Chapter 298
Some time passed while we waited for the secure connection to Coruscant. At our request, one of the corvette's crew brought a tray with chilled glasses and fresh juice. We might be trained Jedi, but Tatooine was a veritable Sahara. The ship had excellent air conditioning, yet the moment you stepped outside the hull the heat slammed into you like a physical wall.
A couple of minutes later, the holoprojector hummed to life. This time the Council was almost fully assembled. Only Adi Gallia was missing. In her place sat Chancellor Palpatine, his hooded figure projecting calm authority. The ship's advanced system helpfully filled the empty seats with lifelike holographic representations of the missing Masters, giving the entire conversation an unnervingly real weight.
"Dear Council," Zule and I greeted them formally, bowing slightly. We hadn't had the chance to observe proper etiquette in Jabba's palace. "Chancellor." I gave Palpatine a special nod of respect.
There was a brief silence.
"Knight Marek," Shaak Ti leaned forward, her montrals tilting with genuine concern. "Forgive my curiosity, but… what happened to your face? At first I thought it was interference in the transmission, but now my doubts are gone."
I rubbed my scarred cheek automatically. The burns and puncture marks from the Vong hooks were still raw and ugly, even after the long bacta immersion. The right side of my face looked like it had been dragged across molten metal.
"I think it would be better if we start in order," I said calmly, keeping my voice steady. "During the rescue operation on Teth we encountered heavy resistance. Three of Count Dooku's dark acolytes — Kadrian Sey, Karoc, and Kyle Darkshard — ambushed us inside the monastery. I eliminated them. Shortly after extracting the Huttlet, we were attacked again on the surface of Tatooine. Master Quinlan Vos appeared, claiming he had been sent to take Rotta off our hands. He was accompanied by… another being. A Gen'Dai warrior, similar to Durge whom I killed on Jabiim. The fight was brutal. Vos was murdered by his own partner before I could intervene. I lost my left arm and sustained heavy damage to my face and chest in the process. The Gen'Dai was ultimately destroyed, but not without cost."
The Council chamber fell into a heavy silence. Several Masters exchanged uneasy glances. Even Windu's usual stoic mask tightened.
Shaak Ti's voice was soft but firm. "A Gen'Dai… again? You seem to have a habit of crossing paths with these near-immortals, Knight Marek."
"I wish it were only habit, Master Ti," I replied dryly. "They are incredibly difficult opponents. Their regenerative capabilities make them almost impossible to kill through conventional means."
Yoda's ears twitched, but he remained silent for now, eyes half-closed in thought.
Palpatine steepled his fingers, expression carefully neutral. "This is troubling news. Quinlan Vos was a valuable Shadow. His loss will be felt. And yet you still succeeded in recovering Jabba's son. The Republic owes you a debt, General."
I inclined my head. "The boy is safe and already on his way back to his father. Negotiations with Jabba are scheduled for tomorrow. He has invited us to a celebration this evening."
Windu leaned forward, eyes sharp. "Be cautious, Marek. Hutts are never simple. One favor often leads to another, and another, until you find yourself owned."
"I am aware, Master Windu," I said evenly. "I will tread carefully."
The conversation continued for several more minutes — details of the battle on Teth, the ambush on Tatooine, the status of the fleet, and instructions for tomorrow's meeting with Jabba. When the holograms finally faded, I let out a long breath and leaned back in the chair.
Zule placed a gentle hand on my scarred shoulder. "You handled that well, Teacher. They didn't push too hard… this time."
"Not yet," I muttered. "But they will."
---
**Scene 2**
**Jedi Council Chamber, Coruscant**
The moment the transmission from Tatooine ended, the Council chamber erupted into quiet but intense discussion.
Yoda tapped his gimer stick on the floor, drawing attention. "Into the records of the Temple archive, I have gone. Gen'Dai such as Durge are near-immortal, going back to the time of the First Galactic War. Many Sith Lords and Jedi were killed by them throughout the years. Durge himself was once contracted by the Republic to assassinate a Mandalorian leader. To defeat them is incredibly difficult. Even the greatest Jedi or Sith of old struggled. To kill them… near impossible it is."
He paused, ears lowering slightly. "Yet on Jabiim, Knight Marek destroyed Durge. And after the events on Ruusan, where he met the spirit of Lord Hoth and freed the souls trapped within the thought bomb — an act thought impossible — something changed. A dark burning, a simple word from a complicated time. Used by the first Dark Jedi and Sith Lords as a manifestation of pure will and anger… to survive."
Mace Windu's face darkened. "This is exactly what concerns me. Marek is wielding powers and surviving injuries that should have killed him multiple times over. We cannot ignore the pattern. He should be brought back to Coruscant immediately for questioning and possible containment."
Luminara Unduli nodded in support. "I agree with Master Windu. The risk is too great. His influence on others — healing Zule Xiss in ways that defy medical science, drawing loyalty from multiple padawans — it is unsettling."
The chamber grew tense.
Plo Koon raised a hand. "And yet he continues to deliver victories for the Republic. Christophsis, Teth, the rescue of Jabba's son. Without his intervention, Rotta would still be in Separatist hands and the Hutt clans might have swung fully toward Dooku."
Kit Fisto leaned back, a small smile on his face. "The boy gets results. Dangerous results, yes, but results nonetheless."
Saesee Tiin added quietly, "His actions saved lives today. We cannot condemn a warrior for surviving when the galaxy needs him."
Yoda hummed thoughtfully. "Loss of Vos, troubling it is. Aayla Secura will be deeply affected — they were close. Yet given Knight Marek's effect on healing Zule Xiss… perhaps Aayla should serve under him with the 12th Legion for a time. Balance, she may help bring. Watch him closely, she can."
Windu opened his mouth to protest, but Yoda's sharp gaze silenced him.
"Decided, it is," Yoda stated firmly. "Report to Tatooine, Aayla Secura will. Under General Marek she serves until further notice. May the Force be with us all."
The Council chamber fell into uneasy quiet as the implications settled over them.
---
Back aboard the corvette, I stared at the desert through the viewport, scars pulling tight across my face and chest. Zule stayed close, her presence warm and steady. Tomorrow would bring negotiations with Jabba, a celebration tonight, and the slow tightening of political nooses I could already feel closing.
For now, though, I simply breathed.
The game continued.
And the pawn was still on the board.