Later the next day, Mistoffelees slipped into the high class hotel Victoria was still occupying, despite having at least offered her the penthouse a couple times. Victoria looked up from where she was seated on the couch, "Oh, Misto. It's good to see you."
He came over, kissing her forehead. "Heya, Vic. How are you doing today?"
"I'm doing well enough. You?"
"As well as can be, all things considered," he replied, settling into a chair across from her.
"I'm sorry to hear he's left so soon."
Mistoffelees blinked once, before remembering that not only were Jedi missions fairly public knowledge, but she interacted with Macavity far more than he did. "It is what it is," he said softly. "But I am too."
"I'm sure he'll be fine," she murmured her reassurance.
"I'm not," he replied. "But I'm hopeful. I mean..." he sighed and shook his head. "I'm hopeful," he repeated.
"What is it, Misto?"
"What is it not?" he asked and shrugged. "It's a war. I'm scared. But so are a lot of people."
"Alright." She paused for a moment, "Not that I'm not glad to see you, but what brings you by today?"
"I wanted to check up on you," he replied. "And maybe wallow a little. And, okay, I hate there to be a reason, but before he left Coricopat said he was worried about Macavity."
"Worried about Mac? Did he say why?"
"No," Mistoffelees said. "I mean, not really. He just said he was acting strangely."
"Well...I can't think of much of a reason unless..." Victoria bit her lip.
"Unless?" Mistoffelees tilted his head.
"Let's just say you've got one distinct advantage over me in your relationship with a Jedi." Her hand strayed to her abdomen.
His eyes followed her and he frowned. "You... what?"
"I'm pregnant, Misto. It's all I can think of. Though he's been hedging questions that I've been asking him. But that's the only certain change I know of."
"You..." Mistoffelees' eyes widened. "Oh Vic..."
"I don't know what to do, Misto. The doctors expect that I can carry the pregnancy, but..."
"But you're the queen of a planet and he's a Jedi," Mistoffelees said softly.
"They were going to have to find a new ruler soon enough anyhow. But as you say, he's a Jedi."
Mistoffelees winced at the mention of her dying. "What are you going to do?"
"I don't know. I'll ask them to hold the elections for the next ruler sooner to begin with. As to anything else? I'm at a loss."
"Everlasting force," he murmured softly.
She nodded, dropping her gaze, "And like I said, he's avoiding some questions as well."
"What sort of questions?" the smaller man asked.
"Things like if anything besides the war is weighing on his mind. He's been giving me almost rote responses when I ask how he is."
Mistoffelees shifted. "He's shutting you out?"
"I...I suppose that's what it is," she admitted.
The Senator frowned. "... One thing Coricopat did say was that Macavity doesn't seem to think the Chancellor is doing anything wrong. When he brought it up, Macavity just brushed it aside. He said usually he at least listens to his concerns."
Victoria looked at him again in some surprise, "Well, I can say we haven't discussed the Chancellor, but he didn't even listen to Coricopat?"
Mistoffelees shook his head. "No, he wouldn't."
She leaned back further into the couch cushions, "What's going on, Misto? I...it's not like him."
"No," Mistoffelees agreed. "I mean, he's always been rash and impulsive and…but usually he at least listens and considers. He knows he's not particularly good at some things... He knows you're pregnant right?"
She nodded, "I told him after they got back."
Mistoffelees ran a hand over his eyes, images from his dreams flickering behind his eyes. "I don't know. I don't know but I'm scared."
"Is there something you're not saying, Misto?" Her concern was palpable.
He hesitated a moment too long and shook his head. "Just that the Chancellor worries me, and if Mac is trusting him blindly..."
Victoria's blue eyes searched Mistoffelees' face, "Are you sure that's all?"
He nodded, offering her a strained smile. "This war is exhausting me. And probably everyone else as well."
She eyed him, but finally nodded. "I'll see if I can get him to talk to me."
"Thanks," he said softly.
"You're welcome. Let me know if I can do anything for you, Misto. Alright?"
"Of course, Vic," he said offering her a smile. "If you do the same of course."
"Of course. Thank you, Misto."
He nodded. "Do you need anything?"
"Not at the moment. You?"
"My Jedi back?" he offered as a failed attempt to joke.
She managed a flickering smile, "He'll be back as soon as he can."
"I know. But, it's so hard. At least," he smiled bitterly. "It's not like I don't have plenty to distract me."
"I know. I'm here when you need me as much as I can be. You've got my word on that."
"Thank you," he managed softly.
"You're welcome."
o.o.o.
Shrugging his robes a bit tighter around his shoulders, Macavity breezed into Victoria's rooms, glancing around. Victoria heard the door open and came out of the bedroom, offering him a smile, "Hello, Macavity."
"Vic," he replied warmly, walking over to pull her into an embrace.
She wrapped her arms around him, resting her head against his chest, "How are you today?"
"As well as usual it seems," he replied.
"That's rather vague," the queen sighed softly.
He blinked. "A little... but nothing much has really changed so what am I supposed to say?"
"Oh I don't know. I'm all over the place I suppose."
He smoothed a hand down her hair. "Well, such things are generally said for expecting women after all."
She frowned, "Yes, generally."
"Something the matter, darling?" he asked, returning the frown.
"I...Mistoffelees came by earlier."
His expression darkened slightly. "Oh? What's he up to then?"
She drew back so she could look up at him, "He comes over whenever you or Coricopat go off-world."
Mac arched a brow at that. "He does?"
"Considering that I'm the only one who knows about him and Coricopat and he's the only one who knows about us? Yes."
"Cori'll be fine," Macavity said. "He can take more than care of himself."
"That doesn't change the fact that Misto's worried about him." She paused, studying her lover, "And you usually are too."
His brows just went up higher at that. "Excuse me?"
"Never mind. I'm speaking before thinking."
"No, what is it?"
"I don't know. It's just whenever one of you is sent off-world without the other, especially since it happens so rarely, you usually express more concern than 'he can more than take care of himself'."
Mac continued to frown slightly. "Well, what else am I supposed to do? Yeah, I hope he comes back fine but he's able to take care of himself, don't you think?"
"I do think so." She shook her head, "I'm all over the place right now, Macavity. You're right."
He nodded at that, drawing her closer again.
"He mentioned Cori's been worried about you," she murmured.
"Why the hell he's been that?" Macavity asked with another frown.
"I...something about a conversation the two of you had?"
"What?" Macavity drew back slightly, expression going even darker.
"Misto mentioned the Chancellor? Some conversation or other. Coricopat's worried apparently."
"What is it with everyone and the Chancellor suddenly?" Macavity demanded, pulling away abruptly.
Victoria blinked at that, watching him, "What do you mean?"
"Everyone's suddenly treating him like he's the enemy. What's with that?"
"I didn't say anything about that. You asked me about the conversation I thought. I was relaying."
"Yeah, there's that conversation, and others."
"Others?" She looked at him in confusion. "Mac, what's going on?"
He shook his head abruptly. "Nevermind."
"No. You don't get to brush me off. What's going on?"
"Nothing," he snapped.
Victoria recoiled a bit at that, "Mac?"
"What?"
"What's wrong?"
"Why would anything be wrong?" Macavity asked, his back up.
"Because you're reacting like something is," Victoria informed him.
He paused and shook his head. "You're just reading too much into it."
"Really? The moment I mentioned the Chancellor you pulled away. Nearly everything you've said since has been an attempt to avoid my question or snapped. What is going on?"
His frown only deepened. "Look, if I knew this was going to turn into an interrogation, I wouldn't have come."
She gaped at him, "That's not what this is. I just want you to be honest with me. IS that really so much to ask?"
"I..." He frowned and shook his head. "Look, I was, but you keep pushing the issue."
"So you react like this?" She shook her head, "Fine."
His frown only deepened, eyebrows twitching together. "Look, Vic... it's nothing. Can we just move on?"
"Of course. Since there's apparently 'nothing' to move on from."
"Don't be like that, darling," he protested.
"How am I supposed to be, Mac? You've never locked me out like this."
"I haven't..." he shook his head. "Should I just go then?"
"I...maybe that would be best tonight."
He gaped down at her in shock, not actually having expected that answer. "Right, fine," he said, turning for the door. He wished he could slam the automatic and fancy door as hard as his temper wanted.
She wrapped her arms around herself, but didn't stop him leaving. As soon as he was gone she retreated to her bedroom and curled up, trying to sort out what was going on. She'd speak with Mistoffelees later.
o.o.o.
Several nights later, Macavity entered the opera house on request from the Chancellor. He could not figure out why the Chancellor would want to speak with him again, but he did not feel the same sort of paranoia everyone else seemed to suddenly feel about their leader.
Nodding to the guards, he entered the Chancellor's private book. Glancing back, Deuteronomy waved at the other politician in the box, leaving him and the Jedi alone. "Macavity," he said warmly. "Do take a seat."
Macavity sat, looking over the elder. "Thank you for the invitation," he said, voice expressing the fact he was somewhat unsure why he was there.
Deuteronomy nodded, eyes still on the stage, ethereal music drifting over them as the lights played over the center of the room. "This story always reminds me of a myth," he said after a moment. "Did you ever hear the tragedy of Darth Plagueis "the wise"?"
Blinking, the auburn haired Jedi shook his head. "No."
"I thought not. It's not a story the Jedi would tell you. It's a Sith legend. Darth Plagueis was a Dark Lord of the Sith, so powerful and so wise he could use the Force to influence the universe to create life ... He had such a knowledge of the dark side that he could even keep the ones he cared about from dying."
Macavity tensed, suddenly completely aware of what the other was saying, all his attention focused on the Chancellor. "He could keep people from dying?" he asked, excitement too clear in his voice.
"He worked from the dark side," Deuteronomy informed Macavity. "Which is a pathway to many abilities that come consider to be… unnatural."
Macavity swallowed. "What happened to him?" he asked.
"He became so powerful . . . the only thing he was afraid of was losing his power, which eventually, of course, he did. Unfortunately, he taught his apprentice everything he knew, then his apprentice killed him in his sleep," pausing, the Chancellor smiled faintly and Macavity almost missed it. "Plagueis never saw it coming. It's ironic he could save others from death, but not himself."
The Jedi shifted, impatient to know the most important question. "Is it possible to learn this power?"
"Not from a Jedi," Deuteronomy replied.
"Then who?" Macavity demanded, though the answer should have been obvious.
Deuteronomy gave him a long look and Macavity snapped his mouth shut. "Do you ever wonder why the Jedi Council doesn't trust you?" the Chancellor asked, changing the subject.
"I trust their judgment," Macavity replied, the same response he'd ever given to any such question.
The Chancellor shook his head. "No, you should not. They see your future. They know your power will be too strong. You must break through the fog of lies the Jedi have created around you. Let me help you to know the subtleties of the Force."
Macavity startled, staring at the other in shock. "How would you know the subtleties of the Force?" he demanded.
"My Master taught me all the ways of the Force," he replied, unperturbed. "Even the Dark Side."
Macavity startled back, hand going for his lightsaber. "You know the Dark Side? You're a Sith?"
"The Jedi are terrified of you," Deuteronomy said, still not moving. "To understand something, you must study it from all sides. Let me teach you. I can help you save those you love from dying."
"Jedi don't love," Macavity snapped.
Deuteronomy gave him a long look. "We both know that isn't true, don't we?" he asked softly.
Macavity opened and closed his mouth in shock. The Chancellor looked away back toward the Opera. "I can stop death itself," he said. "Think on that. For now, good night."
Numbly, Macavity turned and left the box, staggering back toward the Temple, unsure what to do anymore.
o.o.o.
Coricopat watched quietly from his perch above a conference between Growltiger and the council of separatists. He slipped his cloak from his shoulders and checked his lightsaber as the meeting broke up. If he didn't move fast he could lose what minimal advantage he had. Considering the number of droids he could see that advantage was nearly non-existent either way. Well, sometimes Macavity's tendency to rush into things could be helpful-surprise was all he had. He leaped down, landing lightly behind Growltiger, "Good afternoon, General."
The broad shouldered cyborg turned at that, still human eyes widening in surprise. "General Coricopat. Why, you are a bold one. I find your behavior quite bewildering." He turned to the droids milling around the area. "Kill him!"
Coricopat's eyes flickered around at the hundred or so battle droids ringing the area as he withdrew his lightsaber. Growltiger's bodyguards started toward him and he backed a step, considering his options. One to four...with a hundred backing them. He wouldn't have the stamina to take them out as well as deal with Growltiger. He cleared his mind of that, one thing at a time. He couldn't help the smirk that appeared as he saw something he could use. Utilizing the Force, Coricopat loosened an equipment fixture from the ceiling, bringing it crashing down on the four advancing bodyguards. He sidestepped around the one that hadn't been crushed, taking its head off before it could pick up its energy staff. The Jedi walked past the smashed bodyguards, sensing the droids readying their weapons as he approached Growltiger.
Several battledroids approached and Growltiger moved them away. "I will deal with this Jedi slime myself," he informed them.
Coricopat was relieved that gamble had paid off and that his opponent did indeed have the inclination to handle him on his own, "Your move, Growltiger."
"You are a fool," the droid general told him, his four arms going for four different lightsabers. "I was trained in your Jedi arts."
"You say that as though I wasn't," the Jedi watched his opponent warily, backing a step and waiting for the other to make the first move.
The general snorted, coming at the Jedi, two lower lightsabers swirling and cutting up the ground on his way. "But you only have one blade," he replied, attacking with a downward slash.
Coricopat blocked the slash, mentally wishing his partner was there. He was hard pressed to deal with the four lightsabers. He ducked another blow, flipping around behind the other, aiming a blow for his neck.
One of Growltiger's lower arms came up to block and another slashed down toward Coricopat's head as the droid turned at a speed no human could actually match.
The Jedi dodged the blow, narrowly avoiding it cutting through his skull or shoulder. He swept his lightsaber toward one of Growltiger's arms, slicing through it at the wrist. One blade down, three to go.
Growltiger just aimed another blow toward the Jedi's stomach as clone troopers rushed into the area. Cori leaped back, the blow missing his stomach by inches. He found himself backing quickly along the walkway, his eyes flickering briefly to the troops who had finally arrived. His blade locked with one of Growltiger's and he slid it down, taking off a second of the cyborg's hands. Two down.
"You really think your clones are going to save you?" Growltiger demanded.
"No. I think they'll distract your droids enough though."
"You're still doomed."
"I don't think so." He focused, using the Force to throw Growltiger back and onto a lower platform. Coricopat glanced around to confirm the troops were doing alright before leaping down to the lower level as well.
Having recovered before the Jedi reached the lower level, General Growltiger made for a wheel scooter, starting the strange contraption up and speeding away.
"Damn it." He whistled sharply and the creature the natives of the planet had given him as a mount appeared. He swung into the saddle, quickly pursuing Growltiger out of the cavern and down the side of the cliff.
The general lead him through the city set in the middle of a sink hole, up and down cliffs and through zones where his droids were engaging with the clone troopers.
Coricopat managed to keep the creature he rode following Growltiger, but swore as his lightsaber fell from his grasp after an especially jolting climb down a cliff. He followed his opponent down a tunnel cut into one of the cliffs, goading his steed to a faster pace.
They finally came along side each other in a tunnel, Growltiger considering him and almost driving him into a wall. Coricopat was grateful for the fact that the creature he was on was adapted to climbing walls. He turned his attention to his opponent, eyeing the other's energy staff.
Growltiger attempted to swing the staff toward Coricopat's head. The Jedi ducked, reaching out and managing to catch hold of the shaft of the weapon, pulling hard.
The droid hissed at him, attempting to grab one of his lightsabers. Coricopat finally got the staff fully into his possession, swinging it at the outer part of the wheel scooter. Swerving the scooter again, Growltiger got one of his lightsabers out, slashing the staff in half.
"Oh, hell." Coricopat judged the distance and leaped from the back of the creature he was riding to land on the scooter, narrowly avoiding the lightsaber.
With a shriek the force of the jump knocked Growltiger off the scooter. Coricopat rolled off as well, gaining his feet quickly and glancing around the landing platform they were on, a federation fighter to one side.
Growltiger turned to scope out the area, drawing a blaster from the folds of his clock and attempting to get Coricopat through his own lightsaber.
The Jedi blocked the shots from the blaster, backing a couple of steps. The lightsaber fell from his grip and he muttered another curse under his breath as he picked up the remaining half of the energy staff, swinging it hard to knock the blaster out of his opponent's hand.
Growltiger roared in rage, jerking the energy staff away and letting it fall off the edge of the platform. Coricopat stumbled forward with the momentum of the staff being pulled away, backing up again and hoping he'd managed to back fast enough. The droid whirled around, attempting to slam his metal body into the Jedi.
The Jedi dodged, but knew he couldn't keep it up for too long, and the weapons around them were rapidly dwindling in number. His grey gaze swept over his opponent in time to see the fact that the other's breastplate was loose. He ducked in, knowing he'd only get one chance at this, and caught hold of the breastplate, wrenching it back to reveal Growltiger's remaining organs hidden behind the metal.
Growltiger glanced down and snarled, shoving the Jedi back enough to send him over the edge.
Coricopat cried out, narrowly managing to catch hold of the edge of the platform, struggling to get back onto it. Slowly, Growltiger took his time coming over, the last of his lightsabers in one hand. Coricopat reached out, drawing the blaster to him using the Force. He took aim and fired several blasts in rapid succession into Growltiger's chest, taking him down.
The organic remains exploded, having been saved in a substance that was combustible. The smoldering remains hit the platform.
Hauling himself back onto the platform, Coricopat tossed the blaster aside in disgust, "So uncivilized."