POV: 3rd Person
There was plenty that could be said about all of the emotions that Jabba the Hutt was feeling at this moment but Rage was at the forefront of it all. The human in front of him had blatantly and easily walked into his palace and past every slave and guard and none moved to stop him. Not only that but some had even made way for the man; in Jabba's home his own people had done this when they knew the penalty for something like that was a painful death.
There was only one person in the entire galaxy that had that type of power and influence to Jabba's knowledge. A man who he believed to be nothing more than a ghost but he was proven to be real. Something he at first questioned that his guards and slaves believed but upon taking one look at the man he understood. The man understood as well; to those in this trade he was unmistakable. The Watcher had come for a visit to Jabba's palace and he didn't have a damn clue as to why.
As for The Watcher not much about him was known to the Hutt save for the fact that you didn't fuck with him. He was Hutt in all forms except birth and he commanded respect across the underworld unmatched by all. That's not mention that he has survived no less than 1000 assassination attempts by the Hutts alone. Many of which he repaid in kind and personally; usually to the ruin of whoever ordered it.
Their ruin always came in different forms but it always manifested. Rarely did their ruin be quick either, death was not on the table. He made sure that you suffered for a long time before you were eventually knocked off the board by a new piece. See The Watcher never did it himself, he just made sure that it happened.
After the 10th Hutt he had killed this way the Hutts reached out to him over 4000 years ago, right before the Treaty of Coruscant. They met with him and tried to have Mandalorians kill him as they were hired help. Only for them to completely forsake their pay upon seeing The Watcher arrive. The called him a word many of the Hutts didn't know but it was translated to Bloodkin. He was a brother to the Mandalorians in some way and with that knowledge the Hutts stopped their pursuit of the mans death and came to terms with him.
The terms were surprisingly easy to reach as well. Provide his agents with any and all information prudent that they come across and he will do the same for them when they ask for it. Provided that he be given favors to call in upon his choosing as payment for the information he gave out. The Hutts had openly laughed at him before he proceeded to talk for, as the story goes, 12 standard hours straight detailing every single one of their plans, merchandise, relationships, mothers, fathers, where they lived before, and so on.
The man outlined all of their lives with insane detail and even went on to add information that should have started a war between all of the Hutt Clans instantly. However, he kept piling on information from every clan to the point that every single Hutt in the room knew the dirty laundry of everyone else. Effectively enforcing the Hutts to shut up and listen to the man or enter a Cold War the likes of which the Hutt criminal empire would never survive.
From there he strongarmed them into following the terms he had set out. They, of course, tried to assassinate him but each and every time it failed. To the point that the Hutts just stopped as they were hemorraging money. It didn't stop others from trying of course but each time they always failed. Eventually they stopped altogether and labelled the man a friend of the Hutts; the first and only of his kind.
To Jabba specifically though he liked the man. It had been almost 400 years since he last saw the man, when Jabba's empire was just beginning. The man had given him the information he needed to solidify his empire and effectively take over Tatooine completely. If he was here now then it was for a favor. One that had Jabba curious as the few the man had called in over the years always varied. Sometimes it was simple information about a few sectors of space and the other times it was not.
The most costly of which was when he wanted us to cut off all trade with the Zygerrian Empire. His reasoning for which had been simple and understandable to the Hutts. The Zygerrians had tried to force his, at the time, Togrutan wife and daughter in slavery when he was off planet. He had, thankfully, intercepted them before they could be lost but The Watcher was a man not to be crossed in any way. The loss of the Zygerrians for business was hurtful to the Hutts but it was just the beginning for the Zygerrians; he brought their empire low in a matter of two decades.
From one that could rival the Hutts and even bits of the Empire and Republic to next to nothing. He was behind it all and because they went after his wife and daughter. The man had been content to let their empire do whatever as long as they didn't go against whatever it was he did. He didn't do it because he despised slavery either, hell Jabba knew the man had owned slaves. His only reason was simply because they tried to take what was his.
What he did to the Zygerrians earned him a lot of respect within the Hutt Empire, along with a lot of fear. The man didn't even fight them; he just made a few calls, greased a couple of hands and gave out a tiny bit of information. That was true power to the Hutts and he exemplified it with barely any effort at all.
All that said though Jabba was curious as to why he would be here and now. The galaxy was in a relative state of peace overall with no big wars; or even any species wars going on. Plenty of tension overall but nothing that should've really caught the mans attention. Unless he was putting the pieces together for another war? Now, that was possible.
"Mighty Jabba," his assistant spoke to him as the man reached the outside of the chamber. Jabba saw the Twi'Lek open their mouth to continue speaking but Jabba dismissed him and motioned for the room to be cleared expect for a two of the dancers. It was better that way with the Twi'Lek gone; The Watcher despised them.
"Good to see you Jabba. How have you been since we last met?" The Watcher stated with a smile on his face as he walked in. The entirety of the room now empty except for Jabba and a Mirilian and Human dancer. The Watcher silently ordering them to his couch as he sat down across from Jabba.
"Good Watcher. Has your work been kind to you?" Jabba asked in Huttese. The man smiled but didn't answer before wrapping his hands around the two women. Jabba would never understand why the dancers loved him so but from what he had gathered they all loved him everywhere he went. At least that's what he could find out from his sources.
"It's been kind. Setting up something massive next year; it's going to be a long show but a bit boring after the beginning then things will really kick up," Jabba didn't understand why the man spoke cryptically like he did. Well, he did in some sense as no one who didn't explicitly know him would be able to connect the dots on what he was saying. Jabba did though, War.
Not just any war though from his words but one that would simmer. A big bang to kick it off and then into a cold war and then it would really start and he had been setting it up for so long. The only question Jabba had was why come to him now. If it was set up and ready then why was Jabba needed for his favor.
"Why do you need me then?"
"Anakin Skywalker, he's a slave that belongs to Watto at the moment. Whatever happens around him I need the boy alive and well," again a simple request from him but Jabba just knew there had to be layers upon layers to it. There must be an actual plan but Jabba knew he wouldn't be able to see it until he had a bigger picture.
"Done. Is that all for you my friend?"
"I'll have these two for the night and then I'll be out of your hair. Are the rooms in the same spot?" Jabba nodded to the man and then he left with the girls draped over him.
Once he did Jabba ordered the room to be populated once more and they returned to the festivities. The rest of the night went as it normally did for Jabba but he didn't have two of his better dancers. Though the next morning when he next saw them both were walking slowly but had satisfied looks on their faces. Either way he knew that they would perform better if given the next night off. They had earned it.
POV: 3rd Person
In a room in a Senate off two men stood across from each other with one behind a desk and the other in a chair. The Senator couldn't help but be absolutely furious as the man just smiled at him. Who the hell was this guy to simply walk in here like he owned the place and tell him what to do. Then there was the fact that the man had his daughter on the screen in the middle of them showing her in a hotel room.
"Now, Senator. I'm going to make this quick and easy for you to understand. Pass Bill 8752 in your system allowing for companies to privatize their work force if they wish to. You don't then I give the go ahead and the men near your daughter get to have their fun."
"It will destroy thousands upon thousands of jobs. The lives of too many people are at stake; I will not allow you to blackmail me like this," the man looked genuinely impressed at the Senators words.
"You are a stronger man than I Senator but alas I will give you more more chance with a little bit of added information. Pass the bill or your daughter will be gangraped and then you will disappear from the public never to be seen again. Then whoever replaces you will pass the law within the first week of their inauguration. There is no path here that you win."
"And what guarantee is there that you will leave me alone after this?" The man nodded at the Senators words.
"You are right, there is no guarantee but what choice do you have. Besides, you give me this there will be no point in me coming back here as your system is worthless to my plans outside of this one bill," the Senator didn't believe him at all but as he weighed on the options there wasn't much that he could do. He would bend to the man and he did so with a nod of his head.
"I'll make sure the bill passes."
"Good. Your daughter will stay in my custody until tomorrow at which time the vote will have passed. The moment it has you will receive a message with a location and that is where you will find your daughter. Have a good day sir," and then the man just got up out of the chair and left the room leaving the Senator to himself. The Senator just opened one of his drawers, grabbed the liquor that was inside adn began drinking.
Outside the room the man felt disgusted with himself. He did not like doing things like that, especially when threatening the daughter or son of someone. It was too sloppy and often had plenty of drawbacks but was unquestioningly effective. Which was why he did it, he needed the bill to pass in order for the balance to be kept. A culling was needed and this was one of the first steps to be done.
POV: Jericho
Myself, P and Nynda plus to the knew Chiss took care of the Sith assassins rather handidly. They weren't much of a problem once the force was taken away from them and they came through a chokepoint. It was rather pedestrian all things considered but that was because everything stacked in our favor.
Regardless of that once we finished up I gave the Chiss two options. The first being that he takes a message to the Ascendancy that I want a meeting with them or that he dies. Considering we had all three of our weapons pointed at him he correctly chose the first option. When he did P gave him a Com code that he could use to get in touch with us. With that done we boarded the ship P had commissioned for us and left the planet and the system behind.
We spent the next few days just relaxing in the ship as we flew randomly through Hyperspace all across the Empire. With the ship not being registered we were able to go just about anywhere we wanted without preamble as long as we avoided the high traffic planets and areas. Those were always patrolled and an unregistered ship would raise suspicion. Everywhere else was free game. Including some tropical planets that we made special time for.
During those trips on those planets I got to see both the girls in their own personal swimsuits. It wasn't anything crazy, mind you, as I had seen them before but seeing them on the beach made them different for a reason that was obvious after a second of thought. They were trying to impress me now with how they looked and it was working and after knowing them for as long as I had falling for them had been easy. Barely made it a day before all three of us were in a bed together.
That relationship with those two women was the first of only three relationships I've had with multiple partners at once. I most assuredly could have had it more than those three times but those three were the only ones where it felt right. Regardless it started there on that sunny beach with a deep blue Chiss and a pure white Cathar.
Moving on after we officially began our relationship we spent almost a full week on the planet before moving on. Like before we really just bounced around and did the odd job or two but most of it was traveling and setting things up. Finding things out that no one wanted; all types of valuable blackmail. It was nice to have a spy ring so deep and imbedded across the galaxy that even they didn't realize who they were actually reporting to. Gave me anonymity and I was still able to influence the entirety of the galaxy as I saw fit.
Most prominently starting a small skirmish between an isurrectionist group on the far side of Empire controlled territory from where we were. It would make the Sith and Empire focus there as they would use their new initiates for them to gain experience on a smaller scale. Instead of sending them after us.
Eventually the end came to be for us and the Ascendancy came calling for us. The meeting took place on a small world near Wild Space. It wasn't a safe or good place to be. Plenty of things out there that would spell the end of any traveller. Only positive of it all being that Starro's wouldn't both me. Beings of the force that could put even the strongest of Sith and Jedi in the ground. My ability to negate the Force prevented them from attacking any ship with me.
That's not to say they were the only thing out there. Plenty of beings just as dangerous and plenty more numerous than Starro's. The lizard people who liked to dissect whoever they came across came to mind first and foremost. No name on them at that point to my knowledge as so few had survived them. Those that had were never believed but there were too many occurrences for it to be false.
Moving on we landed on the planet and simply waited for the Ascendency to come and meet us. We waited half a day before they showed up and in that time we waited there was plenty to do for us. Well, it was mostly me doing them if you catch my drift. It was a fun time.
"So you are the Watcher?" the tallest of them stated as he approached with a squad of guards at his back. We had known they were coming and P was posted up a few hundred meters away with a sniper. Nynda was closer in a machine gun nest lined up on them the moment they approached me.
"Yes I am. What can I do for you fine gentlemen."
"Information," that was a given. "On the Empire and everything that it entails. From the lowest of the low to the Emporer himself. From now until the end of their existence?" Now that was new.
"Do you plan on leaving the Empire?"
"Not at the moment," so it was on the table for them; now that was interesting. Wonder why.
"What are you not telling me. Be straight with me and you will get what you came here for," the guards looked at the man cautiously but he continued on.
"The Ascendency believes that the Empire will crumble eventually. It will not be in this millenia or even the next but it will happen and when it does it will be catasrophic. Their implosion will bring peace but that peace will bring great ruin."
"The point?" I was strating to loose my patience with them.
"We will give you the information in return it gets to no one; no matter the pay," Interesting. If they were treating it like this then it was a threat to the galaxy beyond what we would be abel to handle with peace. We needed War to make ourselves ready; so they were like me then. Making sure the war stays as balanced as possible.
"Agreed."
"We found a group of ten ships. Small in stature but beyond anything that we have ever seen. They were no more than the smallest of small scout ships and they decimated a squad Destroyers before we were able to destroy them," well that wasn't good. Chiss Destroyers were excellent ships with usually solid commanders. It was why most Imperial Naval commanders were Chiss.
"We took one of theirs alive and even then it took hours to kill their compatriots along not to mention the men we lost taking the one alive."
"How many?"
"37 in total died," Kriffing hell.
"We were able to gleam some information from them before they killed themselves. They call themselves the Vong and they view this galaxy as blasphamous to their religion," a pregnant silence hung over us, Nynda and P gasping at the information.
"We were able to figure out the controls for the ships we disabled instead of destroyed. They were far off course from their intended direction and weren't able to send a message back home; a location roughly a few decades of travel at Hyperspeed. Make no mistake though, they could make that journey easily and it is only a matter of time until they arrive."
"You want information on the galaxy in that time so you can get it ready for their arrival," they nodded at me. "I'll help in exchange I want everything that you have on them the moment you learn more. In exchange you will get everything I have con a consistent basis. Do we have an agreement?"
They nodded their heads. I stood up and shook their hand and sent them everything that I had information on. Well, on hand at least; they'd get it all when I accessed my Terminal.
"You'll get the rest within the day. I have your comm code; if a new one is needed send a person to me. Don't care how its done otherwise," the man nodded to me before turning around and leaving. There was a lot to be said for this. For one though if the Chiss were scared enough of this enemy to be willing to, probably, betray or outright leave the Empire then that was beyond scary. Chiss were known as some of the best tacticians and logical warriors in the galaxy. If they were scared this badly I didn't want to think about it too much.
Walking back into my ship I poured myself a glass of the hardest stuff available. P and Nynda joining me quickly afterwards and all of us joined in the drinking. Did not expect for this to go the way it did. I needed a vacation.
So that's what I did. I spent the remaining years of P and Nynda's lives with them relaxing and doing what I wanted across the galaxy. Making sure the war, that started again, stated as even as it possibly could.
I had four kids between the two of them with three from P and one from Nynda. This time around I made sure to raise all of them to the best of my ability. I wasn't the best father but I did always try my best. They all grew up to be respectable people and make their own marks on the galaxy. All of them becoming insanely successful mercenaries and going on to do what they wanted.
I didn't always like what they did but they never made me disappointed in them. That they never did. I loved them.
POV: 3rd Person
"What are you saying Masters?" Kenobi asked the Council as he stood in the middle of them.
"The Watcher will come to see Skywalker. You must make sure that he does not get the boy alone," Master Windu spoke in his harsh tone as he looked at Kenobi. Yoda and the rest of the Council nodding their heads in agreement.
"Who is the Watcher. I only know as much as my padawan has told me and he hasn't found much regardless."
"He knows more than we will ever know and he will be arrogant about it. Do not think him easy prey either, he will kill you if you fight him with anything but you all," Master Rancisis spoke to Kenobi. The Snake like master harsh in his tone towards the young man.
"How will I know he is near?"
"Your connection to the force will be cut. When that happens he will be near. May the Force be with you," with those words from Master Windu Kenobi was abruptly kicked out of the Council chambers confused about what had just happened and concerned for the future of both himself and his padawan.
Hey, y'all. Hope you enjoyed the Chapter.
As for some information on the late update… Well, this story will be my number two. I will be focusing more on my Skyrim story for my weekly updates. This story will not be neglected; it just won't get as many updates as Skyrim: The Path. Hope y'all understand.
Love y'all.
