Several droid squad leaders stood before Darth Maul's small ship, their optical sensors fixed on the horned figure inside.
"Surrender your lightsaber. Raise your hands. Come with us to meet our great master."
Great master.
There was only one being those spineless Trade Federation rats would call that.
Sidious.
Darth Maul's eyes blazed. "SIDIOUS! I knew it!"
But he had no choice. Four Destroyers flanked him. War droids lined the corridor.
Any wrong move would turn him into slag.
So he went quietly.
For now.
But his mind raced. Once they reached the control room, the escort would likely peel away.
Then, a flick of the Force, his lightsaber back in hand, and a very short, very bloody conversation with a ship full of bat-creatures.
After that? They'd answer to him. And then revenge on Sidious.
On everyone.
Perfect plan.
The control room was... not what he expected.
A single Governor stood near the center, this one in red robes, not the usual ones Darth Maul recognized.
A handful of oddly shaped droids worked at consoles piled high with food.
Something orange rolled back and forth through the mess, but he didn't dwell on it.
The droid commander stepped forward and tossed Darth Maul's lightsaber onto the pile. "Prisoner delivered, Master."
Then they left.
The door hissed shut.
Now it was just Darth Maul, the red-robed Governor, and a few droids.
His lightsaber sat there. Right there… so close.
Darth Maul straightened, let his voice drop to a threat. "Kneel. Swear loyalty now, and I might let you live. Otherwise~"
The Governor puffed out his tiny chest. "Our great master will teach you the meaning of insignificance."
"Ha. Sidious? That coward hides behind masks and shadows. What's he ever done?"
The Governor's expression shifted into disdain. "Sidious? An ant. Our great master, Garfield."
"His Majesty, is the greatest being in this galaxy."
Darth Maul blinked.
The Trade Federation, those sniveling cowards were badmouthing Sidious? And who in the blazes was Garfield?
"Governor. Have you lost your mind? Who is this 'Garfield' you're babbling about?"
The Governor's chest somehow puffed more. "Darth Maul, it is not too late to kneel. Worship our master, King Garfield. The true power."
"Pfft. Some 'power', hiding behind droids and~"
"Hmph."
A voice cut through from the food pile.
Darth Maul turned.
An orange cat sat in the mess, a piece of meat dangling from its mouth. One paw toyed with Darth Maul's lightsaber.
The red switch clicked.
VSHHHH
The crimson blade ignited.
The cat examined it briefly, then scoffed. "Forcing a Kyber crystal to submit through the dark side."
"Sure, it increases lethality. But it makes the crystal unstable."
He deactivated the blade and tossed it aside like garbage.
"The Sith have had thousands of years, and you haven't improved the design at all. The Jedi aren't any better, watching the Force itself change while clinging to old forms like fossils."
"You're both rotting."
He fixed Darth Maul with a lazy, unimpressed stare.
"I thought about keeping you. But... you seem useless."
Darth Maul's rage ignited.
The Force surged~