Chapter 109 - My SI Stash #9 - A Galactic Balancing Act by Vergil1989 Crossover King (Star Wars) (1/2)

-SI as the Sheev Palpatine, the key player that shaped the original trilogy. Butterfly Effect start!

ψ(｀∇´)ψ

Sypnosis: ???

Rated: M

Words: 110K

Posted on: forum.questionablequesting.com/threads/a-galactic-balancing-act-star-wars-palpatine-si-story.11031/ (Vergil1989 Crossover King)

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Chapter 1.1-1.3

An Unexpected Development

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Let's get this out of the way now.

Waking up in another body is weirder than people realize. Waking up in another body, with an entire slew of memories that could've come out of Hitler's darkest nightmares, is much, much worse. Thankfully the screams and cries for mercy as a figure wielding a crimson blade of energy cuts them down end almost as quickly as I sit up at a metallic desk with a start. So imagine my surprise when I see that I'm not in my house in Chicago, Illinois, a city with a reputation all its own which, in some circles is understandably not all that savory, a reputation well earned no less, to...well, quite the view outside my bedroom window.

”Oh...crap.” I whisper, too stunned to dare anything above a whisper as a transport flies by my impressively huge floor to ceiling wall window, promptly followed by several other vehicles of various sizes, models, and styles, their drivers just as varied, and of far more interest to me, alien. The scarier part to me is that I could name most of them. Twi'lek, zabrak, togruta, bith, bothan, wookie, munn, the list went on and on as more vehicles buzzed by, some so close I could see the whites of their eyes, so to speak, and not in some cases, literal since the more bug like, concave eyes of some, the strange, uniform eye stalks of others, made that saying rather redundant.

I know where I am as a name comes to the surface, the knowledge as easy to access as is the identity of the body I'm now in when I scramble to my suite's private bathroom, which is just as upscale as the rest of the apartment, not that I was thinking about that at that moment. The warm, almost grandfatherly visage that stares back at me, eyes slightly sunken into my otherwise handsome face, has my now deep brown eyes wide with alarm before I remember a few calming, meditative techniques which spring up with the same ease as everything else has so far, and I use the metallic sink's edge to steady myself as I stare at my reflection. I wouldn't look away, because if I did, I'd never be able to face myself again, and that would not be good for me. So I breathe slowly through my mouth, and with the same slowness, force the breath out through my nose. Like the waves of an ocean against some stony shore, I breathe out the anxiety, the fear, terror if I'm being honest, as well as the shock at who and what I am in this new reality that's far, far away from the world I used to know.

”Okay...okay” I mutter in a voice that, even coming out of my own mouth, still has the effect it did when I was on the other side of the screen, ”I'm Sheev Palpatine.”

Just saying the name, acknowledging the reality of it, led to me remembering a few key elements, mainly that I'm not the Supreme Chancellor of the Republic, yet. That I've at least met the future Darth Maul, and that I absolutely hate Plageius, or at least Sheev does, did? Meh, the Munn is my problem now, as is the cl_u_s_terf_u_c_k that's already been set into motion by the Sith, of which I'm now a part of. Shit....this could go horribly wrong real quick if Sheev's master figures out the truth, that I'm no longer his apprentice, not that Palpatine would let him live long anyway. Still, despite the mess I'm in, I can't help but smile as I glance down at my right hand and conjure up a little lightning between my fingers. I could get used to this.

No! Bad Palpy, no UNLIMITED POWAH for you!

Dark side, right, forgot about that part for a second. Then again, with how effective Palpatine in canon was in disguising his true nature, his efforts, set into motion by the Sith that'd come before, I was fairly sure that I could get a handle on this so long as I was careful. It helped I could recall a great deal of the events to come from too many hours spent on the Star Wars wiki, as well as looking through various EU articles and the various books of course, let alone the better shows and movies. That meant, even if I ripped canon apart, and I fully intended to do so, I had a pretty solid grasp of what to expect here. It also helped that, even as a Senator of Naboo, with secret ties to the Sith's grand plan and the network of allies, I had unimaginable resources and the means to effect truly great change against the future that was coming unless properly avoided. Because while some of the ideals for the Galactic Empire were actually good in preparing the galaxy for threats like the Yuuzhan Vong, the execution of those ideals were...to be frank, nearly as corrupt and morally bankrupt as Palpatine himself.

I didn't want to be the mad dictator of a galaxy spanning Empire that grew fat and decadent on the backs of countless innocent beings, fostering an era of fear, paranoia, and worse. That said, the Jedi were a problem as they were, and how they conducted their affairs needed to change lest they inevitably become that which they purport to stand against. As it were, they were already resented and hated by more than a few people with how they went around taking children, breaking apart families, and using their powers and lightsabers to solve almost every problem they came up against. So it was with a push away from the sink that I adjust my warm, long, stately black robes, a long red sash hanging from my shoulders, and put on my best, grandfatherly smile before going to my personal terminal to start making those promised changes.

My first order of business? Well...I first needed an accounting of my current schedule, an easy enough thing to figure out, but the sheer scope of what lay ahead of me now had me wondering if I was going to regret this into the first hour, let alone the first day. The sheer, monumental scale of the events to come would be impossibly intricate, a balancing act that only a true grandmaster could ever hope to carry out to their end.

In my past life, I was a college dropout with very little confidence in myself. Thankfully, Palpatine had more than enough self confidence and willpower, as well as arrogance, for any ten people, and while my old life felt like a dream already, a bad one in many respects, I knew this much as I effortlessly navigated my way through Palpy's personal terminal. I wasn't weak anymore, I wasn't helpless, far from it in fact, but of far more importance, I understood the value of power, having never had any before now. I also understood mercy, compassion, empathy, genuine and absolute, where the future Emperor if things went according to canon, had only hatred and worse for any and all he lay his eyes on.

I would strive to be better. I needed to be better.

I can't help but feel glad that I don't have to meet with Hego Damask for at least a few days, because I've realized that I need time to calm my racing thoughts. Meditating, something I've never done, comes far too easily now, as all of Palpatine's skills have so far, his vast intellect, and his near endless rage and power. For all intents and purposes to an outside observer, I've fallen asleep at my desk, eyes closed, breath slow and even, body utterly relaxed, but the reality is very different. Because in truth, I'm intimately aware of everything around me. Of the billions of lifeforms on Coruscant, both high in orbit, and far, far below the cloud layer, where the labyrinthine Undercity spans across the entirety of the planet's surface. Just thinking about the Undercity has my expanding senses and mind zeroing in on the area immediately, if far, beneath my home in the Upper City, at the literal and metaphorical top of the world, where I can sense the suffering and impotent rage of hundreds thousand of individuals.

The cold, dark emotions associated with the Dark Side are a familiar comfort, even as it threatens to consume me like the cancer it is, while at the same time feeling utterly foreign and terrifying in a way I thought I'd never feel again. Certainly not since my dad from my past life, a cowardly yet verbally abusive, emotionally manipulative excuse of a man, tried to break into my mom's house in a blind rage brought on by the fact what control he'd had over his three children, with me as the oldest and thus the one to call the police while my mom kept him out as best she could, had been lost, utterly and completely.

I immediately pull back before I can dwell on my own traumatic childhood too much during such a dangerous moment for my future sanity, my old life in some ways mirroring Palpatine's, but I grit my teeth, remembering who I am now, and calm my fear of the Dark Side, acknowledging its existence, its wrongness, but I don't dismiss it as the Jedi do. It whispers, promises so much to me, but I tune it out for now, my mind drifting through the city's Undercity, familiarizing myself with the countless points of light that appear in my mind's eye. Thoughts, feelings, not all of them negative despite the vast majority being lost in the darkened corridors with no way out, either imagined or otherwise, all of it fills me and passes through me.

It's the most beautiful sight, the most euphoric, that I can ever recall before I woke up in this place. Is it any wonder then that both Jedi and Sith alike, those who hadn't already given completely to their passions, found it so easy to get lost to the power of the Force? Luckily for me, I don't have that problem as I remember myself, and start to pull my mind back into my physical shell. No easy feat I'll admit, since a part of me wants to remain out there, seeing just how far my mind can reach, how many lifeforms I can touch, but with a force of will I force myself to look away. When I return to myself, I feel much better about things as a whole.

Now that I know I can do this, that I believe it possible at all, I can expand upon my skills from there, delving ever deeper into the Force, the whole of it rather than the parts that the Sith foolishly try to make their bitch, so to speak. Crude as the thought might be, it's not inaccurate since most Sith, certainly Palpatine...me, and his master Plagueis, consider the Force nothing more than a tool to be used with no thought to the consequence. First though, I see I have a priority alert from someone. I frown thoughtfully, open up the message, and read its contents. When I'm done, I can't help but sigh as I realize exactly where in the timeline I am when the news that Queen Amidala, rather her decoy, wishes to meet with me. I type up a quick reply, and prepare for the inevitability of what's to come.

It looked like I'd have to make a trip to Naboo with my sovereign....not that she needed to know that, nor her two Jedi protectors, soon to be one if Maul was able to kill Qui-Gon Jinn, which left me with my first puzzle. Do I destroy canon sooner rather than later, stop Maul before he can deal the Jedi Knight, Obi-wan's master, a fatal blow? Or do I let it happen, and clean up the mess after the fact? The trip to Naboo in my own vessel would give me time to consider my options in either event, but I had every intention of being there for at least the aftermath if nothing else since Maul, I had decided already, needed to stay dead regardless of the outcome. Plagieus would order his death if he hadn't already anyway, so it was a good excuse to see to it myself. Something he'd likely praise me on, only furthering the lie in a way.

The only problem is that I, myself, have never killed another sapient being before.

And then another thought springs up, and I realize I have a far more immediate problem, mainly Hego Damask himself. I didn't have the luxury to wait and pop my murder cherry, as it were, on Darth Maul, bestial assassin that he is. I'd have to deal with Hego now, while he was flush with my victory in being named the future Chancellor to the rotted carcass that's the current Republic. Slogged in corruption, some of which having been encouraged by the Sith aside, trying to clean up the mess would take a large amount of money, resources, and manpower, all of which I could acquire with Hego's vast fortunes. Of far more personal importance to me however, Hego Damask was the epitome of a mad scientist, a diabolical researcher that had no regard for life outside of how he could manipulate it to extend his own existence. Every minute I left him be, gave him more of a chance to regenerate himself, something even Palpatine had never achieved at his height.

That thought led to another, the simple fact that Hego was becoming stronger as I sat here, making my plans to steer the galaxy down a far better path, one that hopefully wouldn't require the Death Star, let alone the terror and systems of control instigated by the Galactic Empire, wouldn't leave me. If left alone, Hego would be next to impossible to kill since he was close to achieving his ultimate goal of cheating death itself through the use of his unparalleled knowledge of biomancy, at least that's what I'm calling it until I can recall the actual name. Thankfully, I already knew how I was going to deal with Hego as I glance towards the mini bar on the far side of Palp-...my apartment. Turning to my computer terminal once more, I make it a point to ensure I've ordered a number of bottles of my master's favorite drink to celebrate my impending victory.

That was the hope anyway...

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End Notes: So yep, the SI is Sheev Palpatine, and in case anyone's curious, my real life dad did indeed tried to break into my mom's house several years ago. It wasn't until I started giving this idea some serious thought that I realized I had a little more in common with Palpatine than I felt comfortable with since he too had a rather unhealthy relationship with his own father, but unlike him, I didn't nor would I ever actually commit patricide. That said, I can certainly sympathize with the d_e_s_i_r_e, but all that aside, I hope you all enjoy the show and that this gets at least some positive feedback and active discussion. And make no mistake, I WANT constructive discussion and criticism, but I will not tolerate disparaging and disruptive arguments of the like that made Ashali quit writing their own story for months on end. Other than that, have at thee I say! :D Lol but seriously, enjoy the story, and as ever, may the Force be with you all.​

Chapter 1.2

The Rule of Two

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Even without my direct access to the Wookiepedia from my old life, I know the Rule of Two, and while it was made by the egotistical mind of Darth Bane, arguably one of the most innovative Sith to ever exist, it made more sense than I'd like to consider given my current situation. To quote Grandmaster Yoda, ”always two, there are. No more, no less.”, because anything more would not only draw the unwanted gaze of the Jedi as feuding Sith turned on each other, an almost certain inevitability due to their natural paranoia and distrust of each other, but also because the Dark Side had a tendency to make itself known if too much of it gathered in one place for too long. True, the ancient Sith aligned nexus beneath the Jedi Temple had had an instrumental role in blinding the Jedi, of weakening their ranks for decades, but secrecy had ensured the Sith survived their last near complete extinction, largely done by their own hand, and it would serve me for now as well.

My concern is in working up the nerve to kill my master, Hego Damask, but it's something I find startlingly easy to muster up as I meditate on the path ahead of me. Again I find it far too easy to sink into a trance, to meld myself with the all connecting, all powerful Force, and while it takes me aback to feel the Dark Side's cancerous touch on my psyche and soul alike, it's not the shock it'd been the first time as I let it pass through me without allowing it to find a weakness to exploit. I know I'll dip into it, even dive headfirst into its intoxicating power, but I'm resolved to never become the Emperor, to never allow Palpatine to destroy the galaxy at every turn, and I counter the darkness with my love for life, my capacity for compassion, empathy, even for the Dark Side, since I refuse to deny it or the emotions often associated with it, having felt them all at some point or another, and open myself to everything around me in an effort to see what my master cannot. When I come back to myself, I'm assured that I'm on the right course, having seen the ever changing future so clearly I could've touched it.

”Game on then.” I mutter to myself, my previous life's memories of being a gamer surfacing for a moment, and stand from my desk to prepare for this fated moment.

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The Munn is every bit the monster in person, despite his seemingly frail appearance thanks to the recent addition of the breathing apparatus affixed to his face due to a previous injury, as I remember him being in the book I now know to be reality. For a thankfully very brief moment, the unnatural hiss of the breathing machine makes me think that Darth Vader was approaching my apartment, but the illusion is just as quickly dispelled as I see the man as he makes his way towards me. Yet for all of Palpa-...my fear and hatred of the man, of his power over life itself, I also know how to destroy him as I smile openly, a genuflect soon to follow as it always had before I'd taken over in Palpatine's stead. ”Good evening Master.” With a dismissive gesture, I stand per Hego's silent order, the quiet glee palpable in the older man's stance even without my Force attuned senses.

”You look well, my apprentice.” Hego replies with a minute nod of his hairless, pale skinned head, his unusually flat nose visibly twitching as he inhales vital oxygen through the sophisticated machinery that conceals most of his mouth.

”I feel well.” I reply as I chuckle openly, and as much as the thought still unnerves me, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't looking forward to my time as the Chancellor. In that much at least, I can admit to as I pour my master a drink before serving myself. Hego doesn't think anything of my cheer, assuming, rightly to some degree, that I'm just as happy over recent developments as I am, as he picks up the finely wrought crystal glass, before all but inhaling its contents, while I take a far more measured sip. I needed to drink to keep up appearances, more so than canon Palpatine likely did, but I still needed my senses to be clear. ”Your long years of planning have finally born fruit my old friend.”

”Indeed.” Hego agrees, having picked up the next glass once I'd poured for him. ”Our partnership has come a long way Sheev. You've come a long way.”

I'm glad that I'm in the middle of another sip because I might've snorted otherwise. As it is I 'cough', put a hand to my c_h_e_s_t, and mutter an apology which Hego doesn't even acknowledge. And so it goes as more of the drinks are poured, with me barely getting through a single bottle, while Hego has gone through several. It's only when I'm absolutely certain that Hego is dead, falling down drunk, do I dare to stand, my smile having long since become strained, not that Hego ever noticed nor suspected. Because I've seen this kind of drunken stupor before one too many times in my past life. I've seen what sometimes comes of it if my own dad was disturbed after drinking himself into such a near comatose state. The worst part of my own father's failings is that he only ever got so drunk when he'd done something he felt incredibly guilty over, such as cheating on his wife, my mother, with another woman. And when he felt guilty and he'd been able to peel himself off whatever surface he'd fallen on in said state, he'd become a torment I wouldn't wish on almost anyone around us.

Couple that with the fact Hego is a far more greater threat, and a torment to Palpatine on a scale and magnitude far more potent than anything my dad could ever be even when he tried to kill me, my mother, and my two brothers the day he tried to break into the house, and it's shockingly easy for me to see Hego's Munn visage replaced by my own father's. Everything I ever hated about him, atop of Palpatine's hatred for Hego, I allow to push me towards what I need to do now to ensure not only my own survival, but those lives that would come later. Thus, I wait even as I stand, swirl the long black robes that I had hung on the back of my chair over my form, slide my arms into the long, billowing sleeves, and grasp hold of the twin lightsaber hilts that are secured to the inside of said sleeves in one fluid motion. Hego doesn't stir an inch, his eyes closed, breath even, body relaxed.

If I didn't know any better, I'd have said he was meditating, but I don't let that stop me.

Killing a man in his sleep is cowardice at its worst, I'd have preferred to look anyone else in the eye so they knew it was me out of respect rather than sadistic glee in Palpatine's case. In Hego's case, I can't risk such sentimentality, and I don't allow my thoughts to wander further as I point my weapons' towards the Munn's forehead, the other leveled for the right of his c_h_e_s_t. The snap hiss that followers is promptly followed by a masterful slash through all three of Hego's hearts, while the other allows a crimson blade to erupt through the Darth's skull, and out the other side. I take a shuddering breath even as I go the extra step to sever Hego's head from his neck for good measure, feeling...relief, satisfaction even as his corpse falls to the side from his chair without a clue as to what's just happened to him.

It's only when I turn to Hego's old droid, a culprit as much as anyone in the Munn's vile experiments, that I give myself a moment to calm down now that this is done. ”Are you going to be a problem?” I ask, knowing even as I ask the question, that I'll likely have to have Hego's droid destroyed. Chances were better that the droid, a longtime lab assistant to Hego, would attempt to gain some measure of programmed revenge against me by waiting until I was asleep, only to sedate me, drag me off to the lab, before proceeding to take its time in cutting me apart. I might be new to this whole SI shtick, but I've played far too many video games, watched too many movies, and read too many books, to know that leaving such a cold blooded mechanical at my back to plot my drawn out demise, is downright stupid. But I have more immediate concerns, mainly, I have to deal with the shredded remains of my now dead master. Getting the bloodstains out of the carpet without anyone being the wiser would be the more difficult, but as in everything, Palpatine has contingencies in place for this too.

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I have the droid taken away for now, fitted with a restraining bolt so it can't get any ideas, and ensure that it can't erase its own data archives before I can have everything downloaded onto a private terminal for future perusal. As vile and disgusting Hego Damask's experiments are, the knowledge he's managed to gather would be incredibly valuable to me, and if there's one other thing I share with my host body, is that we share a thirst for knowledge. The difference, as in all things with my host, is that I have mere curiosity guiding me in my consumption in any subject I strike a fancy for, whereas Palpatine is an unrepentant glutton in every conceivable fashion, his hunger for material wealth matched only by his sadistic tendencies.

Breathing out the last of my previous rage, hatred, and pain from killing Hego Damask, I gingerly grasp the controls of the vessel, which in turn is hooked up to a hyperspace ring. As for Hego's corpse, his personal vessel, its disposal I was watching even as I left Coruscant's orbit, had been set on an ill fated course towards the nearby sun, where it'd inexplicably explode due to a mechanical malfunction before whatever was left wound up being consumed by the sun before anyone could mount a salvage operation. The ease which all this had been arranged made me feel dizzy, and not in a good way. I'd just gotten away with murder, the only people with any knowledge of the deed already planning to scatter to the far reaches of the galaxy, their accounts noticeably fatter, but not so much they'd draw undue attention. Not only that, but gaining control of Hego's vast fortunes, I realized once I'd started to do just that before setting off, had been even easier.