Chapter 27 the throne

I spent my 3 days hiding from everyone. I couldn't cope with the nagging so I avoided interaction and kept my own counsel. I sat by myself in blissful silence in a small closet. I knew Maul would catch on if I told anyone about my plans so I didn't. Rather, I gave out individual orders to small groups of troopers or Mandalorians. To them it may seem menial or unfinished but my troopers' loyalty and discipline made sure the my orders were carried out to the letter. It was agonizingly slow process but it was going to be worth it. I closed my eyes, lost in thought.

"Um," a quiet voice interrupted me.

"Yes?" I snapped.

"Sorry, let me uh put this here." A boy scuttled in quickly and stored a bucket and a mop in a corner.

I narrowed my tired blue eyes at him. "Who are you?"

"Uhh Arthur, milady." The young boy shifted his weight from one foot to another. "Admiral," I corrected out of habit.

"Sorry Admiral," he tried to leave but I stopped him. "But who are you in the palace?"

"Oh! I'm just a janitor," he blushed at my scrutiny.

"A janitor? How well do you know the palace?" the gears were turning in my mind.

"Like the back of my hand!" The boy said proudly.

"How about the secret passages?" I asked silkily.

Now he looked shifty. "I know about them, Duke Corkey showed me around while I was here." I smiled to myself. Good memories.

"I need to know if you know them well. The fate of Mandalore depends on it." His eyes shone and he nodded vigorously.

"Yes. Yes I do!"

"Show me," I commanded.

Arthur led me through a few narrow passages that I rejected for one reason or another. Not this one, I narrowly avoided smashing my face into a low hanging beam. This one was far too narrow even for me. I can't imagine the broad shoulders of the troopers trying to squeeze through this passage.

"Not this one," I said a little out of breath. It was just too narrow and seemed to stretch on forever. "What's all this for, Admiral?" Arthur asked. "Can't tell, not yet," I huffed climbing out of the dumbwaiter. "Arthur," I addressed the child. "I need a pass that is large enough for grown men to go through that leads into the throne room. There has to be one that exists, how else do the soldiers reach the Duke or Duchess if they are in danger?" I tried not to snap at him but frustration was boiling in my blood.

Arthur thought hard before brightening. "I have the right thing!" he wound around the kitchen looking for something before going to the corner of the pantry and pulling up a trapdoor. I coughed at the dust that flew up but waved at Arthur to lead the way. It was dark but the path was straight and smooth. Quickly, we reached the end of the path. There was a slit in the door that allowed me to see directly into the throne room. Perfect.

Xxxx

It was time, I dressed in loose training clothing and sat down to eat breakfast. I felt Ahsoka and Ben staring at me as I ate my breakfast.

"Yes?" I sipped my coffee.

"You're acting so nonchalant." Ben said.

"Why don't you tell us your plan, Artemis?" Ahsoka said quietly.

I shook my head adamantly. "It ruins the surprise," I smiled and she shook her head disapprovingly.

"Time to go," I grabbed my saber. Ben had modified it during the past 3 days and it now fit perfectly in my grip. The hilt was slimmer and the guard was shaped more like a rapier. It was like an extension of me, my ambition. Taking a breath, I entered the throne room confidently.

Ben and Ahsoka trailed in after my wake. °I thought I said no help," Maul growled, stepping down from the throne. "They're not here to help, just to observe," I stared at him, trying to convey the significance of witnesses. He growled then tossed them something.

"Put the inhibitor cuffs on."

Ben and Ahsoka balked at the command but I glared at them to comply. Reluctantly, they did so.

"Now onto it?" I asked and ignited my blade, gracefully settling into a fencing position. "En guarde," I smirked and he flew at me.

The red alien's strength was stupendous and my arm buckled at the strength of his strike. I shifted my back foot half a step for better leverage and surged forwards. His yellow eyes widened in surprise as I slid my blade down his forcing his momentum to guide his blade uselessly over my right shoulder. Pivoting my hips, I hooked one foot behind his artificial knee and pulled. He fell down like a tree and got back up too fast. He was fast but I was faster. I darted forward in a flurry of movements, trying to force him into a wall. He flipped off the wall, trapping me in turn.

He struck and I blocked, our breath coming harshly. I tried to maneuver my legs but he slammed his hips into mine, holding me in place. As a fencer, I usually fight single-handed, but now I have both hands on the hilt, and even so he is slowly, inexorably pushing my blade inward, bearing down on me like a falling sky. I can read nothing in his eyes, dark and becoming darker, but a blank intensity that makes my breath emerge with a sound halfway between a gasp and a sob. My entire body shakes with the effort of holding him back. "Shame, we could've been lovers," I smile and he paused in utter surprise. I leaned forwards and our lips met in a clash as violent as our blades. He jerked back in surprise and I slammed my saber forwards then, dodging just in time as he staggers forward, unbalanced. He seems about to crash into the ornate wall. But with a hard slam of his free hand against the masonry, he vaults himself into a sideways somersault. He was a solid wall of muscle and athleticism. Despite my trepidation my blood sang with adrenaline, energy thrilling in my veins, suffusing every pore with energy. "This was the battle I've been looking for," I said. Something that I wanted to savor. I almost didn't want this to end. Almost. I wanted Mandalore more.

Maul fought with silent, swift ferocity that showed no forgiveness, and moved with speed and grace nearly inhuman in nature. Despite our deadly dance, he garnered my admiration

"Lord Maul, work with me!" I offered, throwing out former deal. He wouldn't need to rule in the shadows if he ruled at my side, where I could keep an eye on him. "Together we will be a force throughout the galaxy." He looked around in desperation, "You don't understand. You need to broaden your horizons! You need to join me to kill the Sith Lord first, not control the galaxy."

"The Sith are done! They don't exist anymore, they're extinct!" I said, frustrated with his fixation.

"I work alone," he huffed, his eyes tracking me. Our eyes meet again. Ultramarine blue vs feral yellow. He does not look away, and neither do I. I inhale slowly. His indrawn breath too is carefully even. Silence spreads, broken only by the shifting gravel under our feet. I shifted my weight and with a flourish, I threw the lightsaber into the air. It turned in a lazy circle and I caught it with my left hand. Maul blinked in amusement as I lunged forwards. I surged towards him like an inexorable wave and attacked with true ferocity, holding nothing back. Mails eyes widened. I used his temporary distraction to my advantaged and moved my arm and body in a tremendous compound. Maul backpedaled but quickly recovered and engaged and locked us together in a Corps-a-corps our bodies pushing against each other, 2 forces of nature engaged. I twisted out of our hold but Maul landed a burning blow across my shoulder and bicep. I ignored the pain. One thing I learned in my lengthy career in violence was that you never allow for distractions. Nothing can distract you and set the mood for the fight. You get cut? Ignore it. You can bandage it after, but only if you win and live. You feel a bone break and hear it snap? Shift your weight, redouble your concentration, and know that a good bottle of liquor or a pinch of spice will numb nearly any kind of pain.

I never let up, my father's warning to never allow the opponent to seize the offensive ringing through my mind. There was no room for quips or barbs. Silently, I unleased my violence in a burst of brutality. I felt everything. Maul's surprise and grudging admiration, the indrawn breaths of Ben and Ahsoka as they beheld my true talent, the nervous energy of my waiting troopers and Mandalorian guards.

The light saber acquired sentience in my hand, dancing, burning, and blinding my opponent. Maul narrowed his eyes and I felt the pressure change that heralded the advent of the Force being used in my ears. I switched hands again and reached my left hand in my blouse and activated my anti-Force device. "Treachery," he snapped. I grinned, savagely. "Of course, I don't share power, the throne will be mine." I was moving on pure adrenaline, sweet, terrible, and potent. I pressed the sonic device twice, thrice and Maul froze before jerking in a seizure. I took my opportunity and drove my weapon into his chest before his lightsaber hit the floor from his slackened grip. Maul looked down in shock. He sank down to his knees and I held out my arms to ease him down.

Troopers and Mandalorians streamed in to engage his Death Watch and violence blossomed like a flower made of blood and fire all around us but between us, the galaxy was still. Time was suspended as I held the dying man.

Maul gave me a tired smile. "You are truly magnificent. You are the only one in a long time who has bested me. Perhaps you are the one who would bring the galaxy to its knees. Let me warn you, look in the shadows, beware of Darth Sidious ," he rasped. In a sudden flurry of motion, he shoved me back and backflipped away. He called his lightsaber to him and I rolled out of its path. I backpedaled and Maul grinned. "I look forward to your reign," with that, He jumped out the window. "Wait!" I screamed, shocked that he was so alive after a fatal wound and ran to the broken window but when I looked out, he was gone.

Xxxxxxx

Mandalore was under control. My troopers and I stabilized the infrastructure the best that we could. Commander Cody and Captain Durge had found Corkey-exhausted and dehydrated-but alive. I reinstated him as the Duke of Mandalore and prepared to leave. I've lingered here long enough.

Surrounded by dignitaries and officials, my assistants finished pulled up the lengthy document for terms of Neutrality and treaty between Mandalore and myself. They were just formalities. The Mandaloriams knew that if they dared to betray me, I would raze the planet to ashes. I cloaked my violence with as much decorum as possible. It helped people to underestimate me. I smiled mildly at Bo Katan and she gave me a bitter smile. It didn't escape her that terms were between Mandalore and me, not the First Order. It wasn't exactly the outcome she wanted but it was the best she could get.

On the last morning, I stood at the entrance of my dreadnought accepting well wishes and good byes.

"You can stay with me," Corkey offered. I hesitated, stable life tempting me again.

I would have him forever, the life and love of a good man but there would be no glory: nothing to work for, no one to rule, no cause for which to fight. Loving him might be the end of my freedom before it had even truly begun. "Corkey I want more than you can offer," I said coldly, tired that he would keep tempting me. "You'll stand in my way."

"How?" He was about to cry.

I almost stamped a foot in frustration. "You expect me to love you completely but I can't. I want more and I know you can't accept that. You want me by your side forever but I can't. Your love suffocates me, an anchor always pulling me down!" I jerked my hands out of his grip.

"I'll be gone, always traveling, our family in constant danger, and you…." I sighed.

He glanced up. I began again. "You're a good guy, too good. I need someone who will bring the galaxy to its knees for me."

"And you think he will do that?" Corkey points at Ben standing

I stared at him in disbelief, how could this man ignore what I've done. I brought his world to its knees, in an afternoon of calculated fury.

"Of course," Ben glared moving forward. I shook my head at the posturing.

"Goodbye, Corkey." I moved onto the ship without a backwards glance.