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Prologue: A different breed of Sith

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Part 3

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Theed City

Naboo

We landed on one of the plazas beside the palace, where an L-shaped formation of Royal guards stood at parade rest.

Two ceremonial guards clad in the traditional blue of the Chancellor's Office walked down the transport's ramp. I followed them, striding after them, radiating happiness and relief. The rest of my security detail – four more of them followed behind me. The hilarious part was that a large part of the Jedi Council came next. As a courtesy, I offered them a free ride to Naboo, so they could attend the funeral of one of their own and decide Skywalker's fate.

They all kept to themselves during our voyage. More importantly, not a single one of them suspected they were on the same ship as the Dark Lord of the Sith.

Amidala, her entourage, and a pair of familiar Jedi waited to greet me. A small security detail escorted two Neimoidians toward my ship, who were none the wiser that I was their Sith patron.

It was time to start messing with the Jedi.

"We're indebted to your bravery, Obi-Wan Kenobi!" I beamed at the young Jedi and the much younger and impressionable kid beside him.

Skywalker appeared to be still wearing the faded old clothes I saw him arrive on Coruscant with not so long ago.

"And you, young Skywalker!" I put on my best grandfatherly - smile, something Palpatine spent a disturbing amount of time practicing in front of a mirror. "Naboo owes you a great debt, young one. What you did was amazing." I didn't need to fake my praise. Even with the Force basically holding his hands, Anakin's stunt should be enough to make him a legend in the right circles. "We will watch your career with great interest." I leaned forward and looked him in the eyes. "If our Jedi friends decide you're too old to train, I can assure you. We will ensure you're taken care of and can pursue whatever future you desire."

Skywalker stared at me in awe, while Kenobi's confusion was a balm to the soul.

I patted Anakin on the shoulder and went to greet Amidala so we could exchange empty platitudes.

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Royal Palace
Theed City
Naboo

After we settled into the palace, I gave the right people the necessary hints to ensure that. Late tonight and tomorrow, I could have quiet heart-to-heart with the Queen and her government. With that task out of the way, I had a few hours of spare time until Jinn's funeral in the early evening.

With so many Jedi around, I didn't dare spread out my senses through the force. Instead, I slipped past my security detail and asked a few of the servants pointed questions. This information led me to one of the palaces' towers, where two Jedi met after requesting a place they could speak in private.

I stalked through the corridors with lidded eyes, focusing on my ears. Soon I could hear the distinct tapping sound of Yoda's cane on the marble floor.

"Grave danger I fear in his training!" Yoda huffed in almost proper Basic.

I knew it! The records on the Jedi I had access to as the Chancellor didn't lie! The little troll could speak proper Basic if he so wished! The bastard has been trolling everyone for hundreds of years now!

"Master Yoda, I gave Qui-Gon my word! I will train Anakin. Without the approval of the Council, if I must!"

Yoda's pacing continued, indicated by the tapping of his stick.

I grinned and walked towards them. I heard the Jedi Master huff, then his pacing ceased. When I turned around the corner, I saw the short green alien staring at me with drooping ears.

"Master Yoda, Jedi Kenobi!" I exclaimed happily. "You're just the people I hoped to have a word with! I couldn't help but overhear the last part of your discussion. This isn't the best place for a quiet conversation unless you have a lookout or two." I waved at the two open corridors leading to this part of the tower.

"Chancellor," Yoda nodded.

"I'm here to officially request you inform Queen Amidala or me if you decide that young Anakin is too old to train as a Jedi. We will happily take the young Hero of Naboo and offer him the best education in the galaxy."

Yoda's shoulders' slumped.

"Appreciate the gesture. I do. Needed it is not." The Jedi Master sighed. "Agree with you the Council does!" He declared aloud and looked at Obi-Wan. "Take as Padawan, youngling Skywalker you will."

"Congratulations on your promotion, Knight Kenobi! I'm glad to hear that our young hero is in capable hands." My smile and cheer slowly drained from my face. "Master Yoda, I'm afraid I must make another request of you. I would like us to talk about the state of the galaxy on our way back to Coruscant."

"Politics?" Yoda sighed.

"Politics, Master Jedi." I nodded gloomily.

It was tough not to sneer. This display… I would never know for sure if, without my suggestion, the Jedi would have been stupid enough to let Anakin go. Or worse, try to shove him into one of the service corps where he would waste his potential.

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Late that evening, after Jinn's funeral, I could finally have that private conversation with the Queen. I still struggled not to laugh aloud at what I heard during the funeral. Yoda and Windu were seriously wondering if Maul might have been the Master, a proper Lord of the Sith, no less.

I knew both the Jedi and Sith had fallen far, but this? Maul was a blunt instrument. He would still be stuck as an Acolyte in the Sith Academy if he attended it when someone competent ran the place. Maul was little more than an ill-trained blunt instrument that could be useful in the future. His brand of chaos would be another point that would make many people earn for centralization and proper military to protect them.

That was for later. I finally reached Amidala's office and left my small security detail at the door, where Padme's Royal Guards also waited.

Once inside, we exchanged another round of greetings. I noted the Queen still wore the mourning dress she had during the funeral. I allowed myself the tiniest crack in my mask to ensure this was indeed Amidala and not one of her doubles.

There was no mistaking this Force signature. I had known her well since before she got elected as not quite the figurehead many people believed me to be. I sat on the chair Padme offered me and openly grimaced at her.

"My Queen, now that we can speak freely, I feel compelled to demand an explanation. I must do this as the former Senator tasked to safeguard Naboo's interests in the Senate and as the Chancellor." I made a show of rubbing my forehead. "And as someone who considers himself your friend, Padme, I must speak with you unofficially, in the way the Chancellor of the Republic never could."

Amidala stiffened at my words. I didn't need the Force to notice how her mask cracked briefly. This revealed a young woman stuck in a situation where she was out of her depth. Her boldness and recklessness over the past weeks didn't change this. Her mask quickly reformed, and I once again looked at a facsimile of a sculpture.

"We're eager to hear and address your concerns, Chancellor."

"Was anyone in our government thinking when they suggested and convinced you to sign on raising tariffs?!" I let some of my frustration leak as I demanded answers.

Padme recoiled from my outburst as if struck.

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Part 4

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Royal Palace
Theed City
Naboo

Amidala quickly regained her composure and countered with a question of her own.

"Why didn't you ask this question earlier? You supported the Taxation bill in the first place!"

"This is the first time we've met in a secure enough place since the last time I was on Naboo, my Queen. Discussing certain issues when I am not sure of the details, back on Coruscant, could have undermined your authority and standing. Doing so could have been even more disastrous for our case in front of the Senate."

"You believe we were listened to in your residence?" Padme demanded.

"My Queen, right now, I wouldn't bet against the Chancellor's office and suites in the Senate being bugged. We need to discuss much, but first, I need a few honest answers before I explain certain things."

I gave Amidala an honest deadpan look while she stared at me in disbelief.

"I'll need time to get trustworthy vetted personnel and ensure a reasonable amount of privacy as the new Chancellor. Now, to answer your questions, my Queen. As the Senator of Naboo and the Representative of the Chomel sector, it was not my job to shape policy in any way. My job was to protect the interests of our people as seen and dictated by our government. I had to protect the interests of the systems in the Sector I used to represent until recently, as expressed by their governments. I was and still am against Proposition 31-814D."

Padme's mask lightly cracked again. Her confusion was plain to see.

"I will elaborate later why I believe it was an idiotic idea in its current form. However, first I would love to hear why our government thought it was a good idea and how they convinced you to back the bill and take advantage of it as soon as possible." I peered intently at Padme.

"My understanding is the Republic desperately needs these taxes. They would not only help solve the fiscal debt, but their revenue would also help worlds on the Rim. Further, the parts of the taxes that would flow into our budget is something we could put to good use." Padme explained.

"That last point is the only one with a grain of truth." I pointed out. She couldn't be this native, right? "My Queen," I leaned forward, "Padme, almost everything people used to gather public support for that bill was a lie. The powers of the Core in the Senate voted to abandon support for the Outer Rim. That happened so they wouldn't have to pay for the Republic's military and the development of colonies far from their centers of power. These same people were behind this bill. I can assure you, the only money that flows towards the Outer Rim goes straight into the bank accounts of corporations, often as outright bribes." I chuckled bitterly. "That, of course, is the least of it. Please think. I've known you as a child. I know you're a bright young woman, my Queen. Think about the implications of the bill. Think what happens when everyone who could tax the likes of the Trade Federation. Think what the Trade Federation and the Commerce Guilds do for the Republic as a whole!" I demanded.

As the Queen of Naboo, Padme's position wasn't entirely ceremonial. Besides, among other things, she should have received an excellent education in politics and the reality of how the galaxy works from a young age. I knew for a fact that this was never the exact truth. I shouldn't be surprised by the result from what I observed now and from what my memories of Palpatine's past told me. It nevertheless made me furious. This was such a waste. Padme Amidala had the talent needed to become one of the best politicians in the galaxy. Yet, she would have squandered much of it, and it was intentional on behalf of a lot of people.

Padme opened her mouth to protest, then thought better of it and closed it, pursing her lips. She gave me a stern look and then slumped in her chair, leaving behind her carefully crafted monarch mask.

"I should know exactly what you're talking about," Padme grumbled. "All I could think right now is the Trade Federation is exploiting the Outer Rim, and the taxation is fair. That is what I was taught. They've been making unprecedented profits while avoiding paying taxes. The tax reform bill is just! It was the right thing to do for everyone but a greedy corporation. It should have benefited the whole Republic!"

That was painfully close to the narrative that made countless people across the galaxy celebrate when the bill passed. At the same time, countless economists went to get drunk in a desperate hope that the nightmare would be over when they awoke.

"Padme, for decades now, the Trade Federation, with its military fleets and droid armies, and through it, the Commerce Guild, have been the only reason the Republic still has access to cheap resources from the Outer Rim. These cheap resources are the only reason the economy still floats. They were the core reason behind the unprecedented Golden Age that our ancestors enjoyed. They were the source of prosperity for trillions of Republic citizens. The taxation bill threatens this." I paused and carefully watched Padme.

Amidala was deep in thought and didn't like the implications of what I was telling her.

"This kind of taxation destroys the Trade Federation profits. At the same time, they're bound by contracts to provide cheap transport of resources and goods. They must maintain a massive military to keep a semblance of peace on the Outer Rim because the Republic Senate outright refused to pay for such a thing. This bill was just proof that short-sighted greed rules many of the factions that run the Core Worlds and, with them, the Republic as a whole."

Padme didn't like listening to the facts of life explained to her.

"This isn't the Republic I was taught about." She shook her head. "This isn't the Republic that was supposed to protect us."

"No, my Queen. This is the Republic that refused to aid us in our hour of need. This is the Senate that would let the Trade Federation go with a slap on the wrist. That would happen as soon as it dawns on enough people that we will otherwise face a catastrophic economic crisis. Right now, no one would be able to step in and fill the Trade Federation's shoes. Only a few factions could afford to pay for such an expansion in the short term, and they have many enemies who would block such an attempt. Because if something like that happens, it will give Kuat, the Corellian Alliance, or the few other contenders too much hard power within the Republic. For all its power and the issues that come with it, the Trade Federation and the Commerce Guilds are an acceptable alternative."

"Those are things I should have been aware of," Padme grumbled.

"Those are things various esteemed government members should have taught you about. It was their duty to do so. No one in their right mind expects the Queen of Naboo to be all-knowing." I smiled kindly. "It is a feature of your youth and position that you wouldn't start your reign as a cynic politician. The limit placed upon the position is to ensure that you will be close to your majority by the time you know everything you need to thrive in politics. Your years as a Queen should have allowed you to earn the experience and training to become a leader of a different kind in our government. That's the traditional path many Queens take. Building up capable politicians to lead our people is a feature of our Royal system."

"In my case, it didn't work as advertised." Amidala sighed.

"Then it is your duty to fix this and ensure that your successor would be better prepared. For what's worth, I'm here for you and will freely offer my council, Padme. Not as the Chancellor of the Republic, but as your friend and the former Senator of Naboo."

This obviously wasn't the original plan Sidious had for Padme. However, in her regard, he did me a solid one. He practically ensured I could step in and become her mentor in politics and a close friend if I played my cards right.

"I will do so, Chancellor. I will listen to your advice, though I can't promise I will follow through." Padme put her royal bask back together. "We will have answers from our government. The issues and concerns you pointed out are things that our government should have brought to our attention. That way, we could have made an educated decision for the good of our people."

Now, the missile Padme was primed to go off and aimed. Purging the government and getting the right people in place would be a first step to ensuring that Naboo might turn into an asset instead of a thorn in my side in the coming years. The same was true as far as Padme herself was concerned.

"As the Chancellor, I can explain certain realities to our friends in the government in case we're dealing with mere stupidity. That said, considering my position, officially, I can offer little more than advice and moral support."

"You can't be in a position to be accused of nepotism." Padme nodded, finally putting her brain to good use. "The same factions who brought Chancellor Valorum down might use even the perception of it against you."

"There is no might about it, my Queen. Then the Trade Federation will fight to avoid further losses. It has no other option."

"The Viceroy and his cronies must pay for what they did to Naboo!" Padme snapped.

"That is something I might be able to arrange. However, it would be at the price of letting the Trade Federation as a whole get away with the invasion with a slap on the wrist. The best I might be able to deliver realistically is ensuring they pay reparations. As far as Gunrey goes, we'll get him one way or another, even if it takes time. I am of Naboo, my Queen. Even if it takes years to get there, I will do my best to see justice done."

"That is something we're relieved to hear, Chancellor. Please tell us more about the Senate and the Republic as they are, not as we wish or believed them to be."

I put forth my best sad smile and began to air some of the Senate's dirty laundry I was aware of, but it would be tough to prove in a court of law.