"Talking"

'Thinking'

[Droid]

~Parseltongue~

{Black Speach}


Dromund Kaas

As Salazar and Vette walked down the exit ramp of the Black Talon, they quickly waved goodbye to their new friends before making their way towards the customs booth. The area seemed lively. Imperial troopers were either checking IDs or "escorting" questionable visitors to private interrogation rooms. Passing through the gates and being cleared by the custom agents, they noticed a scrawny looking servant named Sunder Ghettz waving them down. Walking towards him, the man bowed before addressing the two. Or more accurately, towards Salazar.

"You're the one, yes. Not like the scabs that exited the shuttle with you. You radiate power, lord. I bow before you. I serve Lord Baras. He sent me to meet his new apprentice. And I made sure I was here on time, I certainly did. Yes indeed." Sunder said.

Mando-Sith and Twi'lek shared a bemused look. The man had clearly lost more than a few marbles. He almost sounded like he was talking to himself. Vette wondered what could have happened that made him behave so strangely, while Salazar was sure he had been tortured to the breaking point and had somehow managed to keep his sanity barely intact to be of use to his master.

"So, I'm met. Now what?" Salazar asked.

"I'm just a slave who owes his every breath to the tolerance of Lord Baras. He said to introduce you to Dromund Kaas, and I take that seriously." Sunder said.

"Lord Baras ordered me to encourage you to explore Kaas City before reporting to him. Imperials maintain the order, but they won't trouble you. When you're ready, Lord Baras will meet you in his personal chambers. You, uh, you will tell Lord Baras I was good, yes? That I served well?" Sunder said, a slight plea in his voice near the end.

"Of course you did." Salazar said, giving the man a sympathetic nod. "Now are there transports to the city?"

"Yes, my lord. Just outside the spaceport. May you enjoy your time on Dromund Kaas." With that, he bowed again before scurrying away.

"How long do you think he's been tortured by your new master?" Vette asked, a look of worry in her voice.

"Too long. He all but begged me to tell Baras he did his job properly."

"And now we get to work for him?"

Salazar sighed before bringing her into a tight embrace. "Unfortunately, yes. I can assume and hope that as long as we're proving ourselves useful, he'll treat us better than his servents."

"I doubt he'll see a difference." Vette said before they slowly made their way towards the speeders.

"Cheer up." Salazar said, trying to brighten her mood. "If we have time, I might be able to introduce you to my mother. She has a small penthouse here in Kaas City."

"We've only met less than a month ago and you already want to introduce me to your family. At this rate we might be married before the year ends." She chuckled before giving him a peck on the cheek.

Salazar chuckled. "Well, knowing my mother she'll most likely try to 'interrogate' you when I'm not looking."


"Welcome to Dromund Kaas." Vette breathed. "Where freedom goes to die, and legends are forced on the galaxy."

"Funny, never took you to be the poetic type." Salazar said as the pair exited the space port. Immediately they were presented with an expanse of rainforest on all sides. The rain had subsided, but the thick and continuous bursts of lightning overhead ensured that the gloomy and depressing atmosphere would forever reign on the planet.

"Just calling them as I see 'em, Sal." Vette quipped.

Renting a speeder, they made their way towards Kaas City. Along the forest path they saw many beasts and creatures. Several spires of steel shot through the dense trees and into the sky, collecting the constant bursts of lightning that filled the perpetually stormy sky. After ten minutes, they saw the glowing lights of skyscrapers, marking their arrival to the city. The main square held a giant Sith obelisk surrounded by storefronts. A bright and lively cantina was across the street from the main marketplace that sold various goods, weapons, and armor. Finally, their speeder began to make its decent to the tallest building in the city, the Sith Sanctum. The building was massive with two smaller buildings on its right and left. Exiting the craft, they made their way to Baras's office. The inside of the sanctum gave off a strange and malevolent light while many lords and instructors went about their business. After traveling down some dark corridors, they found the Sith Lord behind his desk.

"Not a moment too soon. Your timing is impeccable."

"Did it just get considerably colder?" Vette whispered as she shuddered in trepidation.

"I see you decided to keep the slave. I hope she amuses you." Baras noted interestedly. But whether he said that in response to Vette's muttering Salazar didn't know.

"Yes she does, master, I apologise for the delay in arrival, master. I do not know if you were informed but-"

"I know all about your debacle with the General and the Brentaal Star, my apprentice." Baras interrupted. "In fact, I already received word before Grand Moff Kilran even contacted me. Either way, not many run-of-the-mill acolytes who just passed their trials would have pulled off what you did against such undermining odds."

"You flatter me, Lord Baras. I was only doing my duty in serving the Empire." Salazar replied.

'He knew even before Kilran told him? He had someone spying on me already?'

"Don't be so humble, apprentice!" The Sith Lord boasted. "The success of the mission only serves to eliminate any other doubts I had of you! To know that my apprentice has the skills, strength and tactical know-how to navigate through such situations puts me at ease. Kilran has routed your rewards to your account."

"Thank you, master. I look forward to your next assignment." Salazar replied stoically. He had to be careful now that his own master was willing to put tabs on him.

"I would like to know more about the mission in detail at a later time. So submit your report to me by the end of the day. We have more pressing matters to attend to." Baras said.

"I trust you've been acquainting yourself with your new environs. Did my minion point you in the right direction?"

"His pointer finger was a bit twitchy, aside from that he did well." Salazar answered.

"A by-product of constantly fearing for his life. But it keeps him in line, doing the trivial tasks that need tending to. Your responsibilities will mandate contact with my various minions. Meet my directives, and you may do as you will to anyone you encounter, adversary or ally."

"I work best when unrestrained." Salazar said.

"A lightsaber can only achieve so much, apprentice. The most powerful weapon in a Sith master's arsenal is information. I have painstakingly built a vast network of spies and operatives embedded throughout the Sith, Republic and Jedi alike. I have fingers. Eyes and ears everywhere."

"You've successfully infiltrated the Jedi Order?" Salazar asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Yes. My operatives are completely undetected, and I wish to keep it that way. I track our enemy--weakening and influencing them from within. Waiting to strike. You're my enforcer--deployed to protect my interests, intimidate my rivals and destroy my enemies. It's time for your tenure to begin. A military starship is touching down at the Kaas City cargo port, delivering a vitally important prisoner to me. You will meet Commander Lanklyn at docking bay 12 and make sure he and his men successfully off-load this prisoner."

"If you're sending me, you must be expecting trouble." Salazar said.

"We must always assume that we are being plotted against. Especially when the stakes are high. The importance of this prisoner cannot be overstated. Go to the cargo port now, and stay sharp. You are dismissed."

With that, Salazar bowed and the pair made themselves scarce. They took the airspeeder back city-side and hurried to the designated landing pad in the cargo port.


Docking Bay 12

They made it just in time as the transport landed and its crew disembarking.

"All right, men. Let's hurry up and get this hunk of carbonite to Lord Baras." An officer barked, which Salazar assumed was Commander Lanklyn.

The pair walked right up to the officer while his back was turned. He didn't seem to be gifted with the sense of spatial awareness as Lanklyn had no reaction whatsoever to the Sith standing a foot behind him and glaring daggers into the back of his head. So Vette decided to have some fun.

"Hey, Captain Oblivious. Boo!" She shouted.

"Oh! Oh my!" Lanklyn jumped as he spun with a hand to his holster, but relaxed when he saw who it was. "Oh, I--I didn't see you enter. Lord Baras didn't need to send a welcoming party."

"Lord Baras sent me here to make sure you do your job, and with the way I managed to get close without you noticing, anyone working for one of Baras's rivals could have killed you and gotten away with his precious cargo."

"With all due respect my lord, I hardly think your presence is necessary. My men and I have performed much more dangerous duties for Lord Baras. The prisoner is frozen in carbonite, so he's not a flight risk--and this is friendly territory. Surely we're safe here." Lanklyn replied dismissively.

"You work for Lord Baras, so you should know he never takes things for chance." Salazar eyes narrowed dangerously as he leant toward him. "Leave the figuring to him and do your job."

"Yes, my lord. Whatever you say." Lanklyn snapped to attention in panic and spun round to avert Salazar's gaze. "Let's get this oversized block of ice to your master."

Within minutes the hatch opened, and two marines led said carbonite-frozen man out onto the platform. They were making ready to leave when Salazar suddenly sensed a threat coming up behind them. Vette seemed to sense it as well and slowly put her hands onto her holstered blaster pistols. By some unseen command, both drew/activated their weapons and pointed them at the would-be aggressor.

A lanky man with another behind him walked up to them with their own weapons drawn. Salazar noticed a third, pointing a sniper at him. "Not so fast. My master ordered that block of ice. So, step away from the carbonite man and no one ends up in a grave."

"Hate to break it to you, this is a private party." Salazar said.

"Then consider it crashed. I'm here to relieve you of your burden. Whatever that includes your own lives as well, is up to you."

Before anyone could respond, another group of thugs appeared. Led by a hulking Houk who looked at the lanky man with utter disdain.

"Lookie lookie, if it ain't Slestack. Your master be wanting the froze man too, huh? Too bad for you. It mine."

Salazar suddenly had an idea. 'Oh, this was going to be gold.'

"You two know each other?" The Sith commented.

And as expected, the man now known as Slestack took the bait. "Heh. To know TuMarr is to hate Tumarr."

"That go true for you too, Slestack." Tumarr growled. "If you don't flee, this be like killing two stone with one bird."

Vette sniggered at the lopsided idiom. "Not the sharpest tool in the shed is he?"

"You said it." Salazar replied.

"Damn it! I'm such a fool!" Lanklyn hissed from behind them. "I'll never doubt Lord Baras again. What do we do?"

"Don't panic." Salazar whispered. "Everything will work out."

"On their own, TuMarr and his lackeys wouldn't be much of a fight." Slestack continued their verbal sparring.

"In three…" The Sith counted off.

"You mouth always get you in trouble, Slestack." Tumarr warned. "It about to chew off more than it can bite!"

"Two…"

"Heh, I'd like to see you prove it TuMarr." Slestack continued, diverting his aim to the alien.

"One."

"Yeah, I prove it!" The Houk roared. "Boys, first we beat Slestack, then do job!"

"There it is, then. A fight for the right to raid the landing party. Won't take but a moment, instigator." Slestack told Salazar confidently.

What happened next was a hilarious exchange of gunfire the entire landing party had ever seen. The Houk threw a low-powered grenade that caused Slestack and his men to run for cover. Houk and the man beside him laughed, but the man was suddenly shot dead by a sniper who was positioned above the cargo containers behind Slestack. The large alien quickly drew his pistol and shot down the sniper with surprising accuracy. Eventually, both sides were running away from each other's blaster fire.

"Well done! While they fight, my men and I will deliver the prisoner to Lord Baras." Lanklyn spoke gratefully. "Thank you for buying us time, my lord."

The landing party quickly made a break for it during a short lull in the fighting. While they ran, the last of Slestack's men fell. But the lanky human managed to return fire and hit Houk and his last surviving henchman too. Slestack turned around and tried to fire upon the escaping party, but was ultimately shot in the back by the dying Houk as a last act of defiance.

Needless to say, the masters of both Houk and Slestack were greatly disappointed indeed.


Darth Baras's Chamber

"Lanklyn informed me of the ambush at the cargo port. Apparently there are more eyes on us than even I thought. I have felt a disturbance in the Force. It leaves doom imprinted on my dreams--a grave and mysterious threat that could bring down my entire power base. Baras explained. He gestured towards the block of carbonite. "This frozen man is a top Republic agent, captured while investigating my most deeply embedded spy on Nar Shaddaa; one of my 'invisibles.' The Force grants me a vision of doom, and immediately, my untraceable spy--who has left no footprints, no trail--is almost exposed. It makes me furious!"

"Maybe your spy was compromised?" Salazar suggested.

"No. I checked and rechecked his methods and past records. My spy was flawless." Baras dismissed.

"I must learn what tipped off the Republic agent. He is the key to uncovering the nature of this threat. Now, while I thaw the prisoner and painfully siphon every morsel of information I can from him, I have some concerns that require your special talents."

"Go to the Imperial post in the jungles outside the city. I'll send the coordinates to your holo-map" Baras briefed. "Commander Pritch is stationed there. He has a seek-and-destroy task for you."

"Understood, master." Salazar bowed.

"Good. Now… I must tend to the torturing of this miserable Republic agent. Waste no time. I have more for you to do once this is complete. You are dismissed."


Mando-Sith and Twi'lek exited the Sanctum and made their way to the designated coordinates. A quick taxi ride brought them to a Mandalorian outpost, Salazar looked around the outpost and realized no one he knows is there so he pressed on. Then they made their way up the dirt slope into the walled compound where a military encampment was present.

The commander pranced enthusiastically over to the pair before snapping to attention and greeting Salazar.

"Commander Pritch--at your service my lord. Lord Baras informed me you'd be paying us a visit. I'm prepared to offer full assistance!"

"Aren't you a good little soldier?" Salazar quipped.

"Lord Baras has always found me so, lord. Permit me to update you on the situation here. There's been much unrest in these parts recently, my lord--capped off by a violent slave revolt that has the surrounding jungles overrun with armed slaves."

"Then they're not slaves anymore, are they?" Salazar questioned.

"I stand corrected, my lord--former slaves." Pritch corrected himself.

Pritch leaned over to Salazar so no one else overhears.

"What no one knows is that Lord Baras orchestrated the insurgence to disrupt one of his rivals--and he wants his involvement kept secret. Now the slave captains who led the revolt, are threatening to expose Baras's involvement unless they receive more potent weapons."

"Anything else there is for me to know Commander?"

"Lord Baras wants you to kill enough of the blackmailing slave captains to make the others lose their resolve."

"Is there another solution? After all, violence is not always the answer."

"Well, I suppose. Many of the slave captains are former criminals with ties to the underworld. In fact, some have been selling their fellow slaves to the black market. If their followers found out. They'd be furious. If I had proof that they're selling their own people back into slavery. I could blackmail the slave captains to stop blackmailing Lord Baras."

Salazar smirked. "Blackmailing blackmailers sounds poetic."

"I bet they keep records of their transactions. If you rifle the slave captains's footlockers and find proof. I'll do what I can to use it against them."

"Sounds like a plan, where is their camp?"

"The slave captains have their home base around the unfinished colossus. I'll await any proof you salvage from the slave captains's belongings.


1 Hour Later

It took one hour for Salazar and Vette to gather enough proof of the slave captains's transactions, all it took was Salazar creating a distraction while Vette snooping around.

Commader Pritch noticed their approach.

"My lord, you're back. Did you find sufficient proof that the slave captains are selling their people back into slavery?"

Salazar handed the proof. "Were you foolish enough to doubt me?"

"N-no, of course not, my lord. Not once. Now I can threaten to expose the truth. If the slave captains don't want to be torn limb from limb, they'll stop blackmailing Lord Baras. I must say, my lord. It's been inspiring to watch you work."

Salazar nodded. "And you've been very helpful, Commander."

"Thank you, my lord. I'm pleased to hear that. I'll inform Lord Baras that the situation has been handled."

"Good. C'mon Vette. Let's go." Salazar waved his friend to follow him.


Darth Baras's Chamber

When the pair returned to Baras's chambers, they were met with yelling, screaming and the familiar crackle of force lightning being used. Strapped to the interrogation table was the thawed-out Republic agent screaming his guts out, thrashing and convulsing while Baras blasted chain after chain of electricity from the tips of his fingers.

I--I don't care what you do. Break my bones, burn my flesh--I'll tell you nothing!" The brown-haired man shouted in open defiance.

"I will not be denied!" Baras growled as he threw another barrage at him.

"Ah! Argh! Go spit, you monster!" The agent cursed even while he was being electrocuted to death.

"I didn't know bodies could bend like that. I think I'm gonna be sick!" Vette exclaimed, feeling the urge to hurl.

"Turn away and spare yourself. You shouldn't have to see this." Salazar instructed, which Vette promptly did so without complaint.

Baras stopped his tirade and turned to meet Salazar.

"Ah, apprentice, you've returned. Commander Pritch confirmed that the slaves have been silenced. Good. I'm still trying to extract the information I crave from this Republic agent. He's much more resilient that anticipated."

"He'll crack, master. Just a matter of time." Salazar said.

"I will not rest until he does. I have another important task for you. It involves a renegade Sith Lord named Grathan. A particularly bothersome thorn in my side. Meet with my apprentice, Dri'kill Ba'al. He's my covert operative in Grathan's compound. Ba'al claims to have made a key discovery."

"I thought I was your only apprentice." Salazar raised a brow. "That makes Ba'al my rival."

"Try to tolerate him long enough to get the details and conclude your business there." The Darth commanded.

"Grathan's presence is useful to me, so I don't want him killed, just crippled. Find out what Ba'al has discovered and do exactly as he instructs."

"Is your other apprentice above me in the pecking order?" Salazar questioned.

"I'm sure he views himself as your better, but he has merely been here longer." Baras amusingly quipped.

"Now then, Republic wretch, where were we? Oh yes..."

Another barrage of lightning was thrown and the prisoner convulsed and screamed once again. "Tell. Me. What. I. Wish. To. Know!"

Seeing that they would receive no further instruction from the Sith, Salazar and Vette made a hasty retreat from the dungeons and out of the Sith Sanctum.

"Those screams... the way his body was being contorted and tortured..." Vette stammered, shaking from the experience. Salazar walked over and held her close to his chest, gently rubbing her back.

"No one deserves that. That has to be a fate worse than death." She whispered.

"Shh." Salazar breathed into her ear, trying to soothe her. "I'd die before I let him or anyone else do anything like that to you."

Vette extracted her face from Salazar's chest, she stared into the beautiful emerald orbs he calls eyes Seeing the look of determination on his face, she released a sigh of relief before giving him a kiss on the lips, putting as much passion into it as she could. For his part, he eagerly returned her kiss while cupping her face in his hands. When they finally broke apart, they both had grins on their faces.

"Better?" Salazar asked.

"Much better." Vette replied before they made their way to the speeders and set their destination.

Exiting the bright lights of the city, they returned to the jungle, following the dirt path all the way to Grathan's estate.

"How are we going to get in?" Vette whispered.

"The problem with Sith Lords having their own armies as large as Grathan's is that the possibility of every soldier, scientist and acolyte knowing each other is small. You, however, definitely look out of place." Salazar whispered back. "I'll pretend to be one of Grathan's acolytes and you can pretend to be a runaway slave I just caught. I'll bring you in and ask around for Dri'kill Ba'al. Hopefully, they won't ask too many questions."

The Twi'lek looked at him skeptically. "Are you sure this will work?"

"Just follow my lead." Salazar said.


Grathan's Estate

When they were ready, Salazar and Vette exited the bushes acting like nothing was out of the ordinary. Vette walked in front of Salazar while he had one hand holding her wrists behind her back while the other hand was clapped on her shoulder, guiding her movements. From where they exited from the shrubbery, Salazar saw three buildings. One large compound he suspected to be Grathan's mansion to his right, and two smaller ones to his left and front. Seeing as he wanted to come across as little patrols as possible, he decided to enter the one on his left first and go from there.

As the pair reached the entrance of the building, he saw that the large sliding doors were already open. Leading Vette further inside, he could see a spattering of troops still awake either minding their own business or playing betting games at the nearby tables. Various deactivated battle droids stood by the corner. Scanning the entire area, Salazar singled out a lone trooper reading his datapad in a secluded corner and approached him.

"Trooper!" Salazar barked. "I'm looking for Dri'kill Ba'al. I've got something to show him."

"Ah!" Said trooper jumped then quickly hid the datapad behind his back. "So-Sorry my lord! I didn't see you there! Lord Ba'al is in his office right upstairs to the left!"

"Good. As you were trooper." Salazar pulled away, then stopped and turned back to the shivering soldier. "What is that you're holding behind you?"

"Eh?!" Salazar mentally grinned at the soldiers panicked state. If he could gain some leverage over this trooper, perhaps he could be useful. "N-nothing that would concern you my lord. Just going through some... data? Yes, data! That's it!"

'What in the world is he doing?' Vette thought.

Salazar extended out a hand and gave him the sternest glare he could muster. The man seemed to go through several stages of panic and shivering at once, then drooped his shoulders in surrender before passing the datapad over to him. The apprentice let go of the hand on Vette's shoulder and took the datapad. Glancing at the screen, Salazar almost burst in a fit of laughter but managed to hold himself back and give off a light chuckle.

On the screen of the datapad were images of scantily dressed Twi'lek girls who's skins were red, pink, green, and blue were in multiple suggestive poses which left little to the imagination. Even Vette bugged her eyes out and turned away with a heavy blush on her cheeks.

"You do know using datapads for non-regulation use are prohibited, do you?" Salazar gave the trooper a condescending look as he nodded in anticipation of punishment.

Salazar then leant forward and whispered. "Although, if you do me a favor and lead me to Ba'al's office, I'll overlook this behavior and won't punish you."

The soldier simply nodded his head so furiously Salazar swore he could hear his helmet bopping against his skull repeatedly. "Ye-yes my lord! Follow me, my lord!"

The pair followed behind the soldier while he led them up the ramp towards Ba'al's office.

"Lord Ba'al's office is here, my lord."

"Good man." Salazar smiled.

The trooper quickly left the two alone, allowing them to drop their act.

"What you did was just straight mean Sal." Vette scolded him halfheartedly.

"You know you found it funny, blackmailing a trooper who was just looking at pretty girls in sexy outfits."

Vette huffed but gave him a smile. "Maybe a little."

As the two entered the office, there was a dark skinned Sith apprentice, with buzz-cut hair and two perpendicularly crossing scars on his face, stared at them crossly with his arms folded and foot tapping impatiently while giving Salazar a condescending lookover.

"You must be the operative Lord Baras sent. I thought he'd choose a powerful warrior, not some cowardly sneak."

Salazar scoffed at the obvious jab. "And you must have tons of friends with that attitude. Name's Ba'al isn't it? Are you Ba'al-ling your eyes out at being stuck here spying instead of being out there doing more useful work?"

Vette slapped a hand over her mouth as she giggled at Ba'al's expense.

Ba'al narrowed his eyes at the riposte. "Feh, I suppose Lord Baras-"

"Just shut up and tell me what's this intel you have on Grathan so you can go back to playing pretend house with Grathan's whores." Aaric interrupted, not letting Ba'al get anymore insults in.

Now Vette was chortling.

Ba'al growled but quickly calmed down. "You're right. We can pick up hating each other once the business here is complete. Now listen--Lord Grathan is a rogue Sith who boldly defies the Dark Council. Locked away here, he's been untouchable. Lord Baras wants to let Grathan know he can be reached. And after a year undercover, I've discovered the way."

"Please, don't keep us in suspense." Vette said in as sarcastic a tone as she could.

"Mind your manners, slave, unless you want me to put that mouth of yours to better use." Ba'al said, a malicious smile crossing his face.

Salazar's hand slowly drifted towards the activation switch of his lightsaber, wanting nothing better than to end the life of this excuse of a man.

"Please. I wouldn't give you head even if you were the last man in the galaxy." Vette scoffed.

Ba'al huffed. "Whatever, Lord Grathan has a son."

"Impressive!" Salazar jeered. "Probably in another year you can personally find out the size of his son's dick."

Vette had no choice but to cackle as the other apprentice became visibly red even through his dark skin.

"Guh! You-!" Ba'al sputtered as he tried to recover his pride. "I was assigned to find Grathan's weaknesses. He's kept his son a secret in order to protect him from his enemies. Grathan would be devastated if his only son and heir was dead. That would send a message."

"I may be a Sith, but child killing is where I draw the line." Salazar said sternly.

"It's not like your gonna kill a toddler here. Grathan's kid is nearly twenty, and strong in the Force. He's been trained in the ways of the Sith since birth. You'll have your hands full." Ba'al warned.

"I highly doubt it." Salazar said.

Ba'al sighed. "All right, maybe underestimating your foes works for you. Grathan's away on business. I managed to hack a special spike that will get you inside his private quarters. But first, you're going to have to knock out Grathan's surveillance stations so you aren't seen entering the quarters. All you have to do is locate the monitoring stations around the compound and well... stick your lightsaber in them."

"Nice euphemism, Ba'al!" Salazar smirked as Vette snickered once again. "But I think I'll stick to using my actual lightsaber, thank you very much."

"Tch! I'm not going to let you get under my skin, coward." Ba'al sneered as he tossed the spike to Salazar. "That's all then. Destroy the monitoring stations then use the passcard to get inside Grathan's private quarters."

Salazar caught the card and passed it to Vette, who caught it deftly.

"The son's name is Beelzlit. Find him and end him. I'll meet you back here when you're done." Ba'al turned around and started walking in the direction of his office table.

"Try not to screw it th-"

Ba'al couldn't finish his sentence due to having a fist connect break his nose and a purple lightsaber buried all the way to the hilt in his chest.

"You made three mistakes today. One; you disrespected me. Two; you turned your back against a rival, Ba'al." Salazar said. "And three; no one, and I mean, NO ONE, disrespects Vette."

Vette was both shocked and was blushing a bit by Salazar's words.

"Lets go Vette, got a job to do."

The two made their way towards the entrance to the estate. Upon entering, they were shocked at the size of the complex. The system of hallways seemed to go on for several meters before splitting off into various hallways. After silently picking off a guard and taking his holo layout of the house, they managed to determine the location of the boy's quarters. It seemed that luck was on their side because they came across no guards within the building by the time they made it to his room.

"Let's try and get him to surrender first. He shouldn't have enough time to react if we jump him." Salazar said, receiving a nod from Vette before they silently entered the room. It was lightly furnished with a cot in one corner, various posters of starships and scantily clad women, both human and alien, shelves stacked with holos, and a desk. Sitting at the desk was a young man who currently had his back to them, studying some manuscript that the two could not make out. Beside him was an older woman, presumably Lady Cellvanta Grathan, attempting to aid the boy.

The two edged themselves closer before Vette placed the barrels of her pistols against the backs of their heads at the same time Salazar ignited his lightsaber.

"Easy now. No sudden movements and nobody needs to get hurt." Salazar said calmly.

The mother and son slowly turned to face their captors. The boy had a mess of brown hair and an unblemished face while the wife had flowing black hair with hints of grey. At one point she may have been beautiful but her age was beginning to show as wrinkles began to form at the edges of her eyes and at the corners of her mouth.

"Interesting. I never would have thought an assassin could have made it past our security measures." The woman said, watching as the Sith summoned the lightsaber strapped on her waist and the warblade on her son's back. Levitating the two weapons in front of him, he quickly sliced them in half, rendering them useless. "So what brings you here to the estate of Lord Grathan?"

"I've been ordered to execute your son so as to keep your husband in check." Salazar said.

"Interesting. Killing my son so my husband will submit. Interesting idea. May I be so bold as to make a counter offer? One that will benefit us both?"

Salazar glanced at Vette, checking to see what she thought of the offer. Receiving a small nod in return, he turned back to Lady Grathan.

"We're listening."

"You want Lord Grathan to submit while I wish to keep my son alive and well. Why can't we have both?"

"And how do you propose we do that?" Salazar questioned.

"You are a breath away from the master himself. Spare us, and I'll help you destroy Lord Grathan instead."

"You want me to kill your husband?" He scoffed, never showing a hint of his thoughts on his expression. "Hm... Aren't you the dutiful wife?"

"I married Lord Grathan for power. It was a means to an end. Now I want out." Cellvanta stated. "I'm strong but can't touch my husband. How long I've waited for someone to end his oppressive rule."

"I'm listening."

Long ago, my husband was nearly beheaded. Now, he cannot exist without his helmeted mask. Everyone knows this. Kill Lord Grathan. My son will wear the mask and assume his mantle. He'll publicly rant that his son was murdered. No one will be the wiser."

"What's in it for us." Salazar gestured towards Vette and himself.

"In addition to appearing successful in your task, I'll give you access to my husband's museum, where he houses many items of power or I can transfer a substantial amount of credits. Your choice.

"Knowing you Vette, you'll pick credits." Salazar said earning a giggle from said Twi'lek.

"Guilty."

"I'll discuss the reward once I return with the helmet." he said before exiting the room, leaving Vette to guard the Lady and her son.

Salazar quietly exited the room and made his way into what looked like an office next door. Walking through, he saw the form of a man that had gone through several heavy cybernetic modifications, especially around his neck.

"My uninvited guest finally arrives. Your feelings betray you, youngster. I sensed your murderous intentions the moment you entered my sanction. What's more your unshielded mind has revealed your accomplice, my loving wife."

"You don't sound surprised."

"Cellvanta is a user, child. She is obsessed with power. It's one of the things that attracted me to her--but it's outgrown its amusement. I am death itself, child. Come embrace the darkness!"

"Prepare to be disappointed." Salazar said before Force Leaping to Grathan, slamming his lightsaber onto Grathan's who managed to deflect the blow to his head in the nick of time. Purple clashing with red, the two fought with all their might. Salazar being more agile, making quick and precise strikes at the Sith. Grathan, while being weighed down by his cybernetic modifications, was able to put greater force behind his attacks than the Mandalorian.

"Give it up, boy. I can't be killed." Grathan chuckled, drop kicking Salazar in the chest. The force of the kick caused him to crouch to the ground, holding his side. While painful, it wasn't strong enough to break any ribs. A shadow crossed over him as Grathan casually held his ignited lightsaber in his hand.

"Any last words?" Grathan asked.

"Yes. You should have struck when you had the chance, instead of monologing." Salazar said before grabbing Grathan in a powerful Force choke. The amount of pressure he was putting on his windpipe caused the Sith to forget about striking his enemy and claw at his throat, gasping for air. With a powerful yank, Salazar tore Grathan's head from his body, causing a fountain of blood and electrical sparks to flow from his neck. As the head floated in front of the twitching body, Grathan's head slowly slid out of the mask and landed with a sickening thud into the blood already pooling around his body.

"Pity. Looks like I was ahead of the game after all." Salazar chuckled before making his way back to Vette. Entering the room, he saw the boy and Lady Grathan standing exactly as he had left them while Vette had her pistols trained on them, not allowing them to move.

"Ah, so the conquering hero returns. Did you retrieve the helm?" Lady Grathan asked.

"I have." Salazar replied before tossing it to the boy. He was surprised and disgusted that there was blood still dripping from the edges but he didn't let it fall to the ground.

"Mother, what does this mean? Am I truly to become the master of this house?" Beelzlit asked his mother.

"Cellvanta answered her son. "You will wear his mask and assume his identity. But you are not yet ready to rule, my dear. The voice will be yours, but the words will be mine.

"I understand, mother." Beelzlit nodded as a sense of relief washed over him. "Oh, how I have longed for my father's death and the chance to claim his power."

"Yes, this is a great day. You have served us well, my new friend. Tell me... how can we show your appreciation towards your assistance? You can have either money or one of his artifacts from his museum."

"Do you have a catalog of the items in your museum?" Salazar asked.

Walking over to the desk, Lady Grathan pulled out a list of all the items in the museum before handing it to Salazar.

"The Mask of Revan was recently stolen by some freakish cult so don't bother asking for it." Cellvanta said.

While Cellvanta was transferring credits to Vette's account, Salazar quickly skimmed through the the list before one particular item caught his eye.

"I'll take the Holocron of Cadmus Peverell."


End

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Remember, reality is an illusion, the universe is a hologram, bye gold, BYE!