Star Wars: Galactic System - CH7

[Sion Wells. POV.]

I froze as Palpatine insisted on helping me out, his wrinkled face contorting into a sly grin. There was no escaping this encounter. I had no choice but to play along, letting this viper have his fun. 

"Now, let’s begin," Palpatine said, his voice dripping with false kindness. "Let me help you find what you're looking for. The book you picked was good, but there are others which are better for the task at hand."

He placed a gnarled hand on my shoulder and led me to a shadowy nook, away from prying eyes. I suppressed a shudder, focusing on the task at hand. Play the fool, I told myself. Make him believe you know nothing.

Palpatine selected a colorful children's book and opened it with a flourish. "We'll start simple," he purred. "Sound out the words, one syllable at a time."  

I swallowed hard and began to read, my voice halting and stilted. The words still felt foreign on my tongue, but I persisted, determined not to arouse suspicion. 

Palpatine nodded, his yellow eyes glinting. "Very good, very good! You're learning so quickly." His praise made my skin crawl, but I forced my lips into a grateful smile. 

Just get through this encounter, I told myself, clenching my fists under the table. Maintain the act a little longer.

I had no idea how the Jedi couldn’t see what he truly was. Even though he was acting, I could barely keep my head together around him, it was like being around true evil, it was overwhelming.

I took a deep breath and turned the page, squinting at the large text. Palpatine leaned in, his rancid breath hot on my neck. 

"Go on," he urged. "You're doing wonderfully."

I focused on keeping my voice steady as I slowly sounded out each word. With every syllable, bile rose in my throat. Palpatine's presence was suffocating, but I couldn't let my facade crack. Not when I was so close to gaining his trust. 

"Very impressive!" Palpatine said once I finished the page. "You have a gift for learning, my boy. We will make swift progress."

I smiled tightly, hoping he couldn't hear my pounding heart. "I couldn't do it without your help, sir. You're too kind to waste your time on me."  

Palpatine patted my hand, his thin lips curling into a smile. "Nonsense. Helping you is a pleasure." His eyes bored into mine, searching for any sign of deception. 

I quickly lowered my gaze, the image of innocence. After an agonizing moment, Palpatine pulled away.

"Let's continue our lesson some other time, shall we?" he suggested. "Your mind needs time to rest."

I nodded eagerly, barely able to conceal my relief. As I stood to leave, Palpatine grasped my arm.

"You've made me very proud today," he said softly. "Very proud indeed."

His words sent a chill down my spine.

"Thank you, sir," I replied. "I look forward to our next lesson." Having said that, I forced a smile and turned to leave, but Palpatine's grip on my arm tightened. 

"One more thing before you go," he said, his voice dropping to a sinister whisper. "I see a great potential in you, my young friend. With the proper guidance, there is no limit to what you can achieve."

I froze. Potential? My lowest stat was the Force, and the only thing Palpatine was interested in, was that. There was no way he thought I had potential.

"You honor me, sir," I said carefully. "All I want is the chance to better myself." 

"And so you shall!" Palpatine replied jovially, the darkness vanishing from his tone. "Now run along. I'll see you tomorrow for another reading lesson."

I nodded, relief flooding through me. 

As I exited the library, the system pinged, granting me a new achievement.

[Achievement Unlocked: The Fox in the Snake's Den.] 

I blinked at the system's prompt, a grim smile playing on my lips. The fox…. I felt more like a mouse in his den, but I’ll take the compliment.

[Quest completed: A Tutor From Hell!

Objective: Get through this unexpected lesson without blowing your cover.

Reward: Skill Book.

Penalties: ???]

I will look into that later, right now… I needed to go back to my room at the inn. 

—————————————————————-

Back at the inn, I dropped onto the bed, exhaustion seeping into my bones. The adrenaline was wearing off, replaced by a bone-deep weariness I hadn't felt in a long time. I wasn’t tired physically, but mentally I felt like crap… If that was Palpatine pretending to be good, I can’t imagine what his real presence would feel like.

Even now, an unsettling feeling lingered at the back of my mind, a reminder of Palpatine's words. 'Potential'. His eyes, those yellow, predatory eyes had been so sure, so calculating. It was as if he knew something I didn't or saw something I couldn't. 

I really didn’t like the idea of the most dangerous man in this universe having an interest in me. That didn’t bode well, not one bit. 

‘Inventory’ I commanded, mentally. The system responded immediately, a translucent screen popping up before my eyes. 

[Skill Book: Force Perception]

So that’s my reward. 

[Do you wish to use Skill Book: Force Perception?]

Force Perception, a skill that would allow me to feel the flow of the Force, the energy that binds all life together. A powerful tool to read emotions, detect danger, even glimpse bits of the future. But my Force stat was a pathetic 4. Was it even possible for me to learn it?

I suppose I might as well try.

I tapped ‘Yes’. Immediately another message appeared.

[Insufficient prerequisites. Insufficient Force stat. Minimum requirement: 10.]

Figures. It was a long shot anyway.

Maybe I should start investing some points into my force stat. 

‘System, what’s my  Midi-chlorian count?’ I asked.

The system pinged in response, another translucent screen appearing.

[Current Midi-chlorian count: Not available. Midi-chlorian test required.]

That makes sense.

——————————————————————————————————

[Darth Sidious - POV.]

Watching him leave, a sense of dark amusement filled me. The boy was clever, more so than he realized. His attempts to mask his true nature were commendable, yet to one as deeply attuned to the dark side as I, utterly transparent. He fancied himself smart enough to trick me, unaware that his every move was watched, calculated, and anticipated by a predator far more cunning than any he had ever encountered. 

Still, he had managed to hide his true intentions. That much deserved some praise.

That being said, his discomfort was more than palpable, the way he stiffened under my touch, the barely concealed dread when I praised him. It was delicious, the fear, though he tried to cloak it in gratitude. Yet, it wasn't the fear that intrigued me; it was the potential I sensed within him, a disturbance in the Force, so subtle yet unmistakable. 

Potential. Yes, the boy thought himself weak in the Force, his capabilities minimal at best, and it was true. But the Force... it is not just strength or the ability to wield it like a weapon. It is influence, perception, the subtle manipulation of events and individuals to one's will. And this boy, he had a role to play, a part in the grand tapestry of the galaxy that even he was not yet aware of. 

My thoughts drifted, pondering the innumerable ways I could mold him, shape him into a tool for my designs. Would he be an unwitting pawn in my game, or could he be sculpted into something more? An ally, perhaps, or a formidable adversary to be used against my enemies before his inevitable disposal? The possibilities were endless, each more enticing than the last.

Yet caution whispered in the recesses of my mind. Ambition blazed within his heart, a desire to rise above his station, to be more than what he was. Such ambition could be a powerful asset, but it was also a dangerous flame that could consume all if left unchecked. Would he bend to my will, or would he resist, becoming a thorn in my side?

I could not help but feel a grudging respect for his tenacity, his unwillingness to succumb to despair despite the overwhelming odds against him. It was a trait I admired, even as I contemplated his ultimate fate.

As I returned to my chambers, plans and schemes swirling in my mind, I couldn't shake the feeling that this encounter, this seemingly insignificant moment, was but the first move in a game that would span the stars. The Force was in flux, and this boy, this unassuming figure, was at the heart of it.

I would watch him closely. For now, he was but a piece on the board, a new piece, but in time, he could be much more. The Force was unpredictable, and in its ebb and flow, fortunes could change in the blink of an eye. Yes, he would be a fascinating subject to observe, to manipulate. 

A smile, cold and devoid of any true warmth, crept across my face. The boy had potential, yes. And in the end, potential could be shaped, directed, and, if necessary, utterly crushed beneath the weight of my ambition.