Chapter 18:Sheev Palpatine

I woke up after a few hours feeling much better, after a sonic bath and cleaning myself, I went towards the main compartment of the ship, totally refreshed.

Arriving there, I find Anakin sleeping with his head on Shmi's lap, while a blanket wrapped them, for someone who came from a hot planet like both, the temperature of space is hard to bear;

'' How are you, Mrs. Skywalker? '' I say with a small smile after approaching, since I was the one who freed Shmi, I feel a little responsible for what happens to her.

"I'm fine, thanks to you," she replies with a motherly smile as she runs her hand through Anakin's hair, "still a little incredulous that we're finally free," she continues looking at me this time.

'' don't worry, everything will work out, ... now, tell me, Mrs. skywalker, do you have a dream? '', I ask after pondering what to do with her.

'' You can call me Shmi, dear, I owe you a lot, '' she says with a serious face, but the happy smile never leaves her lips, seeing me nod in agreement, she continues, '' my dream has already come true, I always wanted Annie to have freedom and to be able to do what he wants, '' she says while still fondling Anakin.

'' Yes, I can see that '', I say looking at the scene, '' but that's not what I'm talking about, did you ever have a dream that you want to make ?, one before you became a mother? ''

She seems surprised by my question, but she still thinks seriously before answering, "when I was younger, I always wanted to own a spaceship and droids workshop, and work and live with my own effort," she says with a smile. look reminiscent on the face, as if remembering something.

This time I was surprised, because I didn't expect this, "can you handle ship repairs?", I ask showing my surprise.

She laughs a little at my reaction, "Yes and droids in general too, who do you think taught Annie everything he knows? Sometimes when he was away, I did some repairs at C3PO", she says the last leaves in a whisper.

I'm at a loss for words, I really don't expect it, '' I see, in that case, I need you to follow Padme and the Queen for now, but as soon as we solve our mission, I'll help you open a store, '' I say and I get up at that moment, "you should rest a little now, soon we will get to coruscant"

"Wait", she says when she sees me going to the exit

''Yes?''

"Why do you help me so much? I have nothing to give you in return," she says in a serious tone.

'' I ... I'm not sure, I never met my mother (referring to the past life), so I was never able to do anything for her, so I think I'm just trying to make up for it '', I say after hesitating a little at first , '' don't think about it too much, and you don't have to give me anything back, I'm going to meet Padme now, try to rest '', I say and leave the compartment.

"Poor child," she whispers with a sad look on her face.

...

A few hours have passed and the pilot has just warned us that we will arrive at Coruscant in a few minutes, during that time I was talking idly with Padme, next to Sabé still disguised as queen and maids, hearing the warning,we all started heading towards the landing area, at the same time we got there, the ship left the hyperspace and a planet with buildings along its entire length and visible from space appeared in our vision, approaching the planet it was possible to see skyscrapers in all directions, with various types of flying vehicles coming in, some connected to aerial railways, was really a spectacular sight.

We quickly approached the landing platform, where some people seemed to be waiting for us, it was a pair of middle aged men surrounded by armed security guards, I recognized both, one of them being the current Chancellor Finis Valorum, he had hair short gray with light skin and blue eyes, while wearing a luxurious blue tunic.

The other man is the current Naboo representative senator, Sheev Palpatine, also with slightly red hair turning gray due to age, along with the blue eyes and the perpetual gentle smile on his face, which if I didn't know, I would really believe he was a harmless grandfather.

As soon as the ship was about to land, I approached Anakin and touched him lightly on the shoulder, "I need you and your mother to accompany Padme and the queen for now ok?", But while I was talking to him,I discreetly used force stealth to hide Anakin's connection to force, for any sensible person looking at him now he seemed to have a very weak connection to force.

After hearing my request, Anakin looked in the direction of Qui-Gon to ask for confirmation about what he should do, while Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan looked at me with frowns, both of them felt like I had significantly erased Anakin's presence on the force, and are giving me questioning looks.

* (I'll explain about it later, but trust me for now and don't ask questions, it's for Anakin's sake) *, I say to both of them through Telepathy, Obi-Wan turned to Qui-Gon at that moment, while he looked at me for a few seconds before nodding, '' do as he says Anakim, stay with the queen for now ''.

Soon the ship finally landed and everyone started to disembark in succession, with the Jedi duo at the front, closely followed by Sabé disguised as queen, while Shmi, Anakin and I followed Padme and the maids.

While Sabé exchanged greetings with the Chancellor and Palpatine, Qui-Gon came to me, '' I need to go to the Jedi council to report the situation, and I would like you to come with me, young friend, '' he says as he approaches.

Padme who hears this looks at me a little worried, giving her a reassuring smile, I turn to Qui-Gon, '' I figured you would say that, but currently I'm still the queen's bodyguard, so I need to keep protecting her ''

Seeing that he wanted to insist, I quickly interrupt saying, '' As soon as I escort the queen to her chambers and make sure she is safe, I will find the council, and take Anakin with me, so go ahead and explain what happened until now, '' I say with a smile, * (besides that I also need to stay close to the boy, to protect him, I will explain about that later) *, I add telepathically to him.

He frowned, still not understanding why or from who I am hiding Anakin, but he decides to trust me, '' okay then, I'll go ahead and report on the Dark Jedi, the boy ... and you,i am shure that the council will be very interested in you '' , he says before turning to go and talk to the chancellor, followed by Obi-Wan

At the same time we followed Sabé while she talked to Palpative, and I must admit that the guy was a very good actor, every question he asked, every gesture and smile, showed only his concern and appreciation for the 'queen', it is no wonder that this person has managed to deceive everyone and build his own empire, and I know that in terms of plans and schemes, I don't even get to his feet, and that's why I don't intend to fight him in that respect, I'm going to crush him with power when the time comes, but I still need time and a lot of training, for now all I can do is delay his plans.

I leave my thoughts when we approach the luxury flying vehicle, which will take us to the queen's private apartment in coruscant, as soon as everyone starts to board, I push Anakin slightly so that he is next to Jar Jar, in the front seats , while I sit right behind him on the other side, I need to be close to keep him hidden from Palpatine, ´Sabé sits beside me, as I still play the role of bodyguard, and that is exactly the first thing Palpatine asks as soon as he sees me.

'' And who would that young man be? '' He says in my direction with a grandfather smile.

"He is my new bodyguard, he has been serving me well for almost 1 year, he also saved me when the confederation started the invasion of Naboo", Sabé replies to him giving more information about what she should, I can feel Palpatine using subtly force to influence her, and as soon as he hears the answer, he turns to me and asks, "oho, a boy so young and so capable, is really impressive, can you tell me a little about you young friend?" 'as soon as he finishes the sentence, I can feel him using the same technique on me, it seemed that several tentacles were advancing towards my head, it seems that this ability is a more powerful and sinister version of the compulsion used by the Jedi, to say the truth can be very useful, I'll see if I can exchange my skill sith voucher for it later.

Leaving these thoughts aside for now, I rise abruptly as if I am feeling an enemy, it seems to alert everyone, including Palpatine, it seems that only now he realized that I am a force user, as I was hiding in the same way as Anakin and using the compulsion in me is the same as admitting that he is also a force user, but I can't alert him yet so I just scan everyone quickly before saying, '' it was nothing, I'm sorry, I thought I felt something, but I think it was just my imagination, '' I mumble the final part loud enough for everyone to hear, as a way of lowering Palpatine's alertness.

Even though he didn't show it on his face, I noticed his body visibly relaxing after I sat down again, he seems to believe that I noticed him, discovering that I was a force user increased his interest in me, which in this case is very good, as long as he is focused on me, he will ignore Anakin, so for the rest of the trip to the queen's apartment, he continued to ask me and Sabé questions with the same grandfather smile as always, until about 10 minutes of travel, we arrived at our destination.

As soon as we entered the rooms I turned to Sabé and said, "Majesty, I believe you will be safe here, I need to go and answer the call of the Jedi"

"Sure, you can go, but you should be back soon," she replies

I just bow slightly and walk away, while giving a signal for Padme Shmi and Anakim to follow me.

As we move away from Palpatine I turn to Shmi first, '' I will take Anakin with me to the Jedi council, is everything okay with you? ''

She turns to Anakim on hearing my question, '' that decision is yours, Annie, I will support you in whatever you want to do, '' she says gently.

He seems to seriously consider before saying, '' I'm going with him, that's what I've always wanted to do, being a Jedi is what I was born to be, '' he says resolutely.

Shmi just nods and smiles at him.

"In that case, you can wait for me outside, I need to have a word with Padme in particular", I say to both

Shmi waves before leaving with Anakim.

I turn to Padme right now, "are you going to be okay without me?", I say with a provocative smile, in the last year, we rarely split up.

* Humph *, '' We are in the republic, nobody can hurt me here, you should worry about yourself '', she says with a provocative smile of her own

I have a little laugh before patting her on the head, "naive as always, you shouldn't trust anyone when you're between politicians"

She slaps my hand and makes a cute pout, '' don't treat me like a child, I'm a Queen '', she says

I laugh again and make an exaggerated bow, "as you wish, Majesty", she opens a beautiful smile and laughs a little.

'' I have to go now, '' I say and turn to leave.

'' John .. '', she calls me back, as soon as I turn around she says to me with a worried face, '' be careful there ''

I get confused for a second as to what exactly she is worried about, before realizing that she seems to fear what the Jedi Council might do to me, realizing this I give her a reassuring smile and say, '' it's okay, those old men can't do anything to me, I'll be right back '', I say the last part after a short pause to which she gives a small nod.

Leaving the room, I find Shmi and Anakin talking, I approach them quickly and say, "you must go with Padme for now, I will take care of Anakin"

"Yes, I trust you", she gives us one last look and walks into the apartment again.

I look at Anakin at that moment and give him a huge smile and say, '' Get ready, buddy, we're about to make an epic entrance '' .....