Chapter 52 : Maul's Interest - Part 1
The encrypted message arrives during morning training. I'm attempting jetpack maneuvers—still terrible after one week but crashing less frequently—when R4's alarm systems trigger priority alert.
"Master, encrypted communication from unknown source. Security protocols suggest extreme operational sophistication. Recommend reviewing immediately."
I land awkwardly, stumble, manage to stay upright. Small victory. Rook nods approval: "Better. You're learning to fall correctly at least."
Back in my quarters, I decrypt the message using protocols that make Eight whistle through speakers: "This is military-grade encryption. Beyond standard criminal networks. Source has serious resources."
The message displays:
SHADOW COLLECTIVE REQUIRES SUPPLIER FOR MILITARY OPERATIONS
YOUR REPUTATION PRECEDES YOU
PAYMENT GUARANTEED, DISCRETION ABSOLUTE, VOLUME SUBSTANTIAL
REQUIREMENTS: - 1,000 BLASTER RIFLES (COMBAT GRADE) - 500 HEAVY WEAPONS (ANTI-VEHICLE, ANTI-FORTIFICATION)
- 50 VEHICLES (MIXED COMBAT AND TRANSPORT)
TOTAL CONTRACT VALUE: 8,000,000 CREDITS
DELIVERY TIMELINE: 90 DAYS
RESPOND VIA ENCRYPTED CHANNEL IF INTERESTED
Eight million credits. Eight. Million. That's more than my entire net worth accumulated over nine months. That's 150 sales worth of revenue in single contract.
My transmigrator knowledge identifies Shadow Collective immediately—Maul's criminal organization. The former Sith Lord who's building power base to challenge Separatists, Republic, and eventually Death Watch for control of Mandalore.
"I'd be supplying Death Watch's direct enemy. The client who will eventually fight the people protecting me."
Eight's analysis floods consciousness: "Shadow Collective is criminal syndicate led by former Sith Lord Maul. Extremely dangerous client but financially capable and strategically positioned. Contract value represents significant progress toward Store Level 3 requirements. Recommendation: accept with appropriate security protocols."
"Master should decline," R4 counters immediately. "Shadow Collective is Death Watch's primary rival. Supplying them violates exclusive contract and endangers master's protection arrangement. Additionally, Maul is Force-sensitive with violent reputation—terminating suppliers who disappoint him."
"Risk is acceptable given reward magnitude. Eight million credits justifies calculated exposure."
They're both right from opposed frameworks. Business opportunity versus survival pragmatism. Profit versus loyalty. The choice should be obvious after relationship repair with Bo-Katan.
But eight million credits is eight million credits.
I review the contract requirements systematically. One thousand rifles at approximately 1,400 credits each from System costs 1,400,000. Five hundred heavy weapons at 1,700 average is 850,000. Fifty vehicles—that's the complicated part. System vehicle limit is two monthly, would take twenty-five months to fulfill normally.
But there's workaround Eight identified during earlier catalog exploration: purchase cheaper baseline vehicles, upgrade them with System components. Civilian transports modified with military-grade weapons and armor. Costs more per unit but achievable within timeline.
Estimated total cost: 5,200,000 credits. Profit: 2,800,000. Plus it counts as massive revenue toward Store Level 3.
I should consult Death Watch. Technically, exclusive contract prohibits me from supplying other Mandalore-related clients. Shadow Collective definitely qualifies as Mandalore-related—they're Death Watch's primary competitor for planetary control.
Pre Vizsla listens to proposal with expression that shifts between calculation and amusement. Bo-Katan stands beside him, increasingly horrified as I explain Shadow Collective's offer.
"Eight million credits to supply Maul's organization," Vizsla summarizes. "That's substantial sum. And you're asking permission to supply our enemy?"
"I'm asking whether exclusive contract prohibits this. Technically, Shadow Collective isn't Mandalore-based—they're galactic criminal network. But they operate here, so..."
"So you want legal loophole allowing betrayal while maintaining letter of agreement."
The accusation is accurate. "Yes. That's exactly what I want."
He laughs—genuine amusement at merchant audacity. "At least you're honest. Bo-Katan, your assessment?"
She's furious. Controlled warrior fury that's more dangerous than explosive rage. "We protect him. We provide base, security, integration into clan. And he wants to supply criminal organization led by former Sith who wants to destroy Death Watch. That's not business—that's betrayal."
"It's eight million credits," I argue. "If I refuse, they find another supplier anyway. Shadow Collective gets equipped regardless. Difference is whether I profit or someone else does."
"Difference is whether you're trustworthy or just prostitute serving highest bidder."
The words cut. Deliberately harsh Mandalorian directness exposing what she actually thinks about my merchant philosophy.
Vizsla interrupts before I respond: "Both perspectives are valid. Varro is businessman maximizing profit. Bo-Katan is warrior valuing loyalty. Different philosophies, both consistent within their frameworks."
He activates tactical display showing Mandalore's underworld networks. Shadow Collective's influence spreading like infection through multiple sectors.
"Here's compromise," Vizsla continues. "Varro accepts contract with two conditions: First, Death Watch receives ten percent commission—eight hundred thousand credits for facilitating introduction and maintaining exclusive supplier status technically. Second, Varro provides intelligence on Shadow Collective operations—delivery schedules, equipment specifications, force disposition. We use this information to counter Maul's advantages."
"He's turning my betrayal into intelligence operation. That's brilliant and morally grotesque simultaneously."
"You're actually approving this?" Bo-Katan's disbelief is palpable.
"I'm being pragmatic. Eight million credits is too large for any supplier to refuse. If Varro declines, Shadow Collective finds someone less capable, we lose commission and intelligence opportunity. This way, we profit from our enemy while learning his capabilities."
"That's collaboration, not competition."
"That's war economics. You think Republic doesn't sell weapons to both sides whenever profitable? Everyone does this—we're just honest about it."
Bo-Katan looks at me with expression that's disappointed, angry, and somehow unsurprised. Like she expected this eventually and is just frustrated it arrived so quickly after relationship repair.
"Fine. Take the contract. Profit from supplying people who want us dead. Just remember this when Shadow Collective attacks and your weapons kill warriors you trained with."
She leaves. Door closes with controlled precision that's louder than slam would be.
Vizsla watches her go, then turns to me. "She cares for you. That makes betrayals hurt more. Business advice: maintain relationship separately from business operations. Mixing them creates complications."
"Noted."
"Contract approved. Begin production. First intelligence report is due when you make initial delivery to Shadow Collective. I want force composition, command structure, deployment patterns. Everything you can observe without compromising cover."
[ SHADOW COLLECTIVE CONTRACT ACCEPTED ]
[ TOTAL VALUE: 8000000 CREDITS ]
[ PAYMENT STRUCTURE: 2M UPFRONT, 6M ON DELIVERY ]
[ DEATH WATCH COMMISSION: 800000 CREDITS ]
[ DELIVERY TIMELINE: 90 DAYS ]
[ INTELLIGENCE REQUIREMENTS: ONGOING ]
The System processes acceptance. Two million credits transfer immediately—Shadow Collective's financial capability is real.
[ PAYMENT RECEIVED: 2000000 CREDITS ]
[ CURRENT BALANCE: 3356245 CREDITS ]
[ PRODUCTION REQUIREMENTS CALCULATING... ]
[ WARNING: PRODUCTION TIMELINE EXCEEDS RECOMMENDED NEURAL USAGE ]
Three point three million credits. More money than I've ever had. Built on agreeing to supply Death Watch's enemy while maintaining exclusive contract through technicality and intelligence sharing.
That evening, I find Bo-Katan on training grounds. She's demolishing practice targets with controlled aggression that speaks to emotional state.
"We need to talk."
"About how you're betraying people protecting you? Nothing to discuss." She doesn't stop firing. Target after target disintegrating under precise shots.
"About eight million credits being impossible to refuse. About business reality requiring compromises you find distasteful."
"Compromises." She finally stops, turns. "You're really going to call supplying Maul a compromise? Former Sith Lord who wants to destroy Death Watch?"
"Vizsla approved with commission arrangement. Technically not violation of exclusive contract."
"That's legal definition, not moral one. You know what I mean."
I do know. And I have no good answer. Just rationalization well-practiced over nine months: "I supply weapons. How clients use them isn't my responsibility."
"That's coward's philosophy. You enable violence then hide behind 'just following market forces.'"
"What's the alternative? Refuse eight million credits, destroy business relationship with galaxy's most dangerous criminal network, lose massive progress toward operational goals—all for moral purity that doesn't resurrect anyone?"
"The alternative is choosing loyalty over profit. Choosing people over credits. Being someone worth trusting."
"I can't afford that luxury. Not when survival requires accepting every major contract regardless of client."
She studies me for long moment. "You really believe that? That you have no choice?"
"I believe reality is unforgiving to merchants who prioritize ethics over economics."
"Then you've learned wrong lessons from experience." She replaces helmet, becoming anonymous warrior behind beskar. "Do what you want. Just don't expect me to celebrate while you supply our enemies."
She walks away. Second time today she's left rather than continuing argument. Pattern forming.
Back in quarters, the moral calculus sits uncomfortably despite practiced rationalization. I'm supplying criminal organization led by Sith Lord who will eventually attack the people protecting me, training with me, accepting me despite merchant philosophy they find distasteful.
And I'm doing it for credits. That's the honest answer beneath all justification.
R4 projects quiet assessment: "Master damaged relationship with Bo-Katan again. Pattern repeating—accept major contract, rationalize moral compromise, alienate romantic partner. Cycle is unsustainable."
"What's alternative? Refuse eight million credits because girlfriend disapproves?"
"Alternative is examining whether master's survival actually requires every contract offered. Master has 3.3M credits currently. That's substantial safety margin. Shadow Collective contract isn't survival necessity—it's wealth accumulation master justifies as survival."
The observation is uncomfortably accurate. I'm not desperate anymore. Haven't been since Death Watch contract secured base and protection. Shadow Collective isn't survival—it's ambition.
"Point taken. But I've already accepted. Backing out now creates worse problems than relationship friction."
"Acknowledged. Master is committed to trajectory. Query: at what point does master recognize pattern and choose differently?"
"Probably never. That's the answer you want, right?"
"That is assessment this unit fears. Master's capacity for moral compromise appears unlimited given sufficient financial incentive."
Eight interjects with characteristic lack of empathy: "Master made optimal business decision. Eight million credits provides massive progress toward Store Level 3. Relationship friction is temporary price for permanent financial gain. Acceptable trade-off."
"You're broken AI with corrupted empathy protocols. Your opinion on relationships is worthless."
"Correct. But business assessment remains valid. Master chose correctly from profit maximization perspective."
I lie awake that night thinking about choices, compromises, and the person I'm becoming. Nine months ago I woke in blood-soaked alley with System offering profit through violence. Now I'm supplying former Sith Lord's criminal network while dating warrior woman who finds my entire philosophy reprehensible.
Progress. In some definition that requires ignoring mounting casualties, betrayed principles, and relationships damaged by systematic prioritization of credits over connection.
Tomorrow I begin production schedule that will push neural limits. Tomorrow Shadow Collective becomes official client despite being Death Watch's enemy. Tomorrow Bo-Katan trains beside me while knowing I'm supplying people who want her dead.
Forward. Because there's no other direction that makes sense when you've already accepted the contract.
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