Star Wars Endgame: Finale, Chapter One

PART I: GATHERING

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CHAPTER ONE

--Coruscant--

    "Just one more -- another for the airways."

    The old man running the bar frowned at the nearly passed-out drunk he was serving. "I think you've had enough."

    Wallen Nix let out a harsh laugh. "There aren't enough drinks in the galaxy to be 'enough' for me. Give me all the wine on Kattada and it still wouldn't be 'enough.'"

    The barkeep brought out a wet cloth and started wiping down the counter. "Your girl leave you or something?"

    "No. Nothing like that. Worse than that. Try your life's work being for naught."

    "Lost your job?"

    "Nope. That would actually be a blessing." Wallen rubbed his forehead, starting to feel the effects of his drinking. "I don't think I can make it another fifteen years to get to retirement age. How many lies will I have to suffer to get there?"

    The barkeep shrugged. "I dunno what to tell ya, pal. Just grin and bear it until it's over. Now if you wouldn't mind leavin', I need to close up here soon."

    "That time already?" Wallen looked up at the chronometer on the wall but his vision was too blurry to make any numbers out. "Feels like I just got here."

    "You've been here pretty much all day. You need help gettin' home?"

    "No, I'm fine." As he said this, Wallen got off his stool and immediately tripped, falling flat on his face. As he struggled to get up, he heard the sound of the door hissing open.

    "Sorry, pal," the barkeep said to the newcomer, whom Wallen could barely make out. "We're closing in a few."

    "No worries, I'm just here to pick up a... ah, there you are."

    Wallen could have sworn he recognized that voice but had difficulty putting his finger on it -- or moving any part of his body, for that matter.

    "You're friends with this guy?" he heard the barkeep ask.

    "You could say that. Come on, old buddy." Wallen felt himself being picked up by the stranger before being dragged out of the bar. "It's time to go home."

    For a brief instant, everything clicked and Wallen knew who had come to his aid. Before he could muster a statement, his brain performed a backflip, failed, and he blacked out.

*  *  *

    In Shadow's opinion, his talents were being wasted.

    Granted, he couldn't think of an alternative at present, but he nonetheless found it strange that Toah had sent him on this particular mission. He had no idea who this 'Hawk' person was or why they needed a message delivered to them so urgently, but Shadow knew questioning Toah would have been futile.

    As he quietly scaled alongside the building under the shroud of night, Shadow performed another sweep for security devices and alarms, disabling them temporarily via remote. He finally reached the opaque window of his destination and did an extra sweep before proceeding with the operation.

    Peering through the window with his night-vision enhanced visor, Shadow could see that the man known as Hawk was asleep in his quarters. While no security was immediately present, Shadow figured they were cleverly cloaked or there was at least one or two guards outside the door. He had to play this carefully; he was here to gain Hawk's trust, not a blaster bolt to the face.

    He finished his ascent up the complex and reached the rooftop. Breaking through a locked door that led inside, Shadow silently descended the staircase and onto the uppermost floor, where he found a guard on patrol. Before the guard even noticed him, Shadow fired a dart from his wrist, knocking the man out cold. Shadow then studied the man's features and adopted them himself before continuing his way to Hawk's quarters.

    When he reached the room, two guards were standing outside. One of them nodded curtly to Shadow.

    "Braxon," the hard-faced woman said. "Delivering another message for the general?"

    "Um, yes," Shadow said. "I hate to disturb him, but...."

    "Ah, I'm sure he's used to it by now," the other guard, a scarred man, said. "I had to deliver ten messages to him last night. I'm not sure he got a wink of sleep then."

    "Yes, very unfortunate." Shadow stepped towards the door but stopped before opening it. "Um... this room is sound-proofed, right?"

    "The night getting to you, son?" the first guard said, snorting. "The general's room is always sound-proofed. You know how he is."

    "Right. Just making sure."

    Shadow then entered the room. Once the door had closed behind him, he reverted to his natural form and stepped towards the sleeping form of Hawk. He prodded the general's bare shoulder.

    "Good evening, general."

    Hawk shot up only to be pushed back down. Shadow pinned both of his arms to prevent him from summoning his guards.

    "I'm not here to hurt you," Shadow said quietly. "If that were my intent, we would not be speaking."

    "Go to blazes, Glorian," Hawk spat at him.

    Shadow ignored the remark and went on. "I trust you are familiar with the name Toah Jarsan."

    Still glowering at Shadow, Hawk said, "You mean the kid who defeated Vorath all those years ago? I don't know him but I've heard about him."

    "Well, it should interest you to know that he requires your assistance. However, bear in mind that what he's asking of you is likely to break a few laws and might get you on the Alliance's hitlist."

    Hawk snorted. "With the way things are now, I'm surprised I'm not already dead. What does Jarsan want?"

    "Things are falling into place. The enemy is making their move. A resistance must be formed to defend against the oncoming storm."

    "And Toah wants me to lead this resistance?"

    "He told me he could think of no better man." Shadow released Hawk and reached into his cloak, producing a datapad. "The details of his plan are on here. He expects to see you on D'Qar in a month's time... that is, if you're up to it."

    Hawk seemed to mull over the proposal for a moment. He then met Shadow's gaze and said, "Tell him I'll do it. Whatever must be done, I'll do it."

    "Glad to hear it." Stepping away from Hawk, Shadow morphed back into the form of Braxon. "I look forward to meeting you again."

    Hawk scoffed. "I'm not."

    With a smirk, Shadow opened the door and left the general's quarters. When he stepped outside, he saw the two guards glaring at him... and the original Braxon staring at him dumbstruck.

    The first thing Shadow did was curse the Toydarian dealer who had sold him the tranq-darts. He then gave a half-hearted salute.

    "Pleasure doing business with you," he said before morphing into a scurrier and running off.

*  *  *

    The man known as Atha Prime stood hunched over a desk covered in datapads and pieces of flimsiplast. He cradled his helmeted head in his hands, his head throbbing in pain.

    I am Mammon Hoole.

   This had been his mantra for the past few hours, in an attempt to ward off the unwanted voices entering his head.

    We are Valorum.

   I am Mammon Hoole.

    We are Aron Jarsan.

    I am Mammon Hoole.

    We are--

    "Atha Prime?"

    He snapped out of his trance and turned to the open comlink on his desk. Picking it up, he spoke into it, his voice hoarse. "Toah. What is it?"

    "Shadow and Xemer just got back to me. Their tasks are already underway. How goes the progress of yours?"

    "I...." Atha Prime looked back at the mess that was his project, struggling to make sense of it. "I'm going to need a bit more time."

    "Okay," Toah said. "Just know it needs to be done soon. Time is of the essence."

    "Right," Atha said as he ended the call. "It certainly is."

    I am Mammon Hoole, he told himself one last time.

    Not for long, was their reply.