V
I lay in the doorway of that shiny escape-pod for a time, keeping my temperature away from that of the golden sand, staring into the sky.
Not all of this planet is desert, and not all of this planet is purely Imperial, so you do not have any reason to stay long. I sense the tangling impossibility of hyperspace when your ships pull out.
Lord Sidious had wanted me to work with you. And what? There is something stronger than my devotion to him?
Is the inherent anger of the dark side stronger than that devotion?
I do not want to think about that, so instead return to my last order.
"Maul will serve as your lieutenant..This is not your mission, Maul. You should have been either successful or dead long ago."
Now, my only purpose seems to be the defeat of Darth Vader. Will this prove enough?
No...further learning could.
You said, "The Emperor recognizes in me the skills required for conquest of space and spacecraft and of politicians. You do not know these."
Have I not listened to the Clone Wars? And I do not need to waste time talking when Lord Sidious is still doing that for me.
Then he knows these things, and I am worthless.
I have been taught to eliminate that which is worthless. I pull my lightsaber and set the nearest activation plate against the under side of my jaw.
The rattle of an exploding stun grenade arcs high over the escape pod. Already it is trailing gas, and another follows. And a frag grenade, shoving the escape pod's near wall against my back, forcing my up into a seated position as I hear the other side's ceramic and metal shattering.
My lightsaber slips from my hand. Presences in the distance quickly rush closer, on speederbikes or something, and I cannot change this fate. I am frozen by the multiple, unpredictably launched attacks.
I curse whomever this is and imagine ways to creatively behead them.
As the stun grenades lull me into their second stage, I hear voices.
"Got 'em!"
"What are the Imps doing, throwing out pods right now? During peace talks?"
"Just one pod. Shh."
A shadow ripples over me. I blink and am so ready to fall asleep. Not to be off-guard, never... but to be unknowing..."Whoah, man. Look at this barve..."