The Master's Secrets
Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars. This is merely a fanfiction. I gain no income from this story.
~0~
"Did you ever hear the Tragedy of Darth Plagueis the Wise?"
"No."
"I thought not. It's a Sith legend. Darth Plagueis was a Dark Lord of the Sith, so powerful and so wise, he could use the Force to influence the midichlorians to create life … He had a such a knowledge of the Dark Side that he could even keep the ones he cared about from dying."
~0~
"The Dark Side of the Force is a pathway to many abilities, some consider to be unnatural."
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Starkiller sat in a small bedroom, with sterile white walls and floors. Food had been sent to his quarters and he tore into it ravenously. It had been a while since he'd had a decent meal.
"The Master" … Darth Plageuis as he called himself … had not said two words to him in the fighting pit. Nor had he removed his armor. Instead, he had ordered Vis and Maris to provide Starkiller with a room, clean clothes and dinner.
He had not seen anyone since.
As he chewed, he was lost deep in thought. Darth Plagueis. Darth Plagueis. That name sounded familiar, almost like from a faraway dream. He knew that he had heard that name somewhere … but the where was now lost to him.
But was he a Sith Lord? No, he had been told that "The Master" was not a Sith. And he even had told him that he used to be known as Darth Plagueis. Did that mean that he had turned his back on the Sith? "The Master" did appear to be working against the Empire … but for what reason?
The door to his cell slid open, and Maris Brood entered, now dressed in her typical black jumpsuit which she had worn on Felucia.
Starkiller jumped to his feet. "You! You tricked me! You've been playing me this whole time!"
"Oh calm yourself, before you give yourself an aneurism." Maris plopped down onto the bed and sat cross-legged. "I had a bit of fun messing with you, that's true."
He glared at her.
She rolled her eyes. "Oh loosen up! You'd think being around Kota and his Tarisian ale, you wouldn't be such a wet rag!"
Starkiller's fingers balled into a fist. She's teasing me. He let out a breath, then sat down. "How long have you been working for him?"
Maris looked at her nails. "I met him through Vis. He introduced us and I kinda fell in."
Starkiller cocked his head. "Seriously though? You and Vis?"
"Hey, I could say the same about you and Captain Eclipse." She pretended to scrunch her nose. She sighed and lay back in the bed, staring up at the ceiling. "And it just seemed right, you know. The Master. I needed a new one after … well, you were there …"
Starkiller nodded regretfully. "After … after the death of Shaak Ti."
"Right. And I couldn't go back to the Jedi … I just couldn't bring myself to go back to that way of life. But then, I didn't want to join the Dark Side."
"But is not the Master a follower of the Dark Side?"
She shook her head. "Not that I've seen. He may have been a Sith Lord a long time ago, but he certainly is not a Sith now."
Starkiller leaned forward, his face grim. "Maris, I saw what you guys are doing. Creating clones. Absorbing their midichlorians? The only life they know is in a tube, and then they die in a horrific way. I don't know how you've justified that, but I'm sorry, that's pretty Dark Sided. To create sentient beings who can feel pain, then to just kill them for power?"
Maris shrugged. "Hey, you don't get to judge us! We've all done a lot of twisted things – yes, even you Starkiller! Don't think Vis hasn't told me about what you did to the Sand People on Tatooine! And I won't even go there about what you did to Shaak Ti! Sure, I have a conscience like anyone else! Of course I have ethical and moral concerns! But my Master is actually doing something! It may not be ideal, but this method will give us the power to defeat the Emperor and Darth Vader. Face it, you defeated Vader on the Death Star and on Kamino … but when you faced the Emperor … he's too strong! He's just too damn strong! So yes, if we have to make a few … sacrifices … to stop him, then you bet I won't lose an ounce of sleep over it! Sometimes the ends do justify the means! And what about Juno? You've said yourself you would allow worlds to burn in order to save her!"
Starkiller sat silently, listening to her rant. It's true, he did say those things. And he did mean them. He couldn't lose Juno, he just couldn't! And maybe this whole operation was the key to saving her.
Maybe following Anakin Skywalker's trail was just what Kota said it was … a wild space chase.
Maybe this was the answer all along.
The door slid open and Maris snapped to her feet in attention. She bowed low. "My lord."
Standing before them was a Muun … a decrepit looking one. He wore simple gray and brown robes over a simple jump suit. While he was older and weak looking, Starkiller knew not to underestimate anyone by their appearances. Emperor Palpatine also looked old and decrepit, yet he was one of the most powerful beings in the galaxy.
The Muun graciously bowed back to Maris. "You have done well, my dear. But if you please, I would like a moment alone with our young Jedi friend here."
"Of course, Master." Maris shot a glance at Starkiller, before sweeping past her master.
The Master closed the door behind her, and then joined Starkiller at the table. He was the exact opposite of everything Starkiller was expecting. He sat down and crossed his leg … he was dignified, head held high.
Completely different from the brutality he showed in the fighting pits.
"Young Starkiller … please allow me to formally introduce myself. My birthname was Hego Demask. And when I followed the Sith Way, I was named Darth Plagueis."
Starkiller narrowed his eyes. "So … you're no longer a Sith? Tell me why I find that hard to believe?"
"Oh, believe you me, I would have found it supremely difficult to believe myself. But in my journeys since my first death, I have expanded my views of the Force."
Starkiller wasn't sold. "Your … your first death?"
Plagueis chuckled. "Oh, yes. Your confusion is perfectly understandable." He leaned forward earnestly. "You've been searching for the secret of eternal life. You've been following Anakin Skywalker's journey, seeking the same answers he did. But instead of following him, you should have been seeking the one he sought!"
"What do you mean?"
The Muun leaned back. "I mean, that Anakin Skywalker came close to discovering the secret. I am that secret. The power that Skywalker sought was my own!" He stood up, extending a long-fingered hand. "Come with me, Starkiller. Let me show you what I have built. Let me tell you what I have become!"
~0~
Plagueis led Starkiller down a vast, cathedral-sized hallway, filled with vats upon vats of clones. Plaguies had told him that this was one of hundreds of levels, deep below the ground of Mandalore.
"I was not the first to discover the secrets of life and death, and how to manipulate them," Plagueis was saying. Starkiller eyed all of the clones, many of them appearing to be clones of Vis and countless other species. "This was discovered by many of the ancient Sith … how to live on in spirit upon death. They called it 'essence transfer.' Upon death, you can will your spirit away into a new body … a willing host. Clones even."
Plagueis stopped before a tube … inside the purple liquid, in a fetal position, floated the body of a Muun. Plageuis stroked the tube with his fingers. "Beautiful, isn't it? When I die, I already have a fully-grown body prepared for me. Dozens in fact. I can live forever if I wish." He turned to Starkiller. "The process is … painful. Ripping your soul from your own body, willing it across the galaxy to new flesh. It was horrifying the first time I did it, when I was killed by my old apprentice."
"Your old apprentice?"
Plagueis continued to stare at the clone Muun in its tank, but his eyes were distant, far away. "Yes. My old apprentice when I followed the Sith way. We operated in secret, only two of us at any given time, as decreed by Darth Bane so many years ago. Two Sith. One to embody power. Another to crave it. A Master. And an Apprentice."
"Your apprentice," Starkiller realized. "The Emperor."
"As he calls himself," Plaguies nodded. "Known to all the galaxy as Emperor Palpatine. Known, only to a select few, as Darth Sidious."
"And why did he kill you?" Starkiller inquired.
"It's the way of the Sith," Plagueis shrugged. "When the apprentice is ready, they kill the master and take their own apprentice. As I killed my former master, Darth Tenebrous, before me." A grin spread across the Muun's face. "Sidious attempted to kill me in my sleep. But as he felt the life leaving me, I willed my spirit across the galaxy. I am sure he suspected as much … I had dedicated my life to studying midichlorians and ways to cheat death. He must have suspected that I had clones of myself stashed away in some remote portion of the galaxy. Just as I am equally sure that Lord Sidious has discovered the secret of essence transfer himself."
"But then he would be unstoppable!"
"Hence once of the reasons why you need me." Plagueis turned and began walking down the corridor again, Starkiller in tow. Plagueis stopped at another tube. "Unfortunately, the cloning process is not always successful. The splicing of the genetic codes is very complicated, and even the slightest mistake can create what we call … abominations." Inside of this tube was another clone … but it wasn't recognizable as a Muun. Its face and head were completely lopsided and distorted. "These bodies end up like this … still, they have their uses. The bodies of the abominations do have the ability to manipulate the Force just as well as any other clones, based on my studies. But transferring your essence into one of these failed clones is not advisable. My studies have shown that if one were to do so, they would lose all of their memories of their past life. And it is ill-advised to try to absorb the midichlorians of a being whose genetic code is flawed in the way that theirs are. That is why the abominations are left to die … they are useless to us."
Plageuis began moving on again. "But this is not all I have discovered in my studies. I am sure Vis showed you some of our other abilities. The power to absorb other life-forms' midichlorians, adding their Force potential to your own. But the reverse can be achieved. You expressed some apprehensions about our studies here. But what if I told you the reverse can be achieved?"
He stopped at an elevator terminal, and kindly gestured for Starkiller to enter. They descended several more levels and exited into what appeared to be a sick ward. Dozens of disciples and Mandalorians scrabbled around the sick bay, tending to patients in beds.
Plagueis snapped his long fingers. Two Mandalorians brought a weakened man to him wearing a face mask. The man looked sickly and faint and labored for breath. Plageuis looked at Starkiller. "If my studies have found ways to heal the sick, then can the actions I have taken to learn these powers truly be considered evil?"
Starkiller watched in awe as Plagueis placed two fingers upon the man's forehead. The former Dark Lord closed his eyes, muttering under his breath, concentrating.
Before Starkiller's eyes, the man's strength seemed to return to him. The two Mandalorians put him on his feet and removed his breath mask. "How do you feel?" Plagueis asked.
The man looked down at his own hands in shock. "I ... I feel fine! I can breathe on my own!"
The Mandalorian doctors led him away to do a check-up. "It's quite simple," Plagueis explained to Starkiller. "In the same way that midichlorians can be stolen, they can be transferred from one host to another. It's not a perfect technique … and more severe diseases cannot be healed indefinitely … but just imagine the potential! Imagine how this would revolutionize galactic medicine! We will no longer need doctors … just a generation of galaxywide Force Healers! I was once known as Darth Plagueis the Wise … While I no longer am a Sith, I cannot just ignore who I once was. I accept who I was then, and who I am now. I refuse to accept just the light or the dark … Jedi or Sith! I follow my own code, and once I destroy Sidious, I will bring healing to the sick of the galaxy. No more will I be known as DarthPlagueis the Wise. 'Darth' is a title I will no longer employ. Instead, once I bring stability and healing to the galaxy, I will be forever known as Plagueis the Healer!"
Starkiller felt conflicted. He felt that Plagueis' studies were just wrong … Starkiller himself was a clone, created only as a tool of Vader. This all struck particularly close to home for him. He greatly sympathized with all the clones produced here on Mandalore. But then again … could it truly be wrong if Plagueis was doing it for a good cause? Could the ends justify the means in this case? And could this truly be the way they win? The way to defeat the Emperor and Vader? And most importantly …
"Can you help me save Juno?" The question came out of his lips before he could help himself. He looked down at his feet.
Plagueis' face turned grim. "Captain Eclipse. Yes, Maris has informed me of her unique circumstances." He placed a hand on Starkiller's shoulder. "I will not promise to save her. But if you will bring her to me, I can at least see if I can stem the tide of this virus."
"Thank you."
The Muun nodded. "Have her brought here to the medbay. I will personally examine her myself."
~0~
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~0~
Starkiller stood alone in the room furnished for him by Plaguies. He held a commlink close to his mouth. PROXY's voice was coming through.
"I am sorry, Master. But it sounded like you wanted me to bring Captain Eclipse to your position?"
Starkiller nodded. "Yes. I think I found what Anakin Skywalker sought. I may be able to save her."
"Very well, Master. The others will be quite relieved to hear that Captain Eclipse may be saved and …"
"No," Starkiller cut him off. "Don't tell them anything. Not yet. Just tell them that I told you to bring her here, but no more."
"Very well, Master. I will procure Captain Eclipse and will take one of the Rogue Shadow's escape pods down."
Starkiller sat down. "Thanks, PROXY."
And for the first time in a long time, the young Jedi clone felt warm relief spread through his body.
~0~
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~0~
"Okay, I'm sorry. What?!" Pooja stood in the medbay with Kota, hands on her hips.
PROXY held his arms out in exasperation. "As I said, Master Starkiller wishes me to bring Captain Eclipse down to the surface."
They looked over at Juno, who was now comatose, her breathing labored.
Pooja shook her head. "No. She's in no position to travel. And you can tell him that if he won't give us a why, then he's not getting her! He's been awfully different since Tatooine and, quite frankly, I'm getting tired of him holding secrets back. So you go back and tell him that, won't you PROXY?"
"But Miss Naberrie, I must …"
"No! No, no and no! Could I be more clear?!" She folded her arms in finality.
Kota placed his hand on her shoulder. "Listen, I got my reservations too. But I trust Starkiller. The kid has come through for me time and again. Has come through for all of us. If he says this is what needs to be done … I trust the kid."
Pooja whirled around. "You can't be serious! Come on, Kota! You saw the Mandalorians down there! You trust Juno in their clutches?!"
"No. But I trust Starkiller. He would never allow any harm to come to her."
"And how do you know that?!"
"Because he gave his life once for her. On the Death Star. I was there, I sensed it! She was the last glimmer of light he held onto until the very end. He won't fail her; I know that for a fact. I may be blind, but I see much more than anyone realizes."
Pooja sighed, defeated. "Fine. Take her." She points her finger at Kota. "But if any harm comes to her, then let it be on your head!"
She storms off as PROXY began to gather Juno in his arms.
~0~
Pooja sat alone, fuming in the engine room, watching the escape pod bearing PROXY and Juno detach and descend to the planet below. There was something dreadfully wrong, she knew it deep down.
"She is in great danger."
Juno turned around to see Zarbina standing there.
"What do you mean? I knew it! How?"
Zarbina's eyes were filled with sadness. "He is with my Master. He will twist Starkiller's mind with lies, just as he did mine. He will not help Starkiller. He will instead bring ruin to him and to us all, if we let him."
Pooja was immediately on her feet. "Stay here, keep an eye on Kota."
"If you go down to the surface, realize that it may be too late to save Starkiller," Zarbina called after her. "The Master is very seductive … he may have already begun poisoning his mind."
"Then we will have already lost."
~0~
Pooja entered the main holding area of the Rogue Shadow. Wedge and Kaden were sitting at a table playing sabaac. "Hey, you two – get up! We're going down to the surface."
"Wait, what?" Kaden asked. "Why? I had a winning hand!"
"Yeah, and we're all gonna have a losing hand if you don't get your lekku in action and come with me!"
Wedge folded his cards. "Count me in."
Kaden lowered his head. "This woman is going to be the death of me."
~0~
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In the Mandalorian medbay, PROXY lowered Juno onto a cot. Several Mandalorians attached wires, IV's, and other devices to her body. Her heart monitor beeped slowly, as her heart struggled to pump thick, sluggish blood through her veins.
Starkiller stood watching anxiously, as Plagueis placed his hands on her, closing his eyes, concentrating. "Yes," the Muun said slowly. "As I suspected. A very rare, but potent Force virus. It is eating her midichlorians."
"Can you save her?" Starkiller asked.
"Not indefinitely." Plagueis looked up at Starkiller. "You must understand, I can transfer some of my midichlorians to her, to replace the ones she's lost. But that does not get rid of the virus. The virus will, in time, will consume even those midichlorians I give her."
"But you can give her some midichlorians?"
Plagueis nodded. "That I can do. It will buy her some time, but we must find a cure for the virus. Otherwise, any help we give her will be very impermanent."
"Do it, then. Please."
The former Dark Lord placed his hand upon Juno's forehead, murmuring under his breath. He closed his eyes and grit his teeth in pure concentration.
Starkiller was on the tips of his toes, his fingernails digging deep into his palms.
Juno's heart continued to beat slowly, thuggishly.
And then … the beeping seemed to normalize. The heart monitor began to beep steadily. She took in a deep breath and her eyes fluttered open.
Starkiller was there in a second. "G-Galen …?" she whispered.
The young Jedi took her hand in his own. "I'm here Juno." He stroked her hair lovingly. She was still very weak.
Her eyes drooped to near slants and she labored for breath. However, Starkiller could still feet her hand tightly gripping his.
"I'm here, Juno. You're safe." His voice was cracking. "You're gonna be okay …"
"Galen … it's you … I'm worried about …" A medical droid slid a needle into her arm, and she passed into a deep sleep. Her heart monitor continued beeping at a stabilized rate.
Plagueis put his arm around Starkiller. "She will be fine, for now. However, we must find a cure for this virus."
Starkiller spared one last glance at the sleeping Juno, then at the surrounding medical staff. "You'd better take good care of her."
~0~
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Outside the Mandalorian base, a Mandalorian guard stood at attention on a landing platform, when suddenly, he heard a commotion.
"You've got to help me!" A pretty young woman came screeching out from behind a pillar! She rushed up to the guard. "Please!"
The guard aimed his rifle at her. "Hold there! Who are you! What are you doing?"
"Please," she pleaded, tears streaming down her face. "There's a man after me! He tried to violate me!"
The woman was absolutely hysterical. The guard spoke into a communication device. "Alpha Team, this is Beta. Minor disturbance. Probably nothing. I'll check it out." He looked at the woman, pointing his rifle at her. "Don't go anywhere."
He rounded the corner.
The woman stood there silently.
Then the Mandalorian cried out. "Hey! What are you doing? A Twilek?"
There was the sound of punching, beating, and a dull thud of a body hitting pavement.
The woman smiled.
~0~
Kaden grinned as Wedge stood there in the Mandalorian's armor. The Mandalorian guard was unconscious, tied up and left stashed behind the pillar. Pooja rounded the corner, eyeing Wedge's new disguise. "Fits you perfectly."
Wedge shrugged. "It's a little bit loose."
"Put on the helmet," Pooja suggested.
Wedge lowered the helmet onto his head. Suddenly, a voice rang out from the communicator in his helmet. "Beta? This is Alpha! What's going on?"
Wedge turned to Pooja, holding out his arms, gesturing for a suggestion.
"Respond," Pooja whispered.
Wedge held his hand up to the helmet. "Uh … Alpha Team, this is Beta sounding off."
"What's going? Is there a disturbance?"
"Oh, nothing. Nothing. Just a rodent of some kind."
"Gah, we need to get this place fumigated. Alpha Team out."
Wedge shrugged in his Mandalorian armor. "Wow. Can't believe they bought that."
Pooja turned to Kaden. "Okay, hold your arms out."
"Okay, but I don't -." Binders were slapped on his wrists by Wedge.
"Why is it, wherever we go, I end up in handcuffs?!" Kaden puffed.
~0~
Wedge led Kaden and Pooja through the Mandalorian base. Most of the Mandalorians they encountered paid them no mind, figuring that Pooja and Kaden were simply prisoners.
"These bindings are too tight," Kaden whined.
"Shut up," Pooja hissed. "You want us to get caught?"
"Why are we doing this, anyway?" Kaden continued. "Starkiller said he wanted us to stay on the ship."
"Because," Pooja groused, "there's something really wrong going on. I intend to get to the bottom of it."
"What if we get caught?"
"We won't if you don't screw this up," Pooja replied.
"Oh, and how shall I avoid that?" was Kaden's sarcastic comeback.
"I don't know … walk casual!"
"Hey you!"
The trio stopped as a Mandalorian in green armor approached, rifle in hand.
"We're caught!" Kaden hissed through his teeth.
The Mandalorian strode right up to them. For a moment there was silence.
"Don't forget, tonight is the monthly potluck. Tonight's your night to bring the Mon Calamari salad." He jabbed Wedge in the chest violently. "Don't. Forget. The. Salad."
He turned and walked away.
Wedge, Kaden and Pooja nearly fell over in surprise. Kaden let out a breath. "I thought we were goners"
Wedge shrugged. "Apparently I have to bring the salad."
"Let's keep moving," Pooja said.
They came to a turbolift, and the doors opened. "Thank the Force, no one's in here," Pooja said. They entered and Pooja scanned the buttons on the door.
"Do you know which ones go where?" Kaden asked.
"Nope," she replied. "I'm just gonna hit sub-level and hope for the best."
"Do you have any idea what you're doing?" Kaden replied.
"Of course I do. We're gonna look for Starkiller, but we gotta start somewhere!"
The doors began to close – and then slid open again as a Mandalorian entered. "Thanks," he remarked. "Thought I was gonna have to wait for the next one." The Mandalorian entered the elevator and hit a button. The doors closed and the turbolift began to descend.
Wedge, Pooja and Kaden stood there awkwardly, hoping the Mandalorian would get off soon.
The Mandalorian turned his head to Kaden and just simply … stared.
Kaden leaned towards Wedge. "He's staring at me," he whispered.
"Just act natural," Wedge replied.
"Oh yea, a Twilek prisoner in a Mandalorian compound. Real natural."
The Mandalorian suddenly pointed at Kaden. "It's you!"
Kaden looked around as though the Mandalorian were talking to someone else, then pointed at himself. "Who me?"
"Yes you!"
"Couldn't be!"
"Then who?"
"Listen," Kaden replied, "is there an end to this, cause it's starting to feel real redundant?"
The Mandalorian balled his hand into a fist. "You're the guy … who broke my sister's heart! You left her at the altar!"
Kaden raised his bound hands. "Listen, I break hearts all the time. Look at me, I'm gorgeous! But you'll have to be more specific if –" He never got to finish. The Mandalorian threw a mean right hook and Kaden collapsed on the floor. Wedge and Pooja stood there in absolute shock as Kaden writhed in pain, rolling around on the turbolift's floor. "Why the face?! Why the face?! My modeling career!"
The turbolift came to a stop, and the Mandalorian glared at Wedge. "I hope you're taking him to the torture chamber. If so, let me know. I just want five minutes with him." He turned and exited.
Kaden was still writhing on the floor. "Why?! Why?!"
Pooja helped him up. "Did you really leave his sister at the altar?"
"I don't even know who he was! I've left plenty of women at altars, but I don't ever remember a Mandalorian!" He looked up thoughtfully. "On second thought … no, no, a Wookie once, but never a Mandalorian."
The turbolift descended and finally reached one of the sublevels. Pooja motioned. "Come on."
As they walked down a corridor, they noticed dozens upon dozens of tanks and vats, filled with liquids and various species, all in a fetal position.
"Cloning tanks," Pooja said. "I've heard about these. My Aunt Padme once told me about the cloning tanks on Kamino. That's where the Clone Army came from."
"Are the Mandalorians breeding a Clone Army?" Wedge asked.
"I don't know. There are all kinds of different species here … if they are, they're not exclusively breeding Mandalorians."
Kaden approached a vat filled with a pus-colored liquid. He squinted his eyes, peering in at the entity floating inside.
The entity had a twisted and distorted face, its head dented as though it were hit with a hydrospanner. "Freaky," Kaden said, before tapping on the glass.
The entity opened its eyes.
Kaden let out a girlish scream and backed into a computer terminal.
He accidentally hit a button, and suddenly alarms went blaring off.
Pooja lowered her head. "So much for our investigation."
Within seconds, they were surrounded by armed Mandalorians. "You're under arrest!"
Wedge and Pooja glared at Kaden who grinned sheepishly. "Uh … I didn't do it!"
~0~
"So, you are three intruders. Yes, I knew Starkiller's friends couldn't resist searching the compound. That's why I humored your … investigation."
Wedge, Kaden and Pooja stood in a large audience chamber. Before them was a throne, upon which sat Plageuis. He was flanked on his left and right by Vis and Maris. The Muun stared at them intently behind steepled fingers.
"But what to do with you?" he mused.
"Would letting us go and forgetting this ever happened be within the realm of reason?" Kaden asked.
A small smile crossed the Muun's face. "I like him," he said to Vis.
Pooja stepped forward. "We saw what you're doing! You're creating a clone army!"
Plageuis leaned back in his throne. "Ah, Miss Naberrie. It is not every day that someone of … royal blood stands before me. The niece of former Queen Amidala … yes, she played very well into my hands when I served the Dark Side."
Pooja remained defiant. "Enough of this. Where is Starkiller? Where is Juno? What have you done to them?!"
"My dear, you seem to be under the false impression that Starkiller is being held against his will. No, you must have known there was a reason he came here. He sought me out, and rightfully so, for only I can help him. Only I can help all of you. The Rebellion is doomed to failure. But I … I can challenge the Empire for supremacy. Palpatine will kneel at my feet. The Rebellion can yet survive, if you and its leaders would submit to me. We need not all be enemies … not when we can be allies. The enemy of my enemy is my friend."
Pooja shook her head. "I don't want to be friends with people who would create monsters like what we saw in those tubes."
"Oh yes, you have that Naberrie defiance. But you speak for yourself, Miss Naberrie. Do you speak for Starkiller? What does he have to say?" Plagueis motioned with his hand and a door to his left opened. Through it stepped Starkiller.
Kaden waved at the Jedi with his wrists bound. "Hey! A little help here!"
Plagueis turned to Starkiller. "Your … friends … have trespassed here. Injured one of my guards -."
"Hey!" Kaden interrupted, pointing upwards at his black eye. "One of your guards injured me!"
"Your friend here is quite plucky," Plagueis mused. "But I leave their fate to you. Back when I served the Dark Side, I would have executed them on the spot. But to show that I have renounced the old ways – that I have renounced Darth Plagueis – I, Plagueis the Healer, leave the choice with you, Starkiller."
Starkiller looked at his friends. "Then release them. And send them back to the Rogue Shadow where they should've stayed like I asked." He spoke in a low voice which made his annoyance highly clear.
Plagueis raised a hand, and the bindings on the trio's wrists clattered to the floor. "It shall be as you say." The Muun stood up. "Come Vis, Maris. Let us give our new friend some privacy with his old friends." With a sweeping of his robe, Plagueis, Vis and Maris vanished through a door.
The second they were gone, Pooja rounded on Starkiller. "Okay, what the hell?! You steal Juno away, and you order us to stay on the ship! I can see why! You didn't want us to see what kind of a person you were throwing your lot in with!"
Starkiller held his hands out. "Let me explain."
Pooja put her hands on her hips. "Oh, this ought to be good!"
"I sought out the Master, because he can save Juno! You saw her condition on the ship! She doesn't have much time left!"
"So you came and sought out this creepshow. Okay, did he help Juno?"
Starkiller looked away. "He stabilized her condition … bought her a few more weeks maybe. But until the virus is fully removed it's only a temporary fix. He will have to keep performing healings on her every so often, restoring the midichlorians she loses to the virus. With any luck, he can teach me how to do it … and I can keep healing her until we can find a way to fix the virus."
"So what now?" Pooja asked. "You're gonna stay here, learn under this freakshow?"
"He's not a freakshow," Starkiller said. "He may have been evil once, but I believe he now means to do the right thing."
"Right thing?" Pooja wasn't buying it. "You saw those clones! You saw what he's creating, what he's doing! And have you forgotten – he was the one who invaded Onderon! How many people were killed?! Sorry Starkiller, he's got your mind clouded but good!"
The young clone spread his arms out. "I have to help Juno!"
"You've been saying that! And I thought we were! We were going to find Anakin Skywalker! You promised to help me find out what happened to my Aunt Padme! Now you want to throw this all away for some vague promise made by a known liar?!"
Starkiller's temper got the better of him. "What would you have me do?! Just let her die! I can't do that, Pooja! I just can't!"
"She won't die – not if you find Anakin Skywalker. Not if you find out how he learned the secret of eternal life!"
"And what if he didn't?! What if he is really dead?! Plagueis is a better hope! One that's actually shown results!"
"And what about the Rebellion?" Pooja asked. "What of Kota and your Jedi training? Doesn't that matter at all? Has your obsession with eternal life eclipsed all of your other goals! You promised the Rebellion you would help them!"
"And I am!" Starkiller shouted. "If Plagueis can teach me some of his techniques, maybe we can all work together! Maybe it would be smart to work with him! You know what the Death Star is capable of! This may be the only way to stop it!"
Pooja shook her head. "No. If we side with Plagueis, the Rebellion is dead anyway. If we side with him, we'll lose sight of whywe're fighting. You'll simply trade Palpatine for Plagueis … one dictator for another." She changed her tone and grasped Starkiller's hands in her own. "Please … I understand your concern for Juno, I really do. I promised you I would help you save her. But not like this, Starkiller. We've come so far in finding Anakin Skywalker. Don't turn your back on the mission."
Starkiller wrenched his hands out of hers. "Listen to you, from your ivory tower! It's so easy for you to say all these things Pooja, but you're not in Juno's position! She's dying. She needs help – fast! And if you can't see why I need to be here, then maybe you should just get out of my life!"
Pooja took a step back. "You don't mean that …"
"If it comes down to you and Juno … then yes I do! Go back to the Rogue Shadow. Better yet, go back to Naboo and forget about all this. And if Kota and the others feel the same way, they can space themselves too! I'm staying here with Juno and PROXY!"
Pooja's lip trembled. "I can't believe you … a con man wows you with a few parlor tricks and tells you everything you want to hear and now you're ready to space your friends." Pooja shakes her head when Starkiller doesn't respond. "So this it then. After everything we've been through …" Starkiller folded his arms and looked away. Pooja turned. "Come on Wedge, Kaden. Let's get back to the ship. Kota will be very hurt to realize what his apprentice plans to do."
The three turned and began to walk away.
Starkiller wanted to reach out to them, call after them. But he felt a hand on his shoulder behind him. Plagueis was there. "Let them go," the Muun whispered. "They don't need you, and apparently they feel as though they never did. Captain Eclipse is the one who needs you now."
~0~
As Pooja reached the exit of the throne room, she took a last glance back. She saw Plagueis guide Starkiller towards another exit. Starkiller never looked back at her. So, she turned, and followed Kaden and Wedge out the door.
Out of Starkiller's life.
~0~
"You're going down a path I cannot follow!"
"Because of Obi-Wan?"
"Because of what you've done! What you plan to do!"
~0~
And just like that, friendships were severed.
~0~
Starkiller sat next to Juno's bed, stroking her hair, watching her monitors with concern. PROXY stood at his side, helping to examine the readouts of her lifesigns.
"You made the right decision, you know."
Starkiller stood up to see Plagueis standing there, hands clasped in front of him.
"I've been with them through thick and thin … I don't know, maybe Pooja had a point!"
"She claimed to be your friend … then why could she not see how important this was to you? How selfish can she be, to make you sacrifice your love for her cause?"
Starkiller looked down grimly at Juno's sleeping form. He finally looked up at the former Dark Lord. "I … I want you to teach me."
"Teach you what, my boy?"
Starkiller grasped Juno's hand. "Your powers. How to restore life … through the midichlorians. How to heal. If I learn this, I can keep Juno alive … keep restoring her midichlorians so the virus can't eat away at her fully. Until we can find a cure!"
Plaguies placed the palm of his hand on Starkiller's back. "Then I will gladly accept you, my new apprentice. But before we begin, I have an assignment for you."
Starkiller looked up. "Assignment? Look, we don't have much time and –"
"Juno will be safe here with me. Once I see signs of her midichlorian count depleting, you have my word I will promptly restore them. That is a promise. Besides, this mission will help you understand … you will come to fully understand how and why Anakin Skywalker has failed. You will understand why Anakin Skywalker has been so important to your journey."
Starkiller looked longingly at Juno. "And you promise you'll teach me?"
"Of course. I need your power, you need my guidance and teachings. We are a sad pair to face the Empire, but we will need each other."
"Then what is thy bidding, my Master?"
Plaguies opened a small device which revealed a small star map. "You will go to the Mustafar system. This is where your former Master, Darth Vader, was truly born. Vader has a … holocron in his palace on Mustafar. Obtain it, and you will begin to see how you and Anakin Skywalker are linked."
"But … what about Vader?"
"Vader is currently off-world, by my records. You should have minimal trouble infiltrating his palace and retrieving it."
Starkiller stood up, adjusting the lightsabers at his side. "I'll need a ship."
"My men will provide you with a small two-person fighter. Room enough for you and PROXY."
PROXY saluted him. "It will be an honor to once again work with you on your missions, Master. And never forget, Master Kota reprogrammed me on Dantooine to keep trying to kill you as part of your Jedi training."
Plagueis nodded. "Such programming would be helpful in your training … keep you on your toes. I approve."
PROXY rubbed his hands greedily. "Oh, I cannot wait to ambush you on one of your missions, Master. I have been looking forward to the opportunity to try out 'Program Revan' on you!"
Starkiller shook his head. "When can I leave?"
"As soon as possible," Plagueis replied. "I will make the preparations for your departure immediately."
Starkiller down at Juno. "I'll be back soon, Juno. I promise." He lowered his head and planted a tender kiss on her cheek.
~0~
~0~
~0~
"HE'S DOING WHAT?!" Rahm Kota's face was bright red. He sat in the main holding area of The Rogue Shadow with Pooja, Wedge, Kaden and Zarbina.
"He's staying … with Plagueis."
"I don't understand," Kota was ranting. "Who the hell is Plagueis?!"
"A monster," Zarbina replied. "Do not underestimate him. What he is on the outside, is not at all what he is on the inside. He may look like a harmless Muun. But on the inside, he is a beast. Not one that devours flesh. But one that devours souls. Starkiller is in grave danger."
Kota clutched his fist. "I'm dropping in there right now and hauling his ass outta there!"
"No," Pooja shook her head. "He won't listen to reason!"
"He'll listen to my lightsaber on his backside!" Kota screeched.
Zarbina shook her head. "It is pointless. My old Master will only continue to tighten the cords around Starkiller's heart."
"And we can't risk anything happening to Juno!" Wedge replied. "If we make an open move, Plagueis has got her! He can use her against us, threaten her, whatever!"
"Wedge is right," Pooja said. "Starkiller made very clear where we all stand. And we certainly can't risk Juno's life."
"So what do we do?" Kaden asked.
Pooja looked out the window. "Pray Starkiller makes the right decision. In the meantime, I say, we have a Rebellion to help! We won't abandon them now!"
Kota punched a hole in the wall. "Blast it!" He sighed. "That boy is what all I have left … but you're right - we can't endanger Juno!" He turned to the rest of the crew. "I hate to stand by and do nothing. But I still trust Starkiller … he's walked a fine line of light and dark in the past, but when it came down to it, he's always ended up making the right choice. On the Death Star … and then again on Kamino. He won't let me down." He stood in the center of the group. "I don't care what he says – I won't just abandon him! We'll give him his space for now … but when the time comes, he'll make the right choice. And I for one will proudly stand at his side!"
Pooja lowered her head. "I hope you're right, Kota. I really do."
~0~
~0~
~0~
Plagueis stood in his chambers, watching the two-person fighter piloted by Starkiller and PROXY take off from a landing platform and disappear from view.
Yes, things were finally falling into place.
Behind him a door opened.
"You're late," Plagueis smirked.
"I had a few things to take care of, but I'm here now, my Master." The Dark Apprentice stepped into the shadows.
"Did Lord Vader buy your fake 'defection'?"
The Dark Apprentice shrugged. "Probably not. But it doesn't matter whether he knows I've been working for you this whole time or not. Not if you're going to declare yourself openly."
"Lord Vader must be blind indeed," Plagueis mused, "if he couldn't tell that I was training you in my ways, right under his nose."
"Your voice in my sleep," the Dark Apprentice said. "I'm glad. From the across the galaxy, you've shown me more power than Vader ever could."
"You have done well," Plaguies purred. "You have orchestrated my plans flawlessly. From delivering my virus to Vader, planting the idea of poisoning Juno Eclipse into his brain … leaving the only available antidote with him … Starkiller will have no choice but to come into a final conflict with Vader."
The Dark Apprentice folded his arms. "I will make sure Vader tracks my ship to Mustafar and heads there himself."
"Good. Let Starkiller and Vader battle it out for a while … let them tire each other out. Then Starkiller will be easy pickings for you … like snatching an egg from a nest. You have learned my techniques well. And you will soon become the most powerful being who has ever lived!"
The Dark Apprentice grinned. "And then you shall have your revenge."
The Muun nodded. "Let these foolish disciples of mine believe I've renounced the darkness. Such children, so easily manipulated." Plagueis clenched his fist. "And won't Sidious be surprised when I dismantle everything he has built over these past years … when he is finally broken and whimpering at my feet, his Empire, his throne, in my grasp! Everything he cherishes and prides himself on in ruins! He will know the wrath of Darth Plagueis!"
~0~
~0~
~0~