Dathomir.
"So you are leaving this planet then? It is to be left to me and my sisters?" Talzin questioned to the holographic figure of Grievous.
"Yes, Master Skywalker said that he was to fulfill his promise to you now and give complete diplomatic control over to you. We are taking all of the droids to Tatooine."
"Finally. What about the alliance between us."
"That is fine, everything will be kept the same. The only things is that now you will have to deal with anything that comes your way without our protection, at least it will take time for us to come and help you out."
Talzin had been planning alot of things throughout the years and had been wanting to get the boy under her control, but it only seemed that his power and growth was becoming something she could not interfere with.
Internally she wants to somehow make sure the boy doesn't betray her just as Sidious had. 'He is becoming much more powerful, I have not had the chance to see him since he was but a small child but I doubt he stopped progressing himself.'
Anakin was determined to make sure he was powerful. Not because he wanted to rule over everything through force but to be so strong that not would be able to take away his freedoms or the freedoms of the people he cares about.
"We want something more." Talzin said because of course you dont keep the same deal throughout without any change because both parties would change themselves. Whether this be for the better or for the worst a new agreement would have to made.
Grievous replies with a curious tone. "More? What more could you want from Master Skywalker? What more do you have to offer." Because it had long since been that Anakin had surpassed them within alot of things.
He would not need their monetary support, and Grievous really doubts they could provide military support they would need considering their current assets but it is always better to listen for their offer first.
"I request that the boy speak to me himself." Talzin knew, of course that Anakin could not speak to her right now but was just being a 'Karen.'
If Grievous had eyebrows they would surely be raised by now. "Master Skywalker had to go back to the Jedi temple."
'Jedi temple. What does that boy have to gain from going to those blasted Jedi.' Talzin did not like it that she is now allied with a Jedi, even if he had helped her sisters tremendously and the only reason she continued to be alliance with him was exactly because of that.
But the main reason for herself was that he had helped saved her favorite child, Maul from a fate that would be cruel.
Incredibly selfish Talzin had learned that not everything will go her way but was immensely grateful at least at that time to the boy but now she tolerates him because of his decision to enter the Jedi.
No matter the reasoning, she still has this hatred that had been imbued into her and various other Nightsisters since the start of their culture, their ideologies.
"I am aware... But that does not excuse him because he would now be the leader of Tatooine, is he not? The leaders of both sides should talk." Talzin was bluffing as there was no way she would be able to contend with Anakin's military and economic might.
It was simply impossible for her or the Nightsisters to do so and that gap will only grow as more time passes.
"I will try to see what I can do." Grievous finally responds.
The relationship between Grievous and Talzin was very professional but the two had grown rather close and the two had been having somewhat friendly conversations. If people would look from the outside in when these two were in private and were not walking about important topics it would surprise people.
The serious Grievous and the manipulative Talzin were an unlikely duo.
Their closeness to each other did not go unnoticed though as Anakin had been keeping an eye out on both Grievous and Talzin over the years to make sure of their loyalties are kept in check. So far so great but it seems something more was starting to develop between the two.
"By the way, are you to leave Dathomir as well?" Talzin says in a somewhat vulnerable tone but it is so subdued that one would not be able to notice.
Grievous hesitant to answer finally decides to reply after some uncomfortable silence. "I-I do not know if or when I will be returning to Dathomir but it seems for now that I am to stay here on Tatooine."
The two go silent again before Talzin decides to break it. "Right. It seems that I have something else to do, I am quite busy after all."
"Yes..."
"Contact me when the boy is ready to speak to me directly."
"O-" Before Grievous could finish what he was about to say, Talzin dramatically cuts off communication between the two.
Mentally sighing Talzin begins to ask herself internally. 'Why did I do that?' Even if she were not a fair maiden and knows the in's and out's of relationships, that does not mean she would instantaneously recognize her feelings.
She would vehemently deny them if asked, especially because of the way the dark side of the Force corrupts its users mental state.
Things had been changing and in fact alot of the new Nightsisters and brothers indoctrinated were of new opinions that ruffled the feathers of the old. "Out with the old and in with the new." Anakin had told her as she was still against the reeducation of her people.
But sometimes things are actually much better than it seemed as she was benefiting and so too were her people and those she ruled over meaning his thoughts had encouraged growth, change in a positive direction.
She could not deny the results so she too had accepted that what he had said. "Out with the old and in with the new." She whispered to herself mentally recording the words.
Interrupted from her internal musings, a member of the Nightsisters enters. "Mother Talzin, are we now the only ones here? The ones to rule over the entirety of Dathomir?"
"Yes. I think it will be hard considering alot of the droid army that was stationed here is now gone but what we have here should be sufficient enough." Talzin did not have to worry to much about security given the amount of droid she herself had been given by Anakin.
What she actually worries about is their growth despite its progress they did not have as much people or population to sustain the increase in the amount of things they cover over Dathomir. 'We need to increase the population somehow.'
The usual Nightsister tactics related to only replenishing the numbers of their people, not the growth so they could thrive and prosper. 'For now we are fine but we will need a solution so I do not have to worry about things.'
Droids may be useful but they aren't living. 'At least not like the living droids that worship the boy.'
[]
Coruscant.
Supreme Chancellor Palpatine otherwise known as Darth Sidious was not having a good day.
Why? Because he had been assaulted, attacked. Someone had come at him with the intent to harm him, probably kill him if possible but of course he was not going to allow some lousy droid to destroy him.
The would be extremely pathetic and weak of him even if he was to play the role of a wise, old but not physically capable person.
Just thinking back to it, it angered him fueling his energies within the dark side of the Force. 'Calm down Sidious, you do not want your plans to go to waste now. The stupid and idiotic Jedi may sense your presence.'
Six years now had it been since the Great ReSynchronization for the Republic to keep a better standard for their calendars and he had been using this system as well to measure the time till his success.
It had also been two years since his election into office and it would seem someone has it out for him. 'Interesting.' He had thought at the time but had become quick to anger remembering that the Jedi had nearly caught him in the act.
His senses had been dulled enough to nearly allow such a huge slip up. 'Stupid droid. When I find your master, I will kill them.'
Remembering the Jedi barging into his office because of the droid and also fueled his hate but he wouldn't let some momentary act of disrespect ruin him.
"Supreme Chancellor sir, you have someone that would like to meet you." One of the red guards Palpatine had made for himself.
"Who is it?"
"Janus Greejatus."
"Yes, let him in. He and I have much to talk about."
Palpatine's ascension to the position of Chancellor left a small problem; someone had to assume the now-vacant position of representative for Chommell sector in the Senate. He used his influence to promote the election of Janus Greejatus from Chommell Minor, one of his political allies.
Greejatus had long since demonstrated that he had a keen political mind, and though he could not be seen embracing it openly, Greejatus' anti-alien isolationism served his purposes.
Still, the election did not long stand; his isolationism was at odds with Naboo's newfound multicultural stance, and prominent political voices on Naboo cleared their proverbial throats almost immediately.
Eventually, Greejatus was replaced just this year by Horace Vancil of Naboo, but Palpatine continued to keep him close, making Greejatus one of his advisors.
'Yes, the people of my origins were quite adamant in not accepting my new advisor Greejatus.' In fact Greejatus was not only an advisor of Sidious' but also a person he had been training as a dark side adept.
Nothing too serious, certainly he was not material to be his apprentice as he had plenty of others to take up that role. A role that Sidious sees as important.
He currently had Dooku within his grasp but he could see it would not last long. Not the way Dooku has been going, as despite his own darkness it seems he is so resistant to its sway, to its corruption that he would not crumble.
"Supreme Chancellor."
"Yes, please come in my advisor Greejatus. We have much to discuss." Sidious the continues on discussing various things before calling it a day.
But he is not done yet, as when night comes he will relieve himself as Palpatine and once again take up the mantle of Darth Sidious because he is now in full control of the Sith. He had killed his master after all.
A few hours after the nightly proceedings, Sidious moves over to a communication device used for things not related to the senate or even a personal device he keeps for himself. It is another device used for other types of business.
He doesn't use the same device simply because of the dangers of doing so. Things could be traced back to him so most of the ones he uses have to be clean, safe from transmission interference and hidden.
Speaking into the device he begins to speak. "Darth Tyranus."
"Palpatine. Why have you called me?" It would seem that despite become his apprentice, Tyranus still does not want to answer to him as such and it would not be any time soon he would begin saying so.
Sidious very well knew he was being used by his apprentice but that is the way of the Sith. Selfishness at its finest.
"Darth Tyranus, my apprentice. I have come to inform you on a amusing attack on my life and would like to investigate further into who it was that tried to go after me."
"Is this to be my job?"
"No, that would be impossible for you as you are a well known public figure, especially known to the Jedi. No, you are to continue with what I have set upon you to do."
"Yes, my lord."
"Good, good..."
After discussing things for a while yet, as he would not mind satisfying his current apprentices curiosity it would come to an end with no where to start what he does next.
Sidious had come across a few roadblocks, if you will when it came to advancing his plans. It would take a while yet longer to form his droid army as the person meant to be under his control was unsuccessful in gaining complete control.
This puts Sidious in a tight spot considering he has a war to plan and continue with. Not only that but he had heard complaints from Tyranus that he did not have any capable people to help him direct or lead the droid army they are constructing.
Unfortunately Sidious had no one at his disposal despite having a large amount of people willing to work under him, Sidious does not see anyone capable enough to handle such a big responsibility.
'Only time will tell...'