Twenty-One

The Dune Sea, Tatooine

14 ATC

Getting out of Mos Ila without being spotted had proven far easier than Nox had expected. The hangar in which she'd landed the Fata Morgana had an exit leading directly out into the desert that was not a part of the standard Imperial spaceport blueprints. It was probably there for use by smugglers, but that was not Nox's problem.

She'd acquired a two-person speeder that had been sitting fueled and ready near the exit—probably also for use by smugglers—had a brief argument with Ravage over who would drive, and then taken the two of them out across the sand towards the coordinates she had been provided.

"This is a trap, you know," Ravage said for the fifth time.

"I know," Nox replied, not taking her eyes off the horizon. The twin suns were at their apex, turning the Dune Sea into an expanse of glittering diamonds.

"I can't believe I agreed to this," Ravage muttered.

"I'm sure you can't." Nox frowned; was that dark speck their destination?

She peered at it, ignoring Ravage's grumbling, and continued forward. As they approached, the speck resolved into a humanoid figure standing near a small sandstone structure that had initially blended in with the rest of the landscape.

"Looks like we're about to meet our mysterious contact," Nox said.

"Your contact. I'm only here to watch in case you die."

"You're so sweet," she murmured absently, stopping the speeder about a hundred meters back and hopping out.

Ravage moved up beside her, his disgruntled demeanor replaced by wariness. "I don't like this," he said softly.

Nox eyed the figure, which had made no move to approach them. From this distance, they appeared to be dressed in black Sith robes. "I don't like it either. But we've come this far."

She set off confidently, her boots crunching in the sand. Ravage muttered something she didn't catch and followed a few steps to her right, just out of lightsaber range.

A moment later, and Nox could see clearly that the figure was indeed wearing Sith armor, their face concealed by a hooded cloak. As she and Ravage drew nearer, the stranger removed their hood, revealing a human male who looked to be somewhere in his mid-twenties, with short dark hair and the yellow eyes of one who had tapped into the dark side.

"Darth Nox," he said, bowing deeply. "I'm glad you chose to heed my message." He turned slightly and bowed again. "Darth Ravage. Not who I would have expected, but…I'm honored."

"I'm sure you are," Ravage said in a tone that could have meant anything.

"Well, you obviously know who we are," Nox said. "How about returning the favor?"

"Of course," the Sith said. He sounded nervous. "I won't ask you to come inside—I'm sure you suspect an ambush. I know this must all seem very suspicious, but it was the only way."

Ravage crossed his arms in a manner that conveniently let his right hand drift close to his lightsaber. "So far you've done nothing but waste my time."

Nox glided a few steps closer, putting on her most pleasant smile. "Ignore him. I'm the one you wanted to speak with. Take as much time as you need."

The Sith's eyes flickered between his two visitors several times. "I'm Lord Necrosion," he said. "I've been in hiding here since the death of my father, Darth Baras."

Of all the things Nox had been expecting, that revelation had not been among them.

She raised an eyebrow. "You're Baras' son. Really."

"I hate to say it," Ravage said grudgingly, "But I believe him. The resemblance is unmistakable."

Nox looked at him askance.

"Don't give me that," he snapped. "I knew Baras very well. He didn't start the whole 'masked and mysterious' routine until later in his life."

"Well, in that case," Nox murmured, "It's a good thing I didn't bring the Wrath, isn't it?"

Ravage turned back to Necrosion. "So. Baras' megalomania finally did him in, and you've been cowering here in the sand like a womp rat ever since. Are we supposed to be impressed?"

Necrosion squared his shoulders. "I fled the Empire because the information I hold is more important than honor or dignity. Mock me as you like, my lord. I ask only that you hear me out."

Nox cut in quickly before Ravage could start on about how honor was a lie. "Baras has been dead for two years. Why now, and why me?"

"I had to wait until the time was right," Necrosion said. "Of all the Dark Council, you seem the most open to information that goes against the Imperial status quo."

"I'm flattered," Nox murmured.

Ravage made a small sound that might have been a snicker.

"You see, my lord," Necrosion continued, "I know why my father—why Darth Baras—really died."

"And here I thought it was because he committed high treason," Ravage said dryly.

"He was set up," Necrosion insisted. "The Emperor had his Wrath execute Baras to silence him."

"Hold on a minute," Nox interjected. "This was all a bit before my time, but I thought Baras went around telling everyone he was the Voice of the Emperor."

"No one on the Council actually believed any of that nonsense," Ravage said derisively. "A few supported him because it was convenient to their own interests, and he blackmailed a few others. It wasn't enough, in the end."

"What about you?" Nox asked curiously.

Ravage shrugged. "I went along with it for a while. When it became clear that the competent Sith I knew had been replaced by a paranoid lunatic, I ended my support. If the Wrath hadn't come along, we would have removed him sooner or later."

"'We'? Are you telling me the Council actually agreed on something?"

"It's been known to happen."

Nox eyed him. "Marr browbeat you all into submission, didn't he?"

"As if I would ever let—"

Necrosion cleared his throat.

"Ah, yes," Nox said quickly. "You were saying? Something about a grand conspiracy?"

"Baras was a master of information," Necrosion said. "He had spies all across the galaxy. He was even able to learn some of the Emperor's secrets, secrets the Emperor does not wish for anyone to know."

"I assume, then, that you asked me to meet you because you have those secrets now?" Nox inquired.

Necrosion nodded. "I do, my lord."

"Why hasn't the Emperor had you killed, then?" Ravage demanded.

"I'm sure his assassins will find me sooner or later," Necrosion said grimly. "As long as this knowledge is passed on to the right people, my death will not be in vain."

Ravage shook his head. "I don't believe it. Baras would never entrust sensitive information to a pathetic weakling like you."

Necrosion drew himself up. "I may not be as strong in the Force as some, but I'm still capable of doing what needs to be done!"

"I'm sure you tell yourself that so you can sleep at night." Ravage gave him a contemptuous look. "Baras and I were allies for a long time, and he never so much as breathed a word about you. How disappointed he must have been."

"I did everything he ever asked of me!" Necrosion said hotly.

"And it was never enough, was it? No, you were so utterly insufficient that even now, you're still trying to prove yourself to his memory." Ravage sneered. "Pathetic."

Nox sighed. "Ravage, if you could be a dear and refrain from insulting my contact until after he's given me the intel, that would be lovely."

"It's not an insult if it's true," Ravage said, his eyes fixed on Necrosion. "You should thank the Wrath. Now no one has to know you didn't have the guts to kill your father yourself."

Nox rolled her eyes. "May we return to the point of this conversation, please?"

Ravage half-smiled. "By all means. I think I've made my point."

"This is not about me," Necrosion said. His voice was calm, but his clenched jaw suggested otherwise. "The Emperor is planning something, and it is not in the Empire's best interests."

"I do hope you didn't bring me all the way out here to tell me something that vague," Nox said.

"No, that's just the beginning. Baras learned the truth. He—" Necrosion stopped short, looking at a point somewhere behind Nox.

She turned. Three vehicles had crested the nearest dune and were rapidly bearing down on them.

"Well, this just got interesting," she remarked.

"Republic assault craft," Ravage said. "All the way out here, that can't be a coincidence."

"Two Dark Council members in one place is far too good an opportunity to waste." Nox pursed her lips. "This is your fault, by the way."

"My fault?" Ravage repeated incredulously. "How is this my fault?"

"You made me tell you about this in an open hallway where anyone could have eavesdropped," Nox sighed. "This is what you get for not listening to me."

"They'll be on us in moments!" Necrosion exclaimed.

"Good," Ravage retorted. "I could use a diversion right about now."

"Let me guess," Nox drawled. "You're going to pretend they're all me, aren't you?"

The three Republic vehicles pulled up a short distance away. Troops in armor painted to blend in with the sand started pouring out.

"Every last one," Ravage said, and drew his lightsaber.

"Ooh, look there," Nox said as a brown-cloaked figure dropped out of one vehicle and activated a shining blue blade. "This will be fun."

"Just one Jedi?" Ravage frowned. "That's no fun at all."

Three more robed figures joined the first.

Ravage's frown vanished. "I take it back."