EPILOGUE
Thirty-four years ago
“Do you like music, Ben?”
The little boy said nothing as Snoke plucked the strings of his drumheller harp, its melodious sounds ringing through the twisted gardens of Amaxine Station. His scared dark eyes were taking in the twisted exotic plants that made up the garden, looking unsure if he should be amazed or terrified by them.
Continuing to play his instrument, Snoke said, “I have always been fascinated by it. Each song, each piece, gives you a glimpse into its creator’s mind, into their soul. If you want to get a read of a sapient being, all you need to do is just turn to their work and simply… listen.”
He closed his eyes as he plucked a few more strings, savoring the sound they made when pulled in successive order.
“Shrii ka rai ka rai.” Snoke paused in his singing to reflect on the words. He then looked over at Ben, who was staring at him with wide eyes.
“Are you scared, Ben?”
The boy shook his head defiantly, though his face said otherwise.
“It’s okay to be scared. Even I can be scared sometimes.”
“What’s going to happen to me?” the boy asked, the first words he had spoken since he had been brought here.
“I am going to take care of you,” Snoke replied.
“What about my family?”
“Your family doesn’t want you anymore. That is why you are here.”
Ben continued to look scared and confused. Snoke had been prepared for this; he knew this was going to be a long process, one that would take years, perhaps even decades. But he was willing to be patient, for he knew it would all be worth it.
Not wanting to give the boy time to think things through more than he already had, Snoke said, “Would you like me to play you a song, Ben?”
“What song?” Ben asked him tentatively.
“Any song. Your favorite, perhaps.”
Ben frowned, chewing his lip in contemplation. Finally, he said, “There’s one song that Mommy would sing for me. I really like it.”
So eloquent for a child, Snoke thought to himself. “Could you sing some of it for me?”
Ben hesitated for another moment. Then, he started to sing to the best of his ability. It was not long before Snoke was plucking the strings of his harp, singing along to the melodic notes.
“Mirrorbright, shines the moon, its glow as soft as an ember. When the moon is mirrorbright, take this time to remember….”
Now
“Well, I told him. I don’t think he took it well, but considering I’m still alive, that’s better than I was expecting.”
Sal Orbego’s holographic image, projecting from a Neimoidian mechno-chair, followed Malvis as the crime lord walked through his garden. Hands behinds his back, Malvis absently touched one of the twisted exotic plants that dominated the garden as he spoke.
“Are the bounties for the other heirs still up?”
“Ah, I checked just now and, uh, yes. Yes, they are.” Malvis heard the tell-tale tapping of fingers on a datapad, a nervous tic of Orbego’s that he had long become accustomed to. “Do you… want me to address that?”
Malvis sighed as he shook his head. “The damage has already been done, I’m afraid. Drakmos has already eliminated Baron Tagge, and once he’s started a ‘project’ it is impossible for him to stop.”
“Er… correct me if I’m wrong, but I thought it was Queen Jool who was responsible for Tagge’s death.”
“Jool had Tagge killed for Drakmos,” Malvis corrected him. “She wants to get into the Cabal’s good graces, if not as a member than at least as a trusted ally.”
“I see.” Orbego cleared his throat. “In that case, if Drakmos does continue to act out of line by eliminating the Dowager’s heirs… what then? He’ll eventually get to Senator Valrisa and if he wins the election for Chief of State, then—”
“Then chaos will ensue,” Malvis finished for him. “Chaos that we cannot control. Senator Valrisa is crucial to our plans, and if he is killed before or even after he is elected Chief of State….”
“Then everything will fall apart. Yeah, I figured as much.” Orbego let out a heavy sigh. “So, what are we going to do about him?”
Malvis considered for a moment. “If Drakmos wants to play with fire, then let him,” he finally said. “We will send our agents to protect Senator Valrisa while he focuses on the remaining heirs. If he ends up defying me, then he will pay the price.”
“Sounds good.” A tap of fingers betrayed Orbego’s true feelings on the matter. “There’s also been some… rumors about the First Order. Apparently something went down at Naboo and—”
“It’s a non-issue,” Malvis said firmly.
He could tell that Orbego wanted to press the matter further. But instead, the Pa’lowick simply said, “Very well. I will start moving operatives to Coruscant.”
With that, Orbego’s hologram fizzled away and Malvis was left alone in his garden. Sighing quietly to himself, he made his way over to a clearing in the center of the garden. Waiting for him there was a drumheller harp that had not been touched in quite some time. After situating the disused instrument, Malvis pulled some of the Centrasser strings with his long bony fingers and released them, creating a melodious sound that filled his ears.
A smile touched Malvis’s dry lips, reaching his blue eyes, as he proceeded to play the instrument, quietly singing to himself as memories of a simpler time flooded his mind.
“Mirrorbright, shines the moon, its glow as soft as an ember. When the moon is mirrorbright, take this time to remember….”
TO BE CONTINUED
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