The orbital mirrors shifted further and the last rays of artificially refracted sunlight disappeared behind the imposing skyline as dusk settled upon Coruscant, the beating Heart of the Republic. The planet that never sleeps buzzed with the constant whirring of speeders and the comings and goings of life. A myriad of species from throughout the galaxy comprised this bastion of civilization while their flitting across the planet's innumerous levels kept the galaxy's proverbial hyperdrive running. Such frantic pace never slowed or stuttered. This was doubly true during times of crisis such as what was currently fomenting in the Mid Rim; a crisis that posed a real threat of war. Trade Federation droids marched the main thoroughfare of Theed's Royal Palace as a form of armed protest, the Nabooian defence forces were in disarray, negotiations had stalled, and the Republic was urged to take action. All eyes rested upon the Galactic Senate and Queen Amidala once she made known to the holonet that she would make her latest address to the chamber tonight.
All eyes but Darth Plagueis'.
The news he received from his apprentice troubled him greatly. In a meeting with his friend, Jedi Master Dooku, Darth Sidious was informed that Qui-Gon Jinn brought a vergence in the Force to the council's attention. A vergence focused on a Human native to the remote planet of Tatooine by the name of Anakin Skywalker. A child whom the wise Master proclaimed to be the Chosen One of prophecy as fact. The veracity of said prophecy was of little importance to Plagueis; prophecies were superstitious drivel and would buck under the will of truly powerful beings.
Beings such as he.
No, the reason Plagueis rushed to see this Human in the flesh and to sense the child with his powers, was to verify if the Force had pushed back against his influence; to see if the Force defied the tipping towards the Dark Side that both he and Sidious induced a decade ago. This would endanger the Grand Plan. This could undo everything he'd worked a lifetime to achieve. This could spell a final doom to the Sith. Plagueis grimaced at the thought and increased the throttle of his airspeeder as he weaved skilfully through the congested traffic of Coruscant. He headed towards Palpatine's suite at 500 Republica where the child stayed as a guest. Such were the perks of being acquainted with a Queen and a Senator both.
The Muun used his public persona of Hego Damask – an influential former Magister of Damask Holdings and long-standing friend to Senator Palpatine – to reach the suite unimpeded. He hoped his haste would bear fruit as this was the only window of opportunity he could use to approach. Should the child slip between his fingers they would otherwise be accompanied by the entire might of the Jedi Order at all times, which would render them virtually unreachable. This had to be done tonight.
He rang the door to Palpatine's suite and exactly twenty-four seconds later a Nabooian handmaiden to Queen Amidala answered.
"Yes, can I help you?" She said in the practised monotone all of the Queen's aides used.
"Greetings, I am Hego Damask, a friend of Palpatine." Said the Muun with a raspy, mechanical tone due to the respirator he had to wear.
"Ah, Magister Damask, it is a pleasure. I'm afraid Senator Palpatine is at the Senate to hear the Queen's address." She said, unbothered by the curt tone or the quality of his voice.
"Quite, but I am not here for Palpatine. I was told he had a guest, a child."
"Anakin?"
"Anakin, yes," he said hastily, "Palpatine spoke of them at length. Bring them to me." His patience wore thin, and he added, "Now!"
"I am not allowed to—" She began but Plagueis interrupted with a subtle wave of his hand and an application of the Force.
"You are allowed."
"I am allowed." The dazed look faded shortly afterward and she continued without a wasted breath, "One moment please."
Two of Plagueis' three hearts leapt to his throat as the handmaiden shut the door and walked back into the depths of the suite. Plagueis was restless and he took a calming breath to recentre his presence in the Force and maintain his mental wards. Could this be a sign that his worries were unfounded? Surely if the Force had a will and abhorred his work as vehemently as he thought it ought to, it would make this meeting an impossibility. This had to be irrefutable proof that the Force was meant to be bent in accordance with the whims of the powerful. That his life's work had merit and the so-called Will of The Force was nothing more than baseless mysticism ascribed to an entirely physical and scientific phenomenon.
Distracted as he was, the Muun would never admit to being startled at the slight woosh emitted by the pneumatic door as it opened. Before him stood the same handmaiden and, with a smile, she then sidestepped to reveal a small creature. From what he understood of Human physiology, and his interest in anatomy, the boy – for Plagueis was certain he was a male from his facial bone structure – was around ten standard cycles in age. His hair was the colour of wet sand and his eyes were a piercing, if confused and inquisitive as they were, blue. This was a painfully average and unremarkable example of Humanity.
"Um… why are you looking at me like that?"
A high-pitched voice reached Plagueis and, surprised at the question, only now realised he wore a deeply furrowed brow. He could not sense anything from the boy. Those meddlesome Jedi must have taught him to mask his presence, or perhaps he was naturally gifted at protecting his mind with the Force. Plagueis knew that to be possible for those even untrained in the Force as Sidious had proven to him when they met many years ago.
"Apologies young Skywalker, but Palpatine spoke so highly of you that I was certain you'd be older." The Muun fell back on an easily fabricated lie then seamlessly shifted his countenance into the shrewd businessman persona he crafted through a lifetime of experience in letting those around him comfortable in his presence.
"Are you friends with Mr. Palpatine?" Anakin said.
"As a matter of fact I am, my boy. Hego Damask, at your service." He raised his hand in customary Human greeting. Even as he wore his best smile – albeit hidden beneath the respirator – his mind continued to probe into the child before him. Yet the Force remained silent. No matter. With power amplified by direct contact, plus his unrivalled expertise in the Force, he would easily remove any feeble attempts at shielding himself this child could muster.
"Hi, I'm Anakin Skywalker." He said politely and took Plagueis' hand.
And Plagueis felt nothing.
Not a wall like most forms of mental shielding; not a pushback like those trained in Force reacted when sensing an intruder; not a thought like he expected to be able to hear; not a presence as every being ought to have; not even the remotest inkling that the creature that stood before him existed in the Force at all. This was impossible. All beings created ripples in the Force as it flowed through the midi-chlorians. Those microscopic bacteria, when present in sufficient numbers in the bloodstream, vibrate in synchronous harmony under the application of the Force; a faint hum or pressure most other sensitives perceive as a feeling.
Never before was it ever unresponsive. No hint of any sort of reaction or an abnormality of any kind that suggested the presence of another life form, let alone a sentient one. Plagueis had never felt — or not felt? – such a complete and perfectly mute presence in the Force. No matter how much he wailed and probed and clawed at this creature's mind and Force presence he knew had to be there, nothing answered. Nothing. Could it be the midi-chlorians in this Anakin Skywalker were so numerous, so dense, that it made peering into him a futile endeavour? Was the Force openly mocking him for his attempts?
"I thought old Palpatine was so serious all the time that that meant he probably didn't have any friends." Plagueis barely registered when Anakin began speaking, "That made me a bit sad but I'm glad he at least has one." Anakin pulled his hand away and gave the Muun a smile so genuine and carefree that Plagueis would have recoiled in disgust if his mind wasn't reeling.
"I– uh… yes," Plagueis stared at the hand that held Anakin's with an intensity he never thought he'd use when gazing at himself. Several hypotheses and assumptions raced through his mind as he attempted to rationalise what he had just witnessed. Plagueis could feel the expertly crafted and immaculate mask he always wore begin to blemish and crack; his muscles tensed in fight or flight response. What? Because of a child? Preposterous. He was the epitome of mind over matter. With great effort, Plagueis brought his faculties back under control then straightened slightly and clasped his hands behind his back to hide the white-knuckle grip he employed to stop himself from trembling. He would not make a further fool of himself. "I suppose even the uh… sternest politicians are capable of making friends."
"Yeah, he should go out and do something fun sometimes. Being trapped in an office with nothing but meetings all day sounds so boring. I like to go podracing for fun myself, what about you?"
On any other day, in any other situation, with any other person, Plagueis would have little problem engaging in harmless banter if it proved beneficial. He would easily warm himself into the good graces of Anakin Skywalker. Lead him to trust him, to confide in him. Lure him into his schemes and use him to further his machinations. Puppet him from the shadows as Anakin Skywalker brings to fruition his own downfall.
At this moment that was the furthest thing from Plagueis' mind.
He, no, it was an occurrence in the Force Plagueis could never have thought possible. Qui-Gon Jinn was right. This is a vergence, he was sure of it. But why? How? Nothing that Plagueis knew of how the Force functioned explained this thing that stood before him. It was made of flesh, yes. He touched it. He could see it. Yet his mind could not comprehend it. This went against everything he knew about how the Force functioned. The Force was a series of actions and reactions. A science that could be measured. It was quantifiable. It was predictable. This… It is wrong. Wrong. Wrong. The only conclusion that provided a modicum of an explanation was that Anakin Skywalker was indeed the Chosen One, but that would imply… no… No! He refused to believe the Force did as it willed. He is mistaken, he must be. Something must be done about it before it threatens everything.
"Anakin?"
An unexpected voice from down the hall made Plagueis snap his head in a motion so swift that only decades of keeping his true nature hidden stopped him from assuming a battle-ready stance on the spot. Once the Mun took time to take in the form of who had appeared he counted himself glad to be one of the greatest sabacc players in the Outer Rim. For there stood Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn who very much looked at Plagueis with a healthy dose of suspicion if his right hand, which hovered a hand width away from the lightsabre at his belt, was anything to go by.
"Master Qui-Gon!" Anakin said in a cheery tone that caused Plagueis to clench his jaw as it ran past him to meet the Jedi halfway. "Are you here to take me to the council so I can become a Jedi like you promised?"
"That's right Anakin, but why don't you introduce me to your new friend first?" The Master's eyes left Plagueis only briefly to address it with a smile then they snapped back to him in a piercing gaze. For his part, Plagueis remained carefully silent and reined his Force signature as close as he possibly could.
Plagueis cursed mentally at the ill-timed arrival of Qui-Gon Jinn at first, but as his analytical brain overrode the visceral and instinctual reaction he had before, he pondered: what did he hope to achieve at that faltering moment? Strike the creature down? Spirit it away? He was at the heart of the Galactic Republic, at 500 Republica, no less, which lay but a stone-throw away from the Senate and the Jedi Temple both. Any flare-up of the Dark Side from him would alert every Force-sensitive in the system and hundreds of Jedi Masters would be upon him before he had time to find the nearest spaceport, let alone perform a hyperspace jump.
No, he had to play the long game. As much near excruciating physical pain as it caused him to admit, leaving Anakin with the Order could be a boon in disguise as then it would be contained. Kept in a known location rather than in the galaxy at large and, even better, be simultaneously shackled to the chains of the Jedi Code – oh how Plagueis sneered in derision at the word. Yes, leave it in the hands of the feeble Jedi and their decadent Order to fumble as infants as they try and grasp what Anakin Skywalker truly is. To try their hand and fail in a quest to tame it.
While letting it be properly trained in the ways of the Force and have its potential unleashed was a massive risk, there were ways its progress could be tampered with: its allegiance could be put into question, and its trust could be taken advantage of. Plagueis would use every resource; every connection; every deal; every favour; every scheme; and every underhanded tactic he had in his vast arsenal to bring an end to Anakin Skywalker. The entire might of the Sith shall be brought to bear. However, Plagueis needed to first understand what his enemy was so a proper plan could be devised and the correct steps taken. For that, he had to retreat.
"Really? Wizard!" Anakin pumped its fists in childish jubilation, then added, "Oh, this is Mr. Hugo Damask. He's a friend of Palpatine's, he says he told him about me. Cool, right?"
"Is that so?" Qui-Gon said and took a slight pause to lock eyes with the Muun, who met him unflinchingly, "I'm sure the Senator has his reasons for discussing a child with the scion of Damask Holdings, Mr… Hugo, was it?"
"Hego." Plagueis said in a tone far more clipped than he would have liked. He made sure to correct that immediately, "And while I can't speak for Palpatine, he and I have a friendship that dates back decades. Trust me when I say he only ever speaks of others when they leave a strong impression on him. I must say he was right about young Skywalker."
Qui-Gon hummed in response at first, but any further comment he planned to follow up with was interrupted as Anakin tugged on his robe's sleeve. "Do you think I can see Padmé again before you take me to the council, Master Qui-Gon?"
"I find it unlikely she'd be available right now. The Queen will be addressing the Senate in about an hour and I'm sure she's by her side as we speak."
"I wish I could talk to her; sitting here is so boring." Anakin said as it looked at the ground, despondent.
"You'll see her again I'm sure of it," Qui-Gon placed a hand on Anakin's shoulder to comfort it then added, "And since you're so bored I'll do you a favour and take you to the temple early."
"Wizard!" It immediately took off down the hall in the direction Qui-Gon had come from before it suddenly halted and turned around.
"Oh, it was nice to meet you, Mr. Damask!" A short wave later and it rounded the corner out of sight. Qui-Gon pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed at its antics. He then turned back to regard the Muun with another silent stare.
"Children." Plagueis said with a chuckle he hoped hadn't sounded as strained as he felt it was.
"Indeed." Qui-Gon said after a second too long for it to be anything but awkward. "I shudder to think what sort of mischief he'd cause for the minders of the Order."
Plagueis said nothing to that and the moment stretched into another uncomfortable silence until Qui-Gon saw fit to break it.
"Magister." He nodded politely to the Muun.
"Master Jedi." Plagueis answered in kind and he tried not to keep his gaze locked on the retreating back of Qui-Gon Jinn as he followed Anakin around the corner, and left.
Plagueis felt his breathing turn erratic, his knees became weak, and he placed a hand on the wall for support as rivulets of sweat broke on his brow. The jarring experience with the creature already had destabilised his psyche; the constant barrage of Force prodding that Qui-Gon used to assault his mind the moment he arrived only aggravated matters further. All told it took a tremendous toll on his fortitude. Not that the Jedi had been particularly forceful, but, to pass as a non-threat, Plagueis had to carefully manage his defences to abate any suspicion: enough gaps so that Qui-Gon could peer into his mind yet shielded enough for him to not sense his true nature. Coupled that with making a conscious effort to only project inane thoughts so the Jedi wouldn't suspect anything was amiss and this had become the most arduous minutes in a conversation Plagueis had endured since the times he deceived his own former Master, Darth Tenebrous.
He pulled a piece of cloth from his fine robes and wiped the sweat from his skin. It took a few more minutes until he could trust his legs not to give from under him and, after confirming with a very gentle application of the Force that the pair were sufficiently far away, he left the building for his airspeeder. Once safely sequestered inside the vehicle he then produced a hidden communicator that connected directly to his apprentice, but rather than starting a call, Plagueis sent a coded message which urged Sidious to meet him as swiftly as possible. There was much to be done.
Sidious did not know what to make of this sudden summons by his Master. He had spoken to him not three hours ago to relay what he had learned from Dooku only to then get a message for an urgent meeting in the middle of the Queen's speech. That particular communicator was so seldom used he could count on one hand the number of times they had done so in the nearly thirty years of their acquaintance. What in the blazes had set him off so?
A whirlwind of theories swirled in his mind as Sidious made his way to the most secure hideout the two of them had in all of Coruscant; hidden deep in the bowels of the city where few dare tread. The location for this meeting also made him weary, what could possibly make his Master feel the need for such secrecy? Had Plagueis figured out he had been played for a fool by him for all these years? That, despite saying he believed in his ploy for the two of them to rule for eternity as immortals, he'd much rather kill him and be rid of a pestering 'Master'? That, indeed, Sidious had fully committed to killing Plagueis in the coming days as they celebrated his election as Supreme Chancellor which, at this point, was a foregone conclusion? All Sidious knew was that he must approach this meeting with caution. The Dark Side whispered to him that something was not right.
Like a wraith, he moved silently and with purpose towards the passageway hidden in an alley that led to their sanctum. All the while he made sure to keep his features hidden beneath a plain dark cloak.
The fake wall slid and, once he went past the entryway, shut behind him. The room was dimly lit and its interior spartan: a large meditation circle with sigils and Sith runes carved in stone sourced from a Dark Side nexus took most of the available space. A table for Sith alchemy was pushed against one wall while a large shelf filled to the brim with holocrons, ancient texts, and various other baubles attuned to the Force covered the opposite.
"You're late." His Master said voice laced with an unusual amount of venom, as he emerged from a dark corner of the room.
"Apologies, Master," Sidious said as he bowed in an attempt to placate whatever stoked his ire before he added, "Sadly it is nigh on impossible to make for a swift exit when the ruler of your home planet issues forth a vote of no-confidence in the standing Supreme Chancellor in front of a full Senate." Despite the gesture, his tone was rather firm as he made known his distaste for being chastised over this.
"Do not mock me!" Plagueis said as he raised his arm and released a stream of Force Lightning that enveloped Sidious, "I am in no mood for petty games and casual disrespect."
Such a reaction was sudden and had genuinely befuddled Sidious. He had rarely, if ever, seen Plagueis lose his cool to this extent. This only gave credence to what he suspected: something foul has transpired. He was in dire need of information.
"M-Mas-ter…" Sidious managed to croak out, "y-your veil is… fal-ter-ing…"
For indeed, Plagueis' presence in the Force was erratic and trembled like a candle accosted by the wind. The maelstrom of the Dark Side within him was dangerously close to leaking. While he knew this sanctum was designed to obfuscate the presence of anyone within it, it would be preferable for his Master to remain calm. Self-preservation was paramount after all.
Perhaps taking a bit longer than necessary to derive some level of sadistic pleasure at his torment, Plagueis finally ceased the assault on him and Sidious tried hard to hide the twitching of his lambs and to show no discomfort but to no avail. He clenched his limbs to push the Force through him to stabilise himself and then, once he felt presentable enough, lowered in genuflection.
"What is thy bidding, my Master?"
Plagueis stood ramrod straight before Sidious and, after a couple of deep breath cycles, spoke. "Rise." He did. "I have…" Plagueis' eyes looked past him as he struggled to find words. "Witnessed a disturbance in the Force." Witnessed? Not sensed? Odd.
"Whatever do you mean, Master?" Sidious said.
"The boy you spoke of, Anakin, it… It is something else entirely. It's nothing I ever could have thought possible." It? Sidious wished desperately to inquire more but remained silent for now. "I managed to speak to it, albeit briefly, and its signature in the Force was… well, it wasn't. I believe the Jedi's words rang true when he said it was a vergence in the Force. I must account for this new development and make alterations to the Grand Plan if necessary."
"What? Master, please, slow down." Sidious said, unable to hold his tongue any longer.
"I was there, Sidious, right in front of it and it was hollow. It felt like nothing. Its signature was empty; like gazing beyond even the Unknown Regions into the most unfathomable depths. Do you have any idea what that means?"
No, he did not have any idea.
"Could it be…" Sidious said in a tentative tone, "That he is indeed the Chosen One?"
"Bah!" Plagueis huffed as was the expected retort whenever someone touched on the more transcendental aspects of the Force, but Plagueis eventually continued as he shifted his body away from him. "Maybe… I'm not certain."
That he even admitted to not being sure was all the concrete evidence Sidious needed to conclude that whatever it was that he saw in the young Skywalker had irrevocably affected his Master. This boy must wield power beyond measure or, at the very least, be a complete conundrum to the Muun to yield this sort of reaction from a Dark Lord of the Sith. Whereas, before today, Anakin Skywalker had been nothing but a curiosity to him, now he had shot to the top of the list of persons of interest in Sidious' eyes.
"We must destroy it." Said Plagueis in a tone of finality.
While dealing in such absolutes is the Sith way, Sidious' immediate reaction to such a decree was that it would be a waste. No Force-sensitive causes this much impression on beings the likes of the two of them and is then merely disposed of. Through the, frankly, borderline incoherent ramblings of his Master, Sidious gathered that this Skywalker spawnling had the potential to become the most powerful Force user in the entire galaxy. If he could find a way to pry him from the hands of the Jedi he would become an apprentice like no other and ensure his reign over the galaxy – nay, the universe – was absolute. He would have to convince his Master to employ some measure of restraint or take matters into his own hands.
"Are you sure that's… wise, Master? He is but a boy: gullible and impressionable. Easily corrupted to the Dark Side."
"It is an abomination!" Plagueis said as he swung his arm out in an arc, "Did you not hear what I said? There is no guarantee we could completely corrupt it into obedience, and, even if it did fall, it could poison the well and undermine everything the Banite Sith have worked a millennium to achieve. Not when we are so close to bringing the Grand Plan to fruition."
Sidious gritted his teeth and swallowed a retort. While the reasoning was sound and taking such risks was… reckless to say the least when he was on the brink of being placed in the highest office of the Republic, his Master's words reeked of weakness and cowardice. The Banite have only strengthened the Sith through the Rule of Two and the result of its application produced the most powerful enemies the Jedi have ever faced since The Great Jedi Purge. To have such a remarkable individual stumble into their grasp and not take advantage of him is an affront to everything Sidious believed the pursuit of power to be. It sickened him.
Unfortunately, this encounter seemed to have awakened a spark in his Master that Sidious hadn't seen in a decade. Even though he believes he is powerful enough to kill Plagueis in single combat, he knows the Muun has a plethora of tricks and abilities he never disclosed. That is to say nothing of his skills with Force Illusions that have tricked even him on more than one occasion. Sidious could not guarantee that his Master would meet his end tonight and that enraged him. He would have to bide his time for a more opportune encounter.
"My presence on Coruscant and in close proximity to the boy would not be put into question." Sidious said as he hoped some misdirection would prevent Plagueis from doing something rash. "I can observe with impunity until such a time when we may strike and ensure our complete victory."
"I am of the same mind. When he is taken beyond the confines of the temple and the guard of his Jedi teacher is down, we will make our move with deadly precision."
"What shall you do, Master?"
"We must learn of our enemy so we may find the best way to vanquish it. What I have… witnessed from it still troubles me greatly. I must pour through our archives and conduct research on the creature's true nature."
"Does that mean you will be returning to Sojourn?" Sidious said.
While not an ideal location for an ambush, especially when it is against the likes of Plagueis, the chances of it succeeding were not nil. Even if a previous attempt he orchestrated had failed, Sojourn was isolated from the rest of the galaxy and any escape would be difficult to carry out.
"No. Based on recent developments I believe the security of Sojourn has been compromised, thus I have taken the necessary precautions to have its resources allocated to a different base. You need not concern yourself." Plagueis said with a dismissive hand wave.
Sidious had to practise restraint to avoid glowering at the news. Sojourn was Plagueis' personal headquarters: an impregnable fortress of duranium and duralloy housed in the moon of an uncharted world in the Unknown Regions. He would loathe to picture an even more secure location. Even if Sidious knew where this new base was located, which he did not, finding it and then eliminating Plagueis in his backyard would be an exercise in futility.
His Master had a habit of practising such isolation from time to time to further his research and the nature of such retreats meant he would be alerted immediately to any who approached. This development had turned any thought Sidious had of ridding the galaxy of Plagueis in the immediate future moot. Although such a thing need not be a curse. For as much as this 'New Sojourn' was a boon to Plagueis, it would limit his gaze on himself. Sidious could further his agenda and set up his pawns and contingencies until his Master made a mistake.
"Your prudence is wise, Master. What about Qui-Gon Jinn?" Sidious said.
"Have your pet, Maul, eliminate him. He is powerful and Anakin has already displayed some attachment; his death would deal a blow to the efficacy of his tutelage in the Order. If his padawan is foolish enough to engage as well, be rid of him too." Plagueis said.
"Speaking of young Skywalker, shall I keep you updated on his whereabouts?"
"Only bother if it ever leaves the system. While the temple is far from being as secure as the Jedi have led the galaxy to believe, it is still too well defended for any ploy to succeed within its walls." Plagueis said, then turned to fully regard Sidious with a stern expression. "Do not approach Anakin Skywalker. It is an enigma. We do not yet fully grasp the ramifications of its discovery and subsequent induction into the Jedi and what its effect is on the Grand Plan. The future of our partnership at the helm of the Eternal Empire is in jeopardy and we must proceed with caution."
"As you wish, my Master." Sidious said as bile rose to his throat. Plagueis is a fool if he thought he would let such an opportunity be left to its own devices.
"I have a ship ready and no longer wish to remain on this planet. Farewell, Chancellor." Plagueis said in a tone that left no room for further discussion and proceeded to unceremoniously leave the sanctum while Sidious remained behind.
The space around Sidious warped as pure, unbridled rage coursed through his veins and the last ounce of control he had over the Dark Side within him was torn asunder. How dare he! Plagueis the Fool, Plagueis the Coward, Plagueis the Weak! That he had to follow the orders of a Sith Lord so unworthy of the title – a Lord cowed by a mere boy – is a humiliation Sidious never thought he would ever endure. That he had once referred to Plagueis as Wise and, worse, taken to his teachings is a stain Sidious would forever carry as a burden; for to renounce it would be to sever himself from the Force. He thought his formative years spent squirming under Cosinga were his lowest point, well they were so no longer. Usurped instead by a new singular moment; the audacity!
The lights flickered as Sidious let go of his hold on the Dark Side. He stood motionless for several moments as a dozen plans were formed, amended, discarded, and then redrawn in his mind. He will have his way. He will be Emperor with Anakin Skywalker at his beck and call and the rotten corpse of Plagueis strewn before his throne. With two clear goals in mind, Sidious left to return to his suite; he had to prepare for his term in office as Supreme Chancellor of the Republic.
In regards to Hego Damask, Darth Sidious decided his second emancipation in life was now long overdue.
AN: Hello there! Thank you for checking out Penumbra; my very first attempt at a Fanfiction. This project began as a very simple "What if" scenario that quickly evolved into something far more grand and elaborate than I had originally anticipated. With encouraging words from a few friends, I decided to dive headlong into this world of non-original fiction and post it to the masses. First and foremost, I would like to thank Mand and Ebrethil for helping me brainstorm ideas and hammering out the finer details of the plot. I would also like to thank Raging Smurf for being a solid person overall. Last but not least, I would like to send massive thanks to USSExplorer for replying to some out-of-the-blue DMs concerning storycraft and for being the first person to encourage me into going through with this story. If you haven't yet, check out his story: A New Player In The Force. It is fantastic!
I hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I have writing it.
10/July/23 EDIT: General touch-ups and some grammar fixes.