His Guiding Star (Obi-Wan Kenobi)

Chapter Twenty Two

Supreme Chancellor Palpatine was minding his business when a knock came at the door to his rooms.

"Come in."

The large doors opened, and at first he couldn't see her. But then she moved into the light, her violet eyes meeting his. Viola Marlov. Yoda's Padawan. He had never had the pleasure of meeting her before, but he had certainly heard of her. The girl with black hair and sharp violet eyes, who had survived losing her parents and living with the Wookies, all within the first four years of her life. 

This girl, though, was a foot shorter than him. Nothing more than a child. She was no threat.

"Chancellor Palpatine," she never raised her voice, but something about the way she said his name made him feel uneasy. "I have come across an issue," she tilted her head sideways, blinking slowly. "I need your help."

If Sheev was any ordinary politician, he would be under her spell in an instant.

"Of course, take a seat." He nodded to the chair on the other side of his desk, which Viola nimbly climbed. He took a moment to study Yoda's Padawan. She had a soft baby face, but her eyes were sharp. She was small and narrowly built, but was rumoured to be an exceptional warrior. This girl seemed made of contradictions. 

Viola raised her chin, staring at him unblinkingly.

"I believe there is a threat other than Dooku. Someone who is stealing our clones, perhaps to experiment on them," her voice was quiet, calm. "Whoever they are, they wish to destroy the Jedi."

Something cold and icy climbed up his spine. Something unfamiliar. Perhaps he'd underestimated the girl.

"And how do you know that?" he drawled the words, carefully ensuring his composure was kept in place. "My dear, you are but twelve."

"Is my word not enough?" Viola's voice didn't change its tone, but her eyes went dark within the second. "I don't believe I want to disclose anything more now."

No, he needed to know this.

"You said there may be a threat other than Dooku. What makes you think it isn't him?" he questioned her, as if it were a genuine question.

"Because he's dead, isn't he, Chancellor? He's dead and you know about it," her eyes narrowed into slits. "And yet you haven't told anyone."

Palpatine's eyes widened at her statement, and he felt himself flinch. Of all the Jedi, he had not expected it to be her to figure out the truth. The girl before him was only a Padawan and yet, here she sat, with the confidence of a grown Knight. She knew. His eyes darkened.

"And what makes you say that?"

"You just flinched."

Damn it. This was not what he'd planned. She was twelve years old, for the Force's sake!

"I'm sorry?" he asked coldly, feeling the anger and embarrassment rising in him. A child had caught him out.

Viola folded her gloved hands in her lap. She showed no sign of fear, just calmly stared back at him.

"I only ask why."

 His eyes narrowed.

"But I don't know what you're talking about, my dear. Are you quite well?"

"Chancellor Palpatine, I am not accusing you of anything," she straightened her posture, leveling him with a look that would send thousands to their knees. "But I don't believe you know who I am."

He knew who she was. And she knew he did. This was a warning. Viola wasn't just any Padawan. She could so easily bat her eyelids and find proof of his treachery.

"Perhaps you are unwell," he told her. "You have returned from a long and arduous mission. A little rest will do you well."

Viola's eyes mirrored his, narrowing into slits.

"I know you're a Sith Lord."

Cold fear sent a shiver up his spine. Ice seemed to encase his heart, which actually trembled at that declaration. Viola's eyes gleamed. She could sense his fear.

"You don't have a Force presence," she commented. "Which would mean you're either dead or concealing it. Which begs the question...why would you conceal it if you didn't have something to hide? Something...like, you're a Sith Lord."

Palpatine stared at her. Viola stared back. Palpatine opened his mouth to speak when a call on his holoprojector saved him. Mas Amedda.

Anakin would have wanted to pursue it further, despite the call. But Viola stood immediately, bowing deeply to him.

"I will leave you to your call, your Excellency. Have a nice day," she hopped down from her chair, pausing at the doors to his office. "Oh, and don't worry about that issue I mentioned. I'll take care of it."

She was out of his office before he could respond to that, keeping her pace slow and measured once she left, despite her instinct to run. As she walked, her gloved hands slipped a lightsaber into a small bag. An elegant lightsaber of phrik, auordium and electrum. One could easily be lost. Two would have been suspicious.

Anakin would be proud. Obi-Wan even prouder.