Schedule slipped and fell.
***
"So," I said, when the Dark Apprentice's chamber was filled with oxygen in sufficient volume. "I'm listening."
The clone was breathing deeply, but outwardly remained calm.
It's unlikely that without the Force he knew that the oxygen concentration in his chamber was slowly increasing.
When it reaches its maximum, what biology class skippers would consider magic will happen.
The fact is that oxygen, entering the blood, causes the oxidation of such a complex iron-containing protein as hemoglobin.
The latter is responsible for transporting oxygen to organs and tissues where oxygen is scarce.
Such hemoglobin is called oxidized due to its chemical bond with oxygen.
Furthermore, hemoglobin — but already reduced in the process of separating from oxygen atoms — is also responsible for removing carbon dioxide from the body, again through the lungs.
Excess oxygen causes an increase in the amount of oxidized hemoglobin in the blood and a decrease in the amount of reduced hemoglobin.
And since it's reduced hemoglobin that removes carbon dioxide, its retention in tissues leads to hypercapnia.
In other words — carbon dioxide poisoning.
Not to mention that there is also oxygen poisoning, which involves loss of consciousness accompanied by strong muscle contractions.
There are no standard symptoms of oxygen toxicity; it cannot be detected.
Without the Force — even more so.
But for such effects, prolonged inhalation of an oxygen-rich atmosphere is necessary.
It's unlikely that such a strong and trained organism as a clone would lose consciousness immediately.
But testing this theory as another method of combating the gifted was worth it.
After all, if this doesn't work, the flamethrowers will.
Which, in an oxygen-rich atmosphere, will burn even brighter and be even more searing.
"Among Vader's records, I found a mention of this ancient Sith's ship," the Dark Apprentice explained. "It crashed almost four thousand years ago on the planet Niriian. Darth Glovoc was the commander of that ship, and Darth Vader assumed that at the time of the crash, he could have been aboard his flagship…"
Logical.
"And Vader didn't find him?" I clarified.
"No. But he tried."
Unusual.
Darth Vader was inclined to bring his pursuits in searching for someone to a logical conclusion.
"Let's go back to the very beginning," I ordered. "Who is Darth Glovoc, and what relation does he have to Darth Revan?"
"Darth Glovoc was once a Jedi who followed Revan to the Mandalorian War," said the Dark Apprentice. "During it, he also became a battle group commander in the newly formed Empire of Darth Revan during the Jedi Civil War. Like Revan, he turned to the Dark Side, applying all his knowledge relatively successfully in war — first against the Mandalorians, and then against the Republic. He was also responsible for several victorious campaigns against the Galactic Republic. He achieved a high position and respect within Darth Revan's circle, who allowed him to operate with full autonomy."
"Unexpected," I pronounced. "Is the reason for such high trust placed in Glovoc known to you?"
One must understand that over time, most of Revan's Jedi, who became Sith, came to hate the Galactic Republic and clearly intended to destroy it root and branch.
Revan himself, based on circumstantial evidence, did not intend to destroy the Republic.
He did not burn worlds, trying to capture them, especially industrial ones, in the most valuable condition possible.
He had reasons for this, and very serious ones.
But they don't have much relevance to our reality — the main thing is that Revan wanted victory and the capture of a certain Republic territory with minimal civilian casualties.
Which was regarded by many Sith under his command, especially his apprentice Darth Malak, as a sign of weakness.
Sith spare no one — especially civilians and enemies.
In principle, historical analysis can indicate that there are no greater madmen and butchers in the galaxy than fallen Jedi.
Sometimes, even real Sith don't hold a candle to them.
The boiling point was reached, and Malak staged a coup, firing on his master's ship at the very moment when the Jedi sent an elimination squad for the latter's soul.
This raises the question: how could Revan, who perfectly understood that his subordinates wanted total genocide of the Republicans, allow someone talented from his armed forces to operate autonomously?
Either Glovoc wasn't actually as good as the Dark Apprentice claims, or he wasn't a typical Sith.
If so, then why hasn't his name stuck in my memory?
Could it be that Glovoc is just a "minor character" who didn't take root in the universe, and because of that there are so few sources about him that I simply didn't notice him?
Possible.
"According to the chronicles collected by Darth Vader, Glovoc was considered somewhat insane because he spent a significant amount of time in deep meditation," the Dark Apprentice explained. "He took the nickname 'Lord of the Mind's Eye' and preferred to act in strict accordance with Darth Revan's tactics, avoiding unnecessary bloodshed."
No kidding?
A mad Sith who loves to meditate and doesn't engage in genocide?
That's so plausible I almost don't believe it.
But, let's assume.
"Continue."
"I learned the rest of the story from him himself," the Dark Apprentice continued. "Intrigued by the information about an ancient Sith who could reveal the secrets of the Dark Side to me, I went to Niriian. After a long search, I found Glovoc and awakened him from stasis sleep."
Let's note that thought.
Stasis technology is, of course, not rare in current times, but one shouldn't dismiss artifacts of the past: the galaxy has a habit of repeatedly forgetting and rediscovering the same knowledge.
And no, it's not that they are caricaturedly "stupid."
It's enough to recall that in the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878, Russian artillerymen freely used a method of fire known as "indirect fire."
This simplified hitting the enemy while maintaining the safety of one's own guns and crews.
But less than thirty years later, in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904–1905, Russian field artillerymen no longer knew how to conduct such fire, preferring to roll out to direct-fire range.
The twenty-first century became a boom for the creation of all kinds of electric vehicles in my past life.
"Revolutionary technologies!," "This has never been seen before!" and other slogans caressed the ear and made people open their wallets.
But few remembered that in the USSR, the first electric cars appeared in 1935 — based on the GAZ-A passenger car, and based on the ZIS-5 truck, an accumulator-powered garbage truck.
Yes, technological differences do exist, but the fact remains: where experimental, imperfect, untimely, and little-demanded technologies are shelved, they eventually gain popularity and become commonplace.
Take gravity well generators, for example.
Such technologies, even if low-powered, even if less advanced, existed during Revan's time, that is, four thousand years before the present day.
But in the Clone Wars thirty years ago, they weren't even remembered, and starships with such equipment on board were not widely used by the warring parties.
Speaking of which.
"What kind of starship did Darth Glovoc have?"
"An Interdictor-class cruiser called the Dying Sun," the clone answered.
Exactly what I'm talking about.
An Interdictor-class cruiser, the pinnacle of technical thought for the time "a little less than 4000 years ago."
An Interdictor-class cruiser is a starship that, in the game "Knights of the Old Republic", was used by Revan and Malak as their own flagships.
It was developed by Republic engineers at a company preceding the modern "Sienar Fleet Systems."
And this ship, in the shape of a crab claw, was equipped with gravity well generators, just like our Dominants, Immobilizers, or Imperial Interdictor-class Star Destroyers, or Immobilizer 418-class interdiction cruisers.
"What did he need the planet Niriian for?" I asked.
"The gifted have the potential to receive Force Visions — echoes of a possible future," said the Dark Apprentice. "When Malak overthrew Revan and usurped power, Glovoc refused to obey him and continued to act independently. Darth Ziilenlos's battle group was sent to capture him; Glovoc lost his fleet but managed to save the Dying Sun. The Force gave him a Vision of a distant world, completely covered in dark clouds where endless lightning raged. Glovoc was seized by a desire to visit and conquer the mysterious planet. Convinced that the Dark Side was calling him to discover something there, the Lord of the Sith decided to find the mysterious place. Glovoc accurately identified the world in the Luir system of the Trans-Vulta sector in the Mid Rim, which matched his vision. He stopped fighting against the Republic, executed everyone who challenged his decision, and set off for Niriian."
Hmm… Based on the description, a completely different planet seemed most obvious to me.
Also — shrouded in clouds, with raging lightning, and the Force sometimes calls the adventure-seeking gifted there.
Revan, Malak, and Meetra Surik wouldn't let me lie.
"Go on," I demanded.
"When he arrived in Niriian's orbit, he couldn't penetrate the planet's atmosphere with the Force," the clone related. "Something prevented him. While he was trying to figure out what was happening, ships of the Galactic Republic, attracted by his work scanning the planet, arrived at Niriian. A battle ensued, in which the Dying Sun, though victorious — crashing enemy ships onto the planet with debris — was also seriously damaged. It was caught by the planet's gravity and broke apart during the fall. Part of the crew survived the crash landing, including some Sith. Over time, a cult was created that worshipped Glovoc. The planet was isolated, unable to contact the outside world due to natural features, so Glovoc took steps to prolong his life. Using an underground complex, the Lord of the Sith placed himself into suspended animation. Initially, Glovoc slept for about a hundred years, waking only briefly to assess the progress of his people before returning to the underground complex, outfitted as a refuge. With each awakening, he saw that his apprentices and their descendants were degenerating more and more, becoming less and less worthy of his attention. Therefore, his awakenings became increasingly rare. Right up until my arrival."
"Is the planet uninhabited?" I inquired.
Thankfully, I have a datapad handy.
And, surprisingly enough, Niriian is in the database.
Not the public one, but the one that the Ubiqtorate formed to preserve the secrets of the Empire and the commercial interests of its allies.
"No," the Dark Apprentice replied. "It has a population. Descendants of the crashed Republic ships, for example. They fought for a long time against Glovoc's cult. When he awakened for the last time, he learned with disgust that the cultists called him 'the Dying Sun.' And they worshipped him as a great deity."
Hmm… a Sith who is saddened that his followers worship him and exalt him in every possible way?
Yes, in the place of other Sith, I would have considered him insane too.
Strange that he survived at all.
But the information about the planet Niriian is very, very interesting.
Especially if you compare it with data from the library on Obroa-skai and some others.
First, it's necessary to understand that the Trans-Vulta sector is located near our southwestern borders.
The Odgoster sector, in which the planet Wayland is located, separates the Ninian and Venin under our control from Trans-Vulta.
Not to mention that the administrative borders of this sector touch the Mandalorian sector.
Also nearby is the Myrkr system…
The Trans-Vulta sector.
An interesting combination of secret planets in not such a large territory of the galaxy.
The sector comprises only eight sufficiently studied and relatively populated planets, as well as one nebula, Ryyk.
It is precisely located between Myrkr and Wayland.
The Ryyk Nebula.
Historically, a battle took place not far from it during the already tiresome Mandalorian Wars, but that's not important now.
Something else is much more interesting.
The Ryyk Nebula was one of the shipbuilding suppliers for the Empire.
That alone is enough to attract my close attention.
A shipbuilding yard right next to us?
At the moment, the political mood in the sector is unknown, and I intend to correct this oversight in the near future.
Regarding known systems…
In the Atreus system is the planet Vulta, which is home to an arms company that was barely surviving in the past. Its current position has been considerably strengthened by large purchases from unknown buyers on the black market.
Well, I wonder who that could be?
The planet Gerinia, in the star system of the same name, is famous for Gerinian gemstones, which are in moderate demand across the galaxy.
Okay, noted.
The Jeris VI system in the Jeris system is unremarkable, except that it has a ban on Mandalorian mercenaries drinking alcohol in the cantinas of that world.
The Mandalorians accepted the rebuke with their characteristic humor and composed a drinking song about it, the lyrics of which Obroa-skai employees also included in their files.
The Null system and the planet of the same name are indicated in the archives of even the Republic Intelligence as one of the first worlds to join the CIS at the start of the Clone Wars.
A refuge castle of Count Dooku was located here.
I suspect that since this information is available in the Ubiqtorate archives, there's nothing interesting there anymore.
But sending a reconnaissance group to check is necessary.
Orto Norve — an ice planet with small settlements. Besides being suitable for life for oxygen-breathing races — nothing interesting.
The planet Scorrupon can boast only that the Rebel Alliance attempted a diversion in its orbit against the newly built Executor.
The attempt failed.
And apart from that, except for one system, there's absolutely nothing to even catch the eye on.
But the Luir system…
Two planets, five gas giants.
On the planet Niriian, there is much more interesting than the Dark Apprentice revealed.
But I shouldn't blame him for that.
He, like other gifted, thinks in different categories.
Than, for example, the Corporate Sector Authority, which several hundred years ago established a scientific outpost on the second planet of the system, Lairi.
And built it specifically for monitoring operations on the surface of Niriian.
The planet Niriian.
Interesting.
Niriian attracted not only Darth Glovoc.
The planet, like the entire Luir system, was discovered over four thousand one hundred years ago by explorers who were shipwrecked there.
They became the first settlers on the planet.
Then came Darth Glovoc, other victims of shipwrecks.
But the most interesting part comes later.
This world attracted the attention of the Corporate Sector.
Over four hundred years ago, a Corporate Sector ship disappeared on Niriian.
A search team was sent after it, which found nothing and considered the crew and ship lost.
They did not land on the planet's surface; otherwise, they would have found their missing property.
A little over a hundred years ago, another team of researchers, unaffiliated with the "corporates," reached the surface.
And it is from this moment that the beauty of the legal battles for the planet between the Republic, the Corporate Sector, and rare third parties begins.
The fact is that a substance called "madilon" was discovered on Niriian.
Reference information about it says it is used in the construction of hyperdrives to reduce their size.
Already a second reason to visit a planet with a four-thousand-year-old Sith.
The first, of course, is him.
The enemy of my enemy… why not offer him the position of a friend?
A temporary one, to begin with.
Something else is important.
Due to the bureaucracy of the Galactic Empire and the Corporate Sector, the local population endured a great deal of hardship until recently.
Someone constantly wanted to subjugate the planet, but his opponents used legal tricks to prevent it.
As a result, while the disputes dragged on, the planet was placed under strict quarantine — isolated from the galaxy.
The local population, existing in isolation on a planet closed off by clouds, with an atmosphere that destroys ships to boot, was clearly not thrilled with such experiments on their lives.
The Empire showed an entrepreneurial streak.
They built an ion shield station on the planet about forty years ago to project protective screens for ships crossing the atmosphere.
This allowed the Empire and the commercial guilds to begin safe mining operations.
True, nine years after construction, the Rebel Alliance sabotaged it and put it out of commission for several months.
After that, they provoked the locals into rebellion, thereby destroying the Imperial business.
After the fall of Warlord Zsinj's regime two years ago, the New Republic offered to recognize the planetary autonomy of Niriian, governed by Niriian natives.
However, the madilon exporters refused to follow this plan, despite the locals supporting it with all their limbs.
In the end, the Corporate Sector filed a lawsuit against the New Republic a while back, shortly before we blocked it, demanding a ban on recognizing Niriian's independence. And the litigation is still ongoing.
The interests of each side are clear — whatever regime controls the defenseless "independent world" will be the one paying the locals employed in mining a strategically important material.
Which I also need.
Since the Dominion is capable of independently producing small hyperdrives, then the material that enables this should belong to us as well.
And if that's the case, we should do everything possible to at least have Niriian accept Dominion citizenship.
Given that the Hydian Way passes through the sector, and in this part of the galaxy the Trans-Vulta sector serves as a thin buffer representing the Mid Rim, then by subjugating it and Odgoster, we'll increase our control over the Hydian Way.
And, effectively, cut off any possibility of shipping goods to and from the Mandalorian Sector without our knowledge.
All that's left is to subjugate Niriian...
The astronomical data on the planet reveals quite interesting information.
It's a habitable world with an atmosphere composed mainly of nitrogen and oxygen, and an average temperature of 40°C.
The planet was covered by a thick layer of clouds that blocked communications and made landing without assistance nearly impossible.
Severe storms were common and could last for months. They posed a constant threat to settlements, so the locals try to track them.
The planet's surface consists of plains and low hills, with several valleys where swampy conditions have formed.
The northern hemisphere had many shallow, rocky valleys where most of the planet's mining was carried out.
An interesting feature of Niriian was the effect its atmosphere had on the Force.
While Force users could use the Force while on the planet's surface, they could not while traveling through the planet's atmosphere, due to unidentified interference.
A very interesting planet.
Though I initially thought of it as a copy of Dromund Kaas or Jabim, its atmosphere, which blocks the Force, blocks signals, and is dangerous for ships...
That's a natural defense against invasion.
And the Empire itself hinted at how operations on Niriian's surface could be set up for maximum profit.
"It seems Niriian has caught your interest," the Dark Apprentice said.
"A notable planet," I agreed. "But I'd like to hear the end of the story of your meeting with Darth Glovoc."
"I killed most of his followers to reach his stasis pod and bring him out of deep sleep," the Dark Apprentice explained. "From his very first words, he struck me with his profound wisdom and understanding not only of the Dark Side but also of the Light Side of the Force. I studied under him for a long time — several years, until everything he knew became mine. He also revealed the name of Darth Ziilenlos to me, saying that it was because of Glovoc's fleet being destroyed by him that he got stranded on this planet..."
Is that so?
It seems to me he shouldn't have meditated so much that he slept through the arrival of first Ziilenlos's battle groups and then the Republic forces.
Then he wouldn't have had to languish on Niriian.
"What exactly drew Glovoc to the planet?" I clarified.
Presumably, since the world is located in an area where fierce battles were fought during the height of the Mandalorian Wars and the subsequent confrontation between Darth Revan's Empire and the Galactic Republic, there might be something there that could interest the Jensaarai.
"Me," the Dark Apprentice replied calmly.
An unexpected answer.
"Not a very thorough answer."
"The Force doesn't always grant visions of the immediate future," the Dark Apprentice explained. "Darth Glovoc's abilities extended so far beyond simple understanding of Force Visions that he looked into the future by four thousand years. The power of the Dark Side of the Force that drew him there — was my arrival."
...
As I said — Force-sensitive beings operate and think in completely wild categories.
"Has Darth Glovoc agreed to join the Dominion?" a provocative question.
Because, according to the clone himself, after leaving Niriian, he didn't even know about the Dominion.
Or about me.
So, I just have to wait for the answer to a question with a "catch."
Though, I won't lie, having even a Sith with the gift of prophecy, or something akin to it, in my ranks is worth the effort.
However, I need to find out something else.
"He is dead," the Dark Apprentice said.
Mmm...
Let me guess.
"You killed him?"
"He had nothing more to teach me," the clone didn't deny. "While he was in stasis — and had no intention of emerging from it for hundreds of years — he didn't see the future. But about a year ago, he said that global changes were occurring in the Force. He felt that something was slipping away from him. The future stopped being as pliable as it always had been. He felt and understood much. He saw that I should end my hermitage on Niriian and continue my search for the Emperor's secrets. Before his death, he said that a different fate awaited him, but the galaxy is changing more than he foresaw. And if during my search I encounter that which leads me to my goal — the destruction of 1138 — then I should surrender."
And the clone followed the advice...
This is why I am inexpressibly annoyed by the gifted.
Their Visions and "the Force said so" have nothing to do with reality.
"Did he tell you what fate was supposed to await him?" I asked, not really expecting an answer.
"He also told me my fate," the clone replied just as calmly. "If the galaxy hadn't changed, if he hadn't demanded that I challenge him according to old Sith traditions, I would have died in a few years. Even his knowledge isn't enough to overcome the accelerated aging of clones. And he would have returned to stasis, to wait until a messenger of a mutilated Jedi, covered in coral like armor, came seeking an audience with him..."
Wait a minute—
He's talking about Darth Krayt and his Order of the Unified Sith?
That's part of galactic history more than a hundred and twenty years into the future from current events!
Mind-blowing.
If Tschel hadn't departed on the Chimaera for the deployment site, I would definitely have taken him and a destroyer to slip away to Niriian.
"How did you leave the planet?"
A question no less interesting than his whole story.
"The Corporate Sector had long since repaired the ion shield technology that the rebels sabotaged," the Dark Apprentice said. "I flew there, hitching onto a freighter with my ship. And I left the same way. Taking everything I needed."
"And the cultists just gave you their 'god's' relics?"
"Of course not. I killed them all. And destroyed the remains of the Dying Sun. I only took Darth Glovoc's lightsaber, which became mine by right, and his holocron, which I studied until I found a lead on Object One.
Suspicious.
But it fits the logic this being lives by — leaving no witnesses.
Including evidence of his stay.
"Well, then... Darth Glovoc, I take it, facilitated your meeting with me," I summed up.
"No," the Dark Apprentice shook his head in denial. "You made it so I came to you. You are changing the galaxy's future. I am merely following my teacher's words. And I hope that you are the one who will help me kill 1138, Darth Ziilenlos, and avenge the humiliation of my teacher so many years ago."
Sith settling scores for a four-thousand-year-old grievance...
Great Force, how grateful I am that I ended up in a body not sensitive to the Force.
The more powerful a being, the bigger their problems with logic and a realistic perception of the world.
"So that's how it is," I moved to the final stage of the conversation. "Revenge... I can't say I don't understand your aspirations. Fulfilling a cherished goal in the time you have left..."
"Just a few years," the clone agreed. "The experimental method of creating copies of Galen Marek is not as perfect as the standard one. And it is utterly merciless to my biology. I don't know exactly how much time I have left, but the materials regarding my cloning indicate that my internal organs should fail fifteen years after creation. Eleven have already passed."
Which means the same math applies to Galen's body, Object 1138.
Just think...
So many different theories and guesses about where those two clones disappeared to after the game's events.
And here's the answer.
They would simply have died quietly and peacefully from a kind of "crib death syndrome."
Most likely, the clones are programmed for such a death so that they wouldn't (in case the goals for which they were originally created succeeded) become a hindrance to Darth Vader.
An apprentice who carries out missions, serves faithfully, is not subject to the emotions of his original, incapable of betrayal...
In theory, of course, incapable.
But on the other hand — there's a genetic countdown in his blood.
One clone ends, you can always awaken another and not worry about your right hand betraying you for fifteen years.
Cunning, ruthless, and pragmatic.
Darth Vader finds a way to surprise even after death.
"I'm curious. What would you do if you had the chance to fix the genetic defect?" I inquired.
"That's exactly why I need your help to get to Kamino and conduct reconnaissance in Timira City," the Dark Apprentice replied after thinking for a couple of seconds. "If I'd known when I left that I was doomed to die before I was even born, I wouldn't have sat there idle for so long."
Hmm...
And I also suspect that Darth Glovoc couldn't have taught you everything in a couple of years — unless, besides meditating, he was the winner of the "Best Teacher of the Year" award according to Darth Revan's Empire.
I don't like this situation, but to miss the opportunity...
Dangerous, by Hutt.
"I have another proposal," I said. "What are you willing to give the Dominion in exchange for our cloning masters — among whom is also the best Kaminoan geneticist, Orun Va — researching and curing your DNA? We already have certain developments in overcoming accelerated aging in one type of DNA. With our cloners, as well as after capturing Kamino, there's a good chance we can fix your genetic destiny too. Just as we are doing for the cloned soldiers of the Dominion Stormtrooper Corps."
The clone looked at me without breaking eye contact.
"Besides being able to help you destroy 1138 and Darth Ziilenlos?"
"Exactly. Temporary alliances haven't impressed me lately."
"I have nothing," the Dark Apprentice shook his head, but his phlegmatic expression finally wavered. "All the valuables and artifacts I've collected are already yours. My ship is already at your disposal. I have nothing else left. Unless..."
He fell silent, looking around.
"I have nothing," he repeated the phrase that was starting to get tiresome. "Except my life."
As he finished this phrase, the clone of Galen Marek dropped to one knee before me and bowed his head in submission.
"Command me... Lord Thrawn."
If only anyone knew how much effort it took me right now not to show this clone a fight...
The fight of my forehead against my palm.
* * *
Ysanne looked at the thermos, sniffed its contents after unscrewing the airtight lid.
A rich aroma of expensive caf burst from the container.
"Why did he bring caf with him on an operation?" she asked, looking at the smiling Togruta.
Ahsoka Tano watched with undisguised interest as three men effortlessly parried all manner of attacks from Exar Kun's Force Ghost, be it Force Lightning or something similar.
"Like I know?" she shrugged. "The kid is, let's say, a bit grandiose. But dangerous. And powerful. Everything according to the canon of the most powerful Sith. If I were twenty years younger..."
"Spare me those details," the Director of Dominion Intelligence winced almost imperceptibly, setting the caf aside in a transport container. "Aren't you going to help your colleagues?"
"First of all — they're definitely not my colleagues," the Togruta corrected. "I... Honestly, I don't even know what my status is in the Dominion right now. But it's certainly not Shadow Guard."
"Master Windu and Darth Deimos aren't either," the Iceheart noted.
"Well, the boys felt like flexing their muscles, am I supposed to slap their hands away?" Tano shrugged. "Especially when both of them could give me a good beating."
"Despite your training under Darth Vectivus, you are weaker than them?" Isard didn't show her surprise, but she filed that away.
"In a sense, yes," Ahsoka agreed after a moment's thought. "Windu... You know, even when he's missing one hand, has a cybernetic eye, and is a hundred years old, I wouldn't bet a single decicred on current Palpatine — young and strong — in a duel against him. Windu, as long as you don't cut his hands off, is as strong as a rancor in a herd of banthas. He's unique, if I dare say so. Deimos, though... He gives me the creeps. I don't know what kind of bantha poodoo he's seen in his life, but he has a deep connection to the Dark Side of the Force. Me... I try, despite everything, to balance on the edge of a vibroblade, without falling to either side. I seem to be managing, but... In a fight between a multi-instrumentalist and a guitarist, the latter will win — simply because he knows better how to hit hard with his 'instrument.'"
There will be time to analyze all this later.
For now, Isard simply listened.
And watched as a literal inferno of hurricane winds, lightning, rain, and four men unfolded in the inner courtyard.
"Three and a half," Isard corrected herself, deciding that half of Darth Maul didn't count as a whole.
But Kun...
"No matter how much he boasts," Ahsoka added more quietly, "a Force Ghost cannot remain in reality for a long time while maintaining its physical projection."
"But somehow he doesn't leave."
"We're playing on his pride," Tano reminded her. "This place means a lot to him. A focal point of power, after all. He arrogantly thinks he can defeat his enemies."
"And in reality?" Isard clarified.
"And in reality, they're simply draining power from his anchor point, so that at the right moment they can use a few simple but effective tricks I showed them... Oh, the moment is here! Look!"
Isard saw the raging storm around her subside in an instant.
All because Darth Deimos, having closed the distance between himself and the Force Ghost in one move, grabbed him by the throat, as during the battle he had ceased to be translucent.
On the contrary, he seemed to have gained some density.
At least the temple walls weren't visible through him.
"To defeat three powerful enemies at once, Kun had to tap into his reserves," Ahsoka whispered. "He became a little closer to the world of the living... And now he'll regret not dying sooner."
Isard only had time to notice that Darth Deimos, having grabbed the Ghost by the neck, punched him in the face, then slammed him forcefully into the temple wall and placed his palm on Exar Kun's face.
"Behold the true terror of your petty soul, Exar Kun!" his voice rang out monumental and loud. "I, the Lord of Terror, grant you nightmares from the depths of your dark soul..."
"Posturing," Isard commented.
"Pomp is our everything," Ahsoka Tano spread her hands.
* * *
A lot of time had passed since their first meeting.
But Kadmis Fuon still hadn't left Iego.
Officially — because there was no one to take Kyle Katarn off the planet.
Lando didn't have that many transport ships, and none were on the planet right now.
Most of the transport starships belonged to Talon Karrde, and he had left the planet.
The vessel Fuon and Katarn arrived on was currently under repair, fortunately, one of Karrde's people had delivered the necessary spare parts on a recent run.
But Leia herself understood perfectly well that her best diplomat (and intelligence officer by proxy) was subconsciously stalling for time.
He wanted to, but couldn't bring himself to ask the main question.
At one point, she couldn't take it anymore.
"Your brother will be fine, Kadmis," she said without preamble over breakfast.
The intelligence officer, looking at her from under his brow, gave a strained smile.
"I'd worry less about him if the Galactic Alliance had conducted a prisoner exchange with the Dominion. Like they did in the New Republic."
"Unfortunately, that's precisely what won't happen," Leia stated without a hint of a smile, glancing towards the part of the open-air restaurant where Winter was rocking the twins in their cradles.
The former princess lovingly stroked her now considerably rounded belly.
So much time had been wasted.
So much so that the children — first Jacen, and now Jaina — preferred spending time with her assistant.
They used to perceive their birth mother solely as a food source.
Leia felt a wariness and distrust emanating from them — if, of course, she correctly understood their signals through the Force.
To the twins, she was like a stranger.
Winter was a different matter — always there, always caring, always smiling, but strict at the same time.
Leia's attempts to behave the same way, to copy Winter's behavior, only resulted in childish screams and wet diapers.
She was almost in despair, but her assistant had found a moment and kindly slipped an article by a child psychologist into her mail, describing a similar situation and explaining the nuances.
It was a phase children went through.
While she had been gallivanting across the galaxy looking for solutions to problems, the twins had grown so attached to Winter that they perceived her as their mother.
She even felt younger in the Force somehow, having turned into a nanny.
Smiles kept slipping across the experienced operative's serene face, and hearing her cheerfully entertain the little ones with questions like "And whose wonderful little nose is this?" or making them laugh simply by covering her face with her hands only filled Leia with mortal sorrow.
No matter what, she wouldn't make the same mistake with her third child.
To hell with the Alliance government and all their evasions.
If necessary, she would tell them in plain language.
Family was everything.
Too bad she only realized that after the fact. After her brother had vanished without a trace, her two children considered her a stranger, her husband was who-knows-where and doing who-knows-what, and the only person outside her immediate family she could trust was Lando Calrissian.
At least she knew that Chewie was with Han, and together they wouldn't get lost.
Everything would be fine.
"The Alliance government is deliberately distancing itself from the practice of negotiating prisoner exchanges like they did in the New Republic?" Fuon clarified.
Leia nodded in agreement.
"But the problem is much deeper than it seems. We don't have a single Dominion prisoner of war. And they haven't sent any requests to exchange Imperials either. Mon Mothma once mentioned there are certain connections with the Dominion through Makem Te, but after the attack..."
"I would have told us to go take a long walk off a short pier if I were them," Fuon said.
"I'm actually surprised they haven't taken any retaliatory steps yet," Leia stated. "Thrawn never forgave that kind of action from us."
"And he's dead."
"Yes, but Pellaeon is his student. And the campaign he's waging suggests he learned his lessons well. I fear we are only destined to experience their retaliatory wrath."
"And we can't figure out where the blow will come from," Fuon looked at her with a mysterious expression.
"Kadmis, I know you well," Leia tensed. "Don't play word games — I've long understood that you hide your intentions well between the lines of direct speech. What are you planning?"
"Weeell... I had a talk with Karrde's people. Did you know they smuggle comlinks from the Dominion?"
Leia shook her head.
"This is the first I've heard of it. Or that Karrde ever sets foot on Dominion territory."
"As I understand it, he only picks up shipments delivered by Dominion smugglers," he added, lowering his voice. "There's a good chance to infiltrate the Dominion."
"Kadmis!" Leia flared up. "I forbid it! Not a single agent who tried that came back alive!"
"Not a single agent who tried that had a brother in captivity," Fuon cut her off.
To object would be to show disrespect and disregard for his familial feelings.
"I understand, but... Alone, in the enemy camp."
"I've already arranged it with Katarn," Kadmis interrupted her thought. "As soon as the ship is ready, we start working."
"You'll be listed as a deserter in the Alliance," Leia shook her head.
"Oh," he smirked. "As far as they're concerned, I received injuries incompatible with life back on Mandalore. Same as Katarn. I just didn't tell you to avoid worrying you prematurely."
And now, it seemed, it was time to start worrying seriously.
Is that it?
Oh, Han, how I miss you.
The little future Anakin Solo kicked inside her belly, agreeing with his mother's thought.
Daddy really was missed.
Where the hell was Chewbacca dragging him?
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