Chapter 34: The meeting.

"When do we leave?" I asked.

"In an hour. Master Luminara's funeral will take place on Coruscant tomorrow. Ahsoka needs to be present for the cremation at the very least." Anakin explained.

"What about my ship?" I said, "You didn't just leave it there did you?"

"No. It took some work, but we got loaded into the ship, forcefield intact. That is another thing I wanted to know. What is that forcefield made of? It didn't so much as budge, no matter what we tried. We had to force lift the ship onto the transport."

"Hehehe... It's a trade secret. My personal invention. So long as the battery lasts, the forcefield is nigh inviolable, no matter the load.

You'd need the power of a collapsing star to break it." I gloated.

"That is impressive." Obi Wan said, walking in, "But I suggest we leave sooner that later. Punctuality is a virtue."

"Of course. As soon as I get my armor back." I replied.

"Your armor is in your room onboard." Obi Wan said, turning to leave, gesturing us to follow.

"And my lightsaber?" I asked.

"It's not your lightsaber. It's belonged to master Mundi's padawan. He fell in battle against Grevious. It will be returned to him."

"Obi Wan!" I snarled, "That is my lightsaber. Mine!"

"No. It's not. It's as much yours as it was Grevious's. Taking something by force is not the same as owning it. That's called thievery." Obi Wan refused.

"I did not steal it. Grevious did. I won it." I argued, not because I really needed the lightsaber but more as a matter of keeping in character.

An outer rim boy wouldn't just let something as precious as a lightsaber just go, would he?

"And how did you win it? By killing Grevious and pucking it off his corpse. The same way Grevious did."

"You can't seriously be comparing me to Grevious!" I said, exasperated.

"If you want it so much, you can ask master Mundi for it once we arrive on Coruscant." Obi Wan said, attempting to push off the blame.

If you think I won't call your bluff, you're damn wrong about me!

"Maybe I will!" I replied, huffing angrily, as we boarded the Resolute, and made for Coruscant.

Hours later, almost close to a day, the ship jumped out of hyperspace, and the megalopolis of Coruscant greced our eyes.

The sun rose behind the city, engulfing it in a halo of gold, it's surface glimmering like a jewel.

The little patches of green and blue between the grey and silver of the city megastructure in the morning light, held an aura of refreshment, that seemed to permeate throughout the capital, as if it was certain that the war that had yet to touch the planet didn't even exist.

Yes. It was the feeling of order and security. Of happy little children running through it's streets, of harmony and satisfaction.

Sure there was a darkness to the city but as we stepped of the ship, I could feel none of it, up high on the senate platform.

In the distance, the grand temple of the jedi rose above the rabble, and even from afar I could tell. It could eclipse all seven wonders of the world combined, and not by a small margin.

The imperial gardens too, were a sight to behold, though unappreciable at this distance. Perhaps I could visit them later, see if the Reeksa root really would have grown there.

Though given the near four dozen different biomes I could spot within, just at a glance it was likely it would.

Truly a place worthy of being the capital of the greatest empire the galaxy had ever seen.

I stretched from the long ride out, and attuned my circadian rythm to the city's. Space travel really messes with your sense of time and distance.

Imagine jet lag but on crack cocaine.

But that aside, I was finally here. The time was near.

Anakin led me to through the senate, to a lavish office with exotic decor, and I let my eyes wander all around.

Whatever they say about Palpatine, he has some bomb ass taste in interior decoration.

The colors contrast and complement each other, the furniture is inclusive for the wide variety of species he scalps for bribes, and the masks on the wall and the knock off lava lamp on his desk really pop out of the room.

It just screams 'I'm having a midlife crisis, please help!'.

Though that does explain his megalomania going into overdrive. Or maybe it's just Jar Jar.

Yeah probably just Jar Jar.

Another player I had to worry about.

Darth Plagueis is one of the few reasons I didn't just teleport in, guns blazing on day two of my arrival in this world, stealing all the data from the office and turning Coruscant into cheeze wiz just for the kicks.

I couldn't risk having to fight him.

I took a deep breath, and with a flick of my wrist, extended a thin muzzle from my sleeve.

Pressing on a skin toned finger pad I had installed on my palm, I released my secret weapon.

Microcameras.

They floated around the room, invisible to naked eye and force alike, attaching themselves onto any available surface they came into contact with.

The contact lenses in my eyes began to project a live feed of the room into my retinas, allowing me 24/7 surveillance.

Now with my trap set, I tapped my finger on the desk, appearing to keep boredom at bay, while I used my power to direct all of the data on the desk into my external storage drive, taking control of all of Palpatine's accounts and illegal contracts.

Woo-boy!

I muttered, the numbers displaying on my lens.

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Palpatine was rich. Like filthy rich. And I'm not talking 'cruise party with bikini models' rich. This wrinkly ballsack was 'own a quarter of the goddamn galaxy' rich.

No wonder he was able to hold onto his imperium for over twenty years.

Even without his title, he might as well have been the emperor already.

I could afford to create a whole ass death star with this much and still have money enough left over to buy the entire planet of Naboo 18 times over.

"What happened?" Anakin asked, having heard me.

"What? Oh nothing....um...just chancellor Palpatine has a great....uh.... sense of ....uh..." I stuttered, still in shock at the absurd number of zeroes in Palpatine's net worth.

Anakin sighed.

"Yes. Chancellor Palpatine has an odd taste in....things." He said.

"Nothing too bad, I hope. I wouldn't want to offend the newest hero of he republic now!" A friendly voice came from behind us, the soft carpet having disguised his footsteps.

Palpatine appeared with honeyed words, slipping off his slimy tongue, befitting his status as a politician.

"Chancellor!" Anakin got up, respectfully, and I followed.

"Don't mind the formalities. Have a seat, both of you!" He smiled, appearing genial and nice.

Rick's advice from season 5 rang in my ears.

'All politicians are nice. That's how they get you.'

I chuckled inside, knowing full well what was coming for him.

Soon. I assured myself.

"Do you know why I wanted to meet you, Commander Walker?" He asked.

"No, sir." I replied, playing the good little soldier.

"Don't be so tense. I promise I don't bite." He joked, leaning back in his chair, at ease in his environment.

I complied and relaxed a bit.

Can't have him suspect rebellion within me, not before it is too late for him to escape.

"The reason you are here is because I am curious about you. For example....

How did you defeat the feared General Grevious, when a dozen and half jedi before you failed?"

I scoffed internally.

You mean I'm a great unknown in your forces and you want to know if I have something you can profit off of.

"Just luck, chancellor. It happened so fast, my mind was a blur. I don't even know how I got away.

All I know is that by the time I came back to my senses, I had a lightsaber in my hand, and I had pierced Grevious's throat with it. I'm sorry." I replied, eyes downcast.

"Oh don't worry about it. It happens to the best of jedi. It's the heat of the battle, or so I've heard. It's not your fault."

"Thank you for being so understanding." I replied, with a nod.

"But there are still other things I have heard about you. Like how you are a prodigious inventor. That you have a navigational system that could allow for continuous hyperspace jumps. If you don't mind, might I ask how much of that is true?" He pressed.

"All of it!" I said, with a prideful twinkle in my eye, "I have invented a new navigation system. And a new engine to accompany it. It's leagues ahead of the current technology used in star destroyers. But if you intend to have me give it to you, I'm afraid, I'll have to refuse." I said, shaking my head.

"Why? Don't you want to help improve the lives of the people of the republic? Anakin here tells me you are a kind man. You like to help others. Commander Walker, you could help us do the same with your technology. You might even help end the war!" Palpatine pleaded.

"I.....I don't want my technology to be turned onto a weapon of war." I replied, resolute.

"That's understandable. No scientist wants their inventions to hurt others. But we need your help if we're to protect the ones under our care. You know something about that, don't you?" He said, patting my shoulder kindly.

This is some ....piece of work.

He has the whole manipulative act down pat.

He's even better than me at it!

Now that I can respect. Unfortunately, he can't be allowed to live. Not after I have already stolen his wealth.

I shook my head now, and looked conflicted.

"Let me think about it?" I requested, heaving a sigh.

That about convinced him. Palpatine pulled back, and strolled around the room, back to his seat.

"Of course. Take your time. I didn't mean to put pressure on you." He relented, smiling softly, "You will attend the banquet tonight though, won't you? It would be a shame if the guest of honour didn't grace us with his presence."

"Of course, sir." I replied, shuffling in my seat.

"I see you are busy. I won't keep you any longer then. You have much to prepare for tonight after all. Do you have something to wear tonight? If not, " he pulled up a contact on his screen, " I know a tailor. He makes my clothes and he does a good rush job...."

"Thank you, chancellor." I said, "But I don't think I'll need it."

"As you wish." He resigned, and put back his screen.

"Then we will take our leave." Anakin said, nodding respectfully, and led me out.

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