*Sheev Palpatine ~ also known as Darth Sidious*
*Disciple of Darth Plagueis. Current Sith Master.*
- *Combat Strength:* ★☆ (Varies with the tides of the Force)
- *Intelligence:* ★★★☆ (Has manipulated the entire Jedi Order)
- *Swordsmanship:* ★★★☆ (Surpasses all currently living Jedi)
*Note:* A behind-the-scenes super boss. Equivalent combat strength to three Jedi Masters.
He has been infiltrating the Galactic Republic for many years, a truly formidable figure. If your team wishes to challenge him, it is recommended to send at least ten Jedi Masters. For ordinary players, a force of over 1,000 is advised.
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This unreliable assessment gave Yoda the strange sensation of preparing to fight a boss in a video game. The other Jedi Masters felt the same.
Dooku said nothing.
He was a disciplined man, training about two hours a day now, though previously it had been four.
But he knew one thing, the boss advice in games was usually accurate. If it said you couldn't win, you couldn't win.
The recommended numbers were roughly correct.
Yoda and Mace Windu scratched their heads.
Windu asked Garfield, "Why did you suggest so many people?"
Garfield rolled his eyes at him. "Young Egg, are you stupid? Palpatine is the boss. Doesn't he have minions under him?"
"An endless army of battle droids, plus his own personal robot guards. You're only sending two people?"
"Do you think you have unlimited stamina? Unlimited Force?"
He flicked his tail.
"It's hard to say how many of those ten Masters will come back alive."
Windu, already dark-skinned from training, found himself speechless. He chose silence.
Yoda, sensing the deeper meaning behind Garfield's words, said, "Master Garfield… please send a battalion of robot soldiers to assist."
"No problem." Garfield paused. "Do you want me to seal off space as well? Prevent them from escaping?"
Windu was about to refuse when Dooku quickly interjected, "Thank you so much, Master Garfield!"
Dooku had seized the opportunity immediately. Garfield was clearly the smarter one.
Garfield instructed his robot dog, "Move half the fleet from Naboo."
"Yes, Master."
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In the outer space above Naboo, the fleet that had been on standby received the robot dog's communication.
Half of the warships ignited their engines, began separating from the main force, formed a new formation, and sailed away from Naboo.
On the planet below, Padmé received the report from her subordinates. She watched the departing fleet on the projector, a vague sense of unease settling in her chest.
Garfield had mobilized half the fleet. Could it be that those bat-like creatures from the Trade Federation were still up to no good?
She hoped not.
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The fleet's movement did not escape the notice of Palpatine's spies.
They quickly sent word to Palpatine, who was still hiding inside the Incom Corporation factory on Coruscant.
With the intelligence he had gathered recently, combined with the support of his allies, Palpatine had put the Jedi Order firmly on the defensive.
Using his own staged death as a pretext, he had made the Jedi look like pariahs while positioning himself as a martyred hero.
For a time, Palpatine had even felt a sense of absolute power, as if the galaxy was in his hands.
He had also been enjoying the game tournament these past few days. Racking up kills. Winning chicken dinners.
Leading a thousand-man army to spectacular comeback victories.
In one match, he had even gone head-to-head with an enemy Jedi in a 1v1, he didn't know which Jedi Master it was on the other side of the screen, but the sheer satisfaction of sending them back to the Force, even virtually, was exhilarating.
Years of pent-up frustration, finally released.
Just now, after a successful 15x scope SKS chicken dinner, Palpatine had leaned back in satisfaction.
He logged out of the game, looked at his gaming equipment, and couldn't help but sigh.
That wretched orange cat. Its cat behavior is terrible, but I have to admit… it makes good games.
Once my plan succeeds, I'll definitely keep that orange cat in a cage. Specifically for gaming.
o(*￣︶￣*)o
Palpatine didn't even get three seconds of happiness.
An emergency alert rang.
Reluctantly, he pressed the button, his face grim. "What is it? You'd better have a good reason. Otherwise…"
A traitor from Naboo bowed his head. "Your Excellency Sidious, a portion of the fleet surrounding Naboo just departed."
"Their whereabouts are unknown. I am concerned they may be coming for you."
Palpatine's expression softened slightly. "Hmm. I understand. Continue your infiltration of Naboo. You will be needed in the future."
"Yes, sir. Your subordinate will certainly not disappoint you."
The traitor smiled happily as the communicator closed.
Palpatine looked at the now-dark screen with a smug expression.
"A traitor," he murmured. "I hate disloyal people the most. I've never had high expectations of them."
"One or two useful messages is enough."
He closed the communicator and sat in his seat, thinking.
What exactly is that annoying orange cat trying to do? Is it going to attack me?
He considered it.
It doesn't seem very interested in me.
Otherwise, it could have kept me on Naboo. And here on Coruscant, except for that time I tried to attend its game festival…
He paused.
That time, I brought it on myself. If I hadn't insisted on riding that wave of popularity, my shuttle wouldn't have been shot down.
The other party had obviously pulled their punch, they only damaged the power system. If they had wanted to, they could have easily shot me out of the sky, and no one would have said a word afterward.
Palpatine knew the truth very well… if he died, his so-called allies wouldn't care about him.
They'd be eating hot pot and singing songs, already searching for the next ambitious schemer.
He hadn't sought out those corporations. They had their own intelligence networks.
They had noticed his unusual behavior and approached.
And if his plan ever succeeded? He would thoroughly investigate them as well. A monarch didn't need forces he couldn't control.
As Palpatine pondered this, the scene before him blurred.
Suddenly, he found himself in an impossibly dark space.
What is this?
A voice echoed through the darkness.
"Palpatine. Danger is approaching. Leave this place. Go to your next hiding spot."
Palpatine sensed something was wrong. This space was saturated with dark power.
"Who are you?" he demanded.
"The mission to shroud the entire galaxy in darkness is not yet complete," the voice continued. "This monarch has decided to assist you, this once. Remember. Just this once. Do not disappoint this monarch again."
The darkness receded.
Palpatine found himself back in his original location.
He took two deep, steadying breaths. He didn't know his opponent's origins.
But the boundless darkness he had just witnessed told him one thing, he might have encountered the consciousness of the Dark Side itself.
Having reached that conclusion, Palpatine did not hesitate.
He rose from his seat.
He left the mansion atop Coruscant's mountain.
And somewhere behind him, a piercing scream shattered the tranquil night.