Ovirelt Continues to Vex our Hero

"Mother, please, let me explain. It's not what you think it is," Palpatine tried to tell her quickly. He started to twist his ring.

"Oh, I know exactly what it was." An edge crept into her voice, "You were baited by some rich mudscuffer Coruscanti! They should be the one paying for the damages! They've got more than enough credits." Palpatine turned down the volume.

"So…you know about the 66,000 credits?" Palpatine asked hesitantly. His mother nodded. So, she's not angry at me. She's angry on my behalf.

"Yes. I received that charge right after you first Commed me." His mother put a hand to her temple. "Blazes…the yacht and now this. Oh, poor Mairda, now we can't afford her beautiful white wedding." Tears brimmed in his mother's eyes, but she wiped them away. "I just wanted it to be special, you know, Sheev." Palpatine honestly did not know but he nodded along.

"It will most likely be fine, mother. Mairda is very forgiving and…you'll figure something out, you always do." Palpatine tried to reassure her and then he brightened as he thought of a clever idea, "Wasn't Mairda talking about how she always wanted to do a race as her wedding? Perhaps you can do that instead. It's much more inexpensive."

His mother mused, "Well, it's incredibly unconventional but it is affordable. Though Mairda herself is a nice girl, some of her…racing friends are quite…rude and eccentric. I'm not so sure that's a good idea."

Palpatine sighed deeply. "It's at least an idea. It is what Mairda wanted in the first place and now it's the best option given the circumstances." –because of foolish Bratte.

His puzzled it over for a few heartbeats then she concluded, "Ugh…fine. You make a point." Her gaze shifted past his shoulder. "Are your friends behind you?"

Palpatine twisted around to see Jaxious and Ovirelt conversing behind him. Jaxious was being oddly friendly towards someone that had been their enemy.

Jaxious asked Palpatine, "Is that your mom?" Palpatine nodded. Ovirelt was staring at Palpatine's mother. Get away, Ovirelt.

Palpatine's mother waved at them. "Hello, Sheev's friends."

Ovirelt's face split with the widest and fakest smile Palpatine had ever seen. Ovirelt greeted his mother. "Oh, hi, Mrs. Palpatine. My name is Kidria Ovirelt. I'm Sheev's friend. It's a pleasure to meet you." She continued smoothly, "Mrs. Palpatine, I must say you look gorgeous, and that necklace is beautiful."

Palpatine's eyes widened. Why are you talking to my mother, you moron?

Palpatine's mother beamed at Ovirelt's comment. "Why, thank you, Kidria. You're so sweet."

SWEET? SHE'S INSANE!

Palpatine tried to move his HoloComm out of the way, but his mother pressed on. "Sheevy, it's not embarrassing to have friends. You didn't have that many for a long time. I'm so happy for you."

He didn't even have to turn to know Ovirelt had a vicious leer on her face. Palpatine was mortified.

His mother addressed Jaxious. "What's your name?"

Jaxious gave his mother a genuine smile. "Hello, Mrs. Palpatine, the name is Jaxious…" During the conversation Palpatine proceeded to have a speechless argument with Ovirelt.

Leave. Palpatine mouthed to Ovirelt.

Ovirelt replied. No.

Why not?

Because I don't want to.

While Jaxious was still speaking to Palpatine's mother, Palpatine interrupted him. Palpatine feigned a happy face. "Mother, how about we speak privately. I have many—"

Palpatine's mother dismissed him. "Sheev, let Jaxious, finish." Palpatine's lips thinned.

"No, it's okay, Mrs. Palpatine. I really didn't have much else to say." Jaxious told Palpatine's mother.

"No, please, I insist."

"Well, all I had to say is that, uh…your son is a very ambitious and admirable. I would be very proud if I were you."

Palpatine's mother smiled, and she looked at Palpatine. "Of course, I'm proud of him." She nodded to Palpatine's friends. "And you two are absolute delights." His mother paused and considered for a moment. "Sheev's sister, Mairda is having a wedding in three days Would you two like to come?"

Jaxious nodded eagerly. "Yes, that sounds splendid. Is that okay, Palpatine?"

Palpatine stood in front of Ovirelt and interjected before she could speak, "Yes, of course. Jaxious can come but Ovirelt…" he paused to think of something. "I think Ovirelt has an extremely busy schedule, and she will be unable to make it to the wedding." He turned around and whispered to Ovirelt. "Go away. No one wants you here."

Jaxious said softly. "That's very rude, Palpatine."

"Rude? Whose side are you on? Do you remember? She's the one that was for cloning. She was against us!" Palpatine demanded.

Ovirelt stepped into Palpatine mother's view. "Yes, Mrs. Palpatine, my schedule is all clear. I can come too." Palpatine threw Ovirelt a loathsome look.

"Oh, how, wonderful!" squealed Palpatine's mother. Palpatine sighed deeply. His mother went on, "I will send both of you an invitation." She bid her farewells. "Goodbye Sheev's friends. Goodbye Sheev. I will see you tomorrow…in person I suppose." She beamed.

"Wait mother!" But his mother had already signed off. He whirled around to Ovirelt. "What are you trying to do? Why are you blazebent on making my life miserable?"

Ovirelt straightened her robes and chided him. "Well, you embarrassed me at that Model GR. I was a laughingstock to my friends. Bested by the likes of you, a Naboo! Ugh…" Then her smile returned, "See you at the wedding, Sheev the Skeeve." Ovirelt stalked off before Palpatine could retort.

Another nickname? Why? Just why?

He then turned on Jaxious. "Why are you suddenly all friendly with Ovirelt?"

Jaxious shrugged and he glanced down at the floor.

"That's not an answer, Jaxious," snarled Palpatine.

Jaxious collapsed on the couch and stared at the ceiling. "I don't know." Jaxious posed a question to Palpatine. "Why are you so on edge?"

Palpatine sat down next to Jaxious, and they looked out at Coruscant. He knew the answer.

Palpatine had become a Sith apprentice in less than a day and Plagueis had killed a long-term family employee over Palpatine's perceived treachery. The escape plan had been very rocky, and he had barely made it out of the Jedi Temple unnoticed. Darth Vayne, who had previously owned his lightsaber and was now a Sith ghost, wanted his blood and could potentially turn up at any point. Ovirelt had poured out the last of his Raging Rancor and had gotten it permanently banned from the Apartments. Yes, Palpatine, of course was on edge.

All he answered was, "I am uncertain."

They both gazed out the windows to the city. Palpatine had grown to appreciate the bustling planet Coruscant. It certainly wasn't Naboo, but it was growing on him. The dawn was truly a beautiful sight. A few long moments of comfortable silence lingered between them.

"She's cute." Jaxious admitted.

Palpatine furrowed his brows. "Who?"

"You know…Ovirelt."

"What of her?"

"Ovirelt's cute."

No…that's insanity. "Her?"

"Yeah…"

"You're serious?"

"Yes."

Palpatine scoffed. "Good luck with that."

"Come on, Pal." Jaxious defended himself. "She's not all bad."

"Oh, I'm not so sure about that."

"Fine, fine, just how do I talk to her?"

"You were talking to her."

"But like…you know, ask her out?"

"I wouldn't know anything about that." Palpatine waved a dismissive hand. "And didn't you just meet her yesterday?"

"Yeah, but you also just met her yesterday and you hate her guts, so…"

Palpatine conceded. "Fair point but she's also exceptionally skilled at irritating people. Except you, apparently."

Jaxious said dreamily, "Yeah…" he turned back to Palpatine. "But actually, how do I ask her out?"

"I already said I wouldn't know anything about it," Palpatine insisted. He honestly didn't as he had not given any thought to ever asking anyone out.

"Just give me your best idea." Jaxious asked.

Palpatine took a moment to consider. He withdrew the almost empty Dyru (a flammable and sticky liquid) container out of his knapsack and handed it to Jaxious. "How about this?"

Jaxious took the Dyru container in his hands. "Dyru? Pal, what are you doing carrying this—"

Palpatine motioned to a nearby hall which Ovirelt had disappeared into. "You could burn your message into her quarter's wall or carpet, perhaps? I know where she lives."

Jaxious looked down at the Dyru in his hands and back up to Palpatine. "Yeah, um, I'll consider." He pocketed the Dyru. "So…any other ideas?"

Palpatine shrugged. "You could follow her around for a few days and get a sense of what she likes so you can find out the perfect way to ask her out." Palpatine paused, "Or use pickup lines."

Jaxious said hesitantly, "I think the pickup lines are the best options of those suggestions." He stood up and turned around. "You were joking about the other ideas, right, Palpatine?"

Palpatine realized how disturbing he had sounded. He stood up and started laughing. "Of course, Jaxious," Palpatine lied.

Jaxious nervously laughed. "Got it." He changed the subject. "So, your sister's wedding, are you leaving early for that?"

Palpatine nodded. "Yes, I will be leaving tonight."

Jaxious took a deep breath. "Hm. Lots of packing, huh?"

"Indeed, but I already have a packed day."

"But today is going to light regarding classes? Isn't it? There's only a few in the morning."

"Those classes on top of the optional classes I am taking from Senator Formidas."

Jaxious seemed slightly taken aback by that. "Oh…okay. That makes sense."

Palpatine started wrapping up the conversation. He had so much to do and so little time. "I really must be going, Jaxious, I have to finish that paper on Sith mythology."

Jaxious asked. "You took that class too? I thought you weren't on the roster."

"Well, I am now." Palpatine added. "Actually, I was still at your house a few hours ago. Your mother helped me enroll in it."

Jaxious tilted his head. "Why were you at my mom's house a few hours ago? I thought you left only a little bit later than I did…"

Palpatine stared at Jaxious and then realized. Ah. Oh dear. He couldn't tell Jaxious he was there because Plagueis and Formidas were setting him on the path of becoming of Sith Lord. However, he couldn't let Jaxious draw any other…uncomfortable conclusions.

He and Darth Plagueis had been researching how to defeat a Sith ghost. And of course, other Sith related conversations. They had decided future lightsaber lessons may protect Palpatine from Sith ghosts and other foes. After that Formidas helped him enroll in this Sith Mythology class.

"Uh…" he paused and collected himself. "I misspoke." He forced a laugh. "My apologies I've been up and about all night…studying at the Senatorial Archives, for tomorrow—I mean today. Your mother helped me enroll yesterday." He lied.

Palpatine held his breath.

Jaxious nodded. "Oh okay."

Palpatine went on to explain even further. "She pulled a few strings and then I was in the class. I didn't know it was in such high demand."

Jaxious drew slightly closer. "Yeah, it is. It's a new class, you know, and people are bound to be curious about them. They're just so…mystical." He paused and mentioned. "A…deserter Jedi Master is teaching the class which should be interesting."

"Hm…" Palpatine earnest attitude dissipated. "A Jedi Master…who is not a Jedi Master?" It was quite a puzzling concept. Palpatine had never heard of such a thing.

"Yeah…I heard like only nineteen Jedi total have left the Jedi Order." Jaxious paused. "Also, I heard she's really strict so…do you want some help with your paper?" he added. "Kidria helped me out with it. She's kind of a fanatic which, you know, is helpful but…its slightly scary. Should I go get her?"

What is wrong with him? Can't he just get it through his head that I HATE KIDRIA OVIRELT!

"Yes, I would appreciate your help." He glanced in the direction of Ovirelt's quarters. "Come along." Palpatine led Jaxious to his quarters. He supposed that they could have sat down at a study area. But Palpatine wanted to get his items sorted through.

"Ten pages?" Palpatine exclaimed.

"Well…at least you're starting it now rather than later." Jaxious tried to be optimistic.

Palpatine grumbled. He and Jaxious began the grueling process of finishing a ten-page essay that was due in only two hours.

There was far too many things weighing on his mind. Particularly two words, his new name: Darth Sidious. He was unsure where this whole journey would take him, but he wished, he so dearly wished it wouldn't end tragically…at least not for him.