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"Obi-Wan seemed not to have noticed the fury simmering in the boy, but for an instant Palpatine perceived a touch of his younger self in Skywalker. The need to challenge authority; the gift for masking his emotions. The yet-unrecognized power." – Darth Plagueis

Fathers and Sons

Chapter 3

After leaving his guards in his quarters with strict orders not to be disturbed and slipping out a back passageway, he found the boy later that evening, looking lost and forlorn in a wide, empty hallway of the palace. Dried tracks of tears marred his small face. Palpatine felt the Force shiver in anticipation, and he approached slowly, silently over the smooth granite floor, pulling the emotions of a gravely concerned father-figure into his mind.

This was one of the few quiet places in Theed tonight. The whole city seemed determined to celebrate its victory with fireworks, singing, and dancing, and he might have been far angrier had Pestage not brought him such delightful news on the shuttle. Even now his assistant worked to ensure that Obi-Wan Kenobi would not threaten the future.

"Hello there," he announced his presence while several meters away from Skywalker.

Anakin's head jerked up from where he sat curled against a large viewing port, his small body tucked onto the ledge. He slid down to the floor and stared at the tiles, certain he'd committed some palatial faux pas, afraid to meet Palpatine's eyes.

The Chancellor-Elect stopped a half meter away and inclined his head with a warm smile. "So here is where our planet's hero has disappeared."

In the Force, the boy's untrained emotions reigned supreme. Embarrassment at the praise, sorrow at Qui-Gon's passing, fear for his future, curiosity about Kenobi, pride at his accomplishments, one after another they boiled over Palpatine's own glacial presence. He fed on them gladly, admiring the pure and unblemished nature. Imagine the possibilities in a few years…

"Are you all right, Anakin?" He injected a hesitant concern into his voice.

Anakin nodded, but his hanging head told a different story. "I'm sorry, sir. I'm just, really sad about Master Qui-Gon. I…I…"

"You're going to miss him," Palpatine prompted gently and was rewarded with a long sniffling sob.

Horrified, Anakin clapped his hands over his mouth. Palpatine resisted the urge to laugh. He crossed beyond the young boy and settled himself with gracious dignity onto the ledge that Anakin had just vacated. "It is all right to grieve for the passing of a friend, Anakin. You needn't hide such an elemental reaction."

Anakin stared at him as though they had never met. "You're not angry? Or upset?"

Palpatine sighed. "Far from it. In fact, I had known Master Qui-Gon for several years. The galaxy will sorely miss a man of his caliber." They just don't know it yet.

"I think, I think he would have trained me, if he lived," Anakin blurted. "I wanted to go with him."

"Qui-Gon saw in you the same greatness I see," Palpatine told him. "Yet, I'm not certain even the venerable Master Qui-Gon could have changed the minds of the Jedi Council. They are long accustomed to having their wishes obeyed, especially by their own."

It was a well-placed barb. Anakin's anger and resentment were suddenly flame-bright, dazzling Palpatine with the massive, untamed surge in the Force. "In fact," he dared to venture, "I'm not certain a promising individual such as yourself would have easily handled being ordered about by the Jedi Council."

Slave. It was a gentle suggestion in the Force, no more than an afterthought, but it soaked into the impressionable young mind with ease.

Anakin straightened immediately, his eyes smoking with the heat of his memories and completely unaware of the insidious whisper. "I won't ever be a slave to anyone again, sir," he promised. "I couldn't stand it. Not then. Not now. Not never."

"Ever, not ever," Palpatine corrected gently, watched the boy flush with embarrassment. He felt Anakin's presence in the Force dwindle to a mere shadow of its former state. Such an intriguing need to impress, to shine, to simply... be seen. To be accepted.

So Palpatine ensured that he was. "Regardless, you've hit upon the matter precisely, Anakin. They can't control you. That's why they forbade you from the Order. Already at your young age, you exude a power that even those without the Force, such as I, can sense. Why, even Chancellor Valorum noticed briefly on the platform. I saw him smiling at you." A simple, bold lie, easy to imagine, impossible to verify.

"Really?" Anakin began to fidget, hands twisting together, eyes wide at the thought. He was openly pleased, a book to be read at one's leisure.

"Absolutely, and we both know smiling has never been one of his stronger virtues." His own guileless grin coaxed a much larger one and a soft giggle from the boy.

This was going well. "You know," he leaned back against the window, steepled his fingers, and nodded thoughtfully. "I believe it is mostly due to you that my people still live free, Anakin. If you had not destroyed the droid control ship, well, let's not consider the consequences."

Anakin glanced up at him with a shaky smile. "I kinda broke the rules. Master Qui-Gon didn't want me to get involved. He told me to stay in the cockpit."

Palpatine released a conspiratorial grin. "And so you did. You're not much of a lawbreaker, Anakin, when only good things come of it."

They laughed together. The shadows of the moon played across the shining floor, flickered in the corners. Palpatine leaned toward Anakin and lowered his voice as though sharing a serious secret. "You know, when I was your age, I broke a few rules myself."

Anakin's jaw fell open. "No way!" he protested with a lopsided grin. "You're the Chancellor now, sir. I don't believe you." Then he ducked his head and retreated into the little thrall he was, clearly shocked at his boldness. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to doubt you, sir."

"Anakin, I dare say this is a sensitive subject for you, but at the risk of seeming brusque," Palpatine paused, watched the fear that spread across the boy's face, "you are no longer a slave. You are free." He stood up and took several steps away, lifting one hand and beckoning through the air. "This means you can speak your mind to whomever you wish, whenever you wish, however you wish. The only consequences that will impact you are the consequences every free being in the galaxy risks, including me."

Anakin was in awe, staring up, at a complete loss for words.

Palpatine turned to face him. "I am not offended by you, Anakin. It pleases me to see you so free. You are a needed reminder to those of us in the Core Worlds that not all is right with the galaxy yet."

"Me? What could I ever do, sir? I'm just a kid from a backwater planet," Anakin finally squeaked out. "I'm not smart or educated like you. I build droids and race pods. Even the Jedi didn't want me."

Palpatine returned to his side and laid his thin hand on the boy's right shoulder. "The Jedi are not infallible, Anakin. In time you will come to see that. I, for one, see you becoming a great leader. You have the power. You need only learn to use it in the ways that will benefit you, your loved ones, and the galaxy."

Anakin glanced into his eyes, then quickly looked away again back to the floor. "I just don't see how that's possible, Chancellor sir. They're probably going to send me back to Tatooine. I know Obi-Wan Kenobi won't want me."

Palpatine reached out and lifted his chin with an index finger, but Anakin barely met his gaze. "Do not concern yourself with Master Kenobi, Anakin. He has a long road ahead of him. And I wouldn't count your future out yet, if I were you. The galaxy moves in mysterious ways." He straightened. "And life goes on. The ceremony is due to begin shortly. Would you care to accompany this poor tired man through this dusty old palace?"

Anakin flashed a true, brilliant smile, so bright in the Force that it almost made Sidious sick to his stomach. He forced the bile down, drew the Dark Side closer, and set off down the hall at a brisk pace, the boy churning along beside him in a kaleidoscope of childish affection. He could sense Anakin's wonderment at being approached by such a powerful man, of being treated like an equal.

Such simple needs, such simple solutions.

Already, he could feel the tendrils of the Force connecting them and condoning the coming future.

Palpatine could taste the victory before the war even began.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

And the connection begins to form. Watch out, Jedi Order… Palpatine is one smooth operator, but then Anakin is one naïve, lost, depressed little kid already removed from his parental figures. About anything looks better than his status quo. Palpatine is subscribing to the philosophy of catching more flies with honey than vinegar, and we all know how patient he can be when he has a goal in mind.

Apologies for any typos found within, and I hope you are enjoying this story. Let me know what you think. I'm always glad to hear from folks.