Chapter Nine
"Something is happening and it's either started with Master Billaba's removal from her bed or continued by it. The dark shadow that we sensed earlier is growing and I fear it doesn't mean to stop with our downfall," Obi-Wan said. "Nor do I think I would if I were the source of the shadow though we all know that not to be true," Windu agreed. "Dangerous and disturbing this move is but who and why, impossible to answer these questions are," Yoda admitted.
"Do you think the existence and continuity of this war has something to do with its rise?" Anakin asked. "A possibility that is but remote in its likelihood, it also is young Skywalker," Yoda answered. "I'm thinking this may be beyond our power to stop, the Separatists are not looking nearly as big a threat as this," Windu stated. "Are you suggesting we form a truce with the Separatists and a union of our resources until this new crisis is resolved?" Master Mundi asked.
"A dangerous gambit that is but not as dangerous as this new threat it could be," Yoda added. "Of course, our primary goal is to stop Count Dooku but what if this is something more substantial?" Windu asked. "Or we're seeing the return of Darth Maul and his brother with more powerful allies than mere pirates. If that is the case then we will have a lot more to worry about than Dooku and his CIS allies," Obi-wan interjected.
"And what were to do if this is indeed them?" Anakin asked his former Master curiously. "Perhaps I could lead a stealth team or take a stealth ship into their territory and finish my fight with them," Obi-wan answered calmly but with a solemn sigh. Heads nodded, shrugs were made, but ultimately there was no ability to decide what this threat could be. But if it were Maul and Savage, how would they know of Depa Billaba and why would they want her on their side?
Did it have something to do with her skills in Vaapad and her knowledge of the Jedi ways, including the strengths and weaknesses of the Order? In those matters, Depa Billaba was far more knowledgeable than almost any of her generation before she fell to the Dark Side. Could Maul and Savage have sensed that about her or had some sort of curiosity as to why she was in a coma? If so, their powers were growing far more substantially than any Jedi could ever dare imagine.
Three days passed since Maul and Savage arrived on Concordia and the former had to admit that the latter was doing a surprisingly good job of getting them through. But that all changed when, in the distance, Maul made out a small caravan of people flying on jetpacks in the direction of the brothers. "Brother, look there!" Savage said, having seen them too. "Deactivate your weapon until we know what their intentions are," Maul ordered.
Savage immediately did as instructed and both of the men waited until the caravan saw them and swooped down onto the ground. The warriors in Mandalorian armor did a circle around them and pointed their wrist flamethrowers and blasters at them before the leader spoke. "State your names and your business here on Concordia," the feminine voice of the leader commanded. "I am the Sith Lord Darth Maul and this is my apprentice, Savage Opress; we have come to speak with your leader," Maul replied.
"Governor Pre Vizsla speaks with no one unless there's a very good reason for it. You need to either turn back or be shot down by us all, besides, we know about the bounty on your heads. The Jedi will pay us very handsomely for your heads and we can bargain for a little more than credits," the leader said. "Oh I assure you that Vizsla will find our reason to be worth his while: it concerns the reclaim of Mandalore," Maul replied.
"I'll be the judge of whether or not he sees you two. What's to stop you from killing him and taking over Death Watch if I were to say yes?" the female asked. This woman is very protective but at the same time, very sensible. I like that in a woman far more than I ever loved a helpless damsel in distress Maul thought to himself.
"What would stop me is that I need him and I know he will need me too. We both hate the Jedi Order, particularly the Knight called Kenobi, and we both wish to destroy their Republic and their so-called foes in the Separatists. I can help Vizsla gain his revenge against the Sith imposter Dooku and his superior whilst Vizsla can entrust me with the death of Kenobi," Maul answered. The female seemed to be deep in thought when he mentioned Dooku and Kenobi in a single sentence.
"Wait right here while I go and talk with the Governor. If he believes you're worthy, you'll see him but if not, get the hell out of here or we'll vaporize you," the woman said. "Thank you and may I ask your name before you leave?" Maul asked. "Bo-Katan, at your service for the moment," the woman answered.
Savage and Maul then just stood there with the caravan surrounding them as she left to speak with Governor Vizsla. It was an offer he could not refuse: he would have the chance to kill the Duchess Satine of Mandalore, Kenobi and Dooku would perish, and all the galaxy would be theirs. Under these terms, their conquest of all there was to be conquered would soon be theirs if he just said yes. One simple word was all it took for a path of near-perfect galactic conquest to begin.
"Governor, may I speak with you for a moment?" Bo asked. "Sure Bo, what can I do for you?" Vizsla asked. "There are two Sith Lords here who say their names are Darth Maul and Savage Opress. Maul says he wants to help you reclaim Mandalore and in exchange for the throne and Dooku's head, he'll kill Kenobi for you," she answered. "Are you asking if you should let him in?" Vizsla inquired.
"Do you want to trust him sir? I know I don't but whatever your wish is my command," Bo replied. "Then let them here and I will talk with them and see if we can afford an alliance with them on the terms they mention," Vizsla said. "Yes sir, I already told them that if you refused, they would need to leave Concordia or be shot down," Bo said to which Pre nodded his approval. "You have done good to do that Bo, don't ever forget that," he added.
And just like that, Bo-Katan was out the tent again and on her way to do official business on his behalf. For a little while and then he would actually do it for himself rather than hide as he had. Soon, Death Watch would relaunch and when it did, the Duchess Satine Kryze would fear his wrath. She would beg for death before he was through, a wish he wouldn't grant right away.
Darth Maul saw the woman long before she could land next to him and judging by her aura, he wasn't about to receive very bad news from her. When she finally arrived and did land next to him and Savage, she spoke quickly and bluntly so as not to waste valuable time. "He will grant you an audience but know this: with him, no is no and if you try anything stupid... we will shoot you down," she said. "If all goes well, it will never come to that between us," he replied before he and his brother followed her.
As they were escorted by the scouting party, Maul saw something that was not normal in Mandalorian warriors. He saw desperation and anxiety to reclaim a lost home within each of their hearts and minds. But it was the fervor of many indoctrinated soldiers, likely trained and drilled from the time they could stand much as he had been by Lord Sidious. Interesting, most interesting that these soldiers can be so loyal when the likeliness that their cause was corrupted is great he thought.
He knew that the intent of the Death Watch was better than most so-called terrorist groups but he had to admit that corruption was inevitable for all good intentions. Especially if the actions done to achieve those intentions were considered bad by the standards of normal morality. But once again, Maul preferred to be more of the silent observer and had encouraged his brother to be that way as well. Though he would talk business with Governor Vizsla, he would watch silently when he wasn't offering his blade to help this rabble with which he was forced to associate himself.
It wasn't long before the speeder that Bo brought came within sight of the Death Watch camp and Maul could tell their weakness by looking at it. Sure they had managed to take the base Duchess Satine had set up on Concordia but without it, Death Watch would have looked very weak. He was going to have to make arrangements to fix that first chance he got whether with or without Vizsla. The existence of Death Watch and the success of their goal depended on it all happening immediately.
Writing across datapads while checking individual droids units was no easy task, even for the great Rodian mind of Hephaestus. The security force he had been set up with was once that was mostly biological due to the fact that droids didn't activate until after the test run but... This force still had its flaws including the flaw of being more vulnerable to the arms of death than a droid force. Kuat had hundreds of foundries across the galaxy but Hephaestus happened to be working at the best: on Mustafar.
So large, vast, and quick was the facility in reaping materials that a million droids could be spat out within a week at normal pace. If constant large orders were being made, this facility could easily spit out another two or three million before the end of the month according to need for speed. The tools used were mechanical and thus, injury on the part of workers was never a question. However, the security force was a different story especially since some guards were bribed by Black Sun.
Hephaestus had to admit that he didn't know what Black Sun wanted but he didn't doubt that information was involved in their desires. Information to secret of how to make the droids or even information about how they may take the facility should they want to. For Hephaestus' facility of Kuat was in debt to Black Sun for a loan he had requested years before. Though they would not be immediate in coming to collect, he knew that someday their hammer would fall hard on him.
When it finally did, he could lose his job, his family, and even his life if Black Sun wished to go that far with him. And while he bought himself time by paying half the loan off, it wasn't going to be long before Prince Xizor came back and demanded the rest. It never was as far as Hephaestus was concerned and droid-making was his passion far more than people had ever been. If Xizor isn't satisfied with what I have accumulated for him then I am in deep danger he thought to himself.
His brother Epimetheus had already fled the scene, saving his wife and three children in the process. But the coward would not speak a word of the debts to Black Sun nor would he offer his wealth to his brother in assistance. "Trust me when I tell you that Prince Xizor has a way with people that is awfully frightening. He will undo you before the end if you do not pay him off and you continue to defy him," he had warned.
"I think I'll take the chance of holding him off as long as possible rather than flee like the coward you are," Hephaestus replied. "I happen to have a family, thank you very much! It was my dream to get a family and settle down after a few years of working here and that's exactly what I've done," Epimetheus noted. "That was our dream, you and I shared it when we started working here and worked our way to the top for your information," Hephaestus snapped.
"At least I was ambitious enough to fulfill it with my debts cleared to Black Sun and enough money to live until I'm a hundred without ever working again or needing to worry about my children. You just kept working and working and working, spitting out more and more droids for Kuat to sell to bidders just as shady as Black Sun," Epimetheus would say, ending their conversation with that. Then he was gone just like that and Hephaestus found himself working the business alone in the end.
It's for the better that that coward is gone now and I can stand on my own two feet against Prince Xizor he thought. Then a guard came to his headquarters to announce the arrival of the Prince to their facility. "He comes as though the thought of him had provoked him to come here. Tell him I will be with him in a few minutes stat and we will begin business in my office," Hephaestus stated.
Xizor hated coming to this facility almost as much as he hated hanging around at the Mustafar hideout during Council meetings. But he knew he had to in order to make sure that the fool Hephaestus paid his debts to Black Sun while keeping the Kuat foundry in business. Besides, he wouldn't want me doing anything harsh to his brother and his brother's family like I did to Hephaestus' wife. She was a fine sexual specimen before I was forced to kill her in front of him he thought happily.
So he was disappointed when security told him he would have to wait a few minutes before Hephaestus could meet him in his office. Nonetheless he had to admit there was hardly a difference between a few minutes and a few hours as far as Hephaestus was concerned. When those minutes passed by rather quickly though, Xizor was glad to see the man again. The same could not be said of Hephaestus seeing the Falleen prince once again.
"What brings you back here a whole standard week earlier than we agreed?" Hephaestus asked immediately. "Impatience combined with the fact that I have already waited nearly four months for you to deliver on your promise anyway. You know that Black Sun has a no-tolerance policy for waiting more than half that time and yet you insist on defying us anyway," Xizor answered. "Okay look, I know you have your doubts about me and personally I would doubt me too but the money is almost ready," the Rodian said.
"I will not be letting you pull that trick off again as slick as it may be. You have a good amount of grace bestowed upon you but I have the unfortunate lack of patience. If you do not pay your debts soon, I may have to take the factory from you by force of arms if necessary. That and I may have to... deliver an untimely gift to your brother and his family; you remember what happened to your wife?" Xizor replied.
"If you lay one finger on my nieces, my nephew, or my sister-in-law..." Hephaestus began. "You'll do what? Besides, you do know that you only doom yourself further when you threaten me, right? Worse, you also doom them if you do so much as touch me in the presence of my guards," Xizor mocked.
"Then call them off and let's see how much of a man you are without them," Hephaestus demanded. "Mister Hephaestus of Balder, your family has been nothing but good clients of Black Sun for thirty-seven years. Do you really want to find out what will happen if you break that chain?" Xizor inquired. "If it means taking your head before I die and securing that my debts never have to be paid, yes I guess I do," Hephaestus snapped.
"Then I'm afraid it's looking like I will have to take our business into the hands of Black Sun's military and police branches," Xizor warned. "I want no further ties with Black Sun except to fight it back if I have to," Hephaestus admitted. "So be it and don't say that I didn't warn you against fighting us when we are at last on your doorstep and about to gun you down," Xizor concluded before leaving.
"You two must be the warriors my commander, Bo-Katan, located on our radar, not too long ago. What is it that you say you can do for us if I said yes to an alliance with you?" Pre Vizsla asked the two Zabraks. "Let me first introduce us so as to make ourselves better known by you: my name is Darth Maul and this is my brother and apprentice, Savage Opress," the red one answered. "Very well then Lord Maul, answer my question if you have come seeking me out," Vizsla demanded.
"We can help you reclaim Mandalore," Maul said. The governor and Bo were both at a loss for words when they heard what Maul had to offer him and his clan. "The last time a Sith Lord offered to help us reclaim Mandalore, our leader was left with a scar as a parting gift from him. What makes you think we can trust another Sith Lord, never mind two of them even if they are rogue?" Bo asked.
Maul chuckled at the question for several seconds, as if the question had been intended to humor him when it was in fact serious. Then he answered: "I assure you that Count Dooku is by no means a true Lord of the Sith as we are. He takes on several apprentices he calls 'Dark Jedi' or 'assassins' when he himself is apprentice to a far more powerful being." Bo was not made any less uneasy but Vizsla smiled at it, never having that knowledge of Count Dooku before.
"Even with two Sith Lords on our side, Death Watch would be no match for the forces of the Duchess Satine and her regime. I assume you have a plan that helps guide us to victory?" Pre asked finally. "We will be acquiring the aid of other organizations dubbed 'criminal' or 'terrorist' as Death Watch has been. And once we launch, I can assure you that if the Jedi Knight Kenobi (whose interference with you has come to my attention) were to intervene again, he would fall," Maul answered.
"How do you know of the Jedi Kenobi?" Pre inquired with a raised eyebrow. "Twelve years ago, before the Clone Wars, Kenobi and I fought on Naboo. Though I managed to kill his Jedi Master, Qui-Gon Jinn, he sliced me in half and left me for dead on Naboo. I have since lusted for revenge against him and have fought him twice, once on Reydonia and another on Florumm," Maul explained.
"You speak of Florumm as though you hold it contemptible in your eyes, why?" Bo asked. "We were defeated there when Kenobi used two lightsabers to fight us. Because it, I have lost my arm and am left with this mechanical replacement you see before you," Savage interjected. Maul briefly looked at his brother with a snarl but continued when Savage said nothing more.
"Yes but on Reydonia, we forced Kenobi into retreat even when he was assisted by a rogue Dark Jedi from Dathomir. Having heard this, just think about the benefits for you if you joined our little alliance. By the end, Mandalore will be yours and Kenobi, this Sith pretender Dooku, and all our enemies will fall!" Maul added passionately. Pre stroked his chin in thought and Bo stood beside him, probably inserting comments concerning her mistrust of these two Sith warriors.
You will be right to think that we may try to steal Mandalore from you in the end and succeed. I would never allow an incompetent leader such as yourself to rule an entire planet and its properties especially seeing as you can barely take care of yourself Maul said silently. Do we really have to trust these fools in order to kill Kenobi and Dooku? Savage asked himself. It was after a chat with Bo that concerned what they could bargain for that Pre turned back with his verdict.
"Before we say anything, we need your word on the deliverance of one small but important condition. In return for a handsome portion of the spoils, we need your promise that Mandalore will be ours to rule when we have overthrown Duchess Satine," he said. Maul said nothing for a little bit so as to process what Vizsla had just stated and Savage had to admit he was a little taken aback as well. "The leadership of Mandalore does not interest us and thus, we will be happy to deliver our end of your terms," Maul said after thinking.
"Then you have yourselves an alliance with Death Watch. You are free to come and go as you choose as well as point us to possible allies who can help us. Welcome to the Brotherhood, my friends," Vizsla stated before extending his hand. Maul took it gladly and made a mental note that now he had acquired Death Watch's alliance, he would need to begin his search for more allies immediately. Perhaps it's time I started my search with some old friends from my life under Sidious he thought.