Lou stepped off the ramp, and took in her surroundings. She breathed in the familiar Coruscant atmosphere, smelling the exhaust fumes emitted from the many flying cars and factory smoke stacks.

She sensed a presence behind her, and turned. "Hello, Maul."

"Welcome back," even though it was genuine, his smile still seemed devious.

"I suppose you have our evening all planned out?"

"I thought you might wish a tour, since you have been away for so long."

"Lead the way."


Emperor Palpatine steepled his fingers, his eyes darting between Raef Caylon and Darth Maul's teenaged apprentice, S'Ritak Vedul. The young Twi'Lek looked fearful for his life.

"She has arrived," Palpatine hissed.

"Fantabulous!" Caylon grinned broadly, eyes sparkling.

Palpatine read his intentions, plucking his thoughts straight from his head. "Remember the plan, Raef. I don't want to have to remind you again."

"I know, Sid, I know," he crossed his arms defiantly. "I won't muckle your plan."

"Good," the Emperor turned his cold gaze on Vedul. "You may go."

"Won't Master Maul sense my presence?" the Twi'Lek demanded.

Palpatine narrowed his eyes at the boy. He raised his hand, and zapped Vedul with blue Force-lightning. The young apprentice dropped to his knees, screaming for it to stop. "Don't ever question me again," the Emperor cautioned.

Caylon grinned down at Vedul as he coughed and sat up. "Haven't you learned not to piss Sid off, boy?"

"I have now," he muttered in reply.

Caylon laughed heartily. "You have your Master's sarcasm. I like it."

Palpatine glared at the two of them in silence.


* * *


Lou gazed at Maul through her glass, as he stuffed a forkfull of pasta into his mouth. "I didn't figure you for a pasta person, Maul," she told him.

He watched her watching him. "An acquaintance of mine liked pasta, and after she disappeared I decided to try it." he paused. "Maybe you know her; blue skin, orange eyes? She used to be a dancer in a night club I frequented, but since then she has taken to fighting in the Rebellion. And the night club has been destroyed."

"Hmm," Lou pretended to think for a moment.

"She also changed her name, and gained some odd friends," he was pressing his luck with that statement, and he knew it.

Lou looked up at him from her chicken parmasian, slightly annoyed at the cheap shot. "You didn't have to do that to him."

'That' being make him float; 'him' being Park.

Maul grinned at her. "I was trying to get your attention."

"You had my attention. The rest of the crew did not need a glimpse into my past, Maul. That was unnecessary, and you know it."

"I enjoyed that," he sipped his Chryne. Lou observed him in silence. "Do you like the view?"

"You have quite the ego, Darth Maul," she stated.

"So I've been told."

"You should work on suppressing the urge to impress the galaxy. No one's paying attention."

"Ouch, Jareena."

"Don't call me that in here."

"No one will touch you."

"Until you drop your guard."

"I never drop my guard."

They finished their meals in silence, Lou continually wondering what plot was hanging in the background, and why Maul looked like he was trying to stifle his grin.


"Are we gonna go after her?" Park demanded again.

"Why do you keep asking me that?" Jenkens growled.

"Because we're her friends, and we owe it to her to rescue her."

"She wasn't captured, Genious, she left. Of her own free will, might I add," he closed the book he had been reading when Park stormed into his quarters, demanding that they take a shuttle to Coruscant. "How do you know where she went?"

Park knocked over a vase by accident in reaction to the question. "She told me," he said slowly.

"You knew she was leaving and you didn't opt for tag-along?" Jenkens did not believe him.

"Uh...she told me I'd just be in the way."

"Lou'd never say that to ya, Park. Are you done trying to B.S. your way through this?"

Park suddenly turned uncharacteristically serious. "Are you gonna come with me or not?"

The doors slid open, and Taggart stepped inside Jenkens' quarters. "I'll go with you, Mortimer."

He furrowed his eyes at his crewmate. "Why?"

"I have business on Coruscant," he answered.

"Business with - "

"Yes," Taggart cut Park off before he could finish. "When do we leave?"

"Whoa, whoa, hold it," Jenkens held up his hands. "What's in it for me if I come along?"

Taggart replied, "Excitement, adventure, some fighting - "

"The inner joy of knowing you helped a friend in need," Park added. Jenkens sat with his eyebrow arched. "I suppose we could dig up some credits."

"Alright, I'm in."

"Great. Who else should we bring? We can't go just the three of us, it won't work."

"Who else would come? Come on, Park. No one else'll want to. This rescue mission isn't exactly a brilliant idea." Jenkens returned.

Park turned to Taggart. "I'll speak to Kane, if that's what you are expecting, but he's stubborn; he won't agree to do this."

"So, what do we do?" Park asked. "Do you know someone else who could - "

"I can't ask them. I defected a long time ago."

"Them? Defected? What aren't you telling me?" Jenkens interjected. "My co-operation hangs in the balance on this one."

Park shot back, "I thought your co-operation hung in the balance of how many creds I could scrape together?"

Jenkens scowled at him, then looked to Taggart expectantly. "Are you going to let me in on the secret?"

He read Jenkens' thoughts to determine his trustworthiness. "My past is not as important as you now think, Jenkens. Let it go," he turned to leave.

"For now, alright. But I expect - "

"Don't expect too much, Jenkens. I wouldn't want to disappoint you," he stated as the doors slid shut behind him.

Jenkens turned to Park. "What do you know?"

"About Taggart?" He nodded. "I heard his voice in my head."

"What?"

"Time to go," Park left Jenkens' room.

"What the hell am I getting myself into?" Jenkens wondered aloud.


The night enveloped the young Twi'Lek apprentice, hiding him in its cloak, as he crouched in the shadows outside the apartment building. S'Ritak Vedul could not help wondering how his Master would not sense his presence through the Force as soon as he and Jareena returned, but the Emperor had assured Vedul that he could not be detected.

The anti-gravity vehicle came to a halt in front of the building. Vedul held his breath as Darth Maul helped Jareena out of the vehicle. He released the breath as his Master and his companion entered the glass double-doors without even so much as a glance in Vedul's direction.

I told you how this would be, Palpatine's voice hissed.

I apologize, Master.

You may proceed now.

Vedul emerged from his hiding place, and strode into the building.


As he unlocked the door to the apartment, Darth Maul swept the room through the Force to ensure that his apprentice was not home. Sensing nothing, Maul pushed the door open, using the Force to illuminate the room.

He allowed Lou to enter first, and she immediately set to examining the décor. She stopped before an emerald bird with its wings spread, and ran her fingers along their tips.

Maul watched her curiously, a slight smile curling his lips as he remembered their first encounter. He moved closer, and she turned to face him. He brushed his fingers through her dark green hair.

Lou gazed into his eyes. "What are you doing, Maul?"

He moved his face closer to hers. "Finishing what we started."

She let him kiss her, wanting to confirm that there was still something between them. Lou pulled back, and tried to read the lustful look in his eyes. He led her to the futon that his apprentice usually slept on, his hand on her cheek and on her back under her shirt.


Go now.

Vedul opened the door to the apartment at the same time as Maul pushed Lou down onto the futon. "Master, I need your assistance."

Maul's head jerked up in the direction of his apprentice, the Twi'Lek's Force presence suddenly detectable.

"What are you doing here?" Maul demanded, not getting off Lou. "Could you not sense that I did not want to be disturbed?"

"I - " Vedul faltered, looking behind him. He hurriedly closed the door. "I don't know how long it will take them to catch up."

"Who?" Maul stood, and went to the window. "What have you gotten yourself into this time?" he growled.

Lou sat up on the futon, suddenly feeling out of place, though she had no where else to go.

"Some guys from the club. We were playing Sabacc, Master, and they accused me of cheating," the young apprentice explained.

"Were you?"

"Of course," the Twi'Lek grinned.

Maul rolled his eyes at Vedul. "Jareena, I apologize for my apprentice's intrusion."

Lou smiled at the Twi'Lek as she spoke. "It's alright. Sounds like these things happen frequently."

"Too frequently," Maul shot at the boy, eyes blazing.

"I am sorry, My Master."

"You must work on not getting caught," the Sith Lord turned away from the window, closing the drapes with the power of the Force. "No one is coming," he stated impatiently. It was meant as a dismissal.

Vedul strode to the window, and peered out himself. Maul folded his arms across his chest, facing Lou, his back to the Twi'Lek.

Now.

Vedul grabbed the nearest vase, and smashed it over his Master's head. Maul stumbled to the ground, unconscious.

"What are you doing?" Lou got up off the futon, backing toward the door.

The alien glanced down at his Master's crumpled form. "He'll be alright." Vedul waited as Lou lunged for the door, but was not worried for he was holding it closed with the Force.


* * *


Several hours had passed by the time Lou opened her eyes. She was in a small, dark room, the only light filtering in from under the door.

"Maul?" she called to the darkness hopefully.

The door slid open, revealing Caylon and a man hidden by his black Sith robes.

"What the hell do you want, Caylon?" she demanded, getting up off the floor.

"Wouldn't you like to know," he arched his eyebrow suggestively.

"Oh, please," she scoffed. "As if I'd ever give you the time of day."

"In a few more hours, it will be," he grinned.

Lou rolled her eyes. "What's this about? And who are you?"

The shrouded visage met her gaze, the man's eyes boring into hers. "All will be revealed in due time."

"Your voice. I know your voice."

Caylon arched his eyebrow, while the other narrowed his eyes at Lou. "Do you," he replied, his tone flat. "Isn't that interesting."


The first thing Darth Maul became aware of was the pillow under his head. The last thing he remembered was his apprentice smashing a vase over his head, why was there a pillow under his head?

His apprentice. Maul narrowed his eyes, trying to decide which form of torture he would use first on Vedul, before he eventually killed the trecherous little weasel.

"I am right here, Master Maul," Vedul spoke up from the futon.

Maul leapt to his feet, drawing his lightsabre, which was, surprisingly enough, still fastened to his belt. He raised the glowing red tip to his apprentice's throat. "Apparently you were not paying attention the day I lectured you about loyalty," he hissed.

"But I was, Master. You said that our loyalty must lie with the Emperor, above all else," the Twi'Lek tried not to sound too haughty; his Master was quite angered by his previous actions. Understandably.

Maul's rage subsided enough that he backed off. "The Emperor requested that you smash a vase over my head?"

"No, I improvised that."

The Sith Lord paced the room. "What is Palpatine's plan for my dear blue friend?" he was talking more to himself than the Twi'Lek.

"Rescue her," Vedul shrugged.

"What?" Maul stopped pacing, and glowered at his apprentice.

"Well," the boy swallowed, ill at ease with the look Maul had fixed him with, "From what I understood of the plan, his Majesty expected you to rescue the girl. So that she would trust you."

"She already trusts me," he snapped.

"Not enough, I guess."

Maul's gaze narrowed. "Where is the Emperor keeping her captive?" Instead of waiting for an answer, he probed Vedul's mind for the location. "The Imperial Palace. Why in the Galaxy would he have her there?"

Vedul shrugged. "He did not tell me. And I was not going to ask."

Maul sat down in the chair to his left, then turned it away from his apprentice. Palpatine had turned the Twi'Lek into an enemy, as well as the Emperor himself, in this scenario. The Sith Lord thought about his options: he could do as Vedul had indicated was what Palpatine had expected, by rescuing Jareena, or he could leave her to the Emperor's hands.

"I don't believe that you will for a second," Vedul stated. "She means something to you, Master, I can sense it."

"She means nothing to me."

"Then explain why you were engaged in - "

"S'Ritak, I do not have to explain anything I do to you," he turned the chair back around. "You must find another place to stay for the time being."

"It has been arranged, Master. Palpatine has assured me. You needn't concern yourself with that."

"I see. What reason does the Emperor have for leaving me out of his scheme?"

"That, you would have to take up with him."


* * *


The small spacecraft materialized out of Hyperspace. Taggart eased the ship into orbit around the small moon. Checking the location once again, he then cut the engines, and left the ship on autopilot.

He sensed Park enter the cockpit. "Good morning, Park."

"Hey," he sat down in the co-pilot's chair, and looked out the forward viewport. "Um, Tag, where are we?"

"Guess."

"Uh, well, it looks like," Park brought up a map of the area. "Léonna VI." His brow creased with innocent confusion. "Why are we orbiting Léonna VI?"

"I have to know what happened here."

Park worked his jaw, trying to think of an argument. He noticed that Taggart was watching him intently. He sighed, resting his chin in his hand, elbow on the control board. "How long do you need?"

"A couple of hours." Taggart was glad he did not have to use an outside influence on Park.

"What are you looking for, exactly?"

"The report said there was a spy. I want to find her."

"Her? How do you - "

"Don't, Park. There are things about me that you do not need to know."

Park nodded, understanding Taggart's want for security; Lou being Park's only real friend on the Angel. Now that she had returned to Coruscant without letting anyone know that she was leaving, he was worried. He did not like Darth Maul at all, and could not figure out why Lou would go to him.

"I would not have stopped us here if she was in danger, Park. You have to trust that."

"Where in the Galaxy - ?"Jenkens entered the cockpit.

"Léonna VI," Park answered automatically. "Tag, here, wants to gather evidence to expose a spy."

"I see."

"We'll be on the right side of the planet to land at the remains of the base in twenty-eight minutes," Taggart stated. "I hope both of you will help me."

"Of course we will, Raine. Helena was my friend, too," Jenkens nodded.

"Park?"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm in."

"Thank you. Both."


* * *


"I'm taking us down," Jenkens spoke into the intercomm. "Brace yourselves for touchdown."

The ship lurched as its landing gear touched down on the cracked stone platform outside the remnants of the Alliance base on Léonna VI.

Taggart was the first one to the ramp, even before Jenkens had cut the engines entirely. He waited impatiently for the metal to lower itself to the ground, stepping out onto it, though it still hung in mid-air.

"Whoa, slow down there, Turbo," Park called from inside the craft.

"The faster we move, the sooner we leave," he replied over his shoulder.

"Good point," Jenkens joined Park at the exit.

They descended the ramp together, Park falling slightly behind, then followed Taggart to the base.

The doors lay five feet away from the base, leaving the three men with the impression that they had been blown out, caused by an interior explosion. Taggart used the Force to seek out any survivors - or marauders - hidden inside. He sensed nothing, which meant that ysalamiri, the Force-blocking animals, were probably present. And that meant other answer-seekers, like themselves. People who did not want to be surprised by a Jedi - or a former Jedi, whichever the case may be.

Taggart stepped inside the gaping entranceway, then waited for his eyes to adjust to the low light. He could see sparks along the walls. "Be careful, you two. There are exposed wires throughout the corridor."

"Lucky us."