"What do you think he found in the cave?" Baras asked Quinn from the holocomm.

"He hasn't said," Quinn replied. "I have seen Lord Mau'te angered and frustrated, but never shaken."

"The Sith find many paths to the Dark Side," Baras said. "How would you assess his skills?"

"Excellent, my lord, but..." Quinn paused. "I believe he is holding back."

Baras chuckled. "He is not the first apprentice to mask his skills." Quinn nodded, uncomfortably. "Something wrong, Captain?"

"Does Darth Grathan use a purple lightsaber?"

"He does," Baras said. "One of the few I've known that deserves it. Why do you ask?"

"Miss Vette knew the color of it," Quinn said. "How would that be?"

"It should be impossible," Baras said. "Grathan would have killed Lord Mau'te easily."

"Someone must have mentioned it to her," Quinn suggested.

"Yes," Baras said. "Has he met with Duke Kendoh yet?"

"Not yet, my lord. He was asking someone about Sanctuary Coast."

"He was?" Baras said. "Has he told the girl?"

"Not yet," Quinn replied. "I think he wants to visit the city first."

"Of course," Baras said. "I hope all goes well for him. Baras out."

"Tracker?" Mau'te asked.

"Ready to go, sir," Quinn said. He handed the tracker to Vette.

"Will he be happy with this?" Vette asked.

"He will when he knows it's to help Mako," Mau'te told her.

"You're probably right," Vette said. "Back in a jiff."

After she left, Quinn said, "You're putting us at risk, sir."

"Tell me, Captain, how an orphan from Nar Shaddaa got an implant like that?" Mau'te said. Quinn shrugged. "Besides, she's family."

"Quite so, sir."

"What do we know of this man?" Mau'te asked as they neared Kendoh's quarters.

"Born during the Thul exile," Quinn said. "Raised in Imperial space. He learned well, as I understand it. Considered joining the Imperial military for a time. One of the first to return to Alderaan."

"Ambitious and self-serving," Mau'te said. "He does sound Imperial. That will make him easier to understand."

A Sith Lord approached them just as they reached the entrance. "Lord Mau'te?," the man said in a soft voice. "I am Darth Muceni."

"I've... heard of you," Mau'te replied. "How may I help you?"

"My most recent companion has departed me," Muceni said. "And I have heard tales of your beautiful associate." He smiled at Vette. "You really are as beautiful as they say, my dear."

"Creepy," Vette said.

"And spirited," Muceni added with a laugh. "I would put you on a pedestal, my dear. You would want for nothing, I assure you."

"Double creepy," Vette said. Muceni chuckled. "What happened to your last companion?"

"She departed," he replied. "On the best of terms. I never harm them. Not in the slightest."

"You're here for Vette?" Mau'te asked.

Muceni shook his head. "I had business with Duke Kendoh, but he mentioned you. And I had heard of her. Say the word, my dear, and I will have you in shimmersilk before the day is out."

"No, thank you," Vette replied.

"As you wish," Muceni said. "The offer stands." He turned and left.

"What the hell?" Vette said.

"Muceni is an interrogator," Mau'te told her. "He tortures people. Every day. But I have heard he needs a counterbalance to his work. He selects a woman that is beautiful, spirited, and kind. But they know, every gift he brings is in response to a life he has taken. When it becomes too much, they leave. Unharmed. And he finds another."

"Oh," Vette said.

"He would waste no effort finding your mother and sister," Mau'te said.

"What?" Vette asked.

Mau'te shrugged. "It's not difficult to guess why you want money, Vette."

"Not like that," Vette said. "I couldn't face them, if that's what it took."

"Very good," Mau'te said. "On to Duke Kendoh."

"Should we trust a guy that works with... him?" Vette asked.

"No," Mau'te said. "We should not."

They reached Duke Kendoh and heard someone say, "You are an abomination. Goodbye, cousin!"

"Fools," Kendoh said. "They won't be feeling much of anything for long. Oh. You're here. Be quick. Baras isn't even on my radar, at the moment. I have a war to wage and personal ambitions to achieve here."

Mau'te reached out and choked him. "Is breathing one of your personal ambitions?"

Kendoh gasped and struggled and managed to say, "FimmRess!"

"I'm sorry, Duke Kendoh," FimmRess said. "We are assigned to protect you and support your interests in the struggle for Alderaan. But we will not cross Darth Baras, or his apprentice."

"It's good to know some people have respect," Mau'te said. "Tell me, Kendoh, am I on your radar now?" Kendoh nodded, and Mau'te released him.

"It seems I may have been hasty regarding your master's needs," the duke said. "How can I make amends?"

Mau'te told him, "Do your job and all will be well."

"I pledge myself to your directives. Of course. And as I aid you, perhaps you'll be moved to help me in mine."

Mau'te waited.

"As I recall," Kendoh went on. "Darth Baras wanted information on a young Alderaanian girl who was taken off-planet to train with Jedi Master Nomen Karr. I was to locate her family so that you could, well, send the girl a message."

Mau'te waited.

Kendoh said, "The truth is, information about this girl is difficult to come by. I managed only one lead. Nomen Karr's Padawan fits the description of the former handmaiden of a noblewoman in House Alde named Lady Renata."

FimmRess shifted but said nothing.

"I'd have questioned her already," Kendoh said. "But Renata is protected by House Alde's greatest champion, Master Windredd. The man has never met his match in melee."

Mau'te waited.

"Well, you seem confident," Kendoh said. "If I may, once you've eliminated her protector and gotten what you need..." Kendoh looked at Fimmress then Mau'te. "I would be personally very indebted, if you'd arrange to have Lady Renata brought to us. For questioning."

"I will question her about Jaesa Willsaam," Mau'te said.

"I need to question her about other things," Kendoh said. "Alderaan politics. That sort of thing."

"I will consider it," Mau'te said.

"Well, your mission is now my mission," Kendoh said. "It's supremely important to me that you succeed."

Once they reached the speeder, Mau'te said, "Impressions? Quinn?"

"Ambitious, self-serving, easy to manipulate," Quinn replied.

"Vette?" Mau'te said.

"I don't trust any part of him," she said. "What was that garbage about Lady Whoever? Is that why he talked to that Darth?"

"I will find out," Mau'te said and contacted Muceni.

"Has Miss Vette changed her mind?" Muceni asked.

"She has not," Mau'te said. "But, we were wondering, what did Kendoh want? If you can answer."

"Normally, I could not," Muceni said. "But his request was less political. He asked me to prepare several doses of Nalovatol, a derivative of Pryodene and Dimalium." Vette stiffened. "I promise you, Miss Vette, I have never used it myself. On anyone."

"Thank you for the information," Mau'te said and switched off.

"THAT PIECE OF SHIT!" Vette said, shaking with rage.

"Captain," Mau'te said. "Have you heard of them?"

"Pryodene is a euphoric, I believe," Quinn said. "Dimalium-6 is used by Imperial Intelligence on individuals of considerable-"

"Cut to the chase," Mau'te said.

"It's a brainwashing drug," Quinn replied.

"It's a slave maker," Vette said. "It breaks down your resistance, but you're half empty, just going through the motions. People like that can recover. I've seen it happen. But people that aren't strong enough, if they're too gentle, too innocent, it turns them completely. It takes the right training, but they never recover. They're never anything but a slave after that."

"Perhaps," Quinn said, "They always were."

"No," Vette said. "Slaves like that are easy to spot. No one wastes the drug on them."

Mau'te said, "I suspect Lady Renata is the type to resist. I believe we have our measure of this man."

"Sir," Quinn said as they approached Alde. "Mister Ter'viro is behind us." He showed Mau'te the tracker.

"Vette, get their attention," Mau'te said. "I'd like to see what Mako can do first hand."

"Like what?" Vette asked.

After a moment, Mau'te said, "Find us the best way in."

"She can do more than that," Vette said. "Trust me."

They pulled off of the road and waited until they heard Ter'viro's speeder.

After Ter'viro, Mako, and Gault left, Quinn said, "Imperial Intelligence has some of the best slicers in the galaxy, but only a handful of them could have done what she did as easily."

"Watch your sources carefully," Mau'te said. "I believe we all have targets on our backs now."

"Of course, sir."

"Thank you," Vette said to Mau'te. "For helping her."

"She's family," Mau'te said.

"She's like that," Vette said.

Quinn said, "Sir, the time."

"Quite so." They rushed through the opening Mako created.

"My lady," a large man said. "We have an intruder."

"Sith!" the woman behind him said.

"Lord Mau'te," he said with a nod. "Lady Renata, I seek the family of your former handmaiden, Jaesa Willsaam."

"I don't know what you're talking about," Renata replied.

"Lady," the man said. "Let me kill this Sith like the last one Duke Kendoh sent."

Renata replied, "Windredd, you don't need my permission to kill an enemy that comes barging through my door. Make it fast."

Mau'te sighed. "I just need information."

Windredd said, "All you need is my sword through your neck."

"You're using an electrostaff," Mau'te pointed out.

"You know what I meant! Now die, Sith!" He rushed Mau'te. Mau'te swept Windredd's staff out of the way, stabbed him in the stomach, and hit Windredd on the back of his head with the pommel of his lightsaber. The large man fell.

"You killed him!" Renata said.

"Don't be stupid," Mau'te said. "The location of the wound matters as much to lightsabers as it does any other weapon. Get him to a hospital. He'll be fine."

"Um, I'm sorry I ordered him to kill you, Sith," Renata said. "I hope you don't hold it against me."

"Relax. I'm used to it. Pay attention this time. Jaesa Willsaam. Kendoh told me she used to be your handmaid."

"Kendoh is a liar," Renata said. "I was aware of the young handmaiden who left Alderaan with a Jedi Master. And I did hear the name Jaesa Willsaam, but you're mistaken- I didn't know her. The girl never served me."

"Do you know anything about her?" Mau'te asked.

"Duke Kendoh can include that in his interrogations," FimmRess said, entering the room with his men. "The duke congratulates you on your impressive venture into House Alde. I'm here to take the fair lady to him."

"No!" Renata said. "Don't let him take me to that... that pig. I do know who the girl worked for. I'll tell you all I can, if only you'll keep me from Duke Kendoh."

"Be thorough," Mau'te said.

Renata said, "Before she left with the Jedi, Jaesa Willsaam was the handmaiden of Gesselle Organa of House Organa. They were inseparable. Before the war, Gesselle was an aristocrat like myself. Now, she leads the Organan troops against House Ulgo."

"Where exactly is this Gesselle Organa?" Mau'te asked.

"H-her headquarters are somewhere on the front line," Renata said.

"Much appreciated," Mau'te said. "FimmRess, I had the opportunity to speak with Darth Muceni."

"I understand, sir," FimmRess said.

"Lady Renata isn't going anywhere. And tell Kendoh he's hanging by a very thin cord."

FimmRess replied, "As I said, I will not oppose you, nor will I defy your decision here." He nodded toward Renata with respect then left with his men.

"Thank you," Renata said, clutching Mau'te's hand and shaking with emotion.

"See to your champion," he said. He left without waiting for a response.

"FimmRess told me you decided not to let him bring the Lady Renata to me," Kendoh said. "I am most disappointed. By denying my claim to Renata, you certainly aren't providing me much incentive to help you. Where's my motivation?"

Mau'te said, "You wasted my time and Baras's time so you could turn that woman into a pet. You're lucky you're still alive."

"Consider me motivated," Kendoh replied. "So, FimmRess tells me the lead was fruitful. Although Lady Renata was not the girl's mistress, she knew who was- Gesselle Organa. I should say General Gesselle Organa. Now you have to track her down, which poses a bit of a problem."

Mau'te waited.

Kendoh continued. "Gesselle Organa leads the Organa war against House Ulgo. Her headquarters is protected by an impenetrable force field. No firepower can breach it. The forcefield allows Gesselle and her advisors to be stationed very close to the front and maintain a more hands-on command."

"She knows what she's doing," Mau'te said.

"As smart as she is," Kendoh said. "There must be a way to overcome... wait... yes! A force field needs power to maintain itself, yes? So, if we manage to cut the power... And I bet I know exactly where Gesselle is getting her juice. If I'm right, you could just walk through the front door."

Mau'te waited.

Kendoh said, "Almost all power on Alderaan is supplied by the planetary generator. Gesselle must be piggybacking the system to power her force field. Several of my fellows do this to maintain their special security needs. A precise charge at the generator will force fail-safes to fire. The planet won't miss a beat, but ancillary systems like Gesselle's forcefield will have to be manually reset. Which could take some time."

Mau'te waited.

"FimmRess, fetch a seven-stroke-seven detonator from my arms cabinet there and give it to our friend," the duke said. "The Alderaan power generator is located above the Straight Valley, and it boasts the planet's most advanced security systems. You'll have to fight your way in, set the charge, then fight your way out before the boom. It won't be easy."

Mau'te waited.

Kendoh forced a smile. "Once you've detonated the generator, you'll still have to wade through Gesselle's surrounding army and invade her headquarters before her forcefield is reset. I'll be eagerly tracking your progress. Good luck."

Back at the speeder, Mau'te said, "Assessment?"

"A reasonable strategy, sir," Quinn said. "But something seems off."

"Vette?" Mau'te asked.

"It's a con," Vette said. "He said you weren't on his radar, but he knew you were coming. He even had the drug prepared. This is another con. That whole 'wait...yes!' bullshit. 'I bet I know'? He had it all prepared. His 'fellows' do this for their security? He wants to attack them. This guy would make a half-way decent Hutt."

"Captain, House Thul must have a strategy room with a proper map. I want to borrow it."

"Of course, sir," Quinn said. A short call later, and they had access.

"Where is Gesselle Organa?" Quinn pointed her out. "Ulgo forces?" They lit up on the holo map. "Organa forces?" They lit up. Mau'te scanned the map, troop placements, and recent skirmishes. "There," he said. "Ulgo is about to breach her defenses. She'll cut her losses and leave them to their fate. It's that, or Ulgo advances here."

"Excellent assessment, my lord," Quinn said.

"I did well in my strategy classes," Mau'te said. "I even beat my cousin Kriranda." They looked at him. "You'd need to know Kriranda. As I was saying, we fight our way here and hold her troops hostage. Save them or destroy them. Stop Ulgo or let them through. Her men must be in contact with her. We'll negotiate."

The Organa troops waited behind their barricades, the sound of blaster fire filtering out of the cave. Men screamed, droids screamed, and grenades detonated. Then silence. Through the smoke and darkness, a bright red blade appeared. A Sith Lord, a soldier, and a mercenary emerged from the tunnel. The Sith Lord deactivated his saber and called out, "I am here to negotiate!"

"Lieutenant Dargus," an Organa soldier said, standing. "We have nothing to negotiate with!"

"Contact General Gesselle Organa!" the Sith said. "She has something I want."

Dargus looked at his men and shrugged. He activated his holocomm.

"Lieutenant," the general said. "Where is your captain?"

"Dead, ma'am," Dargus said.

"You called me for that?" she asked.

"No, ma'am, we have a Sith Lord here."

"I'm sorry," the general said. "I can't help you against one of them."

"He wants to talk to you, ma'am," the lieutenant said. "He's over there. Waiting."

"Ulgo?" Gesselle asked.

"The Sith cleared the tunnel on the way in. We've got some time. For now."

"Then... let me speak to him."

The lieutenant motioned Mau'te over.

"General Gesselle Organa, I presume?" Mau'te said.

"All right, Sith," the general said. "What do you want with me?"

"I am looking for the parents of Jaesa Willsaam."

The general stared at him. "Sith, did I hear you right? You've perpetrated all this in search of my former handmaiden?"

"I doubt you would have taken my call," Mau'te said.

"What are you offering?" she asked.

"I save your men and your left front from Ulgo forces, and you tell me what I want to know."

"Or?" she asked.

Mau'te smiled. "I kill your men, and Ulgo takes your front without resistance."

"Very direct of you," she said. "How do I know you'll keep your word?"

"I care nothing for Organa or Ulgo," he said. "Thul will finish off what's left of the victor. One dead enemy is much like another. But, if I keep my word, I get what I want with a minimum of effort."

"An Ulgo battalion is a minimum of effort?" she said.

"It is for me," he replied. "That and a choke point."

"You know your way around a battlefield," she said. "What happens to Jaesa? And her parents?"

"They will be treated well," Mau'te said.

Gesselle sighed. "You want to turn her. She's... she's not like you. She's not like most-"

The sound of tanks reached them from the cave.

"If I renege?" she asked.

"I slaughter your men here and everywhere I find them until you change your mind."

She sighed again. "Lieutenant."

"Dargus, ma'am," he said.

"Dargus. Lord...?"

"Mau'te Onoka," he replied.

"Oh," the general said. "If I may-?"

"My brother," Mau'te said. "You should stop there."

"That's all I need," Gesselle said. "Lieutenant Dargus, Lord Mau'te is now in charge. Trust him. He knows what he's doing."

"This choke point has been stabilized, General," Dargus said. "Ulgo won't be getting through here anytime soon."

"Thank you, Lieutenant," the general said. "Lord Mau'te, you are a man of your word. And an exceptional tactician. You figured out my most vulnerable front on your own, didn't you?"

"I am a man of many talents," Mau'te said. "Are you a woman of your word?"

"I'm having the Willsaams brought to me," she said. "I can't send a lethal killing machine like you into my people's citadel."

"Very good," Mau'te said.

"You won't harm them?"

"They will receive a stipend and will be able to live comfortably," he told her. "They will also be able to see her whenever they want. We encourage connection."

"They'll like that," Gesselle said. "Treat her well. Jaesa is special. I don't just mean her gift."

"I know what you meant," Mau'te said. "I will keep her safe."

"I have your word?" she asked.

"You don't need it," Mau'te replied. "She will be valuable to me. I have incentive to keep her safe."

The general nodded. "It's too bad you couldn't keep Renata Alde safe."

"What do you mean?" Mau'te asked.

"A Sith Lord attacked Alde," Gesselle said. "Beat her champion like he was nothing. It had to be you."

"I left her alive and well," Mau'te said.

"But without protection," Gesselle said. "She disappeared a week ago."

Mau'te smiled as only a Sith Lord could. "General Organa, I am going to show you what it means to keep someone safe."

Mau'te stood at one end of a long hallway. FimmRess and his men stood at the other end. The soldiers assigned to Kendoh lay scattered on the floor of the chambers nearby.

Mau'te smiled.

"Fight and die," he said. "Leave and live. Make your choice."

One of the Sith Apprentices said, "He beat an entire battalion, sir."

"I am aware of that," FimmRess said. "You beat Rathari, didn't you?" he asked Mau'te.

"I did," Mau'te replied.

"He was two years ahead of me," FimmRess said. "I never saw him lose." He deactivated his saber and said to his men, "Our service on Alderaan has ended. As for Lady Renata, I would apologize if I thought it would matter." He and his men left.

The cries and begging reached Mau'te before he opened the door. He slashed away the lock and found Kendoh at his sport. Lady Renata was in the center of the room, naked and suspended from the ceiling by her wrists, her toes just brushing the floor. Her body was covered with wounds and blood. Kendoh had his toys laid out on a table and was preparing another dose of the drug.

"Lord Mau'te! Well. This is a surprise. It's not what you think."

Mau'te stabbed him through the mouth. The duke fell to the ground gurgling and slowly dying. Mau'te cut the chain above Renata and caught her as she fell. She clung to him and sobbed, and he held her until the sobbing ended.

"Lord Mau'te?" Lady Renata said. She looked around in a panic and relaxed when she saw him.

"My lady," the Alde soldier said. "We need to go." He pushed her hover chair toward the Alde shuttle. Thul troops watched but did not interfere.

"I know," Renata said. "Lord Mau'te. Please." She reached toward him.

Mau'te went to her. "I'm sorry, my lady. I should have guessed."

She began crying again. "I wish... I wish you could have made him suffer more."

"So do I," Mau'te replied.

She pulled his hand to her cheek. "I don't know how many ways I can thank you." She looked up at him. "You're better than they say. I know it. Gesselle Organa knows it."

"I am more Sith than you think," Mau'te said.

At a considerable distance, macrobinoculars in her hands, the assassin read every word spoken.

Renata. "I don't believe that."

Mau'te. "You are kind, my lady."

Renata. "Thank you again. A thousand times over."

Soldier. "We must go."

Renata nodded. The soldier pushed her onto the shuttle.

Imperial. "I must admit, sir. I am pleased with the outcome."

Mau'te. "As am I. Problem Vette?"

Vette. "I don't know about you sometimes. A battalion of Ulgo troops then this."

Mau'te. "I don't want you to get bored of me."

Vette. "She was right about one thing. You are less Sithy than before."

Yes, he was, the assassin thought. There are degrees of salvation, Grandmaster, but I am focused on success.