Jedi Insurgency 129

Corvus ended the call with a sigh. He didn’t like acting like a tough SOB, like some stereotypical asshole manager, but when dealing with gangsters, one had to be tough. Weakness was a sin, especially when the person he was squeezing was perhaps the richest man in the galaxy. Although he couldn't actually provide immortality, the promise of eternal life was enough to make even paragons of virtue question their morality, much less the equivalent of Star Wars’ Amazon CEO. For a man who seemingly had everything, Corvus was the only person who could leverage Xizor’s something like mortality against him. 

He had no doubts that the Falleen Prince would live up to his promise. Already, Corvus's communicator was blowing up with new messages, and the type of info that one could only find on the blackmarket. Xizor was like a pet snake. He could be charmed, and told to act a certain way, but ultimately, his fangs would turn upon his master one day. Corvus was not a fool, and was well aware of the trillionaire's ambitions. 

That said, Xizor had revealed some rather interesting information regarding Maul. In the Legends-verse, Maul had established a merging of the Hutts, Pike Syndicate, Black Suns, and several other criminal organizations. They were under the umbrella of a ‘parent company’ directly headed by the red-skinned Dathomiri; the group was dubbed as the: Shadow Collective. 

Notably amongst the Sith's followers, were the Mandalorians. Maul had rightfully claimed the position of Mandalore through a ritualistic one on one duel. During the days of the Galactic Empire, Maul feared his former Master greatly, and quietly bided his time. Personally, Corvus expected Maul to wait for the old prune to die of old age. The mental scars that Palpatine had left on his apprentice were rather severe. It was safe to say the murder of Maul's beloved brother, and the ease with which Palpatine defeated them in a 1v2 was the final nail that nearly broke Maul's will. 

However, with Corvus’s involvement, and the chaos of war, Maul, apparently, was eager to fish in troubled waters. This was both good, and bad, as far as he saw it. 

Good because Maul's actions would draw Palpatine’s ire, and attention. Bad, because Maul could just as easily kill Jedi or followers of the Republic as he did Imperials. Whilst there was the potential for a team up-like Maul offered to Ahsoka-Corvus wouldn't trust a Sith with his life. It was best to try and use Maul's outburst to his own ends. 

On that front, he already had a man on the inside. The Mandalorian, Vekk, and Clan Keldau had been secretly hired by him to infiltrate Mandalore. For the price of some beskar armor, he had implanted a mole right beside Maul. By continuously supplying beskar gear, Vekk had been slowly bribing other clans, and gathering support. 

But that wasn't good enough. 

With a Mandalorian on the inside, and soon, a new head of the Black Sun Syndicate, two of Maul's primary forces would be compromised. Corvus intended to muscle in on both Hutt, and Pyke territory. 

For the Hutts, Corvus had his eyes set on Jabba. Famous in Episode VI, Jabba was a mid level crime boss amongst his family in present day. It was only through ruthless business, and murder that he was catapulted to the very top of the food chain. Whilst it rankled him to work with such a blatant slaver, this was his chance to counter Maul's power, and another channel of resistance against Palpatine. Furthermore, one of the targets on the hit list that Xizor had sent over included a Hutt, a slug that was one of Jabba's strongest competitors. A true professional never did anything for free, and if he was going to boost Xizor like some high level gamer uplifting a noob, then he might as well take Jabba along for the ride. 

There were also two more reasons why he picked Jabba over any other Hutt. For one, he felt that he had a decent read on the slug's personality. And much more importantly, he owed the Jedi for saving his son.

By leveraging the Hutts & the Black Sun against one another from behind the scenes, he intended to create a civil war of sorts between the various criminal enterprises. In this conflict against Palpatine, he could ill afford to be distracted by power hungry gangsters. It was much better to treat these low lives like consumables, and then dispose of them once the Republic was restored. 

Speaking of consumables, the Pyke Syndicate were the most famous manufacturers of ‘spice’ the catchall phrase for drugs. To harm them, and further the chaos between these factions, Corvus intended to use his system, and create a large amount of adrenaline & speed enhancing syringes. Game-like, and without serious side effects, these products could be mass produced just as easily as weapons. By flooding the market, and making sales via both the Black Sun, and Hutts, the Pykes would have no time to work for Maul, and would have to dedicate themselves to infighting. 

After he left Naboo-if there were no emergencies that required his immediate attention-than enacting this plan was his immediate goal. It would finally be time for the Jedi Shadows to unleash their hidden blades. Jax, Yon, the Bad Batch, he intended for them to each go out on their own, and smooth the way for Xizor's ascension. The targets on that hitlist would be claimed by his students. As for himself, he would be making a trip to Tatooine, to negotiate with the corpulent slime himself. 

Drumming his fingers across the table as he formed a strategic plan, and plotted to cripple or control the criminal enterprises supporting Maul, Corvus nodded repeatedly to himself, then stood up, pleased with his most recent meetings. 

The mission to Naboo was all but a success, but he still had one more thing left on the agenda. A meeting with Boss Nass, and the Gungans. 

Of course he wanted to take a look at their cool underwater city, but more so than that, he needed to secure fishing rights. Half the reason why he had come to this beautiful planet, was for food. Eriadu was a massive manufacturing hub, and the Empire was setting up blockades in other systems. Ships that once transported the basic needs for survival were being rerouted. The Emperor wanted to starve this gem of the Outer Rim, but Corvus would not sit idly by whilst the people he had sworn to protect suffered. 

Perhaps he could consider smuggling, what with Xizor’s amazing shipping company, but he would much rather work with more trustworthy folks. Letting Xizor be responsible for food distribution would simply be irresponsible. 

Mind made up, he decided to collect his students, and the other two prospective Jedi to pay a visit to the Gungans. 

Leaving his table, and walking past a couple out on a stroll, and taking a seat at a fountain, Corvus admired various sculptures, and people happily living life. [Valor] had all but cured them of any lingering fears or doubts about the Blackwing virus. To them, this tragic day would hopefully be remembered as nothing more than a nightmare. Watching a group of children giggle as they ran by, and feeling the sun upon his skin, and wind blow his hair, Corvus smiled. It was the simple things in life, at times, that made it worth living. 

Extending his senses, he felt that the city was clean, and he was drawn to a certain presence. Bubbly, and brimming with curiosity, this child-like innocence was like bubblegum and fresh air. Drawn by this sensation, Corvus walked down a boulevard bustling with people, and came across a scene that had him curling an eyebrow. 

“Come on Triss, you ‘ave to win me one!” Omega-the short, tan, blonde girl that she was-pulled upon the gaunt, pale teenager. 

The former Sith Acolyte sulked underneath a black hooded robe, yet allowed herself to be dragged towards some ball throwing game that one might see at a carnival. 

“Come on, throw it!” Omega urged. 

Triss stretched like a cat too lazy to move, yet one look down into Omega's wide innocent eyes, and she couldn't help but sigh. The unhealthily pale teen gripped a ball, and easily knocked over a set of cans. 

“Again, again! Two more times, and we win the prize!” Omega pointed up at some stuffed bunny with black buttoned eyes. 

Triss silently huffed a strand of white hair out of her eyes, and went to throw. Just as the ball made contact, Corvus felt something in the Force. Something was going to hold those cans in place. 

‘A magnet perhaps?’ Corvus mused, and stroked his chin. 

“Ahh, you cheated!” Omega pointed her finger at the man behind the counter, and loudly declared. 

Her childish voice was particularly noticeable, and many nearby people looked over. Corvus was also curious to see how the children would ‘solve’ this problem. As a clone born for battle, and a former Sith Acolyte taught at Dooku's academy, what would their response be? 

“Now, now children, the game is fair for all to see. Maybe someone stronger would like to have a go at it?” The businessman was all smiles, and gestured towards several nearby families. 

Triss seemed to want to avoid conflict, and silently withdrew. Her aura was rife with gloom, and self loathing. Omega, meanwhile, was full of righteous indignation, and wouldn't let Triss slink away in shame. 

Holding tightly to her friend's hand, Omega glanced slyly to her side. “Then you wouldn't mind if my big brother came out to play?” 

“Five creds, and anyone is welcome!” The business grandly exclaimed. 

“Ohh Wrecker~” Omega cheekily called over her shoulder. 

Emerging from the crowd, Omega's chaperone made himself known. 

“Oi, what's this aye ere bout cheatin? Ya need me ta pound this punk, eh, Omega?” Wrecker approached with a surly attitude, and an ugly look on his face. 

“S-sir, please, violence is forbidden in Theed!” The man desperately looked around, and was seconds away from dialing the local security forces. 

“Bah, a soft spine cheatin git like yous hardly worth ma time!” Wrecker belly laughed, then roughly slapped down five creds in front of the businessman, and took a ball. 

The thing looked tiny in Wrecker’s hand, yet the big man held it with a certain amount of dexterity. 

“You've got it, Wrecker!” Omega cheered, and waved her hands. She lifted Triss's hand too, much to the pale girl's embarrassment. 

The first throw demolished the stacked cans, the second throw, no different. On the third throw…

“Sorry big man, thems the rules.” The businessman shrugged his shoulders, and went to scoop up the money, only to have a large bear-like hand tightly grip his wrist. 

Wrecker then pulled the man close, gripped him by the back of the head, and turned him around. The cans that had been struck by the ball were teetering, and then collapsed all at once. Leaning down close to the merchant's ear, Wrecker’s voice was deep, and gravelly, like a man who was a lifetime smoker. “Now listen ere, and listen good ya bloody wanker. Ya gonna hand me sister her stuffed animal, and ya gonna shove off. Or so help me, aimma shove me fist right up yer arse, ya savvy?” 

The stall owner gulped, and sweat poured down his hair as he scrambled to lower the cute stuffed bunny down from the rafters. 

“Yay!” Omega hugged the bunny tightly, and then, after a moment of thought, held it out to Triss. “For you!” 

Triss blinked, clearly stunned. “What?” Her voice came out like rough sand paper, clearly weak due to a lack of use. 

“It's a gift, silly! I've never given something to someone before, much less a friend, I want you to have it!” Omega forced the stuffed animal into Triss's hands, then gripped her wrist, dragging her along towards the next destination. 

“Oi, wait for me!” Wrecker bellowed as he followed behind with a goofy grin. 

Corvus kept to the shadows, and watched everything from invisibility. He hadn’t revealed himself, because he knew he still spooked Triss. As for Omega, he was pretty sure he occupied a spot in her heart reserved for a father/older brother's asshole boss. From a child's perspective, it was him, Corvus/Revan, that kept her older brothers busy, and unable to play with her. 

Shaking his head with a slight chuckle, he sent Hunter a message telling him to collect Omega, that they had a diplomatic mission with the Gungans, and to secure transport. He then walked deeper into the city, curious to see what Jax & Yon were doing with this brief moment of free time.