#sinsational

Contrast to both tall broad shouldered men, the Mayor himself was more hunched in frame, white hair and deep wrinkles were telling of old age. His skin marred with moles and age spots. He was clean shaven, weak-chinned and bore a downward turned mouth. His watery blue eyes stared at the screen before his thin upper lip curled in disgust. 

“If it is so simple, why has nothing been done?” Mayor Palpatine rasped, he stood and laid his small hands on his desk, fingers outstretched. He did not have the same regal bearing as the others, it made people believe the old man; to think him harmless but trustworthy. One talent he did have was a charismatic manner, able to sway others to his line of thinking with a few well-placed suggestions.

“I have my best people on it,” the Commissioner assured. Palpatine’s brow twitched, he was so impatient these days. Especially with the election coming up, he did not wish to lose his seat of power, that was where his two associates came in. 

“See that you do, Dooku, you would not want anything to befall that pension of yours should you fail,” Palpatine warned him. More of a thinly veiled threat, though indirect. If this Amidala girl were to take office, her stance on wiping out corruption would mean that so much of his best laid plans would be destroyed. He had learned from mistakes of the past. There was much that he still had to accomplish, but it seemed that his hand was being forced into accelerating his schedule. He would have to make a few more calls. The more chaos, all the better for him and his administration to look like stability. 

There was a knock at the door and the air in the room brightened. 

“Mayor Palpatine? I believe you wished to see me?” came a familiar voice on the other side of the door. 

“Ah yes, young Skywalker, of course, come in my boy,” Palpatine called. The russet haired young man entered, he too with a tall and broad frame, though such a young face, he was blind to Palpatine’s motives, moldable, trusting and leaned on the Mayor for advice. He was a far more suitable candidate than the boy Maul. The zabrak had been useful for a time, but too intimidating, too untrustworthy, he didn’t have the look he wanted for a proper son. Anakin was a far wiser choice for his image. The young man smiled as soon as he saw the older and closed the door behind him quietly. 

“Have I come at a bad time?” Anakin asked. 

“Not at all, I believe you have met my Deputy,” Palpatine gestured to the blue skinned, red eyed man, the two men nodded to each other and Thrawn raised his glass of wine slightly as Anakin approached. “Have you met Police Commissioner Dooku Serenno?” 

“I can’t say I’ve had the pleasure,” Anakin replied politely. The Commissioner stood and he was almost a full head taller than the already tall young man

“You must be young Master Skywalker, Mayor Palpatine speaks very highly of you,” the deep baritone of the older man rumbled through the room as he extended a hand. Anakin shook it firmly. 

“I am flattered to hear it.” The boy gave a charming smile, friendly as always. 

“I understand you two met through the ‘Homeward Bound’ program, is that right?” Dooku asked. A look crossed Anakin’s face at the name of the program. He didn’t like his past to be mentioned. 

Homeward Bound was just meant to be one of those little side projects that was the focus of the media to divert attention away from his other dealings. Who would have known that the orphan he had sponsored would have been the perfect substitute for his first son. It was foolish to have brought Maul with him to begin with. Though the child had faith in him, Palpatine should have discarded Maul long ago, he was just a relic of a past that he did not need to remember. There might have been one or two moments worth his time but the majority was a waste. Pathetic little place and pathetic little people. 

“Young Anakin has been my greatest success,” Palpatine smiled pleasantly, hiding his true thoughts behind a kind expression. He laid a pale wrinkled hand on Anakin’s shoulder in support, the younger man seemed to settle. 

“I see you’re watching the campaign,” he gestured to the television, the footage showing the rather pretty young woman speaking at some rally for charity. Another of her ‘good works for the people of Coruscant’. Palpatine refrained from sneering. 

“Indeed, we were admiring the young Miss Amidala’s tenacity, she certainly brings a spark of youth to the city, doesn’t she?” he chuckled. “I believe she could do much good for the people… though I do have concerns for her inexperience,” he mused, giving the young man a side-eyed expression. Anakin had not yet torn his eyes from the screen. 

“I suppose…” he muttered, distractedly.

“Oh yes,” Palpatine said as though he had just remembered, “ you know her quite well, don’t you?”

“Padme?” Anakin turned back and made a face as if he’d been caught. “Oh, uh, well Miss Amidala and I knew each other in college.” He looked like a young blushing schoolboy. It would be very useful indeed. Now he simply had to figure out a good way to use this to his advantage.

Notes:

Helloo!

Here it is! The new SIN-sational chapter (sorry not sorry)! I hope you liked it, and yes I gave Dooku a last name and ewies Palpableovaltine is just being his usual nasty self. Gross. I need a shower after writing that.

For anyone keeping up with my other series, A Prince of Dathomir, you will know I have moved house! So I have been so so busy and stressed but things seem to be looking up and hopefully I will be able to get back into writing and focusing on this story I am very excited to tell! I hope you are all liking it so far and if you do, then please please please, write me a comment and let me know, it really helps to know that people are enjoying this.

As always, I hope you are well, and I shall see you in a fortnight! Next time, Zaiya ventures to a certain law practitioner to get some assistance in finding Maul.

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His mind kept going back to that moment, was that why he had kept tabs on her? She reminded him of another girl he’d once known? It was the same gesture, the same words. How could this odd white-haired girl know it? They looked nothing alike so how could it be the same girl? …Perhaps the saying wasn’t uncommon. That made more sense, it couldn’t be just her that said the same thing. 

It wasn’t the only thing that stuck in his mind. She was stunning. Her hair looked so soft, those snowy curls hanging down her back. The gentle sultry scent of her perfume, the careful touch of her hands. Full perfect lips and cute facial piercings. Even the dark makeup was alluring and mysterious. So arrogant and smug, she walked around with the airs of an Empress and eyes like blue flames in water. What would she look like splayed out before him? Helpless and begging for him…?

He couldn’t think about this.

Maul shoved the stupid useless thoughts from his mind, he had other things to focus on, and it was then -thankfully- that the moment was interrupted by his phone. He waited for a few seconds, seeing it was Saxon’s name flashing on the screen. 

“Yes?” he said flatly, he had noticed his temper being exhausted far more quickly than usual in the last few days. Everyone seemed to be irritating him. 

“Sir, we’ve found who we might think to be responsible for the raid on the warehouse.” The Mandalorian’s voice was rushed but not panicky, he seemed to understand that promptness would serve him well in this instance. 

“And?” Maul urged. 

“We found a weequay that had ties to the Ohnaka gang that gave up a few things,” Saxon snickered and Maul did not bother to ask how they acquired the information. Truthfully he didn’t care. 

“Ohnaka…” he mused. He’d heard the name, though not often, it was some trade group or other. At least that was the front of whatever he was really doing, apparently they had a side hustle in spice and gun running though Maul had paid them little attention. Much to his peril, it seemed. His tattooed lip curled. “I want to speak with this Ohnaka, give him a chance to grovel before I destroy him.” 

“I believe the gang is a large one, sir, are you sure that’s a good idea?” Saxon advised. There was a long pause. 

“You would suggest I don’t punish those that crossed us, Saxon?” Maul growled threateningly. 

“N-No! No sir!” Saxon backtracked quickly, “I just meant that it would take a lot of effort.” Maul smirked, he could hear a sliver of fear in the human's voice. It was then that he remembered the flash of bright blue eyes and the smirk turned into a sneer. 

“That is why we shall talk to them first,” Maul said coldly. “Arrange a meeting.” 

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“Well well! What a surprise this is!” said a loud and heavily accented voice as Maul entered the room. It was a small office in comparison to his own, though lavishly decorated where Maul’s was more simple. A fine arrangement of art pieces, gaudy furniture, a decanter half-filled with an amber liquid. If he had to guess, Maul would say that most of the items in here were fake or knock-offs, making it seem as though the owner of the office were more wealthy than he actually was. 

The owner himself sat in the large padded chair, his boots on the desk and a wide smile on his wrinkled face. He was flanked by two other weequay, both as dark and leathery-skinned as their “Captain” --so he liked to call himself. His boots seemed well made and he was clad in what looked to be fine clothing, a white shirt, dark pants and a red jacket hung over the back of his chair. He lowered his feet from the desk and stood to extend a ring-encrusted hand to Maul and the two men that had accompanied him, Vizsla and Savage. 

Maul met Hondo Ohnaka’s grin with a flat stare as he lowered himself into the seat facing him, as he unbuttoned his black suit jacket to sit more comfortably. The shirt he wore was a deep red, the top button undone and he had forgone a tie, there was no need to be so formal on account of this low level criminal. Maul did not take his hand. 

“As I understand it,” Maul began slowly, crossing one ankle over the opposite knee, and leaned back, his hands impassive in his lap. “There is a debt to be paid.” 

“A debt?” Ohnaka asked, he lowered his hand, placing both on the desk. What is it that you owe me? I am very understanding, you will find.” The absolute audacity of this fool! Maul’s brow furrowed into a scowl. 

“One of my warehouses was raided, a large amount of inventory was stolen from me.” Maul made his face expressionless once more. Ohnaka blinked behind his glasses. 

“And you think I had something to do with this?” he asked, his gravelly voice full of surprise. Maul knew better than to assume the Weequay was telling the truth and stared back at him, saying nothing. Ohnaka scoffed, seemingly offended. “Why would I do such a thing?” 

“Perhaps you did not know to whom the warehouse belonged.” Maul kept his voice measured. 

“I am not in the business of running about and stealing things from warehouses! What do you take me for?” he said as he waved a hand laden with gold rings in Maul’s direction. 

“Do you not steal the very shipments you are hired to deliver?” Maul asked with a twitch of his brow. There was a heavy pause before Ohnaka burst into laughter. 

“You have me there!” he grinned and rapped his knuckles on the table. “So! You say you have some things taken from you, I do not see how this could be the fault of Hondo! What makes you think I would--” He trailed off as Maul pulled out an itemised list from inside a concealed pocket in his jacket and opened it. He then handed it along to Ohnaka who frowned, adjusting his glasses as he read. There was little change in his expression, and indeed Weequay were very hard to read, however there was a telltale crease in his brow. 

Maul had him. He recognised some of these items. Though, of course he tried to feign ignorance. 

“I don’t have any idea what this is!” he protested. 

“No? I have a man that claims to be one of yours, perhaps we will ask him…?” Maul drawled and Ohnaka looked concerned for a moment before his energetic nature returned. 

“Yes, bring this man! If one of my men was so stupid as to do something I did not tell him to do, then on his head be it!” He tossed the piece of paper down onto his desk. “Bring him!” 

It was a minute or so later when the door opened, Saxon and Kast dragged in a younger Weequay man. He was bruised and bloody and cowered from the Mandalorians. Oddly from Kast most of all, despite her being much smaller than the 6’3” man that was Gar Saxon. 

“It was you, Shandors?”

The second he saw Ohnaka he broke from the patetic whimpers he’d been making and attempted to crawl over to the other man on his knees. 

“Please! Pleash boss! I didn’ mean t’ say nuffin! I wosn’ jus’ me! It was Nark’s idea! I swear I didn’--” He reached Ohnaka and clawed at the man’s leg for some pity or salvation, but Ohnaka met Shandors jaw with a solid kick that sent the man sprawling. 

“I did not bring you into this company for you to take orders from Nark!” Ohnaka barked. The corner of Maul’s mouth twitched, finding this act all very amusing. However he did not have all day, and stood, re-buttoning his jacket. He pressed one finger to the list on Ohnaka’s desk and slid it toward himself, taking it to tuck back into his pocket. Better not to leave written evidence of illegal items lying about. 

“I see you have your hands full,” he said with no shy amount of snideness. “We shall reconvene when you have your affairs in order, and we can come to an arrangement for the missing items.” He glanced over to his entourage and inclined his head. “I believe your people have a saying in the old tongue for those that interfere?” he asked with some dry amusement. 

“Ke nu'jurkadir sha Mando'ade.” Vizsla almost snarled. Maul smirked in approval, then looked to Ohnaka who was now standing. 

“I expect to have recompense when we meet again, Ohnaka.” Then, with a final glare, he swept from the room, head high as though the crown he bore were made of gold. The three Mandalorians and towering yellow zabrak followed out after him. Ohnaka was in a tight spot and Maul began to realise that this might be an opportunity. Perhaps an expansion for his operation was in order?

Notes:

I hope you guys enjoyed this one, I have been writing like mad for Sins and I hope that you all will like it as much as I do. I am pretty excited for the things coming up in the story, I have many plans! As always any and all feedback is welcome and I really do love to know your thoughts so I know where to focus my writing and also where I can improve. So please, any and all comments are encouraged. Thanks so much for reading, I hope you are all well. I shall see you next week for APOD and in a fortnight for the next part, titled: Puzzle Pieces, where Fives and Zaiya will delve deeper into the players in this game.

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The big debate was not far off, and if she were honest, she was looking forward to it. She’d not seen Mayor Palpatine for a very long time, and this debate would be the first time she would face him during this campaign. Once she had admired him, but she had become quite disillusioned in recent years with the lack of progress in the city. Not just financially but in infrastructure, health care and unemployment. All the money seemed to go into security and the Police, yet the figures Padme was hearing indicated that crime was actually rising. There were robberies, gangs and corruption, she had seen too many people in pain and left destitute, she had stepped up to the podium for them. For justice. 

She knew there was only so much she could do but… she had to try. The system was too fraught with corruption and Palpatine seemed blind to it… or worse, was a part of it. She’d heard the rumours but they were few and hardly proven. She could hardly believe they were anything other than vast exaggerations. 

The young candidate returned her attention to her papers, looking over some of the campaign notes from her manager. She took a seat at her desk, picked  up a red pen and added a few items of her own. Tekla returned to her sorting of the letters that had come in for Padme, letters of thanks or endorsement, even pleas for help, it was so important for the young politician.

They had so much to prepare for before the election. Filming a new campaign ad, a few small appearances, an interview and then of course the debate. There was so much she needed to do, the last thing she could afford right now was any form of distraction.

Knock Knock!

“Padme?” 

Padme looked up, her brown eyes widening. She knew that voice! Her face lit up like a beacon and she pushed herself to her feet and hurried over to the door, throwing it open at once.

“Anakin!” she beamed, managing to stop herself from throwing her arms around him. There he stood, broad shouldered, sandy brown hair swept back off his face, blue eyes gleaming and that boyish grin she loved so much ever-present on his face. 

She stepped back and let him in, his sharp eyes spotting Tekla immediately.

“Miss Sparum,” he nodded in greeting, charming as ever. Tekla gigged and grinned. 

“Mister Skywalker,” she replied sweetly. She flashed Padme a look as he passed her, and fanned herself slightly. Padme just chuckled and Tekla knew what to do. 

“I’ll just… let you have a moment, shall I?” she said with a knowing wink to her boss. Padme was lucky Tekla was so loyal, it wasn’t always the best move to be involved with the opposing candidate’s adoptive son. 

Not that Anakin was officially adopted of course, but it was close enough. It made their love for each other and their relationship difficult to navigate. They’d managed to avoid any publicity so far, but Anakin was becoming bolder and caring less about who saw him. Padme too was finding it harder to care, he might be a little younger than she was, but she was head over heels for the athlete. 

He took a seat on the couch she had for visitors and petted his thigh, a mischievous grin on his lips. 

“Come here,” he bade and Padme couldn’t help but do so. She strode over to him and before she had even had a chance to sit properly, Anakin reached out and grasped her hips, pulling her into his lap with that cheeky but charming grin that made her heart flutter. She settled on his lap with a bright smile of her own, looking down at him with such adoration. 

“I don’t like being away from you for so long,” Anakin hummed as he leaned closer, kissing the smooth column of her neck, his broad hands sliding up her back. 

“You know I have to work,” she chuckled, and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. She sank into his kiss as she cupped his face. It had been quite a while since they’d been together, she could tell he had missed her, especially the way his hands dropped to her thighs. Padme grinned into his kiss, she had missed him too. 

“I know, but I miss you, and there’s no one else I’d rather be with.” He kissed her neck again and nibbled her ear. “We should take some time away… take a trip.” 

“I can’t while we’re so close to the election,” she giggled. “The opposition isn’t making it easy,” she groaned and tilted her head, giving him more access as heat bloomed in her belly. 

“Well, you know he’s doing what’s best for the city,” he murmured. Padme frowned. 

“He’s doing what’s best? He’s just trying to win…” she shook her head,  she didn’t want to talk about work, she wanted to steal a moment with her boyfriend. 

“Mayor Palpatine has been in charge for a long time, he just wants to make sure the job is done right,” Anakin shrugged. She pulled back, that warmth she felt began to fizzle out. 

“So you think I couldn’t do a good job?” she accused.

“I didn’t say that,” he replied defensively.

“The corruption and issues of the city have been ignored for too long--”

“He can’t do everything, Padme.” 

“He needs to do something!” she insisted, leaning back further to look at him with a deep frown. “If he put half as much energy into helping fix the issues that he does in slandering my campaign, then most of the issues would be solved!” 

“Now that’s not fair,” the young man said, sitting up a little straighter. The action jolted Padme and she stood up to face him. 

“What’s not fair are the claims he makes in the name of his campaign! His claims that I am too young or throwing my mistakes in my face and blowing them out of proportion!” She was getting a whole different kind of heated now. Anakin stood, now towering over her, his hands out.

“Padme-- he took me in when I had no one,” he began, that same story he always told when he wanted to excuse the old man for anything reprehensible that he’d done. 

“Look, I’m grateful for that, Anakin, I am. You deserve good things in your life, but that doesn’t excuse the neglect or the smear campaign when I am just trying to do my best for this city!” she was exasperated, it was always the same argument. She let out a sigh and pinched the bridge of her nose. “You know what? Perhaps you should go, I have a lot of work to catch up on anyway and I need to finish this speech.” She turned away and headed to her desk.

“Padme!” he protested, sounding shocked. 

“I have to work, Anakin,” she replied bitterly. “Perhaps you’ll feel better if you talk to your so-called father.” She regretted the words as soon as she’d said them, but she didn’t look back at him. 

“Maybe I will,” he spat back and she heard his heavy steps, flinching at the slam of the door. She shouldn’t have said that, but she was so fed up with the way her boyfriend always seemed to take the side of his ‘father’ over her. 

She sat back at her desk and let out a deep breath. She could apologise later. For now, she had an election to win.

Notes: It's Christmas Day here in Aus, so here is my gift! Another Chapter of Sins! …as opposed to skipping a week 😂

I hope you all have a wonderful wonderful day. For all those who struggle at this time of year, I hope you are alright and safe and I am sending all my affections to you. Once again thank you for reading, you have my gratitude.

As always if you have a comment or feedback about this chapter, I would love to hear it! I always love to read your comments and they keep me going! I hope you all are well and I shall see you New Years Day/Eve with an APOD chapter!

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