The chancellor and a few Council members including Yoda and Plo Koon (But not Mace) waited on the landing bay as Obi-wan, Anakin, ventress, and her master emerged.
The chancellor spoke up first
"Master Jedi, I have been informed of your success with the pirates, and I must say I am most impressed," Palpatine spoke
Anakin knew he had to keep quiet to avoid Palpatine's suspicion, so he let Obi-Wan do the talking.
"Yes, we were able to negotiate with the pirates and they agreed to leave rattatak and other invaded systems in exchange for improved trade with the republic as well as defence contracts in the area to help us maintain peace," Obi-wan said attempting to mislead Palpatine, as in reality, these contracts were actually against Palpatine himself.
"Well I am sure we can accommodate these trade deals and defence contracts, though it seems a bit ironic having pirates act in the role of peacekeepers" Palpatine replied
"They are good at what they do, so if they can put their skills to the good they could be of great value not only to the republic but also to themselves" Obi-Wan replied
The Jedi returned to the temple. Although Anakin was now a Padawan he still had some lessons with the younglings, and others will other padawans. He had his own room though now which he headed straight to.
3 days later
Anakin woke up and decided it was time to contact Hondo. As Vader he had become skilled at manipulating his comm frequencies to be untraceable.
"Hondo" Anakin spoke
"Yes, Jedi boy, you have contacted the great Hondo Ohnaka" Hondo responded
"I have your first mission" Anakin informed
"and..." Hondo questioned
"The target Is Poggle the lesser. He is normally on Geonosis which would be difficult to take him out on, however, I have intel that he will be attending a meeting with trade federation representatives onboard a trade federation cruiser above the planet of Malastaire. I want you to attack this ship during the engagement and if possible capture Poggle, but if necessary kill him. Another key goal will be to obtain trade federation ship movement plans which should be onboard the command ship. There will be millions of credits to steal on board, and if not we will compensate you. However, leave no witnesses, we don't want anyone finding out it was you pirates involved. " Anakin monologued
"I like a challenge, but this sounds impossible" Hondo replied
"Nothing is impossible for you pirates, i know you are capable of doing anything. Also, there's a lot of profit to be made"
"Very well, I will do it" Hondo announced in a cheery mood
Anakin sent Hondo all the details needed for the mission.
Anakin then proceeded to head towards his first class. Now he was with students his own age (well, he is technically 45 but in terms of the body), and not 5 years his junior. The class was lightsaber combat with master Windu.
"Oh sith," Anakin thought to himself.
Anakin was late to the lesson due to his preoccupation with Hondo.
Mace stared Skywalker down as he entered the room and asked bluntly, "Why are you late"
"I was attacked by pirates" Anakin replied trying to give a subtle hint of what he was doing
The other students let out a chuckle, but Mace knew he was actually dealing with pirates.
"Well, as Skywalker was late we can have him demonstrate first. You and I are going to dual and show the other padawans how it done" Mace announced
"How's what's done?" Anakin questioned
"I'm sure you will figure it out" Mace added with a hint of anger
Anakin knew what he was talking about. It seemed the master wanted to test skywalkers abilities and perhaps even expose him. Well, he was going to have to be careful this time.
The two ignited their blades and turned them to low power as to not cause any serious injury.
Their blades clashed
Hondo POV
"We are approaching Malastaire boys, let's make our new Jedi friend round and get some bounty"
6 Pirate attack ships exited hyperspace and immediately began to sire upon the un-suspecting trade federation capital ship. Hondos ship made why to board whilst the others covered fire. The pirates were able to provide enough covering fire to allow Hondo and 2 other pirate ships to dock with the capital ship and board. The remaining ships fled the system before starfighters could be deployed.
Hondo and his ship's group opened the blast doors and immediately began firing upon the battle droids they encountered. The other pirates began rampaging through the ship rapidly. The droids were no match for the pirates.
"Quick disable their communication systems" Hondo shouted
A pirated activated a comm jammer to prevent Poggle from calling fore reinforcements,
Poggle POV
"We're under attack my lord" A geonosion bodyguard rushed to inform Poggle"
"What!. Who would dare attack us?" Poggle spoke in geonosian,
"Get me my droidicas!" the trade federation representative demanded on a closed comm (short-range, and not affected by the jammer)
Rolling droidicas rushed to the command room and activated their shields and positioned themselves defensively.
The pirated breached the blast door of the command room and were met with blasts from the droidicas as well as other battle droids and Geanosion guards.
Hondo POV
"Skywalker warned us about this. Get me the doid poppers" (seen in the clone wars, grenades that disable droids in close contact)
A pirate gave hondo a droid popper, and whilst the others provided cover fire he carefully aimed it and timed it so that it would roll under the shiled and deactivate the droid's shield. He repeated this, and before long the droids were defeated, as were the Geanosian guards.
"We have you surrounded" Hondo expressed with his blaster pointed at Poggle.
Anakin POV
The duel was getting heated. MAce was trying to use his Vapaad form of combat, however, it relied on using the other combatant's dark side emotions, which Anakin was able to withhold making it possible for Anakin to keep up with Windu.
"GETTING TIRED YET SKYWALKER" Mace yelled
"Never" The child responded and continued his attack.
The other students looked on in horror as this 12-year-old was matching one of the best swordmasters in the order.
Hondo POV
The pirates seized Poggle and the trade federation representatives and put them in force cuffs. They then downloaded all files saved on the ship's main computers and began planting explosives across the ship to hide the evidence of their being there.
"Its getting a bit cold in here" Hodno said with an actual seriousness
Poggle laughed
"What are you laughing at ?" Hondo questioned
Screams could be heard as well as chaotic blaster fire.
"HELP US"
"AHHHH"
"I JUS.."
"NOOOO"
"HEL.."
Hondo heard a large thud and turned to see a body drop in front of the door to the control room he was in. Standing behind that body was a dark hooded figure holding a doubled sided crimson red blade.
Hondo began to panic and pointed his blaster at the figure
"You jedi told us to attack this ship" Hondo pleaded
"I'm no Jedi" the figure croaked before lowering his hood to reveal a red and black face with sharp horns.
Hondo stood flabbergasted. He couldn't speak. His eyes pleaded in terror.
More pirated rushed Maul and opened fire from behind. Hondo and the pirates in the control room also joined in and blasted the sith from all sides.
"KILL THIS MONSTER" Hondo shouted
Maul began ripping through the pirates and mercilessly cutting them down.
Blaster bolts deflected in all directions and screams and wails could be heard. Bodies thumped onto the ground as the hissing sound of mauls blade filled the air.
Anakin POV
Anakin and Mace continued to duel.
Anakin's head began to hurt and his strikes became less controlled.
"What's wrong Skywalker. Getting tired?" Mace mockingly asked
Anakin dropped his blade and fully collapsed to the ground.
He sensed the massacre of the pirates and knew it was his fault.
Hondo POV
Hondo could only look in despair as all his friends and brothers in arms were cut down. Within a minute he was the only one standing.
He was surrounded by the bodies of his friends and those he had encouraged and reassured that the mission would work. All dead.
Maul now slowly walked towards Hondo.
Hondo now fearing for his life pleaded, "Don't you take prisoners. Ill tell you anything you want"
"I have what I need" Maul callously replied before launching his blade at the unsuspecting pirate slicing him in two
Anakin POV
"NOOOOOOO" Anakin yelled as he clasped his head with his hands and fully submerged to the ground.
Mace deactivated his blade and looked down with a touch of concern. The other students remained silent. All of them were confused.
His scream was so loud it was heard halfway across the temple.
Obi-Wan and Master Yoda were soon on scene and took Anakin, still crumpled on the ground.
Palpatine POV
"What is it?" Palpatine spoke to a hologram
"We have a problem" Maul replied