I'm at a bit of a loss for words on how long it took to complete this chapter - over 6 months. I imagine it was because of pouring so much creativity into not just this, but another big creative project I was working on, that just kinda ran out for a while. But GOOD NEWS: it seems to finally be back, so I think I should be starting to crank out chapters again.
Point is, though, I'm really sorry for making you all wait this long. I want you to know I really do still care about this story, I just suppose I lost the energy for it for a bit. Here's to it waiting until I'm done this time!
I suppose I have a few things to leave my reactions on, since I've been doing that til this point. Guess I'll just bullet them.
-The Mandalorian Season 2 was too fan-servicey and lacked effective villains imo, but was an overall fun experience that leaves me hyped for Season 3
-totally unrelated, but Zack Snyder's Justice League was one of the greatest superhero movies I've ever seen
-The Bad Batch is severely disappointing and completely lacks any form of tangible plot imho. Sorry, just don't understand the appeal lol. They will probably not make an appearance in this story
Well, with that out of the way, please enjoy :-)
Revan would have liked to be heading to his shuttle knowing Mandalore would have a swift recovery, that this would be the end of their troubles. Quite the opposite was the case, of course.
Bo-Katan fancied herself a leader. She could become one, but during her entire career, she had been nothing more than a chief lieutenant, the one who enforced her master's command, one who could be trusted to handle certain matters in his stead. As such, she could be a reliable right hand to a true leader of Mandalore, but she could never rule it herself, and so her reign would not succeed.
Revan couldn't help but pity his old enemy. Perhaps he would try to find them some sort of aid, probably in the form of a true leader. The donor for the Clone Army - Jango Fett - apparently had a son, so perhaps research into that subject would be a start.
However, he still had far more pressing matters to attend to, especially now that Maul was under Republic custody. He now had an edge over Sidious, but now he needed to make sure that edge did not fall back into Sidious's hands - a matter that needed to be discussed with the Council.
Combine that with the needed interrogation of Maul and whatever that would bring, the planned Hypori and/or Foerost campaign he was planning as well as the title of Supreme Commander of the GAR Revan was aiming for, and the matters pertaining to Anakin Skywalker and Ahsoka Tano, and Revan found himself a very busy man.
He could practically hear Meetra Surik sighing at his latest scheme. Oh, how he wished she was here, regardless of their differences, even if only for them to make up to each other and restore the friendship that Malachor shattered so long ago.
There were friends of hers on the surface of that now-dead world. People she was close to. People Revan was close to. He even suspected Meetra had a greater relationship with one of them, but he dared not ask.
After she did the deed and destroyed the planet, along with every ship in orbit, Republic and Mandalorian alike, she and Revan fought over the matter.
Younger then, and in less control of his emotions, Revan accused her of only being angry because it was now personal. She was furious. Malak had to separate the two before things got ugly. They did not see her since.
After the Jedi Civil War had ended, Revan attempted to find her to no avail. His memories had not yet returned, but he was a great deal wiser than he was then, in a way. He had greater control over himself, didn't let anger get to him as easily. He had glimpses of her from time to time, but he never knew of their falling out until well after they had met again on Dromund Kaas.
She was wiser, too. She in no way fully let go of her resentment towards him, but it slowly slipped away as she came to realize that he was not the same as she had left him. Nevertheless, while they no longer considered each other enemies, they were still nowhere close to friends, let alone the brother and sister they practically were over ten years prior. That was what Revan wished to mend, but now the chance for that was gone. He could only hope what he did four thousand years ago would at least leave peace with her. She deserved no less after all she had been through.
Revan forced himself back into focus as a single tear slid down his face behind the mask. Now was no time to have regrets. There was too much to be done.
Look ahead, he said to himself. You cannot change what's behind you.
He looked ahead to the transport shuttle, crossing his arms as his cape fluttered in the breeze. 5 Standard Clone Troopers led by an ARC Trooper escorted a Mandalorian sarcophagus containing their prize prisoner, the Dathomiran Sith Lord that had given the Republic so much trouble as of late. The galaxy has most certainly changed if a half-Sith like Maul could be such a grave threat - though again, perhaps he was underestimating the fellow. That was something he could not afford to do.
His eyes moved on the Mandalorian whose eyes were locked on him for a good ten minutes. Sedyn Merrick didn't really know whom he was suspicious of - hence the suspicion, Revan supposed. Nevertheless, Merrick was going to find himself in trouble soon if he didn't drop it.
Revan should have realized that the Mandalorians would at least get suspicious of him. He should have known he would become one of the most influential figures in Mandalorian history after the beating he gave them.
This oversight was going to cost him if he planned to keep the truth hidden for a long time. He may have to reveal it sooner than ideal so it can be done on his own terms. He mustn't allow himself to make such errors in the future.
"We should be ready to leave soon, sir," said a familiar monotone voice from behind. Revan wouldn't have imagined that he could distinguish between cloned voices, but he did nonetheless know it was Captain Fordo standing behind him without even looking.
"Maul is nearly on board, and so should the rest of our cargo," he continued.
"Very good," Revan acknowledged.
"Any further orders, sir?" Fordo stood at attention with both hands clasped behind his back.
"No," Revan replied simply. "You and your men have permission to take some time off. Rest up, we will be very busy very soon."
Fordo saluted and was on his way, leaving Revan to gaze on until the time came to depart.
Maul had his eyes closed, his mind deep in meditation.
His attempt at escape had failed, but he could easily explain it away, and Revan seemed to have too much use for him to end his life. Nevertheless, his next attempt needed to be done more carefully. For now, however, it seemed Maul would have to go along with Revan's foolish scheme.
And here Revan came. Maul could feel his presence, hear the thoughts in his mind that came out as spoken words, knowing he commanded the security for Maul's cell to be disabled while he spoke with him. Maul couldn't help but grin under his voice nullifier.
His breathing remained steady as the former Sith Lord entered the room, even his mask and robes emanating power as he slowly walked into the room with his hands behind his back before one of them motioned the door to close.
Revan folded his arms and simply looked at Maul for a moment, tilting his head at the restrained crime lord. With a simple stare from beneath a mask, Revan reminded Maul of his place in the room before removing his hand to press a few buttons on the side of the Mandalorian Jedi imprisonment device Maul was caged in.
The front cover opened, then the mouthpiece, too, disengaged, leaving Maul's body still restrained, but his vision and voice free.
Revan clasped his arms behind his back once more, walking slowly away, and with his back turned, spoke. "I'm going to be nice and assume your escape attempt was done only to help sell your capture," he said, his voice low and deep, but still with great authority.
"Of course," Maul snarled, not even hiding the lie. Revan didn't care.
Revan shook his head and began walking side to side in front of Maul. "You still don't believe I can defeat him."
Maul didn't need to answer; only describe. "At best, you may have set Sidious's plan back by mere weeks," he said. "Do you truly believe he will not deal with you in a similarly short time?"
"I'm cowering in fear," Revan replied sarcastically but without changing tone, then walked closer, right to Maul's face. "If you had spent more time studying your history instead of your laser-sword, you'd know quite well I am more than capable of winning this."
Maul only replied with a spiteful look.
Revan shook his head. "Let's get back on topic, then," he said, folding his arms and leaning up against the wall. "Who is Sidious?"
Maul laughed mockingly. "If you do not know already, then you have already lost."
"If you had any sense of wisdom, you would know to not take my words at face-value, little Sith," Revan replied sternly, leaving the wall and moving closer. He stared silently for a moment. "Give me a straight answer."
The command was so cold Maul couldn't help but shiver. Nevertheless, he only stared in spiteful disbelief.
Revan tilted his head, now knowing the game he was playing. "It's Palpatine, isn't it?"
"And how did you come across that assumption?" Maul masked his curiosity with malice.
"I come from an age of great strength in both the Jedi and the Sith, and I stood at the pinnacle of both orders," Revan quickly replied, almost disappointed in Maul's lack of knowledge of him. "Your former master was nowhere near prepared to hide from my sight. By the time he was, it was too late."
Maul stared, admittedly surprised. "Perhaps you are not... entirely hopeless."
Revan backed away. "And how strong are Sidious' ties? How much control over the galaxy does he truly hold?" he asked.
"What makes you think my master would have shared everything with me?" Maul replied, almost condescendingly. "His plan was in too early stages and I was not deep enough into his apprenticeship. He told me nothing that was not essential to whatever task was in my hand."
Revan shook his head. "I see," he said. "On another note, I trust my command to the crime lords will be followed?"
MY command?
Who does this fool think he is?
"Reluctantly and for the time being," replied Maul.
This fool's death will be slow and painful.
"Good. Keep me updated," Revan said. "The information you provide will be of utmost use to me."
Me? As in himself only? Maul couldn't help but tilt his head.
"You? What of the other Jedi?" he asked.
"The other Jedi are... troublesome," Revan quickly replied. "As you yourself said, if they don't already know, they have already lost."
He's taking on Sidious on his own? This...
This could be useful. Maul could use it against him. This was leverage.
"The Senate is losing their power day by day," Maul stated. "How do you plan to defeat him through them?"
"The Senate will not be the only battlefield of the true war happening here," Revan answered. "I won't tell you of my other plans, of course, but I can win public praise as an undebatable villain; I can win it here."
So much of this, 'I can' from him. He has no idea who he's up against, does he? No matter. Perhaps Revan can at least delay Sidious, giving him time to do something real.
"I will arrange for you to be transported to a private facility shortly," Revan said, preparing to leave. "In the meantime, you will remain with the Jedi for a short time. Tell them nothing; their interference will cause more harm than good."
With the flick of his hand, Maul's muffle fastened to his face again and the cover of the Mandalorian contraption imprisoning him closed around him.
Progress was, at last, being made. Obi-Wan could feel it.
With Maul captured, Sidious's fall was imminent, and so was the end of this war. Obi-Wan's only worry was that the Dark Lord was more prepared than they could have hoped.
The greatly awaited shuttle containing Anakin, Ahsoka, Revan, and Maul was now arriving in the Temple hangar bay he and Master Windu were waiting in.
The front hatch of the standard Republic military shuttle opened, and the three Jedi, Commander Rex, and Captain Fordo... and no Maul.
Wasn't Maul captured? Why isn't he here?
Master Windu spoke up first.
"Where's Maul?" he said, approaching Revan.
"We have things to discuss in private," Revan answered quietly. "Maul is one of them."
"But has Maul been captured?" Windu persisted, lowering his voice.
"You have nothing to worry about," Revan replied, placing a hand on the Master's shoulder. "After our private discussion, I'd like to call a Council meeting. From here on out, I'm going to have a lot of work to do, and I will be requiring your approval and/or assistance."
The two Masters shared a look with each other.
"Very well, Master Zaykanian," Obi-Wan conceded on their behalf.
Revan nodded in thanks before turning to the others behind him. "You guys take off, we have a private matter to discuss."
Anakin seemed to object, but stayed silent and left with the others.
Revan looked back at them. "Where can we speak away from any recording devices?"
The two Jedi led him to a large hallway - where Obi-Wan gave Anakin his assignment earlier.
When they arrived at their destination next to a large window, Revan didn't hesitate to speak.
"Sidious cannot be allowed to get to Maul. Can we agree on this?" he said.
"Wholeheartedly," Mace replied, "but I'm guessing you have something in mind."
"Yes, I've been considering options during our trip," he answered. "I believe our best bet is faking either his death or escape, then transfer him to the most discreet location possible."
"We did plan to discuss that with the Council," Obi-Wan said, "but we do agree. If Sidious finds Maul, every benefit of his capture will be undone."
"The Jedi still have certain strongholds that even the Chancellor should not know about," Master Windu stated. "We could send him to one of them, but we need to find a way to transfer him without anyone knowing."
"Once again, faking his death or escape should do it," replied Revan, putting a hand to his chin.
"Easier said than done," said Obi-Wan, rubbing his beard.
"I'll handle that," Revan stated. "All I need is a small ship, the location of the facility, and no one can have knowledge of my departure."
"What will you do?" Windu asked.
Revan chuckled. "You won't like it. Just let me take care of it."
Obi-Wan hardly had to guess what precisely that meant. Something along the lines of kill hundreds of their own for the sake of the mission, most likely.
"And our agreement?" said Obi-Wan, irritated.
"If you have a better idea, please share."
"Well, you could go alone, couldn't you?" Obi-Wan offered rather obviously. "It's not a stretch to say Maul was too much of a security risk to send escort troopers."
"That wouldn't be convincing enough, I'm afraid," Revan replied with arms crossed.
"Not necessarily," Obi-Wan replied. "You could use the guise that you considered anyone else to be a security issue."
Revan sighed and shook his head. "Possible, but risky."
"It's a risk we can afford to take," Said Master Windu sternly. "The Republic's forces are spread too thin to sacrifice men like this."
"Firstly, that's actually exactly one of the matters I intend to discuss. Secondly, I understand that, but this matter is too vital to take risks of any kind," Revan argued with the same stern. But momentarily, he snapped his fingers. He had an idea.
"What am I thinking? This is the future!" he said. He turned to Kenobi. "Is there some way we can use droids to mimic the appearance and behavior of clone troopers?"
Obi-Wan smiled. "There are one or two methods, yes. All the benefits of your plan with none of the sacrifice."
"Iron sharpens iron," said Master Windu. "This is why any enmity between any of us cannot persist."
"Wise words, Master Windu," Revan replied. "A full investigation would reveal this fact, but then, if a full investigation became warranted, the plan is already screwed, so to speak." Revan thought in silence for a moment. "Arrangements must be made as quickly as possible. The longer Maul is on Coruscant, the closer Sidious becomes to discovering him. I recommend we begin immediately."
"I will help you make the necessary arrangements," said Kenobi. Revan nodded in thanks.
"And one final matter," Master Windu said. Revan and Kenobi looked in unison.
"Have you made any attempt to interrogate Maul yet?" asked the senior Jedi.
Revan paused with a sigh, crossing his arms. "I did, yes, but he claimed to know nothing." With a steadying hand, he added, "Don't worry, I didn't torture him or anything like that. Wouldn't have worked anyway."
"He told you nothing?" said Windu.
"A mere Sith assassin is still a Sith - at least partially," Revan answered. "I imagine his training doesn't allow him to surrender information so easily."
Windu shot him a suspicious glare, but neither he nor Kenobi could sense anything about him. It wasn't beyond him to lie, unfortunately, but they chose not to bring it up. More subtle methods would be required.
Being optimistic, Obi-Wan hoped Revan had good reason for hiding the truth. It would be no surprise for Sidious' true identity to shock the Council to its core, if not worse.
Revan's mask coupled with his ability to hide his emotions made it difficult to discern what he was thinking, but Obi-Wan was willing to bet he knew his lie wasn't well hidden enough from them.
Revan broke their momentary silence. "With that out of the way," he began, "I'd like to request that you summon the Council for a meeting, as I mentioned earlier. I intend to disclose and discuss the next phase of my plan then." He had a brief chuckle. "I already have holoslides and everything prepared."
Kenobi couldn't help but also chuckle. Holoslides could only mean one thing: a military operation, most likely that crazy Hypori-Foerost campaign of his. Revan was a busy man - and good at dominating the attention of others, it seemed. Obi-Wan needed to get back on track.
"Much of the Council is off fighting, but I will see what I can do," replied Master Windu. And with a nod, the three of them split and went their own ways.
Days later, and Coruscant's orbit was still streaked in the debris of one of the largest battles of the Clone War. Droids and sentient workers alike labored tirelessly in their endeavor to remove the debris - only for it to be replaced with other ships, of course.
A hired freighter weaved through passing starships, traffic forcefully reduced by debris and by legal enforcement. The transport was hired for its passenger, but its secondary cargo of various reconstruction supplies gave it easy clearance to the planet's surface.
The transport broke the atmosphere and began flying towards its designated docking bay a few levels below the surface, where much of the effort was being directed from. A surprising amount of combat - and thus, damage - was done throughout various tunnels and alleyways just beneath the skyscrapers.
'We've nearly reached our destination,' said the Rodian pilot in an alien tongue. 'Will I be picking you back up later?'
An armored figure immersed in shadows responded a simple 'no', to which the Rodian nodded as he readied the landing sequence he had primed oh so many times.
The ship came to a hangar bay just large enough for it to get comfortable in. The cargo bay doors opened, and droids began carrying away crates and cargo as sentient workers did their inspections. But the figure did not yet emerge from the ship, instead waiting in the small crew quarters.
At last, the unloading came to a close, and the Rodian knocked on the quarter's doors to inform the occupant that the time had come for him to leave. The pilot turned his back to grab something, but the passenger wasted no time in giving him the required remainder of the payment for the safe journey.
Unphased, the pilot thanked the passenger for his business as he left with a bag slung over his shoulder.
Once he made his way onto the streets of surface-level Coruscant, it didn't take long for his armored attire to draw the looks of all around him, despite the poncho he used to cover it. Used to the unwanted attention, he trudged on until he reached his destination: a hotel in view of the Jedi Temple.
For location reasons, the hotel was, of course, luxury, and thus expensive, but the former wasn't the point and the latter was irrelevant: all that mattered was the proximity, and costs were already dealt with.
The stranger received just as many looks inside as he did outside, but the rich guest's attention was quickly diverted by whatever silly entertainment they were seemingly glued to. He made his way to the reception desk and placed down a card. The Twi'lek receptionist examined the card and left for a moment with it. When she returned, she did so with a keycard and his room number. Thanking her with a nod, he went on his way.
A few hallways and an elevator later, he arrived at his room and entered. It was the only relatively simple one with a decent altitude, but it suited him better than the ones most often advertised. He was a simple man of simple pleasures, after all.
He took off his poncho and removed a small device from it before lightly tossing both onto his bed. He set the device down on a small table surrounded by a few chairs. He adjusted his helmet and pressed a button on the device, awaiting a response.
A small, blue hologram emerged from the device, a holocommunicator.
"Lady Bo-Katan," he greeted,
"Are you in position, Merrick?" she asked.
"I am," Sedyn Merrick replied. "I will use what resources I have at my disposal to secure a meeting with him from here."
"You have yet to elaborate on what exactly those methods are," she retorted.
"Irrelevant and a long conversation," Merrick returned.
Bo-Katan stared for a moment. "So long as we learn what we need," she said. "Elijah Zaykanian is a mystery that desperately needs solving, and Mandalore will be the one to solve it."
"And I will make sure of it," Sedyn nodded. "I will update you routinely until something major comes up. Until then, secure our vengeance."
Bo-Katan nodded. "For Mandalore," she said as her hologram disappeared,
Sedyn nodded in return. "For Mandalore."
Kept thinking about Desaad and Steppenwolf speaking while I wrote that last part for some reason (God, I loved that movie). Anyway, since my creative focus seems to be returning, I hope to return to a more frequent upload schedule this time around.
I also wanna thank all of you for sticking around. Even after all this time, this story has been getting all sorts of love and hope for the next upload, and I'm indescribably grateful for that. This story has gotten so much more love than I could ever have dreamed of, and I'm not even halfway through it yet. Thank you for letting me present this idea of mine, and loving it beyond that. I'm excited to keep giving it to you, piece by piece :-)
Until next time, and may the Force be with you.