Baras watched Captain Quinn for some time before speaking. "An entire battalion?"
"About a third, my lord," Quinn said. "Then the Ulgo forces retreated."
"How did Lord Mau'te drive back so many?" Baras asked.
"Strategy," Quinn said. "Lord Mau'te is an exceptional tactician. Better than I am, in fact. I had no idea."
"Interesting," Baras said. "Where is he now?"
"Sanctuary Coast, my lord. He said he wouldn't be long."
"Very good," Baras said. "Have him contact me the moment he returns."
Mau'te stopped in the central avenue of Sanctuary Coast. A small city, but growing, he could understand its appeal. He exited the speeder, walked toward a large group of people, and waited. He did not wait long.
"Why are you here, Sith?" a woman asked.
"I am here to speak to someone," Mau'te replied.
"Who would that be?" she asked.
Mau'te shrugged. "Whoever will speak to me."
"We have nothing you want," the woman said. "And no one you want."
"I want a polite conversation," he said. "Nothing more."
The woman walked forward. "What does a Sith know about being polite?"
"Enough for a conversation," he told her. "Then I will leave."
"I'll talk to him," another woman said. "I know what he wants." She directed him to a nearby cafe. "If I may, try the Chertemi tea." They both ordered it. "What is it you wish to know?" The crowd continued watching from a distance.
"Do you ever regret it?" Mau'te asked
"Not for a moment," she told him.
"How did you meet?"
"I was an Imperial prosecutor," she said. "He always had a love of the law. He provided expert testimony often. I was never afraid to prosecute Sith Lords, and our paths would cross. When he first asked me out, I thought this was just a quid pro quo, but he was actually interested in me. He respected my willingness to go after Sith Lords, even though I lost most of the cases."
"And, how did you end up here?" he asked.
"He saw a chance to advance," she said. "Our son had just been born. My husband wanted to give him more. One day, he told me to prepare two suitcases, one for me, one for our son. Have them ready at all times." She took a breath as the emotions pressed on her. "A month later, he contacted me by holo and told me to go. No one would stop me, and no one did. He died within an hour of contacting me."
"Your son?"
"Did not inherit," she said. "He's in law school now. He wants to work for the Republic Senate." They both smiled at that. "Who is it for you?"
He looked away. "Her name is Vette. She is... frustrating, annoying, argumentative, obstinate, sarcastic." He turned back. "Former slave, former thief, full time thorn in my side. Fiercely loyal to her friends, opportunistic, and never gives a millimeter."
She said, "It sounds like you have your answer."
He sighed. "I'm not here for my answer."
"She will have a place with us if she needs it," the woman said. "And she will not suffer for your crimes. That is law among us."
"Thank you," he said. "And thank you for the suggestion." He gestured toward the tea. He looked toward the crowd and sighed again. "She has a learning curve."
"A lot of us do."
He nodded at that and left.
"You crushed Alderaan under your boot, apprentice," Baras said. "Nomen Karr's Padawan can no longer hide in anonymity. I am pleased. Pity about Kendoh, though."
"Not really," Mau'te said.
"As you rise among the Sith," Baras said. "You will find more detailed hobbies. On to more important news. I have received a transmission from Nomen Karr-calling me out, if you will. Challenging me to face him to the death. Our enemy has become desperate."
"No," Mau'te said. "He grows tired of the hunt."
"Perhaps," Baras said. "But Karr fails to understand- I have outgrown our personal dispute. He expects me to jump at the chance of strangling him. He will be unprepared for you."
"Most are," Mau'te replied.
Baras continued, "The duel is to happen on Hutta, at the site of Nomen Karr's betrayal so long ago. A fitting place for this to end. Defeat him, but do not kill him. His torment will reach out to his Padawan. He will be the bait that brings her to you. I can feel Jaesa Willsaam on the verge of breaking. And Karr's desperate actions confirm it. Subdue the Master, and the pupil will come to save him. I have foreseen it."
"Of course, master," Mau'te said.
"Defeating Nomen Karr will not be easy, apprentice," Baras said. "I have arranged for a strike team in addition to Captain Quinn and the thief."
"A strike team?" Mau'te said with distaste.
"Do not be naive. Nomen Karr fought me to a standstill years ago. He is well above the level of a mere apprentice."
"If you say so. Master," Mau'te replied.
"Very good, apprentice. To Nal Hutta. Baras out."
Mau'te said, "Nal Hutta, Captain. Best speed."
"Of course, sir," Quinn replied.
Mau'te went to the cargo hold to train. In a few minutes, Quinn and Vette heard remotes firing and crates hitting the wall. The sounds began to escalate. Quinn looked to Vette for help. She motioned for him to wait. She found Mau'te angry and sweating. Eleven remotes. Almost as good as a Darth. But not enough to calm him down.
"Computer, stop," Vette said, and the remotes shut down. Mau'te turned toward her. She smiled at him. "Computer, fifteen remotes." Mau'te's eyes widened. "Computer, begin."
An hour later, he was on his knees, gasping and groaning in pain. Welts covered his body, and he winced whenever he moved.
"Feeling better?" Vette asked. He reached out a hand, and she helped him to his feet. He laughed softly and watched her for a time. "What?" she asked. He pulled her close and kissed her.
"That," he said, and she slapped him.
"You ask before you do that, buddy," Vette said.
He laughed again. "I love you, Vette."
Outside the door, Quinn thought, about fucking time.
Vette said, "You asshole. You're supposed to be romantic about it."
He continued laughing. "Never give a millimeter."
"You got that right," she said.
"Care to help me with my injuries?" he asked.
"I'm going to find you the most painful treatment I can," Vette told him. "Then, I want to be on top."
"I've noticed." He kissed her again. This time, she kissed back.
Mau'te was far more relaxed the next morning when they touched down on Nal Hutta. Vette looked happy. Quinn hadn't seen that since Nar Shaddaa.
Quinn said, "Lord Mau'te, Lady Vette, the strike team has just entered the system. They will be ready for you in about an hour."
"'Lady Vette'?" she asked.
Mau'te said, "The honorific is automatically conferred to the consort of a Sith Lord, though Captain Quinn is a little ahead of himself."
"I don't think I'm the 'Lady' Vette type," she said.
"On the contrary, my lady," Quinn said. "I've known quite a few consorts. You would fit in well with the best of them."
"If you say so. If we've got some time, I'm going to learn what I can about the Hunt. Mako's gone silent, so they've probably got their target." Mau'te nodded, pulled her close, and wrapped one of his lek around hers. "Geez," she said. "Not in front of company." She pulled away. "See you in an hour."
Vette surveyed Nem'ro's cantina. She'd been on Nal Hutta before as a slave years earlier, but for a different Hutt. She was a mercenary now, and they looked at her with a bit more respect. She scanned the monitors devoted to the Great Hunt. The hunters had been given the target, but no announcement had been made. That was normal. Most of the money was on Tarro Blood. Her money was on Ter'viro. She looked for recent news or more details, but the final target was the best guarded secret in Hutt space.
She went to the bathroom before leaving and half expected to hear Mako learning Rattataki again. Instead, she heard someone in a stall breathing heavily. A little early in the day for that, but this was Hutta.
She took a stall two doors away. When she left the stall, she saw herself in the mirror. She didn't look like a slave anymore. Or a thief. She looked like a badass. She turned a little, examined herself, and turned back. A slave should never be pretty or naked, but she wasn't a slave. Or a criminal. She was a mercenary working for a Sith Lord. A year earlier, she'd been in a cage on Korriban.
The other woman finished and brought Vette back to herself. She looked over when the woman got to the sink. Another Twi'lek, and not a rough day after all. She was very pregnant. The woman leaned on the counter and took a couple of breaths before washing her hands.
"How much longer?" Vette asked.
"A few months," the woman said. "He's going to be a big boy, that's for sure."
"How does the father feel?" Vette said.
"He doesn't know," the woman told her. Vette turned toward her. "He's a bounty hunter." She massaged her belly. "I don't want him to be a bounty hunter."
"They're not all bad," Vette said. "One of my best friends is working with a bounty hunter. He's a great guy. He jumped in front of a grenade for her."
"Wow, really? That is a great guy." She held her stomach. "He did help me out of a tough spot. Maybe. I don't know." The woman shrugged. "I don't know if I'm going to keep him."
"What?" Vette said. "You have to. You know what happens to Twi'lek babies on Hutta. Most of the males don't make it past twenty-five."
"I don't know," she said. "He wasn't planned."
Right, Vette thought. She was a green Twi'lek. Done in by that new contraceptive. "It doesn't matter. I know plenty of unplanned Twi'leks with great parents." She nodded toward the belly. "Got a name yet?"
The woman sighed. "If I ever had a boy, I wanted to name him after my father."
"If you've got a name, you're going to keep him," Vette said.
"Maybe," the woman said. "He's got a good family, I know that."
"Did the father ever hurt you?"
The woman laughed. "He left some bruises, but those were an accident. He treated me well, better than I deserved at the time."
"And you want to walk away from this guy?" Vette said. "I barely knew my father. The Hutts worked him to death. Save him from that, at least."
"Yeah," the woman said. "I get that. Maybe his father can get us off Hutta. He's... um... he's got a really important target. He might have the money after that."
Vette shrugged. "If his father gets that target, definitely keep him."
The woman laughed again. "That is such a Twi'lek thing to say."
"Whatever gets you off of Hutta," Vette said.
The woman nodded and left. Vette watched her leave, then looked down at her own stomach, flat and firm from months of psycho woman training. Boy or girl? One of each. Would they be like him? They wouldn't be slaves, either way. They would be important. They would be respected, even in the Empire. And, no one would ever take them away from her, or their daddy would be pissed. But, not yet. Not for a while. Mau'te had to be a Lord first. Maybe a Darth. Council? He was strong enough, but not really the hours of debate type. Strong enough. Only a handful knew how strong. Nervousness rippled through her stomach. Baras had no idea. Neither did Quinn. Mau'te had been holding back a lot more since he showed up. Strong enough to scare a Darth. Strong enough to kill a Darth. That was enough for now. The Empire, the Sith, would always add... challenges. Today, she was allowed to feel happy.
"Major Xoan Andal, my lord," the soldier said with a salute. "Capture and contain Jedi Master Nomen Karr, if I understand correctly."
"No, Major," Mau'te said. "I will fight Master Karr alone. Interfere in the slightest, and I'll take your head."
"Darth Baras was very clear, sir," the major said.
"Darth Baras cannot cross lightyears in time to stop my blade," Mau'te replied.
The major looked to Captain Quinn. The captain understood but could do nothing. "Of course, my lord," the major said. "We have a safehouse nearby, recently used by Imperial Intelligence. We can plan the assault from there."
"Very good," Mau'te said.
"The Jedi's safehouse is here," Major Andal said, showing the terrain on a holomap. "Looks like two Republic troopers are guarding it."
"Two Jedi," Mau'te corrected.
"Yes, sir," Andal said.
"I'll deal with them myself," Mau'te said. "Keep your distance until I signal you."
The strike team was good for scaring off gangsters and Evocii. Mau'te gave them that. But Karr was his. Once the strike team had control of a gangster camp, Mau'te headed toward the entrance to Karr's safehouse. The two disguised Jedi turned and smiled as the Sith approached.
"Well, well," one said. "Nomen Karr was right. Baras didn't show."
"Stand down, Sith," the other said. "The Padawan you seek is not here. Master Karr will only meet with Darth Baras."
Mau'te sighed. "Pathetic. You're the best Nomen Karr could get?"
"The Sith has a sense of humor," the first said.
The second said, "We are fully trained Jedi Knights, and more than your match. You should submit."
"Of course, we have yet to encounter a Sith who had the sense to surrender," the first added. "You all seem bent on having us destroy you."
"I have no quarrel with you," Mau'te said. "Drop your weapons and walk away."
"Why would we agree to that?" the first asked.
"Zylixx," the second said. "We assumed this Sith would engage, as all others we've faced have. If that's not the case..."
"No, Ulldin," Zylixx said. "This Sith will continue to hunt Nomen Karr and his Padawan. We must end the threat for good."
"True Jedi don't attack to kill," Mau'te said. "The light side demands temperance."
"Who are you to lecture about the light side?" Zylixx asked.
"I scored top marks in Ochinvie's class," Mau'te said.
"How do you know Master Ochinvie?" Ulldin said.
"I was betrayed and cast out by the Jedi," Mau'te said. "I enjoy killing your kind, but I don't have the time. Step aside, and you won't get hurt."
Zylixx ignited his saber. "We will not let you harm Master Karr or Jaesa Willsaam."
"I'm not here to hurt her," Mau'te said.
"Oh," Ulldin said. "You're here to turn her." He ignited his saber. "I can't allow that."
Mau'te ignited his saber as they rushed forward. He stepped to one side of Zylixx and cut off his hand, parried Ulldin's attack, and cut his lightsaber in half. Zylixx tried to push Mau'te with the force, but he knocked the attack away and pushed Zylixx into a far wall, knocking him out. Ulldin pulled Zylixx's saber to him, but Mau'te cut it in half in the air. He threw Ulldin into the same wall, and they were both out.
"Pathetic," he said. He met with no other resistance and found Nomen Karr meditating in a large chamber. Jaesa Willsaam was not with him.
"Ulldin and Zylixx must have failed," Karr said without turning. "Pity. I should have known Baras couldn't be trusted. As a man of my word, I'm here, alone, as agreed." He stood and turned toward Mau'te. "Your master shows himself a coward, sending you in his stead."
"His reason doesn't matter to me," Mau'te said. "I wanted to face the Jedi that fought Baras to a standstill."
"You came here alone?" Karr said with a laugh. "You are young in the Force, a mere apprentice. I'm a full Jedi Master."
"I have a strike team," Mau'te said. "But I ordered them not to interfere."
"So, you can succeed where your master failed?" Karr said.
"Reaching beyond one's grasp leads to greatness," Mau'te said.
"Or to death," Karr said. "You are Baras's pawn- an especially resourceful and powerful one, but still only that. I must put an end to you."
Mau'te returned a feral grin. "It's about time." He launched himself at Nomen Karr.
They were deep into the fight when the strike team entered. The Imperials tried to follow the fight, but the lightsaber blades moved too fast for any of them to follow. Karr was aggressive and relentless, almost Sith-like, but he couldn't break Mau'te's defense.
"Sir," Major Andal said to Quinn. "We must help."
Vette said, "Try and he'll kill you."
"Are we watching the same fight?" Andal asked.
Vette rolled her eyes. "He's not even struggling." She watched Mau'te. "He's already bored."
Andal said, "Why doesn't he strike?"
"To draw out the Padawan," Quinn said. All he could think was, Vette was right. Lord Mau'te was bored. He fought Nomen Karr, an experienced Jedi Master, a veteran of the war, the man that fought Darth Baras to a standstill. And Lord Mau'te was barely trying. Suddenly, Lord Mau'te smiled and Karr's eyes went wide. They had both sensed something, and Karr was not happy about it.
One of the soldiers guarding the corridor called to Quinn. A young woman had arrived. A woman with a lightsaber.
"Let her through," Quinn said.
When she reached the room, she called out, "Master!"
"Jaesa, go!" Karr said.
"Release Master Karr," Jaesa said. Your efforts to draw me out have been a success."
Mau'te pushed Karr back and said, "Jaesa Willsaam. Your parents are waiting for you on Dromund Kaas."
"What did you do to them?" she cried.
"Found them an apartment," Mau'te said while he and Karr circled each other. "I am Lord Mau'te Onoka. Master Yonlach told me to make you my apprentice."
"You lie!" Karr said and attacked again.
"No," Jaesa said. "He speaks the truth. Why would Master Yonlach say that?"
"Don't listen!" Karr said. "The Sith spared your parents and Master Yonlach only to trick you!"
Mau'te knocked Karr away again. "You will understand that in time," Mau'te said.
"Tell me now!" she said.
Karr said, "Jaesa, it's all a trick! Turn your power on the Sith, and you'll see!"
"I welcome it," Mau'te said.
Jaesa focused her vision on Mau'te. "There is great contradiction within you," she said. "I see darkness, hatred, and revenge. But... there is light as well- mercy... justice... Beyond that... beyond that, I see- ahh! You-" She looked at the soldiers. "You... you were once a Padawan."
Quinn thought, That would not make her cry out.
Karr leapt back. "A Padawan?"
"Betrayed by the Order," Mau'te said. "Cast out. But I found a better place."
"This is... not what I expected," Jaesa said. "Your treatment of people has been chaotic. You're Sith. You embody darkness. How can you be... anything else?"
"Everyone is gray," Mau'te said. "People don't always fall into simple categories."
"Foolish child!" Karr said. "The Sith spared your parents and Master Yonlach only to trick you!"
"I-I don't know what to believe," Jaesa said. "You told me there was order to the galaxy- that you would show me the truth! But nothing is true! Both of you are trying to drive me insane!"
Mau'te said, "Look into your Master's heart and see the truth."
"I have never brought it to bear on him," Jaesa said. "I... I sense... pride and... envy and hate... and vengeance. No! What Sith trick is this? I... I would have known if such darkness resided within him! I... I thought I'd found something I could count on. Jedi are... pure. You're supposed to know where you stand with them. Right?"
Nomen Karr said, "It's Darth Baras! He is manipulating us all. Kill the Sith! Kill Baras's liar and you'll see!"
"Shut up!" Jaesa said. "I can't trust you! I can't trust anything!"
"Trust me," Vette said. "Look at me. Do that thing."
"You?" Jaesa said. "Who are you?"
"I'm his girlfriend."
Jaesa nodded. "You... you are- oh!" She began to cry. "You are kindness and strength. Your mother, your sister, your friends. And him. Joy and love. And pain. And, you are with him."
"Everyone is gray, just like he said," Vette told her.
Jaesa wiped her eyes and turned back to Mau'te. "Prove you are the right master for me. Defeat Master Karr without killing him. Do that, and I will become your apprentice."
"Done," Mau'te said. He turned with a snarl and shifted from defense to attack.
Karr said, "The Force is... very strong with you. I... must dig deeper." He stopped holding back, mind and body, light and dark, he threw all that he had against Mau'te. Every maneuver, every trick, all of his decades of experience. He held back Mau'te for nearly twenty minutes. But, Mau'te had watched and learned and found cracks in Nomen Karr's defense. He had not fought this well since Grathan.
"No!" Nomen Karr yelled. "This is not right! Fall! You must fall to me!"
Mau'te twisted Karr's saber out of the way, and severed both of his hands. Karr fell to his knees, waiting for the end.
"Jaesa?" Mau'te said.
She knelt in front of him. "I am ready to learn your ways, my lord."
"Quinn, the other Jedi?" Mau'te asked.
"Bound and drugged, sir," Quinn said. "We weren't sure what you wanted with them."
"Leave them," Mau'te said. "They aren't worth the effort. Master Karr." Mau'te smiled. "You fought well."
"I dedicated my life to destroying Baras," Karr said, so softly only Mau'te could hear it. "Sacrificed everything." He looked at Mau'te directly. "But the Force has a different plan for Darth Baras. He doesn't know, does he?"
"He will eventually," Mau'te whispered back.
"Here you go," Vette said, opening the door to one of the unoccupied cabins on the Juggernaut. "We've been using it for cargo, but we'll get that cleared out."
"It's fine," Jaesa said. "Thank you."
"I'm in that cabin, if you need me."
"Not with Lord Mau'te?" Jaesa asked.
"I spent a lot of my life without my own room," Vette said. "I like having a place to go to be alone sometimes. And we just got together. Like, a few days ago. That reminds me. I need to see what happened in the Great Hunt." She left to check the news feeds.
You are kindness and strength, Jaesa thought. And you are sadness incarnate. Your mother, your sister. And him.
"No," Mau'te said.
"It's what the Mandalorians reported," Vette said.
"I don't care what Mandalorians said," Mau'te told her. "Ter'viro would never do that."
"I know," Vette said. "I trust Mako, and she trusts him. But that ship is gone."
"This is an act of war," Mau'te said. "Where is the response from the Republic?"
Quinn said, "They've issued a warrant for your cousin, sir."
"And nothing for the Mandalorians that ordered the destruction of a Republic starship?" Mau'te said. "Anyone else find that odd?"
"Reports indicate they are talking to the Mandalorians," Quinn said.
"Talking?" Mau'te said. "We were wondering if we could have a brief conversation about the five hundred Republic troops that you ordered killed for no reason whatsoever."
"One hundred crew, sir," Quinn said. "Without additional troops. The Aurora was to be decommissioned."
"Any more highly improbable coincidences you'd care to mention?" Mau'te said.
"Master Jarro's Padawan left the ship before it was destroyed," Quinn said.
Mau'te shook his head and laughed. "They'll be back on Dromund Kaas for the celebration. We'll talk then."
"Your cousin is really a bounty hunter?" Jaesa asked.
"Yes," Mau'te said. "I have some... interesting... relatives. We'll go over it later. Is that it for the news?"
"Well, sir," Quinn said. "Darth Angral has been killed. By... um..."
Mau'te said, "I know."
"And, Darth Jadus is alive," Quinn said. "Captured by Imperial Intelligence."
"That couldn't have been easy," Mau'te said.
"No, sir," Quinn said. "You'll be able to see the damage once we arrive at Dromund Kaas. We'll arrive just ahead of the ship transporting him. The Dark Council has ordered any Sith Lords in the spaceport to stand ready if he tries to escape. You will be expected to join them."
"Very well," Mau'te said. "In the meantime, Jaesa, let's begin your training."