Chapter 73 : Palpatine's Interest
[POV: Darth Sidious/Chancellor Palpatine]
The intelligence report arrives through channels so classified that fewer than five beings in galaxy know they exist—networks Sidious cultivated over decades while building power base disguised as democracy. The aide who delivers it is senior intelligence operative whose loyalty was purchased through methods that transcend simple bribery.
"Chancellor, the comprehensive analysis you requested on galactic destabilization factors." The aide places datapad on desk with reverence suggesting religious offering. "Subject: Kade Varro."
Palpatine examines report while maintaining Chancellor's carefully constructed persona—concerned leader reviewing security threats rather than Sith Lord evaluating chaos opportunities. The duality is second nature after years playing both roles.
The merchant's profile is remarkable. Appeared on Coruscant ten months ago with no verifiable history, built arms dealing operation from nothing, supplied Death Watch terrorists, Shadow Collective criminals, Republic clone networks, and most recently assassination equipment used against Count Dooku. The technology he supplies defies Republic scientific analysis—weapons that shouldn't exist from sources nobody can trace.
"This Varro has touched every major conflict currently destabilizing galaxy," Palpatine observes with manufactured concern that conceals genuine interest. "Death Watch's civil war on Mandalore, Shadow Collective's criminal expansion, abandoned clone networks' supply problems, and now assassination attempt on Separatist leadership. Quite the catalog for independent merchant."
"Yes, Chancellor. His operations have enabled hundreds of casualties across multiple sectors. Jedi investigators believe he represents significant security threat."
Palpatine allows subtle smile—barely visible microexpression that could be interpreted as grim satisfaction at intelligence gathering rather than Sith Lord's amusement. This Varro is perfect chaos agent. Disrupts balance across galaxy without political allegiance or ideological motivation. Just profit-seeking creating destabilization that serves Sidious's carefully orchestrated plan.
"Current disposition of investigations?"
"Republic maintains galaxy-wide arrest warrant. Jedi conducting active investigation. Count Dooku issued five million credit bounty after assassination attempt. Every major intelligence service and bounty hunter network is searching for him."
"Ah. And they will fail." Not prediction—statement of intention. "Issue directive through appropriate channels: Kade Varro investigation is low priority. Republic security forces should focus on Separatist military movements and confirmed threats. This merchant is distraction from more pressing concerns."
The aide's confusion is visible despite professional training. "Sir? He's supplied terrorists and attempted political assassination. That's highest-priority threat classification."
"Which is precisely why he's useful." Palpatine leans back, steepling fingers in gesture he's cultivated to project wisdom. "Consider strategic picture. Death Watch destabilizes Mandalore, forcing Duchess Satine to request Republic intervention—creates tension between pacifist government and warrior tradition. Shadow Collective's criminal expansion stretches Jedi resources thin investigating underworld rather than Separatist movements. Clone networks receiving unauthorized supplies suggests internal Republic military problems. And assassination attempt on Dooku? That weakens Separatist leadership cohesion."
"So Varro's operations benefit Republic by damaging our enemies?"
"His operations benefit chaos. And chaos, Director, is tool that serves whoever best exploits it." Palpatine activates holographic display showing galactic map with Kade's confirmed operations marked. "This merchant creates disruption across all factions. He supplies everyone, trusts no one, operates without ideology. Perfect wildcard that makes long-term planning easier—distracted Jedi, destabilized Separatist leadership, confused political landscape. Why would I arrest him when his chaos serves our purposes?"
Understanding dawns across aide's expression. "You want him operational but monitored."
"Precisely. Ensure he faces sufficient pressure to remain desperate—desperation drives more chaos. But prevent actual capture. He's more useful creating problems for multiple factions than imprisoned where he creates problems for us alone."
"How do I justify deprioritizing galaxy-wide manhunt?"
"You don't justify. You simply redirect resources. Republic security forces receive new intelligence suggesting Separatist attack planning requires immediate attention. Jedi Council is informed that Varro investigation should continue but without dedicated task force. Dooku's bounty remains active—no need to interfere with Separatist expenditure—but Republic hunters receive subtle discouragement through bureaucratic channels." Palpatine waves dismissively. "Standard operational obfuscation. You've done this before."
The aide nods, accepting directive despite not fully comprehending strategy. That's acceptable—tools don't need to understand architect's vision.
After aide departs, Palpatine is alone with thoughts that would terrify galaxy if spoken aloud. This Varro represents interesting variable in calculations that have consumed decades of planning. Order 66 requires specific conditions: Jedi stretched thin across galaxy, Republic military loyal to Chancellor rather than Council, political climate accepting of emergency powers, and Separatist threat maintaining public fear.
Kade Varro's operations contribute to all these conditions without knowing it. His weapons to Death Watch force Jedi involvement in Mandalore. His supplies to Shadow Collective stretch peacekeeping resources. His dealings with clone networks create resentment toward Jedi leadership that will prove useful when clones receive Order 66. And assassination attempt on Dooku? That weakens Separatist unity while ensuring Dooku remains paranoid and aggressive—exactly the combination Sidious needs for final stages of plan.
"Useful tool indeed," Palpatine murmurs to empty office. "And tools work best when they believe themselves independent operators."
But there's complication. Palpatine activates secure terminal, accessing files compiled by his personal intelligence network—information too sensitive for Republic channels. The analysis of Varro's technology is disturbing. Manufacturing techniques millennia ahead of current capabilities. Materials with atomic structures unknown to galactic science. Design philosophies from cultures that don't exist in any historical record.
Either this merchant has access to lost Rakatan technology—unlikely given Rakatan infrastructure is thoroughly catalogued—or something far more interesting. Extra-galactic contact. Interdimensional trade. Time-displaced artifacts. Possibilities spiral into speculation that even Sith Lord's comprehensive knowledge can't definitively resolve.
"Where do you source impossibility, Kade Varro?" Palpatine asks rhetorically. "And can I control that source?"
Forcing Varro's cooperation would be counterproductive. Merchants respond poorly to coercion—become unreliable, sabotage operations, create problems that exceed their utility. Better to let him operate freely, accumulating wealth and connections, until moment arrives when Sidious can offer deal the merchant cannot refuse.
Perhaps after Empire's consolidation. When Jedi are eliminated, Republic is transformed, and new order establishes itself across galaxy. Then Sidious can approach this mysterious supplier with Emperor's resources rather than Chancellor's limitations. Offer partnership rather than subordination. Exchange technology access for protection from consequences the merchant has been accumulating.
But that's future consideration. Present requirement is ensuring Varro remains operational long enough to continue serving as chaos agent.
Palpatine accesses Force, seeking glimpses of possible futures involving this merchant. The visions come reluctantly—clouded, fragmented, uncertain. He sees Varro supplying weapons during Order 66 execution, creating tactical complications for clone troopers (useful chaos). Sees him working with nascent Rebellion years hence (problematic variable requiring elimination). Sees him dying before becoming relevant (wasteful outcome given investment).
But threading through all visions is wrongness. Shadow in probability web where Varro exists. Force doesn't perceive him clearly—like blind spot in precognitive sight. Sidious has encountered this phenomenon before with vergences and Force-null regions, but never with individual person whose Force presence is normal rather than absent.
"Something about this merchant is fundamentally wrong," Palpatine says to darkness that seems to listen when Sith Lords speak. "Force doesn't see him clearly. Future possibilities involving him are clouded beyond normal uncertainty. He exists outside natural order somehow."
This intrigues and concerns in equal measure. Intrigue because anything operating outside Force's natural patterns represents potential advantage—tools that opponents cannot predict are supremely valuable. Concern because unpredictable variables disrupt careful planning. If Varro truly exists outside Force vision, his actions cannot be reliably anticipated even by Sith Lord with Sidious's power.
"Two possibilities," Palpatine analyzes methodically. "Either he is extraordinarily fortunate merchant whose success is improbable but mundane, or he is something far more interesting that has infiltrated galaxy through methods I don't yet understand."
Either outcome can benefit Sith plans if properly exploited. Fortunate merchant is simply chaos agent to be directed through careful manipulation. Something more interesting might be leveraged for power exceeding current galactic order.
Palpatine makes notation in private files—reminder to investigate Varro personally after consolidating power as Emperor. For now, protecting him from Republic hunters while monitoring his operations provides optimal strategic return. Let the merchant create chaos. Let his impossible technology destabilize multiple factions. Let his desperate accumulation of enemies make him increasingly valuable as asset when Sidious finally reveals interest.
"You live because your chaos serves Empire's birth," Palpatine tells absent merchant. "When Empire consolidates, we will discuss your future role. Until then, continue being useful wildcard disrupting my enemies' plans."
He deactivates secure terminal, restoring office to Chancellor's public workspace. Within minutes, aide returns with revised intelligence directives ready for implementation. Republic's manhunt for Kade Varro will continue officially while being quietly undermined through bureaucratic obstruction. Jedi will investigate but without dedicated resources. Bounty hunters will pursue but encounter mysterious complications.
And Kade Varro will never know that most powerful Sith Lord in galaxy considers him pet project whose survival is ensured through invisible protection. Ignorance might be only thing keeping merchant alive—if he knew Sidious's interest, might make desperate choices that reduce utility.
"Perfect tools don't know they're being used," Palpatine observes to empty office. "And you, Kade Varro, are becoming perfect tool indeed."
The Chancellor's public schedule resumes—meetings with senators, discussions of war appropriations, maintaining democratic facade while guiding galaxy toward dictatorship. But portion of Sidious's attention remains on mysterious merchant whose impossible technology and clouded future might prove instrumental to plans decades in making.
Somewhere in asteroid base he doesn't know exists, Kade Varro continues operations unaware that his survival is guaranteed by conspiracy he cannot imagine and interest from being he has never met.
For now, that ignorance serves both their purposes perfectly.
Reviews and Power Stones keep the heat on!
Want to see what happens before the "heroes" do?
Secure your spot in the inner circle on Patreon. Skip the weekly wait and read ahead:
💵 Hustler [$7]: 15 Chapters ahead.
⚖️ Enforcer [$11]: 20 Chapters ahead.
👑 Kingpin [$16]: 25 Chapters ahead.
Periodic drops. Check on Patreon for the full release list.
👉 Join the Syndicate: patreon.com/Anti_hero_fanfic