Chapter 13: Maul's Investigation
As Maul examined the wreckage of the starfighter that had obliterated Agent Voss, his thoughts churned with a mixture of anger and confusion. The level of destruction was unlike anything he'd seen before, clearly not the work of the Jedi but of the mysterious "space silver guy." Maul's mind flashed back to the moment he received the middle finger from Gojo, a gesture that only fueled his anger.
Maul contacted Sidious, his master's hologram flickering to life. "Master, I have examined the site. Agent Voss was obliterated by a Naboo starfighter that suddenly activated and crashed into him. This is not the work of the Jedi."
Sidious's eyes narrowed. "And the rest of the agents?"
"Their signals have gone dark in the forest," Maul reported, his tone cold and factual.
Sidious paused, considering the implications. "Return to the droid control Lucrehulk," he ordered.
Maul allowed himself a rare moment of dark humor. "The one with the big hole, master?"
Sidious, his patience clearly wearing thin, sighed. "Yes, the one with the big hole."
Maul's expression turned serious. "Is the Lucrehulk still functional?"
Sidious's gaze hardened. "That you must ask the Viceroy."
Maul's thoughts continued to churn as he ended the communication. The game had changed, and he knew he would need to adapt quickly to confront this new challenge. The memory of Gojo's mocking gesture remained fresh in his mind, a constant reminder of the battle yet to come.
Chaos on the Lucrehulk
Back on the Lucrehulk, the situation had devolved into a state of near-comical chaos. Viceroy Nute Gunray and Rune Haako were barking orders frantically, trying to maintain control over their increasingly dysfunctional droid army.
"All droids, continue patrol 24 hours straight!" Viceroy Gunray commanded, his voice tinged with desperation. Normally, the droids would have shifts to allow for repairs and maintenance, but the fear of the silver-haired guy and his threat through Tooru had thrown all sense of protocol out the window.
Rune Haako glanced nervously at the screens displaying the patrol routes. "But, Viceroy, the droids are showing signs of wear and tear. They're moving slower and becoming less responsive."
Gunray waved a dismissive hand, his eyes wide with fear. "I don't care! Keep them patrolling! We cannot afford to let our guard down for even a moment."
In the control room, a few droids, visibly limping and sparking from overuse, tried to execute their patrol routes. One droid, attempting to turn a corner, simply keeled over, its circuits fried from the non-stop activity.
"Great," Haako muttered under his breath, "now we're just patrolling with broken toys."
As if things couldn't get worse, an alarm blared, indicating a critical systems failure. A technician droid reported, "Life support system has decreased to 49 percent."
Gunray's face turned an interesting shade of green. "What do you mean 49 percent? We need at least 50 to breathe properly!"
Haako smirked, unable to hide his amusement. "Well, Viceroy, it seems even the life support system is overworked. Maybe it needs a shift break too."
Gunray glared at him. "This is no time for jokes, Rune. We need to fix this before—"
Another alarm blared, louder this time, as another droid clattered to the floor in pieces. The Viceroy threw his hands up in exasperation. "I swear, if that silver-haired guy shows up again, I'll personally hand over the keys to the Lucrehulk!"
Haako chuckled. "Keys to a ship with a big hole and no functioning droids? I'm sure he'll be thrilled."
The scene on the Lucrehulk was a far cry from the imposing control they once had, now reduced to a comedy of errors, with both leaders anxiously waiting for the next calamity to strike.
Maul's Arrival on the Lucrehulk
Darth Maul, his presence imposing and intimidating, made his way through the corridors of the Lucrehulk. The droids and crew members scurried out of his path, their anxiety palpable. Maul's silence was more terrifying than any words he could have spoken. He reached the main bridge where Viceroy Nute Gunray and Rune Haako were overseeing the chaotic operations.
Maul, with his usual few words, asked, "Is the Lucrehulk still operational?"
Viceroy Gunray, visibly flustered, stepped forward. "Lord Maul, we are experiencing severe difficulties. The droids have been overused due to constant patrols, and many are malfunctioning. The life support system has also dropped to 49 percent. We're doing everything we can to maintain control."
Rune Haako added nervously, "We've had to keep the droids on patrol non-stop because of the silver-haired guy and his accomplice, Tooru. We fear they might strike again."
Maul's expression remained stoic, but his presence seemed to darken the room further. "Enough. Prepare to move to the capital city of Naboo."
The Viceroy and Haako exchanged a worried glance. "To the capital, Lord Maul?" Gunray stammered. "But Tooru was last seen in Naboo. His appearance has caused significant damage, and our men haven't slept well since. They're terrified of what he might do next."
Maul's eyes narrowed. "We confront them."
The Neimoidians nodded reluctantly, their fear of Maul outweighing their terror of Tooru. As they scrambled to comply with Maul's orders, the Viceroy couldn't help but mutter to Haako, "I just hope we survive this. Between Maul, the silver-haired guy, and Tooru, we're caught between a rock and a hard place."
Haako, trying to remain optimistic, replied, "Let's just hope our luck holds out. Maybe this time, we'll get through it without losing more than we already have."
With the orders given, the Lucrehulk's remaining operational systems were directed towards preparing for their move to the capital city of Naboo. The bridge buzzed with a mix of fear and determination as everyone braced for the next phase of their struggle against the formidable threats they faced.
In the Depths of Coruscant
Deep within the shadowy underbelly of Coruscant, in a concealed and heavily fortified chamber, Darth Plagueis awoke from his bacta tank. The dim lighting barely illuminated the room, casting eerie shadows on the walls. As the dark liquid drained from the tank, Plagueis's eyes snapped open, a feeling of disturbance rippling through the Force.
Darth Sidious, already present and intending to wake his master, watched as Plagueis emerged from the tank, his expression one of grim determination.
Plagueis spoke first, his voice resonating with both power and curiosity. "What has happened with the Force? Why does it feel as though a third power has just emerged?"
Sidious bowed his head slightly before responding, his tone deferential. "Master, a disturbance has indeed occurred. There are reports of a mysterious young man with immense power and another figure known as Tooru, who together have wreaked havoc."
Plagueis's eyes narrowed, his mind processing the information. "And the Sith agents?"
Sidious's expression remained composed as he delivered the unsettling news. "Four of them have lost contact. One was found dead in a particularly gruesome manner."
Plagueis, ever the calm and calculated Sith Lord, showed little outward emotion. "They were among our finest. It is a shame they perished." His tone, though calm, held an undercurrent of disappointment and curiosity about these new powers that had emerged.
Sidious continued, his voice carrying a hint of concern. "Master, I felt something strange, not the Force but death itself, suddenly chasing you just as you felt, but only for a moment. I think I understand why carrying that sickness made you want to chase immortality."
Plagueis's eyes gleamed with cunning as he absorbed this information. "So, this Tooru suddenly appears and then disappears, correct?"
Sidious nodded. "Yes, Master. For a brief moment, he even turned into a droid."
A sinister smile crept across Plagueis's face. "Interesting. We must learn more about these new players and their abilities. They could either become valuable assets or formidable foes. For now, we will watch and wait, ready to strike when the time is right."
The two Sith Lords stood in the dimly lit chamber, their minds already turning towards how to confront and possibly harness this new, formidable power that had appeared in the galaxy.
Plagueis then commanded, "Send Maul to Naboo and wait for further instruction."
Sidious responded, "I have already sent the control Lucrehulk to Naboo. It has a big hole, and it seems the systems in the Lucrehulk are failing."
Plagueis, surprised, asked, "Did Tooru cause the big hole?"
Sidious shook his head. "It was caused by the mysterious young man."
Plagueis's expression turned thoughtful. "Then we have two unknown variables. This will require careful planning and observation. We must be prepared for anything."
Plagueis then gave another order, "When they arrive at Coruscant, inform me. I need a place close but not detectable. I want to learn what power they wield, as the current dark side of the Force is not ready to unleash that magnitude of power."
Sidious's eyes gleamed with hidden ambition as he responded, "Of course, Master. I will make the necessary arrangements."
Weekly Power Status
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