Chapter 6

Dooku glanced up as a young servant ushered a black-cloaked figure into his office. It took a moment for the Count to realize his guest was none other than the Special Prosecutor. When the Zabrakian removed his hood, Dooku could see the man appeared pleased with himself. For a man who had looked ridiculous in court yesterday, he seemed a little too happy for Dooku's comfort.  

"Count Dooku," Maul stated with a condescending smile.

"Maul," Dooku acknowledged, not bothering to hide his contempt. "What brings you to my office?" He asked coldly. "I would have thought that our liege had other failures ah… I mean employment for you."

Maul's smile broadened as he watched Dooku shift uncomfortably in his chair. "I'll leave when I have finished with my Master's directives. I believe you called me an incompetent fool."

"Yes, I believe I did."

Yellow eyes flashed with anger as the tattooed man sneered at Dooku. Maul began his trademark pacing by glaring at the other man, "I'm going to make you regret that you tried to humiliate me in front of our Emperor."

Dooku snorted. Maul's reputation in the Court was just stories; after all a meddlesome healer and a nosy gossip had just defeated him. "Just how do you plan to do that?" he asked amusement sparkling in his eyes.

"By doing what you couldn't…capturing the Jedi and destroying his band of thieves. The court can make an example of the remaining group without their leader," Maul growled.

Dooku snorted again, leaned back in his chair and watched Maul skeptically over clasped hands. "So you think you can do this, an officer of the court apprehending the criminals with absolutely no training. So when do you expect capture your prisoner, if you don't mind letting me in on your plan."

"Tonight," Maul replied, as he allowed Dooku to see the feral smile cross his face. "Of course you'll want to send your troops with me."

"I do?" Dooku questioned slightly amused by Maul's bragging that he could accomplish it without his help.

"You don't want me to tell the Emperor that I had the Jedi in my grasp and because you refused to provide me with men to take him into custody, we can't rid him of that annoyance. You know we can't capture them without a struggle."

Dooku stood up and regarded the other man with calculating eyes, "Not very likely. As a matter of fact I don't expect to take any of them alive. Where is this galactic event to take place?"

 "The monastery ruins tonight after the 9th hour," was the matter of fact reply.

"I'll head the troops myself. That way nothing will cause you to lose your prey," Dooku responded attempting to take credit for the capture as well.  

The yellow gleam was back in the tattooed man's eyes. He had the old fool now. "Good. Then we have nothing more to say until you tell our Master you were mistaken and ask my forgiveness."

Dooku slightly inclined his head in acknowledgement. He would make sure that he was not the one asking for mercy.

******  

Qui-Gon looked back and forth from Mace to Obi-Wan and sighed. "Maul has decided to act after all. After his disgrace in court I was confident he would rejoin the Emperor and that would keep Xanatos quiet. Now Crion will take the reward and sell us all out."

"I know you'll not like hearing what I have to say Qui-Gon," Mace urged hesitantly. "But we should get rid of him. Think of all the people he is going to destroy in his lust and greed for money. I know plenty of people who would do it without a second thought… especially those he is planning to turn over to the Emperor."

Qui-Gon frowned and shook his head. "We'll not take a life in other than self defense." He held up his hand as Mace began to argue that it was a preemptive strike and said, "Mace, that would make us no better than Palpatine if we were to kill because someone might betray us."

Both Mace and Qui-Gon could see the doubt clearly written on Obi-Wan's face as he tried to understand the choices they had. "We're not murders but we just can't allow him to buy his freedom with the lives of our friends."

"Obi-Wan," Mace admonished the younger man, "Qui-Gon would never sacrifice anyone. "

Qui-Gon placed a hand on each man's shoulder and squeezed reassuringly. "Mace, Obi, the Jedi already has a plan. It will teach a lesson to all would be traitors and to servants of the Emperor who offer blood money for lives."

Mace and Obi-Wan grinned, speaking at the same time, "What's the plan?"

The corners of Qui-Gon's mouth turned up in a quick smile. "Mace how quickly can you write a death notice?"

"A death notice," Obi-Wan exclaimed. "But Qui-Gon, I thought…"

"Obi-Wan, trust the Force. I have an errand for you. I need for you to get a message to the knights and have them meet us down by the old hanger tonight before the moon comes up," Qui-Gon said as he walked back to his desk and sat down.

*****

Most would find the darkness of night terrifying but to Maul it was both natural and comforting. He was a product of shadows. As they came closer to the ruins of the old castle Maul looked around cautiously feigning

indifference. The royal family chose their own destruction. If only they had accepted his Master's rule to start with. Stepping down out of the speeder, Maul approached the courtyard. "Xanatos, Maul growled, his voice echoing in the walled space.

"Answer him Xanatos," a harsh voice echoed in the confined space.

Maul tensed, that voice sounded right next to him.

"Step into the light so you can see how the Jedi deals with collaborators and you will know true justice," Qui-Gon hissed through the mask.

Maul whirled toward the voice just in time to have his arms pinned to his sides and held against the wall by two of the Jedi's men. Another man stepped forward and shoved a gag into his mouth.

As Maul was dragged out of the courtyard and pushed down on the ground next to a similarly tied up Xanatos, he cursed himself for not telling Dooku where he was actually going.

Qui-Gon watched as Maul glared at him and laughed. The sound that came out of the mask was hideous. As Xanatos cringed, the Jedi motioned to the two men, "These are the men that would betray us. Did they not think that the Force would protect us? It's up to us to determine your punishment."

Bound, gagged, and blindfolded, Xanatos and Maul were placed atop a Kaadu and hauled off to the one time residence of the Emperor himself.

*****

At the old monastery on the other side of city a different scene was taking place. Except for the occasional mechanical whine there was no sound from the Count's troops.

Dooku was beginning to think he had misunderstood Maul's directions. After all the man was not familiar with the area and there were several destroyed monasteries as well as old castles nearby.  "I'm sure he said the monastery, but could he have meant the old palace ruins?"

One of the human soldiers behind him sneezed.

"Silence," Dooku barked. "You will not utter one more sound and that is an order."

Once more the solider sneezed glancing helplessly at the Count.

Dooku pulled his blaster and shot the solider. "When I give an order I expect instant obedience." He looked at the human members of his guard, returned his blaster to its case, shrugged and asked, "Does any one else have a problem with my orders?"

The seven remaining humans vehemently shook their heads no and stood at an uneasy attention.

Dooku went back to his private introspection. Maul is enjoying himself at my expense. I have a feeling that he's back in his warm quarters while I'm here catching my death from the cold. We'll see who enjoys himself when the Emperor receives my report.

*****

At the mansion Xanatos and Maul were securely tied to wooden chairs in the middle of the room. Xanatos' blindfold was removed and what he saw caused the man to become pale with fear.   

There, surrounding the prisoners, were at least fifty men all wearing masks. Yet that wasn't what worried Xanatos the most. Less than three feet away was the dreaded Jedi.

"Remove the prisoner's gag," the distorted voice demanded.

Xanatos took a moment to lick his lips nervously and then shouted, "Why did you bring me here. I'm one of you."

"No Crion, you are not," the voice thundered in the quiet room. Flinging his cloak behind him, the Jedi crossed the floor and sat down at a table. "This court is in session. Remove the other prisoner's gag and blindfold so he may see the Jedi's justice."

Once Maul's blindfold was removed, he looked at his captives with a sneer and pulled at the ropes tying him to the chair. "Jedi, you will release me or suffer the wrath of Emperor Palpatine."

Qui-Gon waived Maul's threats off and commanded one of his knights to gag the prisoner once more. "Now that there are no more interruptions, I suggest we begin. Jacobeast read the charges."

Mace Windu dressed in the long flowing robes of the ancient warriors and the facemask of a Jacobeast stepped forward and motioned to the captive. "Xanatos Crion you stand accused of traitorous behavior. How do you plead?"

"I haven't done anything to you Jedi," Xanatos muttered.

"How do you plead, guilty or not guilty?" Mace demanded.

"Not guilty."

The Jedi rapped the table with the handle of the blaster his men had removed from Xanatos when they captured him. "The prosecution calls its first witness, Nighthunter."

Obi-Wan Kenobi stepped to the front of the room wearing the disguise of another beast of the night and handed the Jedi a data pad.

The Jedi read the statement aloud. "This is an account of a meeting between Xanatos Crion and Special Prosecutor Maul." As Qui-Gon read the statement there was a quiet mummer among the other Knights.

"Now the second witness, Jacobeast." The Jedi said as he passed the data pad around the room.

Mace handed the figure before him a data pad similar to the one Nighthunter handed him and that too was read aloud and passed on.

Qui-Gon stood up and said, "And now my statement. On the last run of my Knights you attempted to steal from us. You were caught and put on trial by the Emperor's government."

"I didn't do anything wrong," Xanatos burst out. "The court let me off."

"Only because that interfering healer helped. Right now we're discussing you. I'll deal with him later.  You told the prosecutor at your trial, 'I won't swing for the likes of him,' and this in spite of the oath you made to me. The same oath that every man here has made… you said those same words. What kind of man sells his friends to the execution squad, Xanatos?"

I didn't sell anyone to them."

The Jedi turned his back on Xanatos and faced the men that made up his knights and asked sternly, "And did you intend to?"

"No," was the defiant reply.

The Jedi walked back over to the chair and sat down, "Empty his pockets."

Nighthunter walked over to the squirming captive and dug into his pockets. Holding a data pad and a gold coin up for the room to see, he placed these two items on the table in front of the Jedi.

Qui-Gon picked up the small black pad and turned the device on. As he began to read through the names he chuckled. "Xanatos, did you just finish saying that you were not going to sell the names? Then why are twenty-four members listed on this pad? This piece of gold verifies the sworn statements. You were taking this list of names to Maul tonight."

Xanatos shook his head in defeat and yelled out above the murmurs, "All right, you win. I was going to give them to him. You were after me and so was the Count. You left me no choice."

The Jedi's voice hissed and popped as his volume rose, "You stand convicted by your own words! You are a cheat, a liar and a traitor! Gentleman is he guilty or not guilty?"

What were hushed murmurs of surprise rose to deafening roars of chanting, "Guilty! Guilty!"

The Jedi raised his arm and silenced the group of men, "Xanatos, your friends, the ones you would have sentenced to death have spoken. They find you guilty. This court sentences Xanatos Crion to death."

"No! No! You can't do this," Xanatos shouted at the top of his voice.

"Yes, Xanatos, we can. You condemned yourself," The Jedi said pointing to the ceiling where a noose was hanging. "The traditional death for a traitor is hanging."

Every eye in the room looked up at that rope hanging from the rafters of the room. Qui-Gon stood next to the condemned man and placed a silk cloth over his head.

The whole room watched as the Jedi pulled on the rope. Both chair and Xanatos Crion were lifted into the air and darkness. For a second there was a choking sound and then all was quiet except for the Jedi mumbling a few words under his breath.

All of the Jedi's knights knew how much reverence he had for life and they assumed his words were for the passing of Xanatos into the Force. Even Maul paled slightly under his tattoos.

"Justice has been carried out," the Jedi's voice thundered through the subdued room. "This is a fitting end for all men who would betray the Jedi and his Knights."

Everyone looked toward the ceiling once more including Maul. He knew that with this small demonstration the Jedi guaranteed no one would talk even if it meant death.

"You can kill me Jedi but my Master will send another and another until you are dead," Maul said refusing to look up at the chair legs and the body that did not move.

The Jedi, unmoved by the prosecutor's words sat down at the table once more. "Now prisoner Maul. My Knights will make better use of the bag of gold you promised the criminal Crion. Jacobeast please relive Maul of the extra weight."

Mace took the bag of money from one of the deep pockets in his robe and dumped the contents on the table. The farmers and merchants turned vigilantes had enough discipline that no one so much as moved.

"Share it among you and remember the Jedi's justice," Qui-Gon's modified voice rang out in the quiet room. He stood and turned to Maul, "As for you, several of my Knights will escort you back to Theed, blindfolded of course. I would suggest that you leave and never return to Naboo or it will be your final resting place."

Maul was determined that he was not going to come out of this empty handed. They would never turn one of the Jedi's men against him now and he had this one chance left. As the bonds were taken from his wrists he launched himself at the Jedi intent on being the one to rid the Emperor of that nuisance. Murder was in his yellow eyes as he reached for the blaster on the table and aimed it at Qui-Gon.

Obi-Wan was the first to react to this new threat. In the instant Maul fired the blaster, Obi-Wan drew his saber and cut the menace in half. Not sparing the mutilated body so much as a glance, he rushed over to his friend lying on the floor.

Qui-Gon was infinitely grateful for his friends. He knew that without them he would have died tonight and the Jedi's career ended. Without Mace leaping on top of him and shoving him to the floor the shot would have pierced his heart instead of his shoulder.

Jacobeast and Nighthunter helped him rise from his place on the floor as the other Knights looked on. As the Jedi he needed to show them he was fine and send them home. He didn't need Dooku suspicious and men who visibly worried about an injured leader would refocus Dooku's interest.

The moment the last Knight left the mansion Qui-Gon fell heavily to the chair and allowed Mace to help him remove his costume. Gentle fingers probed the small wound.

"He could have killed you," Obi-Wan said softly as he applied a bacta patch to Qui-Gon's shoulder.

"But he didn't, thanks to my sentinels. Now we must decide what to do with the Special Prosecutor's remains.

While the three men contemplated the body on the floor a strange noise from above startled them.

Qui-Gon shrugged his costume back on and Jacobeast and Nighthunter worked the rigging that held Xanatos Crion's chair aloft. As the chair was lowered they could see the man struggling against his bonds.

"Relax," the Jedi's voice instructed. "As you can tell the rope was knotted around the back of the chair. The rope only choked you as you struggled and then I put you to sleep to create the illusion of death."

When all four of the chair's legs had reached the floor, Qui-Gon stepped over Maul's body and loomed over Xanatos. "To the Knights, you were executed for your treachery. To the Emperor, Count Dooku, and the army, you are dead. So I'm giving you one hour to leave Naboo forever. Get off this planet and never return or the next time you will die."

Xanatos watched as the one called Jacobeast removed the ties from his arms.  Once he was untied Xanatos looked at the three men who held his life in their hands. As his eyes darted back to the Jedi he noticed the Special Prosecutor lying on the floor cut in half.  Swallowing the lump in his throat, he stood shakily.

Once more he looked at the door and then made a headlong dash not believing they would actually let him go. Over his shoulder he could hear the Jedi's hollow laughter.

*****

As the death announcement for Xanatos was being whispered through the city, Dooku was trying to locate Maul. He had checked the man's room and found nothing. It was as if he just disappeared into the night. This was not good. Dooku was scheduled to see the Emperor this afternoon. If he made it back alive then he would make sure that the Jedi suffered.

*****

Back in the healer's office Mace checked the bacta patch on Qui-Gon's shoulder as they sat and discussed the events of last night. "We looked for Xanatos. He didn't use any of the normal methods to get off planet. He has not showed up at his usual hangouts. It's as if he just disappeared."

Qui-Gon sighed and pulled up the shoulder on his tunic, "That was what we wanted."

"Let's just hope your soft heart doesn't become the death of us later," Mace said putting away the supplies.

Qui-Gon smiled softly, "Trust the Force Mace. Everything happens for a reason."

tbc

Athena  Leigh… Thank you. I am glad that you like Qui-Gon's secret identity. So do I.

KenobisLadyPadawan… Thank you for insightful comments. I will try to do more in the description in later chapters.

The Watcher…. I promise Anakin will not be the idiot aide. As a matter of fact he is going to get a chance to spread his wings a bit now that Dooku is out of the area.