Palpatine sat leaning back in his pod's chair. He was staring down at his inferiors who squandering over meager issues in the Galactic Senate. "Despicable morons..." Palpatine said under his breath. Palpatine used the back of his hand to rub his eye. He kept awake and alert through pure will and the double caf Raging Rancor he had gulped down in the Main Lounge.

Palpatine had spent the night in his apartment staring up at the ceiling, his thoughts had been racing. When he picked up his book last night the words did not register in his mind. Nor did the images flashing across the HoloPad catch his gaze. The meaningless words of discussion that had drifted down the Youth Senate Apartment Complex halls but even that didn't interest him.

Palpatine felt frozen in time but by what? That remained unclear to him. There was an unspoken feeling that flooded his senses, a feeling yet to be named.

The memory of a cool blaster pressed to his head less than 24 hours ago washed over him. The hairs on the back of his neck prickled. Yet he pushed the memory out of his mind.

You must focus. It's going to start any minute. The Grand Convocation Chamber echoed with yells and whispers. Thousands upon thousands of Youth Senators awaited the beloved Chancellor Harrow.

The Vice Chairman, Jotruse toyed with his fingers. His flustered blue face flushed purple as he kept assuring the assembly that the Chancellor would arrive soon.

Suddenly there was a BOOM! Palpatine sprang from his seat. Girris, his guard, who was in an arm cast behind him stood up ready for Palpatine's command. The other Youth Senators reacted likewise to varying degrees. Some glanced up nervously at the ceiling while others were kicking and screaming.

Jotruse wretched the HoloMic from a meager assistant on the Chancellor pod. He tapped it with urgency causing a grating feedback sound echo across the Convocation. "YOUTH SENATORS! YOUTH SENATORS I BEG OF YOU! REMAIN CALM! THERE IS NO CAUSE FOR ALARM!"

Across the room Jaxious made eye contact with Palpatine, a quick flicker of suspicion. All the Youth Senators seemed to share a hive mind, the rest sharing dubious looks and grumbling with cynicism.

Jotruse's eyes glanced up from his HoloPad. "The Chancellor is slightly late since the Gungan representatives have just arrived..." Palpatine's mouth fell agape.

Gungans? Here? No...

Jotruse wasn't finished. "The Gungan representatives will be unable to attend because they, uh, crashed their shuttle into the...building..." Palpatine breathed easier.

Palpatine twisted his ring as his anxiousness rose. He jumped when a voice other than Girris spoke from behind. "Palpatine, is it?"

"I am he." Palpatine verified. He side glanced at an older dark-haired woman who sat down beside him. "And who are you?"

"Your worst enemy." Palpatine stared at her when she uttered that. A split second went by then the woman laughed. "The name is Senator Formidas. I am your mentor." Senator Formidas offered her hand to Palpatine.

Despite her odd presentation, Palpatine shook her hand. Perhaps it was due to her concise voice or her neat demeanor. Senator Formidas had a sagacious aura that he couldn't quite put into words. "It's a pleasure to meet you, senator." Is all he stated.

Senator Formidas inquired. "The Chancellor has yet to arrive?" Palpatine nodded. She tutted and turned to him. "All flash but no substance...hmph. I suppose you already know that already." Palpatine gave a more hesitant nod.

Palpatine truly didn't know what to say. He shifted himself in his seat an imperial inch away from Senator Formidas. A few long seconds passed until Palpatine looked up at the sudden uproar from his fellow peers.

Chancellor Harrow rose in his Supreme Chancellorship pod in the center. A light shown upon him. Palpatine leaned forward as did his mentor. The Zeltron Chancellor was favored among many due to his strong authority combined with infinite charm.

He had been one of the few Chancellors to win a second election for Chancellorship. Harrow had been serving as the Supreme Chancellor for seven years, nearing his final year. Although Harrow was revered, he had a flair for the dramatics which is what made him so...Chancellor Harrow.

Chancellor Harrow spread his hands to the crowd and spoke. "Welcome! WELCOME! Youth Senators! I am pleased to host the 25,066 annual Model Galactic Republic!" Chancellor Harrow somehow had retained that same toothy smile over the years. A great applause erupted at his words.

Palpatine did a royal clap along with them being the pretentious bastard he is. He tapped his palm with his first and second finger.

Chancellor Harrow held a heavy hand over his heart. "I promise that disaster yesterday will never occur again under my watch. My sorrow goes out to those who had to bear the Cursed Coruscantis treachery." His gaze swept the audience. "We will find the rest of the traitors, rest assured."

The crowds of young adults murmured with affirmation. Palpatine let his lips curl ever so slightly. It appears that the Republic is doing more than the Jedi. What a surprise. Palpatine folded his hands in his lap as the Chancellor withdrew a HoloPad.

"This is where the fun begins." Chancellor Harrow boomed. "May you all vanquish in saving the Galaxy from certain doom!" He managed to meet each of the 2,500 youth's gazes including even Palpatine's. "There will be stages to this model: research, debate, negotiations, resolutions, and action."

Palpatine internally rolled his eyes at that. When has the actual Republic ever followed that? The Chancellor went on and on about the procedure. No offending other planets, no general misconduct, and do consider everyone's feelings.

The very opposite of what politics was, ironically enough. Palpatine had leaned back. His mentor, Formidas remained leaning forward.

Palpatine leaned forward when the Chancellor began steering it towards the main point. "Now for the topic of debate..." The Chancellor dramatically paused.

The indistinct chatter was cut short. All the young senators were attentive and watching the Chancellor. The Chancellor looked around sure that he had everyone's attention.

Chancellor Harrow revealed it with a tone of drama, low and deliberate. "The topic is the ethics and benefits of cloning..."

As a collective all the 2,500 youth senators gasped. Whispers and murmurs were exchanged among the youth senators, mentors to mentees, and mentees to mentors.

Formidas herself, who appeared to be calm and collected, drew back at the utterance of the word. "Cloning..." Palpatine heard her mutter. "This is unexpected."

Chancellor Harrow called for order, shouting in his HoloMic but to no avail. The chaos did not cease.

A few pods edged forwarded ever so hesitantly. Cloning? This is outrageous. Palpatine took the incentive to go full speed ahead into the spotlight.

Senator Formidas was taken aback, and her head was thrown back. The pod startled to a stop a few dozen inches from the Chancellor podium. Senator Formidas hissed. "What do you think you're doing?"

Palpatine was too distracted to hear her. Everyone was looking at him, watching him, giving him their attention. It was breathtaking. He wanted to freeze this moment in time forever. Everyone was silent, everyone was waiting for him to speak.

It was unlike the HoloNet droids. They were people not just cameras. Real people taking in his short stature and pallid face.

It all took place in a matter of ten seconds, but this moment would linger for the rest of his people. Craving the attention, the spotlight, and the thousands of people waiting to hear your words. It was a feeling he wanted to feel forever.

"Youth Senator Palpatine—" the Chancellor began but Palpatine hit his unmute button and spoke well over the Chancellor.

"Chancellor Harrow, this is outrageous. It's unfair." Palpatine took a sharp breath without letting the Chancellor cut him off. "There is no debate. Cloning is evil. Pure and utter evil. It's unethical and it can benefit no one. I think this shouldn't—"

A clear voice other than the Chancellor sliced the already tense air. "Excuse me, Palpatine but who are you to say what's good and what's not?"

In the background the Chancellor and Vice Chairman were trying to fix the volume.

Palpatine stood up and twisted around in his pod to see another Youth Senator of Coruscant had entered the spotlight. Palpatine asked. "Kidria Ovirelt, who are you to say that I haven't the say to say what's good and what's not?"

Ovirelt stared at him when he uttered those words then she laughed. Brik Delos, the Naboo Senator who was mentoring her was trying to deter her but failed miserably.

A spot in Palpatine's chest stared to burn. Formidas touched his arm, Palpatine looked down to see Formidas shaking her head sternly. "Stand down. It isn't worth it." Formidas whispered.

Palpatine turned back to see Ovirelt, wave a dismissive hand at him and look to the Chancellor. "Personally, Chancellor I would say that cloning can greatly benefit the Republic. We could save so many lives by using them as...donors and—"

It was Palpatine's turn to interrupt her. "And what of the ethics, hm, Ovirelt?" he crossed his arms and paused. "Sounds a lot like forced—"

"ENOUGH!" Chancellor Harrow shouted. He was able to fix his volume, finally. He restrained giving the Naboo and Coruscanti a dirty look.

The poor Senator Wookie fell back and passed out from the sudden loud sound. A few emergency droids rushed over to help.

Chancellor Harrow ordered. "Back to your stations this instant!"

Palpatine and Ovirelt exchanged scathing glances before returning to their individual stations.

Chancellor Harrow collected himself then attempted to speak again. "Now as I was saying...although there is little known research about cloning, research what you can. Starting now, you will be given sixty minutes to use your Holopads. After that, you're on your own. You must memorize what you have researched, and we will move onto the negotiation process."

Just as the pod secured itself into place the screen installed in the pod began to flash.

Palpatine read the words aloud. "Strike One?" He turned to Senator Formidas. Palpatine had a funny feeling he knew what it meant but he was in denial. "What does that mean?"

Senator Formidas pursed her lips. "It means you have one more chance before you're out." She made eye contact. "That means, Palpatine, don't be overly hostile. The whole point of this exercise is to learn to maneuver the battlefield with subtlety." Senator Formidas shifted her shoulders. "It is the way of politics, Palpatine."

Palpatine sighed deeply. "So, you want me to be a...snake?"

Senator Formidas exhaled sharply. "Oh, come off it. You knew what you were getting yourself into when you signed up for the Youth Senator Program."

Palpatine lifted his head. "I think I would rather use my own methods to success."

"So be it." Senator Formida's voice dripped in doubt. Palpatine's shoulders stiffened when she changed the subject abruptly. "Let me at least help you with your research." Senator Formidas withdrew her HoloPad. "Are we arguing against cloning?" she asked with an arched eyebrow, a slight smile playing on her lips.

Palpatine nodded.

"Good. Let's begin"