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Narglatch in Shaak's Clothing Chapter 5
69 BBY
No other master is willing to take on Palpatine as an apprentice, and the Dooku lets the boy wallow in uncertainty until he is thirteen years of age and the Initiate Trials begin. The other masters attempt to dissuade him one more time, but Dooku is convinced that he has been granted an exceptional gift from the Force. Using all of his finesse, Dooku manages to manipulate his way onto the judging board for Palpatine's Initiate trials. He knows the boy faces an uphill battle with the other masters.
Too unsettled.
Too inwardly focused.
It makes Dooku even more determined, and he thinks that Palpatine must be feeling the same effect, because the Youngling moves through his physical and mental trials with undeniable ease. Droids and military strategy and ambushes and starship designs are nothing to him, but he struggles in the meditation and water-ripple tests, barely passing.
More than once, Dooku catches his gaze from above and offers the barest of encouraging nods. Complete these tests, Dooku thinks, and you'll no longer have to deal with those who do not understand. For the first time, he senses a fragment of Palpatine's conscious presence in the Force, a cold and curious passing thing, like a shadow sidling up to him and investigating before slipping away. Dooku is fascinated, remaining perfectly still in the Force as if afraid of frightening the wild creature.
The boy will require a cautious training.
The Jedi Apprentice Tournament arrives shortly after the Initiate Trials, and Palpatine is chosen to spar with several of the finest of his class. He manages to corral each of his foes except for a large Wookie youngling, who puts him on his back once before he changes tactics and the Wookie bows out, limping slightly.
Dooku is truly impressed with the boy's lightsaber skills. Some of the masters grumble that he won't settle down and choose a form to improve, but Dooku wonders if he might not master them all someday. He doesn't bother to voice his thoughts to the others, because they simply don't see the raw talent slipping through their hands. The ease of living in this solid Republic has mellowed them; risks no longer appeal to their dulled senses. By proxy, the Republic's abhorrent laziness has seeped into the Temple itself.
But he is different. Like a moth to a flame, he wants to get closer. And so, when the tournament draws to a close and Palpatine is preparing to return to his clan, expressionless at the seeming lack of a master once again in this last, fateful chance, Dooku approaches from the shadows of the alcove.
"I can't imagine you're terribly excited about returning to your clan," he begins conversationally, walking beside the tired youngling.
Palpatine glances at him from the corner of his eyes. "It's not really a matter of what I want, is it?"
"Isn't it?" Dooku rejoins almost cheerfully, for him anyway.
The fledgling teen hesitates, then sighs. "We're not supposed to want things. I must be content with my place."
"You know your lessons well, Sheev," Dooku tells him, then places a hand on the wiry shoulder. "But you don't know your place very well if you think it lies with the Service Corps."
And for a brief moment, undisguised hope enters those pale blue eyes.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
And so the partnership begins. Palpatine avoids a life of mediocrity in the Service Corps, and Dooku gets a chance to make his mark on the galaxy. Look out, here comes Padawan Palpatine!