Episode 18 – The Vjun Job
An Unholy Alliance! Former Sith Assassin Darth Maul has formed an alliance with the unknown agency responsible for the attack on the Yularen and has managed to bring former Jedi Padawan Hisari Bow under his control as a pawn in his quest for revenge against the Sith Empire! But first, Maul turns his attention towards destroying all that remains of the legacy of his former Jedi Rival: Obi Wan Kenobi!
In unknown space…
A small fleet of warships belonging to this unknown faction patrolled an empty region of space. At the heart of this fleet was an aging Lucrehulk Battleship, decorated in yellow markings. This was the Circle of Influence, the flagship of the unknown agency, commanded by the former Separatist Tactical Droid, General Kalani. In the Starboard Hangar of the ship, the young ex-Padawan, Hisari Bow was leaning against the Halo's front hull, looking inward down the curved hangar space of the battleship. The front half of the hangar had independently owned transports, fighters, and shuttles belonging to the various bounty hunters and mercenaries from the Labyrinth contest on Teth along with a few other transports and fighters of various designs while, further back, Hisari could see an entire army's worth of battle droids waiting to be deployed. She suspected, rightly, that it was the same way in the opposite hangar.
Hisari glanced over towards Darth Maul's Scimitar, looking at the Sith Infiltrator with a shiver of fear, still feeling a subtle pulling sensation as if the Dark Side of the Force was trying to entice her to come aboard the vessel. She resisted, holding her coat closer. She was soon approached by Sanzia, the older sibling pushing a repulsor-crate towards the Halo.
"Man, this ship has everything sis! Food, supplies, weapons, equipment. I was able to get a top of the line power converter to replace the bad one in the port engine." Sanzia said as she opened the crate, reached in, and pulled out a purple colored fruit before tossing the fruit to her younger sibling. Hisari caught the fruit and took a bite out of it.
"But who's in charge of it? I heard some old droid is in command of this ship." Hisari commented as Sanzia shrugged.
"Who cares. We're getting paid for this and that's all that matters." Sanzia said as she put the lid back on the crate but not before taking a fruit out for herself, hopping up to sit atop the crate as she ate the fruit.
"So, you've been kinda unnerved lately. Ever since you had that confab with Maul, you've kinda…I dunno, seemed a little timid or something. You jump at the slightest disruption almost." Sanzia commented as Hisari took a breath.
"It's nothing you need to be concerned about." Hisari replied.
"Poodoo. He did something to you and I'm inclined to lock horns with him if he did anything to hurt my little-." Sanzia said but Hisari's eyes widened in alarm at the statement.
"NO! You can't! He'll kill you!" Hisari said, earning a curious look from Sanzia.
"You've never seen me in a real fight though. I could probably take him after all." Sanzia said but Hisari shook her head.
"You don't understand. Look, when I was with the Jedi, one of the Jedi Masters would regularly tell us Padawans of various examples of Sith Lords. Darth Maul is one of them. He was trained, personally, by Emperor Palpatine and is known to have killed several Jedi Masters. Trust me, when I say you cannot beat him." Hisari said as Sanzia looked at her for a moment.
"You really are scared of him, aren't you?" Sanzia asked.
"It's…complicated." Hisari mumbled back, looking towards the Scimitar just as Maul emerged from within.
"Look out, here he comes." Sanzia mumbled as Maul looked at them, namely Hisari, with a dark smile. He then quietly headed for the bridge of the battleship.
"I get a bad feeling about him." Sanzia muttered, taking a cautious bite out of the fruit in her hand.
"As well you should." Aurra Sing said as she approached, the sisters both looking towards her curiously.
"What do you know, Sing?" Sanzia asked.
"Maul's skill is legendary. There are rumors and conspiracy theories that Maul orchestrated the fall of the Mandalorian Government during the Clone Wars. And I can tell you for a fact that he's far older than he looks." Sing explained as Kazor Montross approached, loading one of his rifles.
"The rumors are true. Maul orchestrated the destabilization of the Mandalorian Government of Duchess Satine Kryze, all so that Death Watch could move in and take over. When they succeeded, Maul challenged and killed Pre Vizsla, the leader of Death Watch, and replaced him. Then he just disappeared without a trace. This is the first time in decades he's been seen." Montross explained.
"Any chance he's an imposter?" Sanzia asked.
"No…he's real." Hisari replied with a shiver.
"So why's he running around with us?" Sing pondered.
"Rumor has it, he struck a deal with our 'benefactor.' He's got two helpers too. An excommunicated Sith named Lumiya, and a Nightsister with a tech leg named Silri." Montross replied as Hisari swallowed nervously.
"They're with him? Oh, that's not good." She muttered.
"No, that's retirement money. Maul's head alone is worth a sizable bounty from either the Republic or the Empire. Were it not suicide going after just one of them, it'd almost be worth the reward." Montross commented.
"Probably would be wise if you didn't go after him then." Sing said as Montross shrugged. Hisari though couldn't help but feel a twinge of fear as she watched Maul disappear into the ship.
…
A little later, Hisari was wandering the corridors of the battleship, looking for Maul so as to keep an eye on him. As she walked through one of the corridors, she heard his voice echoing from nearby. She couldn't make out what he was saying and moved to get closer, entering the detention level of the battleship. The cell doors were all open, most of them having been repurposed as makeshift storage areas. One of the cells emanated a soft blue glow, indicative of a holoprojector, from within. She could now make out Maul's conversation.
"-anything belonging to him would be there! I must have my revenge!" Maul hissed.
"You're asking me to commit resources to attacking a fortress, one belonging to one of the most powerful individuals in the Galaxy. I'm not prepared to make such commitments over your petty desire for vengeance." An unknown voice commented.
"Then consider it a robbery, a theft. He's bound to have information of great value. Knowledge is power, after all. Or perhaps it is personal belongings of great value that might interest you." Maul said as Hisari quietly peaked around the corner to see Maul standing in the middle of an empty cell, a holoprojector sitting on a crate before him, showing the image of a figure clad in a black coat. There was a pregnant pause before the figure finally took a breath.
"Perhaps this may work to my advantage after all. There is an artifact of great value that I seek to claim, and my instincts tell me that the fortress would be the place he keeps it. You recognize this weapon, do you not?" the figure asked before his image was replaced by that of what looked to be a lightsaber. Hisari didn't recognize the lightsaber. It looked too similar to others she had seen.
"Why would stealing a lightsaber be significant?" Maul asked, unsure of the figure's motives.
"Because it was his lightsaber. I have…uses for it." The figure said as Maul seemed to understand what the figure was saying.
"So, I steal the lightsaber for you in exchange for being able to exact my revenge?" Maul asked as the figure reappeared in place of the lightsaber.
"I will allow you the use of the Labyrinth winners. This will be a good test to see how well they deal with such threats." The figure said as Maul smiled darkly.
"An acceptable solution." Maul said.
"I will make the arrangements. You will be using your ship, the Scimitar, to carry out this mission. I will not authorize any of my ships to assist. Far too risky. He would recognize who we are and endanger my plans." The figure said as Maul gave a dismissive shrug.
"I care nothing for your ambitions. So long as I am able to destroy his legacy, I will be satisfied." Maul said as the figure gave a nod.
"Don't disappoint me, Maul." The figure said before the hologram shut off. Hisari quickly attempted to move away but when she turned she bumped into a familiar ex-Sith Lady.
"Well-well-well, what have we here?" Lumiya asked as a nearby Silri smirked.
"If it isn't the little Jedi Youngling from Malachor. I'd know that head of horns anywhere." Silri said as Hisari quickly drew her lightsaber from the sheath on her back, igniting both blades in a defensive posture.
"What do you want from me?!" she asked, visibly afraid of the two.
"Nothing more than your obedience, young one." She heard Maul say from behind. She turned and saw the Sith Assassin standing with his lightsaber at his side, inactive.
"You honestly believe you can take all three of us, youngling?" Lumiya asked, activating a lightsaber.
"Put that away, she won't be attacking either of us." Maul ordered, Lumiya arching a curious eyebrow.
"If you insist, my Master." She replied, deactivating her lightsaber.
"What do you mean, obedience?" Hisari asked as Maul smiled.
"I'm merely cashing in the debt that you owe me from Teth, young one. I want your help on a special mission." Maul said as Hisari nervously deactivated her lightsaber.
"What sort of mission?" she asked.
"A heist. We are going to Vjun." Maul said, causing Lumiya to look at him curiously.
"Vjun? What could possibly be on that dead planet that interests-…" Lumiya said before noticing Maul's smile.
"We are going to steal the weapon of your former Master." Maul said as Lumiya swallowed, visibly afraid of the Master in question. Hisari now realized what he meant and was stunned and alarmed from Maul's implication.
"You mean…" Lumiya said softly as Maul presented the holoprojector in his hand, activating it to show the lightsaber from before.
"We are going to steal the lightsaber, of Darth Vader."
Later in Hyperspace…
The Scimitar had just made the jump to hyperspace, headed for Vjun. In the Scimitar's main hold, Aurra, Montross, Bane, Embo, Sanzia, Hisari, Bossk, and the two Dark Ladies sat around, quietly checking their equipment. The silence was broken as Maul emerged from the turbolift to the bridge.
"Now that we are assembled and on our way, let us discuss our objective." Maul said as Lumiya approached a holotable in the center of the hold, activating it and bringing up a hologram of Bast Castle.
"This, is Bast Castle. It is a former Imperial Stronghold under the Command of my former Master, Darth Vader. Our mission is to steal the lightsaber that belonged to Vader before he turned his back on the Empire." Lumiya said as the others looked at the hologram curiously.
"We're getting paid to sssssssteal a meager Jedi Weapon?" Bossk asked, almost insulted.
"After all these years, you still don't get the importance of a Jedi Lightsaber?" Aurra scoffed to the Trandoshan who hissed at her.
"Care to enlighten us, Sing?" Montross asked flippantly. Aurra scowled at the two. They were interrupted by a lightsaber ignition. They turned to see Hisari holding her lightsaber up, one of the orange blades active.
"Every lightsaber is unique. Every Jedi builds their own, each one built to their own specifications to best suit their abilities. These weapons are our life. The Sith are no different in that regard." Hisari said, looking at Maul who gave a dark smile and a nod.
"She's right." Lumiya commented softly.
"So Vader's Lightsaber is valuable?" Herian asked, curious as to the price tag as Hisari deactivated her lightsaber and sheathed it.
"What makes you think Vader doesn't still carry it? He turned his back on the Empire." Aurra commented.
"He doesn't. He carries a lightsaber he made during the Clone Wars." Hisari replied.
"And Bast Castle is the place he is likely to keep any relics of his past." Lumiya added.
"So what's the plan? Is this place going to be well guarded?" Herian asked, raising her hat slightly.
"Very. We will be dealing with nearly an entire garrison of the Empire's former Five-Hundred-and-First Legion. I do not believe we will be dealing with Vader himself, considering the ongoing war. But we cannot exclude the possibility of his responding to a distress call." Maul said as he Lumiya looked to the hologram of the castle, the hologram zooming in on a large hangar space near the base of the structure.
"Using the Scimitar's cloaking device, we will be able to penetrate their defenses before they even know we are there. From the hangar, Lord Maul, Silri, and myself will make our way to Vader's Sanctum on the upper levels while you cause general mayhem to keep their forces split in half. That is where he is likely to store his treasures. Once we have the lightsaber, we will evacuate to the upper landing area where you will pick us up." Lumiya explained.
"You seem to know a lot about this place." Herian commented.
"Vader was my Master during the Empire although my first loyalty was to the Emperor. I came to Vjun on a semi-regular basis. I know it well." Lumiya explained.
"So just curious, what's to keep us from leaving you behind if things get too rough?" Sanzia asked but Maul merely smiled darkly at her, his gaze shifting towards Hisari.
"Because your sister will be joining me. She is a vital part of the plan." Maul replied as Hisari put her arms around herself, a shiver running down her spine.
...
On Vjun, all was quiet. The desolate acid washed wastelands that surrounded Bast Castle were silent. The sky was cloudy but then it always was. There wasn't any rainfall though which suited the 501st Garrison just fine. Two Stormtroopers were patrolling a walkway leading towards a sensor beacon just outside the castle.
"HH-332, status report." A voice said over the comms.
"HH-332, nothing to report. All is clear." One of the Stormtroopers replied into the comms. The other then paused, looking around.
"You hear that?" the trooper asked, 332 stopping and looking towards him.
"Standby, Command. What is it, Gape?" 332 asked.
"I heard what sounded like a ship." Gape replied, 332 looking around. Sure enough he heard the droning of a starship engine approaching, leading 332 to raise his blaster curiously.
"HH-332 to Command, we're picking up some foreign ambiance. Possible unidentified within our airspace. Can you confirm?" 332 said into his comlink.
"Standby…negative, sensors are negative." Command replied.
"Understood, but we're still hearing it." 332 said, the droning getting louder.
"We're hearing it through your comms! We need eyes on that vessel, all patrols report in! Do you see anything?!" Command barked. Before anyone could answer, the two Stormtroopers saw a large grey vessel appear out of thin air in a surge of blue energy. The vessel suddenly opened fire with a pair of rapid firing laser cannons and a volley of concussion missiles into the hangar, obliterating a few of the old TIE Fighters still sitting on their racks and laying waste to the hangar. The Scimitar then flew inside the hangar, its wings folding as it turned around to face the front, its boarding hatch at the back opening up and allowing Maul, his Apprentices, Hisari, and the Bounty Hunters to drop down from inside, the Scimitar touching down just as Stormtroopers started to storm the hangar.
"It's Darth Maul! Code Red! Repeat Code Re-AUGH!" one of the Troopers yowled as he was cut down by Maul's lightsaber.
…
Up in the Castle Command Center, a man wearing a white Imperial Officer's uniform with long white cape and flanked by a pair of Stormtroopers walked into the Command Center. The man had well-kept black hair and a strong jaw. His rank insignias were that of an Imperial Admiral.
"Status report." He ordered with a High Coruscanti accent.
"We're under attack! A vessel positively identified as the Scimitar, has breached our perimeter and is deploying what appears to be a force of bounty hunters and mercenaries under the leadership of Darth Maul. We've also identified two of his associates as being Darth Lumiya and the Nightsister known as Silri." One of the officers reported.
"Sound general quarters and broadcast an emergency signal to General Solo of Avenger Force." Director Zevulon Veers, the son of General Maximillian Veers, instructed.
"What do we do about the Sith, sir?" the officer asked.
"Follow established protocol. Slow them down whenever possible. As for the bounty hunters, tell the men they are to shoot to kill. Scramble fighters to make any escape impossible. We seal them in with us if need be." Veers ordered.
"Director Veers, Sir!" another officer commented, gaining Veers's attention.
"Yes, Lieutenant, what is it?" Veers asked.
"We've positively identified one of the Bounty Hunters. It's a Jedi, sir." The Lieutenant, a Fett Clone, reported, confusing Veers.
"Clarify." He ordered. The Lieutenant brought up a live feed hologram of Maul, Lumiya, Silri, and Hisari as they broke off from the main group, heading through the halls of the Castle, fighting the Stormtroopers in their path. Hisari though was being careful not to inflict killing blows and only to disarm them.
"We've identified the female Zabrak as Commander Hisari Bow, ex-Jedi Padawan. She's reported as having abandoned the Jedi Order. Until this point her status had been unknown." The Lieutenant replied as Veers studied the hologram.
"Continue monitoring them. Until reinforcements arrive we take no chances. Shoot to kill orders stand. Lockdown the north and upper west wings." Veers ordered.
…
Elsewhere in the castle, the Dark Jedi had made their way into a large vehicle bay where several AT-STs sat in their alcoves awaiting deployment. One was already deployed and was firing at the Dark Jedi along with several Stormtroopers and deck crew. Maul was drawing the walker's fire, deflecting its laser cannon shots while Lumiya struck its legs with her lightwhip, the whip coiling around one leg, Lumiya letting it melt through the legs a little before pulling back, cutting the leg in two, causing the walker to topple over onto its side. Hisari was the first to the toppled walker's head, the canopy opening to reveal the two crew members inside, one wounded and the other unconscious or dead. One drew his sidearm but Hisari pulled it from his hand with the Force. Before she could do anything, he was shot in the chest by Lumiya from over her shoulder. Lumiya gave Hisari a dark glare and a sneer.
"Remind me again why we're tolerating this Jedi trash, much less bringing her with us?" Lumiya asked Maul as Silri finished off the last of the troopers in the bay.
"She is of great value. She owes me a debt of gratitude and I mean to collect upon this debt. We might need her when we reach Vader's Sanctum. Speaking of which, my Apprentice, where is the Sanctum from here?" Maul asked as Lumiya glanced towards a nearby turbolift tube.
"We'll need to go up two levels from here. Head to the North Wing of the Castle." Lumiya said as they started for the turbolift.
"What exactly is my part in this?" Hisari asked.
"Patience, young one. You will soon witness how easily Jedi are willing to kill those who turn from them." Maul said with a dark smile as the turbolift started upward.
…
Meanwhile in the hangar, the Bounty Hunters had forced the troopers from the hangar. The 501sts had sealed the doors to the hangar and were erecting barricades and E-WEBs on the other side, effectively boxing in the bounty hunters. Embo, Sanzia, Bane, Bossk, and Aurra were erecting barricades of their own around the Scimitar's boarding ramp, using some crates and large debris they found in the hangar. Montross though stood analyzing the situation.
"They're boxing us in." he commented, resting his blaster rifle against his shoulder.
"What makes you so sure? They could be gearing up for another attack." Herian commented, Embo voicing his agreement in his native tongue.
"The 501sts have had Mandalorian training. It's what I'd do in their situation. And yeah, they are gearing up for a counterattack. Question is, where will it come from?" Montross said but Sanzia seemed distracted.
"Do you feel that? An intermittent vibration. It's getting more intense." She said as they fell silent. They could hear a thumping sound getting closer from the front hangar. Aurra recognized the sound first.
"Walkers! They've got borking walkers!" Aurra hissed as Sanzia thought of something and quickly ran back into the Scimitar. Embo quickly leapt onto the Scimitar's port wing, squatting down and raising his bowcaster, looking through the scope. They saw nothing at first but then they saw a towering metallic leg appear from around the outside left corner followed by the familiar head of what at first appeared to be an AT-AT but upon closer inspection, they saw the chin guns were missing and the head was shaped slightly different.
"Blast! AT-ACTs! Toothless AT-ATs!" Montross remarked as the AT-ACT turned its head towards them, opening fire with its laser cannons but the shots impacted harmlessly against the Scimitar's shields.
"How do we take down a kriffing walker?!" Bane asked as she and the other Bounty Hunters took cover.
"Leave that to me!" they heard Sanzia exclaim from inside the Scimitar before hearing a set of engines starting up inside. Suddenly Sanzia came racing out from inside the Scimitar on the back of an antique FC-20 Speeder Bike, Darth Maul's Bloodfin. She slid to a stop, power sliding to face slightly towards them. Sanzia had her racing goggles on over her eyes and a rocket launcher slung on her back.
"Are you insane?!" Bane asked as Sanzia revved the engines.
"Nope! Adrenaline junkie!" Sanzia replied before racing off on the Bloodfin, streaking out from around the Scimitar, racing towards the AT-ACT which quickly directed its fire towards her. Sanzia easily bobbed and weaved around its shots until she managed to swoop around to its side, the walker attempting to turn towards her. She quickly parked the bike and climbed off, pulling the rocket launcher from her back. She raised the launcher, priming it and firing just as she entered the walker's targeting range. The rocket impacted the side of the walker's head, taking out the gun on its left side but it slowly turned back towards her but by that point she was running towards it on foot, discarding the rocket launcher whilst pulling an ascension dart launcher from her belt. She fired the grappler and caught on high on the side of the walker's large hulk, quickly launching into the air on the cable, landing feet first on the side of the walker. She pulled her blaster from its holster before starting to move further towards the back of the walker and then starting to move towards the front at a high rate of speed, detaching the cable at just the right time so as to launch herself into the air and land squarely on the head of the walker. She then turned and started firing at the neck joints, causing sparks to fly from the neck. She then noticed a service hatch opening near her.
"Finally!" she groaned, turning just in time for the walker commander to stick his head up through the hatch, blaster in hand. He got shot in the head at point blank before he could even fire off a shot. Sanzia quickly pulled the dead commander partly through the hatch, grabbing the thermal detonator attached to his belt, priming it, tossing it down the hatch before slamming it shut and starting to run for the back of the walker, nimbly scaling the walker just as the viewports on the walker exploded, billowing smoke, the walker seizing up and starting to wobble. From the safety of the Scimitar, the other Bounty Hunters watched with approval.
"Not bad." Bane commented as the AT-ACT collapsed forward onto its chin, Sanzia riding it down before jumping off its back, landing in a roll near the Bloodfin and racing back into the hangar.
"It still only counts as one." Montross scoffed, voicing his unique form of respect.
"No time to pat you on the back, those bucket heads could come storming in here any second!" Sing said as Sanzia parked the Bloodfin near the boarding ramp and taking up her position at the barricades.
"I just hope Hisari isn't having as tough a time of it." Sanzia said.
…
Elsewhere in the Castle, Maul, Lumiya, Silri, and Hisari were charging through the corridors, making their way through the 501sts.
"The Sanctum should be just up ahead!" Lumiya said as they rounded a corridor and entered a large antechamber before a pair of large black and red doors. The four slid to a stop.
"This is it." Lumiya said as they approached the doors, Maul scowling, purse lipped as he raised his hand towards the door. The door vibrated slightly before beginning to open on its own automatic hinges. This caused Maul to pause, reactivating his lightsaber in surprise. They were further surprised when a dark blue-grey plated RA-7 protocol droid emerged with a datapad in hand.
"There's no need to break the doors down. We just had them repaired and I don't want to have to wait another five months just to get them repaired again." The droid deadpanned, his vocablulator flashing red in sync with his speech.
"You're still here, droid?" Lumiya asked, surprised at the sight of the droid.
"You know him?" Hisari asked, surprised.
"He's one of Vader's droid assistants here. An old inventory droid. He's been here since the Castle was built." Lumiya commented.
"(Ahem), Part-time inventory droid and full-time Navigator and Military Analyst. And the designation is AP-5. If you've come to ransack the Sanctum please don't make a mess. I've put nearly forty years into cataloguing and sorting Lord Skywalker's possessions and I'd prefer you not do anything to cause me too much trouble." The droid deadpanned before turning and leading them into the Sanctum.
"Can we trust that the droid isn't luring us into a trap?" Silri asked.
"No but then his only weapon is his insufferably dull personality. But that's not to say Skywalker has some kind of security system installed." Lumiya replied.
"Oh, no, I deactivated those when I saw you coming. I didn't want any unnecessary carbon scoring on the walls." AP-5 replied as the Sanctum doors closed behind them. Hisari's eyes widened at the sight of the Sanctum. The Sanctum was a strange mixture of temple and museum. It was a large A-shaped chamber with black metal walls and red fixtures that were leftovers of Skywalker's Imperial days. There was even an old Imperial Banner hanging from the ceiling along with banners for the Old Republic, the Old Jedi Order, the New Republic, and the New Jedi Order. There was a short flight of steps at the back leading to another door. All around them were various displays of strange oddities that fascinated Hisari. Dangling overhead though, on a set of strong cables and suspended via repulsor netting were a pair of rusted twin engines connected by long cables to a cockpit of some kind. Hisari recognized it immediately.
"Wait, is that Lord Skywalker's Podracer?" Hisari asked.
"Yes that was the Podracer he used to win the 32 BBY Boonta Eve Podrace." AP-5 replied.
"What is all this junk?" Silri asked as they walked through the place.
"These are some of Lord Skywalker's personal treasures. I cannot tell you their value. Most of them are quite worthless but they are of immense sentimental value to Lord Skywalker. I wouldn't try harming them. I have activated a series of self-activating ray-shields to prevent any damage from befalling them." AP-5 explained as Hisari looked at one of the displays. It was a display containing a single long strand of brown-blonde braided hair mounted on a pyramidal pedestal and hermetically sealed within a cube of transparasteel.
"What is this? It looks like a Padawan braid." Hisari commented.
"That is Lord Skywalker's own Padawan Braid. Severed upon his ascension to the title of Jedi Knight and gifted to his late wife, Padme Amidala. It was found amongst Lady Amidala's belongings in her Coruscant Apartment following a raid led by Lord Vader. Kept as a reminder of his arrogant youth." AP-5 explained.
"Wow, he kept his own braid. Kinda…gross." Hisari commented as she stepped away from the display. She then saw something she recognized.
"Oh hey, it's the wreckage of that old starfighter from Yavin." Hisari commented, approaching the burnt out hulk of the fighter, some of the twigs and overgrowth from Yavin still clinging to it.
"The wreckage of Lord Skywalker's Azure Angel. His personally modified Delta-7 Aethersprite. Destroyed on Yavin IV during the Clone Wars by Asajj Ventress and left undiscovered until just last year. Salvaged and brought here following the evacuation of Yavin IV in 28 ABY." AP-5 reported.
"Yes this is oh so very sentimental, droid. Now where might we find relics belonging to his former Master, Obi-Wan Kenobi?" Maul asked, running out of patience. Lumiya, Silri, and Hisari all turned towards him in surprise.
"Kenobi? So that's why you wanted to come here! You're here to desecrate anything that belongs to Kenobi!" Lumiya exclaimed, Maul spinning around towards her, a snarl on his face.
"Kenobi took everything from me! I vowed to make him pay for what he did to me on Naboo! And I intend to ensure that there is nothing left of Kenobi in this Galaxy!" Maul spat.
"Then you have wasted your time." AP-5 said, Maul spinning towards him with a look of fury.
"What?!" he snarled.
"All items marked as having belonged to Obi-Wan Kenobi have already been moved on Lord Skywalker's Orders. He gave the order approximately four weeks ago." AP-5 explained as Maul pondered in thought.
"Four weeks ago. That was when we fought on Mustafar. But why would he move Kenobi's belongings?" Maul asked himself before looking suspiciously yet curiously at AP-5.
"Was there a reason given for this order?" Maul asked.
"No but he did request genetic sampling be done on some of Kenobi's belongings and sent to the Upper-Sanctum. That would be on the upper levels." AP-5 explained. Maul's eyes squinted in thought.
"What is it, Master?" Silri asked as Maul looked thoughtful.
"Why would Skywalker want genetic samples taken of Kenobi?" He asked softly.
"We can sort that out later. Do you know where he stores the lightsaber used during his years as Vader?" Lumiya asked.
"He keeps that lightsaber in his Inner Sanctum. If that is all you are here to steal, then I will take you to it." AP-5 said as he started to lead them towards the doors to the back of the Sanctum. As they passed, through the Sanctum, Lumiya seemed disconcerted by the various old belongings.
"How long has your Master been stockpiling these keepsakes? You said you've been at this for over forty years." Lumiya said.
"That is correct and that is also the same amount of time Lord Skywalker has been maintaining this collection." AP-5 replied.
"That would mean he's was stockpiling this stuff as Vader." Lumiya commented with a curious expression on her face.
"What difference does that make?" Hisari asked.
"Because when he was named Darth Vader, Anakin Skywalker was supposed to cease to exist. All ties to his past self were to be destroyed or shunned. Clinging to these relics was a sign of weakness. Either he used these relics as a reminder of his weakness to keep him on the path of the Dark Side or he was weak all along." Lumiya replied as they approached the large doors to the Inner Sanctum. Beyond the doors they found themselves in a room that branched off in three directions. To the left was a cave-like passage made of the natural brown colored rock of the canyons outside of the castle and lit internally by a series of primitive torches. The entrance to this passage was barred by a simple iron gate, an inscription above the entrance reading "Lars" in a variation of Aurabesh.
The central passage was decorated in white metal, glass, and pure white marble. It was blocked by a pair of beautiful white doors. There was no inscription on this passage. Finally, the passage to the right looked like it was more Sith-like, made of black metal with red accents. There was music being piped into the room via audio emitters hidden in the sconces and other locations, an orchestra and chorus singing what sounded like a requiem.
"What is this place?" Silri asked.
"And why does it feel like a tomb?" Lumiya asked.
"Because that is the purpose of the Inner Sanctum. The dead are buried here." AP-5 said as Hisari shivered, looking towards the passage marked "Lars" and blinking at what she saw. Beyond the gates were what appeared to be three simple coffins made of a sand-colored rock but further in, almost in a separate chamber was an elegant sarcophagus with the relief of an individual, a woman judging by the shape, lying in a burial pose atop the lid of the sarcophagus. The same variant of aurabesh lettering inscribed the top edges of the sarcophagus beneath the lid. Hisari was too far away to make out what the inscriptions read.
"Who is buried here exactly?" Hisari asked. AP-5 noticed her gaze and looked towards the stone passage.
"This passage is the family crypt of the Lars family. The remains of Cliegg, Owen, and Beru Lars are interred here. They were brought here in Year Zero on Lord Skywalker's Order. Theirs are the more simplistic crypts. Their bodies were originally interred in simple and unimaginative grave vaults before Lord Skywalker ordered the entire Inner Sanctum remodeled to accommodate these more elaborate graves in 6 ABY." AP-5 explained.
"You gave three names yet I see four graves." Lumiya commented.
"The large one belongs to Lady Shmi Skywalker, Lord Skywalker's mother. Lord Skywalker had her body exhumed from the Lars Moisture Farm in year zero and reinterred here." AP-5 replied as Hisari blinked in silent awe.
"I remember reading about her in a bio on Lord Skywalker. She was a slave and later married the man who freed her. Huh…it's kinda touching. She died a meager moisture farmer and gets a coffin fit for a queen." Hisari commented.
"Laughable is more like it. In spite of his power, deep down, Skywalker is nothing more than a little boy crying for his mommy." Lumiya scoffed but Hisari rolled her eyes with a scowl aimed at the former Sith Lady.
"What about the center area?" Hisari asked. AP-5 approached the door to the center passage, revealing a beautiful white chamber with rectangular reflecting pool before another sarcophagus only the sarcophagus was missing its lid, the lid resting on a repulsor cart with a relief sculpture of a beautiful woman lying in burial pose. Behind the sarcophagus was a white statue of an angelic woman with her arms stretched out to the sides in a benevolent and loving gesture. Hisari recognized the face immediately.
"Oh, Padme Amidala. I remember reading that she was one of the early influencers of the Rebellion prior to the formation of the Empire…but why is her crypt empty?" Hisari asked.
"Lady Amidala is still interred within her royal crypt on Naboo. Lord Skywalker had this crypt constructed in 6 ABY after a report emerged that vandals had plundered the tombs of two of Naboo's former leaders. Lady Amidala's was untouched but Lord Skywalker wanted to have this crypt prepared in case he opted to have her body exhumed and reinterred here for safe keeping." AP-5 explained.
"Enough of this prattling, where is Vader's lightsaber?!" Maul asked as AP-5 motioned to the Sith designed crypt.
"Through there." AP-5 said as they entered the Sith crypt.
"So who's buried here, the Emperor?" Silri asked but Maul shook his head.
"No, I do not sense my former Master's presence here." Maul commented.
"There are no bodies buried in this crypt. Only some more of Lord Skywalker's possessions and the possessions of a former Sith Lord." AP-5 replied as they approached a black stone table with some strange objects on them. A leathery face mask, a cybernetic right hand, some black tattered Sith clothes, a double-bladed lightsaber, and a chain of silka beads clutched in the cybernetic hand. Lumiya recognized these items instantly.
"Force! These are Darth Vandal's remains! I recognize the headgear! I saw it when it was installed on Mustafar." Lumiya said in astonishment.
"You mean Ashla Tano." Hisari said, earning a look from the others. Hisari was standing at the base of the table.
"What do you mean?" Lumiya asked. Hisari pointed to a metal plaque at the base and read it aloud.
"Here lies Ashla Tano, formerly Darth Vandal. Born in the year 30 BBY, became One with the Force in 28 ABY. Jedi Knight and loving sister until the end. May the Force be forever with her." Hisari commented with a look of surprise. Maul scowled and pressed on deeper into the crypt, the others following behind. As they neared the back, Maul saw it. A black table like the one that held Ashla's remains only the remains lying on the table were a bit more familiar to all of them.
"What's that smell?" Hisari asked, wrinkling her nose.
"Smells like burnt leather." Silri hissed.
"It is. Look." Lumiya said as they all gathered at the foot of the table, what Hisari saw made her swallow nervously. A suit of burnt black leather, a burnt out control panel on the chest, black metal boots and shoulder pauldrons, that had been warped and turned to an ashen color by the heat of a fire, but sitting at the head on its own elevated section of the table was a warped and broken helmet that each of them recognized.
"Vader's helmet. This…this must be the armor he wore until he defected at Endor. His original armor." Lumiya remarked as they looked the burnt suit over. The only things missing were the cape which had been incinerated in the fire and the black Mandalorian crushgaunts which Anakin had kept and still wore. Hisari's gaze was fixed on the helmet though, its distorted features giving it a haunting appearance. She could almost faintly hear Anakin's familiar breathing echoing through the chamber, a shiver running down her spine. But lying to the suit's side was the prize Maul had been sent to retrieve. A sleek silver and black cylinder of metal. Maul picked up the lightsaber off the table, activating it with a vile hiss, its red blade illuminating the chamber around them.
"Hard to believe isn't it. The very lightsaber that killed so many Jedi, now is within my grasp. And yet, I care nothing for it." Maul mused to himself. He then deactivated it and clipped it to his belt before turning back towards the door.
"We have what we came here for, let us depart." Maul said as they started for the door.
"Good." Lumiya said. She suddenly activated a single-bladed lightsaber from her belt and spun around towards AP-5, intending to destroy the droid but was blocked by Hisari's lightsaber.
"Destroying him is a wasted effort!" Hisari grunted but Lumiya's cybernetic enhanced strength was easily overpowering her.
"Oh but it will be so very satisfying!" she hissed with a snarl. She suddenly started choking from an unseen force. They looked and saw Maul with his hand held out towards her in a pinching motion.
"We haven't the time for such a mindless squabble! We must leave, quickly!" Maul ordered, Lumiya deactivating her lightsaber in surrender. Hisari did the same, Lumiya scowling at her as she stormed passed after Maul. Hisari looked to AP-5 who seemed disoriented.
"Sorry about this." She said before racing off after them, leaving AP-5 to his lonesome within the Inner Sanctum.
…
Up in the Command Center, Director Veers was monitoring the situation in the hangar, watching the bounty hunters holing up around the Scimitar. He was then approached by a towering KX-Series Security Droid with a datapad in its hand.
"Pardon me, sir." The droid said, Veers looking up at him.
"Yes, K-2SO. What is it?" Veers asked, the droid handing him the datapad.
"You might want to see this." K-2SO said, Veers taking the datapad and looking through it. He took a deep breath, standing at attention almost as he read it.
"When did these instructions come in?" he asked.
"Just now over the encrypted channel meant strictly for…well, you know who." K-2SO said, as Veers swallowed nervously.
"Very well, we follow his instructions to the letter. De-authorize all turbolift stops to all levels except for the tower. Send squads eight and twelve to intercept and force the Dark Jedi to take one of the tower lifts." Veers ordered, some of the soldiers turning and looking at him in surprise.
"Sir, the tower is off limits without-." "Without authorization, I know. But these orders come straight from Lord Skywalker himself. He has something special planned for these intruders. We only need to keep them from escaping." Veers said as the men turned back to their stations. K-2SO in the meantime turned his attention to the holo-feed of the bounty hunters in the hangar.
"Aye sir, de-authorizing lift stops to all levels. Tower access is the only remaining active stop." "Squads eight and twelve responding to orders, sir. Dark Jedi last sighted near the Sanctum." The men reported.
"Uh, sir, it would seem we have them in retreat." K-2SO said, Veers spinning around towards the holo-feed to see the bounty hunters piling up the ramp to the Scimitar.
"Alert all fighters and give the signal to the barricades to attack! Stop them from escaping!" Veers ordered.
"Yes sir, hangar squads, you have a go! Repeat, you have a go!" one of the men said into a headset.
…
Down in the hangar, the bounty hunters were backing away into the Scimitar just as the hangar doors opened, the 501sts swarming in with a barrage of blaster fire.
"Go! Go!" Aurra yelled, Embo quickly pulling his helmet off and holding it like a shield on his left arm while Montross activated a small energy buckler on his left wrist gauntlet, the two shielding the retreating bounty hunters. Inside the Scimitar, Sanzia leapt into the pilot's seat, hitting the controls and revving up the engines.
"Come on you old rust bucket, now's not the time to cut out on us." She grumbled as the Scimitar's engines roared to life, the ship's shields activating and absorbing more of the blaster fire. Embo and Montross were the last inside, the doors slamming shut.
"We're in! Go!" Bane yelled into the cockpit.
"Hang on!" she yelled, the Scimitar rocketing forward out of the hangar, it's foils extending. Back in the cockpit, Aurra and Montross entered, Aurra moving to stand next to the pilot's seat. Sanzia had pulled her flight goggles back over her eyes.
"Maul's tracker indicates that they're out of the Sanctum. We need to get to the tower." Aurra said as the proximity alarms started going off.
"Yeah that might be little more than a nice wish right now! We've got incoming fighters! Three marks at two-ten! Hang on!" Sanzia said as they saw three wings of old Imperial TIE Interceptors with 501st colored solar foils flying towards them. Sanzia quickly banked hard, the Scimitar turning away and leading the fighters on a merry chase through the canyons nearby. The Castle's turbolaser batteries meant for AA-defenses suddenly came to life, turning and starting to fire at them.
…
Back inside the castle, the three ex-Sith and Hisari were deflecting blaster fire from two squads of 501st Stormtroopers, heading them off and forcing them deeper into the castle.
"We need to get to the tower or else we're never getting out of here!" Silri hissed, deflecting blaster fire.
"There's a turbolift up ahead! Come on!" Hisari yelled, pointing to the open turbolift. The four force-users made a run for it, deflecting blaster fire back at the 501sts as they ran, quickly leaping into the turbolift, the doors slowly closing. As soon as the doors had shut, the turbolift started moving quickly upwards. As they moved, Maul pulled a comlink from his belt, raising it to his face.
"Maul to Scimitar, we have what we came here for. We are headed to the tower, be prepared to rendezvous for pick up." Maul said into the comlink. They then heard the screaming of TIE fighters echoing from the other end.
"Might have to be a minute! We're having difficulty shaking these TIEs! We'll let you know as soon as we can get the cloak up!" Sanzia replied as Maul scowled.
"Make it quick or I won't be pleased!" Maul hissed before holstering the comlink. He then noticed that Lumiya was looking at him curiously.
"Your thoughts betray you, my apprentice. You are curious about something. Speak up." Maul said with a scowl.
"You came here with the intended purpose to vandalize and desecrate any of Obi-Wan Kenobi's remains. You ignored all other opportunities to go after Kenobi's only apprentice by striking at that which he cherished such as his mother's grave or the monument to his late wife. And yet where as an ordinary Sith would be infuriated at such a denial for revenge, you are strangely calm, my Master." Lumiya said as Maul sighed in response, looking contemplative.
"There is something amiss. Kenobi's belongings and remains were moved the same week I encountered Skywalker for the first time. I wonder if perhaps he knew that I would come for revenge. But even that theory is suspect. Skywalker is doing more than protecting his late Master's Legacy, and what that is, is what I yearn to discover." Maul replied as the turbolift started to slow down.
"We've arrived." Silri said as the turbolift came to a stop, the doors opening into a dimly lit chamber. The chamber was similar in aesthetics to the Sanctum only lacking in any Imperial imagery. It was a large round chamber with two doors at the back and one to their left which led to the landing area. Instead it seemed slightly disorganized with crates scattered and around the edges of the room, while strange identical black statues of an unidentifiable figure in a black cloak and hood were stationed at various points around the room. In the center of the room was a large black semi-round object.
"What is this place?" Maul asked suspiciously as they stepped into the chamber. The turbolift doors sealed shut behind them. Lumiya swallowed nervously, recognizing the chamber they were in.
"Lord Vader's meditation hall. That's his meditation chamber, there." Lumiya said, motioning to the large round object. Hisari looked at it curiously, feeling drawn towards it, a strange sense of familiarity emanating from it.
"Never mind the meditation chamber, get the door to the platform open, quickly!" Maul ordered, Lumiya hurrying to the control panel near the door and sighing in frustration.
"It's jammed." She groaned.
"Then start cutting a hole into it!" Maul spat as Hisari drew closer to the meditation chamber, reaching out a hand towards it. Maul and the other Sith then paused, sensing something with the Force and turning slowly towards the chamber just as Hisari's hand touched it. The minute she did though, the chamber let out a loud hiss, billowing steam and mist from the slits in its two halves, the chamber opening with bright white lights illuminating the cloud of fog inside, bathing the room in a grey light. Hisari had initially recoiled at the chamber's opening but now was peering inside out of curiosity.
That's when they heard it.
A distinct filtered breathing sound that caused Lumiya to freeze in terror, it was a sound they all recognized. Hisari's eyes widened in fear as she fell backwards, scrambling to crawl backwards from the chamber. Maul suddenly felt the Vader lightsaber being pulled towards the chamber.
"NO!" he yelled, attempting to catch it just as it snapped off his belt but missed, the saber flying towards the chamber only for a black gloved hand to catch it. The hand's owner then arose from the mist within the chamber, the fearsome visage of the ex-Sith Lord turned Jedi Master…
Master Anakin Skywalker, clutching his former lightsaber as he stepped out of his meditation chamber. Hisari looked up in fear at Skywalker, his anger at their intrusion into his Castle rippling through the Force around him.
"I've been waiting for you, Maul. We meet again at last." Anakin said as he clipped his former lightsaber to his belt, drawing and activating his Jedi Lightsaber while paying Hisari no heed, his gaze fixed squarely on Maul.
"Skywalker. You knew we were coming!" Maul hissed.
"Suspected, perhaps. I was not certain whether you would come. I knew the remains of Obi-Wan Kenobi would draw you to Bast Castle. I took precautions to insure you would not harm them." Anakin said as Maul activated his double-bladed lightsaber with a snarl.
"Oh but you will not stop me this time, Skywalker! You are his legacy and you are nothing more than a weak old man kept alive by machines! And I vowed I would destroy Kenobi, but as you already did, I am left with destroying his Legacy!" Maul yelled.
"You will try, Maul, but my Master's Legacy will survive with or without me." Anakin said before Maul let out an angered roar and began charging towards Anakin, the two former Sith Lords becoming locked in a duel. Lumiya and Silri activated their lightwhips, intent to attack Skywalker and aid their Master when suddenly they heard a strange mechanical whirring sound. They looked around and saw the statues in the black cloaks were starting to move, pairs of glowing yellow eyes appearing from inside, their heads all turning towards the Sith Ladies and activating yellow lightsabers, adopting various saber fighting stances and starting to move towards them.
"What are these things?!" Silri asked as the figures attacked. Hisari finding herself targeted by the statues as well. Lumiya cracked her lightwhip at one of the statues, decapitating it and revealing a body of metal beneath the cloak.
"Training Droids! They're old Jedi Training Droids!" Lumiya hissed as one of the droids raised its arm towards them, Silri suddenly getting launched towards the wall by a powerful repulsor blast, causing her to slam hard against the wall but it only dazed her briefly.
"Powerful droids at that!" Silri yelled as the droids, numbering at least two dozen if not more, approached them, their programming mimicking Jedi fighting forms from the days of the Old Republic. Hisari was struggling against the droids, their training level having been set to Jedi Master level. She quickly leapt up into the air, grabbing onto a low hanging crossbeam, hanging above the fray, unreachable by the droids. Lumiya and Silri were fending off the droids, with their lightwhips and their spare lightsabers. She looked back and saw Anakin and Maul still engaged in their duel. Anakin was managing to keep Maul at bay with only a single lightsaber, his cybernetically enhanced strength easily overpowering Maul's own but Maul was slightly faster. Anakin managed to shove him back before thrusting his empty hand forward, launching Maul back with a powerful Force Push but Maul's feet suddenly exploded, revealing numerous metallic talons hidden inside. He dug the talons into the metal floor, grinding to a halt against Anakin's Force power.
"I sense fear within you Skywalker, but it is not fear for your sake! You are hiding something! Your thoughts betray you!" Maul snarled as Anakin paused, lowering his lightsaber. At first Hisari thought he was standing down but soon heard the groaning and cracking of machinery, sparks flying as various fixtures and loose objects were ripped from the walls by the Force, Anakin unleashing a torrential wave of objects hurled at Maul through the Force. Maul snarled and sliced his way through the onslaught as he charged towards Anakin who brought his lightsaber up in time to block, the Force Onslaught dying off as Anakin and Maul locked blades.
"What is it you seek to hide from me?! I see something…an old man? No…Kenobi!" Maul snarled, he and Anakin exchanging fast blows. Anakin didn't reply as he and Maul locked blades again only now Maul seemed more certain.
"It is more than just Kenobi! It is something, something you do not wish me to see!" Maul snarled before his eyes widened and mouth fell open in realization.
"No, oh no. Could it be so simple? A child…Kenobi had a child. An heir. That is what you tried to hide from me." Maul said before he leapt back away from Anakin, the two ex-Dark Lords staring each other down.
"You seek the child of Kenobi while I seek his legacy! At last I shall have my revenge on Kenobi, by ending his bloodline once! And! For all!" Maul declared with an angered snarl. He soon found himself surrounded by the droids and was forced to fend them off. Hisari was watching all of this from the crossbeam when the doors to the outdoor landing platform suddenly exploded, the force of the explosion sending her flying off the crossbeam to the ground, landing in a slide on the smooth floor, landing at Anakin's feet. Anakin looked down at her in silence as she scrambled to her feet, her lightsaber active and in a defensive posture. Lumiya, Silri, and Maul were already making their way to the destroyed door, the Scimitar flying past outside, leaving Hisari before the Chosen One.
"The Dark Side of the Force is not with you, Padawan Hisari, but it is attempting to deceive you. Your love for your sister is what keeps you by her side. It is this love which you must test, and your sister shall test it for you. Your Destiny does not lie with the Jedi, that much is clear. But it does not lie with the Sith either." Anakin said, holding something out to her with his left hand. She looked and saw it was his Vader lightsaber. Hisari wasn't sure what to make of the gesture but finally grabbed the lightsaber before turning and running for the hole, vaulting over the droids with a Force Jump and rolling through the hole where Maul, Lumiya, and Silri were fighting off some more of the 501st Stormtroopers only now she could see the entire 501st's Fleet Group in low orbit overhead, their starfighters and landers heading towards the Castle. The Scimitar suddenly decloaked, hovering low overhead, it's back hatch and boarding ramp extending despite still being in midair. Montross and Bane came flying out from inside the Scimitar on their jetpack and rocketboots respectively, firing at the 501sts while Aurra and Embo took up positions on the ramp, providing covering fire.
"Come on! Let's go!" Aurra yelled, Lumiya quickly Force Jumping onto the boarding ramp. Hisari suddenly heard a groaning from the door behind her as it started to be forced open from the inside. She looked and saw Anakin along with his droids standing on the other side along with a contingent of 501sts. She quickly started running towards the Scimitar, dodging blaster fire. Aurra and Embo both targeted Anakin, firing at him but he easily blocked or deflected their shots. Silri leapt onboard next followed closely by Maul who turned to snarl at Anakin but saw Hisari, holding the Vader Saber up in the air.
"I've got the lightsaber!" she yelled.
"Jump!" Maul yelled back, Hisari quickly using a Force Jump but she fell short. Montross however, caught her with his whipcord launcher, carrying her into the Scimitar, Bane, Aurra, and Embo falling back inside, leaving Maul to scowl at Anakin again before turning and walking inside the Scimitar, the Sith Infiltrator taking off before the boarding ramp had even retracted, the hatch slamming shut before the ship vanished into thin air using its cloaking device. Anakin stood staring at where the Scimitar had vanished, deactivating his lightsaber. He didn't pay much attention to the two AALs that touched down on the platform, depositing several 501sts along with Jacen, Tahiri, and Captain Phasma.
"Grandfather, we got your distress call! What's going on?!" Jacen asked as he approached. Anakin said nothing before silently turning and walking back into the tower, passing Director Veers and K-2SO as they arrived from the turbolift. The droids all turned and followed Anakin back inside as well. When Veers had realized that Anakin was ignoring him, he turned and started to approach Jacen.
"General Solo, we appreciate your prompt response to our call. I'm afraid though, that the danger has passed. We had a visit from Darth Maul and a band of hired bounty hunter scum. They appear to have been after something in Lord Skywalker's Sanctum." Director Veers reported.
"Maul? What could he possibly have been after? A rematch with my grandfather perhaps?" Jacen asked.
"Hardly." K-2SO remarked.
"It would appear that they stole only one item. The Sanctum inventory droid reported that it was Lord Skywalker's lightsaber from his time as Vader." Veers reported as Jacen took a breath of apprehension.
"The Vader Saber. Aside from its historical value and a possible strong Dark Side taint, I can't imagine why Maul would launch an attack just to steal a lightsaber." Jacen said as Veers gave a nod.
"I agree. We believe he was after something else. The lightsaber was just one part of his mission here. We believe it was something that Lord Skywalker refers to as the 'Legacy.' We don't have much information on that I'm afraid." Veers said as Jacen looked around at the destruction.
"I better go check on him then. See what information I can get. In the meantime, Commander Velia and Captain Phasma here will work with you to assist with making sure you have everything you need to enact repairs and arrange the necessary troop transfers from Kamino to replenish your ranks. Maybe even see what we can do to bolster the defenses here." Jacen said as Veers gave an appreciative smile and nod.
"Much obliged, General. Please inform Lord Skywalker that we will redouble our efforts to make sure no similar breaches occur in the future." Veers said as Jacen gave him a pat on the shoulder as he passed.
Meanwhile…
The Scimitar had escaped the 501sts and jumped to lightspeed. In the main hold, Hisari placed the Vader Saber in a metal box being held by Lumiya who closed the lid, giving Hisari a suspicious look.
"How exactly did you get your hands on this when Skywalker had reclaimed it?" Lumiya asked her.
"I managed to swipe it while he was distracted with Maul. I grew up in the slums of Taris after all. I know how to pickpocket." Hisari replied as Sanzia put an arm around her sister.
"Does that answer your question, schutta?" Sanzia asked, her electrostaff in hand. Lumiya scowled at her before walking off. Sanzia then smirked at her sister, a look of pride on her face.
"My baby sister took on Darth Vader and won. You really did learn something with the Jedi after all. Next job we do, we're splitting it seventy/thirty and you're getting the seventy, and no we're not taking a chump job either." Sanzia said before walking away.
"Yeah." Hisari said, watching her sister move to check on the Bloodfin. She then glanced up towards the ceiling, where the cockpit was. In the cockpit, Maul was sat in a corner on the floor, sitting with his legs crossed, his fingers tented in front of him, a look of anger and contemplation on his face as Lumiya and Silri approached, Lumiya with the box carrying the saber under her arm.
"So you've failed to get your revenge, my Master. What more do you need to be satisfied?" Lumiya asked but Maul merely started to laugh darkly.
"Failed? Oh no, I have not failed in the slightest. The mission to Vjun, might have failed to produce Kenobi's remains, but it has produced something far more valuable, something which will make my revenge all the more satisfying." Maul said as he stepped over to a console and started entering commands. After a moment he stepped back as a holoprojector started to display a hologram, an old archive hologram of Obi-Wan Kenobi from during the Clone Wars. The hologram zoomed out to reveal a question mark with a bar connected between it and Kenobi while a second, vertical bar branched down from the middle of the first, leading to another question mark.
"At last, I will reveal myself to your Heir, Kenobi. At last, I will have my revenge." Maul chuckled with a dark smile as the Scimitar roared through hyperspace.
Back on Vjun…
Jacen walked through the Sanctum in awe, marveling at the relics of his grandfather's past. He looked and saw the doors to the Inner Sanctum were standing wide open, the recording of the requiem still echoing from within. AP-5 stood deactivated by the door, as Jacen walked inside, following his grandfather's footsteps through the Force. He could hear his breathing echoing through the Inner Sanctum. Jacen looked around and saw that the gates to the Lars crypt were open. He looked further in and saw his grandfather knelt before the grave of his mother. Jacen took a breath of apprehension, sensing his grandfather's turbulent emotions through the Force as he approached, passing the graves of Cliegg, Owen, and Beru Lars before entering the chamber where Shmi Skywalker's grave was.
"Grandfather." Jacen said, Anakin raising his head slightly but didn't respond.
"Are you alright?" Jacen asked. Anakin turned his head towards him slightly.
"You stand before the grave of your great-grandmother. Be respectful." Anakin ordered as softly and gently as his mask allowed. Jacen quietly knelt down next to him, paying his respects. Anakin was silent for what felt like an hour when it was only one or two minutes before he spoke.
"I bear a message for you from a friend in exile." Anakin said, Jacen immediately realizing he meant Tenel Ka.
"Tenel? What did she say?" Jacen asked, anxious to hear what she had to say.
"She is in good health, and that you are always on her mind." Anakin said as Jacen breathed a sigh of relief, savoring the news that she was alright.
"Where is she?" he asked.
"That, I cannot say. Even I did not know where to find her until I already had. Patience, Jacen. She will return when the Force wills it." Anakin said as Jacen gave a nod of understanding.
"I understand." Jacen said softly. Another moment went by until Anakin spoke again.
"Darth Maul has endangered something very important to me. We recently learned that there is an important Force Sensitive individual somewhere in the Galaxy, one that we must now find before Maul does." Anakin said as he rose to his feet, turning towards the entrance, Jacen following after him.
"What can I do to help?" Jacen asked but Anakin remained relatively quiet until they reached the Inner Sanctum's main entrance. Anakin then turned and closed the gates to the Lars Crypt with the Force, even reattaching the chains over the gate with the Force.
"I want the Five-Hundred and First to begin a galaxy wide manhunt for Darth Maul. I want every ship available searching for him. I want him found before he has a chance to destroy the individual we have sworn to find. Do not underestimate his power. The Dark Side is strong with him and he was trained by the same Sith Lord that trained me in the ways of the Dark Side. He is cunning and he is dangerous." Anakin said as Jacen bowed to him.
"I will not fail you, grandfather. I will find him, and I will destroy him." Jacen said before turning and starting to walk towards the exit.
"Be careful not to choke on your aspirations, my grandson." Anakin warned. He watched Jacen disappear before looking down at something he'd had clutched in his hand for some time. It was Kenobi's lightsaber.
"I can only hope, that in the end, I don't end up failing you again, my Master." Anakin said softly.
"You will do all you can, my old friend. I have faith in you." He heard Obi-Wan's voice echo throughout the chamber.
Later in another part of space…
Darth Stalker stood on the bridge of his flagship, the Finalizer, a massive Star Destroyer bigger than the average one but smaller than an Executor Class Super Star Destroyer, watching as the Sith Fleet organized itself before him. His thoughts were interrupted as he sensed one of his fellow Sith Lords approaching from behind.
"Ah, Lord Stalker." Darth Fenrir greeted, giving a bow.
"Speak quickly, Fenrir. We are about to initiate Phase II of our largest campaign yet against the Republic. We must be prepared to act as soon as the Empress gives the word." Stalker said as he turned and started to walk towards the back of the bridge.
"I believe you will find the gift I have brought you most pleasing. I believe it is something that you have desired for some time, is it not?" Fenrir asked as he presented Stalker with a metallic box. Stalker stared at it for a moment before removing his helmet, his long brown hair dangling and his Dark Side Corrupted eyes staring at it with a look of growing surprise. He reached inside the box and slowly removed the sleek silver and black cylinder from inside. He activated it, the blood red blade appearing with a vile hiss. Stalker took a deep breath, a sinister grin forming as his hands shook with dark glee.
"At long last, the lightsaber of my namesake, within my grasp." Stalker said before looking at Fenrir.
"How did you come by this?" he asked the Talortai Sith Lord.
"Through my connections, your excellency. Consider it a gift from those who would wish to curry favors from the Empire…at a later time." Fenrir said as Stalker smirked darkly, deactivating the lightsaber and clipping it to his belt.
"Oh, I will remember this, Fenrir. You have done me a great service indeed. You may tell your associates, that Darth Stalker and the Empire are most appreciative of their efforts and will be willing to make do of their services again in the future." Stalker said as Fenrir coyly smiled and bowed humbly before Stalker.
"With pleasure…Lord Vader." Fenrir said as Stalker smiled and continued on his way towards the back of the bridge, a sinister glare on his face.
End Episode 18
A few things to go over here.
First, a reminder that only the first season of Rebels is canon, the rest isn't. So AP-5's history is significantly different. He never met Chopper or joined the Rebellion.
K-2SO, similarly, has a different backstory than his Rogue One counterpart. It's safe to assume he was never reprogrammed by the Rebellion and continued his Imperial Service, being deployed to Bast Castle.
I also wanted to establish that Anakin showed remorse for his past deeds and in some way clung to his past. It can be surmised that Vader initially had Owen and Beru's remains brought to Bast with the intent to remind him of his despising of them but after his return to Anakin Skywalker, he gave them a proper burial. The tomb for Shmi Skywalker was something I had wanted to do for some time, to show that Anakin/Vader still missed his mother.
If you're curious about the requiem playing in the Inner Sanctum, you can go ahead and assume it's the same funeral music played during Qui-Gon's funeral at the end of Phantom Menace or the longer version played during Padme's funeral at the end of Revenge of the Sith. Personally, I was listening to the Lacrimosa from Mozart's Requiem. Non-Star Wars but it helped set the mood in my mind.