===Palpatine===
In the dimly lit chamber, Palpatine's piercing gaze lingered on the Mandalorian bounty hunter, Jango Fett. He had removed the Azure Talons armor, and had just finished recounting his failed mission, his voice betraying a hint of frustration as he spoke.
"We failed. Amidala is still alive, and I had to clean up the loose end," Fett said with a calm, professional tone, though the weight of his failure hung in the air.
Palpatine's lips curled into a slight, almost imperceptible smile as he regarded the bounty hunter with measured interest. "Most unfortunate," he said smoothly. "But... this may still work in our favor." His voice was calm, calculating, as if already weaving a plan from the wreckage of the current situation.
Before Fett could respond, heavy footsteps echoed across the cold stone floor. A nameless figure approached, his presence imposing. The Chaos Sorcerer, a being as enigmatic as he was powerful, stopped in front of Palpatine and Jango. He fixed the bounty hunter with a cold, dispassionate stare.
"You failed to kill the girl," the Sorcerer stated flatly, his voice thick with disdain, yet devoid of emotion.
Fett did not flinch. "We did. My apologies," he replied, his tone unyielding.
The Sorcerer remained silent for a moment, his nonexistent eyes narrowing as he regarded Fett with disdain. He then turned his attention to the hologram that flickered to life in the center of the room. The figure that materialized was unlike any other—an imposing Kaleesh warrior, his face twisted in a snarl as he thrust a spear into the chest of one of his own kind. Blood and gore splattered as the spear plunged deep, a gruesome scene that made the air feel heavier.
"Throughout the years," the Sorcerer continued, his voice now more deliberate, "we have performed hundreds of tests and experiments on various alien species. The Kaleesh, however, have proven... particularly interesting. Their ability to withstand and channel warp energy is unlike most others." He paused, his eyes flickering toward the hologram as the image shifted to show grotesque, unholy experiments that had been conducted—mutations, cybernetics fused with flesh, and unspeakable horrors. The experiments had left the Kaleesh warriors altered beyond recognition, their bodies twisted and broken, yet some still lived.
Fett stood unmoving, his gaze unbroken, betraying no reaction to the grisly display. It was clear that he had seen worse in his time, and this was no different.
The Sorcerer's voice returned, as cold and final as before. "The mutations... are promising. But we require more. We need one of them—this one in particular—to be brought to Geonosis. There, we will test experimental cybernetics on him. Further, we will see how far we can push the limits of both his strength and the warp energy before releasing him on the gathered Jedi and clones. A test."
Jango Fett nodded slowly, processing the orders. It was just another job, albeit one that reeked of far darker intentions than most.
Without a word, Fett turned to leave, his footsteps echoing off the cold floor, ready to depart and carry out the task. But the Sorcerer's voice halted him mid-step.
"Do not fail," the Sorcerer intoned, his voice laced with a dark threat. "It will be the last time you do so."
Fett's lips tightened imperceptibly. He was no stranger to danger, but the weight of the Sorcerer's words was not lost on him. He nodded curtly before walking out, his mind already shifting into the mode of a hunter—focused, unyielding, and determined.
Palpatine, watching the bounty hunter depart, allowed a small smile to play at the corners of his mouth. The pieces of his plan were slowly falling into place.
===Maximus===
"Are you sure about this?" Bo-Katan asked, her voice edged with concern as she sat across from Maximus in the ship that was taking them toward Alderaan.
Maximus sat still, his posture as rigid as ever. The cold glow of his red optics fixed on the distant stars outside the viewport. "I am. We have nothing to hide. If any of your brothers or sisters have acted without orders, they will answer for it." His tone was firm, unwavering—almost mechanical in its certainty. "They will be found, and they will be executed."
Bo-Katan's lips pressed into a thin line as she leaned back in her seat, clearly wrestling with the decision. "And if this is all a misunderstanding? If it's just some kind of mistake?"
Maximus didn't respond immediately, the hum of the ship's engines filling the space between them. Finally, he turned his gaze to her. "Then we clear our name and return to our duty. But if they are guilty…" He let the implication hang in the air.
The ship dipped slightly as it entered Alderaan's orbit, and soon they were descending towards a landing platform where Senator Bail Organa awaited them, accompanied by a small retinue of guards.
The ship's engines throttled down, and with a smooth thud, the vessel landed. Maximus was the first to disembark, his azure-colored shoulder cape billowing in the wind behind him. His imposing presence could not be ignored, even on a world of peaceful diplomacy.
"Senator Organa, it's good to see you again," Maximus greeted, his deep voice carrying easily as he stepped toward the politician, who was waiting for him with a warm but practiced smile.
"Likewise, Warden," Organa replied, his tone calm and collected despite the situation. "I trust your journey was uneventful?"
Maximus nodded once, his posture as straight as a ruler. "It was. Let us proceed."
Without further words, Organa motioned for Maximus and his small retinue to follow, and the two walked side by side towards the chamber where the discussions would take place. Inside, the room was quiet and spacious, its stone walls and high ceilings giving it an almost ancient air. The two Jedi, standing by a table in the center, turned as they entered.
One was a younger woman, the same person Maximus had met many years ago—Nira. The other was a man with a commanding presence, dressed in the robes of a Jedi Master. His appearance was distinguished, marked by the wisdom of age and experience.
Maximus' gaze settled first on Nira, who looked just as he remembered, though older, more composed. His lips twitched into a half-smile. "Hello, little one. You've grown."
Nira returned the smile, though her tone was dry. "And you haven't changed a bit. Though I notice a few more scratches on your armor. I would expect nothing less from an Astartes."
Maximus only hummed in acknowledgment, then turned to the older Jedi. His voice was direct, cutting straight to the heart of the matter. "And you must be Jedi Master Dooku, I presume. I've heard much about you from my intelligence."
Dooku, who had been watching the exchange with a slight smile, gave a formal bow of his head. "Indeed. I've heard quite a bit about you as well, Warden. Nira could not stop speaking of you during her first year under my tutelage."
The mention of Nira's early days caused the young Jedi to flush slightly, but she quickly regained her composure.
Maximus folded his arms across his chest, his expression hardening. "Then tell me, Master Dooku, why have you accused my Talons of assassination?" His voice was steady, but the edge of authority was unmistakable. "What is this all about?"
Dooku didn't hesitate. He reached into his robes and produced a small holographic projector. He placed it onto the table, and with a flicker, a hologram appeared. It showed an Azure Talon, his face obscured behind the helmet of his armor, holding a weapon that seemed out of place—an unusually modified bolt pistol.
"This is one of your men," Dooku explained, his tone cool and precise. "This footage was recovered from one of the surrounding buildings. Here, your Talon is seen killing the Assassin. I assume to cover his tracks."
Maximus leaned in slightly, studying the hologram carefully. His red optics glowing menacingly. "This is not how we operate." His voice was low, almost a growl. "If one of our own has strayed, we will find them. We have given no such order."
"And if they're guilty?" Dooku's gaze was steady, the weight of the accusation hanging heavy in the room.
Maximus' expression darkened, his lips parting slightly as his voice became a quiet promise. "Then they will face the consequences. No one is above the Emperor's judgment."
Just then, the door burst open, and Padmé Amidala stormed into the room, her expression a mix of fury and disbelief. Anakin Skywalker followed closely behind, his brow furrowed, while Qui-Gon Jinn entered more calmly, his presence immediately commanding attention. Steam seemed practically fuming from Padmé's ears as she turned sharply toward Anakin.
"So, you did arrange a meeting without my knowledge," she accused, her voice filled with indignation.
"My Lady, it's not safe here, especially with him," he said, his hand gesturing toward Maximus, who remained as stoic as ever.
Padmé's gaze never wavered as she ignored Anakin entirely and instead fixed her stare on the towering Ultramarine, his immense figure casting a shadow across the room. "Here I am, Maximus. If you truly wished to kill me, why send an assassin?" she demanded, her tone cutting and direct, her hands planted firmly on her hips.
Maximus, unflinching, met her gaze without hesitation. His voice was as cold and composed as ever. "Senator Amidala, why are you here?"
"To find answers," she replied curtly, never taking her eyes off the Astartes. She was intent on having the truth—whether or not anyone was willing to give it to her.
Maximus' gaze never wavered. "This was not our doing," he answered in the same clipped tone, his hand outstretched toward the hologram of the Azure Talon on the table, still flickering with its damning image. "While some may believe you deserve death for defying the Emperor's will, we would never resort to assassination."
He paused, allowing the weight of his words to settle. "There are those among my cousins who would act in such a way, but not us."
The silence that followed was thick with tension as Padmé processed his words, her gaze shifting between the hologram and Maximus. She clearly wasn't satisfied, but something in his stance—something about the finality in his voice—made her pause.
"Then who would do this?" she asked, her voice still laced with suspicion, though tinged with doubt.
Maximus gave a slight, almost imperceptible shake of his head. "That is the question we are here to answer."
Anakin, still standing at the side, watched the exchange unfold, his unease growing with every passing second. He knew Padmé's fiery temper all too well, but seeing her clash with someone like Maximus—so detached and resolute—only amplified the tension in the room. Qui-Gon, sensing the brewing storm, remained silently observant, his eyes flicking between the two sides.
Padmé stepped closer to Maximus, her eyes narrowing, not as an accusation, but as a challenge. "You say you wouldn't kill me. But who else would?" she asked, her voice now calmer, though still probing for the truth.
"Looking at the evidence, it's clear that someone had access to our weapons and armor," Maximus said, his voice steady as he examined the flickering hologram again. "Though I'm not sure how." His red optics turned toward Bo-Katan, who had been listening intently.
"Investigate this," he ordered, his tone unwavering. "Find out who either killed the assassin, or who gave away our armor."
"At once, Warden," Bo-Katan replied, her expression hardening as she turned to leave. Her fingers hovered over her Vox, already sending the necessary orders.
Maximus watched her leave, his attention returning to the small group still gathered in the room. The air was thick with tension, but his voice cut through it like a blade.
"If we learn who has betrayed us, we will deal with them accordingly," he stated, his gaze sweeping over the others in the room. His tone brooked no argument. "But the rest… is up to you. You will need to find who ordered your death, as I assure you it wasn't us." His words grew colder, more final. "But remember this: We are not friends. We are not allies. We care not who seeks to kill you, whether it's a Jedi, a Sith, or anyone else." He paused, his expression impassive. "You have crossed us, and we will never forget that slight."
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