Chapter 3 The Devil of Hoth
After talking with Panaka Luke and Mara were headed for, yet again an other planet.
Hoth.
Luke was now meditating. How could the Sith have stayed on Hoth during the time when the rebellion was using it as a base? He had two theories he was meditating on, the first he thought was much more likely but the second was not impossible. He might have left Hoth to find a new planet, then once the empire fell he could have come back. Or he had hidden in his cave when the rebels were there and stole rations of food from their storage area. A Sith could sneak into a base quite easily. But either way Mara had just landed.
They exited the ship into the blizzard of Hoth. They had landed a mile or so from Echo Base, for, as far as they knew Imperials could still be there as well with some radar technology. It was indeed possible that there were some to. The rebels had left a giant supply of food and water behind as Hoth was to be their main base and the food was made to last for who knows how many years. Plus the Imperials would have brought additional supplies there as well.
They drew nearer and nearer to the hanger of the base. They had noticed unusual things to, especially in front of the hanger. Large transport ships had been landed there. They looked newly made and were not Imperial class. However several Imperial AT-AT's were there too. They got to the huge opened door of the hanger, which was indeed filled to nearly to top with supply boxes. There was a path that led through the boxes. A few were missing which allowed Mara and Luke to jump stealthily up to the top of the box tower.
Slowly they crept until they reached the end of the wall of boxes. They jumped off, so far no guards in the hanger. But why should there be? Very few remembered Hoth. It would be stupid to go into the main entrance of the base from the hanger. Instead they went to the left to a door, which led to an elevator. They took it down as you had to go down to get to the large part of the base.
They exited into a hallway with doors on either side. Luke remembered this hallway. In fact he remembered a good deal about the base, but he never remembered this arch made entirely of ice with no door at the end of the hallway. He walked up to it Mara following silently. The arch led to some newly poured ferocrete steps leading downward. Although to their right there was an enormous vent.
" Luke, I sense something…" Mara whispered. Indeed, Luke sensed it too. Better to be stealthy, they removed the grate of the vent with the force, entered, and closed it just as a small group of quietly conversing cloaked men walked by. Lightsabers were clipped to their belts and the dark side surrounded them, they were most likely members of that Dark Army Kyle told them about. Luke and Mara turned the vent was big enough to stand in and led upwards. Just then a small squad of Storm Troopers walked by. So the Imperials were still on Hoth as was this new Sith cult. Anyway Luke and Mara jumped to the left and began Walking.
They had seen a grate that led outside but kept walking. The second grate they found looked down upon an enormous room, made entirely of ice and ferocrete. There were a few computer consuls here and there, and also steps that led onto a platform where a cloaked figure sat on a chair. His hood was off and he was a Zabrak. He matched the descriptions many had given them, he was tattooed in red and black. Luke recognized him too. He had seen a hologram of him from Darth Sidious's office after he had died. The Zabrak's name was Darth Maul. In records he had died in the battle of Naboo, but Luke had seen things more surprising. For one Sidious had nearly killed him and he thought he was just a pathetic old man. Maul was probably very old. Although Zabraks can live for a very long time. Maul stood up and began pacing, Luke could hear the gears in his mechanical legs as he walked.
Obi-wan had said he killed a Sith Lord by chopping him in half. This one was probably it, now he was a cyborg. They were about to leave for they had to tell the council but a transmission for Maul came in. He had a holoprojector in front of his chair. He pressed the except button. An image came up of a bald human dressed in all black. He kneeled down.
" Rise my apprentice." Maul coolly said.
" My lord, that man Jak has told the Jedi of our whereabouts." Maul's apprentice said.
" Lord Bandon, you are still on Ren-Var?" Maul asked.
" Yes master, I shall be returning but about the Jedi…" Bandon began to trail off.
" The Jedi do not concern me my apprentice. My old Master Lord Sidious knew the Jedi knew of his whereabouts one night and he killed them all." Maul said.
" Yes my Lord. I shall be returning shortly." Bandon said.
" Farwell then Lord Bandon." Maul said and he shut down the holo projector. Mara and Luke could not wait much longer. They went out of the vent that led outside. It was surprisingly close to their ship, which looked unharmed. The imperials hadn't found it yet. They entered and took off headed for Yavin.
In Maul's Throne Room
An intelligence trooper entered Maul's throne room and bowed before the Sith Lord.
" Rise. Is the tracking device secure aboard their ship?" Maul asked.
" Yes my Lord. And our signs say they have just left." The trooper said.
" Very good captain Bly. Report where they land to me when it occurs. That will be the main new Jedi temple." Maul said. Bly bowed and left the room eager to please his Sith master.
Several Hours Later
Luke and Mara had arrived at Yavin. They were completely unaware of Maul's tracking device. They had called a meeting in the auditorium for all masters and knights. They explained about the Sith Lord Darth Maul and that the council would be forging a plan. Little did they know Maul already had the outline of a plan already. Sidious had told him long ago." The Jedi are weak and stupid. Once you become the master of the Sith you will be able to manipulate them easily without them even knowing. A carefully constructed plan can bring down the Jedi Order in one day." And that was exactly what Sidious did. That is exactly what his former apprentice will do, even if he doesn't have all the cunning of his ex-master. He just as evil though, like the devil, the devil of Hoth.
Author Note
Maul doesn't know Sidious used him that is why he thinks highly of him. Also I not continue if I don't receive reviews, even if bad. Thanks.