No one said Sith was easy

Author’s note: I own nothing. Another review! Yay!


The Infiltrator rose effortlessly and silently from the haunted world. In a microsecond it vanished, shooting into the dark recesses of space. As cold as the emptiness around him Darth Maul plotted his course back to Nar Shaddah. Of course he didn’t expect her to have remained… not if she was wise. But on Nar Shaddah her traces would echo to him, and he could track her from there. A keen languidness crept over him; he let it, altering it slightly and giving it an edge. These star fields were notorious for pirates, even with its advanced shielding the Infiltrator had a slim chance of being detected, he needed to be ready to act.

A buzz of static came from the holo emitter; the console displayed an incoming message. The holo sprang up. Unable to kneel Maul bowed his head.

“Look up, my apprentice.”

Maul met his master’s gaze, sensing his discontent. “My master…”

“Why did you leave Nar Shaddah so suddenly? I sensed a disturbance in you, it appeared you had fled.” Maul snarled, but averted his eyes as he did so. Sidious’s voice took a sarcastic tone. “You look like a caged Kath hound when you do that, my apprentice.” Maul stopped, simmering inside. Sidious smiled. “Much better. Now, Korriban?”

“I have started a stalk, my Master. I sought Korriban for deeper focus.” Sidious was silent. His attention seemed focused on something distant.

“…was it necessary, to focus yourself there… or did you have other reasons? I have warned you many a time not to journey there often, or for frivolous things. It shows disrespect to those who came before. They are not a meditation chamber for you, they are your fate.”

“I understand Master.”

“Do you? I had not realized. Why am I preaching to myself?”

“Forgive me, my Master.” Sidious seemed to smile.

“For now, yes. You are stalking… and that required deeper meditation?” Maul lowered his head again.

“It is… a personal hunt, my master.”

Sidious chuckled, a cold sound. “Ah, yes. I felt that too. She held you for some time.” He felt Maul silently seething and sighed contently. “I cannot say I was amused Lord Maul. It happened at in inopportune time. You made me forget a line.” All amusement faded from Sidious’s manner. “Fortunately I was able to smooth over the slip.” He watched his apprentice cringe slightly, allowed the sight to ease his anger. “Do not ever distract me in such a manner again. I will not forgive a repeat incident. On that subject…” Maul looked up, confused.

“My Master?”

Sidious hissed coldly, “I did not ask you to speak!” Maul listened. “On the subject of incidents, have there been others?” Maul was silent. Once again sarcasm, “You are permitted to answer me my apprentice, it was a question.” Maul smiled.

“No, my master. And there will not be another. Sith do not make mistakes, and we do not fail.” Sidious sighed.

“You tell me what I want to hear. I hope, for your sake, that your actions will shadow your words.”

“As you command, my master.”

With a static cackling the holo vanished. Maul was again alone. (No,) his eyes narrowed. (Sith do not fail,) his grip tightened on the steering components. (I will not be humiliated again.) With a small whoosh the Infiltrator made the jump into hyperspace, leaving behind a feeling of darkness, and foreboding.


…


In a vastly different ship Klacasa was adjusting her coordinates for the hundredth time. She smiled to herself, turning up the indicator so she could better hear the frequency’s she was leaving. (That’ll shock him…) the waves were mixed very carefully with the waves of a republic cargo vessel. Mandelorian technology at its best. She’d had to use it before, twice. The first time it had been a test preformed by her clan, and the second had been a pursuit. In both tests, the waves had done wonders. A small part of her nagged, (he won’t hunt like another bounty hunter… he’s not looking for waves….) she tried to ignore it.

This was standard in her line of work. Every now and then you had to run for a little bit. Her eyes narrowed. (I’ll get him again.) She was still employed; it wasn’t over till it was over. The request had been to take the Zabrak in alive, but that wouldn’t hold if she felt pressured. (Dead or alive are always the best terms, gives a girl her elbow room.) She leaned back with a sigh, letting the auto pilot guide her for a while. Space passed outside the windows, she watched it quietly, one hand reaching out to press on the glass.

It had been years since she’d been off the station… five, to be exact. It was strange to be out here again… watching the galaxy pass around you, knowing there were a thousand places to go. Hundreds upon hundreds of worlds, held together by the Republic’s feeble grasp… She smiled, pushed the unease aside. Mandelorians did not believe in the all powerful republic. If it fell, it fell. Her line of work wouldn’t change, her people wouldn’t change. They would survive, living for combat, thriving on it, every breath a breath in anticipation for a battle that would never come. She frowned. A battle that had been fought before her great grandfather’s birth, a battle that many believed had been their cultures death.

All too well she knew the stories, and a part of her winced, even as the rest had listened enraptured to the tales. Her clan, the proud clan Ordo, had cemented the failing clans together. Duxn remained their center, no longer secret, but well avoided by the republic even now. The clans were alive. They were alive, let people think what they will. (Why am I thinking about this? What does this have to do with anything now? I’m not running to Duxn, I don’t need help.)

(Yet,) nagged that small voice. (But you might.) She pushed it aside.

(Yeah, when Gizka fly.) The image brought a smile to her face. The light of the stars reflected off her ships window, catching her attention once again. (Let him come, he’s just another bounty, and I took him down once, I can do it again.) Her hand patted the blaster against her thigh for comfort.

But those eyes… they bothered her still.

His eyes resurfaced in her mind, yellow, bright with fire, so close to hers, as if he were looking not only through her, but through all of Nar Shaddah, and finding it lacking. She gritted her teeth and let out an irate huff. “I’ve gotta stop doing that.” A small beeping drew her attention. Surprised she looked down, astral charts and half a sandwich blocked her view. Quickly she pushed these things aside. Red flashed upon her face and her eyes went wide. “…Sith’s blood…”
The pressure system was flashing red. Air pressure was failing! Stunned she was, but not stupid. Instantly she was headed for the back, her environmental suit lay against the far wall just waiting for an emergency. Three minutes later, and after much very necessary swearing, she returned to the front of the ship. Muffled curses escaped the helmet as the suit forced her to skip hop back to her seat. “Stupid suit, stupid air pressure, stupid ship!” she attempted to sit, only to find that she no longer fit in the pilot’s chair. “Sith’s Blood!!”

Twelve minutes later the ship made an emergency landing on Dantooine.
Two hours after that Darth Maul docked on Nar Shaddah.

She had only managed to put hours between them.