couldn't even look at the aged Sith. He might never look at him the same way again – knowing he'd obfuscated the truth about Padmé's death, and kept using it as a tool to reprimand Vader. It was sick.
Not that Vader should have expected any different from the man who'd taught him all the tricks of the Dark Side trade. Ruthless emotional manipulation was just one among many.
Still grinning, Palpatine zoomed the image onto Bail and Padmé's faces.
"I am optimistic you may still find something. You haven't yet finished screening the footage, correct?"
"I have not."
"Remember, we need just one piece of incriminating evidence to arrest Organa."
How Vader wished he could share that piece: Bail's funding of Padmé's funeral clone. But he wasn't prepared to open that Pandora's Box yet. Having Xizor see Padmé's photo pushed his comfort levels as it was.
"What sort of evidence are you looking for?" Xizor inquired, examining the Viceroy's goateed face.
"Clandestine meetings with anyone on the Imperial watch-list. Purchasing large quantities of arms or missiles. Anything that might be considered prelude to a galactic civil war," Palpatine explained.
"Civil war? Are you joking?" huffed Xizor.
"There have been stirrings for some time now in the Senate… which is why I intend to dissolve it in the near future."
"That's a bit extreme, don't you think?"
"You underestimate the tenacity of these would-be rebels," Vader warned.
"But surely the threat decreases with each Jedi you assassinate."
"Not as much as you think. If enough senators rally together, they could prove formidable."
Xizor pondered this, frowning. "I have allies in the Senate. Several, actually."
"Then I advise you to seek new connections," Palpatine replied. "I haven't spent the past five years draining the Senate's power for nothing!"
"Very well, but replacing my connections will take time."
"Then begin the process now. The time of total Sith dominion is fast approaching!" the Emperor bared his rotten teeth. "If all proceeds according to my precognition, the Death Star will rise just as the Senate falls! The glorious dawn of a new, everlasting era!"
Xizor crossed his arms. "And what will my place be in this 'total Sith dominion?'"
"A valued resource, just as you are now!" Palpatine quickly assured him. "We won't cast aside the man who sponsored the Death Star so generously!"
"I should hope not."
"Not at all. In fact, I plan to have your likeness added to the statues at the Imperial Force Memorial."
Vader cocked his head in disbelief. "Am I to have a monument as well?"
"If your meeting attendance becomes more reliable, I'll consider it," Palpatine shot him a look.
This playing favorites game is growing insufferably old, Vader clenched his fists.
"While we're on the subject, I have some other updates for the Memorial to run past you, Xizor. A new solarium, renovations to the Darth Plagueis wing, some retouching on the Sith alchemy exhibit. Does that sound like something you could manage?"
"I'd be honored to, your Majesty. You know I have a penchant for architecture and design."
"I heard you held an integral role with the new biomedical center on Rakata Prime."
"Yes, artistically as well as financially," Xizor verified smugly.
Palpatine greedily rubbed his hands together. "Just the sort of creative dynamism I'm looking for!"
"But can we trust one outside our traditions to uphold our vision?" challenged Vader.
"Xizor has become well acquainted with that vision over the years, I believe."
"Better acquainted than I?"
"Acquainted enough! I have to choose one who's more likely to follow through from beginning to end, not disappear for hours or days at a time!"
"Fine," Vader consented, seeing the argument just kept looping back to that. "Give him the renovation project."
Palpatine switched the holo image to one of the Death Star's skeleton. "With that settled, let's move on to larger concerns. Xizor, has the transfer of funds come through from your syndicate?"
"The second installment arrived just two hours ago."
"Excellent. Now Vader, how does this schematic look to you?" Palpatine enlarged a section of the diagram.
Vader took a closer look. "Those conduits will rupture so close to that reactor."
"Not if they're lined with cortosis ore," suggested Xizor.
"Cortosis mining is illegal."
"In most systems, yes. But not on Helska."
Palpatine raised an intrigued eyebrow. "You wouldn't happen to own cortosis-rich land on Helska, would you Xizor?"
"Indeed. Black Sun controls one-third of Helska's mining operations."
"How fortuitous!" Palpatine threw his hands in the air. "And I bet you'll procure it at a discount, too!"
Xizor bowed graciously. "Of course, your highness."
"Don't praise him too highly yet, master," Vader warned.
"Why shouldn't I?"
"Because he'll never get through the trade route station with that cargo."
"Is that so?" Palpatine pursed his lips, displeased.
Looking bored, Xizor rolled his eyes. "Vader implies I'll be stopping at that station."
"Quite the bravado, Prince!" scoffed Vader. "Agents will be on your tail the second you make a run for it!"
"You obviously haven't seen my ship, the Virago," Xizor smirked.
"That glorified shuttle? I've seen it."
"Then you know I'll easily leave those trade agents in the dust."
"Not carrying two tons of dense ore, you won't."
"Says the man who clearly doesn't know the Virago's prowess. Besides, couldn't you just alert the agents to let me pass?"
"Perhaps, but if they don't chase you, pirates will. They're always lurking around trade stations, eavesdropping on subspace channels."
"I've outrun my share of pirates. They're no threat."
Tired of Xizor's stubbornness, Vader sighed. "We can argue opinions all day, or we can develop a more secure action plan."
"Do you have one in mind, Vader?" Palpatine's curiosity was piqued.
"I do," Vader took a deep breath before playing his most valuable card. "It involves making use of a portal at the edge of the galaxy, near Helska."
Neither Palpatine nor Xizor knew what to do with their facial muscles. Had they actually heard Darth Vader say something so outlandish?
"A… portal?" Palpatine repeated slowly.
"Yes. I have a firsthand account that it exists."
"From whom?"
Vader quickly invented another lie. "The Jedi I slew on Tatooine."
"How did he know of this while I did not?"
"He discovered it while seeking refuge from Order 66."
Palpatine's lips puckered. "As I've said, I dislike being in the dark. Good thing you killed him before he spread the knowledge any further."
"It was in his best interest to keep his hiding place a secret. Not that it saved him in the end."
Xizor chimed in. "That's what you plan to use it as, a hiding place?"
"Precisely. Just until the authorities declare you lost. Another victim of the hyperspace disturbance."
Xizor slit his eyes, weighing this option. "Not an entirely worthless idea – assuming the portal actually exists."
"Have you verified its location, Vader?" asked Palpatine.
"Not yet."
"What's keeping you?"
I've been occupied with… other things lately…
"Well, Vader?" Palpatine goaded. "You bring me fairytales of a portal without any proof?"
Lost in bittersweet reflections of the past few days, Vader offered no defense.
"Xizor, you will go investigate this portal," commanded Palpatine.
"As you wish."
"Vader, if this portal is real, it will go a long way toward redeeming you."
Vader nodded. "It is real. Soon all doubt will be abolished."
The Emperor's anticipation was starting to get the better of him. "Just imagine the profits! We'll set up a toll gate and charge thrill-seekers from all over the galaxy!"
"Aren't we getting a little ahead of ourselves? For all we know, it could be just a big patch of fog," Xizor added cynically.
"Until we learn one way or the other, I'll keep an optimistic outlook," Palpatine cackled.
"All right," Xizor eyed the Sith shrewdly. "Let's talk optimistically, then. Will we split the profit in thirds?"
Palpatine gave Vader a pensive glance. "Not necessarily. Vader deserves the lion's share, since he brought it to our attention."
"But you're sending me to confirm its existence."
"A task even a child could do," Vader denounced.
"Then what does it signify that you were not handed the mission?"
"Silence!" Palpatine flicked his wrist. "Stop bickering or I'll keep all the profits for myself!"
Both Xizor and Vader's pride took a hit from being reprimanded like children. The two glared daggers at each other.
"One thing at a time, gentlemen, one thing at a time," Palpatine doddered back to the holo viewer. "Find the portal, bring in customers, and then we can negotiate shareholdings."
A map of the Dalonbian sector appeared and Palpatine magnified the Helska quadrant.
"Now, show me where this portal lies," he instructed Vader.
"Directly north of Helska, or so I was told."
"In this region?" Xizor pointed.
"Approximately. I'd search a few parsecs to either side to cover any margin of error."
"How long will this take you, Xizor?" asked Palpatine.
"Half a day's travel to Helska, two or three days of searching, then back to Imperial Center…" the prince thought out loud. "If I leave today, I should be back by the end of the week."
"Good. Let us know your findings the moment you return."
"I will," Xizor shot Vader a loaded glance.
Returning the holo image to the Death Star blueprints, Palpatine grinned with excessive, greedy pleasure.
"And now, the proclamation we've all been waiting for!" the wrinkled Sith crowed. "Death Star construction will officially begin tomorrow at dawn!"
"Magnificent!" Xizor responded with deep pride.
An awkward lull followed.
"Have you no comment, Vader?" Palpatine turned to his protégé. "After all these years of strategizing and planning?"
Vaguely aware of being spoken to, Vader's mind was several hundred miles away… on the shores of the Great Western Sea, to be exact.
"That is… great news," he stuttered. "Truly great news."
"Far less gusto than seems appropriate," Palpatine criticized. "Are you not feeling well?"
"I am distracted by… other fugitive reports I received this morning," Vader was losing count of his deceit tally.
"Oh, I see. Then don't let us detain you. By all means, go!" Palpatine practically pushed him out the door. "If you have leads, follow them! Hunt them down and make them all wish they'd never been born!"
Vader allowed himself to be led toward the exit, slightly baffled. Was he imagining things, or did Palpatine seem overly eager to dismiss him?
"Go, hunt, kill! Wipe out the last sorry remnants of the Jedi!" Palpatine enthused.
Vader thought better of responding suspiciously. Strange or not, this is a welcome gift. I can bring them to the retreat sooner than expected.
"Very well, I will begin the pursuit again," he complied. "And I will stay in contact weekly."
"Good, we'll keep you apprised of the Death Star's progress."
Throwing one last doubtful glance over his shoulder, Vader was gone. He could hardly believe his good fortune – if that's what it really was. But it was hard to entertain a pessimistic view of Palpatine's dismissal when it meant seeing his family again already. He should be rejoicing, not giving heed to the uneasy knot in his stomach. Shouldn't he?
The conversation that ensued between Palpatine and Xizor didn't support that line of thinking.
"Ah, he's gone," Palpatine said with relish. "What I'm about to say is for your ears only."
"Oh?" Xizor replied coolly.
Palpatine hunched forward and lowered his voice. "I prefer to let you and Vader resolve your own differences, but I think we can both agree the status quo is off."
"As in Vader's erratic behavior?"
"He is not himself. I strongly suspect he is hiding something from me."
Music to Xizor's ears. "You don't say."
"I am almost certain of it. But I haven't the time to look into the issue. You, however, have a spy network in place, correct?"
Xizor nodded, pleased that the Black Sun's reputation continued to precede it.
"So you already keep an eye on him… I need you to keep an even better eye on him," Palpatine exhorted.
"Gladly, your majesty. But there are few, if any, areas to improve upon. I have two hundred cameras aimed at Vader's palace alone."
"Whatever he's hiding won't be found there."
"Then where would you have me look? I can't follow him everywhere he goes."
"No. No, you cannot, especially with your imminent portal mission. But you have an assistant, do you not?"
"As Vigo of the Black Sun, I have many assistants."
"Don't play coy, Prince – you know which one I'm referring to."
Xizor bristled slightly. This was no small favor being asked of him.
"She is my most valuable resource," the prince hesitated. "I am not in the habit of hiring her out for others' gain."
"Ah, but you would gain from this as well, Xizor!"
"Do tell."
"Have her track Vader from sunrise to sunset the next two weeks, and his share in the Death Star is yours!"
Amazement replaced Xizor's reluctance. "Are you serious?"
"Very," Palpatine read the Falleen's greedy expression with pleasure. "I've been considering this for some time now. Vader's capriciousness notwithstanding, it's a very efficient arrangement: one apprentice for business, one for punishment and enforcement. I should have implemented it sooner."
"Most efficient, indeed. I admire your reasoning."
"I thought you might. Do we have a deal?"
Xizor needed no time to deliberate. "Absolutely."
"Splendid. Make haste and begin your searches! I sense great revelations lie on the horizon!"
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Running an organization such as the Black Sun was, more often than not, an ugly affair. The sights Xizor had seen could fuel a normal man's nightmares for years. But Xizor prided himself on being anything but normal. From his immeasurable wealth and sublime sense of aesthetics, to his above-average height and intellect, he was a man set apart. And if his ostentatious palace didn't prove it, the figure sitting inside it did.
She was seated at his operations desk, head bent in concentration with blond hair spilling forward. Xizor approached from behind, stepping softly even though he knew she could hear him. He stalled halfway across the gray carpet and ogled her soft, voluptuous lines.
Worth every penny, he sighed with deep satisfaction.
As if she'd heard his thoughts, she set down her datapad and swiveled around.
"You're back already?" her full, red lips greeted. "How did it go?"
"Well. Very well," Xizor came nonchalantly toward her.
"Did Vader actually make an appearance?"
"Yes, believe it or not."
"It's about time! How many meetings has he missed now?"
"I've lost count," Xizor trailed a finger under her chin. "But his days of inconveniencing us will soon be over."
Curiosity gleamed in her pale blue eyes as she stood. "I'm listening."
"The seeds of distrust are growing between him and the Emperor."
"My, my! Dissension among the Sith. I never thought I'd see the day."
"The time of reckoning is at hand, Guri. At last we'll rise to unmitigated power!"
She smirked condescendingly. "Please, this isn't about power. It never was. You're after personal vindication."
"And you've sworn to help me achieve that goal at the temporary expense of other ones," Xizor reminded her.
Letting him run his hands through her thick golden tresses, Guri stared impassively. "What do you need me to do?"
"Simple surveillance, nothing more. A boring task compared to your usual assassinations."
"So I'm only to monitor him, not kill him?"
Xizor laughed mirthlessly. "Correct, not that you'd stand a chance of killing him anyway."
"We can't really be sure, if I'm never given the chance," she pursed her lips.
"Some other time, perhaps. For now, just follow him wherever he goes, and send me activity reports at the end of each day."
"All right," Guri accepted. "But why send me? Isn't this the espionage job you've dreamed of?"
"Trust me, I'd do it myself if something else didn't take precedence," Xizor began packing datapads and weapons in a small travel case. "I have my own assignment to complete. I'll return within a few days."
"You're taking the Virago?"
"Yes. I'll be in no danger, though I may be out of contact intermittently due to subspace interference."
"Then I will submit my reports on the log channel until I hear from you again."
Xizor smiled, drawing closer to her once more, his face hovering an inch from hers. "Perfect. You know I could never trust another as I do you, my brilliant Guri."
"So you have told me on numerous occasions," she didn't blink.
"I will miss you," he grazed his lips against her cheek. "Stay smart and safe."
"You too."
Their kiss was short but intense, and Xizor was loath to release her. But they had to part ways for causes worthier than any he'd come across in his 120 years. Fate would not have handed them this opportunity without intending to bring it to full, glorious fruition.
The only difficult part would be judging which part proved most profitable: the portal, the Death Star, or Vader's fall from grace.
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Not sure of Xizor's exact age… Wookieepedia just said he was over 100 years old.
When Palpatine mentions adding a new solarium to the Memorial, I think of the Seinfeld episode where George tries to impress Susan's parents by describing the layout of his imaginary house in the Hamptons. And they're so amazed when they say: "ANOTHER solarium?!"
And so my underhanded Palpatine humor continues…
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