CHAPTER ONE
Takodana, now
Had it been anywhere else in the galaxy, the sight of a crimson Star Destroyer would have likely aroused fear and confusion in the people who lay eyes on it. Here on Takodana however, it was no different than the myriad of other ships that visited the verdant planet. For centuries, the castle of Maz Kanata had been known to attract all sorts of beings from across the galaxy, arriving in ships that made even a crimson Star Destroyer pale in comparison. On any given day, one could find a new type of ship parked alongside the shores of Nymeve Lake along with some ships that were practically regulars at this point.
Still, with so many ships being clustered together on the ground, there was not exactly a space near Maz’s castle that was large enough for a Star Destroyer to land, leaving its improvise. While the Errant Venture hanged over the lake in the sky, an old Lambda-class shuttle that had been done up in a variety of bright colors departed from the main hangar and headed down to the castle grounds, carrying Booster Terrik and an assortment of smugglers he had selected to meet with Maz Kanata herself.
Out of everyone that Booster had chosen for the forthcoming meeting, Kyla Kishanti was the one who regretted her position the most. As leader of her crew of Renegades, who had recently joined the Smugglers’ Alliance and the greater Resistance that it was a part of, she had been obligated to accompany Booster to his meeting with Maz Kanata. Had it not been for that though, Kyla wouldn’t have even set foot on the planet, let alone step into the castle itself.
It was something that she had always had a difficulty in explaining to her fellow Renegades—even to Ace, her closest friend and confidant. When the Smugglers’ Alliance had first convened on Takodana shortly before the Battle of Mandalore, she had done everything she could to avoid stepping into the castle while the other Renegades had gone in. The only explanation she had ever given her crewmates was that she and Maz had never gotten along and that the two of them could never stand to be in the same room as each other. That much had been the truth… from a certain point of view.
She had first met Maz Kanata early on in her smuggling career, not long after the Glorian War had ended. She and her crew had come to Takodana to get some much needed rest and reprieve, and it was while they were at their table, enjoying their drinks, that the pirate queen herself had stopped by. Maz had been cordial enough, asking them all if they were enjoying themselves and if they had enough to drink. Everyone at the table, including Kyla, had laughed and smiled in response. And then Maz had looked directly at Kyla, her bespectacled eyes peering into the Mirialan’s own.
“You should not blame yourself,” Maz had said softly.
Blinking in confusion, Kyla had answered with, “I’m sorry?”
“It is not your fault that your family fell apart.”
Those words had pierced straight through Kyla’s core and before she knew it she was storming straight out of the castle, leaving her spilled drink and confused crewmates behind. When the others had joined her back at the Renegade some time later, Ace had given her an earful about having to pay for their tab, but she barely listened to him, wanting nothing more than to leave Takodana behind and never come back.
Now, in as many years, she had returned twice to Takodana, to Maz’s castle, after she had made that vow. She wondered if Maz even remembered their encounter; it had been nearly five years ago, after all. Or would Maz recognize her face and bar her from the castle for the scene she had caused back then? If that were the case, Kyla would take that as a blessing.
Once the Lambda shuttle had touched down, Booster Terrik and his assorted crew disembarked for the castle. Kyla did not recognize or was familiar with any of the other members of Booster’s party. The Corellian smuggler had made a point of selecting a representative of each major group that comprised the Smugglers’ Alliance. Kyla wasn’t sure if she would consider the Renegades to be “major,” especially since they had only just joined the Resistance recently. Part of her wondered if Booster knew about her resentment of Maz and was bringing her along just to get back at her. She wouldn’t have put it past him.
Walking past a lumbering HURID loadlifter droid, Kyla and the others stepped through the open entrance of Maz’s castle and were greeted with a barrage of cheers and music. Pushing their way through the bustling crowd, the entourage made their way to the bar, where Maz Kanata herself was serving a pair of Shistavanen wolfmen. Upon seeing Booster, Maz’s face lit up and she flashed a smile at the old smuggler.
“Well if it isn’t Booster Terrik!” the pirate queen declared over the noise. “I wasn’t expecting to see you back here again so soon.”
“Neither did I,” Booster replied. “Unfortunately, we’re here on business rather than pleasure. Do you think we can speak somewhere… quieter, at least?”
Maz’s expression turned serious as she looked from one member of the entourage to the next. When her eyes fell on Kyla, the Mirialan could have sworn she saw some sort of gleam in them, but it was gone before she could figure out what it meant.
With a curt nod, Maz said, “Follow me downstairs.”
The group followed the pirate queen down a flight of stairs at the back of the bar, which led them down into a dark cellar filled with barrels of various drinks. After shooing off a droid that had been safeguarding the cellar, Maz lit up an overhead torch and dragged over a small chair for her to sit in and a similarly sized table, though she did not offer her guests any seats of their own.
Clasping her hands in front of her, Maz said, “What can I do for you?”
“You’ve heard of the Malvis Cabal, correct?” Booster asked.
“How can I have not? I’ve been hearing stories for nearly a year now.”
“Well, we’ve found out that one of their chief crime lords—an individual by the name of Drakmos the Despised—is operating on a planet called Ord Talavos, which is in this sector.”
Maz rubbed her chin at this. “Ord Talavos, you say? Yes, I’ve been there before, though it’s been many years. Its capital city, Vostal, was left in ruins following the Draggulch Period.”
“We don’t care about its history,” Booster said. “We care about who’s running it now, and that ‘who’ has posed a threat to the Resistance since day one. Are you sure you don’t know anything about the Cabal?”
“I know plenty of rumors,” Maz said. “I’ve never had the misfortune of crossing them myself, at least not yet.”
“That could very well change rather soon,” said Yalnis, one of Booster’s trusted advisers. “We have someone with insider knowledge of the Cabal and their operations, and we’re going to need a lot of help if we want to strike at the heart of those operations.”
“Ah. So you are here for reinforcements then.”
“Reinforcements and information,” Booster said. “If you don’t have it, then I’m sure someone else here does. You said you’ve heard stories about the Cabal, yes?”
“I have,” Maz confirmed. “There is a pirate here by the name of Sidon Ithano who says he has had dealings with the Cabal before. He might give you the help you need… for the right price, of course.”
Booster smirked. “Don’t worry, I came prepared for that. Thanks for your help again, Maz.”
“So long as you don’t bring your problems with you, I am always more than happy to help.”
Satisfied with how this meeting had concluded, Booster and his entourage turned to leave the cellar. Kyla turned to follow them, grateful that she had not been called upon to participate while also wondering why she had been asked to come along in the first place. As soon as she had turned her back to Maz however, she heard the pirate queen call out to her.
“Miss Kishanti, a moment of your time, if I may.”
Kyla froze in her tracks. Booster glanced over his shoulder at her but did not stop to wait for her, leading Yalnis and the others out of the cellar. Kyla did not move even as she heard Maz get out of her seat and walk over to her, hands behind her back as she stared up at the Mirialan.
“It’s been too long,” Maz said softly after a long moment of silence.
“Not long enough,” Kyla muttered under her breath.
Maz sighed, shaking her head. “I have met so many people like you. Unwilling to confront your past even if it would mean lifting the burden that has been weighing upon your shoulders.”
“You don’t know anything about my past,” Kyla snapped.
“I have an idea. It shows in your eyes. All it took was one bad day to lose your family you knew, the family you loved—”
“Stop it.” Kyla wanting nothing more than to storm away but something was keeping her rooted in place. “I don’t want to hear it.”
Maz rested an aged hand on her arm. “But you have found a new family to replace them, haven’t you? You have found purpose again by finding people that you love… and yet….”
Kyla squeezed her eyes shut, silently praying that the old woman would just shut up and mind her own business and just let her leave—
“You have been betrayed. Betrayed by someone you thought you could put your trust in. It has left a wound in your new family, a wound that only you can feel. A wound that—”
“Enough!” Kyla was finally able to break whatever invisible restraint had been holding her back and she started to storm away from the pirate queen. “Just… just stay out my head! Stars, this is why I hate you!”
Maz Kanata made no effort to follow her and Kyla Kishanti was soon able to escape the cellar, losing herself in the buzz of noise in the room above.
* * *
“Never thought we’d be back here again so soon,” Bedo said as he and his fellow Renegades stepped off their Corellian transport of the same name and headed towards Maz’s castle. “Not that I’m complaining, mind you.”
“Thank stars for that,” muttered the Cathar warrior Wiskin. “I’ve already had my fill of that.”
While the Ortolan bleated out some sort of protest, Kadar looked around the castle grounds warily. The last time he had been here, he had been confronted by his former partner Salvan Tai and his crew. He hadn’t heard from or seen Salvan Tai since then, leaving him to only guess whether or not the shape-shifter was still on Takodana. Granted, that confrontation had been nearly a year ago, and he had since exchanged his iconic Mandalorian armor for a different set entirely. But that didn’t mean he shouldn’t have been on his guard.
“I’m starting to think I shouldn’t have come here,” he muttered, loud enough for his helmet’s voice modulator to pick up and project but quiet enough that only his daughter Vessin could hear.
“Relax,” Vessin replied in turn. “You know Maz’s rules. No one’s going to pick a fight with you so long as you’re inside the castle.”
“And when I’m outside?”
“Come on, you’re a Mandalorian. We’re Mandalorians. These guys don’t stand a chance.”
Kadar could only hope that his daughter was right as they and the rest of the Renegades approached the flag-covered entrance to Maz’s castle. Overhead, he could hear the roar of ship engines as spacecraft from all over the galaxy arrived on the planet. It was such a typical sight on Takodana that he did not bother to look up.
If he had, he would have seen the distinct claw-like shape of a Mandalorian Gauntlet fighter. Then, he would have been certain that he should not have come back to Takodana.
* * *
“There he is. That’s him.”
Dax Goldam peered out the viewport of Argus Ordo’s Gauntlet fighter as it landed on the outskirts of Maz’s castles. Up ahead, an entourage of various beings were heading into the castle; among them were two figures in armor, although neither of them looked like Kadar to him. One of them was clearly female while the other wore armor that, while white, did not appear to be Mandalorian in design.
“Are you sure that’s him?” he asked Argus as the older man got out of the pilot’s seat.
“That’s my granddaughter with him,” Argus muttered, nodding to the female Mandalorian. “She’s wearing the armor of her grandmother; I gave it to her adopted parents after she passed.”
Dax shrugged as he stood up. “If you say so.” After double-checking the charge in his blaster, he then said, “So, how are we going to do this? Just confront him here and now?”
“You,” Argus said pointedly, “are going to go in there and kill him.”
“Just like that?” Dax frowned. “But Maz Kanata doesn’t allow fighting in her castle.”
“Do you think I care what that old hag says or thinks?”
“Still, wouldn’t it be better to just lure him out and—”
Argus whirled on him, grabbing him by the shoulder and slamming him against a wall. “Do you want Kadar dead or not?” the old Mandalorian snarled.
“Of course I do,” Dax grunted, pulling Argus’s hand away. “I just don’t want to kill him by causing us more problems.”
“Once you kill him, nothing else will matter,” Argus retorted. “All that matters now is killing Kadar and avenging my daughter and grandson.”
“Right,” Dax mumbled. He turned as Argus hit the controls to the ship’s boarding ramp, lowering it. “I guess this is it then. After eleven years, it all ends here.”
“Oh, one more thing before you go.” Argus reached up into a compartment above the ship’s controls and brought down a red Mandalorian helmet. “Put this on.”
Dax regarded the helmet with a look of confusion as he took it. “Why?”
“Because I want his wife’s face to be the last thing he sees before he dies.”
As much as he wanted to, Dax decided against questioning this, already knowing what the response would be. After a moment of hesitation, he put the helmet over his head and headed for the lowered ramp, walking towards his destiny.
* * *
Argus Ordo watched as Dax departed from his ship, heading towards the castle of Maz Kanata. This was it, the old Mandalorian thought. This was the turning point. Whatever happened here on Takodana, his life would be changed forever.
Taking off his helmet, he took in a breath of filtered air. He found it hard to believe he was still doing this, running around in his armor when he was in his mid-seventies. As recently as a year ago, he had been perfectly content with living a retired life on his farm. But that had all changed after the Battle of Mandalore.
He had been on Ordo when the battle happened, not hearing a word about it until after it had ended. He had long stopped paying attention to galactic politics and was thus surprised to learn that Boba Fett, the last Mand’alor he had served under, had been killed and replaced by a warrior by the name of Atinar Cabur. Under Cabur’s rule, Mandalore had declared allegiance to a Sith faction, which had then resulted in a battle between said Sith forces and a coalition of enemy forces. Not only did Cabur perish in that battle, but it was rumored that it had been Kadar that had dealt the killing blow before being reported dead himself. Now liberated from Sith control, Mandalore had since fallen under the rule of Tral Vizsla, a member of Kadar’s forsaken clan.
As much as he had despised the fact that a Vizsla was once more in control of Mandalore, Argus had at least taken solace in the fact that Kadar had died a warrior’s death. He may not have liked the man, but he could at least respect him for that.
Then, mere weeks ago, he had been approached by a mysterious woman who told him that Kadar was still alive. He hadn’t believed her at first until she showed him recordings, taken from the logs on a star yacht, that supported her claims.
From that moment, any respect Argus held for Kadar, however minimal, had evaporated. While he had never thought highly of Kadar, Argus had never pegged him as a coward—the worst thing a Mandalorian could be in his eyes. The fact that Kadar would go so far as to fake his death and use it to escape the repercussions of his actions, good or ill, drove Argus into a rage and within minutes he was donning his armor—which he had not touched in decades—and setting out to find and kill Kadar. The mysterious woman he had spoken agreed to work with him and helped him set up shop on Kjimi to await further directions. It was not long after that that she told him about Dax Goldam and brought the young man to him for training.
Argus wasn’t sure what it was she had seen in Dax. He would have gladly done the job himself. Perhaps she and whoever she worked for simply wanted to use someone younger before letting him have the honor of killing Kadar. Ultimately, Argus didn’t care whether it was him or one of the pirates that frequented Maz’s castle that did the deed, so long as it meant Kadar’s death.
He was broken away from his thoughts by a beeping sound coming from his ship’s console, indicating an incoming call. Putting his helmet back on, he answered it and the holographic bust of the same mysterious female that had brought him Kadar appeared.
“Have you located Kadar yet?” the woman asked.
“Yes,” Argus replied. “He’s here on Takodana, in Maz Kanata’s castle. Dax has just gone in to do the deed.”
“I’m impressed that it didn’t take you so long. How did you find him?”
“One of the contacts you gave me—the informant in Talon Karrde’s organization—told me where to find him. Apparently Kadar and his new friends have joined the Smugglers’ Alliance.”
“Karrde’s organization, you say,” the woman said darkly, her expression hidden behind the mask she wore. “If you’re on Takodana, then that means you’re not far from where my people are operating. I should alert my superiors of this.”
“Do whatever you feel you need to. All that matters to me right now is Kadar. Once he’s dead, I will be able to rest easy.”
“That you will, Argus Ordo. Report back to me as soon as the job is done.”
The woman’s hologram winked out before Argus even had a chance to respond. Hardly bothered by this, the old Mandalorian leaned back in his seat and waited for everything to fall into place.
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