Those who are like "Grammar gets bad in some places" can you please tell me where so I can edit? Saying that without elaboration is as useful as a white crayon. I proofread a lot, but of course, I'm not going to be able to catch all.

Chapter 6

Senator Palpatine, or rather, Darth Sidious frowned in thought as he sat in his office, hands folded on the table, the light of Coruscant only peaking in for a normal morning horizon.

Sidious didn't think about that. Instead, his thoughts were drawn elsewhere. Two days ago, the Force soared in a way it never did before. A Champion of the Force was born. No, not born, but suddenly introduced to the galaxy, coming out of virtually nowhere, ripping through a fabric of reality. It almost threw Palpatine off-guard during a conversation with his good "friend", Chancellor Valorum. The way the Force pulsated so heavily, centered around Naboo, made his throat clenched tightly-almost vomiting. Alas, the Dark Side didn't abandon him.

He was able to quickly regain his balance and was able to proceed with that meeting and others as if nothing amiss happened. He played the role of a concerned Senator wanting the best for his people, accepting condolences and silent disdain from his colleagues. He shook hands, accepted embraces, nodding at the Jedi when they'd promised that Jinn and Kenobi would get to the bottom of this, and only unleashing himself when he was at the fortress, allowing the Dark Side of the Force to flow through him as he'd so desperately wanted to do so, trashing an entire building and killing a few random nobodies. The Dark Side wanted more, and Sidious gave it such.

When the Dark Side was filled and sorted out, Sidious wondered what was different about this divergence through the Force. But this Force Adept, this being who emitted currents into a sickening delight, pushing back the Veil of the Dark Side, gave Sidious pause for the first time in years.

In his endeavor for balancing the Light and Dark Sides of the Force, Darth Gravid helped the Sith more than hindered, by destroying the secrets of transfer essence when he destroyed those Sith artifacts.

The Rule of Two was designed for a stronger successor each cycle. An eternal struggle for improvement and evolution. As noted by both Darth Bane and his apprentice, Darth Zannah, a Sith Master with the power of immortality would be less inclined to train a stronger successor that would eventually kill them, as the Sith Master would have all of the time in the world to carry out the Grand Design himself. This led to the temptation of being lazy, and distractions, as there's no urgency from aging or growing too old anymore, no need to rush your death by finding a stronger successor, no need to continue the Rule of Two or even destroy the Jedi.

The destruction of the Sith's transfer essence put the Sith back into focus on their goals.

Bane killed every Sith except himself, reducing the Sith population from thousands to the single digits. And yet, two Sith were on the verge of carrying out what thousands of Sith before them never could.

Granted, the Sith Master that did obtain transfer essence never had a problem with training a stronger successor to kill them. However, this was the Rule of Two, meaning there were only two Sith at any given time. It would only have taken one generation, one mischosen apprentice, to end the entire Sith existence from Bane's Rule of Two lineage.

If Gravid never went mad, the Purge of the Jedi might happen later than the estimate Sidious concocted in his head. That setback expedited the Grand Design of the Sith.

And yet, Sidious almost slipped, not into madness, but into his urges to root out this being that either intentionally or not sent a ripple through the Force and disrupted the flow of reality as the Sith have adapted to.

And now, the disturbance would be here soon. Heading their way.

Perhaps, this individual could be of use. What better way than to use an enemy to fight against others? The Jedi were not disturbed but more so curious and perplexed by how the Force shifted suddenly like that. Ironically, that might have been one of the reasons why Sidious's temporary slip didn't result in Jedi charging in and demanding his arrest.

Sheev Palpatine was a famous being, well-regarded by the masses. The Jedi arresting him or assassinating him because of "different religious views" would be an interesting plot to explore, the final pin in the coffin for the Jedi being destroyed as a whole. Yet, it would also raise questions as to how he'd learned the Sith ways, and not all would believe him. His hold wouldn't be as universal because he hadn't proven himself in time of peril.

While certainly could be useful for propaganda, it would not be as satisfying as slowly tearing down their credibility and watching as they fell one by one, nor would it mean that he could declare his first Galactic Empire.

Two reasons: the local governments were not yet in his favor, and Valorum was still Chancellor.

Fortunately, that reality didn't come to be. Not because the Naboo Sith wouldn't be able to adapt but the mere fact that it would require too much work and adaption. Instead of relying on a Republic slowly converting into an Empire, Sidious would have to rely on those of the Outer Rim to crush the Republic and form their own free system.

Oh, that wouldn't be too much of a complication aside from forming a system from the ground up and playing the leader of the secessionist movement. If anything, it would allow the Sith to operate more freely. It would mean just working with that alien trash and dealing with those spineless fools like Gunray who deluded themselves into believing they were in control.

Speaking of Gunray, he wanted to throttle that idiot. He'd warned him of arrogance, and the Viceroy went and got himself captured. Must he be dealt with the Trade Federation's idiotic behavior any longer, 'less he would destroy them sooner?

Of course, maybe Sidious could get into this being's good books, lure them in, and catch them off-guard. Or at least gain their trust enough for their back to be turned, allowing Sidious to catch him when they'd least expected it. Yet another Master of the Force could be a considerable threat to the Grand Plan.

Sidious's lips crooked up into a smile. Gunray would be dragged to Coruscant soon. Even so, the Senate never agreed on a peaceful alternative without squabbling these days. Physical proof wouldn't change too much, just would have warranted more caution. The Trade Federation was a system Sidious wasn't too concerned about. He could still make the most out of this situation.

It would be a shame if some "files" of Gunray and Valorum would pop up out of nowhere and become suddenly public knowledge. Oh oh oh, maybe even frame Valorum as the puppeteer of all of this.

Decisions decisions...

Within the quarters of the ancient Jedi pillar, the Grandmaster, Yoda, sat on his chair, eyes closed as he focused deep on meditation. For 800 years he trained Jedi, and the Grandmaster did sense the Dark Side rising. Anyone would be blind not to, but Yoda still trained. The Ruusan Reformation provided the Jedi with a new era free of the Sith and allowed them to be involved more with politics to influence the common people to recognize the errors of the past.

Falls and passing into the Force still occurred. Each was a direct blow to the Grandmaster's ancient heart. To watch a child he'd monitored, growing and enveloping, only to be consumed by darkness or old age. Nevertheless, the Grandmaster pressed on, training the next generation and the ones after them.

Nevertheless, the Veil strengthened through time. Threatening to consume all that came close. None of the Jedi could conclude what this entity was, but it heavily centered around the Dark Side. Then... darkness recoiled, the Veil was... contained, not swiped away, but the powerful vergence in the Force sent peace down many's spines. It centered around Naboo. Knights and Masters felt like their eyes opened out of a nightmare. Naturally, few were alarmed, wanting to know what was this. The source of this disturbance.

The Jedi weren't alarmed exactly. The obvious conclusion was it was a new Force presence. It was traveling with two of their own, the Queen; moving from center to center. Many were intrigued by what knowledge this Force Adept had, and they all hoped to find out soon.

In Grandmaster Yoda's opinion, it was like something... out of place arrived in the galaxy, unbalanced the spectrum for only a moment, and the flow of time continued. In short, this felt like a major eye-opening experience. This entity was someone who harmonized with the Force in a way Yoda had never seen in his nine hundred years as a Grandmaster of the Jedi Order. Bold assumption, Yoda knew, but still an opinion that the Grandmaster believed in.

The Dark Side was hard-pressed to find a foothold, he sensed with no small amount of amusement. Still, it did regain its composure, steadying itself after the Force so proudly announced that a new equation was being added to this game between Jedi and the Dark Side.

The Korunian Master of the Order, Mace Windu, entered the Grandmaster's room slowly and stared at the wisest green Jedi patiently, silking into his seat and looking at him.

The Grandmaster opened his eyes from the peaceful meditation. He would admit that the natural part of the Force that this figure introduced left him curious, curious enough to not attend the planned Council meeting. No one would call him out for it, not even Master Windu who was considered the boldest of them all, not wanting their shins to be damaged.

"The Jedi Watchmen are prepared," Windu informed him. "Masters Tarr Seirr and Kai Justiss would report to us if this... disturbance is indeed a threat."

"Believe so, I do not," Yoda said, not having felt this peace for years. But he couldn't fault his fellow Jedi for being concerned at the very least. Addressed, the presence should be. Imprisoned, they should not be.

"I don't know. My Shatterpoints have been... off-put." Windu admitted uncertainly.

"To take presumptions as fact, against the Jedi way, it is," Yoda said, but not in the scolding tone one would have expected. "In danger, Qui-Gon Jinn and Padawan Kenobi, I sense not. Nevertheless, questioned, they should be."

"I believe it's wise to wait and see," Windu responded, looking to the side, to the direction outside of the window. "It is possible that they have a motive. An ulterior motive. They may not consent willingly to meet with the Jedi Council."

"Force them to meet with the Jedi Council, we will not. Unharmed, our own is." Yoda replied.

"If they're not complicit in any crime, they shouldn't be above a conversation," the Korun Master responded. The Jedi Master was a firm believer in all questions and concerns being settled around the Council, second only to Tiin, who was obsessed with the Jedi Code.

Ah, that was the core problem. As Grandmaster, it was natural that Yoda would consider all of his students-from the oldest to the youngest as Padawans. He'd watched all of them, those who walked these halls, facing tribulations with the lure of the Dark Side and emerging, stronger and willful than ever. Seeing his Padawans, ever so eager to choose the quick and easy path at points, brought disappointment into the old Grandmaster's heart.

Many of his young Padawans, Master Windu, included, wished to depend solely on the Jedi Council-where all mandates, problems, and complications should be tackled. But uncomfortable, one could be strolling right into the halls of the Jedi Order. It had happened before. Intimidation, the Jedi need not give.

"Show me little, the Force has." Eyes closed again, he spoke. "Determined, this being is. Fiercely protective of some people, I can see. A young boy. Two others. Women." Yoda hummed in curiosity. "Interesting..."

"All the more reason that they should be questioned," Master Windu pointed out to the Grandmaster. "Attachments are dangerous."

Yoda didn't respond. The small green Jedi Master shamelessly went back to soaking in the sensations that this figure was unleashing on the Force, feeling only one thing:

The sincere eternal tornado amidst a beautiful waterfall...

Anakin floated in space, baffled. In the distance, he could feel something... dark, terrible, filling the air. He felt something awful in that... what was it? He started to float down to it and descended on the outside of the room, only permitted to stare in.

He was surprised to see someone he instinctively knew as an older version of himself dressed in dark robes walk down, anger clear in his expression. Across from him, someone stood adorned, back faced to him amidst burning debris, black-robed.

"Why do this? Was it all worth it?"

"It was unavoidable," the dark man responded, mysteriously sounding so familiar, "if it wasn't me, it would have been you. The way of the Jedi is set in stagnation and hubris."

"And so your idea is to kill people? And what do you hope to accomplish by that?!"

"You know why. Don't play blind, Anakin."

He bared his teeth. "Is it because of power? Of your twisted ambitions demanding that you destroy all so many worked so hard to put in?"

"No. No!" The figure responded, voice rising in intensity. "The Jedi were doomed. The Sith have adapted. The Jedi lost their way. If it wouldn't be me, or you, someone else would have taken our place. That is how it must be."

He gripped his lightsaber and activated it, a beautiful cerulean blade intruding out.

"You must know that attempting a battle here would be futile, Anakin."

"Maybe but I won't allow you to doom the galaxy into darkness."

"Do you really want to do this?"

"No, but I know what I have to do."

The figure activated their own lightsaber, and they dashed toward one another, their blades meeting faster than the young observer's eyes could see.

Anakin gave a startled hiccup and shot up, terrified for a moment. He glanced around apprehensively, trying to remember where he was. For a second, he'd expected to be back home on Tatooine, for Watto to come in and beat him for not coming on time. Recalling what happened the day before, the boy remembered that those days were behind him. Happy and cheerful ones awaited...

He glanced over at the bed that was given to his mother, finding her sleeping soundly. Anakin swore there was never a time when she looked so peaceful... and it made him happy.

He wished that had been how things always were. Even though they were on a ship en route to Coruscant, part of Anakin wished that the moment would never end.

But Anakin couldn't stay here-if he'd wanted to sleep again that was.

The dream... terrified him.

Something dark coiled in the air. Was it something that was going to happen? Maybe he could see if Luke...

Luke.

Something about the man felt strangely safe to be around. He was able to look at him in the eyes and speak without feeling fear that the man would beat him. It was as if something had them tied. He knew his mother would freak if she woke up and found that Anakin wasn't there, but with the inability to get back to sleep, the former slave couldn't help it.

He got up from the bed, and on his tiptoes, started to go where that weird sensation led him down...

Arthur's note: Take every vision that happens with uncertainty because the future always changes.