Chapter 3

'What is lost can always be replaced', my Master's favorite saying. Palpatine's death was surely a big blow to my plans, but as intelligent as he was; his foolishness blinded him. Republic politics is the least of my concern, but if it would mean the Jedi's downfall; so be it.

"How is the woman?"

"Her body is still in good condition to keep the child healthy, but she's been having manic episodes and outbursts for last few days."

Plagueis sat comfortably in his passenger seat, as he discusses his recent affairs to his lab assistant through a holographic call. "Make sure she doesn't go rogue and escape, if she becomes overwhelming, just sedate her to calm her down." The Sith Lord explained.

"What if it effects the boy?" Dr.Tekra asked.

"The boy is a Force-Sensative, his cells are. strong enough to resist any dosage." Plagueis replied.

Tekra nodded; "Your will shall be done, my Lord." As the holocall disappated, Plagueis calcuated his transmitter to contact another person of interest. The hologram appeared and an old, wealthy looking man with purple robes stood poised and stoic in front of his familar collegue. "Sate Pestage." Plagueis said.

"Hego Damask, what has brought you to summon me at this hour?" Sate Pestage questioned. Sate Pestage, a former advisor of the now-deceased Sheev Palpatine, he served Palpatine since his days as senator and some say he's developed a close friendship with him.

"I'm sure that you have heard of Palpatine's untimely death." Plagueis said; "It was great blow to our plans."

"Yes I was quite devastated about Sheev's death, him being the last heir to the House Of Palpatine was what made me grow closer with him and protecting him was mandatory for the sake of keeping that lineage alive." Sate Pestage grieved.

"Indeed, but I have a good news." Plagueis said; "You have been given a position as Co-Chancellor for Bail Antilles' Campaign."

Pestage's eyes squinted as he tucked his head slightly to the side; "Antilles? you mean that Core Faction puppet?

"Yes but he's now my puppet."

"Why the Core Faction? Ainlee Teem has more of an advantage in the polls than Antilles." Pestage said.

"I have plans for the Rim Faction, but for now I want the Core Faction to maintain power in the Republic, Their galactist ideas will benefit our plans greatly." Plagueis explained.

"What about Carmoda? he's the biggest loyalist to the Core Faction, I highly doubt he would step down so easily." Pestage said.

"He's not going to be a problem after I deal with him. But I'll will stay in touch when everything is set in motion." Plagueis replied.

"I'll be waiting, My Lord." Sate Pestage said as the hologram disappated.

"Where to Mister Damask?" the pilot asked.

"Mustafar." The Sith Lord simply said. Without hesitation he pilot set the ship into hyperdrive, causing the ship to disappear into hyperspace.

Corellia

Among the night skies of the metropolitian planet of Corellia, two politicians sit and discuss recent affairs as they indulge in wine. "Do you think Antilles is a capable Chancellor?" Chancellor Valorum said.

"He's going to be the push for us to rule the galaxy." Carmoda replied confidently.

"The Core Faction had lost some faith in Prince Antilles but Palpatine's death surely was a saving grace." Valorum said.

Jarrus cocked his head back slightly; "Speaking of that, I wonder who killed him."

"Well, who ever did it, I give them my thanks." The Chancellor said as he raised his glass.

Senator Carmoda raised his glass as well and took sip of his wine, while looking at the eyes of the decorated politician in front of him. "Do you think it was the Rim Faction?"

"Hah, knowing the amount of criminals in that Faction I wouldn't be surprised." Chancellor Valorum chuckled.

"It could've been the Core Faction too." Senator Carmoda suggested as he took another sip of his wine.

"I wouldn't put it pass them either, Palpatine had no loyalty towards anyone but himself, a spoiled brat of a man." Valorum commented.

Jarrus pondered, he twirled his glass of wine as he looked into the almost empty glass. "Why did the Core Faction choose Antilles?"

Chancellor Valorum, finishing his second glass said; "Simple, he comes from a noble family, The Core Faction prides themselves in being the richest of the rich."

"I see." Jarrus said in a disappointed manner; "So loyalty is out the question?"

"Hah. Loyalty? those aristocrats stab eachother's backs every time!" Valorum said in a drunken manner. Jarrus walked over to the table and set his glass, the hysterical Chancellor suddenly changed his expression as he saw the Senator give him a stern look. "I think it's time to go Chancellor." Jarrus said.

Chancellor Valorum continued to laugh; "What?! We were just having fun!" he said cheerfully. Jarrus in frustration, grabs him by his arm and directed him towards the door, he pushes the Chancellor out of his home as he says; "Goodnight Chancellor.", shutting the door thereafter. The Senate Guards waiting by the door stood motionless as one of them said; "Are you ready go, your excellency?

"Ready to go?! That man just assaulted a Chancellor! Aren't you idiots going to do something!?" Chancellor Valorum said in a drunken rage.

The two guard looked at each other then looked back at their superior, Valorum sighed; "Just take me home." The two guards carried their drunken Chancellor down the hall as he began whistling random songs by the popular band known as Figrin D'an And the Modal Nodes.

Mustafar

Entering into the atmosphere of the Lava Planet, Plagueis directed his pilot to land his ship on a small facility attached to a volcanic mountain. The ship landed and the pilot escorted the Sith Lord out of the ship as he said; "Are you sure you don't need any assistance Mister Damask?"

"No Im fine, go ahead and watch over the ship while I'm gone." Damask replied in a commanding tone.

As the pilot entered the ship, a group of three skakoan males approached the Sith Lord, one with green skin, the other with dark purple skin and the third one with light green skin. The green skakoan spoke first and said; "Hego Damask, welcome, I expected your arrival." He said through his steel mouth mask.

"Emir Wat Tambor, It's a pleasure to visit your place of business." Damask said.

"Please, just call me Wat Tambor and Mustafar is just one of my most profitable locations." Tambor replied. The two other skakoan males bowing towards the Banking Clan Leader. "Lord Damask, these are my brothers, Jaug Tambor and Ilak Tambor."

"Nice to meet you all, but we need to get to business." Damask said.

"Indeed, right this way." Tambor directed. The Muun and The Skakoans walked into the facility, where droids can be seen operating on the control panels. "Palpatine told me that he wanted to use one of my locations for a project, but he didn't give me specific info."

"So you gave him access?" Plagueis questioned.

"I thought you knew." Tambor simply replied, turning his head toward the Muun.

Plagueis grunted; "What did you find?"

Tambor lead Plagueis to a dark room with windows tinted from the outside, "What is this?" Plagueis asked. Wat nodded to his brother Ilak as he pressed the control panel near the door, the shades on the window's opened up to reveal a small arena-like training room, where a red-skinned Zabrak male is training against Remote Droids.

"Palpatine didn't tell me that he was going to keep a Zabrak in my facility." Wat Tambor said. Without saying another word, Plagueis examined the Zabrak's skills as he watched him train. He noticed that Zabrak's skills were polished and his movements more fluid. "How long has he been here?"

"I don't really know, we just discovered him last week." Tambor replied.

"Have you tried getting rid of him?" Plagueis asked again.

"We did try but he kept killing our droids." Tambor replied, "But I'm curious, how did you know he was hiding something?"

"Sheev had a fascination with studying planets and Mustafar was one of his favorites." Plagueis said coldly.

"Well...I don't want this Zabrak to damage my facility." Tambor complained.

"Let me inside the arena, I'll talk with him." Plagueis simply said. Wat nodded toward his other brother, Jaug and had him lead Plagueis inside the training grounds, once the Zabrak noticed his presence, he force pushed all of the Remote Droids away and walked toward the mysterious figure in front of him. Jaug quickly left the room, leaving both Force users by themselves.

The Zabrak rushed towards the Sith Master and attempted to strike the Muun but the swift defense by Plagueis made the Zabrak look slow in comparison. In frustration, the Zabrak force pushed Plagueis against the wall and rushed for the kill but was immediately stopped as he was back-handed to the ground. Plagueis lifted the Zabrak to his feet and choked him with his bare hands. "Now, I just want to have a simple conversation, understand?" Plagueis said as he tightened his grip.

The Zabrak nodded slightly, feeling his throat getting crushed. Plagueis let go of the Zabrak as he fell to his knees. The Zabrak felt Plagueis' aura surrounding him as if it was absorbing his energy. The Munn's eyes shifted to yellow as he commanded; "Get Up. Now." he said in a deep tone.

The Zabrak stood up and faced the Sith Master; "What is your name?" Plagueis asked.

"Maul." the Zabrak said.

"Who brought you here Maul?"

"A...a human." Maul replied.

"Did this 'human' train you?" Plagueis questioned.

Maul paused for second; "I trained myself."

Darth Plagueis looked at the seventeen year old Zabrak, using the Force to invade the memories of the Sith Acolyte. Maul began to fall to his knees as he felt a huge amount of pressure weighing on his head. Searching through his memories, Plagueis found a memory of a child crying, and the face of Darth Sidious looking down on the child.

"Why the child? Why not one of my strongest warriors?" A female voice said.

"This child has great potential, I can sense it." Darth Sidious replied. "This offering will assure that Dathomir will be in a safe hands."

"What about the Republic? will they interfere?" The woman asked.

"The Republic will be the least of our worries." Darth Sidious said an a raspy tone.

Plagueis exited the Zabrak's mind and looked toward the spectors above him as he motioned for one of them to enter in the arena. Wat Tambor looked at Ilak and said; "Go get the security droids to apprehend the Zabrak." Tambor's brother nodded and left the room, Wat looked back at Damask and the Zabrak, processing what he just had witnessed.

--

Plagueis, Maul and the Tambor brothers stood at the bridge of the Mustafar facility as Plagueis' ship begins to prepare for lift off. "I appreciate the cooperation Tambor, I will assure you that your services will be needed again." Hego Damask said.

"I'll be waiting for that day, Mister Damask."

Plagueis did a slight nod and walked with the bounded Zabrak into his ship. Plagueis' ship then lifted itself of the ground and exited the planet's atmosphere in lightning speed.

"It's quite surprising that Damask was able to tame that wild Zabrak." Jaug said.

"Yes, quite surprising indeed." Wat replied.