Chapter 2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

'These Hallowed Halls'

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The youth steps across the threshold onto the thin antique-looking tapestry rug covering a portion of the black granite floor. The door closes with a firm thud. The high back chair on the other side of the desk is unoccupied. Young Palpatine looks from the corner of his eye and sees the tall slender silhouette of a man standing across the room to the right. The Muun is facing one of the two stained glass windows

Particles of dust float in the air like twinkling like specks of gold along the beam of natural light. The light touches the floor of the dark wood paneled office. The young student feels the warmth of it on his right cheek. It is strange sensation in the otherwise cold room.

"Thank you for seeing me, sir."

"You are early. No matter…you may sit."

The Muun's curt scolding does not fall on deaf ears. The youth realizes it will be difficult to please this man. Without hesitating, Dantius Palpatine settles into one of the twin high back wooden chairs. The chairs look like antiques but the red velvet cushions are new and custom-made for the furniture in this office. Each university professor has a budget 4,000 credits to furnish his/her office to his or her liking. The yearly stipend is barely touched. The furnishings were part of a personal collection of the guest professor. The cushions and a few other accessories were the only items expensed from the budget. For all of its austere décor, the chair feels surprisingly comfortable.

As he sits in the chair, the professor turns away from the stained glass windows and walks over to the desk. You never hear his footsteps as he approaches the large piece of furniture. It is as if he is gliding across the floor to the high back chair. The professor sinks into the chair quicker than the 'would-be apprentice' could blink. They are now facing one another. The ornate carvings below the finials of the chair resemble a pair of wings. Plagueis is silent then begins writing. Without looking up, he begins to speak.

"So tell me, young Palpatine, state your case."

"My case, Sir?"

"Yes, your case. I trust you are not here to waste my time or yours."

"No, sir. Of course not."

"Well then, let's move this along, shall we?"

"Uhm…I believe I deserve the post."

"Why?"

"I'm as smart and hard working as anyone else in that class."

"Give me a better reason than that! You may believe you're smarter but you still have competition, my young student. You have yet to impress me. Tell me why you deserve the post…and be honest. I will know if you are sincere."

Young Palpatine's heart is pounding as if it is about to come from his chest. Just as he is about to utter his answer, Plagueis interrupts him. The student gulps but maintains his composure as the tall figure speaks.

"I know all about you. Tell me something I don't know." He waits a moments the student tries to find the right words but does not appear to have the patience. He continues to lean across the massive desk as he speaks.

"So why you interest in becoming my assistant?"

"Well, I am a great follower of your teachings and…"

He begins to wonder if the professor is listening to him. Without making eye contact with the student, the professor spreads his hands over the blotter on the desk and interrupts.

"What makes you believe you're so special? As I said before, there are other students I am considering for this opening."

"I'm aware of that…I mean I know you are still interviewing …it's just that…"

The Muun interrupts again.

"However, you seem to possess certain talents that have yet to be put to good use. How long have you possessed your Force powers?"

"Uhm…Since my twelfth birthday."

"And no one from the Jedi Order recruited you."

"I believe I was too old…anyway, I have no interest in the Jedi Order."

Truth be told, a Jedi elder was brought in to look at the boy. His findings soon reported to Jedi Council member Yoda. The already aged Jedi Master sensed a foreboding about the adolescent. Several council members decided that the boy's 'talents' were not promising enough to justify bringing him in before the entire Council. The small private committee considered the Palpatine youth 'mediocre at best.' However, since his name was already on the books to be interviewed, Master Yoda had to make a decision. The preliminary application was unceremoniously rejected with the signature of the Jedi Master. An asterisk follows the signature, 'Candidate is too old to complete the training.' A then young Jedi named Ki-Adi Mundi aided his decision. Yoda trusted the young Cerean who was on the fast track to Jedi knighthood. Others in the Jedi Order had a bad feeling about the boy.

The general consensus regarding the lad from Naboo: No Jedi Knighthood in his future.

Plagueis listens thoughtfully as he laces his slender fingers. He looks at the blotter, his index fingers pointing upward and touching his chin. He speaks.

"Why should I consider you?"

"Well, I'm highly intelligent and I can be a great assistant. I have read your theories and books. I'm anxious to learn from you."

"Ah…" The Muun lifts his eyes from the blotter on the desk. A slight smile creeps across his face. At first appears to be a sign of sincere interest but, in actuality, it is a look of bemusement. Finally, the young Palpatine peaks the curiosity of the quite serious professor. "What do you think about my theories?"

"If there's a chance and if people open their minds, I think your theories can become reality."

"Is that all you've gotten from my writings? Stop that ass kissing. You're going to have to do better than that, young man!" He looks up at the clock above the dark wood bookcases. Palpatine looks too. He cannot show how nervous he is. The Muun knows too much already. Palpatine can feel the hands on the clock moving like heartbeats…his heartbeat. He is struggling to keep the momentum of the converstion. If he loses his chance, there will not be another. Plageus is growing impatient with the student. "Flattery will not get you this position, my young friend. I have been watching you for some time, Mr. Palpatine. You have no close friends, you believe you are better than everyone else is; you resent authority because you feel attacked, no one understands you, and you are overly ambitious. You possess 'special talents but choose not to use them. It seems that the Jedi Order did not find you a good 'fit'. You don't seem to have any joy in your life."

"I don't feel appreciated."

"So, you never got into their training program. Boo-hoo. Get used to rejection. Self-pity is a wasted emotion. You must make it work for you. What interests you?"

"I am interested in you and your philosophy."

"And what is my philosophy?"

"That power and greatnest comes in many forms…not only from within the Jedi Order."

"I never mentioned the Jedi Order in any of my lectures."

"Well …" He wanted to say, 'You may as well have.' but that would be a disasturous move. It is best to stay on track he thought.

Young Palpatine winces at his near misstep. He seems to be bungling his way through this interview. He feels his chance to impress this teacher dwindling. It is time to pace himself. Palpatine senses that he is getting a chance to rephrase his answer.

"The Force is all around us. It is up to great minds to harvest this energy and use it wisely"

There is silence. Plageus sits back in his chair. His voice is calm but firm as he raises his right hand to silence the youth.

"Stop, stop, stop. I have heard enough. Tell me. What do your parents think of the education you are receiving at this great institution?"

"My parents?"

"Yes."

"My mother only concerned that I am dressed properly and eating well. My father does not care what I do as long as I keep up my grades and make a sound career choice. He has lost interest in me since I have decided not to join the family business."

"So you feel ignored?"

"They treat me like a child."

"You 'are' their child. They may sense that you may become lost. What you see in yourself is not the same thing they see in you. They think they are sending you here to further your education in these hallowed halls. They hope that you will ultimately go on to be a productive and humble civil servant to Naboo. All parents here wish this for their children. They want to see their children learn and grow into productive citizens of the galaxy. They want them to lead a life of wholesome happiness and obedience. You are seeking the path of power and greatness. You have no interest in remaining a mediocrity .You seek power and greatness instead."

"I see nothing wrong with that."

"Power and greatness…hmmm…Such lofty goals for one so young and green behind the ears."

"I can serve the masses more effectively if I possessed the power to eliminate poverty and war across the galaxy"

"You say these things but do you truly mean them?"

"Yes…yes, I do, sir."

"Then why do you need me? You are the great student Dantius Palpatine!"

The Muun smiles for the first time, arms outstretched to the heavens. He seems amused as he mocks the young man. Young Palpating bites his bottom lip. He feels humiliated that this man is laughing at his ambitions. What is so laughable about having lofty goals?

Palpatine repeats in his head, 'Remain calm.'

Plagueis is serious again.

"Do you love your parents?"

Young Palpatine tries to maintain his composure. If this is a test, then he refuses to allow this man to psych him out so wantonly. What sort of question is this to ask a potential candidate? It is irrelevant. He thought he was being interviewed for an apprenticeship, not a psychotherapy session. 'Can he just leave my parents out of this?'

Plagueis presses on.

"Knowing about your personal life has everything to do with my choice. So, tell me about your family... Being an outsider here on Naboo, I am eager to learn of your customs and your family dynamic. Tell me more."

The young candidate lets out a barely audible sigh of annoyance. He feels like a slowly deflating intake valve of an airspeeder. Why put him through this if he is not going to be chosen? Why instill the desire? Plagueis continues the interview.

"So, tell me…" Plagueis seems blissfully relaxed now. His tall, thin back presses against the dark wood and velvet cushions of the chair. It is as if he is preparing himself for some tantalizing gossip. How delightfully distasteful!

The youth begins.

"My parents are members of the local Theed Community. My father is a businessman. My mother serves on the Queen's board for the beautification of Theed…."

"Aside from that...How is she as a mother?"

"She's a good mother. She has made it her secondary vocation after her committee work."

"That does not interest me. How is your relationship?"

"Good."

"And she loves you."

"Of course, I'm her son."

"But you must compete for her affection with your sister."

"You sensed that?"

"No, I read your profile in the registrar's office. Do you envy the attention she gets?"

"No, of course not. She is my sister.

"How was your childhood together?"

"It was the best. We were happy."

"Were?"

He corrects himself.

"We 'are' still happy. We were children who had loving parents. We have a stable family."

"But those were innocent times. I want to know what has changed in your life. You seem to be such a serious student. I do not see the joyful, carefree spirit you refer to, my dear young man. You seem quick to put it all aside to forge a new path of personal gain."

"I am seeking a path of duty and purpose."

"Is that not the path taken by your father, and the father before him?"

"What we seek is not the same."

This is true. While the elder Palpatine pledged his loyalty to crown and nation, Palpatine the younger feels so such commitment to serve the throne.

Plagueis points his narrow fingers to his chin and tacitly accepts young Palpatine's answer.

"I see. Let's go back to your childhood."

"Why?"

"Speaking of one's childhood is most telling when one makes a life-course change."

The student is visibly perturbed. 'Let us not,' he thinks to himself. Plagueis dismisses the concern as he watches young Palpatine fidget in the large wooden chair. The chair makes the student look much smaller and vulnerable.

"What is your fondest childhood memory?"

"There are many."

"I'm listening."

Plagueis has him figured out but seeing the lad squirm was sheer joy.

Yes, there was a childhood, he was a child but Dantius Palpatine was never 'childlike'

His mother likened him to an old soul from his infancy. Rarely smiling, he played with his toys methodically. He enjoyed playing games with his sister. They enjoyed a close bond.

Birthdays were always celebrated with close family and friends. His father would remind him at each birthday is to commemorate accomplishments, not just another year like a notch on the bark of a tree. Birthdays would soon cause much angst. He had to be prepared to name his deeds for each passing year. The elder Palpatine believed doing so built character. By year ten, the youngster found no joy in birthday celebrations. The smiles and laughter would soon diminish. Whenever he did smile, it was at the most inappropriate times.

Upon the death of his paternal grandfather, he applauded after the eulogy. The response was a hushed room of horrified gasps. His sister, thought stalwart did respectfully bow her head at the appropriate moments. She is brave and dutiful as the adults mourned heavily for the beloved patriarch of the Palpatine family while hey scorning the behavior of the grandson.

His sister joins the family and dignitaries in tossing Naboo lilies into the burial crypt. Dantius arrives at the crypt behind his sister and tosses the remains of his flower. He had picked the lovely petals of the flower he had been carrying until it resembles a crooked green stick. This elicited a hurtful scowl from his father and other relatives. He did not understand the reaction to this at all. His mother responded to the elder Palpatine. She tried to justify the boy's actions by saying, 'he's young.'

Mrs. Palpatine had a tendency of shield the boy from his father's criticism. His father was intolerant of unbecoming behavior and a strict disciplinarian but he was fair. No one could envision the effect, if any this would have on the future actions of this youth.

Now, Dantius and his sister are just crossing the threshold into adulthood. He loves his sister but they have grown apart during the last two years. They have chosen different paths and Dantius feels betrayed. Ederlinn Palpatine is strong-minded but gentle in heart. She loved her brother dearly and sought never to judge him for his improprieties. They were inseparable in childhood. Things have now changed.

Ederlinn is soon to be betrothed to a fellow Naboo aristocrat, the Viscount Lyall Torsten. Lyall is a favorite nephew to the Queen. Dantius Palpatine's political views were different from those of his family. They were all staunch supporters of the Royal House. Young Palpatine, becoming more interested in the current political climate felt that the Royal House was too eager to make peace with passive worlds such as Alderaan and Coruscant and felt they all relied too much upon the Jedi Council. There was opposition but the factions were too fragmented and unreliable to become a force to go against them. He argued endlessly with his father at the dinner table until his mother had had enough and banned any further discussion involving politics at the dinner table.

During the announcement of Ederlinn's engagement to the proper and handsome Viscount, her parents gave a precious family heirloom typically earmarked for the first-born son. Dantius' prospects for marriage seem to decrease each year. He was either too shy or aloof to form and meaningful relationships. It would soon become evident that the young man would never marry. An attempted match up with a niece of the royal house of Theed would soon lead to embarrassment for the Palpatine family and humiliation for the royal family.

Plagueis knows that the young Palpatine was uncomfortable talking about his family. He would soon let the student off the hook.

"Well, I've heard enough. Thank you for stopping by so I could get to know you."

Palpatine looks confused as he slowly rises from his interrogation chair.

"Oh…that's it?"

"Yes. You may go."

"But…how will I…"

"In due time. As I have said before. I have other students vying for this opportunity. Don't worry. I will be fair."

"Yes, Professor. Thank you." He bows, then backs away quietly and exits the office.

He begins walking down the long corridor when he hears a deep echo. It seems to follow him. Lub-dub…lub-dub. The strange sound gives him an earache. Lub-dub…lub-dub. The throbbing echo continues. He begins to walk faster but the faster he walks the harder and louder the sound becomes: Lub-dub...lub-dub... lub-dub.

Beads of sweat pulse from his forehead as he touches his brow. He is outside of the building with his back against the door. The lub-dub noise stops. His eyes dart wildly as he lets out a gasp and takes in some of the fresh night air. The sun is all but gone for the day over the Naboo horizon. He realizes that the strange noise was coming from within his chest. He closes his eyes for a moment as runs his fingers through his fair hair. He is not alone.

"Are you alright?"

There is more than one person present. The other sound is that of amused chuckles. Palpatine opens his eyes. A tall, handsome student smiles down at him. The student's arms are filled with hologram archive sheets. It is Finis Valorum. Three graduate students behind him carefully place a few more hologram sheets on to of the stack he is carrying. They are waiting for Palpatine to clear a path so Valorum can enter the building. One of the graduate students snaps his fingers.

"Hey, sleeping beauty..."

Palpatine blinks a few times then steps aside. Valorum steps through the door as he bids goodbye to his friends.

"Thanks for lending a hand."

One of the friends steps back after he stacks the last of the hologram sheets in Finis' arms.

"Sure. What are friends for, eh? We'll be in the study hall for a few hours. Let's 'meet up later for a pint of ale."

"I'll try to make it."

One of the other students playfully gives Finis a slap on the back and thumbs up.

"Come on! Take a break! You can't stay in that dreary building doing research all night."

"Okay, okay…I'll stop by around 9 o'clock."

"Sounds like a plan."

"See you later."

Finis disappears behind the closing door of the philosophy building.

The three graduate students proceed to make their way across campus to the study hall. Dantius walks in the opposite direction. He is still within earshot when one of the students could be heard laughing and uttering the word. 'Spaz.'

Dantius hurries across campus to his dorm room.

Two weeks pass since his interview with Plagueis. The Muun had ignored the student every day since then. His attempts to offer answers during the glass go unrecognized. It was as if he were invisible.

By the second week, he begins to feel foolish for raising his hand and then never called upon during a barrage of rapid-fire test questions. Dantius knew every answer. Why was he being ignored? Plagueis does not avail himself to his biggest fan either before or after class. Dantius will need to wait another five days to find out if he will make the cut to become an apprentice.

Some of the Muun students were already receiving letters with the professor's recognizable embossed seal. They seem to be showing off their letters to their clique of fellow Muuns. He hated not knowing his fate. The suspense was unbearable. Why did he not receive a letter? Even a rejection letter would have been welcome. At least he would not have to wait. It just is not fair.

What he will soon discover is that there is more to the assignment than he could ever imagine.

Two weeks have come and gone. Dantius walks the halls of the student center. It is early morning. He stops to pick up his mail from his box. The dining hall is just around the corner. He does not have much of an appetite for breakfast. He slips his card key into the data reader on his mailbox and removes the mail. He hears music playing from an Epod speaker on the other side of the row of mailboxes. He examines the envelopes. There is express letter from Theed Palace bearing the official seal, a care packet from his mother containing the usual 'student living on campus' fair, and his monthly Theed University Student Bulletin.

He slams the mailbox door and rips the card key from the data reader causing the indicator light to flash erratically for several seconds. The mail clerk is busy behind the counter. He is a Gungan working alongside a student from Tatooine. The student hails from Bestine and attends Theed University on a work-study program. Dantius ignores them as they chat and listen to the pop music. He starts to shuffle out the door. Dantius is about to leave when he hears the Gungan speak.

"Hey, 'happy feet,' yousa got mail." The Gungan holds an envelope over the counter. Dantius turns and immediately recognizes the stationery. He walks over to the counter and extends his hand to grab it. The Gungan playfully snatches it back waving the envelope out of reach. "Envelope for a smile!"

Dantius is in no mood for this but he is eager to get this envelope. The Gungan wears a nametag on his mailroom smock: Adso Bar Binks.

Dantius cracks a forced albeit crooked smile. The Gungan releases the envelope into the student's hand. The Gungan waits. Finally Dantius satisfies him with a 'thank-you' then quickly leaves the mailroom.

Dantius tucks the other mail and parcel under his arm and heads for the dining hall. He grabs a yogurt and orange juice from the droid-operated food line. He heads for a remote table, drops the other mail to the left of his tray and opens the newest letter:

'Dear Mr. Palpatine, Thank you for your interest in the Philosophy Apprentice Program….'

To be continued…