Star Wars - Episode I Adventures 003 - The Fury of Darth Maul Read online

  On the planet Esseles in the Darpa Sector, the Trade Federation had recently forced a Kloodavian manufacturer named Trinkatta to secretly build fifty droid starfighters. The Trade Federation provided Trinkatta with a prototype hyperdrive engine and had him duplicate the engine for installation into each starfighter. With hyperdrive capability, the droid starfighters could be deployed for long-range sneak attacks to almost any point in the galaxy.

  Trinkatta’s test pilot, Bama Vook, hoped to prevent the Trade Federation from obtaining such dangerous weapons. Bama sent a data card to alert the Jedi Council on Coruscant, telling them what was going on.

  After Trinkatta’s droids loaded the fighters onto a freighter, Bama Vook and his droid Leeper stole the entire freighter and hid it in a Calamar City docking bay on Esseles. Unfortunately, Bama and Leeper did not realize the freighter belonged to a hive of Bartokk assassins. The bloodthirsty Bartokks had conspired to steal the droid starfighters themselves, and reprogrammed Trinkatta’s droids to take over his starship factory.

  Jedi Master Adi Gallia was sent to investigate Trinkatta’s factory, but she was captured by the reprogrammed droids before she could act. Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn, his Padawan Apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi, and the Jedi Knights Vel Ardox and Noro Zak went to rescue Master Adi from the renegade droids. They learned the droids had been reprogrammed by the Bartokks, and assumed the assassins intended to use the starfighters for a deadly assignment.

  Because Master Adi was wounded, Vel and Noro took her to a Jedi chapter house on Rhinnal, a nearby planet that was famed throughout the Darpa Sector for its citizens’ medical expertise. Meanwhile, Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, and Trinkatta remained on Rhinnal to look for Bama Vook and the fifty droid starfighters. They found Bama and Leeper… and a band of vengeful Bartokk assassins.

  The Bartokks kidnapped Bama’s hulking young son Chup-Chup, then made a daring escape from Esseles in the freighter. Fortunately, the freighter was not capable of flying at lightspeed, and a lone hero was able to catch up with the fleeing ship. Chup-Chup was saved and the Neimoidian prototype hyperdrive engine was retrieved. Since the freighter had been on a programmed course for the planet Corulag, it was assumed this was the Bartokks’ target.

  The freighter and its cargo were destroyed to prevent it from reaching Corulag, but the danger was far from over. The Bartokks had transferred twenty-five starfighters to a second freighter.

  Obi-Wan used a subspace transceiver to transmit a warning to Corulag. He also sent a message to Rhinnal, but no response came from the Jedi chapter house. Concerned for the safety of Adi Gallia and the other Jedi, Qui-Gon insisted on traveling to Rhinnal immediately.

  As for the second Bartokk freighter, Qui-Gon was confident that he and Obi-Wan could still locate the sluggish vessel before it reached its destination.

  At this time in history, the Jedi believed their mortal enemy, the Sith, had been extinct for over a thousand years. Thus, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan did not have any idea that the Trade Federation’s hyperdrive-equipped droid starfighters were part of a plan devised by an evil Sith Lord named Darth Sidious.

  After Darth Sidious learned from Neimoidian spies that the droid starfighters had been stolen by the Bartokks, he decided the assassins would have to be punished.

  He summoned his dark apprentice, Darth Maul.

  Twilight fell over Galactic City. The mirrored surfaces of countless skyscrapers reflected the deep velvet sky, and every building was speckled by illuminated windows. Such spires covered the entire planet of Coruscant, ensuring that the sweeping views were enjoyed only by those who lived within the highest towers. The uppermost levels were reserved for prominent dignitaries, influential politicians, and the wealthiest citizens. Most of these people believed that Supreme Chancellor Valorum of the Galactic Senate was the most powerful person on all of Coruscant.

  They were wrong.

  Darth Sidious stood on his balcony, watching a thin, pink cloud drift slowly across the sky until it vanished behind a distant tower. Concealed by his black robes, the Sith Lord’s face was lost in shadow. He watched as the cloud reappeared on the other side of the obscuring tower. Its color had changed to a deep bloodred.

  Although Darth Sidious did not hear anyone enter his secret lair, he sensed a great malevolence flow into the room. From behind him, a deep voice spoke, “What is thy bidding, my Master?”

  Darth Sidious remained on the balcony and kept his eyes on the crimson cloud. “The Neimoidian spies on Esseles have reported the fifty droid starfighters and prototype hyperdrive engine were seized by a Bartokk freighter. The Bartokks were probably hired to kill someone, and I imagine they intended to use the starfighters so the Trade Federation would appear responsible. As you know, those starfighters were crucial to our plan to take over the planet Brentaal and control the Perlemian Trade Route and the Hydian Way. Unfortunately, it seems the Jedi have learned about the droid starfighters. Since we cannot yet risk revealing ourselves to them, our effort to conquer Brentaal must be postponed.”

  “What about the starfighters?” the voice behind Darth Sidious asked.

  “That’s where you come in, my young apprentice,” Darth Sidious answered, turning to face Darth Maul.

  Like his Master, the second Sith Lord was also clad in black, but Darth Maul’s face was covered in a broad, jagged black-and-red pattern. His cloak was pulled back to reveal the short, hooked horns that studded his hairless head. Within the dimly lit room, Maul’s yellow eyes burned with evil.

  “The starfighters were constructed at great expense, but they are worthless if the Jedi suspect that the Trade Federation intends to use them to attack Brentaal,” Darth Sidious intoned as he handed a data card to Darth Maul. “Install this data card into your starship’s computer. It will enable you to control the droid starfighters. Then go to the Esseles system and track the Bartokk freighter. Retrieve the starfighters if you can, and destroy them if you must. The Bartokks must be discouraged from any attempt to implicate the Trade Federation in their murderous schemes. If they were hired to steal the starfighters, their client must be identified and taught not to meddle with Trade Federation property.”

  “Do you want the Bartokks’ clients to be eliminated?” Darth Maul inquired.

  “No,” Darth Sidious answered. “Let them live in terror. Their fear will spread, and we will use it to our advantage.”

  “And what of the Bartokks themselves?”

  “Do with them as you please.”

  Darth Maul’s lips twitched back to reveal sharp, black and yellow teeth. “Yes, my lord.”

  Bama Vook’s bulky Corellian freighter, the Metron Burner, rose into the air from Trinkatta’s barricaded starship factory. The Jedi’s landspeeder and the captured Neimoidian prototype hyperdrive engine were both secured within the Metron Burner’s main hold. In the cockpit, Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi were seated behind Bama and his droid copilot, Leeper.

  Peering through the cockpit viewport, Leeper’s photoreceptors gazed down to the spaceport’s tarmac, where Bama’s son Chup-Chup and Trinkatta the Kloodavian waved good-bye. “It looks like Trinkatta’s right arm has almost regenerated,” the droid commented.

  Bama cast a glance back to Qui-Gon. “You’re sure Chup-Chup will be safe with Trinkatta?” the Talz bellowed over the Metron Burner’s roaring repulsorlift engines. “I can’t help being afraid the Neimoidians or the Bartokks might return to Trinkatta’s factory.”

  “I understand your concern,” Qui-Gon replied. “Obi-Wan transmitted our report to the Jedi Council, informing them that the Bartokks stole what appeared to be Trade Federation droi
d starfighters. Since the Trade Federation is violating over a dozen intergalactic laws by constructing ships outside their own territory, they will probably deny they commissioned Trinkatta to build the starfighters. If they don’t want trouble with the Republic, they’ll stay away from Esseles for a long, long time. As for the Bartokks, it seems their mission is taking them to Corulag. I doubt they’ll return to Esseles.”

  “That’s not exactly reassuring,” Bama grumbled as the Metron Burner broke away from Esseles atmosphere.

  Before Qui-Gon Jinn could offer additional consolation, Leeper warned, “Hang on tight. We’re almost at the hyperspace jump point.”

  Qui-Gon looked to Obi-Wan. Tension was visible in the young man’s face. “I know what you’re thinking, Padawan,” Qui-Gon said in hushed voice. “You think we should be pursuing the Bartokk freighter.”

  Obi-Wan returned his Master’s gaze. “Just because the first freighter was only outfitted with a sublight drive is no reason to assume the second freighter isn’t faster. For all we know, it may have almost reached Corulag by now.”

  “Then we’ll just have to make every effort to get to Corulag before the Bartokks,” Qui-Gon calmly replied. “Rhinnal is our first priority.”

  “I don’t understand, Master,” Obi-Wan said. “I know you’re worried about Master Adi and the other Jedi. But what if we reach Rhinnal and everyone is fine, and it was merely an equipment malfunction that prevented us from contacting the Jedi chapter house?”

  “If that’s the case, we’ll leave Rhinnal and pursue the Bartokk freighter immediately,” Qui-Gon responded. “But if the Jedi need our help, we’ll be there for them.”

  Ever since Qui-Gon had mentioned that Adi Gallia once saved his life, Obi-Wan suspected his Master’s concern for Adi Gallia was highly personal. He even imagined it was possible that Qui-Gon felt he owed something like a life debt to the other Jedi Master. Although Obi-Wan did not share his Master’s sentimentality, he was increasingly curious to hear Qui-Gon’s account of the adventure with Adi Gallia. Still, Obi-Wan was silent. He didn’t want Qui-Gon to think he was too interested. He turned away and found himself looking out the cockpit’s viewport.

  Bama threw a lever. Outside the viewport, the stars appeared to elongate into brilliant white streaks and the Metron Burner zoomed forward at incredible speed. A moment later, the ship entered hyperspace with a thunderous roar. Obi-Wan rested his eyes as the Corellian freighter began its faster-than-light journey to Rhinnal.

  And to whatever danger awaited.

  After leaving Darth Sidious’s lair, Darth Maul went directly to the dimly lit hangar where he kept his starship. Twenty-six-and-a-half meters long, the shovel-nosed, knife-edged ship had originated as a Star Courier manufactured by Sienar Design Systems. The entire vessel had been extensively customized in a secret laboratory to become the perfect vehicle for Maul’s covert missions. It was called the Sith Infiltrator.

  The Infiltrator had six low-profile laser cannons, sophisticated sensor and tracking systems, and a class 3.0 hyperdrive. For sublight travel, it was equipped with an experimental high-temperature ion engine system that required large, retractable radiator panels that folded in during landings. On the port side, a cargo drop panel contained Sith “dark eye” probe droids, numerous weapons, and Maul’s speeder bike.

  Then there was the cloaking device. While most scientists considered invisibility fields to be theoretical, the Sith had already developed a powerful cloak field generator for the Infiltrator. Contained within the ship’s distinctive long prow, the generator enabled the entire vessel and its contents to vanish or rematerialize with the ease of a shadow.

  Darth Maul walked to a ramp that extended from the rear of the Infiltrator to the hangar floor. At the bottom of the ramp stood a golden protocol droid, designated C-3PX.

  The droid trained his red photoreceptors on Darth Maul. Although C-3PX resembled an ordinary Cybot Galactica TC protocol droid, his body contained eighty-three concealed weapons. Darth Maul knew the exact location and function of each weapon, for he himself had modified the droid to be the Infiltrator’s sentry.

  Since C-3PX had nothing to report, he remained silent. The Sith Lord despised unnecessary communication and had programmed the droid to speak only when absolutely necessary. Maul swept up the ramp and into the ship, followed by C-3PX’s clanking footsteps.

  Inside the Infiltrator’s control room, C-3PX strapped himself into one of the passenger seats while Maul readied the ship for launch. As soon as the engines fired, Maul piloted the Infiltrator out of the hangar, then up and away from Coruscant.

  Maul punched the coordinates for the Esseles system into the nav computer and let the Infiltrator’s autopilot take over while he checked the power cell on his double-bladed lightsaber. It was fully charged. Maul had never battled Bartokks.

  But that’s what he would have to do, if they stood in his way.

  As the Metron Burner soared through hyperspace, Leeper made an adjustment to the nav computer. “We’ll be arriving at Rhinnal in less than a minute,” the droid announced.

  Bama Vook swiveled in his seat to face the two Jedi. “Have either of you been to Rhinnal before?”

  “Obi-Wan hasn’t, but I visited once,” Qui-Gon admitted. “It was many years ago, during the expansion of the Jedi chapter house. Building materials had to be delivered because so much of the planet’s surface was still covered by ice.”

  “You’ll find Rhinnal hasn’t changed much,” Bama chuckled. “Terraforming has created new forests, but it’s still colder than a mynock’s wingtips.”

  The nav computer blinked in anticipation of the Rhinnal system. Bama reached forward with one furry fist and pushed back on a lever, causing the Metron Burner to shudder as it exited hyperspace. Outside the cockpit, stationary stars materialized against the dark backdrop of space.

  Obi-Wan looked up through the top of the cockpit canopy to see Rhinnal. The icy planet was covered with snow-capped mountains, rolling tundras, and frigid rivers. It resembled a great white ball with gray and blue streaks across its surface.

  Bama piloted his freighter through a tight rotation, reorienting the Metron Burner’s flight path so Rhinnal appeared below the freighter. “Send a signal to the Jedi chapter house, Leeper,” Bama ordered. “Tell them we want clearance for landing.”

  Leeper entered a message into the ship’s comm unit, pressed a green button to send the transmission to Rhinnal, then waited. After ten seconds without a response, the droid tried again.

  “Why isn’t anyone answering?” Bama asked.

  “I suggest we fly down at once, Bama. I will direct you to the Jedi chapter house.”

  Following Qui-Gon’s instructions, Bama steered the Metron Burner into a deep dive toward Rhinnal’s southern hemisphere. The freighter descended rapidly through a thick layer of clouds, then sharply leveled off two kilometers above the planet’s snow-covered surface.

  A wide, slate-gray river snaked across the terrain, occasionally branching off into smaller rivulets that permeated the surface of the planet like crackled veins. On a wide tract to the north of the river lay a vast city of squat towers and domed structures. It was Rhire, the largest city on Rhinnal.

  Although Rhinnal was originally a colony world of Esseles, there was little resemblance between Rhire and Calamar. Instead of roads, an extensive network of lift tubes and tunnels were used to travel throughout Rhire. The buildings were designed for the harshest weather conditions, and many utilized both solar and hydroelectric energy.

  “The lights are off in all the buildings,” Bama observed. “It seems there’s a blackout all over the city.”

  Qui-Gon reached forward so his arm projected out over Leeper’s shoulder. He aimed a finger in the direction of a low, semicircular building with two tall spires. “That’s the Jedi chapter house,” Qui-Gon said.

  The building wrapped around a black, discoid landing pad. The landing pad had a ceramic coating on which snow and ice could not accumulate. Bord
ered by so much snow, it looked like an immense dot on the landscape. Nine hangars were built into the wall that surrounded the pad.

  Bama brought the Metron Burner down near an open hangar door. The moment the Metron Burner settled down, Bama activated the control to lower the landing ramp. “Be sure to grab an anorak from the storage locker on the way out,” he cautioned. “You don’t need a thermometer to know it’s more than a little chilly outside.”

  While Bama and Leeper switched off the freighter’s systems, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan unbuckled their safety belts and headed to the storage locker. Obi-Wan winced as he pulled a musty anorak over his head. “Doesn’t this ship have a laundry unit?” he grumbled.

  “You’ll get a taste of fresh air soon enough,” Qui-Gon replied.

  A blast of icy wind hit Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan as they descended the freighter’s ramp to the black landing pad. As they crossed the pad and entered the hangar, they sighted a hooded alien wearing a heavily padded parka. The alien appeared to be inspecting the Republic Cruiser Radiant VII, the same ship that had transported the Jedi from Coruscant to Esseles. At the alien’s back, strips of shredded fabric dangled where two slits had been torn from the parka to accommodate a pair of broad, leathery wings. Hearing Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan enter, the winged figure turned and pulled off his fur-lined hood to reveal the tapered ears of a Baxthrax.

  “Master Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan!” the Jedi Knight Noro Zak exclaimed. “I thought you’d still be in the Esseles system. Did you locate all the droid starfighters?”

  “Only twenty-five,” Qui-Gon answered. “We believe the remaining starfighters are en route to Corulag on a Bartokk freighter. We were able to transmit a warning of a possible attack to Corulag Academy, but I became concerned when we couldn’t get a response from anyone here on Rhinnal.”

  Just then, Bama and Leeper stepped down from the Metron Burner and approached the hangar. After Qui-Gon introduced them to Noro, Bama asked, “So, what caused the blackout?”