As he walked through the burning landscape of the now dying world, Darth Sidious had to reluctantly admire the wisdom of his fallen foe.

While he did not believe the ancient Jedi had perfected the art of concealing one's presence in the Force, at least to the same degree that had kept him hidden until he decided to reveal his true identity at the end of the Clone Wars, the Sith Lord acknowledged that even his own skills would have been unable to detect even the most untraied youngling thanks to the conflicting nature of the planet itself.

With the prevalent primitive life that inhabited this disgusting backwater, combined with the previously restrained Dark Side energies, Yoda had found the perfect sanctuary to hide from his wrath. At least, it would have been perfect if it wasn't for the fact that he had an incredibly loyal, if somewhat naïve informant telling him the location of the last Grand Master of the Jedi Order.

He would really have to think of a suitable reward for the boy. For unlike the majority of his toadies, the boy knew the limits of his capabilities, and structured his ambitions accordingly.

A regular supply of women to keep him entertained, though Sidious noticed with amusement that the boy had formed quite an attachment to a particularly well endowed blue skinned Twi'lek and been very reluctant to part with her, a small fleet of warships to help him police the back water world he would be granted for his service, and most recently, though he could not imagine why he would ask such a thing, a pet rancor.

Such things were easy for a Galactic Emperor to grant, and thanks to most profitable trip to Dagobah, as well as the boy's attempts to increase the efficiency of the newly structured Storm Troops Corps, he would consider offering the boy something that would raise his combat ability to the level possesed by one of his more temperamental servants.

But that could wait for another time, for now was the time to try something that he hoped would put him on the path to accomplish another one his goals. And thanks to his unusual, yet insightful servant, he knew that what he was about to achieve was possible.

Sinking deeper into the ever so seductive currents of the Dark Side of the Force, something that was far easier to do on this burning world thanks to its recent decimation, Darth Sidious began to tap into the well of dark energy that now flowed through this dying world, attempting to gain strength for his slowly decaying body using variations of the methods Darth Nihilus and the Sith Emperor Vitiate.

But just as he begun to feel new found energy course through his body, a familiar, yet not complelty unexpected voice interrupted his concentration.

"This day, victory is yours maybe. But a new dawn, tomorrow will eventually bring".

Smirking evilly as he turned around to face the disapproving eyes of the recently deceased Jedi Master, Sidious regarded the blue glowing figure with a visible look of triumph.

"Why Master Yoda, it has been far too long my old friend. My apologies for not coming sooner, but as your not doubt aware, an Empire does not run itself, especially when one of its foundation's rests upon the incomplete extinction of the Jedi Order".

Eyes narrowing as he was forced to listen to the man responsible for bringing about the fall of the Jedi, and feeling his incorporeal body fade back into the currents of the Force, Yoda defiantly stared into the mocking eyes of the Sith Lord as his consciousness was slowly starting to depart the mortal plane.

"Complete not, your victory is. Return to restore balance, the Jedi will".

Instead of scowling at the Jedi's proclamation, Sidious openly cackled at the fading Jedi before deciding to use another long forgotten technique that would prolong his enemy's suffering.

Using his prodigal command of the Dark Side to tap into the near intoxicating darkened energies that now covered this planet's surface , the Sith Lord grasped the fading spirit of the Jedi Master, and channeled enough power into it so not only would it remain on the physical plane, but would in fact be tethered to the dying world until the Emperor deemed it fit to release him.

Feeling a little winded from the effort, for he had to substitute raw power for his lack of the intricate knowledge that the Sith Lords of old had used to bind their consciousness to the cold tombs of Korriban, though the boy had mentioned that their were other less ravaged worlds that possessed the same bodyless guardians as the homeworld of the Sith, Sidious nevertheless was proud of his achievement as he looked into the horrified face of the now bound Jedi.

"You have a point Master Yoda. Their are several loose ends running around the galaxy that is denying me the chance for a complete victory. But rest assured, they are being seen to as we speak. My apprentice is diligently hunting down all traces of his former comrades, your allies in the Senate are being taken care of, and perhaps your greatest failure, the children of Skywalker are being reclaimed as we speak. So you'll have to forgive me if I don't place much faith in your idle threats".

Smirking as he saw that he had once again crushed the spirit of the former Grand Master, and seeing now reason to linger any more on this dying world, for he had not only confirmed the death of his former foe, but also gathered enough information recreate the process of having his body benefit from a planet's mass sterilization, the leader of the Galactic Empire headed back to his ship.

And as the shuttle left the still burning planet, Sidious let his minder wander to what he would do to the other surprisingly resilient thorn in his side. Perhaps he would allow the boy to handle if he managed to convince some of the less, unsavory members of the galaxy to clandestinely work with the forces of the Empire. Though why the boy was insistent on having a teenaged clone and a drunken Weequay in Imperial service was beyond the Sith Lord's understanding, but that was of little consequence as long as the boy could produce favorable results.

But it mattered not. From what the boy told him, his former apprentice had no way of accessing the incredible secrets that were no doubt present on that now lifeless world, and with no means of escape, the Dathomirian Zabarak would remain on Malachor until a more permanent solution could be thought of.

But until that time, Maul would be allowed to survive in the darkened crevices of that barren world. Unknowing that his former master was once again planning his downfall.

...

Apologises for the shortness of this chapter...But I felt that if I made this longer (i.e. other point of view) it would take lessen the impact of the meeting between Sidious and Yoda.

Hopefully I don't get tooo many bad reviews about Yoda's fate. But wanted to keep him...well not alive but you know what I mean, just in case of future plot directions.

Also, thanks to various reviews, and requianting myself with The Galactic Exodus series, going to be exploring how Sidious will deal with these potential headaches from other Dark Side Users/Sith. Hopefully you enjoyed the brief mention of Maul XD.

As for the boy's newest reward...keeping my options open, but I'm sorting picturing him being granted a secretarial position in the Empire (i.e. Sate Pestage), having him adopted by the Tarkin family to give him more influence in various circles, or, like Moff Tracta, give him cybernetic enhancements (with the boy nervously asking if he has to suffer an accident like Griveous did)

Next chapter I hope will see the introduction of either Solo and Aphra, or Vader meeting the boy. But if that doesn't happen, theirs still the improvement of the Storm Trooper corp to look forward to.

Anyways...please review/offer opinions/suggestions.

And til next time.

Hail the Empire