Chapter 9

Plagueis, commonly known as Hugo Damask, casually batted away a stray bolt of Sith-lightning, stroking his chin as he observed Sidious's deflating rage with partial concern but mostly interest. The younger Sith Lord was seethng like an animal lost in its own battle instincts even with no one left to kill, panting heavily as his senses started to return with each item he destroyed or hurled with the force. The Muun was perhaps too indulgent in this unbecoming behavior, but it was the least he could do. Sidious had weathered a similar display on his part after the assassination attempts that a Hutt of all creatures foiled.

Still, his apprentice hadn't been like this since the dawning days of his training. And he wouldn't destroy such a useful tool in a petty tantrum, he noted, while glancing down at the body of "Darth" Maul. The true Dark Lord of the Sith was already subtly manipulating the midi-chlorians to heal the body so that he could revive it soon. Altering his memories might be needed as well. But first, he had a rather distraught apprentice to bring back to reality. He was impressed though, with Sidious's unconscious multitasking. He didn't even have to help Sidious keep themselves hidden, the Veil of the Dark Side holding firmly to hide this great use of power.

Though, as another bolt almost hit his oxygen supply, he resolved to teach his apprentice how to put a cap on his power when lost in such rage. After all, Plagueis knew he couldn't be around all the time to clean up Sidious's messes.

With a casual wave, the raging and unprepared Sith found himself flung by a powerful push from the Force, sending him off his feet and into a wall. His back took the brunt of the damage, but his head bounced back enough to both clear his head and give him a splitting headache.

"Trouble, Senator?" Plagueis joked as he strolled over to the Naboo native, who remained where he landed in an undignified manner.

"Master," Sidious greeted with a growl, obviously wrestling with his emotions and his control of them.

"I would have let you continue, but time is not a luxury to us at the moment," Plagueis stated casually, offering Sidious a hand. The human refused to take it, glaring off into space. Into the Force, no doubt. "Very well, tell me what has rattled you so, my apprentice," Plagueis ordered offhandedly as he retracted the limb, folding his hands behind his back while walking towards the opening to the distant view of Coruscant's massive super structures.

"Maul failed. This "Darth Vader" was far too much for him," Sidious answered, almost robotically as he refused to look anywhere but right ahead with his gleaming yellow eyes.

"We were both aware of that. That he came back alive meant he was given a message. What concerns me is that the message made you kill a valuable asset at such a crucial time," Plagueis scolded, turning around to raise an eyebrow at Sidious.

"I knew you'd revive him," Sidious spat out, quickly losing his sneer as Plagueis turned to him fully. The senator looked away, knowing he was pushing it. He tried and failed to find the words as he bit his lip for a second. "He knows me, Master. He knows who I am," he admitted with a cold fury.

"And?" Plagueis inquired with a head tilt. "If it became public knowledge that Senator Palpatine is a Sith Lord, that would be disastrous, yes, but it would be one Sith of unknown origins claiming two very prominent members of society are Sith as well. Hard to prove, little reason to trust him and does not prove that we've done anything illegal in the slightest. Even if he tried to reveal it, there is plenty we c-" he started to lecture, only for Sidious to interrupt. Violently.

"He Knows Who I Am!" he screamed at his master, as if screaming it would make him understand his meaning clearly.

In a sense, it did as the Muun studied his student carefully while Sidious gripped his own hair with one hand in silent frustration. "What does he know, Sidious?" he asked in that soft, dark voice. A voice that Sidious both appreciated and dreaded. It was a powerful tone that told him that they would survive if he stuck close to Plagueis. And oh how Sidious hated when he HAD to rely on anyone but his own power and manipulations.

"He...he told Maul two names. Two names to give to me," Sidious answered with a silent growl.

"Cosinga," the Dark Lord guessed, almost amused. "I knew your father had to be involved to get you this angry. He knows you killed him. A few people suspect as much. Your father's nature was not entirely hidden and you can honestly admit to your father's genuine desire to kill you. Merely leave out how mutual the feeling was and perhaps spin it that the family accident was caused by self defense against your father. All of which is true, mostly," Plagueis summarized neatly.

"Oh, I know that well, Master," Sidious answered with a bitter, empty cackle. "I know that too well. I have planned a thousand different tales of an abusive tyrant of a father and a spineless mother in the event my familicide was exposed. No, no, if it was only that, I would have been able to resist killing the fool," Sidious admitted, jerking his head toward's Maul's co- body. The Zabrak was officially breathing again.

Now Plagueis was worried. What, oh what could have pushed his little Sithling over the edge if not the hate for his father? "And the second name then?" he inquired calmly.

"Hanna," Palpatine answered with an ironic smile. "Hanna."

"Hanna?" the Muun repeated as he wracked his mind for any person of importance with that name, coming up starved of results as he stroked his chin. Could it be a place tha- "Wait..." he recalled with wide, wide eyes.

"Ahh, I see you understand, Master," Sheev noted with a half-mad chuckle before his face settled into stone. "Anyone can guess I killed my father, my whole family even. But no one should know the details. My father never made any record of coming to escort me to the family ship. I killed everyone on board before you found me. And yet, somehow this Vader knows that I became a Sith, that I killed my family after being picked up at Hanna City Spaceport."

Plagueis just stood there as he contemplated the tantalizing if horrible meanings this could have, trying not to smile.

Scenario One: Sidious, in his semi-traumatized state after such a heavy dose of the Dark Side to his then-untrained self, had contacted someone else before Plagueis had gotten to him. It seemed unlikely that Sidious would have forgotten such an event, no matter his mental state.

Scenario Two: Someone that day had recognized Sidious and put two and two together. But how this scenario led to Vader was a messy, convoluted set of possibilities that made him discard the idea almost entirely.

Scenario Three: Someone survived that massacre. More likely than either he or Sidious wanted to admit. Sidious had several siblings and there was a chance with all of them to be born with the same potential. Perhaps Plagueis had missed another diamond in the rough that day?

Scenario Four: The most terrifying and most exciting. Vader, and whatever if any Order he hailed from, had been keeping close tabs on Plagueis for decades. If that was true, if his apprentice could even fathom that possibility...

Scenario Five: The most mundane and comical: Someone managed to find Palpatine's old ship in some junk heap and reassemble the wiped recording of that incident.

Scenario Six: Darth Vader was a time-traveler. In the face of the extremely unlikely, he always added in time travel as a plausible if improbable answer, as a homage to his own dead master, Tenebrous.

So many possibilities, so many potential revelations, so fascinating. But such speculation must be reserved for more opportune times. They had a schedule to keep to now that all the pieces were moving. "Now, now, enough of this, Lord Sidious," Plagueis said in a mixture of scolding and reassurance as he used a light force pull to help Sidious to his feet, the apprentice taking several breaths to right himself. "There will be time for Siths to rage and question. For now, we must still play our roles. I, the rich and influential Muun pulling at the purse strings of senators while you, my apprentice, must be the unassuming Senator of Naboo. After all, your queen needs you dearly now, to guide her not only to saving your shared people, but the bloated and broken thing that is the senate," Plagueis instructed soothingly as he wandered over to the body of Maul.

Sidious glared weakly at his Master's back. Where he himself was akin to a serpent, with movements and words equally graceful in their deadly deception, he still envied his Master in some ways. To him, Plagueis could not be compared to a mere beast. No, he was like smoke, like a wraith; there, influencing all he glided over, his mere existence somehow proof of his power, but never leaving a trace, never able to be grasped. Always slipped away the moment your fist closed on him.

"Master, this Vader will surely be there," Sidious reminded pointedly, beginning to suspect treachery on his teacher's part. . "If he attacks me-"

"Pray that he does," Plagueis interrupted as he held out a hand, raising Maul's body up. A deceptively peaceful glow of green and blue formed around and above the assassin, but Sidious knew otherwise. It was merely how the Force, namely the midi-chlorians, glowed when Plagueis played with Life and Death. Ensuring that Maul's body was fully healed, no doubt, and that the false apprentice had no reason to suspect anything. "Pray he is foolish enough to attack you in front of all the Jedi the order will send to, at minimum, keep him observed. Dodge once if he attacks and the Jedi will stop him. After all, it's not uncommon for the rare few to develop more midi-chlorians through their lifetimes: not enough to use the Force truly, but enough to stay a step or two ahead of Death. Avoid exposing yourself unless you cannot get away to some place more remote," Plagueis explained as he sat the false apprentice back down on the floor. "If he's that foolish."

"You do not believe he is," Sidious noted coldly.

"I'd be disappointed if he was. He could have confronted us anywhere in the galaxy, Sidious. Doing so in the open on Coruscant? No, I believe this Vader has something far more interesting planned," the Dark Lord mused as he turned to leave. "Your pet shall be fine and will remember it as nothing more than your normal overzealous use of Force Lightning. Now, be sure you are presentable. After all, you will be meeting your queen and the Supreme Chancellor. If everything goes smoothly, on his last day in office no less," he instructed idly.

"And what will you be doing, Master?" Sidious inquired, wondering if he was the only one sticking to the script still.

"I shall be observing. You must focus on staying alive, staying hidden and helping the Queen. Perhaps I can get a sense of what this Vader is scheming through his interactions, and what his aim was regarding traveling with two Jedi," Plagueis mused, tapping his chin. "Fair well, my fellow Soon-to-be-Vice-Chancellor."

'Fair well, my soon-to-be-dead-teacher,' Palpatine thought bitterly in his head. He too had conjured his own ideas of how Darth Vader could possibly know that information, but only one unique from Plagueis's list.

Plagueis and Vader were either now working together or had done so in the past. Was this irony? Some twisted joke of the Force, a punishment for turning Maul into a false apprentice and now seeing evidence that he himself might have never been meant to succeed. It would make sense. His family power made him a valuable piece and he had little choice other than to join Plagueis when he found him on his family's ship, everyone dead save himself.

Sidious forced down a snarl as he made to leave and get ready for his big performance. He'd find his own answers his own way when face to face with this pretender to the throne.

Meanwhile

Ros Lai, ever in her guise as an old hag, shivered and tingled as she felt the howling of the spirits ringing in her ears, and the ears of every nightsister and nightbrother. One did not need to be a shaman to feel the Great Darkness stirring in the cosmos, beyond their confined little world.

Every Brother and Sister of Dathomir knew of the Jedi and the Sith, even if not all clans would recognize the titles they went by. After all, story telling among clans had a lovely way of distorting certain truths, including names. Yet the stories of the long forgotten past spoke of a time when there were once many of the Dark, just as many of the Light. But while the Darkness had shrunk in size, the potency increased nearly every generation. Hidden from the light, but those firmly enough in the Dark Side could catch a glimpse of them.

And Ros Lai breathed the Dark Side. She had seen the Wise One that toyed with life and death, the many-faced Lordling sinking his fangs into the very heart of the wretched republic. Now the Great Darkness had descended in all its umbral glory. Like a storm it shrouded all around in its cloak; like a dark-sun it radiated power that few could hope to comprehend. Its pressence brough leviathanic waves that stirred the spirits of distant, dark worlds such as their own. And oh how the spirits sung and cried of this one's power. But whereas all Dathomirians knew of the Jedi and Sith, those truly strong in the force knew this: There were only two truly in the Dark.

Yet now there were three. And the Third was for who the Spirits of this world and the very galaxy sung. A song sung by the roaring of winds and beasts, a song sung in flames and in death.

But why for him did they sing? Only time would tell, Ros Lai knew as she looked upon the Star Temple. Very soon, she imagined, if her mother had her way. The half-human took much joy in watching her mother switch between the joy of such a mighty champion of the Dark Side arising and wariness of such a foe. All the better to discover how to access the ancient Infinity Gate sooner rather than later, that was the priority of Zalem, self-proclaimed Queen of the Nightsisters.

Ros the Rancor chuckled to herself as she made to return to her task as a slave handler. Oh, how she would enjoy when this Great Darkness came to Dathomir. After all, a proper welcome gift would need to be supplied.

Her mother's head should be a nice start.

Meanwhile

Vader had several ideas of who this would be. He was certain that someone would have something to talk to him about before arriving on Coruscant. Qui-Gon about coming peacefully to the Temple? Padme or "The Queen" inquiring for any last minute advice? Panaka for...just about anything from expressing his gratitude to formally requesting he continue to protect the queen. Anakin about Literally Anything and Everything. Or, Force Forbid, his mother come in here to keep him company or offer thanks or...anything.

Moving past her death did not mean he was in any state ready to suddenly speak to a living Shmi Skywalker!

Still, the last person he expected to sit down across from him was Obi-Wan Kenobi.

While he did not hate his past self for the potential weakness in his future, there were certain aspects of even Padawan Kenobi's self he despised. Hypocritical and currently-unearned arrogance, a blind devotion to the Order, and his general disrespect for many beings. He never actually noticed that as Obi-Wan tempered and slowly dealt with it after Qui-Gon's death, but he had been observing his would-be master since his arrival. Obi-Young had a subtle disdain for Qui-Gon's more maverick ways, for any authority outside the Order, and...he wasn't positive, but he swore there was some non-human bias to this Pada-Wan.

The first and last were just flaws of youth, Vader would admit, but the second issue came and went; allied to the democracy of the republic yet willing and wanting to spy on the Supreme Chancellor with plans to remove him from power if needed. All prior to discovering the information about said Chancellor playing both sides of the War and being a Sith Lord.

But that was neither here nor there. "What do you want, Kenobi?" he asked bluntly.

"Not going to inquire who won the game?" Obi-Wan asked with a dry smile. "Or, lost the least, I suppose."

"I imagine you lost the most," Vader answered without missing a beat.

Obi-Wan took a deep breath as he sat back in his seat, obviously conflicted. "You said you didn't want a religious debate. Would you...oblige a religious question?" Obi-Wan inquired uncertainly.

Vader stared for a good long minute checking to confirm that, no, he had not somehow started corrupting the incorruptible Obi-Wan Kenobi. "I make no assurance you will like my answer," he forewarned.

"I am expecting that," Obi-wan admitted, biting his cheek before settling his head against his steeped fingers. "Why do you hate us?"

If Obi-Wan could see through the lenses, he would see Vader blinking slowly, making sure he heard that right. "You want to know why the Sith in general hate Jedi?" Vader counter questioned.

Obi-Wan stretched out both his hands to his side. "Yes, I suppose," he admitted.

"That is...a very old question, Padawan. One of the great failings of you Jedi is your inability to comprehend how you created the Sith," Vader answered with a deep breath. He knew well the history of the Sith. Sidious, for everything else, was paranoid. He would never risk the Sith truly falling, even from memory. And in his studies of ancient Sith lords and warriors, and through his power in the Force, Vader understood well the origin of the deep seated Hatred in all that called themselves Sith. "The original Lords of the Sith were Jedi, cast out of your order for practicing in the Dark Side," he reminded.

Obi-Wan nodded. "I understand th-"

"You understand nothing," Vader interrupted sternly. "No Jedi ever has. Even few Sith have, consciously. You raise people from infancy, teach them to have no attachments. But living creatures crave attachment and, importantly, stability. And so, in cutting them off from all else life has to offer, you made them form an attachment. To the Jedi Order. What do you think happens when the only thing you have been raised to care about, something you have been trained to defend and die for, suddenly casts you out? Or worse, turns against you?" Vader questioned.

"But they shouldn't ha-" Obi-Wan started to protest, only for Vader to glare at him.

"What. Happens?" Vader repeated coldly.

"I...don't know. Hatred, I suppose?" Obi-Wan guessed halfheartedly.

Vader shook his head. "You Jedi are right in your theory, just not your application: It starts with fear. Unimaginable, utter fear at the idea that you can never go home, that everyone you ever cared for hates you now. It leaves one feeling cold and alone, even in a group. Anger becomes an escape, a way to turn your pain outwards if only so you can ignore it for a few, blissful seconds. Anger turns to hatred as they discover no way to truly cope with the loss and pain, leading them on the quest for vengeance," he continued.

"And hatred leads to suffering," Obi-Wan finished, only to get another head shake.

"Everyone suffers, Jedi. That boy has suffered in slavery, your grand master has suffered centuries of loss and the queen has suffered the loss of her planet. Suffering is a part of life that seeks no sides, only opportunity," he corrected in a bitter but sage tone.

"...That still doesn't explain why...your kind still hate us. I mean, most Sith after a point weren't former Jedi," Obi-wan pointed out cautiously.

"And that is where you all fail to understand the Dark Side completely," Vader answered, almost sounding tired with the topic. "Sith or Jedi, Masters and Apprentices form bonds through the Force, correct?"

"Ye-Oh...Ohhhhhh. It's a lot worse than just being a part of the Force corrupted and malformed by hatred and greed, isn't it?" Obi-Wan realized with a wince.

"The Dark Side has existed for eons, long before either of our Orders were founded, but the Sith hatred for the Jedi is uniquely strong. Why? For thousands of years, the hatred and anger the original Lords of the Sith had for the Jedi Order that abandoned them was subconsciously passed down from master to apprentice, and so on and so forth, with many finding fresh reasons to hate the Jedi anew. It is a mutual, almost hive-minded hatred. One I assume that, after the Great Hyperspace War, the near genocide of the Sith solidified its place in the Force," Vader explained in a monotone. "That is why hatred and anger are so powerful in the Dark Side: there is a great deal of it to be drawn upon."

Obi-Wan brought a hand over his face as he soaked all that in. It didn't change his view on the Force or his faith in the light, but by the stars did it make the idea of fighting the Sith more complicated than just them being selfish, evil force-sensitives that abused the gift of the Force. How does one put out ages of amassed hatred?

"...Why?" Vader asked after a moment's pause.

Obi-Wan scowled as he looked away. "Call it a self-penance. When I make a grave mistake, like accusing an ally at the drop of a hat, I try to learn from it. And the only way I think I can do that is if I understand...you, I suppose," Obi-Wan answered begrudgingly.

Vader tilted his head ever so slightly. "Are you beginning to trust me, Jedi?" Vader inquired, almost mocking.

"Hardly, but not trusting and distrusting have slight yet important differences. I don't trust that you won't be our enemy, but I'm starting to doubt you will ever be Naboo's enemy," Obi-Wan explained with a weak grin. "...Why do you hate us?" he repeated curiously, the meaning obvious.

"ATTENTION! We have arrived at Coruscant and we've been cleared! We will be landing within ten minutes!" the captain announced with a clearly relieved voice.

The two force wielders had glanced up at the announcement before looking back at each other. Vader stood first, slowly making his way out of the room, but stopping at the archway. He had taken a great deal of time to sort out his objective and full reasons for hating the Jedi Order...

"I hate your Order because you Jedi have failed," he answered factually.

"Failed who?" Obi-Wan asked with a furrowed brow.

"Everyone."

Meanwhile

As he stood on a platform awaiting their royal guest, Supreme Chancellor Valorum pulled at the neck of his robes, finding himself more than a little nervous underneath his calm appearance. After all, it wasn't every day the Jedi Council insisted on several masters and knights attending a diplomatic arrival, for his safety no less. It was...very disconcerting. What could be so dangerous about the Queen of Naboo coming here that so many powerful peacekeepers thought they needed to be here?

That many of them looked on edge made it worse.

Senator Palpatine looked to be in similar spirits, folded hands rubbing over one another, standing a few feet in front of him. After all, it was only proper for him to receive his queen and introduce them. He imagined his senate guards weren't all that thrilled with the situation either. They were well trained, of course, but something needing this many Jedi could spell death for everyone present.

"You believe there is...a dangerous person that might be traveling with the Queen," he repeated quietly to the Jedi standing nearst to him. This one being Mace Windu.

"Yes, Chancellor. All the Jedi felt a great disturbance that seems to travel with the Queen," Windu explained.

Valorum hid his scowl at that. Great disturbance didn't really clarify what the problem was or how dangerous it could be for this response. Still, he refocused his attention on the original point of this gathering. The Trade Federation's blockade of Naboo, a protest of the disbandment of the Free Trade Zones and following taxation that subsequently followed the Trade Federation and other multi-planet enterprises conducting business in the Mid and Outer Rims. A motion he not only supported but had advocated for. One of the few true efforts he had been able to take against a business empire so powerful that it had a seat on the senate. How he hated this job sometimes, the contradiction of how powerful he should be to how powerless he actually was. He was not power-hungry, but he might as well be power-starved with how little good he could do in office.

Pushing aside his loathing that was aimed somewhere between himself and the state of the Republic, Valorum couldn't wrap his mind around this move. Senator Palpatine had voiced concern not only that his ambassadors weren't received and might possibly even be dead, but that the blackout on communications to his home planet might indicate an invasion.

Could he believe the Trade Federation was bold enough to invade a planet? Yes, yes he could. Neimoidians were often greedy and cowardly, hence why they had droids for all the dangerous work. And while the veritable army of droids, both as soldiers and as star fighters, was officially just to ward off pirates in the outer-rim, there was little to stop therm from turning that sort of shield into a sword.

But why Naboo? True, the relatively new member of the republic was rich with valuable plasma and their culture meant they had little to nothing in terms of a planetary defense, but was that really enough of a pay off? Blockade was one thing, but even if the investigation got bogged down by red tape, the issue still remained that the Federation was risking many legal consequences and even their profits in the long run. There were plenty of other planets with resources where the Trade Federation could feasibly justify taking over, especially with more violent and primitive natives, or even no sentients at all. But Naboo was so peaceful that it'd be impossible to spin an invasion as anything but greed.

Of course, that was assuming there was an invasion, he was suppose to be impartial after all, but between the brief transmission to the queen's incoming transport and his own suspicions, he found only grim possibilities left.

The so-called Leader of the Galactic Republic was brought out of his thoughts as a distinctly Nubian ship came in to land.

Mace, however, took a deep but subtle breath. The reason for the obvious weariness on the faces of several Jedi wasn't just What was arriving, but being in the vicinity of such sheer darkness was unsettling to those of Light Side. And as he saw the ship descend, it took everything to school his expressions.

Shatterpoints were a unique and hard to explain phenomenon. On enemies and obstacles, it was simple, it was a weak point; the weakest point to be exact. A vulnerability that could destroy an enemy. But the Shatterpoints of events and time? It was like witnessing off-colored lightning bolts and spiderweb cracks, jumping from one thing to another, some times more. Like the Force was hinting that an important moment was about to happen. Be it in a single person's life or the history of the galaxy, it was hard to say.

But as he looked up at the descending ship, he perceived it coated with black lightning that cycled about the silvery hull like an almost living thing, little spike-shaped bolts erupting along its length. It wouldn't be unbelievable to say he had never seen something like this, but he had.

Shatterpoint was an inherit power one is born with, not a trick one obtains through learning. He had been seeing them before he was ten and he had seen something like this only twice.

The first time was when he was a youngling and met Master Yoda for the first time he could remember, in one of their youngling lessons. Strings of light danced between the small, ancient being and every child there. It was the promise, the hope of all their potential that the Grand Master sincerely wanted them to reach.

The second time was...the Battle of Galidraan. When he watched the Jedi gather and prepare to leave for that mission, he saw a heavy web of bleak color follow them as they left. Over half of them never returned, for they had become one with the force. An incident that some still held him in contempt for.

Infinite possibilities, and possibly an uncountable amount of loss. That was what Mace saw landing before their very eyes.

The ramp opened and soon down came two Jedi, followed by a plainly dressed woman and child, a dark skinned human in the cloth of a Naboo Royal Guard Captain, and...an alien whose kind many present were not familiar with. Beyond them, however, was the queen in her dark royal robes and white face paint.

The Jedi looked notably less tense when they saw their comrades safe and sound. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan took only a brief glance at the extra security and shared a distinct look with one another, as if they were expecting this to go poorly. Nonetheless, they held their words, bowing briefly to the Chancellor and Senator, imitated by the others between the them and the queen, save Panaka, who respectfully settled for a sharp head bow. With only a few seconds delay, the group stood aside to allow the queen to the front with her handmaidens.

Several Jedi shifted uncertainly while Mace gave a searching look to Qui-Gon, who had a look to his face that said the maverick Jedi knew none of them would enjoy what happened next and there was a chance that Qui-Gon would take some enjoyment in that. His padawan sent the Jedi Master a look of apology but mostly helplessness.

"It is a great gift to see you alive, Your Majesty," Palpatine greeted with a disarming yet worried smile. Worry that he didn't have to fake. This could get dangerous, very quickly. "With the communications breakdown, we've been very concerned. I'm anxious to hear your report on the situation," he continued, motioning to the man beside him. "May I present Supreme Chancellor Valorum."

"Welcome your Highness, it is an honor to finally meet you in person," Valorum greeted dutifully, idly noting the Jedi were still watching the ship. Why?

"Thank you, Chancellor," the Queen greeted, raising a regal brow to glance at the gathered "security" on the platform. "Forgive me, but is it traditional to have this many Jedi present?" she inquired. Sabe doubted it yet knew that she- both she and Padme in this case- were new to the city-planet and it was feasible to have some kind of reception like this.

But the Chancellor confirmed her doubts with a brief smirk of mirth before regaining his composure. "No, Your Highness. The Jedi had their own concerns regarding your arrival. Allow me to introduce Jedi Master Windu," he gestured to the bald human, who bowed his head briefly in respect.

"Apologies, as I'm sure this seems excessive, Queen Amidala, but we sensed a dangerous individual may have been traveling with you," Mace Windu explained in greeting.

"Uh-Oh," Jar-Jar commented in concern, drawing attention to him. "Mesa no liken where disa gosin."

"Is it him?" Valorum asked skeptically

Even Sidious felt a bit of levity in the misstep of the Chancellor as the Gungun held up his hands in surrender. "Mesa doen nutten! Mesa justa tenk all-n yousas jedi a bit nutsen tosa maken trouble with the Machi-Hisen on the skeeebettle," he cautioned in genuine concern.

Most stared in confusion while the few that could understand or piece together the meaning grew in apprehension as the Queen gained a knowing look in her eyes. "I believe I know who you mean, Master Jedi. However, I must assure you that he is of no danger to me. It is he that rescued us from the imprisonment of the Trade Federation," she assured, gaining conflicted looks among the Jedi.

"And where might this protector of yours be, if I might ask?" Valorum asked with a raised eyebrow of his own.

*Kuuuuuuh Kerrr*

A slow chill worked over the spines of all that heard the artificial breathing for the first time, followed by the thudding of footsteps.

"That would be him now," the Queen mused, turning to look back the at ship, drawing all eyes too it.

All Jedi held their breath, muscles tensing at the mere sight. A black monolith of the Dark Side stalked down the ramp, his every mannerism screaming power and intimidation, down to the vaguely skull shaped helmet. Mace couldn't help but glare at the revealed enemy of the Jedi, standing so proudly before them. It took all his will not to lash out in a bid to keep this Sith from stepping one foot on the planet.

He regretted that decision instantly.

The Dark Lord did not break his stride in his step as he stepped off the ramp, unleashing his presence fully onto the force-sensitives of Coruscant, the shadow in the force that was his being descending upon and washing over the planet-wide city. The non-sensitives perceiving no change. Only a sliver of fear, a touch of worry, a general feeling that the times had lost a bit of its light.

But this was far more literal for the Jedi, visually percieving the change as a darkening of color, a dulling of light. It did reach the temple, split around it like a rock in a river, but even they could feel the shift, the weight pressed against their fortress of the Light

The Force proudly announced that Darth Vader had arrived.

And here att the epicenter of this event, all Jedi felt as though the Force itself had been pulled out from under them, sweat forming on the brows of many. But not Mace Windu, .

Nor Anakin Skywalker, who weathered the storm with the calmness a desert dweller brushes off the winds on a gusty day, wondering what had upset the Jedi so much.

But he was ignored, mostly, as Vader strolled up to the politicians. He came to an ominous halt as both Valorum and Palpatine soaked in his image while trying to get a read on him in different ways. Both failed. He said not a word for an instance, slowly looking over every Jedi present and feeling them tense in readiness, some clutching their blades beneath their robes.

Sidious had to hold back a smirk, enjoying the front row seat to the unease of the Jedi, despite harboring ever growing hatred for the cause.

"Chancellor Valorum, Senator Palpatine, Jedi Master Windu. Allow me to introduce you to Darth Vader," The false-queen introduced. "He has been a great ally to me, and has done much to ensure our safe passage here."

"Chancellor, Senator," Vader greeted, his synthesized tone conveying polite respect. He did not bow and no one there would have the nerve to reprimand him.

Nor did he pay the Jedi any further attention, ignoring them as a threat entirely, which only further incensed some of them.

Seizing the tense moment as his chance, Palpatine stepped forward with his finest crafted smile of sincerity. "Well, I for one thank you for aiding our homeworld, Darth...Vaber?" he pretended to ask, stretching out a hand to shake in a show of thanks.

Vader's traveling companions were almost surprised when he actually accepted and made to return the gesture. "Vader, and you may thank me when thee Trade Federation is removed from Naboo," Vader acknowledged as he made to grab the senator's hand-

-And in that instance, all of the galaxy disappeared for the two Sith Lords as the fringes of their power in the Forrce clashed violently. As violently as they could at least, with the Jedi being aware, which was both more and less than they could imagine.

Sidious mentally snarled, trying to claw apart shielding to the fortress that Vader was in the Force, who returned fire just enough to keep Sith of Naboo at bay for this...discussion, if it could be called that.

"WHO ARE YOU?! What Are You?! Who Trained You?! Who Told You?! Where Did You Hide!?" All these questions resonated against Vader's mind as Sidious chipped away at defenses that grew back before his currently-limited power could make decent damage. But he could feel his tendrils seeping deeper, closer to the truth. If he could just keep this up.

Vader withstood it all without so much of a flinch, reveling in Sidious's rage and, dare he believe it? Fear.

Sidious should have known something was wrong, with how little effort Vader made to throw him out.

For once again, the words of Darth Vader destroyed so much of what he believed to be true in the Galaxy, the shock allowing Vader to rip out Sidious's Force tendrils, crushing and vaporizing them in the time traveler's influence.

All thanks to six little words.

"Give my regards to Hego Damask."