Chapter 6
"Hego Damask II!" Qui-Gon exclaims, recognizing the Muun a mile away. It is no secret Damask is corrupt but it never occurred to the Jedi Master that the Muun is a Sith Lord. "You're a Sith!"
"Oh, come on, don't look at me like thar," Plagueis quips, obviously viewing this whole thing as a joke. "There have been plenty of us in the Senate and the Jedi Council in the past thousand years. You just never knew it. It's natural."
At last there is confirmation. Maul has wanted this, but definitely not in this way!
The Jedi Council cannot no longer deny that the Sith have returned. They can look at all close to Hego Damask but Chancellor Palpatine would likely be the least of suspects unfortunately. He is already beloved.
Maul will have to buy his time before he can run him through.
The barrel of Panaka's blaster pistol remains steady as he glares at the Sith Lord.
His body language is tense, as if expecting a fight. He is studying, watching for the slightest twitch in Plagueis's own body language that might hint as to his response. His blaster is trained on the Sith Lord's chest, aiming directly for the organs that sentients needs in order to stay alive.
If Panaka shot, at least one of those blasts would penetrate a vital organ, possibly even the heart.
Maul can see the angry demeanor of the Queen's Captain, the way that the Sith's body tightens up, and at last the resignation.
"We don't need for such crude implements here, your majesty," Plagueis states, his face unmoved and impassive as ever.
"Get up now," Panaka declares darkly.
Plagueis chuckles. "Oh do I have to?"
"I won't ask you again. Get. Up. From. The. Karking. Seat." Panaka states coldly, causing his eyes to go from humourous to cold rage in a second.
The Guards respond in kind, moving to surround the Sith.
"You don't, you die." Panaka's tone is dark, gritty, as if he is speaking to his worst enemy. He isn't messing around.
The glint in his eyes is back, and the Sith chuckles. "I can see why you wish to remain with this Naboo party, Maul," he states, rising to his feet slowly. "They are either really stubborn or really stupid."
Panaka fires his blaster, giving into the stress of the situation. The Muun merely pushes the bolts to the side before seizing the Captain in the Force Choke. "My good Captain, I would have much gratitude if you would join me."
Plagueis chuckles at the Captain before thrusting his hand forward, pushing them all back successfully, and yanks the Queen Of Naboo to his direction, causing the Guards hands to tighten over the barrels of their weapons as Panaka coughs at being released. "I am a strategic man. I care little for the Droid Control Ship but rather I want obedience from each of you. You will each submit to my custody or your Queen's head would instantly be chopped off. The choice is yours."
Sabé looks at them. "Drop your blasters! We mustn't allow the true Queen Of Naboo to be harmed!"
The Captain and Guards doesn't seem to be appeased but they know that this is a dangerous Muun. The Jedi are next to drop their weapons, the older Jedi appearing to be in shock at the cruel revelation that the Sith have been under their noses the whole time, standing there.
Maul sneers but knows that the Queen's Shadow has a point, dropping his lightsaber onto the ground as much as he loathes doing so. He needs the Naboo on his side at the war occurring between himself and Sidious - and Plagueis.
"Collect their weapons," Plagueis declares with a nod to the nearby Droids, pulling his saber staff over to his other hand. "Restrain them."
The B1s doesn't hesitate to grab their weapons before cuffing them one by one, moving them down along, the cold durasteel on his wrists immediately pissing Maul off.
The Zabrak loathes being handcuffed with a passion, doubly so when it is with Force restraining handcuffs like the ones currently on his wrists. He feels helpless with them on, and it is a reminder of a very dark point in his life.
When Sidious had sold him out and took him to one of his prisons. When everything he'd built up for him meant nothing...
It might have been decades since that had happened, but it still is painful, more than any lightsaber wound or blaster bolts ever would.
Hearing a groan from beside him, Maul glances at Qui-Gon Jinn's face, which twists between discomfort and well concealed pain. He too is in cuffs, his arms bounded behind his back, a blaster angled at his spine as a B1 pushes him forward. Maul finds himself pushed forward within a second afterwards, sneering at the one Droid responsible.
He's going to make that karking machine regret that.
"Move." The voice of the Droid booms, obviously not showing any remorse for his prisoners, not that Battle Droids of any variant ever showed remorse anyways.
"We are moving as fast as we can." Jinn snaps, earning him another shove forward as the trio were led into a large open room.
They walk through the corridor with Plagueis merely treating them like visitors. Damn the galaxy, Maul feels like a humiliated fool! He should have foreseen that Plagueis would have had a trap waiting for them.
"You see in my short time here," Plagueis says as if he is a welcoming visitor, "I have decided to give a suitable punishment for your defiance, your Majesty. Allow me to introduce you to Ars Veruna."
Sabé's entire body goes rigid and so did each of the Nubians present. Padmé turns to look at the past King of Naboo who simply offers them a nod.
"Ars Veruna, how can you do this to us?!" Padmé accuses with anger and rage, not caring about the fact that she is being threatened.
"I have seen the weakness that inhibits our planet," Veruna replies simply, clearly unmoved by her accusations. "I have warned our people long ago about the Trade Federation, yet the people merely shrugged off the threat and so I'd decided to look elsewhere to merely negotiate for our people's freedom. The Viceroy of the Trade Federation and my friend here was willing to listen to us, to understand, and we have promised. I have ruled this planet for thirteen years."
Plagueis barks out commands at them. "Lead the Queen Of Naboo to the chambers and monitor the Jedi closely." He glares at Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi. "I have commands that if you try to escape custody, the ones positioned outside would kill civilians. Follow my Droids' every command and you should survive, unharmed."
Jinn scowls. "You would regret this, Damask."
"Perhaps, but for now, I have to focus on my young friend here." Plagueis looks at Maul. "Remove the cuffs from the Zabrak."
"You can't take him!" Maul raises non-existent eyebrows at her protectiveness, wondering if Plagueis lost his mind. Sabé walks forward, wanting to prevent them from taking the Zabrak.
Plagueis smirks sickly. "Ah, you believe that you have any meaning to him? Pathetic child. The Sith cares for no one."
The Zabrak snarls, not going to mention the countless times that Plagueis had treated Maul and Sidious like his own heirs. The memory is still flesh. Plagueis and Sidious both had their own terms of mentorship when it came to Maul, even though the former stayed away from his training as much as possible.
Maul's binders drop onto the floor and he follows behind Plagueis to a far more private setting, grabbing hold of his wrists and cracking them slightly at being released.
"Why did you betray us? We had a vision. Now you wish to undo everything that we have set up."
Maul remains silent. If it was perhaps anyone else who has redeeming qualities, Maul would have tried to reason with them. But this is Sidious's Master, and he would betray them without thought if only to benefit his own goals.
Right?
Plagueis was fairly reasonable and will spare anyone if they do serve a usage, but despite his scientific goals, he is still a Sith Lord and he is the man who have corrupted and twisted Sidious to the Dark Side which indirectly led him to following the same fate. Then again, the old bastard was always evil in his own way, and so was his parents and siblings given the tales that his former Master told him about them.
Plagueis notices the change of the hilt with distaste as he lifts the lightsaber hilts. "Did you lose your lightsaber hilt again?"
Maul rolls his eyes, forgetting how parental Plagueis was. Ultimately, Maul did feel some sadness about this as he was a grandparental figure. "We've been through this! I am not a child anymore, Plagueis!" Okay, maybe some part of him is feeling sheepish! "And I haven't lost my lightsaber hilt for a while now!"
Plagueis shakes his head in disapproval. "You young ones have no respect for your gifts these days!"
Maul groans. "It's the same hilt. I just made improvements! The other one no longer suits me!"
Plagueis surprisingly didn't clip the saber staff to his hilt but rather offers it back to the Zabrak. "Just beware, you are under the same premise: if you attack me, the Droids have been given a command to execute your friends..."
"They are not my friends," Maul replies coolly, sensing the Muun is being genuine with his threat through the Force.
Plagueis grins devilishly. "Is that so? Then why is there a connection between you and the Queen's Handmaiden? At the very least she seems to admire you. Skywalker too for that matter."
"A childish fascination and nothing else," Maul responds sharply, natural yellow eyes boring into the back of his own.
The Muun walks to a window of the cell of some sort, Naberrie sat on a bed while the rest of her Handmaidens.
"Why did you bring her Handmaidens?" Maul queries curiously.
Plagueis merely smirks as he walks away, leaving Maul to stare at them.
"We're sorry, your Highness," the creamy hair Handmaiden - Eirtaé - whispers, placing her hands on her Queen's hands. "We couldn't keep you safe."
"It's not your fault," she replies, and Naberrie couldn't help grimacing. "You have done your duty. What's the worse that can happen?"
"Geez, I don't know. These bastards killing you?" Rabé snaps sarcastically.
The look of apprehension on the rest of their faces increases gradually. Plagueis walks in with Maul and another squadron of Droids.
They are led to a room at the end of the cell bay and both instantly recognizes the scan grid set up there. Agony by nerve induction. The sort of agony that feels like you are being burned alive without any physical damage.
The Handmaidens look at the torture weapon with horror. Maul knows all about that torture weapon. Naberrie looks at him. "I take it that this is not another public visit?"
"Why are they doing this?!" Rabé exclaims, terror making herself known.
Before Maul can respond, Darth Plagueis walks in with two Muuns in white-goated uniform.
"Put the Queen on the grid," Plagueis orders, "and take the Handmaidens and the Sith Apprentice to the observation room."
Naberrie winces. So it is her they are going to torture and they are going to make the rest watch...
She looks at them and sees the terror, horror, and fear across their expressions. Oh, the pure loyalty… "You can do this," she reassures them as they drag her towards the grid. She smiles at Maul and nods.
Well, at least she couldn't tell them anything too vital that would doom Naboo...
As the Muuns strap her to the upright platform, Amidala stares at the glowing panel in front of him and swallows the sudden fear and disgust...
Plagueis is staring at her. Sadistic son-of-a-bitch, Naberrie's thoughts link through the Force to Maul. For some reason, he wants to crush his throat ten times more now, and yet he mentally grimaces at the glow from the panel is increasing in terms of power as they begin to work. Naberrie begins sweating as she is unfamiliar with this type of pain...
The platform begins to tilt forward and Naberrie's breathing increases frantically, choking inwardly. The Muun comes closer and touches the panel, igniting the scanner which quickly maps Amidala's nervous system. Almost instantly, the grid begin firing bursts of electricity at her.
Naberrie is obviously aware of Plagueis leaning in close, watching her, and part of her is waiting for him to start asking questions. But very soon the bursts from the grid leaves her feeling nothing but burning pain. She is aware that she's screaming...
And Maul looks down, hand thickening over his lightsaber hilt, but Plagueis wants him to lash out.
And Maul realizes that Plagueis is testing him.
Kriff!
There is no painkiller applied, and Naberrie is stubborn enough to not show her weaknesses. Instead, they are all led to a chamber. Her Handmaidens follow behind, and it is painfully obvious that they haven't seen such torture before. Plagueis stops before them, frowning at them.
The Queen's eyes burn hotly, but she manages a glare at him that only shows that she wants to eviscerate the bastard on the spot.
Plagueis speaks with absolute coldness, indifferent of the glare. "Queen Of Naboo, you have one last chance to either join us or face your destiny."
Naberrie's eyes twinkle with disturbance but the Queen's firm mask meets him, making a mental promise to not submit no matter his threats. "Whatever you have plan for me would not go unpunished."
Veruna comes forward, his eyes determined. "My Lord, your doctors have informed me that the settings are prepared."
How can someone who claims to follow Naboo's culture to the latter be so willing to sell out his people at the slightest chance of so called saving them?
Maul has to wait until the time comes for the Droids to not open fire on them instantly. For as long as Plagueis is aware, Maul is not defenseless and he knows the powers that he can do, and the increase in them that seemingly been days now. If Maul chooses to attack, the rest of them would die - something that he once wouldn't have care about...
Turning back to the Queen Of Naboo, Plagueis chuckles. "Brave words, your Majesty, but your bravery would not be your salvation." Plagueis says, leaving a foreboding feeling behind to all present.
"Bind the Queen thoroughly," Plagueis commands, nodding to the two Muuns in white uniform. Servants...
Maul gets the distinct feeling that Amidala has been given a death sentence. Why else would they bind her so seriously? Unless Plagueis had something bizarre planned for Maul or one of the others and wanted to make sure Amidala couldn't interfere. But that didn't make sense.
He feels sick as they are led down further, and it increases especially as they walks towards an unknown fate. Plagueis is building a Veil of the Dark Side that even Maul can't see.
Looking at Amidala's back, Maul can see that the woman is in pain. He can tell her Handmaidens wants to do something but they know that doing something that they may regret can end in disaster.
The room they are led into is multi-tiered and circular - what in the name of Mother Talzin? There is a hub of activity around a pit that was at the centre of the level below them. A group of other Muun doctors that belongs to a race Maul are descending what seems like a large slab of metal into the central pit, and it appears like it has something to do with the refining or containment of tibanna gas. The whole room is filled with steam or gas and the floor is glowing a fiery red.
Carbon freezing chamber?! By the Force, Maul should have come more prepared! Plagueis did train the master of manipulation after all!
Amidala sneers as she moves to Veruna, and the Droids don't see it fit to interfere.
"What's going on?" Amidala asks, then adds sarcastically, "your Highness."
"You're being put into carbon-freeze," Veruna replies cautiously under his breath. "When he came here, his servants arranged together the tools to do so. After I gain control of Naboo, perhaps I can reasoned with my allies for your freedom. But that depends on your cooperation. Cooperate and maybe you and Naboo will survive."
Amidala snaps. "You're so low. So incredibly low."
Veruna's eyes become regretful promptly before it is gone.
Sabé's eyes meet her, the horror in them swiftly giving way to terror. Padmé allows a smile to cross her lips as she looks at her Handmaiden, attempting to reassure her.
"Put her in," the Zabrak hears the command, and he cannot believe this is all happening because he'd altered the past so drastically already. But, as the Droids step towards Amidala, her Handmaiden - Rabé - decides enough is enough as she takes a Droid's head off with her bare hands.
"Rabé!" Amidala yells as another Droid is knocked back. "Rabé!"
The remaining Droids all take aim, but Plagueis hold up his hand to halt their fire. The woman snarls furiously at the Droids seeking to subdue her and Padmé exclaims. "Rabé! This won't help me! Save your strength! There will be another time!"
Maul looks across at the Dark Lord, catch him watching him, and scowling defiantly.
"The rest of them," Amidala says softly. "You have to take care of each other for me." The Handmaiden's eyes become resigned. "You hear me?" Amidala wants to know. "Huh?"
Rabé nods, but it is apparent to everyone that she doesn't look willing to take that command. The Droids seizes on her moment of submission and are hastily putting binders on her wrists so she can't resist this time. This time the woman does not fight.
Sabé looks at Amidala and thought her heart would break. This is her little sister, and this is not right... She wraps her arms around her with fierce desperation and she returns it in kind, clinging to her restrained arms until the Droids tear them apart, dragging Amidala onto the platform that had risen in the centre of the pit. Sabé couldn't believe that one of her sisters - and best friend - is being tore from her.
Uncaring of her audience, Sabé proclaims, her lips curling up. "You are my sister, Padmé, I love you."
Amidala smiles softly, showing that she thinks similarly. Maul finds himself recalling his own brothers back on Dathomir and he couldn't believe that he actually feels... guilty for both of them.
"You are my sister, Sabé, I love you. Remember, stay strong for me. All of you." Padmé replies.
Maul is dimly aware of the Droids removing the binders on Amidala's wrists then stepping away from her, leaving her standing alone on the platform, but ever defiant she refuses to take her eyes off of Sabé. The platform starts to descend and she is all but taken from view. Behind her, Eirtaé begins to sob along with Rabé, howling with tears as their dear sister and Queen is lowered...
A blast of gas shoot upward from the pit, so chilling and causes them to each shiver, except Maul who has seen worse things. Sabé actually wraps her arms around Maul and cover herself, causing him to stiffen slightly, but he doesn't move her.
The powerful stench from the carbon causes Sabé to look back. What seems to be a giant claw is moving into the pit. The Muuns are busily adjusting controls on the platform while the claw appears to tighten on something in the pit, reinforced by the yelling and cracking of stone-cold metal. Then, with a whine, it begin to withdraw, and the platform Amidala had been standing on ascends, revealing to them the full horror of what had happened.
Embedded in a carbonite slab is Padmé Naberrie Amidala. Her eyes are burning with fear and a tortured expression across her face that shows that the process is a whole other realm of pain. Two of the doctors test the carbonite with their hands and, resigned that it is hard enough, pushes the upright slab over onto its back. It collapse onto the floor with shock. Veruna moves around to kneel beside the slab and it is then that Maul notices the controls and flickering display lights in its side.
"Well, Veruna?" Plagueis barks. "Did she survive?"
Maul watches as the former King toys with some of the controls, scowling. Hopefully...
"Yes, she's alive," Veruna replies. "And in perfect hibernation."
"These Droids would take her to my ship," Plagueis demands coldly, indicating to a Platoon of Battle Droids. "I would be there shortly after I handle our other friends. Veruna, you are to go with them. Gunray and Haako would be waiting."
Veruna nods and follows behind the Droids who drag the carbon frozen Queen Of Naboo out as if she is nothing.
Damn it, Maul wishes that he just acted like he was loyal a little bit longer!
Perhaps he could have just incapacitated Kenobi and Jinn in their Naboo battle!
Or perhaps he could have just reasoned with them when the time came!
Something! Anything that would have prevented Plagueis feeling the need to come on Naboo!
He wishes he can time travel again.
Just a few days back.
Is that too hard to ask for?
Ars Veruna walks alongside the Viceroy of the Trade Federation and his ally escorted by Battle Droids and the Queen frozen in Carbonite. Veruna looks at the captured Queen, wondering how long would she be imprisoned briefly. While he'd found her stance in blind loyalty to the Republic pitiful, she is still Nubian and he would have preferred that they had avoided all of this.
Veruna commands. "We must help your Droids. Take us to the back. This has been approved by Lord Plagueis."
They get on board of the shuttle and fly over the battle ground, Gungans standing stronger than expected. Gunray is obviously pissed off at the sight of seeing the Droids being mowed down as if they are inferior, the fact that unintelligent creatures are able to stand against them; whereas Veruna is disgusted in its entirety.
He feels reluctance at the thought of allowing his people die like this, but seeing them working alongside them Gungans freaks causes his anger to spike.
In his time as King of Naboo, Veruna had wanted to see that they are exterminated from the face of the planet. The Queen of Naboo must be as bad as Veruna had foreseen.
Anger takes control yet again, and he flips around to Nute Gunray. "Command more of the advanced Battle Droids and Droidekas. Wipe those Gungans from the face of the planet."
Gunray hides a smirk. "Yes, your Majesty." The Neimoidian gives a call for reinforcements.
In seconds, the Droidekas and modified Battle Droids marches from another freighter, marching through the shields without hesitation. It only took time before the first swift-footed kaadu collapses, causing some of the Gungans to retreat and the one fool riding it to be poured with blaster bolts.
The cannons lit up, firing against more of the creatures, decimating many of their forces. Luckily one of the smarter Battle Droids blow out the first shield, making them a lot more vulnerable and freeing up more space for the Droids.
Surrender is not an option, Veruna would finish what his ancestors started.
More bolts tear against the Gungans trying to escape, and those who manage to evade the Droids are shot by cannon fire, receiving mortal injuries. The Droids penetrate the second shield, gunning for more of the Gungans on that side.
The Gungans will take a bit to break down but when their shields are destroyed they will no longer present a problem.
There is still a irritating pest...
One Gungan in particular causes Veruna to frown as he actually clumsily throws bombs at them, stumbling even so often over the Droid parts-
That Gungan has too much luck, and it can lead to the Droids' downfall if the others are inspired by them.
After all, the Gungans are warriors and they still have the current advantage, despite losing one of their shields and on the edge of losing another one...
"Get me a sniper rifle."
Rune Haako retreats before coming back with the weapon he'd ordered, undoubtedly having belonged to one of the Droids. He trains his sniper on the Gungan in particular before firing his blaster, catching him in the heart and dropping him instantly. Veruna trains his sniper on his corpse to assure that he is dead and will no longer present a problem when he sees a goofy smirk across his face and he frowns...
He notices the battle seems to be dying down, scowling as the Droids blaster fire seems to be no longer as intense. The Gungans were blasters away from going totally extinct, but now the small survivors seems to have gotten a trip of good luck as Droid after Droid begins to shut down...
The next second, Veruna looks up out of the viewport.
The Droid Control Ship had exploded.
Arthur's note: Yep, Padmé's frozen in Carbonite just like Han was in Empire Strikes Back. I have decided that having them fight Plagueis instantly would have been a little boring and I want the story to be as unpredictable as possible. Besides, this is Plagueis; he was definitely waiting for them to come and had time to counteract them... Lol
And I'm pretty sure that you can guess who that Gungun who Veruna killed at the end was. I love fucking with the timeline like this!
Also, I have had complaints about Maul should be way darker. Perhaps, if this time travel was before what happened on Mandalore, he would have been; but this is a Maul who lost his brother, everything he knew, and was abandoned by his father figure. This is not a pure Maul redeeming to the Light Side but a Dark-Grayish fic where Maul does have genuine care for a few people.
May the Force be with you all always.