Next Steps
"Is everyone okay?" Braylen, now Darth Vetris, asked as he approached the group.
"Yes, we're fine," Shmi said, relief evident in her voice.
"You were amazing!" Anakin exclaimed, his eyes wide with admiration.
"Who was that?" Shimi asked, still shaken by the encounter.
"His name was Darth Maul," Vetris explained, still scanning the horizon, his senses on high alert. "He was the apprentice to a rival Sith, but I haven't heard anything about his whereabouts in years. He couldn't have been tracking me... which means he was after the Queen."
Shimi's face paled as the implications settled in. "The Queen? But why?"
Vetris didn't answer immediately, his mind racing. "We need to warn her."
Turning to Anakin, he said, "Ani, set the coordinates for Coruscant. I need to make a call."
Anakin, filled with excitement after the battle, nodded seriously. "Got it!" He rushed to the cockpit to prepare the Ebon Hawk for launch, punching in the coordinates for Coruscant.
Vetris activated his communicator, intending to reach out to Padmé. He had just saved them all from a deadly threat, but the fight wasn't over. Not yet.
As the engines roared to life and the ship lifted off, he knew time was of the essence. The dark side of the Force was at play, and the Queen needed to know what she was up cockpit of the Ebon Hawk hummed quietly as the stars streaked past in hyperspace. Braylen, now fully assuming his Sith identity as Darth Vetris, sat in the pilot's seat. He activated the holocomm, kneeling as the holographic form of his master, Darth Tanya, flickered to life.
"Vetris," Tanya's voice was smooth and cold, "I was not expecting to hear from you so soon."
Vetris lifted his gaze slightly. "I have Maul's lightsaber as proof, master. It is done."
A thin smile crept across Tanya's face, her eyes gleaming with approval. "You have done well. Maul was a dangerous rival, and eliminating him removes a potential threat to our plans. This was no small feat, and you've proven yourself worthy."
Vetris inclined his head respectfully. "Thank you, master. What are your orders now?"
Tanya paused, considering him. "Now, you must focus on the boy, Anakin. The Force swirls around him—he will be key to what is coming. His potential must be guided, but be cautious. His path is not yet set, and neither the Jedi nor Plagueis will allow such power to go unnoticed."
Vetris nodded. "I understand. I will continue to train him, carefully."
"Good," Tanya said, her voice carrying a note of finality. "In time, you will need to test his loyalty. He must understand the strength and wisdom of the dark side. But do not push too hard, too quickly. His attachment to his mother and his past will make him vulnerable."
"I will handle it," Vetris assured her.
Tanya's image flickered slightly. "I trust that you will, Vetris. Return to me when the boy is ready to take his first steps on the true path. Until then, I will watch with great interest."
With that, the holocomm blinked off, leaving Vetris alone with his thoughts as the stars continued to rush by. He glanced down at Maul's lightsaber, a cold reminder of the path he had chosen, and of the trials that lay ahead for both him and Anakin.
Council Chambers
As the Jedi Council listened to Qui-Gon's report, the tension in the room grew thick. Mace Windu crossed his arms and furrowed his brow. "So, the Trade Federation risked war by attacking Naboo, and they also attempted to assassinate the Queen?"
"Yes," Qui-Gon confirmed. "However, the real threat wasn't just the Federation's actions but the Sith who assisted them. A Sith apprentice, Darth Maul, was involved, but he was killed."
"By whom?" asked Plo Koon, leaning forward in concern.
"By Braylen," Qui-Gon responded. "Darth Vetris, as he calls himself. He fought Maul and emerged victorious."
Eeth Koth shook his head in disbelief. "How could the Sith have returned without us knowing?"
Master Yoda, sitting quietly, nodded. "Clouded, our vision has been."
Mace Windu raised an eyebrow. "Qui-Gon, do you think Braylen and Maul had the same master, following the Rule of Two?"
Qui-Gon shook his head. "No, Master. From what I've observed, Braylen and Maul did not share a master. In fact, they seemed to be rivals.
"That would suggest two Sith factions, potentially with their own masters," Mace concluded, the realization dawning on the Council.
Adi Gallia voiced the question that was on everyone's mind. "Are we looking at rival Sith lords operating in secret?"
Qui-Gon nodded thoughtfully. "It's possible. Braylen's actions and philosophy do not align with what we traditionally know of the Sith. He's different."
Yoda's eyes narrowed in contemplation. "Yes. Seen, we have. His actions—protecting family, defending the innocent. Unusual, these are, for a Sith."
"And yet, he calls himself one," Ki-Adi-Mundi interjected. "Are we really going to allow a Sith to serve as the Queen's bodyguard?"
Qui-Gon, standing firm, replied, "He has done nothing to betray her or us. In fact, he protected her and fought a Sith to keep her safe."
Master Yoda tapped his cane on the ground. "Cause an interplanetary incident, we will not. Observe him, we must. Dangerous, the Sith are, but patient, we should be."
Mace Windu nodded. "We'll watch him. If Braylen—Darth Vetris—is as different as you say, we need to learn more."
The Council members exchanged glances. Braylen, the Sith who defied the typical path, would remain a mystery—one they could not afford to ignore.
Senate
As Padmé left the Senate chamber, her frustration bubbled beneath her calm exterior. She had hoped that the Senate, with all its supposed influence, would rally to Naboo's cause. But instead, she was faced with endless political games, indecision, and manipulation. Even senator's Palpatine's advice about a vote of no confidence felt hollow, as it would only shift power without solving the immediate crisis.
She couldn't stop thinking about what Braylen had said back on Tatooine—how relying too much on others could lead to manipulation. And now, standing here, she felt it. She had placed her trust in the Senate, hoping they would act, but they were no better than the Trade Federation.
She needed a new plan, a new perspective, just as Braylen had suggested. But what could that be?
As she made her way down the hall, her mind turned to the Jedi. If the Senate wouldn't act, perhaps the Jedi would. They had already dispatched Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan to investigate the situation on Naboo. Maybe the Jedi Council would listen to her concerns directly. They were, after all, protectors of the Republic, and surely they would see the urgency in defending her home.
She hurried toward her chambers, ready to regroup and figure out her next move. As she entered, she caught sight of the rooms she had reserved for Braylen and his family. In that moment, she wished he were there. His clarity, his ability to see beyond the political game, might be exactly what she needed to guide her next decision.
If the Senate was failing her people, perhaps the Jedi, or someone like Braylen, could be the key to saving them.
As Padmé, Senator Palpatine, and Senator Organa continued their discussion in the meeting room in her chambers, the tension in the air was palpable. The mention of a Sith assassin clearly shocked both senators.
Senator Organa's expression was one of concern. "The idea that the Trade Federation might be aligned with a Sith... this is deeply troubling. It suggests a level of coordination that we haven't anticipated."
Palpatine, ever the politician, leaned forward thoughtfully. "If the Trade Federation has the backing of a Sith, this could complicate things even further. Perhaps this bodyguard of yours could shed some light on the situation. I'd be most interested in meeting him."
Just as Palpatine finished speaking, a handmaiden entered the room, bowing slightly. "Your Highness, I apologize for interrupting, but Braylen's ship is requesting clearance to dock."
Padmé nodded, her mind already turning to the next steps. "Thank you. Please give him the docking codes and ensure he's escorted to us as soon as possible."
As the handmaiden left to transmit the docking codes, Senator Organa turned to Padmé. "I hope this bodyguard of yours is prepared. If the Jedi are involved and the Sith are returning, things could escalate quickly."
Padmé, though outwardly composed, shared Organa's unease. "Braylen is more than capable. He's proven himself before, and I trust he will again. But we need to move carefully from here. If the Sith are indeed involved, then Naboo is facing a much larger threat than we initially thought."