Chapter Fifteen
Outside the Mustafar fortress of Black Sun, Maul watched as the shuttle carrying his new ally landed down on the docking bay. Though he had been asked to come alone, he request Bo to have her Night Owls on standby in case she tried anything stupid. Trustworthy as Arden had proved, he was not about to let his guard down in the face of an unexpected omen. Plus, he didn't know whether it was a good omen or a bad one yet and didn't intend to find out in a way that cost him his life.
This instinct was especially regarded when she came out with a robe that covered her from head to toe in black and a hood that covered half of her face. Sidious did that same thing when he trained me; I never saw his eyes and thus would have no idea what he actually looked like Maul thought. The memory made him want to attack her right then and there but he held back in the knowledge that he wasn't up against Sidious just yet. "You are Depa Billaba, am I correct?" he asked when she was mere inches away from his face.
"It doesn't matter who I am, what matters is how I may serve you. But if it pleases you, yes I am," she replied. "Then how you may serve me depends on your ability to lead troops and protect a fortress. Once I have an idea of what other allies I will need to rally to my cause, I will go to them with my brother and Death Watch. In the meantime, I need this facility protected at all costs and you are the only one capable of doing it," he stated.
"Then you have yourself an ally to dispense to the task, I am gifted with the ability of Battle Meld. With it, I can lead troops into victory while motivating them in the same way Meld's sister, Battle Meditation would," she replied. "Excellent, we leave the moment I get a list of those I must seek in order to complete our takeover of the galaxy," he said. In the meantime, you will be my slave and holding down the fort with only Black Sun's troops to aid you he thought but didn't say.
I am more than capable of reading your thoughts, Lord Maul. Do not lecture me on slavery nor treat me as a slave until you have served the Jedi yourself she through the Force. How did you do that? he asked through the Force. There are many powers you have never known Lord Maul, the ability of telepathy to the extent of reading others' thoughts among them she replied, at which point he gave up argument as he led her to a shuttle that would take her to the Kuat foundry.
It was then that he decided that perhaps it was best if she went to the foundry immediately. The sooner she was out of his way, the better for him, Savage, and Death Watch. "There will be a shuttle waiting to take you to the foundry, report there at your earliest convenience," he said aloud. "In that case, take me there right now; this is my earliest convenience," she replied.
Arden looked at the moon on Irkalla and asked Thrawn what day it was. "It's Eclipse Day, a celebration the people host for having survived the Battle of Colomus. To them, it's a celebration but frankly I think you would find it an insult to you and your husband," Thrawn answered. Arden watched as the festivities occurred and she watched how the people played out the events of the battle.
"I presume you know the truth of the events of that day having seen them happen, yourself?" he inquired. Arden nodded, watching in disgust as the Jedi were portrayed as perfect heroes fighting against Xendor and his Schism soldiers. "When we went to Colomus, it was because of the supplies that we needed to keep fighting combined with the network of caves that would ensure their safe deliverance. But our enemy had beaten us to the planet, establishing a base and even negotiating barters in exchange for the caverns being blocked to us," she began.
Interesting, I've never heard that perspective of the battle before Thrawn thought as she continued. "You already know the events that transpired before the battle for Columus and the outcome. But while we earnestly and honestly fought for a foothold on the planet, the Jedi brought in weapons that once, they had deemed dishonorable such as the mace, the warhammer, and bladed knuckledusters.
"We were helpless was the maces tore our shields apart and the hammers shattered skulls and the knuckledusters did their work on those who were close enough for them to start cutting them up. But amongst the vile army of Jedi sent to fight against us, was one so vile, his soul is said to have tainted the planet and made it what it is now: Loki the Destroyer. My husband, being the courageous leader of the First Great Schism that he was, challenged Loki to a duel, hoping to end his reign right then and there. He never survived for Loki had sworn to destroy the leaders of the Schism even if it took away his life and he began... by beheading Xendor as I helplessly watched," she paused after that.
Thrawn gulped, shocked to hear that the Jedi would ever allow such hypocritical acts of violence to occur. "And that, is when something within me snapped and I charged into battle against Loki. My sword broken, my armor rent, and wielding nothing but a shield for my protection, I engaged the Destroyer who had killed my husband. Then, the convenience of a fallen soldier's death saved my life as I took his sword and severed Loki's fighting arm before slitting his throat," Arden continued.
Nothing like a little vengeance to fuel a person's fighting prowess far more than ever before. Truly, her life is a succession of miracles, one falling almost concurrently with the other Thrawn observed carefully. "Loki's death did nothing to stem the tide even if for a brief moment, it helped us gain access into the tunnels for a brief moment, before the Jedi gathered reinforcements. However, we were forced to leave and eventually, I ended up here on Irkalla where the Jedi placed their spell and sealed off the chamber forever.
"This place has the better caves and longer tunnels, something I wish Xendor had known before he was killed on a more tropical planet," Arden concluded. "Xendor was not strategically gifted, was he?" Thrawn asked. He meant no offense but he had to know what kind of person Xendor was, having looked up to him from in the history books for a long time. "Compared to you, he was far from gifted in the way of military strategy," she admitted.
Thrawn looked on, listening and showing that he was observing his information by stroking his chin in an inquisitive manner. "But his courage, his fighting skills, and his handsome, gentle appearance were all that we needed to know we were trusting in a true leader. That he was one we could call our ruler and one we could call King," she added. "Did the Talisman reveal what happened to the other leaders of the Schism?" he asked.
"I know a few of them were killed by the Jedi during Colomus and many of the other battles that were fought. As for the ones who survived, I believe they were either captured or killed, the Jedi wouldn't have let them live freely so that they could 'indoctrinate' future generations," she answered. "And I don't suppose the Talisman has cared to tell you which ones age in prison cells and which ones were executed?" he inquired.
"It doesn't need to, I already know which ones were most likely to have been killed and which ones weren't. Especially the elder ones who were very stubborn and clung to the faith no matter what happened to everyone else," she replied, shaking her head at the question. "Then perhaps I can interest you with a little something about the Yuuzhan Vong: they fight us because their faith decrees it. They believe they are the sole form allowed to exist because of their purity; all others are to be extinguished," he said.
"Faith always plays a powerful role when dealing with wars, I'm living proof of that being true. Before the end, the Yuuzhan Vong will be forced to realize their faith is not enough to help them conquer the galaxy and the universe beyond," she agreed. "And with your Battle Meditation abilities, I hope they will be realizing that soon," he said.
"Are they at their business again? I mean, of attempting to take over the galaxy but this time, starting with the retake of the systems they lost?" Arden asked. "Yes and unfortunately, it's about the Chiss Ascendancy Council (who restored my status as their member in the face of this threat) has requested that I take a few more systems from the extragalactic scum," Thrawn answered with a nod. "Then what are we waiting for?" she rhetorically asked before he guided her back to his military communications chamber.
Lom Pyke strolled around his office, troubled as could be for a man of his rich background. Prince Xizor of the Black Sun had recently put out a memo requesting all available crime families to meet at Zanbar. Why there of all places rather than opposed to say Black Sun's Mustafar base? he asked himself, scratching the back of his head as he pondered it. Seventeen other crime organizations had already turned down the invitation and six more had refused to respond.
Should he follow the lead of one of them and a most, respond only to decline? The memo was shadowy at best but it did attract Lom's curiosity. On top of that, Xizor had openly admitted to siding with Darth Maul, a rogue Sith Lord, and procuring an army. But what is there to be gained by siding with a rogue Sith Lord, his more massive apprentice, and a group of terrorist? he asked himself.
Money wouldn't be important to him, he was already far too rich to be bribed and he could retire at any moment he wanted to thanks to his success as a businessman. But then, yet again, security was an issue and when Xizor put in his request for a riot on the Temple... Simply stated, Pyke knew it was only a matter of time before the Jedi pursued knowledge as to the origin of it. Xizor owes me big for investing half a million credits to the riots Pyke thought to himself.
But then, yet again, he did have to remember that the Councilmen owed debts to Xizor and when he dissolved them, he had used the money to make outside payments. Ah the hell with it, I'll check this out and besides, it's not everyday that you get a chance to work with a Sith Lord he thought. Then he ordered for a shuttle to be ready for his departure to Zanbar as he down the glass of wine he had been consuming during his ponderance.
Maul appreciated the gathering that had arrived at Zanbar, a planet that Death Watch had conquered during their waywardness. Though Concordia was retaken, he had ordered Viszla to pull out and try to make it seem as though wild animals had attacked. He even ordered any evidence to the contrary to be destroyed as thoroughly as possible upon sighting by anyone. Now they were here on Zanbar and he had to admit that the turnout was somewhat disappointing.
Of the twenty-seven major crime organizations that Xizor had messaged with an offer of joining Maul, seventeen of them openly declined and six more gave nothing. Only three responded and they were present now: Lom Pyke of the Pyke Family, Keluda of the Assassin's Guild, and Scar Blenner of the Blood Raptors. He knew their anxiety to get things underway and so he decided that the sooner the meeting was take care of, the sooner he knew who was still with him.
"Gentlemen, welcome to Zanbar and as you may all know already, I am the Sith Lord Darth Maul and your host," he began. "Lousy arrangements for a Sith Lord, is it really that bad when a servant of Lord Sidious is dumped and presumed dead?" Keluda asked boldly. "Care to make that presumption true for yourself?" Scar replied, revealing five blood-red claws when he unclenched his fist. "Enough, both of you, yes I know these arrangements are not comfortable but I assure you they're better than anything that would give us away to either the Republic or the Separatists," Maul said.
"Now to brass tacks, I summoned the three of you and twenty-three others who have either not responded or declined for a simple reason. We are here to assist Mandalorian Governor Pre Vizsla led his group known as Death Watch to victory in retaking Mandalore itself," Xizor interjected. There was dead silence in the makeshift chamber as Pyke, Keluda, and Scar chewed on that for a bit. Then Pyke spoke up by saying, "Say you succeed in conquering Mandalore, how do you intend to hold onto it?"
"That is where the three of you come in: Lom Pyke, your wealth would make for excellent credits to fuel our ships, forge more battle-designed droids from Kuat, and begin an economy. Whatever the economy Mandalore takes on whilst it's under your control is entirely to your design. Keluda, if you'll join, your Guild's task would be to secure prisons and even act as the executioners for the more uncooperative prisoners in Mandalore's jails; they have all the elements you would possibly want. And as for your Blood Raptors, Scar Blenner, they would secure all entrances into the city itself from unwanted outsiders such as Jedi, for instance.
"Death Watch and the droids from Kuat would act as our army, insuring full-scale protection for our claims. Black Sun will provide us with traveling lanes on which to conquer other systems until we have made ourselves an established factor of the Clone Wars," Maul explained, answering as best he could. These are not fools, they will suspect a price for the rewards I have thrown in and obedience would be the least of them Maul thought as he waited. It was Keluda who spoke up next when everyone had had time to soak in the Zabrak's rather elaborate explanation.
"While I confess that the thought of conquering a planet excites me and while I have nothing against detailing my Guild to security, may I ask something? Is it really wise to start up a revolutionary new side in the Clone Wars? Inevitably, the Republic will find out about us as will the Separatists and when they do, they will be quick to try and stomp us down even if they have to unite and do so," he said.
Maul chuckled, even began to laugh, at the question in addition to the implications that Keluda had also mentioned. "You're right, they will discover our little collective but Xizor has taken the liberty of persuading Pyke to bribe the movement known as Occupy to protest on the Temple. It will stall the Republic long enough to establish ourselves as a factor and being our strike on Mandalore," he replied. "So that's why Xizor put in this unusual request: to buy you time!" Pyke shouted.
"I assure you, Lom Pyke, I had not thought of it and when Xizor informed me, I was truly impressed with his genius," Maul admitted. "Please, it was hardly a stroke of genius on my part nor do I think it could be considered a prelude to a new war," Xizor stated. Vizsla looked at Maul with a snarl but Maul gave him a nod of his head that confirmed any suspicions the Mandalorian had.
"But casting that aside, consider this gentleman. If you join me, what you have to devote is insignificant compared to what you will gain when we're through. Doesn't it sound like a glorious cause in which to participate?" Maul asked. "I'm an assassin by trade, not a soldier or even a security guard; when I chose to accept Xizor's call, I didn't think it would be on this scale," Keluda answered.
Scar Blenner admitted surprise as well and both of them immediately put their hands down to not joining. Unfortunately, as if to add insult to injury, both of them left too quickly for Maul to order Savage to destroy them. "Hell with it, my money's not going to the grave with me nor is it going to magically disappear so long as my stocks are properly invested," Pyke stated. "So you would make such a massive gambit?" Xizor inquired.
"Just as long as one condition is followed to the letter: because the Mustafarian Kuat foundry is the best and the fastest, I want five hundred thousand droids on my homeworld. I want ten thousand at every other base as soon as is convenient for you," Lom replied. "And how many other bases are there?" Vizsla asked. "Only ten, totaling my order out to six-hundred thousand droid soldiers," Lom answered.
"Fair enough, we have already loaded that many into ships awaiting deliverance to wherever they are needed. However, to ensure that you do not slink your way out of any mishaps with them, we will need something a little more substantial than money," Xizor warned. "Besides, your money has better uses not covering expenses for any and all damages unrelated to military purposes," Maul agreed. "My lands have some of the best mines of Mandalorian Iron and Cortosis in the galaxy: Iron for the droids, cortosis for blasters and any other weapons they may use," Lom snapped.
"Then you have yourself a deal, six hundred thousand droids to be delivered to all locations you give in exchange for access to half the iron and cortosis mined. The other half can be used for your own purposes should you decide to open foundries of your own based on Kuat design," Xizor said. Lom shrugged and shook Xizor's hand as well as Maul's to ensure a witness to the contract. "An interesting collective if you don't mind me saying so," Lom stated, happy to partake in something big.
"And that is what we are: a collective of organizations hell-bent on the destruction of the Jedi and the Separatist enemies. Harbingers of doom, we are the deliverers of vengeance from the unknown voices of the universe: we are the Shadow Collective. And our pact, our treaty in the darkness, will see to the fulfillment of our designs," Maul replied in agreement. "We will have our revenge, my brother," Savage said excitedly.
"If willing to destroy the Temple, the attacker is then to great lengths they will go to keep from getting caught," Yoda said. "What we need to do, first free ourselves of the mob outside through orders for martial law from the Chancellor, I've got the emergency codes for requesting service available. Then, we need to have someone investigate the reasons as to why it happened and how after we restore communications," Anakin demanded. "Are these codes ready in a chip that can be carried directly to the Chancellor's chambers?" Master Windu asked.
"Yes and I propose, since the mob has a grudge only against us, that we send my Padawan once more to do this," Anakin answered. "It will be dangerous for there are those who wouldn't see the mission done though I admit I wouldn't trust a youngling to have the capability," Obi-Wan agreed. "Is your Padawan ready for travel and if not, will she be soon enough?" Ki-Adi Mundi inquired. "All you need to do is permit me to give the order and she will see it done," Anakin replied with a proud nod.
The Council thought long and hard, debating with itself whether or not Ahsoka would be worthy of more than being a messenger. "May I remind everyone in the Council that the mob is after the entrapment of the Masters and any action we take to free ourselves would make us look bad? Whoever funded this protest knows that if we Jedi took physical action against the mob, it would ruin our image. But as Master Skywalker has suggested, we cannot simply just sit and do nothing nor can we think to have a Youngling do a job beyond their abilities," Plo Koon suddenly spoke up.
"You've never agreed with me before Master Plo except to add your own knowledge in, why start now?" Anakin asked. "Besides this being a desperate measure, your means of handling entrapments of this sort are far handier than any at my disposal," Plo answered. "It's settled then: Ahsoka Tano will deliver Skywalker's chip to the Chancellor. The Chancellor will then order a battalion of clone law enforcement to disperse the mob and free the Temple up for repairs," Windu declared.
"And since the Chancellor can currently only be reached by Senators without appointment, I had delivery droids run request messages to Senator Amidala. She's accepted and agrees to send a handmaiden to meet Ahsoka at the point between the upper city and the Underworld," Anakin said. Then the Council was adjourned and Anakin ran back down to Ahsoka's chambers to start her off.