Betrayal
- Chapter 8
Cowled in deepest Black
The pulsating light from the Coruscant
night oozed through the window, spilling across the carpeted floor in
pools of deepest ebony and blood-red crimson. By the glass, a lone,
cowled figure, his face hidden behind black cloth and deceit, paused for a
moment to contemplate the coming fate of his enemies.
The detested Jedi, now cowering in the
halls of their impoverished and crumbling Temple and the simpering
Loyalists, so sanctimonious in their futile pleas for calm and compromise
were on the edge of destruction. Soon, very soon, the fate of the Republic
would rest in his hands.
Such exquisite power would be his alone.
Then the fools would be no more. He
could almost taste the hot copper-tang of their spurting blood, smell the
ozone of lightsabers tearing through their broken bodies, hear their
hoarse cries of delicious agony.
He savored the images for just a moment
and then turned to business.
Around him, the darkness shivered with
the touch of his Force-fouled apprentice. As Maul crept towards Darth
Sidious, he seemed to hesitate there. It was not wise to interrupt the
Sith Lord at his pleasures, contemplating the total obliteration of their
despised enemies. Darth Maul knew this.
Shrouded in deepest black, he knelt
before his Master and bowed his head, penitent, awaiting instruction.
"Maul, report."
"My Master, Kamino output is on
schedule. The first 200,000 units are ready and awaiting your orders. A
million more are on the way."
"Excellent." Sidious stared down at the
cowering figure, a friendly smirk drifting across his face. "And how fares
the Geonosis project?"
"As planned, Count Dooku has stirred the
pot into a boiling frenzy. Several groups, including the Trade Federation,
the Corporate Alliance and the Banking Clan, have all thrown in their
support of a separatist movement and are eager to begin battle. You have
but to wave your hand and it shall be done."
"Good, good. A few more days perhaps and
then.... My apprentice, you have done well." His voice was husky with
satisfaction and yet, the apprentice continued to kneel before him. "Is
there something else you wish to tell me?"
"Yes, my Master." Wordlessly, he
reached into the fastness of his cloak, and offered a blue lekku, streaked
with dried blood and offal, the skin shredded. Maul laid the putrid flesh
at his Master's feet.
"A fine gift, Lord Maul. Did this one
give you much trouble?"
"No, my Master."
"And yet... you remain bowed before me.
Should I ask the reason or should I pull it from your torn body as you lay
screaming in purest pain? Do not try my patience too far."
Maul lowered his eyes and, grimacing,
nodded. "My Lord, I have destroyed three additional Jedi, a Master and two
Knights, with one blow. There was not enough flesh remaining to add to
your large collection. For this, I am truly sorry."
"And why is that a problem? As long as
the Jedi fools are dead, what does a bit of meat matter?"
"The manner of their death disturbs me,
my Lord. I had arranged for the passenger ship, Dawn Star,
to be boarded by pirates. The Black Sun criminals are looking to enhance
their flesh trade in the area and two hundred or so new slaves would have
sweetened our approach for an alliance with them. Temporary alliance, of
course."
"Of course."
"I had disabled all of the lifepods,
trapping the passengers, crew and Jedi aboard. But the pirate scum were
too hasty, and unhappily, the ship blew up prematurely. There were no
survivors, Master."
"That is a tragedy." A hint of derisive
laughter played in the Dark Lord's voice and a smile tugged at his face
for a moment. "No matter. Slaves can be such a bother. And it may have
been a boon with the Abolitionist Union increasingly active in the Outer
Rim Territories. If I didn't know any better, I would think that Jinn's
pitiful little band was plotting a slave revolt in the near future. Too
bad, he won't be around to help complete the task."
"My Lord?"
"Jinn will soon be destroyed." The
gravelly voice was tinged with grim amusement. "No, I want the attention
of the Republic well away from Geonosis for the moment. A slave uprising
on Tatooine or Ryloth or any of the nearby systems at this time would
muddy the waters and possibly highlight our activities in the area. The
Black Sun brigands will have to get their own slaves, flounder a bit more
on their own. I don't need them quite yet, perhaps later."
"Yes, my Master."
"Now, rise my apprentice. Time for a
little sport."
Darth Sidious moved towards the hologram
generator, gesturing Lord Maul into a black-hued corner, hidden from view
but not out of earshot. The dark Master pressed a button and a deformed,
flickering figure appeared above the desk.
"My Lord, greetings. How may I serve
you?" The voice was as distorted as the figure, giving no clue as to the
identity of the being.
"Is this connection secure?" Sidious
demanded in stern, adamant tones. Any detection at this critical juncture
would be disastrous to his plans.
The voice was tenuous and cringing.
"Of... of course, my Lord."
"Good. I would not wish to find that you
have been neglectful." The Sith's threat was real, razor-sharp but then
the tone softened into false rapport. "My friend, it is good to hear from
you once more. How goes our little venture with Kenobi? I assume that he
has arrested Jinn and they are on their way back to Coruscant."
The response reflected quivering fear
and astonishment, terrified that the news would not be well received.
"I...my... my Lord, Kenobi has only just arrived. He has not had time to
investigate the charges as yet. I hope that, in a few days, he will return
with Jinn."
"The Jedi Council is shockingly slow and
pathetic in understanding how to control their people. Kenobi should have
been ordered to arrest Jinn immediately upon arrival. Surely you could
have arranged that?" The contempt was absolute.
"The Council was rather resistant, my
Lord. They insist that the law must be obeyed as well as the Code. But it
will be done. Kenobi will arrest Jinn and bring him back to Coruscant."
"Would you bet your life on it?" The
Master's husky voice echoed in the air, threateningly clear.
"Of...of course, my Lord. Jinn has been
quite active in things he should not, things that can be quickly
uncovered. But, to make sure he is apprehended, I planted undeniable
evidence of Force misuse where Kenobi is sure to find it. It is hidden
deep; we would not want him to locate it too quickly and be suspicious of
an easy gift." The voice sounded sharp with apprehension. "Kenobi will be
drawn into the trap quite easily. He will have no choice but to bring back
his former Master under arrest."
"What then? Will your simpering Jedi
Council treat him with reverence or will he get what he deserves... a
painful and slow death?"
The figure cringed. The being must have
known that the dark Master would not like the answer. "Death, my Lord?
They will not kill him. Imprisonment, exile to a penal planet, yes but
death...."
The Sith cut through the tirade. Low,
growling, but perfectly clear, he said, "I want Jinn dead. He has been a
vibroblade in my side for far too long. If the Council will not kill him,
then you must."
The wavering shape cowered, denying the
command. "You are mine, you little fool. I have given you wealth, power
and slaves. Now do as I say or else you will be destroyed." The figure
bowed once, nodding reluctantly. "Kill him fast or kill him slow. Make it
look like suicide or murder. I do not care. Just kill him when he returns
to Coruscant."
"Yes...my Lord. I will send you word of
his demise when it is done. Have you any other instructions?"
The dark Master smiled with
satisfaction. "No, my friend. You have done much for me. Once Jinn is
dead, your reward shall be great. Until then."
As the pathetic transparent figure
disappeared, unbeknownst to the trio, from deep in the bowels of the vast
city-planet, an automatic recording device clicked off. Security, it
seemed, was a little lax.
Within the luxurious apartment, Darth
Sidious enjoyed a moment of perfect contemplation. Then, motioning his
apprentice to his side, he moved to the window, rubbing his hands together
with delicious glee and began to laugh. Maul shook his head and grinned.
"What a fool. Reward, indeed. Oh, yes,
you will be rewarded." The Master continued to chuckle, thinking of the
excruciating torments his gullible agent would experience once the
cretin's use was over.
He glanced at his apprentice, still
smirking with satisfaction.
"Lord Maul, return to Geonosis and
assist Dooku in his campaign. Make sure that he does not stray from our
agenda. I would not want this to fall apart when we are so close." The
apprentice bent his head in acknowledgement.
"In a few days, I have an additional
assignment for you. A vacation, if you will, for all of your efforts.
Jinn's demise will be tragic, of course, but the deaths of his wife and
son will be more so. If the child had been older, we could have sent him
on to the slavers but, as it is... no matter. Play with them if you wish
but I want the complete destruction of his lands and family when you are
done. Let those fools learn why attachments should remain forbidden."
His eyes snake-bright, the Sith Master
smiled at such folly. "Love and compassion. What simpletons they are.
The only true emotion is hate, seething,
boiling hate. Dark, rich, intoxicating. The Jedi think that it is the
Force, but Maul, you and I know the truth. It is hate that binds the
galaxy together."
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