Chapter 46 : The Buyer Revealed - Part 1
The secure meeting room is deep in Concordia's military complex—reinforced durasteel walls, signal jammers humming, blast doors sealed. Death Watch's most protected space. Pre Vizsla sits at conference table with Darksaber within easy reach, six elite warriors stationed outside. Bo-Katan stands beside me, hand resting on blaster pistol.
"Your mysterious benefactor better be worth the risk," Vizsla says. His voice carries weight of leader who's executed people for lesser provocations.
"They delivered on Coruscant. Bought me two weeks when Jedi investigation was closing in."
"Past performance doesn't guarantee future loyalty." He checks chrono. "They have five minutes to arrive before I declare them hostile and execute you for wasting my time."
Bo-Katan's hand finds mine under table—brief squeeze that's equal parts reassurance and warning. "This better work."
At precisely 1400 hours, the door access panel chimes. Security confirms: single individual, no visible weapons, requesting entry.
"Admit them," Vizsla orders.
The figure that enters wears same black robes from Coruscant meeting months ago. Concealing hood, face obscured by tactical veil, movements suggesting lethal competence despite unarmed appearance. They stop three meters from table—optimal distance for Force abilities if they possess them.
My Appraisal function triggers but glitches immediately:
[ UNKNOWN ENTITY - FORCE-SENSITIVE ]
[ COMBAT CAPABILITY: EXTREME ]
[ THREAT LEVEL: CRITICAL ]
[ ERROR: CANNOT ASSESS INTENTIONS ]
Vizsla's hand moves to Darksaber. "You wanted this meeting. Remove your disguise or leave. Death Watch doesn't negotiate with shadows."
The figure pauses. Evaluating. Then complies with deliberate slowness—hands rising to hood, pulling back fabric, removing tactical veil that concealed features.
Pale skin. Bald head. Facial tattoos marking Dathomirian heritage. Cold eyes that have witnessed and caused extensive death.
Asajj Ventress. Former Sith apprentice. Count Dooku's ex-assassin. Currently freelancing after abandoning Separatists according to my transmigrator knowledge.
"Oh. That's... significantly worse than expected."
Bo-Katan's weapon clears holster instantly. Death Watch guards burst through door, weapons trained. Vizsla rises, Darksaber igniting with distinctive black blade.
Ventress doesn't move. Doesn't react defensively. Just stands calmly while warriors aim enough firepower to vaporize her.
"Former Sith," Vizsla says quietly. Dangerous quiet. "In my headquarters. Explain immediately why I shouldn't kill you."
"Because I'm more valuable alive." Her voice is smooth, confident. No fear despite being surrounded. "I've been supplying intelligence to your merchant. Protection on Coruscant. Warnings about Republic movements. Now I offer direct partnership that benefits Death Watch significantly."
"Why would ex-Sith help Mandalorian insurgents?"
"Dooku betrayed me. Left me to die after years of service. I want revenge but lack resources." She gestures to me. "Your supplier here is asset to both of us. I've been protecting him because his success serves my interests—and yours."
Eight's analysis floods my consciousness: "Subject is Asajj Ventress—confirmed identity via facial recognition. Force-sensitive, extensive combat training, psychological profile suggests genuine vendetta against Count Dooku. Probability she's Republic infiltrator: 8.3%. Probability she's pursuing personal agenda: 87.6%."
"What exactly are you offering?" Vizsla hasn't lowered Darksaber but hasn't attacked either. Calculating.
"Intelligence. I know Dooku's operations intimately—Separatist fleet movements, Republic strategic responses, political machinations. Information valuable to Death Watch's goals of destabilizing Satine's government and positioning for power."
"In exchange for?"
"Payment per operation. Fifty thousand credits for actionable intelligence. Plus..." She looks directly at me. "Your supplier provides equipment for my operations against Dooku. Separate contract, separate pricing, complete operational security."
"She's been using me as pawn in her revenge plot. Protected my operations because I'm useful."
The realization is uncomfortable but not surprising. Everyone uses everyone. That's galactic economy.
Vizsla circles Ventress slowly. "You're ex-Sith assassin with personal vendetta, asking Death Watch to trust you with operational intelligence while you pursue revenge against Separatist leader. That's complicated proposal."
"Simple proposal," she corrects. "I provide valuable intelligence. You pay fairly. Your supplier arms my operations. Mutual benefit with no conflicting interests—I don't care about Mandalore's politics, you don't care about my vendetta against Dooku."
"Except if your vendetta brings Separatist retaliation to Mandalore."
"Dooku won't retaliate here. He's focused on Clone Wars, not Mandalorian civil war. My operations occur in Separatist territory, far from your interests."
Bo-Katan interjects: "You're asking us to trust former Sith. That's fundamentally stupid."
"I'm asking you to use valuable asset pragmatically. Trust isn't required—only mutual benefit." Ventress's expression doesn't change. "Consider: Jedi arrive on Mandalore tomorrow. Skywalker and Kenobi hunting your supplier specifically. I can misdirect them away from Concordia, buy your merchant time to consolidate operations. Call it demonstration of my value."
Vizsla stops circling. "You have access to Jedi movements?"
"I have access to multiple intelligence networks. Republic, Separatist, criminal syndicates. That's my value—information you can't acquire through normal channels."
The room is tense silence. Warriors holding firing positions. Vizsla calculating strategic value versus risk. Bo-Katan ready to start shooting if he gives signal.
I realize I should contribute: "She delivered on Coruscant. Bought me extraction time when CS raid happened. Her intelligence about Jedi investigation was accurate—I verified independently. Whatever her motives, her information has been reliable."
"You're vouching for ex-Sith assassin?" Bo-Katan's tone suggests this is terrible idea.
"I'm vouching for her intelligence accuracy. Motivation is revenge against Dooku, which doesn't conflict with Death Watch interests. And she's right—having someone who can misdirect Jedi tomorrow would be extremely valuable."
Vizsla deactivates Darksaber. Doesn't sheathe it, just lowers threat level. "Trial partnership. You provide intelligence on tomorrow's Jedi movements, prove you can deliver as promised. If it's accurate and useful, we discuss ongoing arrangement. If it's deception or leads Jedi to us directly, I kill you and your merchant both. Clear?"
"Crystal." Ventress inclines head slightly—acknowledgment of terms without submission. "Jedi will receive anonymous intelligence tomorrow suggesting Varro operates from mobile base in sector seven. False coordinates, fabricated energy signatures. Buys you seventy-two hours minimum before they discover deception."
"Why seventy-two hours specifically?"
"Because that's how long until they can verify contradictory evidence through Republic intelligence channels. After that, they'll know they were misdirected and focus investigation back on Concordia. But seventy-two hours provides substantial operational window."
Vizsla considers. Then nods. "Acceptable trial. Prove yourself tomorrow. We'll discuss payment and terms afterwards." He gestures to guards. "Escort her to perimeter. She leaves Concordia immediately."
"One more thing." Ventress focuses on me. "Your System catalog. I'll need specific equipment for operations against Dooku's facilities. Mass Effect biotic disruption technology, Warhammer 40K anti-armor weapons, Halo stealth equipment. Can you supply this?"
"She knows about the System. Or suspects based on my capabilities."
"I can supply specialized equipment. Pricing depends on specifications."
"We'll negotiate separately. Contact me through encrypted channel when you're ready to discuss contract." She produces small data chip, slides it across table. "Coordinates and encryption protocols. Don't share with anyone—including Death Watch. Our business remains compartmentalized."
The request for secrecy is concerning but logical. Ventress pursuing revenge operations she doesn't want Vizsla knowing details about.
"Agreed."
She replaces hood and veil, becoming anonymous figure again. "Pleasure doing business. I'll be monitoring Jedi movements. Expect intelligence update in twelve hours."
Death Watch escorts her out. The room exhales collectively after she's gone.
Vizsla sits heavily. "That was either brilliant alliance or catastrophic mistake. Time will tell which."
"She's useful," I venture. "Dangerous but useful."
"Everything useful is dangerous." He looks at me directly. "You realize you just became intelligence clearinghouse for ex-Sith's revenge plot? That's significantly more complicated than selling weapons."
"I realize I'm in too deep to refuse."
"At least you're honest." He stands. "Coordinate with her on equipment needs. But keep me informed of broad outlines—I won't tolerate operations that endanger Death Watch. And if she betrays us, you die with her. Mandalorian justice."
"Understood."
After Vizsla leaves, Bo-Katan rounds on me. "Your 'Buyer' is former Sith assassin. You realize how dangerous this is?"
"I realize I'm trapped by accumulated decisions into position where refusing would trigger Contract Binding penalties potentially worse than cooperation."
"That's not comforting."
"Wasn't meant to be comforting. Was meant to be accurate." I check data chip Ventress provided—encryption is military-grade, protocols are Separatist-derived. "She's been manipulating my operation since Coruscant. Protected me because I'm useful to her revenge plot against Dooku."
"And now you're willingly participating in that revenge plot."
"I'm pragmatically accepting that forward is only viable direction. Refusing means: lose Death Watch alliance if Vizsla considers me liability, trigger Contract Binding penalties from broken favor, lose protection from someone who can apparently access Jedi Temple communications."
She's quiet for moment. Then: "At least you're honest about it. But if she betrays Death Watch, your relationship with me won't save you. Pre Vizsla will kill us both."
"That's fair consequence."
"You're remarkably calm about potential execution."
"Panic doesn't improve outcomes." I pocket the data chip. "Plus, Ventress's agenda doesn't conflict with ours directly. She wants revenge on Dooku. We want Death Watch protected and supplied. Those objectives can coexist."
"Can they? Or do they just appear to until catastrophic convergence?"
Valid question. No good answer.
That night, I review situation with both AI advisors. Eight is predictably enthusiastic about Ventress partnership: "Subject provides intelligence access master lacks independently. Her Force abilities and operational experience are optimal assets. Recommendation: cultivate relationship carefully while maintaining operational security."
R4 is predictably concerned: "Master's entanglement with Sith assassin's revenge plot ensures eventual catastrophic failure. Ventress is unstable variable with personal agenda overriding all other considerations. When her vendetta conflicts with master's survival, she will sacrifice master without hesitation."
"Both of you are probably right," I tell them. "Ventress is valuable asset and inevitable disaster. But refusing was never real option."
"Master's pattern of accepting increasingly dangerous alliances suggests death wish or remarkable confidence," R4 observes. "Probability assessment: 40% death wish, 60% desperate pragmatism."
"Accurate percentages."
Despite everything, I smile. Because the absurdity is reaching critical mass—I'm arms dealer embedded in Mandalorian civil war, romantically involved with Death Watch lieutenant, supplying ex-Sith assassin's revenge operations, preparing for Jedi confrontation. The complexity would be paralyzing if I let myself think about it comprehensively.
Better to focus on immediate concerns. Like whether Ventress's misdirection actually works tomorrow.
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