Chapter 22
To make ultimatums in another's kingdom is similar to putting a Prog in a Rancor's dungeon. Only one makes it out unscathed and in this case...it's the one whole holds the most power.
"Lord Jira Maak, I've come with a proposition."
The Jedi and The Weequay stood in a stoic manner as Suliman continued; "I've come on the behalf of The Galactic Republic to offer you a deal in exchange for your cooperation."
Jira Maak stared down the Chancellor's Advisor, then spoke in his non-basic language to his assistant droid as it translated; "Proceed." it replied.
"As you might assume, this Jedi and I are apart of the Galactic Republic." He continued; "We have come, to offer you a gift, a gift that will not just be beneficial to your empire but also, to your own well being."
Maak replied as the droid translated; "A gift you say? Hmph, don't flatter me."
"I'm here to grant you immunity, Lord Maak." Suliman said; "A privilege, most criminals of your status don't have."
--
"Immunity, I can do a lot with immunity." Hondo said to himself as he rubbed his chin.
--
Jira paused then chuckled as he walked back to his throne; "Immunity? I am not as foolish as you think.I've built this empire without the protection of the Republic, what makes you think I want your protection now? " the droid translated.
"It's not us you should be afraid of, it's your superior." Suliman replied.
Jira stopped and turned as Suliman continued; "This grand spice cartel you created for yourself will eventually reach the ears of your superior, Lom Pyke." He continued; "And when that happens, there are going to be questions and those questions will have to be answered and those answers might determine your fate."
Jira Maak walked over and stared directly into the Advisor's eyes as he said; "Watch your words."
"If you want to keep your empire, then co-operate with us and we will grant you immunity in return." Suliman explained.
"I will not give up the syndicate for your meaningless protection." the droid translated.
"Sooner or later, your superior will find out about your expansion into Coru City, which I assume was unauthorized and when he finds out, it will drive him to visit you himself and we both know what will happen if he does." Suliman warned.
"If I accept your'gift' then what happens to my business?" The droid translated.
"Your business will stay intact, all we want you to do is to leave the surface world and continue your black market activities down here." The Chancellor's Advisor said.
Jira Maak shook his head; "The surface is where I receive most of my revenue, the sewage rats of the underworld are loyal customers but the rich are much more profitable." he replied as the droid translated.
"We are providing you legal protection from criminal percicution in exchange for your withdrawal from the surface world. Such an opportunity like that does not come often." Suliman explained.
"If I refuse, what will be the price? You'll arrest me? Kill me? go to war with me? Because surely the Republic will not risk a war with the Pyke Syndicate, your dwindling army won't suffice." Jira Maak tested.
"If you refuse, then your superior will be notified of your current business dealings. As unforgiving as he is, I expect you not to last another sunrise until your empire crumbles." Suliman replied.
Jira Maak laughed; "How will that come about when you three are nothing but dust." the droid translated.
"The three of us!? Dust!?" Hondo said in confusion.
Syfo-Dias quickly analyzed the room as he gripped his lightsaber, ready to strike. Maak's sentinel guards begun to shift closer to the trio, while they brace themselves from a possible attack.
"Apprehend them!" Jira Maak commanded.
Syfo-Dias quickly activated his lightsaber as the sharp green light began slicing through the incoming attackers from every direction possible. "Run!" The Jedi Master yelled, Suliman and Hondo slipped through the onslaught, running towards the exit, but we're stopped by reinforcements bursting into the throne room.
Surrounded, the three stood against each other's backs as the sentinel guards grew in numbers, closing in on their prey. Jedi Master Syfo-Dias closed his eyes for moment, performing a slight meditation method as he begun to tap into the Force.
"What the hell are you doing!? You should be protecting us!" Hondo said in frustration.
"Be calm, he knows what he is doing." Suliman assured.
"Apprehend them now!" The spice lord yelled in his Pyke dialect.
The moment they began to pounce, the Jedi Master opened his eyes and unleashed a massive Force Wave that sent everyone around him, flying across the throne room. Even so that Hondo and Suliman felt the after effects of the attack; "My head..." Hondo complained.
Syfo-Dias' lightsaber suddenly deactivated as he fell to the ground after exhausting most of his strength. Suliman got up and ran to aid the Jedi, "Master Jedi!"
"Go! Leave me here!" Syfo-Dias yelled.
"No, I need you to come with me!" Suliman replied.
"Go! You don't have much time left!"
Before Suliman could react, a sudden beam flew right through his right shoulder, causing him to fall onto the ground with ease. Syfo-Dias looked over and saw the tall Pyke walking towards him with a blaster in hand. "No!" He yelled out of anger, he turned toward his companion, as he's squirming on the floor, clutching on his bloody shoulder.
"Any slight movements and both of your heads are getting blown off." the droid translated.
Syfo-Dias, mustering up his strength, begun to tap into the Force once more but his connection was delayed as two sentinel guards grabbed him and subdued him with an electric shock. Suliman followed suit with his hands being cuffed by two sentinel guards as well.
Hondo got up and looked toward the exit, planning to run towards those twin doors but was stopped by a pair of sentinel guards that wrestled him to the ground and cuffing him. "Wait! I'm not with them, hey! This is a mistake."
"Take them to the underground holding chamber." Jira Maak commanded.
"Wait! I'm innocent!" Hondo pleaded.
The spice lord and his droid, stood and watched as the three men were dragged out of the throne room, with Hondo's pleas being heard and suddenly fading as the throne doors slowly close shut. Leaving the spice lord to his quarters.
Finis Valorum's Apartment, Corellia
Sitting patiently by his patio, Finis Valorum sipped on his wine, waiting for his guest to arrive. As some time passes, his assistant droid approached him as it said "Sir, your guest has arrived for the meeting."
"Very well, bring him in." Valorum replied.
The assistant droid waddled into the other room and after a few minutes, the droid returned with the President of the GNN and two elite level guards walking in with him.
Valorum stood up and stretched out his hand as he said "Mr. Mallik it's nice to see you again."
Carr looked at Valorum's hand and begrudgingly shook it, looking at him with distain as he did it. "You better have something for me."
"Please, Sit." Valorum suggested.
They both sat across from each other on Valorum's highly expensive lounge chairs, beginning to discuss the topic of their meeting. "I had to re-schedule an important executive meeting for this, so this better be good." Mallik re-assured.
"Don't worry, I have something that can be useful." Valorum said, motioning his assistant droid to shut the currents. As the currents come to a close, Valorum laid a comlink on the table, activating a holographic image that appeared to both of them.
The holographic image contained names, percentages and different faces of politicians. "According to recent poll statistics, Ruwee Naberrie is leading by 60% while his opponents fell short by a wide margin." Valorum continued, shifting the holographic image. "He allegedly has been campaigning across Naboo but his donations don't reflect that." He continued "He currently has 14,000 credits worth of donations but the cost of travel and hosting such big events does not add up to the amount of funding he received."
"Ok, so what's your point?" Mallik said impatiently
"This." Valorum said as he shifted the holographic image.
"The RRM? His charity?"
"Indeed, it's possible that he's using the donation money to fund his campaign rather than fulfilling his non-profit obligations." Valorum explained. "Which in turn, would ruin his reputation amongst the general public if it was ever exposed."
Carr Mallik sat back onto the chair as he replied; "So your suggesting that Naberrie is committing fraud?"
"It's up to the public to decide if presented correctly."
"Is there any proof? Documents?" Mallik questioned.
"You keep asking questions when I'm giving you the story you wanted." Valorum replied.
Mallik sighed; "Listen Finis, I'm only considering your 'ideas' out of respect for Talus, but I am not risking airing false accusations about a politician without any solid evidence."
"Oh come on, don't act like you haven't exaggerated the truth before." Valorum said.
"Headlines bring viewers, blacklash drives them away. Mallik replied simply.
"The GNN is the biggest news network in the entire galaxy, even if Ruwee does refute the accusation, the rest of the galaxy will still believe our narrative." Valorum assured.
"Naberrie is the most popular Core Faction candidate at the moment and for a pro-Core network like us turn against him, will make people ask questions." Mallik said. "What benefit do I have if I side with you?"
"Ruwee, is against the Core Faction as a whole." The former Supreme Chancellor replied. "He's has an agenda against us, if we don't stop him, the whole Faction will diminish, which in turn will diminish any funding or any support for your network."
Mallik sat for a few seconds, clearly visibly irritated about the whole ordeal, stood up and looked at the former chancellor as he said; "Fine, I'll go along with your plan." He paused; "But if this backfires, I'm done."
Valorum stood up and shook the CEO's hand once more as he said; "Deal."
