After Palpatine departed, Garfield knew the old fox wouldn't let the matter rest, he'd scheme, maneuver, find some way to wriggle out of the consequences.
But that was fine.
The deal struck, Garfield had taken precautions. He'd saved copies of the video evidence, of course.
But more than that, he'd deliberately left one of the bat-eared Trade Federation executives behind, neatly packaged for Obi-Wan to deliver to the Jedi Council for questioning.
Why? Partly to cover Qui-Gon's death. Partly to stir the pot.
But mostly, to plant a time bomb under Palpatine's feet.
Garfield smiled to himself. When Windu and Yoda had failed to arrest Palpatine years from now, the Chancellor would simply label them traitors, coup plotters.
But with a live witness and video evidence? Let him try spinning that.
Hehehe.
Should've admitted defeat when you had the chance, old man.
✦••┈┈••✦••┈┈••✦
On the surface, Palpatine smiled warmly as he congratulated Padmé on the resolution of the crisis.
Inside, however, his thoughts were a storm of curses directed at a certain orange cat.
He departed with the remaining bat-eared executives in tow.
Why hadn't he demanded the Trade Federation fleet back during negotiations?
Because he wasn't a fool.
Garfield had already swallowed that prize, asking for it back would only invite conflict.
And conflict with something the dark side itself warned him to avoid? Not worth the risk.
Better to cut losses and move on.
Aboard the shuttle, Palpatine's mask slipped.
He rounded on the cowering executives, finger stabbing the air inches from their noses.
"You imbeciles. How did you let one creature seize control of an entire fleet? And my apprentice, Darth Maul, where is he?"
The lead executive trembled. "Master Sidious, Lord Maul fell to the Jedi."
"As for the orange cat... he infiltrated disguised as one of us, then struck the control room by surprise. We couldn't stop him."
Couldn't stop him.
Palpatine bit back the retort burning on his tongue. Neither could I.
He didn't voice that thought.
Instead, he spent the journey tearing into them, then, once satisfied, shifted to soothing words. Encouragement.
They still had a role to play. Their great cause would continue.
As for the half of the fleet Garfield had claimed?
Palpatine had no intention of honoring that. He'd walked away alive, that was concession enough.
Let the cat keep his spoils, Palpatine had other plans.
He'd visit Baktoid Combat Automata.
Commission a new line of droids. Custom designs, superior models.
But such things required time… research, development, assembly, and vast sums of credits.
Fortunately, the very executives cowering before him would provide those credits.
Grateful for their rescue, eager to prove their loyalty, they'd open their coffers without hesitation.
Palpatine followed protocol, escorting the Trade Federation executives back to Coruscant.
Within days, a trial was convened, carefully orchestrated, meticulously stage-managed.
A fine and a slap on the wrist.
Tax deductions, a bureaucratic formality.
And the executives walked free.
Better still, Palpatine had maneuvered himself into a position of financial oversight.
The fines, the restitution payments, they flowed through channels he controlled.
And from those channels, they quietly diverted into shadowy reserves. Funds for the clone army.
Funds for the war to come.
Perfect.
Everything was proceeding as planned.
Palpatine leaned back in his private quarters, allowing himself a rare moment of satisfaction.
The Jedi suspected nothing. The Republic hailed him as a statesman. The pieces were falling into place.
He reached for the remote, a little entertainment to celebrate.
The holoscreen flickered to life.
"—and in breaking news, Galactic Survival developer Great Devourer Games has arrived on Coruscant!"
"CEO Garfield, yes, the orange cat himself touches down to massive crowds~"
Palpatine's brow twitched.
"~hailed as the hero who liberated Naboo from the Trade Federation blockade! Sources say his quick thinking and bravery saved countless lives~"
A vein pulsed at his temple.
"~exclusive interviews, crowd reactions, and a special look at the cat behind the galaxy's biggest game franchise, next on Coruscant HoloNews!"
Palpatine's hand tightened on the remote until the casing creaked.
Headlines scrolled across the bottom of the screen:
GALACTIC SURVIVAL BOSS TOUCHES DOWN
ORANGE CAT: HERO OF NABOO?
GARFIELD MANIA SWEEPS CORUSCANT
WHO IS HE REALLY?
The remote clattered to the desk. Palpatine's jaw worked silently for a moment.
That damned orange cat.
He needed to understand his enemy. To find the weakness, the angle, the leverage.
Surely this game of his held some clue… some hidden agenda.
Palpatine activated his gaming console. Galactic Survival loaded. He'd analyze it.
Find the threat beneath the surface.
An hour later~
"YES! Flank left! Artillery, now! Push the objective!"
Palpatine's fingers flew across the controls.
His forces maneuvered brilliantly, a thousand units under his command, sweeping across a digital battlefield.
The enemy crumbled.
Victory was his.
He leaned back, breathing hard, a smile spreading across his face.
Magnificent. The strategic depth. The command mechanics. The sheer feeling of power~
He caught himself.
Ahem. Purely reconnaissance.
✦••┈┈••✦••┈┈••✦
On the Coruscant landing platform, Garfield floated serenely above the sea of reporters, one paw raised for silence.
Droids jostled for position. Beings of a hundred species craned for a glimpse of the galaxy's newest celebrity.
"Ladies, gentlemen, and sentient mechanical lifeforms." Garfield began, his voice carrying effortlessly.
"I know you're all desperate to know the secrets behind Galactic Survival."
He paused, letting the anticipation build.
"Well..."