For two days, Maul sat and watched the female. He studied her every move. Deciphered her delusional ramblings. Memorized her most common characteristics. He knew he wasted time. Knew his master wouldn't approve of this method. Yet, he couldn't shake the feeling that this was what he was supposed to do.

Patience was a double-edged sword for him. During many occasions, his tolerance knew no limit. During many other occasions, his patience fled from him faster than exhaled breath. But each situation called for its own appropriate reaction. Take this one, for example. His patience served him well in regards to understanding the only prisoner he'd taken.

She possessed information, didn't she? She knew the truth behind the Artificer. If he could pry it from her and complete his mission, then the past couple of days weren't for naught. And if his master reprimanded him for the length of time, he could handle any punishment dealt to him. Although, his master should be satiated, so long as he kept him up to date on positive progress.

He must admit, too, she piqued his curiosity. She somewhat impressed him with the way she managed pulling herself together. With the way she forced around her broken knee without a flinch. She was much more composed in this form. Although, she was becoming much harder to read. Even though she proved strong enough to fight whatever altered her psyche, he began wondering if she'd have anything useful to contribute.

By the end of the second day, the female arranged herself in a mediation pose.

His budding doubt of her value continued. Especially since she now sat across from him with her vision transfixed on his form. She never once broke eye contact with him. Her expression didn't betray the slightest hint of emotion. And the Dark Side still couldn't find a signature within her.

Maul allowed the silence for some time. He allowed her to analyze him the way he'd analyzed her. Whatever information she derived from him would be futile. He had a way of defying expectations. Had a way of posing much more of a threat than originally anticipated. Noiselessly rising, he clasped his hands behind his back. "What can you recall?"

"Many things." She inwardly grimaced at the sound of her voice. The accent lined with the subtlest natural rasp. It was her true voice, yes, but she had grown accustomed to the Cathar sound.

He knew she wouldn't succumb to his usual fear tactics. Given what he observed, she wouldn't break under the stress of pain, either. He would have to play civil. For now. Perhaps, if he manipulated his words correctly, he could glean information off her. "Can I help you remember anything specific?"

"Are you an ally or an enemy?"

"Depends on your cooperation."

Zaliki allowed a slow nod. "It sounds like you're an enemy."

"I don't have to be."

Her posture remained straight, and her coral eyes never left him. She definitely recalled the tattooed Zabrak. A species she was, in fact, familiar with. She'd seen her share in the Temple. Even if they weren't so boldly colored. This one was different. This...Jagannath, as the prison guard called him. This Darth Maul, as he called himself. "I know what you are."

"You know nothing of what I am." Fighting a surge of impatience, he crossed his arms. Here was where his tolerance started finding its limits. "Where is the Artificer?"

"I do not know."

Maul searched her. Unable to tell if her blank face was a result of memory failure or willing lack of participation. He filled up the cell's doorway. "Where is the Artificer? I will not ask again."

"How long have I been in here?"

"Two of this planet's solar cycles."

"Then how can I know of anyone's location?"

His anger curdled, but he suppressed it. For now. She wasn't entirely wrong. But the notion didn't stop his fingers from twitching under his arm. "Do you remember the Artificer?"

"I do."

"What were you after?"

She inhaled a long breath. Should she fear what might come out of her mouth if she opened it? No. She feared nothing. "I sought an end to a mission I no longer care about fulfilling." She released the exhale through her nose. There. She admitted it. Admitted out loud that she no longer cared for the Temple guard. No longer cared for the Order. Why should she, after what they did to her?

"Can you contact her?"

"Her? So, you found out the Artificer is the Twi'lek."

"Can you contact her?"

"I was right in seeking you out. You weren't that far behind me, after all. And I was so certain I could beat you in combat. If only my disguised self knew the follies of such arrogance."

He paced. This conversation went nowhere. The anger rose once more.

She followed him with her eyes. He repeated what he did before: his body moved, but his head remained completely stationary, his corrupted gaze fixated on her. "You can't tell what I am, and it aggravates you. Especially since I know what you are. The question is, which one are you?"

"Why should I answer?"

"Ah. You're the apprentice, then. A Sith master would never miss the opportunity for gloating."

His lip curled. "If you know so much about the Sith, that makes you a Jedi."

"I am no Jedi. You'd be surprised how little the common Jedi know of the Sith. They see your dying Order as nothing more than a ghost of the past. The masters on the Council have their fair share of knowledge, of course. But they've always been the ones to harbor secrets."

Maul stopped pacing. She spoke of the inner workings of the Jedi as if she knew them. As if she experienced them. He should break her down. Expose everything she knew. He could do it in front of his master. But his master wouldn't approve. Not until the current mission had been completed. His hands clenched at his sides. "Artificer. Can you contact her?"

Zaliki stared, deadpan. "Why should I answer?"

This was enough. He marched forward, activating an end of his lightsaber and holding the tip of it at her throat. His voice lowered. "You will answer me, or you will die."

Her gaze lowered to the plasma. The glowing crimson bounced across her features, enriched the color of her hair and eyes. The heat touched her face and neck, but she disregarded it. She, too, wielded a lightsaber. They didn't unsettle her. Her eyes lifted. Tone unchanged. "Go ahead."

Jaw clenching, he didn't move.

"See, you won't kill me; I'm the best lead you have. I won't aid you because you're a Sith, and while I may not be a Jedi, I'm not an assistant for the Dark Side. So it seems we're at a stalemate."

He searched her. As much as he hated it, she spoke the truth. Although, one comment stood out about the rest. If she wasn't an assistant for the Dark Side, why did it insist on letting her live? How could she be a key? So far, there had been no keys to this mission, and he was two seconds from causing absolute destruction.

One thing he knew for sure-she wouldn't be intimidated into cooperation. She wasn't even appalled by his visage. He calmed his inherent anger. Returned his weapon to his belt and stood above her. This was still his ship. He was still in control. "Perhaps we can find an arrangement."

Her vision adjusted to view him, but her head did not. "What is your proposal?"

"You give me the Artificer, and I'll find you a medical droid for your knee."

"And I'll still be your prisoner?"

"Yes."

"Of course." With great steadiness, she rose to her feet without issue. Continued staring him down, though he stood slightly taller than her. "Other than having two good legs, which I wouldn't be able to use because I'd be confined to a cell, there's nothing in it for me. Which means there's no reason for me to agree to your deal. You're not a good negotiator."

Visual irritation returned. Her stance was not lost on him. Her feet shoulder-width apart, spine straight, shoulders squared, weight balanced even on her broken knee. She challenged him, and he was severely tempted to accept. But he must be civil. For now. How many times must he remind himself? "What is your proposal?"

"I have the means of contacting the Artificer. You have a ship. As does she. However, I know you have means to resources she doesn't. I also know things about her you don't. One of them being she won't work with you without a strong cause. I'm assuming you won't accept anything other than a successful mission?"

"Correct."

"Of course." Zaliki made no movements. Mentally manipulating the Force, she called an armor piece straight toward the back of his skull.

In an instant, he met the thigh guard with his lightsaber. His head may have turned, but he never let her out of his range of vision.

She ignored the sheared pieces clattering onto the floor. "Your reflexes are as quick as I assumed."

Maul's teeth bared. His grip tightened on his saber. He didn't appreciate being toyed with. Did she have any idea how dangerous he could be if continually provoked? He leaned in a bit. Maybe he should let her find out, if she was so keen on antagonizing him.

Her gaze bore into his. "I don't want the Cube falling into Sith hands, just as much as you don't want the Cube falling into Jedi hands."

He didn't lower the blade. "How do you know I seek the Cube?"

"Call it intuition. I've long had a feeling we were after the same thing. Which begs the question of why are we after the same artifact at the same time? I don't believe in coincidences. Not when the Force is concerned."

His jaw set and reset. Given what he had been experiencing with the Dark Side as of late, he wasn't believing in coincidences, either. "What is your proposal?"

"I contact the Artificer. You provide a medical droid. I will accompany you during every aspect of the retrieval, just as you will accompany me. Once the Cube is located and confirmed, we will properly duel to see who claims it. Then, we will never bother one another again, as one of us won't be alive."

He didn't care for the idea of them working together, but he could let this happen. If she truly worked with him instead of against him, they may be able to make up lost ground. And he would kill her once they found the Cube. Jedi or not, she didn't stand a chance against him. He'd beaten her once before. The lightsaber deactivated.

Her eyes followed his hand as he replaced the weapon on his belt. She searched his permanently marked face. "Do we have an agreement?"

"Yes."

"One last thing. I have a pack on her ship. It's filled with basic supplies, and a few things I think could be beneficial to our cause. Will you allow her to return it to me?"

Maul found her choice of words interesting. She asked his permission for a simple pack? At least she demonstrated compliance. "Very well."

She inclined her head. "I'll make arrangements with the Artificer. You may listen in on the conversation, but hide yourself, please. I'll have to get her to play along." She assumed the guise of the purple-shaded Cathar. Tousled her hair to make it more askew.

Gritting his teeth, he stepped back into the shadows of his cell. Out of the range of any basic comm. He understood the game this female would play, but he would not be commanded on his own ship. He would make that clear if they followed through with their plan.

The Artificer appeared moments after the transmission had been activated. Her hands were on her hips, but concern filled her voice. "Slixe? Where are you? It's been two days. One more, and I would've contacted your father. What's going on?"

Zaliki ran a hand along the shaved side of her head. Easily slipping back into the attitude of the carefully cultivated persona. The false voice an odd comfort. "So, I'm fine. Thanks for asking. I am-"

"Is the Zabrak dead?"

"About that-"

"Slixe…"

"Wayii! (Good grief!) You're as bad as my father. Would you let me finish?"

"Yes. Sorry. Please continue."

"We fought. I got some. He got some. I'm currently his prisoner-"

"Is he monitoring this conversation?"

"You're not letting me finish! And no, no, he's not. Look, I brokered a deal with him. Which was not easy to do, by the way. Part of the deal was letting me talk to you in private. I told him this was the only way it'd work."

One of Maul's brow ridges rose. He didn't know the female would be so adept at lying. It made things more interesting. It also made things more concerning. She could lie to him about anything, and he would never know. It unnerved him that he couldn't read her. Unnerved him more than it should.

The blue image of Lin'orra flickered as she crossed her arms. "How is there any way you trust that he'll keep his end of the bargain?"

Zaliki shifted her weight off her bad leg. "He's after the same thing I'm after-"

"I'm not taking him to it. I'm not giving it to him. He can't have it. I won't allow it."

"For the love of the mythosaur, will you stop interrupting me?" Her voice lowered. "Here's the thing. I think being a Mandalorian is paying off. I don't think he can detect me. Not even with his so-called special Force abilities. I've been able to sneak up on him and surprise him."

The Sith Lord frowned. That last statement was true, and he despised every word of it.

Lin'orra paused. "You saw him use the Force?"

"Uh, it's more like I felt it. He used it on me. Which was not a fun experience. Speaking of that, I'm sending you coordinates for a meet-up." She pressed a few buttons on the wrist comm. "He did a number on my knee, but he's allowing you to get me a medical droid. Think of it as a sign of good faith."

"Slixe." The Twi'lek rested fingertips on her forehead. "I don't like this. If he really is a Sith, and he gets his hands on-"

"He won't. Trust me. But he has access to things that would really benefit my mission. He won't get the Cube. I'm his prisoner for the time being. You know what that means? I can backstab him when the time comes. I got him arrested for spooking me in the alley, didn't I? Come on, Lin. He's not that tough. You'll still get your horn."

Many moments of silence passed. "I'll agree to this. I'll even help you escape. But if I have to put the both of you down to keep the galaxy from being destroyed, I'll do it without a second thought. The Cube isn't a game."

"I understand everything you're saying. Believe me, I do. However, there is one problem. I'm going to be the one killing him. I need his death-" The disguised near human cut herself off. Looked up in a random direction with her ears flickering the same way. "I think I hear him coming."

"When are we meeting?"

"Now."

"Okay. Okay, that's not much time. You're lucky I have a medical droid employed on the Anvil. Slixe, be safe. I don't get paid if you die."

She grinned. "You're worried about me for all the wrong reasons. Oh! Bring my pack with you, too." Cutting out the transmission, the smile faded. Her emotionless expression a startling contrast with the colorful persona.

Maul moved into the open doorway of the cell. Crossed his arms with a very displeased demeanor.

Zaliki didn't look up as she gathered the scattered armor pieces and put them on. "I know there will be no trust between us. I know there's no sense in convincing you to believe my words. But I will let you know that my agreement with you stands foremost."

"You're leading her to my ship?"

"No. The coordinates are for the valley over. Your vessel won't be threatened. If you had a problem with it, you could've stopped me."

"I thought you wanted me to provide the medical droid."

She rose from her kneeling position. Stood in front of him. "You're allowing her to get one, so, yes, you're providing one. It will also make her feel crucial to my survival and therefore, more compliant. She's already emotionally invested into the Slixe character. I guarantee you this is how we get her cooperation."

His eyes slightly narrowed in thought. "You are no Jedi…"

"I believe we've already established that I'm not." She held out her wrists. "Do you have any bindings or restraints? I'm still your prisoner, and we need this to look as official as possible."

He tried probing her with the Dark Side, even though he knew it wouldn't provide him with any information. That didn't mean he couldn't periodically try. There would be a vulnerability in her abilities at some point.

Zaliki offered her wrists again. "We have an appointment to keep, please."

Maul studied her. He did have restraints. In the storage room across the way. He'd have to turn his back to her. Something he wasn't keen on doing. But it would test her promises of working with him. Cracking his jaw, he turned. Instantly expecting an attack from behind.

Nothing.

Taking deliberate time, he moved for the storage room and retrieved what was necessary. All senses on high alert. He faced her again after closing the storage door. She hadn't moved a muscle; she simply stared and waited. His instinctual paranoia subsided only slightly. Maybe there was some truth to her, after all.

Maul stood in silence. With the exception of the wind sucking into the valley and whipping his robes about him. Still, the cowl remained over his head. Blocked most of his face from view. The near human, disguised as the Cathar, remained beside him. An engine sound caught his attention.

A HWK-290 soared into view.

Wasn't that the same one he noticed leaving the lockdown brought on by his prison escape? The one that he thought nothing of? This had been the Artificer's ship the whole time? His eyes fluttered a bit. He was too tired of scolding himself to continue scolding himself.

Zaliki shifted her weight to her good leg, hands bound in front of her. She sensed a faint surge of energy within the Sith before it quickly dispelled. She glanced at him. It wasn't anger this time. It was more of an exhausted disappointment. But that was all she could decipher before the Corellian freighter's ramp lowered.

Lin'orra strode onto the landscape. A medical droid following suit. Her eyebrows and thin lips hinted at her displeasure, but her relaxed shoulders carrying a pack indicated her compliance. "So. This is the Sith Lord that has given us so much trouble. I'm glad we can finally meet."

Maul said nothing.

The GH-7 unit hovered in front of the Cathar. "You are my new patient, correct?"

Zaliki regarded the disproportionate droid. "Correct."

Its soothing voice continued. "Are you able to sit, please?"

She looked around. Found a suitable rock and faced the Zabrak. "I know it's not right next to you, but can I go sit over there for this thing to do its job?" She motioned toward the stone with both arms stiff.

Maul still didn't respond.

"I'll take that as a yes. Come one, bot." She led the medical analysis unit over to the designated place. Eased her right leg in front of her and managed pulling up her pant leg, having kept what remained of the leg armor on her left limb.

The GH-7 went to work. Its trio of arms moving swifty. A fourth appeared and drew a blood sample. "I will analyze this to ensure you don't have any infections."

Her feline ears flattened. "It's just a shattered knee. I don't know why that would be infected."

"It's simply standard protocol. A precautionary measure, nothing more."

Lin'orra uneasily rocked back and forth as she eyed the cloaked figure. Giving a slight nod, she stood beside the one she knew as Slixe. Inspected the swollen joint. "Aren't you in pain?"

The droid's oversized head bobbed. "Yes. How long have you suffered with this?"

Zaliki's violet eyes danced between the Twi'lek and the droid. "Only a couple of days."

"Why did you not seek medical attention immediately?"

She didn't look at the Zabrak. "Oh, you know. Life happens." Her canines emerged at the droid. "What are you sticking in me now?"

The GH-7 never strayed from its programmed calmness. "A strong analgesic. You soon won't feel a thing. Are you squeamish?"

"I'm Mandalorian. We are not squeamish. Why do you ask?"

"I will have to open your knee and manually set your bones, provided that the pieces aren't too small. Once I get them arranged, I'll fuse them together, layer them with bacta, close you up, and send you on your way. I have deduced from our encounter that you would prefer remaining awake during the procedure."

Zaliki hesitated. How could it assess her projected personality in less than five minutes? Yes, these droids were built with the comfort of their patients in mind, but they couldn't program out all of their unsettling factors, could they? She waved a hand. "Whatever you need to do. Just get on with it." She turned to the Twi'lek. "What's the next step in retrieving the artifact?"

Maul stepped closer to the others.

Lin'orra's attention found him. "Before you can access the Cube, you have to access the vault that's been housing it for millennia. To get into the vault, you'll need three keys that are rumored to have been lost to time. Adrasco spent most of his life deciphering the locations of the keys. I assume he's no longer with us?"

His arms crossed. "No."

"Right."

Zaliki rested her torso's weight on her elbows. Glancing at the medical droid continuing its work. "Nobody told me about keys. Are you sure there are keys? Are you going to tell us where they are?"

The Artificer's gaze shot toward the other female. "You're not a Mandalorian, are you?"

Her brows furrowed. "Why would you ask me that?"

"Because one of the keys is on Mandalore."

"And? You think every Mandalorian knows every secret of our planet? I didn't even know the Cube existed until they sent me on this forsaken quest. We're in the middle of wars. I don't even know who's technically ruling our planet right now."

Lin'orra frowned.

"If you don't believe me, contact my father. Right now, I'm the lowest of the low. You think I get told everything?"

Maul urged the conversation forward. "Where are the other two keys?"

The Twi'lek glared at him. "Why should I tell you?"

Unamused, he called the GH-7 toward him with the Force. Placed a hand on its head. "You will tell me, or I'll let her die."

The droid pulled against the invisible power holding it at bay. "Please. My patient is in the middle of surgery. Allow me to continue."

She watched him. Chest starting to rise and fall rapidly. Her eyes fluttered. "Fine. The hardest one to find is buried in the Rakatan ruins on Dantooine. The ruins are said to have been obliterated a long time ago, but Adrasco firmly believed a key resides there. The other was given as a gift to Senator Palpatine back when he first joined the Senate."

Maul involuntarily released the droid, who promptly returned to its charge. One of the keys resided with his master? He remained still. His master never mentioned keys were needed to retrieve the artifact. Nor did he mention he possessed one of said keys. What was the ultimate game here?

Lin'orra stared at him. "Do you not like one of the places I mentioned?"

He ignored her. Spoke to the droid. "How much longer?"

The GH-7 offered a placating metal hand. "Only a few more minutes. This wasn't as disastrous as my original analysis led me to believe. There are many pieces, yes, but it was a clean break."

Zaliki nodded toward the male. "I can't deny it. He's good."

The Twi'lek's lips thinned. "That doesn't mean I like this situation any better." She straightened, tossing her lekku over her shoulder. "Slixe comes with me, by the way."

Maul stared her down. "No. She's my prisoner. My bargaining chip."

Her fists clenched at her sides, orange eyes flashing. "She's not an object for you to do what you want with."

"No. She's a being you care about. One that will ensure my success, seeing as you don't want her to die."

Zaliki's eyebrows rose. He was growing in his negotiation skills. Good. He needed to be a fast learner. She placed a hand on the Artificer's arm. "I'll be fine. Let me go with him. It'll make things easier. Besides, you really think I can't handle him?"

Lin'orra narrowed her eyes. Her gaze still drilling the Zabrak. "What's to stop me from taking her and fleeing?"

The Sith Lord lowered his hood. Allowed her to see him in all of his horrifying glory. "You cannot flee. There is nowhere in the galaxy where I cannot find you. I've never lost a quarry."

Zaliki glanced at the other female. "I'd believe him, if I were you."

The Artificer sighed. "I don't like this one bit, but I'll go along with it."

The GH-7 released what could be equated as a satisfied sigh. "You have been patched and are ready to leave. I suggest you stay off it until it heals. The analgesic will wear off before the bacta has time to do its job. Expect some pain, but the bacta will finish healing you soon enough."

The Cathar pushed herself up. Settled her weight onto her good leg.

Lin'orra handed over the pack. "Here. Everything is in it."

Her ears perked up at the sleek case poking through the top flap. "Thanks. Well, since everything is settled, let's get going." She attempted walking, but she couldn't feel her right leg and stumbled.

Maul caught her before Lin'orra could move. He leered at the Twi'lek until she withdrew and faced away. "She comes with me."

She offered a toothy grin. "Don't worry about it, Lin. You'll still get your money. If he kills me, he'll be the one paying you."

Lin'orra's brows knitted. She went to say something but ushered the droid back onto her ship. When she turned around, her business image returned. "Which location will you search first? I can't guarantee it, but I can try meeting you there."

He led his captive back toward the valley housing the Infiltrator. "Dantooine. We'll start with the outermost location and work our way in."

Zaliki gave a thumbs up in the Twi'lek's direction. Her face deadpanning when she didn't have to face the other female anymore. The questioning about being a Mandalorian didn't phase her. The response was as simple as the one she gave. She didn't fear the Twi'lek learning of her true identity. Even if she did, it wouldn't matter in the long run.

Her eyes found the hand on her arm. His grip on her was strong, but he wasn't hurting her. And he was genuinely supporting her as they walked. So, he did have some control then? Good. She searched the male beside her. Able to see the storm brewing behind his red and yellow eyes. Something had triggered within him, but she couldn't pinpoint his exact emotion.

Maul took the shape shifting female back to his cloaked ship. Constantly aware of the Artificer's presence in the previous valley. Aware of the inquisitive gaze beholding him now. He studied the horizon after they boarded. Closed the ramp with narrowed eyes. He would save the confrontation of his master for last. Opening the holding cell, he shoved his prisoner inside.

She stumbled a bit. Managed landing on her rear. Her neck rolled, and the Cathar disguise disappeared. Eyes never leaving the other's intense gaze, her natural voice returned. "You can either remove these bonds, or I will."

He didn't respond.

The cell door hissed closed and locked.