Finally, he's getting married.
Now that Lord Serevin is leading the diplomatic team for the pretend peace talks and Malgus is the universally acknowledged brains for the Coruscant invasion, suddenly an alliance between them looks very advantageous. That brings Darth Serevin back to the table fast. Better still, with Malgus' stock rising, Lord Serevin lowers his price for the marriage settlement. It is a shocking surprise move.
Malgus' first inclination is to accept on the spot. But does he want this? He asks himself that question over and over. When he cannot decide, he asks Leena. She always gives great advice. Plus, he doesn't want to make this move without her buy-in. Things have changed, and he refuses to enter into this marriage if it will make Leena unhappy.
She admits to a little jealousy—which only makes him love her more—and then she argues hard for the marriage. Leena points out how things are finally falling into place. He might not have overall command of the Coruscant invasion, but he is being credited with the entire strategy. This is the biggest, boldest move of the war since Korriban and it's all attributable to him. Now is your time, Leena argues, seize the moment. Button up this alliance, sack Coruscant, win the galaxy for the Sith, and be the preeminent Dark Lord of your generation. You'll get that seat on the Council in the end, proud Leena beams at him.
She's right, of course. But still, he has cold feet.
Lady Cassis means nothing to me, he assures her. She will be my wife in name only. She gets the name and the trappings of Lady Malgus. But you will be my wife in my heart. This changes nothing between us. He vows that every way he can. Leena will remain here with him on his ship or wherever he ends up being stationed. And if one day he takes a seat on the Dark Council and leaves active service to administer the Empire, then he will find a way for them to live together on Dromund Kaas. I will always take care of you, he promises. I will do my best to protect you. That's when Leena points out that the more powerful and accepted he becomes in the Sith Establishment, the less risk there is to her. If you rise high enough, no one will dare strike at you, she argues.
She's right yet again. And so, with Leena's blessing, he and Lord Serevin reach an agreement and the lawyers finalize the marriage settlement. Given all that is going on with both families, no one is clamoring for a rushed ceremony. The actual wedding will be delayed until after the upcoming pretend peace talks and the invasion. But the alliance is finalized, submitted for review to the Imperial palace, and accepted without comment. Jose Escriva delivers an expensive set of jewelry to Lady Cassis as a token of the bridegroom's appreciation. She receives it with appropriate gratitude and sends an exquisitely worded thank you note. The betrothal is then publicly announced. All that is left is to set the date.
And now, the person who gets cold feet is Leena. She blindsides him the next night with an ominous comment over a late dinner. "When all the dust settles after Coruscant, I want to think about us."
Malgus' eyes shift to hers. "That doesn't sound good." She nods, looking a bit miserable. And now, she really has his attention. He puts his fork down. "What's wrong?"
Her words come out slowly at first, but they accelerate from there. "It's just that I don't want to hold you back. You are on the verge of greatness. Everyone can see that. It's all falling into place now. Your vision will come true, you will get the alliance with Serevin, finally you will get the respect you deserve—"
"What are you saying?" he interrupts, suddenly feeling scared. Because is she leaving him? She can't leave him. He won't allow it.
"I'm saying that I don't want to impede any of that. I don't want to hold you back."
Oh, Gods. She is leaving him. "You're leaving me." He yelps the words out loud.
"I'm not worthy of you—"
"No!" He pounds the table with his fist and the dishes leap. "Do NOT say that!"
He hates it when she says things like that. But no matter how often he tries to build her up, Leena never seems to believe any of it. Or if she does, it's not for long. One wrong look or one harsh word from someone, and all her hard-won confidence falls away. Leena has internalized far too many of the attitudes of others, and a year of freedom isn't nearly enough to undo all the years she spent as a slave. How he wishes Leena could believe in herself as much as she believes in him.
She takes a deep breath and persists. "It's true. I am beneath you. And maybe that doesn't matter to you, but it matters to others."
"Who has been talking to you?" Is this about his upcoming marriage? Is that what's making her insecure?
"The others will ridicule you for me. It won't just be Adraas. I see the looks we get from the other Lords."
He shrugs. "I don't care what people think. And you shouldn't either. What's brought this on? Tell me."
She is his stalwart cheerleader, never more so than now. "I want you to get everything you have ever wanted. And if that means I need to step aside to make that possible, then I will." Leena's face wears a resigned but determined look. "I don't want that, but I will do it. I will not be your downfall, Gaius."
So this is about him? Not about her? Well, he can handle a few dirty looks and nasty comments. He looks her in the eye. "I want it all, Leena. And that includes you. I need you. You don't ever get to leave me," he growls possessively. But that warning quickly reverts to a plea as he reaches across the small table to intercept her hand and squeeze tightly. "Promise me you will never leave me," he says, searching her eyes. He needs her love and support. He wants their intimacy. Leena is the one person he can count on to understand him.
"Okay," she nods, looking relieved. "Okay." She repeats it like she's still convincing herself. "I love you," she blurts out now as she flushes. "I love you with all my heart and I want what's best for you."
"I know," he soothes as he exhales his relief. Malgus flashes a crooked smirk at her. "Now, no more talk like that. You are my wife in every way that matters. And the Sith mate for life. So, you don't get to leave me because we don't get to divorce."
He's not sure that logic holds together since they aren't actually married, but the point is that they are committed to each other. In fact, the more he thinks it over, the more Malgus realizes that he and Leena are the embodiment of the union the Sith prize. She might be a former slave and he might be a bit of a maverick, but they fulfill all the virtues that a Sith marriage idealizes. "We are just like the vows promise," he tells her. "Our passion for each other gives us strength, our strength gives us power, and that power will bring us victory. And that's how I will realize my potential and help the Empire to do the same."
She nods slowly. She's probably lost in that reference to the Sith Code. But is she getting this? Really getting this? He simplifies things and omits all the doctrine: "Leena, you make me a better man. You are far too good for me. But you are very good for me, all the same."
It's true. He is so glad he found her, and he doesn't give a damn what others think. They will lift each other up and lean on each other. It's him and Leena against the galaxy. Because if she can stand the haters, then so can he. In the end, when the Sith trample the Republic and he gets the respect he has long deserved, men will think twice before they shame him for Leena. "In time, the Lords will be sucking up to me. You'll see. They won't dare disrespect us." Those men will someday be hoping for his goodwill. Over time, his power will insulate them from the ridicule she fears.
"Oh, Gaius . . . what if you're wrong?" she posits. "What if your success only earns you more jealousy? What if you are even more isolated?"
"I won't be isolated if you're with me."
"I might be a lousy consolation prize," she says pointedly. Yet again, it's her insecurities talking. "You might grow to resent me."
"I could never do that."
"You might if I truly did hold you back."
"I refuse to give you up. I want it all," he repeats his earlier statement. "I want to succeed with you at my side. Is this about the wedding?" he probes. "Because if it's upsetting you, I will call it off."
"No," she shakes her head. "I won't let you do that for me."
No, he didn't think so. The woman who offers to give him up for his own good is not a woman who demands he sacrifice for her sake. Leena doesn't really demand anything for herself. And that realization gets him thinking that he should let her participate in the invasion. Because if he wants Leena to be happy and to gain confidence, perhaps he should let her make the decision for herself.
He sits back now to watch her stoop down to offer their leftover dinner to the hounds. Leena is so beautiful in profile like that, smiling at Ragnos with her lekku draping down. It's really too bad he can't marry her for real, Malgus thinks for the umpteenth time. She would make an excellent Lady Malgus.
The next morning holds yet another surprise conversation. Darth Adraas wants to join the temple raid. Angral sends a preview message to that effect, probably because he wants to float the idea in advance of the inevitable in-person argument about it. And, really, it doesn't make much sense. Adraas is commanding the Sith troops who will destroy the Coruscant city proper. It's the far larger, more important task than sacking the Temple, even if it is admittedly less glamorous. So, Malgus sends back his one-word response: No.
That prompts Darth Angral to emerge from his conference room down the hall to enter Malgus' planning sessions. When the senior commander of the Sith navy marches in, everyone stands to their feet except him sitting sprawled at the head of the table.
"Adraas is on your team," Angral announces in a tone that does not invite further comment. "I'm sending him in to join you now."
"Then who's commanding the sack of the city?" Malgus counters coolly.
Angral names some junior, newly promoted Sith Lord. It's a ridiculous choice, and Malgus says so. "That guy is way too inexperienced for such an important role. Give me the surface command," Malgus sighs as he angles for more responsibility. "I will swap commands with Adraas." It would be an upgrade actually, Malgus thinks.
But Angral won't go for it. "Out of the question. You are needed at the Temple. There will be some Jedi Masters around."
"You've got my team stuffed with sixty Dark Lords already. They can handle it." At this rate, there won't be room to swing a sword in that crowded Temple. "Adraas can take a Jedi Master." And if he can't and he dies in the process, Malgus is fine with that outcome.
Darth Angral holds firm. "I need you at the Temple. You are leading the Temple raid and then coming to the Senate as my reinforcements, as planned."
"This Temple raid is more for show anyway. It's completely optional." Malgus' original plan hadn't even dealt with the Jedi Temple specifically. It had just been one of the bombardment targets until Leena had spoken up. He remembers now how Leena had been the reason for the entire Temple attack. Glancing up at her sitting across the room, Malgus considers once again that perhaps she ought to be at the raid after all.
"The Council wants the Temple raid and you will lead it, Malgus." Then, Angral delivers the punchline: "With Adraas as your second-in-command."
What? "As my second-in-command?" Malgus echoes. Great. This is getting worse by the moment. "Never. I don't trust that guy farther than I can throw him without the Force. Praven is my second." Malgus gestures to Angral's most senior Apprentice who is seated on his right. Lord Praven is good in a fight and he's trustworthy, unlike Adraas.
"Praven is with me now at the Senate," Angral informs him. He beckons away his Apprentice. Then he adds the names of three more junior Sith Lords to the roster of Dark Lords fighting at the Temple. All of whom heretofore were to be fighting with Adraas on the city surface. So, really, Malgus is now taking on both his archenemy and his posse of cronies.
"Did Adraas tick off Azamin again?" Malgus wants know. "Is that what this is about? Why are we shuffling everyone around now?" This just smacks of behind-the-scenes politics with Dark Lords jockeying for position and undermining their rivals. And being an enemy of Darth Adraas himself, Malgus would very much like to know how he got himself demoted. "Are you going to change this all back tomorrow?" he complains. "It's getting a little late in the game for this sort of thing."
"These are the final edits to the battle plan," Lord Angral decrees. "The operation goes live in forty-eight hours by the Emperor's own order. Serevin leaves this evening with the peace delegation for Alderaan. We're all jumping with him to stage there for the invasion. Malgus," he gets an approving nod from his superior, "This is happening. Gather your troops, summon your Lords, and stoke your Darkness. In two days' time, the Republic capital world will fall." With that resounding call to arms, Lord Angral sweeps from the room with his Apprentice Lord Praven sheepishly following.
The ensuing two days pass quickly. Malgus spends his remaining time preparing his men and preparing his mind. He hones his Dark power in meditation, ruminating on confrontations of the past that will culminate very soon on Coruscant. The anticipation swells within him, for his sense of destiny is building. This is the ultimate victory that the Force teased him with years ago on Korriban.
He has foreseen the fall of the Republic. Now, he will make that vision a reality.
The night beforehand, he cleans his lightsabers. It's a ritual he's done before every major battle since he was an Apprentice. He always takes two swords even though he prefers to fight with one. You never know when you will need an extra weapon. Darth Malgus has spent decades at war and so he knows to expect the unexpected and to prepare for the worst. Combat is notoriously unpredictable. He is a veteran campaigner and he's seen his share of miscalculations and defeats.
Leena is across the room in his closet assembling his battle armor to lay it out with his clothes and boots. Glancing over at her, Malgus makes a decision that he has been considering for days. "Lay out your own armor also. Leena, I want you to come with me for the Temple attack."
"Really?" She's surprised. Excited too, he sees.
"Yes. You will stick close to me the entire time. You're with me, not with the regular strike team tomorrow." He will keep Leena with him where he can keep an eye on her. "Bring your guns," he instructs. "Let's clean them." And now, Leena too participates in his pre-battle ritual as they sit and clean her blasters. Then, they check and double check her gear. Malgus leaves nothing to chance for Leena or for himself.
Late that same night when she cuddles up and begins kissing his neck and heading lower, Malgus gently turns her down. He wants to be as on edge as possible tomorrow, he explains, with his maximum competitive drive and aggression. But when he returns a conquering hero from Coruscant, he fully intends to fuck Leena senseless. Together, they will celebrate their historic victory in private. Then, he will get to work plotting for the spoils of war and angling for his next career move. Maybe he will get that Council spot eventually. With Leena at his side, lately anything feels possible.
It's mere hours later when he and Leena have snuck onto Coruscant. They are on foot as they make their way to the Jedi Temple during waning twilight. The wide square they walk through is bustling with pedestrians of all species, so he and Leena blend in. In the Republic, a mixed species couple like them is not particularly noteworthy, so they don't even merit looks. Malgus has his hood drawn up and his cloak pulled close to mask his heavy armor underneath. Leena too wears a cloak to hide her holsters and weaponry. But others around them are similarly attired in the early evening chill. There is nothing outwardly nefarious about them by comparison.
Their disguise is more than merely physical. Malgus focuses his mind to conceal his presence in the Force. It's an old trick he seldom bothers to use in combat. But today, it is imperative that he maintain the element of surprise. Besides, it feels fitting. Bold stealth has long been a hallmark of the Sith. Today's invasion will continue that tradition.
Darth Malgus won't be the only secret Sith Lord to walk the streets of Coruscant undetected as he plots the Republic's downfall. But he will be the first.
"Wow . . . It's as beautiful here as everyone says," Leena remarks as she looks around.
Malgus has to agree. They don't call Coruscant the bright center of the universe for nothing. And here, on its uppermost level where the fading sunset sky meets the soaring spires of the metropolis, there is a sense of grandeur and accomplishment. But beauty, they say, is fleeting. And so shall it be with Coruscant. "It won't be beautiful for very much longer," Malgus says with grim satisfaction.
The scene around them is mundane and casually happy. Music wafts over from some nearby street performers, and a colorfully lit fountain splashes. There are sounds of conversation and laughter, even the high-pitched chatter of children. No one here suspects that there is an armada of invaders about to emerge from hyperspace into Coruscant's orbit. These people believe they are safe from the galactic civil war that rages many lightyears away. But they're wrong. Ten minutes from now, life for these citizens will forever change.
The sense of anticipation is killing him. Malgus can't wait to do this. His heart is racing and his adrenaline is pumping.
At his side, Leena is nervous. "Can you tell how many are here?" she asks under her breath.
"A lot. At least fifty," he guesses as he concentrates harder. The presence in the Force of so many Jedi so close and so concentrated is a blinding glare to his mind. It irritates and grates.
"Seven minutes," Leena whispers. They both know that timing for this mission must be perfect. "Two minutes until the transport reverts. Five minutes for the rest of the fleet to arrive," she reports.
He nods. Both their eyes flash upwards now. Sure enough, the regular local police patrol vehicle streaks by overhead on schedule as expected. It won't circle back for another ten minutes and by then, it will be too late to shoot down the incoming transport stuffed with Dark Lords that will meet them for the battle.
His comlink now blinks with the prearranged signal from the mercenaries. "The grid is down," he relays the good news to Leena. Everything is proceeding as planned.
They come to a halt now at the far end of the square that abuts the steps to the majestic Jedi Temple. The sacred ground for the Light is fittingly illuminated. In fact, everything about this place assaults his senses. From the bright lights he sees to the Light that floods his mind's eye, Malgus feels very out of place. He is a Lord of the Sith, a prince of Darkness, the ultimate interloper. And he's about to calmly walk into his enemy's stronghold to burn it down. The significance of this moment arrests him.
The Force pricks at his mind, too. Warning of deadly danger. Of imminent change. Of victory to come. Of loss, as well. He last sensed this foreboding feeling on Korriban many years ago. Darth Malgus the New began his career at the outset of this war and today he will see the conquest of the galaxy finally achieved. One thing is for certain: after what he's about to do, nothing will ever be the same.
He turns to Leena, reaching up to cup her cheek. Here in the Republic, he doesn't care who sees them in public. "I'm glad you're here. Today destiny foretold will become destiny fulfilled." This is his long-ago vision come to fruition. The collapse of the Republic and the final victory of the Sith. Darkness is rising, and today it will snuff out Light in the galaxy.
But staring into her hopeful, trusting eyes, he knows this bold attack is not without risk. "If I die today—" he begins.
"Don't talk like that!" she hisses.
"There could be no better way to die than with a sword in my hand leading an attack on the Jedi Temple," he chides with a fatalism that is intrinsically Sith. "But who knows what will happen?" He's a realist in this, like in everything else. "They will all be gunning for me." He's the Sith Lord who the entire Republic loves to hate.
"Gaius—"
"None of us is invincible. Not even Darth Vitiate. So, listen to me. If I die, Jose will provide for you. Take the credits. Go on with your life and be happy."
Leena looks angry at his words. "I don't want your money, I want you."
"I know," he concedes. "But I can't promise you anything, not even that I will survive today." All he can offer her is love. But that love is as stalwart and committed as Darth Malgus himself. He is a man who does nothing by half measures. "If I could, I would give you everything. You know that, right?" He searches her eyes for understanding.
"This is enough," she replies softly. "It is enough to be loved by you and to be with you today on the most important day of your life." She reaches up to cover his gloved hand with her own. Her face is lovely in the fading sunlight. "I know what today means to you," she whispers.
Yes, he can see that she does. And it's no surprise. This woman has always understood him. From the beginning, despite their disparate backgrounds, he and Eleena Daru had an instant rapport. "I love you," he rasps. "Whatever happens, remember that."
She looks away anxiously, but brushes off his concerns. "Stop being negative. We're going to win. Come," she turns back to him sporting a wide smile of faked confidence, "Let's go and kill some Jedi."
Her gallantry makes him smile. Malgus checks the time. She's right. They need to keep moving. Together, they begin to climb the four flights of steps that lead up to the massive Temple complex. It requires them to weave through a small crowd. The Temple steps are a gathering place on the edge of the plaza. Groups of young people huddle there laughing and talking. Others people stand alone clearly waiting to meet up with someone. He and Leena simply walk past all of that, unnoticed among the throng of citizens.
"Remember what I told you," Malgus rumbles. "Stay behind me and let me handle any Jedi Masters."
"Yes."
"If this goes badly, I want you to retreat with the others."
"I'm not leaving you."
"You must. That's an order."
Leena doesn't argue further. She just changes the topic. It's a strategy that is very her. "Look," she gestures with her head up towards the top of the ancient edifice, "There's the strike team in place." From three speeders hovering overhead, Commander Barker and his special ops troopers begin to drop in pairs onto the Temple roof. So far, at least, they go unnoticed. The Sith troopers will infiltrate the premises from above through several maintenance hatches once the ship carrying the Dark Lords makes its big entrance.
"Good. Four hostiles at the entrance," Malgus references the bored looking Republic guards standing near the top of the steps. "Also two on the left and two more on the right." It's just as they anticipated. But those guys are the least of his worries. The real threat are the Jedi inside.
Two more flights of steps to go. Malgus pauses on the stair landing. "One last thing—"
"Yes?" she turns to him anxiously.
"Kiss me," he commands on impulse.
"Okay." Leena is still very jumpy. "Are you sure?" she squeaks. "It's not in the plan."
"Kiss me." Darth Malgus will profane this sacred place with passion before he destroys it with aggression. Soon, these preachy priests of the Light will behold the awesome power of the Dark Side. They will be confronted with everything that is forbidden to them.
He throws back his hood, she throws back her hood. He and Leena stand intertwined for a brief moment before they part. They are interrupted when his watch starts beeping to alert them to the ninety second mark. It's under two minutes now until the transport arrives with their reinforcements.
"Let's do this," he nods. That's Leena's cue to shrug out of her long cloak. It drops to the pavement, revealing the pair of blasters at her hips and her other battle paraphernalia.
"Put your mask on," she warns as they resume walking. "It's smoggy here."
He complies, reaching to snap the removable respirator into the neck of his armor. Then, with a flick of his wrist, he pulls up his hood. He plans to look like a proper Sith Lord when he storms this hallowed ground.
It is nightfall now. With his saber hilt in his hand and his beloved at his back, Darth Malgus slowly climbs the final flight of steps and walks into the history books. This is the moment when the man becomes the legend. There will be other Dark Lords to march into a Jedi Temple for slaughter, but Darth Malgus the New is the original who sets the benchmark for revenge of the Sith.