『Tribulation, Sight, Composure』
Palpatine turned his head, looking at the approaching blue shuttle that was closing in on the suspended landing pad above the Coruscanti surface. His brows creased almost immediately, he could feel the presence of a pawn getting closer. The individual he had chosen well in advance to replace Maul should the Sith Lord had fallen.
Why was the Jedi Master with the Supreme Chancellor?
His eyes narrowed on the vessel for a few moments until his attention shifted towards the sky above. The Naboo Royal Starship came in for a landing, slowing to a hover.
Jedi Master Qui Gon Jin was on board, however the Padawan Obiwan Kenobi wasn't present. This also confused the Sith Lord, wasn't there supposed to be two Jedi?
For the first time, in a long time, he felt almost horrified. Two Jedi Masters, two different directions. Was his plans foiled? It didn't feel like it, not yet.
Palpatine still foresaw his victory over the senate, taking the seat of Supreme Chancellor, but why was he feeling so nervous? It felt... Like there was something empty, missing from his foresight, it was as if there were some mysterious missing details that weren't coming together.
"Jedi..." He spat under his breath before retaining his calm composure as the starship finally settled down and the door to the Supreme Chancellor's vessel opened up.
Armored Senate Guards marched out ahead of the Chancellor Finis Valorum, however, following right behind the Chancellor was not just one person, but two more. A young boy with black hair and a girl in a handmaiden dress of sorts.
Finis walked with his hands folded behind his back, he appeared to be feeling secure. Something that Palpatine was itching to yank out from beneath him. His power and support was already waning, soon his security will be gone.
He was also curious, much like the Supreme Chancellor seemed to be, of the girl's presence. Why was a handmaiden here ahead of time? A scandalous idea forming in his mind.
That was until he realized that it was indeed Padmé beside the young teen.
However that was when he noticed something else rather quickly, "Interesting..." Palpatine's eyes rested on the braid in the boy's hair, who was following not too far behind Dooku's paces.
When did Dooku get an Apprentice? Almost immediately he felt that he wanted to eliminate the boy. Though at the same time, despite being able to see him, he couldn't feel him.
In the force, he could hardly sense the boy, though as he did get gradually closer he could feel the boy through the force... Partially at most. It was strange to him, and probably just about anyone else.
Much like how when Dooku sensed the boy before, he was an empty outline in the force.
This was something he had never felt before, not something he understood. Palpatine wanted to inquire the nature of the boy, only to return his attention towards the Naboo Starship as its boarding ramp lowered with a hiss.
"Senator.." Dooku announced as they were stood by the Chancellor.
"Master Jedi," Palpatine bowed his head slightly towards Dooku slightly as part of his facade. His eyes trickled over his little followers before turning his gaze back towards the Chromium plated vessel.
The Senate Guards spread out strategically around the landing pad, overseeing the Chancellor's safety, though little did they know they were allowing him to stand beside a Sith.
Qui Gon Jin, with Anakin and Jar Jar at his side, approached the group with the decoy Queen and her group of Handmaiden and Quarsh Panaka nonetheless in tow.
When they finally reached Palpatine, the guards moved to encircle the group in order to secure the persons of interest. Jedi Master Qui Gon Jin, the young Anakin and the Gungan bowed before moving aside for the decoy to come over towards them.
Anakin on the other hand was looking towards Padmé, smiling lightly.
Padmé as a handmaiden as nice as she was, returned the smile briefly before looking forward.
As the false Queen stepped forward, her shoes clacking on the flat surface of the pad, she kept her eyes forward. Her eyes then lifted to rest on Palpatine's.
"It is a great gift to see you alive, your Majesty," the Senator sounded with a charismatic smile, his hands at his sides, his head lightly bobbing in a nod. "With the communication breakdown we have been very concerned..."
A he was speaking, Anakin moved and found his shoulders situated in Jin's hands. His dark blue eyes moved towards Ento, who gave him a soft wink.
Anakin smiled plainly at this, though he wanted to stand by Padmé, just as he was.
Palpatine felt nothing special from Anakin, though that was a given. He was untrained, his mind not open entirely to the force like that of a Jedi's. He didn't possess overwhelming might, but it also seemed as if the force itself shielded the boy from the Sith Lord's keen sinister senses.
"... I am anxious to hear your report on the situation..." Palpatine seemed to feign his concern rather well, however, it was fake, completely fake.
Ento could see that smile on his lips, the charismatic way he manipulated those around him. Palpatine reminded Ento of the Sand Demons on Tatooine, how they would ambush their larger prey such as the Legendary Krayt Dragons from beneath the sand. Perhaps he had even become stronger from the amount of people who had killed, just like in the Sand People's beliefs of the creatures.
"...May I present, Supreme Chancellor Valorum." Palpatine turned towards the Chancellor.
"Welcome your Highness," Finis spoke with a deepened tone, and a very stern posture about him. It was a show of his personal might, one might assume, while others could say he was simply on edge due to the turmoil that has taken this to galaxy at large. "It is an honor to finally meet you in person."
Padmé watched from Ento's side, before gazing to her decoy who was in a black Naboo dress with a feathered headdress. It was rather Flamboyant to say the least, but the Naboo were known for their outlandish though usually conservative choices in attire.
"Thank you, Supreme Chancellor," The false Queen replied with a serious tone, matching that of Padmé's voice. She could quite easily play the Queen's part due to her training under Panaka.
As the formalities continued, the group began to shift before the Naboo pilots walked by. The gathered individuals began to make their way towards the edge of the pad.
"I must relay to you how much everyone is distressed over the current situation. I've called for a special session with the senate to hear your position." Valorum spoke with a voice as fine as a fine tooth comb.
Ento wasn't necessarily enthused about just sitting here and watching this. With Padmé standing with him and somewhat rejoining the group of handmaidens, he seemed to have been assimilated into the group.
Dooku grinned slightly seeing the boy as he stood amongst a crowd of young women a year older than himself. He was rather curious to see how well he would control his emotions.
"May I ask why the handmaiden has come ahead of the rest, your Majesty?" Finis asked, as he had yet to be informed by Ento of the current plot. Palpatine also seemed eager to learn as well.
That was when Dooku stepped up to answer the question given to the supposed Queen, "She had sent forth one of her aids in advance in order to ask the Jedi Order for help following an assassination attempt. The High Council has appointed us as her primary protectors during this Crisis."
Blinking hearing the Jedi Master, Finis traced over the two silently, before looking to his transport. "That is an understandable course of action," he had been unaware of an assassination attempt or a plot against the Queen's life. "The one that attempted such an action, must've been quite skilled to warrant such a decision."
The 'Queen' would move forward ahead of the group with Palpatine walking by her side. "There is a question of procedure, but I am confident we can overcome it..." Clearly, Palpatine believed he was still in control despite not seeing exactly what he had foreseen.
However he was rather curious as they referred to Maul as an Assassin. Were they going to use this to press blame the Trade Federation? To bring the Senate to order?
As the Senator went on to continue and lead Padmé and her Handmaidens, Finis stayed back with Jedi Master Jin who pulled him aside. Anakin Skywalker however, followed Ento, Dooku and the girls, leaving the Master behind with Jar Jar.
"I must return to the Jedi Temple immediately, the situation has become much more complicated." Unlike Palpatine's outstanding and cheery disposition, Qui Gon Jin appeared serious as he spoke with the Chancellor.
Finis nodded a bit hearing this, before his head snapped to the side when the young Anakin turned to look towards the two of them. It was clear he had sensed something.
Qui Gon Jin acknowledged the boy, waving him off.
"Anakin," Ento whispered taking the boy's attention, causing him to look towards the Padawan. A small smile forming over his lips as he could see the braid in the boy's hair. It was similar to that of Obiwan's.
Anakin, Padmé and the rest of them piled into a small hover car in order to leave to the Naboo Queen's arranged housing that had been put together ahead of time by Palpatine himself.
Ento sat on the far end of the vehicle between Panaka and Padmé, in the wide spread back seats. His eyes moved to his master, who was seated in the front, on the opposite side of the driver from the young Anakin and Jar Jar.
"I think I prefer the shuttle..." Ento uttered as he was pretty sure a bug just went buzzing by his head, irritating him slightly.
Chuckling at this, Palpatine looked to the boy on the other end of the seat. He began to think how the boy has yet to suppress his own opinions. Yet he was surprised not to see Dooku with his infamous scowl.
The Jedi Master kept his eyes forward, knowing he was in the boat with an enemy of unknown power, someone who he had once thought of as a friend.