Chapter Eleven
It had been many years since Obi-Wan Kenobi had personally had involvement with crime lords not dubbed as pirates or terrorist like Hondo or Death Watch's Vizsla respectively. So when he came before the Hutt Council with something other than a mission in mind, he was a little uneasy. Though the most powerful of them, Jabba, had agreed to help the Republic in the Clone Wars with his hyperspace lanes, the rest were far more skeptical of the rather extravagant promises of the Jedi Order. Some had had rough encounters with people Kenobi had befriended and Anakin himself had rough experiences as a slave boy under Jabba's rule.
"The honorable Hutt Council will now hear the speech of Obi-Wan Kenobi," said several protocol droids translating for the different Hutts in near-unified, and near-harmonious simultaneity. Because of business with the Republic, Jabba could only be present via hologram but he had managed to secure permission for Kenobi which worked advantageously. "Honorable delegates of the Hutt Council, I, Obi-Wan Kenobi, come to you with a grave message with which Jabba agrees undoubtedly. Despite his help by offering safe passage in his hyperspace lanes Jabba has seen increased activity in rival criminal activities.
"Though it is perfectly normal for organizations like this mighty delegation and your rivals to be bustling with activity during wartime, nothing like this has happened before. Kuat droid foundries are being shut down or destroyed left and right, only the best surviving in such circumstances. However, even these ones are quickly gulped down the throat of such rivals of yours as Black Sun. One such factory is located only a hundred parsecs or so away from Black Sun's homeland of Mustafar.
"There is no telling how soon it will be before that falls but because it is a military facility, Black Sun could pump out as many as a million soldiers a week. That's more than enough to rival the Separatists who are sure to notice this and demand possession of these facilities. Now imagine how Count Dooku may channel these resources against the Hutt Council if he were to acquire them. Even with the hyperspace lanes that Jabba has made available for Republic use, we would be outmatched.
"In addition, the Hutt Council could either be enslaved or wiped out by these new droids. Considering that none of you would be likely to submit to Dooku, he would more likely wipe you out. Now tell me, would you want that or would you want to do what you can to make sure it doesn't happen?" Kenobi stated, concluding his opening speech with that question. The Hutt called Gardulla spoke first and when she stopped speaking, her droid translated what she said for her.
"The Mistress Gardulla would like to know why the Separatists would consult the droid makers of Kuat even if to help them win the war. Do they not have enough factories producing more droids faster than anything Kuat could do?" the droid said. Obi-wan was a little taken aback by the question because while he knew that to be true, he hadn't expected one of the Hutts to think so too. But he didn't let this show and replied with the firm calmness of the Jedi Master he was.
"It is true that the Separatists have factories that produce superior models at greater rates but they are known for stealing as many resources as they can. Apart from them, there is no equal to the Kuat foundries spread across the galaxy and if even the few finer ones were operating... Dooku could still expect a massive return rate on any demand he could put on the officers in those same places. Combined with what he already has, he could produce the most vast and powerful army in the galaxy in a matter of months where biological soldiers would have been impossible on that same level," he replied.
Jabba's hologram then spoke for a few minutes as was the norm of the Huttese native language. And when finished, his translator was also quick to translate for him though not as quickly as Threepio might have. "The mighty Jabba says, 'There is no point in debating what Kenobi has said to the entirety of the Council. Once, Dooku attempted to frame the Jedi for the death of his son though his deceit was discovered and my son was brought back to me by the Jedi.
"'Kenobi has proven and his Republic have proven the far more trustworthy though I must admit I feel like both are great evils to be avoided if possible. With our help, I am confident that the Republic will win the war and we will be on top of all our rivals even more greatly than ever before. Crushing our rivals should be treated as business as it always has been and the tradeoffs with Republic are far fewer than they would have been with Separatists'," the droid said. Kenobi secretly confessed he felt the same about the Republic as Jabba did but would not allow his devotion as Jedi Knight to yield to his doubts and uncertainties as much as possible.
It was after this helping speech that the Hutt Council decided to call a vote as to what they would do in favor of helping the Republic. They would even go as far as to send spies to find out what Black Sun and other huge rivals were up to with their associations with Kuat. Something was indeed dangerous, bizarre, and disturbing about their sudden interest in this chain of droid foundries. The vote came in and the Council voted in favor of supporting the Republic's fight to stop the Separatists by any means necessary.
Kenobi smiled, victorious in his business with the Hutts and knowing that now he could leave Nal Hutta whenever he pleased. The sooner he was off this rock and back on the cleanliness of the Jedi Temple, the sooner he could wash off the Hutt filth and stench. He had to admit Skywalker had been right about their lack of personal hygiene and didn't want to come back in here until they cleaned up. As fate would have it, he wouldn't need to after this final meeting with the mighty Hutt Council.
Xizor was getting ready to mobilize for the Kuat foundry, a hundred parsecs away from his base, when Odysseus reported strange readings. "Several unidentified but Chiss-based ships are dropping out of hyperspace just outside our atmosphere," he said. What does the Chiss Ascendancy want with Black Sun or is this someone who associates themselves with it? Either way, it's very suspicious to see ships of Chiss design all the way out on this side of the galaxy Xizor thought.
"Prepare an escort for me and I will go greet the head of this little caravan personally. Perhaps the deliverance of my dreams has come at long last," Xizor ordered. Odysseus bowed and quickly left to make the necessary preparations for a guarded escort. Xizor also made preparations by first taking off the armor he had originally donned on for the expedition and changing into more suiting robes. He didn't want to appear to be going to war when these guests intruded although that was the truth of it.
"Odysseus, give the leader of this caravan a space to land but make sure to communicate and ask where the leader is before granting permission. I don't care how you persuade them to reveal themselves but do it once you got the escort ready for my rendezvous with them," he added. It was all still very weird to him that these sorts of ships would be landing in his facilities but he didn't act like it. Instead, he acted like a true leader and greeted this intrusion to his duties with a straight face and lead the escort that would represent Black Sun.
But before he left, Odysseus came back with a recording of his communications with the leader of this caravan. "Attention incoming fighters, your leading shuttle has been given clearance to land but no others. Would the leader please reveal themselves and confirm this communication, over?" Odysseus had asked. "I think your commander will know who I am from a deed I did Black Sun twelve years before but your communication has been confirmed, over," the leader had answered.
The voice had been aggressive and uttered with a growl that Xizor was all too familiar with. So, at long last, the red and black warrior has returned to finish what he's started? How inconvenient for me considering my plans for Black Sun and the galaxy Xizor thought in fear. Gulping briefly, Xizor resumed the embarkment of his escort and was glad he reached the bridge to the landing space rather quickly.
Though the voice with which he was familiar had a source whose power had proven terrifying all those years ago, Xizor was not about to let this one see any fear in him. After all, the source was a Sith Lord named Darth Maul who had struck down the original leader of Black Sun. Many had been killed trying to protect him including the rogue Nightsister Mighella whose powers were thought invincible. But when he sliced her in half, he proved that even the greatest that Dathomir had to offer could fall before the might of the blade.
Maul watched as the shuttle landed in the spacing that Black Sun had provided his shuttle and at first, he noticed Savage, Vizsla, and Bo-Katan looking strangely at him. In their eyes, he could see suspicion and a hint of doubt in Bo but he made sure to keep this strange little observation to himself. "We will make our way to the chamber of those who run Black Sun and talk business same as I did with you, Vizsla," Maul said at last. "And if they decide to rely on force of arms to kick us out?" Bo asked.
"That is where your soldiers will come into play and where Savage shall test out his new powers on live targets for a change. Besides, I have not had good hunting with Black Sun in twelve years; their disagreement will make for a delightful turn of events when we emerge victorious," he answered. "Why wait until they give the order when we can rally the soldiers upon entry and force them to join us immediately?" Vizsla inquired. "Because as dangerous as it is, Black Sun's militias may prove useful to us if they choose to ally with us; taking that away will mean only having their credits," Maul replied.
The Mandalorian leaders both nodded and after that, Maul walked out in front of him with Savage following on his right and Vizsla on his left. Bo followed lastly on Vizsla's left and sent a code out with her wrist comlink for her Night Owls to surround the landing bridge and the rendezvous point. She didn't want Black Sun being up to any tricks and after she did that, she calmly marched alongside her master and their allies as they left the shuttle and walked across the bridge. And the bridge itself was long and almost too narrow for anymore than the four of them unless some troopers landed ahead of them at the end of the bridge.
About a little over three fourths of the way across, Vizsla and the Sith brothers noticed the escort Bo had provided. But Maul had noticed something a little more worthwhile than that: a representative of Black Sun with an armed escort of his own. "A battalion brother," Savage said, noticing the Night Owls. "They will serve us well," Maul assured him just before arriving in front of the representative.
"We request an audience with your leaders," he added as he gazed up at the Falleen. "It'll be your funeral," the taller, bulkier alien replied with a chuckle. With his head, he indicated that the brothers, Vizsla, and Bo follow him along with their escort into the massive fortress. While the others were immediately taken aback by the sheerness of both outside and inside, Maul was comfortable.
He had been here before and didn't mind being here again even if was under different circumstances, this time around. His only hope was that the Council that had substituted for the man he assassinated would be just as willing to hear him out. He also hoped they would be just as willing to share contacts with him for if they did not... If they did not, then there would be blood just like the last time he had been in contact with the prestigious criminal organization.
Ramses the Undying was most displeased with the Council's performance of late. First, they had failed to meet Xizor's requirements as his agent Guri pointed out. Now, they had given the Falleen Prince jurisdiction over all military affairs in Black Sun, including the absolute right to dissolve the Council. What none of these men knew, though Xizor certainly did, was that he also had the right to kill all of them as Ramses watched helplessly. The only thing keeping him from killing Ramses himself was the explicit ban that the Head of the Council was untouchable no matter the circumstances.
Now, there were ships of Chiss design making themselves visible outside the fortress including one that had landed and whose passengers were making their way here. "Just who are the passengers anyway?" he had asked a protocol droid of his. "According to our databanks and our scanners, the only one you would know is a Zabrak with red and black skin," she had answered. Hearing the description of the passenger just behind Xizor made Ramses' skin crawl.
I thought that man long dead on Naboo, how could he be still alive after being sliced in half? Or did Kenobi defeat him by some other means and lie about cutting him in half? Ramses asked himself silently. But he mentally slapped himself in the face when he asked if Kenobi lied for Jedi almost never lied and when they did, it was for the greater good of the Republic. So why would Kenobi lie about slicing a Sith warrior in half and seeing the death of his master beforehand?
Qui-Gon Jinn had been cremated on Naboo shortly after he died there was no lie there. Still, he had to wonder about the others that were with him. What were Mandalorian warriors doing, collaborating with a Sith Lord and who the hell was the larger Zabrak that walked beside Maul? Whoever they were, their intent was the same as Maul's: recruit Black Sun even if it meant destroying the Council personally. It was Ramses' hope that it didn't come to that but at the same time, he did not want to just simply hand over Black Sun to Xizor if he was going to side with Maul and his companions.
"I sense Maul and Savage are moving ever closer to gaining the allies they need. Can't you feel it too, my apprentice?" Arden asked. "Yes Mistress, yes I can," Depa answered. "Good, then it will be only a matter of time before we make ourselves known to the galaxy," Arden stated.
In the weeks since the brothers had left, Arden had taught her apprentice various ceremonies long since forgotten to the Jedi Order that Depa Billaba once served with great, unbroken enthusiasm. One such ceremony was Battle Meld, a very strange very but powerful variation of Battle Meditation that didn't quite require one going into an intense and oftentimes painful concentrative trance. In fact, the only difference between it and Meditation was that the one who wielded Battle Meld could still stand and fight. All the while, they would be capable of giving an army the same benefits as Battle Meditation did and then some as Arden observed with her apprentice.
"Battle Meld should suit very well for you considering you do not have the patience required for Battle Meditation and yet give off an aura of such power. Both do not discriminate on the size of an army or group of warriors and both can turn the tide of a battle in favor of one side," Arden explained. "That much power at my command and I can still fight with my troops while using this," Depa said, not as a question but as an exclamation of surprise. She had never known she had this ability within her but now that she did she knew that with her skill in Vaapad, she was virtually invincible.
"I warn you though that it will only really work if you have more than one person to fight with such as myself for instance. And there are those who know the workings of Battle Meditation well enough to recognize Battle Meld when they see it. Thus, they will try their best to break you of your ability to use it and limit us to only my abilities of Battle Meditation," Arden warned. "But who could do that or would want to?" Depa asked.
Both knew that since no Jedi presently alive would know of this, there would only be a few who would and could undo its effects. "One such being is anyone associated with the Nightsisters of Dathomir such as the leader, Mother Talzin. Another such powerful group of entities can be found on the planet Mortis, which has been long revered as a place where gods roam," Arden answered. "I have heard of them: The Father, his wife Abeloth, and their children known as the Daughter and the Son if I'm not mistaken," Depa said.
"Yes, it is those beings that I speak of who act as mouthpieces of the Force itself and executors of its will whenever and wherever possible. And there is also an even older being who is said to have created the Force according to legends of my day. Normal people take to calling it Time or Fate but the Jedi of my day knew it for what it really was called (due to its duties): the Chronicler," Arden added.
"The Jedi have never spoken of the Chronicler nor do I think we even know anything about it," Depa admitted. "And you have heard of this powerful being and the story of how he created the universe according to the theories of those early pioneers who discovered the Force?" Arden asked. "Only because I stumbled upon some forgotten texts in a temple that once belonged to a group of Force-sensitive monks who preserved all the texts mae in the last thirty millenniums," Depa answered. "So the new face of the Jedi Order is afraid to think of a power greater than themselves and the Sith enemy they fight to destroy... doesn't surprise me," Arden said.
"It doesn't?" Depa asked in surprise. "The Jedi have never been able to accept that there were powers greater than what they knew about. Why else do you think that turned on me and Xendor when we made our proposal to the Council?" Arden answered. Depa shrugged in admission and even admitted that Arden had a good point there, having seen it firsthand.
"As much as I am interested in seeing the continuation of this session, I have need for the Battle Meditation if you don't mind me asking, Arden," Thrawn interjected. "Perhaps when I return, you will be take the reins of teacher for a little while and instruct me in some of the basics of Vaapad," Arden said with half a smile as she rose to her full height. Depa smiled and bowed in respect as she remained seated with her legs crossed before saying that she looked forward to it.
When the woman was out of sight, Arden demanded to know why Thrawn had been observing their session when she had forbidden observers. "I knew you had forbidden observers but I could not help but attempt to satisfy my curiosity. After all, one of the first rules of war is that when you understand a culture and its ways, you know how to truly fight it if you have to," Thrawn replied. "That may explain how the Jedi were able to defeat my Schism advocates when we fought them," Arden said.
"Perhaps so or perhaps they were incredibly lucky, it happens every now and then. After all, you hardly had a culture compared to them and you already knew their every move," he stated. "I see how that may be possible or else the will of the Force dictated that we were to lose. Especially seeing the numbers that we were up against at that time which was not exactly in our favor," she retorted.
"Numbers are always an important figure to consider when fighting any enemy and ours happens to be a little-shall we say it?-explosive when it comes to their biological reproductive rates. Much like our previous Killik enemies, with whom the Chiss Ascendancy has agreed to a truce, these produce themselves at rapid rates. Although they have a long, unpronounceable name in their language, we have manage to decipher enough of their codes to call them the Yuuzhan Vong," Thrawn explained. "So what do you hope to have me do in order to fight against this invasive species?" Arden asked.
"Because they are extragalactic and only recently have managed to cut through our defenses, which consisted mostly of using the Killik soldiers as shields without looking like it, your power is what I need. If what you say is true about Battle Meditation, then all you would need is the names and physical descriptions of the falling frontiers to conduct it, right?" Thrawn asked to which she nodded.