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Star Wars AU The Triumph of Darth Plagueis: Episode Twenty-Three – Rebels Prologue III: Hutt Machinations
By
Celgress
14 BBY
Nal Hutta
The huge doors of Aruk the Hutt's Palace exploded inward. The Hutt's guards who dared resist the onslaught were quickly dispatched by a swarm of crimson blades. Breaking off from the group of elite, gray armored, Sith clones General Darth Grievous and his apprentice, the twenty-one year old female, Darth Lumiya approached the dais upon which Aruk and his young offspring Durga reclined. If Aruk was troubled by their presence he made no outward sign.
"You know why we are here Aruke, don't bother lying." Grievous said his electronically augmented, neon, red eyes fixed on the Hutt Lord. "Where are the plans your agents were paid to steal from the Imperial Dockyards on Raxus Prime?"
Aruk took several puffs on his hookah before summoning a small blue droid which passed him a data disk. "Here, take them. They've been more trouble than they're worth." Aruk muttered in broken basic.
Grievous nodded Lumiya retrieved the data disk. "Who hired your forces to steal the plans?" Grievous asked throwing back his grey cloak leaving his four lightsaber hilts visible.
The gravity of the silent threat wasn't lost on the old Hutt. "Pre Vizsla of Death Watch, his organization wants the Empire destroyed. Though I strongly suspect you are already aware of the last bit General."
"Quite" Grievous said turning to leave Lumiya following in his wake, while the elite clones fell in both in front and behind the pair. The elite clones were genetic copies of the late Darth Tyranus and Dark Avengia. Artificially aged to their respective primes, their brains had been partially replaced by sophisticated electronics minimizing the chance of rebellion.
"Aruk send the damage estimate to Death Watch." Grievous taunted while departing. "I'm sure they will compensate you handsomely."
Aruk watched the Imperials exit his wrecked Palace with more than a hint of anger on his face. How dare they violate the sanctity of his home! Belittle him in front of his own offspring! The indignity of it all! While he couldn't make the Imperials pay for the trespass. He most certainly could locate the traitor who had given him up and heap unimaginable suffer upon he, she or it.
"A message has just arrived from the magnificent Ziro the Hutt of the glorious Desilijic Clan, and Black Sun Vigo for Aruk leader of Besadii Clan", stated a bronze protocol droid entering the ruined chamber.
"Deliver the message, be done with it!" Aruk bellowed in no mood for any shenanigans.
"At once" said the Bronze Protocol Droid activating a hidden holographic projector in it's chest cavity. A half-life sized image of the flamboyant Ziro appeared.
"Greeting Aruk, I trust your evening has been a pleasant one?" Ziro snickered in his usual lisping tone. "If you're wondering who tipped off the Imperials concerning your oh so treacherous behavior, look no further it was moi. Next time you engage in the dirty business of galactic espionage be careful who you include in your circle of confidants. Your, now former, majordomo Ri truly despises you, bye bye."
"AAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!" Aruk screamed in frustrated smashing the Bronze Protocol Droid to pieces with a mighty swing of his powerful tail. "Zorba, Ziro, Jiliac the whole rotten Desilijic Clan they are all dead, do you hear me dead! I should have destroyed them along with that vile excuse for a Hutt Jabba! I should have purged them entirely from our Nal Hutta when I had the chance!"
"Fear not father we'll be rid of Desilijic soon. I have faith in your leadership." Durga said beaming up at his parent.
"Thank you my son." Aruk said calming himself.
Aruk wished Durga had already reached the Hutt age of legal responsibility, that however was still a decade away. Aruk was painfully aware that because of Durga's unfortunate birthmark, a black splotch which dominated the right side of the young Hutt's face, Durga would have a difficult time assuming control of Besadii upon Aruk's own demise. When Durga, Aruk's sole offspring, had been born the elder Hutts in the clan had pronounced all manner of terrible prophecies of the doom which they warned would surely occur should Durga be permitted to live. Aruk had silenced the naysayers warning them to hold their tongues. Which was why it was so important Aruk eliminate his rivals in Desilijic, Zorba and his brothers would no doubt ruthlessly exploit Durga's birthmark to their fullest advantage.
Tatooine
Small holograms of his three surviving brothers Ziro, Jiliac & Padza, who sported a long beard of his own, stood before Zorba the Hutt as he reclined, along with his grandson Rotta. "Tell me how did Aruk take the news of Ri's betrayal?" Zorba asked with a chuckle.
"Oh not well, not well at all brothers." Ziro related in theatrical fashion.
"Excellent" Zorba grinned while Jiliac & Padza openly laughed.
"Brother now that he has been weakened, what should be our next move against Aruk?" Padza asked Zorba.
"Presently nothing, following the imminent attack on Ylesia all of Besadii will be on edge. No brothers we must wait until they drop their guard again, say in one or two standard years." Zorba replied thoughtfully.
"Then what brother?" Jiliac inquired.
"Then we cut off the head of the snake. We go after Aruk himself." Zorba said sinisterly.
"So we kill Aruk and his offspring Durga, is that what you're suggesting brother?" Padza said.
"In part, Aruk must die if we in Desilijic are to prosper. However it would be most advantageous if Durga remained unharmed." Zorba said stroking his beard.
"Why!?" both Ziro and Padza said in perfect unison, obviously confused by Zorba's apparent mercy.
"Because one Durga will still be underage, two Durga's birthmark will make him socially unacceptable as a leader to many members of Besadii." Jiliac explained counting off the reasons on his chubby fingers.
"Exactly, my brother we can use Besadii's own prejudices and superstitions against them. While they destroy their Clan from the inside we'll chip away at it from without, taking away business after business. Aruk and his Clan will pay dearly for his roles in the deaths of both my son and our father." Zorba stated pounding his fist on his dais to emphasis his point.
Ziro inwardly squirmed at Zorba's mention of their father's fate. Ziro hoped his role in the old Hutt's disappearance and eventual demise remained hidden. The facts being widely known would not do, not do at all. Ziro hadn't even shared his role in Papa's fate with Mamma, rest her soul, he certainly wasn't able to let his bloodthirsty brothers know.
"One question dear brother" Ziro said. "Who exactly will perform this, ahem, delicate job?"
"Don't worry brothers, I've already picked out the perfect candidates." Zorba said with another grin.
"Do tell" Jiliac said genuinely curious who Zorba found who was willing to assassinate a Hutt Lord, a clan leader no less. Most other beings would rather take out a contract on their own parent or parents than cross the Hutts.
"Two Jedi I know who are playing house out on a moisture farm. The same two took the Ylesia job." Zorba said.
"Will they agree? I've heard Jedi abhor murder." Padza said.
"These Jedi have three children; a teenage female and more importantly young twins. If they refuse the job I'll have their children taken, to be safely released upon the successful completion of their mission Aruk's assassination." Zorba told his brothers, his grin now wider than ever.
"You old devil you." Jiliac laughed. "You truly are the master of manipulation." Padza and Ziro voiced their agreement with Jiliac's assessment.
"Thank you, thank you all." Zorba said taken a mock bow.
To Be Continued.