Palpatine's consciousness rejoined his body, jolting him to reality. A pair of yellow eyes flickered across the Opera. The figure turned away and disappeared into the darkness. Palpatine blinked a few times, not sure if what he saw was a figment of his imagination or real. It's those same eyes...from yesterday...
"Palpatine are you quite alright? You seemed lightyears away." a voice asked. Palpatine turned to see Senator Formidas gazing at him with a concerned look.
Palpatine glanced around him realizing it was only him and the Formidas family remaining, the mother and the son. Jaxious was engrossed in the opera.
It appeared many other bureaucrats watching had left as well. The table was empty apart from them.
"What happened to everyone?" Palpatine inquired.
Formidas waved her hand with an unconcerned gesture. "Oh, they got bored. As most do at your age. Very few have the will and strength to make it through operas nowadays." Palpatine nodded. Formidas's gaze shifted to her son. "Jaxious, may you ask the droid to bring up more cuisine and quenchers?"
Jaxious obeyed, his chair scraping as he got up. Palpatine mirrored Jaxious. Palpatine insisted, "No, I can get the droid. It's no trouble, Senator Formidas."
I don't want to seem rude.
"Please, sit, Palpatine." Senator Formidas requested. Palpatine glanced back at Jaxious as her son scurried out of the private box.
Palpatine sat beside Senator Formidas, twisting his ring as he waited expectantly. A few heartbeats passed then Formidas asked him, "Tell me about yourself, Palpatine."
Palpatine was taken aback, "There's not much to tell."
"I've heard many lies in my life but none as blatant as that." Formidas insisted, "Indulge me. I have plenty of time."
"Why should I tell you?" Palpatine brows furrowed with skepticism.
"Palpatine...there is no need for mistrust with me." Formidas sighed deeply, "I know it must be hard to bear the trauma of that disaster from yesterday. I cannot even begin to comprehend. To even begin to understand the anger, the fear, you felt in those perilous moments."
Palpatine gazed out onto the opera as the father onstage butchered his wife, accusing her of murdering his son. The opera had turned quite sour, a very abrupt change. Strange...
Palpatine started, "I don't know. I can't even comprehend it myself." The fresh memories flooded his mind. Darkness drowned his senses. "I guess I've never felt so helpless before in my life. I just didn't know what to say, what to do."
Formidas steepled her hands. "You will learn if you spend enough time here how to fend off such fiends. I was much like you before I came here. Helpless. Not sure in the ways of diplomacy. Over time I learned and grew. Diplomacy became my weapon."
Palpatine scoffed at that. "Diplomacy could hardly be called a weapon."
Formidas told him in a stern voice, "Savages say that a blaster speaks louder than words. But diplomacy and negotiations can prevail above all else. To twist words in your favor and speak in such a way to stir people. It is a secret weapon. An underestimated weapon many leaders wield."
Palpatine took a moment to consider but remained unsure.
"Think about it, Palpatine." She motioned out to the senators viewing the opera. "Our world is built on words. Democracy is built on words. The Republic is built on words."
Senator Formidas went on.
"Our world was not built by pillaging and blasting people to smithereens. It is what makes diplomacy so powerful in the Senate. It is the raw and utter power of words. As ironic and as unlikely it is, it remains true."
Hmph...
"It is an art few can master. To speak to a crowd without wavering and sway the people to your will. To twist them to follow your every word." Formidas went on.
Palpatine told her. "That seems very deceptive. Manipulative, even."
Formidas tutted, "It is. Palpatine you must understand there is a light and dark for everything. Like a candle casts a shadow, diplomacy encompasses subterfuge."
Palpatine's shoulders tensed at those words.
"Palpatine, do not be embarrassed to pursue a life built upon half-truths. It is the way of government." Formidas paused to change the subject, "It is also a way to rise in the ranks quickly. But only if you learn it."
Palpatine bit the inside of his cheek at those words. "How much is there to learn about diplomacy? I've learned it at school."
"As I said before it is an art. Something to master, to perfect. School may do many things but it doesn't give experience. Very few like I have truly mastered it." Formidas exhaled. "And it seems that your diplomacy failed you when you were taken hostage."
Palpatine tried not to seem rattled, "I was—I was in shock. I couldn't think straight. I thought I was going to die. There wasn't much to negotiate about."
"But there was so much to negotiate. It is in such times that you must think on your feet. Negotiate in times of seemingly certain death. It is when it matters most."
Formidas side glanced at him.
"I would offer to teach you but I'm sure you'll be returning home soon. Back to Naboo to see your family" she murmured to herself. "Oh well..."
The silence lasted for at least a minute as they sat together. Palpatine twisted his ring vigorously, staring off into the great beyond. Formidas continued to watch the opera.
Palpatine finally broke the silence. "There is nothing left for me on Naboo..."
"Are you certain, Palpatine? I thought your family was alive and well. Thriving I would say." Formidas faced him.
"Yes, they are. But my parents are going to retire and leave the vineyard to my brother. And well...my sister is off exploring the galaxy," Palpatine explained.
"Ah I see." Formidas mumbled. "So...you'll be staying here?"
"Yes, in the Apartments." Palpatine paused. "But I'll have to leave to visit Naboo soon. My sister's wedding is coming up."
"Yes. Yes. Of course. That is understandable." Formidas halted to inquire. "What is your sister's name again? Muraida was it?"
"No, Mairda," Palpatine corrected Formidas.
Just then the door slid shut behind Palpatine and Formidas. Jaxious sat down next to Palpatine and interjected, "Hey, that's name sounds familiar. Merciless Mairda. She's the one that raced Devil's Dive in only two rotations!"
Jaxious had slipped back into the box with the food and drinks so quietly that neither Palpatine nor his mother noticed him. How much did he...overhear?
Jaxious peered at Palpatine which made Palpatine stiffen with unease. "Say, you even look like her. Red hair, blue eyes. You could be her brother!"
Palpatine took a quick glance at Jaxious. He changed the subject quickly, clearing his throat. "Senator Formidas, is your husband, Bazaron joining us? I was hoping to compliment him on his opera. It was quite stupendous!" Palpatine feigned praise.
Jaxious answered Palaptine's question instead as Formidas was currently engrossed in her HoloPad, typing away furiously at something.
Jaxious looked out to the quickly depleting audience. "He's probably puttering around somewhere or talking to someone. Sorry, Palpy, he only comes up occasionally. He must be busy with something." Stop using that name!
Palpatine glanced at Senator Formidas. He took a deep breath to collect himself before he inquired once more, "Jaxious, may I meet him perhaps after he's done with whatever he's doing?"
Formidas swiveled around in her chair to face the young adults. She answered for Jaxious. "I'm afraid we must be going soon. At 1900 hours we are to have dinner with Rau Amedda and his family."
Formidas stood up and motioned for them to follow her.
"Come along, Palpatine. You may get a minute if we find Bazaron quickly. He loves to hear compliments on his work."
The trio rushed out with the guard at the door following behind. Jaxious questioned his mother. "But what about the food I brought?"
"Forget about it." Formidas told him curtly. She moved on, clicking the HoloComm on her wrist.
"Your father has turned off his location...again." Formidas huffed. Formidas turned to the guard and ordered her, "Fex, go to his office. He may be in there. If we find him first, I'll alert you." The guard nodded and dashed up a spiral staircase.
Formidas didn't pause as they descended staircase after staircase and traipsed hall after hall. She wove through the mazelike Opera House seamlessly until they were at the entrance stairs once more.
Most of the lounge was deserted except for a few bureaucrat stragglers. A lone red cloaked figure stood a few feet from a grand speeder outside of the Opera House.
The figure turned at the sound of Formidas footsteps. "Bazaron! Stop turning off your HoloComm! It's dangerous to do that," Formidas told the figure, worriedly.
As Formidas and Jaxious conversed with Bazaron, Palpatine hung back. He stared at Bazaron surprised at his appearance. Palpatine had expected someone reserved, of course, but not one who would hide his face.
Palpatine saw Bazaron extend his gloved hand and activate his HoloComm at his wife's request. Palpatine heard Bazaron speak for the first time, "Anything for you, Evaxious." To Palpatine's surprise his voice was light and timid. Evaxious, also known as Formidas awarded Bazaron a smile.
Bazaron turned to face Palpatine. Palpatine was met with a glaring white mask. The mask reminded Palpatine of the masks worn in plays, a drama mask. It reminded him of obscurement, the unknown.
Palpatine suspected the mask was hiding a grisly and scarred face. That was the only reason Bazaron had to hide his face. Right?
"Who are you?" Bazaron inquired.
Palpatine extended his hand. "Sheev Palpatine," he said with a broad smile.
Bazaron took his Palpatine's hand in his gloved one and shook it firmly. Palpatine tried to see Bazaron's eyes, but they were obscured by the mask.
Formidas interjected, "Bazaron we must make haste. The Ameddas shall be there soon." The guard, Fex had returned and was powering up the speeder. Formidas ushered Jaxious into the speeder.
Palpatine let go of Bazaron's hand and informed them, "I'll be leaving now. Goodbye Jaxious and Senator Formidas." He paused, nodding to Bazaron, and turning to leave. "Farewell, Bazaron."
I suppose I'll call a speeder taxi. Another time may arise to speak to him in greater detail...hopefully.
As Palpatine's turned away Bazaron spoke aloud, "I'm sure the Ameddas wouldn't mind if we invited another guest, would they?" Palpatine swiveled back.
Formidas furrowed her brows at that request, "What guest?"
"Why, Palpatine, of course."
Formidas glanced over at Palpatine and lowered her voice, "Bazaron, the boy has already been to your opera. He has had a rough few days, he needs to rest."
"Why don't we ask him? Palpatine, would you like to dine with us?" Bazaron looked at Palpatine.
Palpatine took a moment to consider. The clock on his HoloComm read 1830. It's been a long day. But I...
Palpatine considered Bazaron's invitation. Something deep within him was whispering to him, imploring him to follow this man.
Palpatine said with a smile, "I would be delighted to."