Star Wars: The Holy Empire
Chapter 34: Palpatine's Advice

"Don't get your hopes up about Anakin" I said while walking away.

Qui-gon's face started to give off a worrying look, when he heard my piece of advice.

I walked towards Padme's group waiting in the taxi for me to finish my business.

Jar Jar, Anakin and his mother are with Padme's group in the taxi.

In the the taxi Palpatine was given Jar Jar, Anakin and his mother who were in the back of the taxi, a skeptical look. Jar Jar leans over to Anakin

"Da Maska Mana a bein grossly nice, mesa tinks." says Jar Jar

After looking around in the taxi, Jar Jar talks.

"Pitty hot!" commented Jar Jar

I entered the taxi when Jar Jar made his comment. I then sat down between Padme and Dia, with Palpatine across from Padme. As soon as I sat down, Palpatine started scanning me with his eyes from head to toe. He was curious about who I am.

As we headed off in the taxi, Supreme Chancellor Valorum, Qui-gon and Obi-wan watch the taxi move off into the city.

"I must speak with the Jedi Council immediately, Your Honor." says Qui-gon "The situation has become more complicated then we have ever imagined."

-30 minutes later in Palpatine's waiting room-

Padme is sitting down and listening to Palpatine, with her Handmaidens standing behind her. I am sitting on a couch that is off to the side of the room with Dia. Anakin, his mother and Jar Jar are waiting in an adjoining room. They can see the Queen but cannot hear what they are talking about.

"Dissen all pitty odd to my." says Jar Jar looking at Anakin and his mom

"Don't look at me. I don't know what's going on." replied Anakin

"You shouldn't worry about these things, Annie" said Shmi "It's not our place to question how these politicians do things, you just need to be patient and wait, ok?"

"Yes, mother" said Anakin while leaning on his mother.

Soon, Captain Panaka enters into the room while Palpatine was still talking

"...the Republic is not what it once was. The Senate is full of greedy, squabbling delegates who are only looking out for themselves and their home sytems." says Palpatine "There is no interest in the common good...no civility, only politics...its disgusting. I must be frank, Your Majesty, there is little chance the Senate will act on the invasion."

"Chancellor Valorum seems to think there is hope." replied Padme

"If I may say so, Your Majesty, the Chancellor has little real power..." says Palpatine "He is mired down by baseless accusations of corruption. A manufactured scandal surrounds him. The bureaucrats are in charge now."

"What options do we have?" asked Padme

"Our best choice would be to push for the election of a stronger Supreme Chancellor. " said Palpatine "One who will take control of the bureaucrats, enforces the laws, and give us justice. You could call for a vote of no confidence in Chancellor Valorum."

When I heard Palpatine mention the vote of no confidence while manipulating Padme, I started to smile behind my mask.

'Don't think your plans will go so smoothly, now that I am here your plans will come to ruin' I said in my mind 'I will make you suffer for making one of my women suffer like this.'

I continue listening to the dialogue between Padme and Palpatine.

"But he has been our strongest supporter." says Padme "Is there any other way?"

"Our only other choice would to be to submit a plea to the courts..." says Palpatine

"There's no time for that. The courts take even longer to decide things than the Senate." said Padme "Our people are suffering, Senator...more and more each day. We must do something quickly to stop the Federation."

"To be realistic, Your Highness, I'd say we're going to have to accept Federation control for the time being." Said Palpatine

"That is something I cannot do." said Padme with great anger

-Jedi Temple-

Qui-gon stands in the middle of a tall stately room with the twelve Jedi Masters sitting in chairs in a semi-circle

Behind Qui-gon is Obi-wan staying silent while Qui-gon is talking

" ...my only conclusion can be that the assailant was a Sith Lord." says Qui-gon

"A Sith Lord?!?" cried out Mace Windu

"Impossible!" cried out Ki-adi "The Sith have been extinct for a millennium."

"The very Republic is threatened, if involved the Sith are." says Yoda in his weird way of speaking.

"I do not believe they could have returned without us knowing." said Mace Windu

"But Master Windu, I have proof." says Qui-gon while showing the twelve Jedi Masters the video chip in his hands.

Soon, everyone in the room has watched the video of the fight

"Hard to see, the dark side is." says Yoda "Discover who this assassin is, we must."

"I sense he will reveal himself again." said Ki-adi

"This attack was with purpose, that is clear." says Mace Windu "and I agree that the Queen is the target."

"With this Naboo queen you must stay, Qui-Gon." says Yoda "Protect her."

"We will use all our resources here to unravel this mystery and discover the identity of your attacker..." said Mace Windu "Before you go and protect the Queen, tell us who this mysterious character in the video we see you fighting with.

"Master, this man is a Force User who is a being employed by the Queen, that is all that I know" said Qui-gon

While not mentioning the fact that I could use the powers of the Dark Side

"Meet him, we must" says Yoda

"Yes, we must meet him." says Mace Windu "Tell this mysterious person that we want to meet him. You can go on, May the Force be with you."

"May the Force be with you." says Yoda

Obi-wan turns to leave, but Qui-gon stays to face the Council.

"Master Qui-Gon more to say, have you?" asked Yoda

"With your permission, my Master." replied Qui-gon "I have encountered a vergence in the Force."

"A vergence, you say?" asked Yoda

"Located around a person?" asked Mace Windu

"Yes, a boy... his cells have the highest concentration of midi-chlorians I have seen in a life form." said Qui-gon "It is possible he was conceived by the midi-chlorians."

"You're referring to the prophesy of the one who will bring balance to the Force..."says Mace Windu "You believe it's this boy?"

"I don't presume..." says Qui-gon

"But you do!" says Yoda "Revealed, your opinion is."

"I request the boy be tested." says Qui-gon "His midi-chlorian count is over 20,000."

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"Trained as a Jedi, you request for him?" asked Yoda

"Yes, Master." said Qui-gon "It was with the help of the mysterious Force User's guidance that I was able to find him, so I believe it was the will of the Force through the Force User that guided us to the boy."

"Bring him before us tonight then." sighed Mace Windu

"Tested he will be." said Yoda

"Thank you very much Master" bowed Qui-gon "Also Masters, before I came to seek your council, the mysterious Force User also prophesized that you will be testing the boy tonight, so he said he will come meet you then."

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