Chapter 15. Palpatine
Naboo:
Naboo was in a state of transition and it was becoming a member of the Galactic Republic. The New King of Naboo was in favor and he was talking with Ambassador Xanedu an Ithorian. Most of the royal houses of Naboo supported the king, but one house, the house of Palpatine was divided on the subject. Cosinga Palpatine was the head of the house of Palpatine and he was against Naboo joining the Republic. Cosinga's wife, eldest son and three daughters supported him. Then there was his youngest son Jarius Palpatine, a strong willed youth who was very charismatic and stubborn, a trouble maker and prankster at heart. In secret Jarius had a love for racing pods, speeder bikes, and hyper-jump cars. He also gambled and was very good at it because of his force abilities.
Jarius preferred to be called Palpatine after the old traditions of Naboo nobility. He snuck out of his family estate early before sunrise and went swimming in the lake. Afterwards he took his speeder bike to the old Gungun ruins. During this time of the year the Gunguns were having their war games so the ruins were the perfect place to meet with his paid informant.
The informant was a shady Rodian who came out into the open after he pulled up on his speeder, "Young Palpatine… Do you have my credits…"
He grunted and removed a flat plasteel case from the bike. Palpatine wore a green and yellow tunic with his red hair in a ponytail. He was just fourteen years old, "Here are your credits… I am afraid this is our last meeting…"
"Why?"
"I have accomplished my desire and that was to draw attention to Naboo…"
Palpatine turned to leave, but the rodian pulled a gun on him, "You spoiled little punk… You think you can cut me out… That plasma had made me rich and I have become accustomed to my new lifestyle…"
Palpatine turned and faced the rodian he raised his hand as he narrowed his eyes in concentration. Pressure began to squeeze the man's neck as he gasped for air. "Never draw a gun on someone until you know exactly what they are capable of…" The rodian dropped the gun and fell to his knees. When the rodian was dead Palpatine threw his body into the lake and returned to his estate. His father as usual was waiting for him when he got back.
"Where have you been…"
"Out…"
"Where…"
"Where I needed to be and where I wanted to go…"
Cosigna raised his hand to strike Palpatine, but Meora stopped him. "Palpatine why do you what you do…" She asked when Cosigna walked off.
"Oh mother please… The name Palpatine use to mean something… Father is the past and he is dragging this family down with his narrowed minded politics… Naboo could be a power house in the Republic…"
"And how do we defend ourselves against the Gunguns little brother if we disband the army, because of the Ruusan reformation act…" Koen was the eldest of the Palpatine children
"You forget that the Republic passed the Droid Army Formation act…"
"Because of credits… And if Naboo becomes apart of the Republic those leeches will suck us dry…"
"Enough!" Meora yelled, "…Go and get ready for dinner…"
Cosigna was in the study when he was joined by Meora, "I do not want to hear it Meora… That boy is willful, arrogant, and pigheaded…"
She ruffled his hair, "Well whose side of the family you think he got it from…" The doors opened and the chief steward entered the study.
"Begging your pardon sir… but the Dean of Academic affairs is here…"
Cosigna sighed, "Great what has Jarius done now…" He met with Dean Valorum in the family room.
"Dean Valorum this is an uninspected pleasure… Will you stay for dinner…"
"No I am sorry I cannot… I have come about your son…"
Cosignas sighed looking at his wife, "What has he done now…"
Valorum sighed as well running his hand through his hair. "Your son is very gifted, if he wanted to he could be Chancellor one day, but he is willful, arrogant, a bully, and extremely disrespectful to academy staff… I would like to recommend him for advance classes in the legislative youth program… He has been requested as junior assistant senator by many prominent members of the senate…"
"So what is the problem?"
He sighed again, "Your son was skipping classes over the last semester period… At first we couldn't figure out how he was doing it, but we discovered the truth during the first month of summer vacation… We found a droid with an onboard hologram… The droid would pretend to be him while he snuck away from campus…"
Cosignas jumped up, "In the name of the force…"
Meora grabbed his arm, "Stay calm Cosigna…"
"I am calm! Jarius! Get in here!"
"Was he cheating?" Meora asked.
"Oh no we have evidence that he passed all his tests without cheating its just that…"
Valorum was cut off as Palpatine entered the room, "You bellowed?" he arrogantly asked.
"Boy you are this close to me tearing your hide apart…" He motioned with his fingers.
Palpatine looked at the Dean, "Well I guess since you are here those slow pokes in academic affairs found my droid…"
"Don't be impudent…"
"Perhaps he would do better in private classes…" The Dean said.
"No…" Palpatine barked.
"Away from Coruscant… Thank you Dean Valorum… My son will go to school here on Naboo for the new semester…"
"I hate you!" Palpatine barked. He ran to his room and locked the door. Palpatine paced backed and forth fuming, as his eyes took on a new color. There was an earthquake that shook the city of Theed. ("Did I cause the trimmers…") He asked in his mind. The quake was a 3.1 on the holo-scale and it was run across Naboo's news network. The rest of the summer was uneventful for Palpatine as he spent most of his time mapping his school schedule. He hated the idea of not being able to return to Coruscant for his education, but his mood soared when Naboo officially became a member of the Republic again. Naboo left the Republic after the Ruusan reformation act that was passed nearly a thousand years ago. The government of Theed wanted to maintain its army against the Gunguns.
The first day of school Palpatine rode up to the school on his speeder. In his private time he liked racing speeders, playing Dejaric, and swimming. He enjoyed playing with the emotions of young girls especially when he used his secret power. He also was a prankster and enjoyed making a stink bomb every now and then. Palpatine loved to put himself in a position as alpha male.
"Palpatine!' A young man called out.
He smiled spinning on his heels and there running across the front lawn of the school was Palpatine's best friend Wilhuff Tarkin. Like Palpatine Tarkin hated his first name and preferred to be called by his family name. Tarkin was a native of Eriadu and his family was wealthy as well. In fact Tarkin was an only child and extremely spoiled.
"Wil…" Palpatine was the only person allowed to call him Wil. "What in space are you doing here?"
He smiled mischievously, "When I learned that your father had taken you out of the academy on Coruscant I asked him to allow me to attend school here on Naboo…"
They started walking to the auditorium for orientation, "You are one lucky kid Wil… I mean your father gives you everything…"
"I am lucky aren't I?"
"I wish I had your life…"
'Bantha Fodder… If I could do the things you could I would be a Jedi…"
"Ha and give up all the other power I could have one day…"
"But still it would be cool to learn the ways of the force and wield one of those lightsabers…"
"The Jedi aren't for me… besides… I am too old to begin the training…"
The two friends entered the auditorium and the principle had the children settle down and he gave a speech on the great new semester they were going to have. As they spoke Tarkin pointed to the observation booth where two humans stood with a Muun and a Twi'lek.
"That is him… Magister… Jarius Palpatine… He likes to be called Palpatine… Um here is his academic record…"
Tin'sar Demask accepted the data-pad and then handed it to Farmer who read out all his accomplishments. "Yes I want him to be junior senator to Senator Dzeen…"
"He might not take it…" Farmer said. "He has had several offers from many distinguished Senators…"
Plagueis smiled, "The boy is very cunning… He rejected them to build his prestige…"
Farmer laughed, "Listen to this… When Palpatine came of age he voted against his father in the Naboo Resource patronization act…"
"He will never accept…" The Twi'lek said.
"Oh he will…"
"Where are you staying?" Palpatine asked.
It was orientation day so the students were free to do as they wish. "My dad rented me a suit in the Villa Carda…"
"Mind if I come and stay the night at your place?"
"Certainly…" The two friends went to the culinary plaza for lunch. "You know next semester I am off to the military academy…"
Palpatine smiled, "General Tarkin…" Tarkin majored in Military tactics and science, while he had a minor in politics.
"That sounds nice, but I like Admiral better…"
"Well if my dream comes true it will be Governor Tarkin…"
"I have never doubted any of your dreams for they have all come true, but how will me being Governor tie into my Military career…"
"Dear old Talan'Li Kau taught me that war and politics are close brothers…"
"I remember the master…"
"Then perhaps we need to change it to Governor General Tarkin…"
Palpatine spent the next two days with Tarkin which angered Cosignas to no end, eventually Palpatine returned home looking forward to the freedom he was planning for himself. It was the third day of school and the class had a visitor, the Muun from orientation.
"Settle down class… Today we have a special visitor… This is Chief Magister Tin'sar Demask of the Banking Clan… He is here for a lector on lobbying… So pay close attention you each will be responsible for writing a proposal for a banking clan assosciate…"
Tin'sar's lecture lasted the entire class, as he had everyone spellbound by his every word. For most of his lecture Tin'sar kept his eyes on Palpatine who often caught and returned Tin'sar's stare. Palpatine could tell that this Muun was different somehow, not that he had seen many Muuns in his life, save for the Muun Senator and his retinue, when he observed the senate in session on Coruscant.
"Young Palpatine tell me what do you think… Does true power lie in the Senate or in the Banking Clan that funds their causes…"
Everyone in the class looked at Palpatine to see how he would answer. "It really depends on the person sir… Some Senators are known for their charisma and influence… So these Senators can turn the banking clan reps to their way of thinking… while lets say a Muun like yourself… is in control at all times…"
"So you say power is based on the person…"
"Yes…"
"Class do you agree?"
After class Tin'sar walked up to Palpatine, "You have a keen mind young Palpatine… I shall take great interest in your career… Speaking of which… have you chosen a Senator to intern with…"
"No sir…"
"Why are you stalling…"
"It is complicated…"
They stopped in the garden, "All life is complication… but when complication comes it is wise to seek council…"
Palpatine hesitated, "Well apart of me feels that my career will go further by increasing my value…"
"And you like the power you have by making all those Senators grovel…"
Palpatine smiled, "Yes then there is that…"
"True power comes from doing… the act of making things happen… Knowledge is power as well… and you could increase your knowledge with the proper mentor…"
"Are you suggesting yourself…"
"Yes…"
"And who would you suggest that I sign on with in the Senate…"
"Senator Dzeen of course…"
Palpatine grunted, "Dzeen is a nobody…"
"Even a nobody tries to elevate himself above his station from time to time and there is a lot you can learn from… plus you will anger your father to no end…"
The last part of his statement seemed odd to Palpatine, "And why would I want to anger my father…"
They sat down on a bench, "I am a Muun who likes to be well informed… So I am aware that you don't see eye to eye with your father… I also know that voted against your father in Naboo joining the Republic…"
"What is your point…"
"My point is that greatness and power go hand and hand… If you want them you must do the uninspected…" He could tell that the young redheaded human was considering everything he said. "How would like a tour of my ship The Infinite Wealth…"
Palpatine lit up, "I would love that…"
An hour later they were walking through the casino, "How in space did you get a Mon Calamari star cruiser… The Mon Calamari never give away their tech…"
Tin'sar smiled, "An extremely wealthy Calamari lost it to me in a very intense game of pazaak…"
"One day I will own one of these…"
Tin'sar laughed, "How would like to own very own long range vessel…" He took the redheaded youth to the private hanger and presented Palpatine with a long range class z star ship. It was equipped with offensive weapons, sleeping quarters for two, common hold, and a fifty giga-watt shield array. It also had a cloaking device and a sleek design any teenager would love.
"This is for me?"
"Yes it is… a Junior Senator should have his own means of transportation… all it needs is a name to complete the registry…"
Palpatine sat at the controls with a big smile on his face, "Oh I got it…" He said typing.
Tin'sar leaned over and read, "Naboo's Destiny… Interesting name…"
"So is this a payoff…" Palpatine asked turning towards Tin'sar.
He laughed, "It is whatever you think it is…"
"You are more than you appear to be Tin'sar…"
"Am I… would like to know more of me?"
"Yes…"
"Prove yourself as Dzeen's Junior Senator and I shall tell you more…"
Cosigna was furious with Palpatine's gift from Tin'sar Demask and ordered Palpatine to return it, but as usual Palpatine disregarded his father's request. The entire family went up in arms when Palpatine announced his internship with Senator Dzeen of Trideria. The Triderian Senator was not well known or respected in the Senate. Because of him the Tridarian economy was falling due to the fact that he invested all his planets assets in a front company for Tin'sar Demask. The company's drilling and mining efforts ruined over seventy percent of the planet's natural resources. Then the company used those credits from the resources it had sold in twelve tear planet trading scheme with planets outside the Republic so the Republic Exchange commission couldn't resolve the problem. It was discovered that one person owned the company, but he vanished it would seem into thin air.
Dzeen tried to fix the problem by borrowing credits from the banking clan, but none of the small or large companies would lend him the credits. When Palpatine came to intern for Dzeen he helped the Tridarian arrange meetings between the Tridarian King, the proprietor of the Windstar Trading, and Dzeen. Palpatine had coached Dzeen on what to say, but still Windstar wouldn't loan them the credits. As a last resort Palpatine encouraged Dzeen to go and meet with the president of Demask Holdings. A deal was made that Demask would loan the credits to the Tridarian government in exchange for a percentage in their new mining efforts. The Tridarians were free to start paying back the loans whenever they wished, but once they started not one payment could be missed. Also Tridaria had signed over its entire labor force to Demask to help secure the loans. Now the Tridarians had the funds to rebuild their economy.
Palpatine's reputation sky rocketed and along with it several offers from more prestigious Senators poured in, but at Tin'sar's advice Palpatine remained with Dzeen. An act that raised a few eyebrows, especially from the Senator of Naboo who was close friends of Cosignas. Palpatine was the first Junior Senator to be allowed to address the Senate openly. His speech was received a standing ovation, his father was there, but Palpatine ignored his father and looked in the direction Tin'sar Demask.
"These need to be signed…" Farmer said standing beside Tin'sar at his desk. Tin'sar had a business office next to the Muun Senator's office.
"Our friend… is he safe?"
"Yes milord… Not even the Jedi will find him…"
"I want that little surprise planted in Dzeen's office by the end of the day…"
"Yes milord…"
As they were talking Cosigna burst into the office, "You know who I am?"
Tin'sar leaned back in his chair, "Of course… Cosignas Palpatine of Naboo… We have never been formally introduced…"
"And yet you gave my son a personal star ship… and meet with him in private… My friends say that the two of you have grown close…"
"He has a great career ahead of him… all I want is to see him succeed and reach his true potential…"
"Stay away from my son Demask…"
"Why because you realize that he surpassed you in the political arena or are you jealous of your own son… Maybe he has outgrown you and you are afraid he will leave you behind or is it all three..."
Cosignas sneered, because there was a little truth in what Demask said, but more than that he wantedto hitch a ride on his son's rising star and he saw Demask as a threat. "I have warned you and if you ignore that warning I will file an injunction against you with the courts…"
Demask raised an eyebrow, "Little Palpatine will be crushed, but I shall stay away from your son…"
"Good…"
Cosignas turned to leave, "Cosignas! One last thing…" He stopped at the door without looking back. "It would have been better for you to approach me as a friend and try to gain my favor… Many careers have taken off because of my friendship…"
"And many people have regretted making themselves my enemy…" Cosigna replied.
"Are you going to let him get away with that?" Farmer asked.
"It's a test for young Palpatine to prove himself worthy of being my apprentice…"
Palpatine was scheduled to have lunch with his friend and mentor Tin'sar, but when he showed up Tin'sar refused to see him and spoke with each other via holo-transmission. "Have I done something to offend you..."
"You… No my friend… but it would seem that I have offended your father… He has forbidden me from seeing you…"
"He can't that is… You are Tin'sar Demask… One of the most powerful and influential being in the Republic…"
"Power has its limits in the face of a concerned father… I am sorry if you were free of your father then I would enjoy continuing our friendship, but…"
"You know what I mean… You aren't someone who allows others to tell him what to do… So why aren't you defying my father…"
He hunched his shoulders in response, "I have my reasons… chief among them is that your father threatened to file an injunction against me… I know what it is to watch a family torn apart by outside influences…"
Palpatine bit his lip as he thought, "Your excuses seemed superficial… What is the real reason…"
"I have said all I am willing to say… You will have to deal with your father…" Before Palpatine could say something else Tin'sar switched of the hologram.
"He will never raise his hand against his family," Farmer said. "at least not in the way you think…"
"He has already raised his hand against his father… Now the question is how far will he go?"
Palpatine remained in the lobby for the next hour trying to see Tin'sar Demask, but the secretary would not let him pass even when he used his mind power. To his utter surprise someone was blocking him or protecting the woman and it felt as if the power was emanating from Tin'sar's office.
"You are more than you appear to be Tin'sar…" He whispered. Palpatine left the office and returned to Senator Dzeen's office. He asked for a leave of absence and took his private ship to Naboo. "What the hell do you think you were doing?" He asked storming into his father's study. "Tin'sar Demask has been my mentor and a father figure… A better father than you have ever been…"
Cosigna sighed, he had to say the right thing, "Apologies, but when I see you and Demask together… I got jealous… An alien could befriend and understand my son better than me… I would like the chance to be a father to you if you let me…"
"Ha! What do you really want old man…"
Cosigna sneered, "You impudent little Hutt… I am your father and you will do as I say…"
"No I do not… I am going to get a lawyer and file for emancipation…" Before Cosigna could reply Palpatine walked out.
Palpatine returned to Coruscant ignoring all calls from his father and family. He dove into his work with a gusto unseen before by Dzeen who praised him on it. Three days later Palpatine was erasing and reading Dzeen's holo-messages. Reading them gave him insight into how the other Senator's thought. He had finished his third message when Palpatine noticed an encrypted file. It only took him ten minutes to decrypt.
It was a conversation between his father and Dzeen, "When can I expect my next shipment…" Dzeen asked..
"One month…"
"My customers aren't patient people…"
"You know these things take time especially with the Trade Federation monitoring all the hyperspace lanes…" there was a pause, "How is my army?"
"Training will be complete in two months… and you my friend can overthrow the King of Naboo…"
Palpatine gasped, "Yes then I will be King of Naboo…"
"What about your son?"
"A team is in place to kidnap him in two weeks… They will hold him for ransom until I have secured the thrown…"
Palpatine made a copy of the file and sealed it, he was too shocked to notice Dzeen walk in and ask if he was still working. He jumped and said that he was almost finished. ("What do I do?") Thought Palpatine to himself. ("I need a fail safe… If all this turns out to be true… Wil…")
Palpatine flew his star ship to the Winthorn Military Academy on Corellia. He had to wait two hours because Tarkin was in the battle simulator directing a space battle against his instructor.
"How did you do?" Palpatine asked when Tarkin emerged from the testing room.
"I won of course and I only lost twenty percent of my fleet…"
They went to his room so that they could talk in private. Tarkin couldn't believe when Palpatine showed him the holo-vid. "What are you going to do?"
"I am not sure yet… The one thing I am going to do is give this to you… If I am kidnapped I ask you to take this to King Dathus…"
"What about your father?"
"I don't know… I just don't know…"
Palpatine returned to Dzeen and poured himself into his work. He had given Tarkin a transponder, as long as the receiver was in red he wass okay, but if the transponder went green Tarkin was to take it to King Dathus of Naboo. The day finally came and Dzeen asked Palpatine to run an errand. There was a pastry shop near Faxon street that he wanted Palpatine to go to. The shop sat on the corner near gully drop. A chasm that lead to the lower levels of Coruscant.
As Palpatine was leaving the shop he was grabbed by several men and dragged into the alley. Using the force he slammed one of the men into the wall and broke the knee of the second before he was stunned by a droid. When Palpatine awoke he sat up to find himself in the presence of Tin'sar Demask.
"Tin'sar… You in on this as well…"
"To a degree yes, but not in the way you think… You see I have known for some time now about your father's ambitions… but then I met you and said to myself that you could be perfect as my apprentice…"
"Apprentice?" That same feeling came over Palpatine, the one he always felt in the Muun's presence. "You are more than you pretend to be aren't you…"
Tin'sar smiled, "Whatever do you mean…"
Palpatine sneered, "I will show you then…" He extended his hand as he concentrated with the Rodian. Palpatine felt the power rising and grabbed the Muun by the neck in the force and began to squeeze. Tin'sar just sneered and broke the hold. Then he extended his hand and grabbed Palpatine. He hoisted him into the air and held him their for the next ten minutes.
"How did you do that?"
Tin'sar let him fall to the floor of the hanger. "The power you wield is the same only I can control mine… I can teach you to do the same… I can teach you summon that power at will, but first you must prove yourself…"
Palpatine was on all fours, "How?"
"You must free yourself from everyone that holds you back…" Tin'sar stood and snapped his fingers, when he did several burly humans came back and tied Palpatine up. "These men work for me and they will know where you are at all times… the other group of men are in on the kidnapping, but they do not work for me… Your father is truly going to overthrow the King of Naboo… What are you going to do about it…"
"No wait…"
Tin'sar stopped, "What is it…"
"Who are you really…"
"Unbind yourself from all that holds you back and I shall tell you…"
Ten minutes after Tin'sar left the men switched shifts and not long after that the Jedi burst into the hanger lightsabers drawn. Palpatine managed to free himself, but one of the kidnappers grabbed him and threatened his life if the Jedi didn'ty let him flee. His gun was force ripped from his hand and the man was taken prisoner.
When Palpatine arrived at the Jedi Temple his father was waiting with Tarkin and Jedi Masters Yoda, Khaval, and Phenias. The Jedi wanted to question Palpatine, but Cosigna wouldn't allow it. "What happened?" Palpatine asked to Tarkin.
"Tin'sar is what happened… When your transponder stopped…" Tarkin looked at the adults to see if anyome was paying attention to them, "…I received a holo-transmission from him… he told me to go to the Jedi…"
"What about the King?" He doesn't know yet… All the Jedi know is that someone kidnapped you for ransom…"
"Come my son we are leaving…" Cosigna said in a stern tone of voice.
An hour later they were onboard the Star of Palpatine returning to Naboo. Palpatine was in his room thinking about Tin'sar, all he said, and his display of power. ("Remove everyone that is holding you back…") Tin'sar's words echoed in his mind and Palpatine knew what needed to be done.
"You were behind my kidnapping weren't you?"
"What are you…" The words stopped in his mouth when Palpatine played the recorded holo-message for him.
"That is right father… I know what you are up to… The one thing I can't figure is why did you have me kidnapped…"
"Its simple really sympathy for when I become King and to boost my standing with the people I had planned to rescue you myself…"
"A pathetic attempt by a man whose time has long passed…"
"You little Hutt… I know all about that underground plasma scheme you were running…"
"Are you mad that I could pull something like that off or that I surpassed you…" Palpatine raised his hand and Cosigna began to gasp for air as an invisible hand tightened around his neck.
"Wha… arrr… u…"
"Oh father…" Tears started running down his cheeks as his eyes turned yellow. "I am the nightmare in the dark… The future of the Palpatine family… A phantom in the dark… Now die!" Palpatine stood over the lifeless body of his father breathing hard in tears. After an hour he sliced into the ship systems and rerouted all plasma gas into the main vents. Within fourteen minutes the entire ship crew was dead. Palpatine reprogrammed the ship droids to pilot the ship and when it came out of hyperspace Palpatine sent a distress signal to Naboo star control. When the ship entered the atmosphere he got into the escape pod and ejected as his ship plummeted towards his family estate. His mother, brother, and sister along with seventy percent of the house staff died.
"My resolve is set in stone… I am determined to find the people who sabotaged my father's ship…" Palpatine was making a speech three days after his family was memorialized. He then warned King Dathus about the impending attack. The hired mercenaries were slaughtered by the Naboo security force. A scandal broke following blaming Dzeen for hiring of the Mercenaries. He was found hanging in his office from suicide.
"Kneel…" Tin'sar demanded. Palpatine slowly dropped to one knee.
"Jarius Palpatine is no more… You have freed yourself from everything that holds you down… From this day forward you shall be known as Darth Sidious… I am your master Darth Plagueis… and you shall refer to me as such… I will teach about the force and the true nature of the force… Arise now my apprentice…"
"Thank you my master…"