Palpatine stepped out of his speeder and gazed up at the Galactic Opera House.
The other group members from the anti-cloning coalition had arrived as well. Most had dressed in ostentatious attire to fit in with the ridiculous standards of attending the Galactic Opera House.
Floffi could care less but Nitch Nock realized he had come underdressed and stared around at all the prestigious people sauntering by.
Palpatine sighed deeply and ascended the red carpeted stairs. The rest: the Mandalorian, Alderaanian, and Wookie followed uncertainly. Nitch Nock asked Palpatine. "Do you have any idea where we're going?"
Palpatine answered coolly. "Yes." It was on the instructions, moron. "Did you read the letter?" Nock didn't reply. "Well, we're in box 66. I'll lead you." Palpatine told them.
The group entered the Opera House longue. Palpatine consulted with the front desk registering their names. A few senators gave a friendly nod or wave towards the group.
The Naboo Senator, Brik Delos called out to Palpatine. "Palpatine!" Palpatine turned with a smile prepared, but his face went sour when he spotted two Gungans beside Delos. "Come meet, Senator Klic-Klic Niwi and his Youth Senator Moran Lamro!"
Senator Klic-Klic Niwi shrieked in a grating voice. "Hot evenin'. Yousa da Youth Senator My've heard mooie-mooie 'bout."
Many of the Senators gave the Gungan Senator a glare then returned to chatting with their non-Gungan friends. Palpatine's face was already heating up. Ugh...Gungans...
Palpatine spun on his heel and strode swiftly away from the scene. Delos called. "Palpatine? Palpatine!"
Jeivin Lan whispered. "Aren't you going to say something?"
"Just keep walking." Palpatine hissed to the group. Floffi and Nock exchanged glances.
"Heyo-dalee, yousa ignorin' uss-ens?" Senator Klic-Klic Niwi screamed once more. Just keep walking. Just keep walking. IGNORE IT! Palpatine did just that, walking, ascending, and avoiding.
Palpatine escaped the Gungans but his annoyance did not decrease. He entered an endless maze of red halls and red staircases. I suppose Bazaron must like red. Palpatine remarked to himself as they climbed yet another flight of stairs.
Floffi roared loudly, complaining about the number of steps. "Hush up, you big furball." Nock pointed to a nearby entrance where soft music and song drifted through.
He put a hushing finger over his lips. Floffi smacked Nock over the top of the head.
In response, Nock shoved Floffi back. "HEY!"
Palpatine spotted a plaque with "Private Box 66" engraved on it. "We're here," he told the others.
Jeivin Lan scolded the sparring Wookie and Mandalorian. "That means shut up. Come on, we're going to be late."
The Mandolorian paused his fight with Floffi to start one with the Alderaanian. Nock argued. "Hey, don't tell me what to do!"
Jeivin Lan responded in an exasperated voice, "I'm not trying to tell you what to do. I'm just giving you a suggestion. Know the difference."
Palpatine took a deep breath and walked ahead of them. The arguing persisted behind him, and he rolled his eyes. Fools. The overhead lights dimmed as he continued walking down the hall.
A green Kalleran guard clad in white and red stood at the door and had a HoloPad in her right hand. The guard looked up at Palpatine's approach.
Palpatine halted in front of them, he narrowed his eyes at all the security. Strange. "Name?" the guard holding the HoloPad demanded.
Palpatine straightened his back and uttered his name. "Palpatine."
The same guard still inquired. "Full name?" Palpatine gritted his teeth but still answered.
"Sheev Palpatine."
The guard glanced down at the HoloPad and Palpatine. "Checks out. Now I got a few more questions for you: what's the names of your immediate family members?"
Palpatine was taken aback and stared at the guard. "Why? Is that really necessary?"
"Yes." The guard told him shortly. "Look, kid, I'm just given these questions. Senator Formidas is just worried about changelings getting in. She wants to know if it's actually you." The guard paused. "Just answer the questions, okay?"
Palpatine sighed deeply and gave the guard a suspicious glance. "So be it." He paused and recounted the names quietly. "My father and mother: Aronder and Kathea. My siblings: Predune and Mairda. Is that good enough?" The guard nodded and let him in. "Finally." Palpatine breathed once he was through the door.
"Welcome." Senator Formidas greeted him at the head of the table.
Jaxious waved at him, he sat next to his mother. She motioned for Palpatine to sit down next to Jaxious. Palpatine straightened out the folds of his navy senatorial robe as he sat down.
He looked out to the sprawling private boxes across the Opera, higher ups whispered to each other and pointed at the stage. The stage was not too far from their box.
The stage stood at the center on a floating platform, an unknown gas swirled underneath. In the pit underneath, a single player was playing an exotic instrument.
The opera had yet to start, and its enchantingly haunting music swayed the audience. Palpatine noted that Private Box 66 had the best seating in the Opera House.
Palpatine remarked on the setup to Senator Formidas. "I've never dined at an opera before. How fascinating." A few platters of violet Gorroren biscuits were placed neatly on the table as appetizers. Palpatine took a bite of one as he continued to soak in the scene.
The other three: Nock, Lan, and Floffi entered. Formidas exchanged greetings with each of them. Palpatine leaned slightly towards Jaxious. "Any idea where your father is? Bazaron?"
Jaxious pointed below the stage. "He's helping the cast and crew set up. The opera I believe will start in about five minutes." Jaxious paused as he saw Palpatine peering down at the stage. Jaxious laughed. "Don't worry, you'll get to meet him. He sometimes comes up here and chats with us a bit."
Palpatine moved on and asked. "Who's that?" Palpatine pointed at a stern-faced Quarren. His finned hands clasped in front of him. Jaxious followed Palpatine's gaze.
"Ah, Gu Chaz, he's the assistant director. He's usually the one conducting the opera when my dad isn't around." Jaxious shrugged. "My dad has to schmooze rich folk during the opera, so he has Chaz helps him out. Chaz is nice enough I suppose." Jaxious commented uncertainly.
Jaxious and Palpatine cut their conversation short when they heard someone clinking a glass, calling the attention of the young adults.
Senator Formidas announced. "I am so overjoyed you all could make it. I've seen what a capable group you all are. And my, you've all been through a lot. Some more than others but more than most." She gazed at all of them. "I'm sure all you know each other so let's skip the introductions."
The Wookie, Floffi roared an affirmative.
Jeivin Lan exclaimed. "How did I not recognize you guys earlier!? You two, were the ones taken hostage the other day by the Shadow Skull!"
"Pfft." Nock blew the air out his mouth and Lan glared at him. "What's the big deal? We've all been kidnapped a few times. You know those Death Watch guys are pretty unpleasant."
Lan leaned forward and regarded Nock. "Well, not everyone gets to talk to the Jedi." She turned to Palpatine and Jaxious. "How was it? Did you guys get to go into the council room?"
Jaxious launched into the conversation earnestly while Palpatine leaned back. He had honestly no idea why people were so fascinated by the Jedi. They were a bunch of idiots who barely did anything, at least for him.
The chatter died down as Chaz took the stage and began to speak in a commanding yet capturing voice. "Bazaron gives kind regards to all who decided to come on this fateful night. Bazaron presents The Comedy of the Sadimrof Family, a tale of the joys and woes of family. May you all enjoy!" a polite applause echoed through the Opera House.
Palpatine brow furrowed as the scene opened up to a happy family. I thought he only wrote tragedies.
Palpatine recalled: the Tragedy of Eos Vayne, his favorite opera of all time. The opera before him was nothing like Bazaron's previous one, it was joyful and funny. Not a single ounce of grimness was within it.
It shocked him to the core. The higher up patrons laughed along as the father of the Sadimrof family sung about his son not putting away his laundry again. Yes, it was funny but where was the tragedy? Where was the masterful and heartbreaking writing of Bazaron. It was nowhere to be seen.
"Man, this is good. I thought I would never watch an opera in my life." Nock laughed. Floffi elbowed him and roared in agreement.
Senator Formidas inquired. "Palpatine, are you enjoying it?" Palpatine didn't want to reveal his dislike, so he avoided eye contact. He nodded along hoping Formidas wouldn't notice his distaste.
Palpatine was barely paying attention to the play and started twisting his House ring on his forefinger. His gaze skimmed the senators and higher ups seated around the Opera House.
The few Jedi that had been seated had left, they mostly enjoyed tragedies. Palpatine was looking for interesting interactions or something apart from the play.
The hairs on Palpatine's neck began to prickle. A strange feeling welled up within him. Something was stretching out towards him, a hand through another plane of existence extended its palm. His neck snapped back to the opera.
Palpatine blinked a few times in surprise. The father was cradling his dead son on the stage, lamenting his loss. The comedy turned tragic. How much did I miss?
The music was swelling with great emotion and sorrow but there was something else. Something stranger, something no one else seemed to sense.
His body remained in his seat, yet his consciousness had wandered through space and time. Palpatine could feel the carpet underneath his feet. Yet he reached out to feel the chill of space and the emptiness that awaited in the far reaches.
The music echoed across the great expanse of the constellations. Time seemed to slow as the music slurred and the sorrowful voices became warped.
Buried deep in the chords, tone, and harmonies a voice spoke out across the ether. The voice lay in a place where no star's light could ever light.
It dwelled on the bridge of foolishness and wisdom. the warmth of folly and the coolness of knowledge. The voice echoing across the cosmos yet seemingly whispering into his ear.
"Come to me..."