The stars above Tatooine shimmered like cold fire, flickering above the desert as the Nubian cruiser carrying Anakin and the Jedi vanished into the upper atmosphere. Kael Solaris stood silently atop a dune near the outskirts of Mos Espa, his cloak whipping in the wind, eyes locked on the darkened ridgelines to the south.
Darth Maul was still here.
Not for long.
[ Quest Activated: Intercept and Shadow Darth Maul's Escape Route ]
Target: Sith Infiltrator-Class Starship – Scimitar
Threat Level: HighObjective: Tag vessel with tracking beacon OR extract asset
Reward: Unique Tier II Weapon or Armor | XP Bonus | Sith Tech Blueprint
Optional Bonus: Remain undetected (Extra Reward)
Kael turned as Ghost approached, rifle slung across his back, visor pulsing faintly.
"Perimeter secured," Ghost said. "Tracking algorithms predict departure within 40 minutes. Estimated location: Canyon ridge west of Anchorhead."
Kael nodded. "Launch prep?"
"Ship is on standby. Silent departure configuration ready. Orbital intercept protocols engaged."
Kael activated his stealth armor, the plates adjusting and pulsing with a faint shimmer. The magnetic rifle locked into place against his spine, and a small black case hovered beside him — the tracker beacon.
"Let's move."
The speeder ride was quick, cutting across the desert like a black shadow over the sand. Kael drove while Ghost manned the rear sensor array. The twin moons hung low above them, casting long shadows that made the ridges seem like slumbering giants.
At the base of the canyon wall, hidden behind an outcropping of rock, sat the Scimitar.
Sleek, menacing, and nearly invisible to the naked eye, the ship exuded danger even at rest. Its matte black hull absorbed the moonlight, and the surrounding terrain shimmered slightly from its cloaking field.
But Kael could see it clearly through MercNet's scanning overlay.
[ Objective Location Reached – The Scimitar ]Status: Power Cycling | Departure ETA: 28 MinutesCloaking Field Integrity: 74%Threat: High – Possible presence of Darth Maul within proximity
"Ghost," Kael said softly, "flank wide. Stay in visual contact but don't engage unless I signal. If Maul's inside, I don't want him noticing the beacon until he's well into orbit."
Ghost nodded once and vanished into the dark, moving with practiced, machine-like precision.
Kael crouched low and activated Cloak Drift, his form blurring into the canyon floor as he approached the Scimitar. He crept along the side of the hull, each step measured, the desert wind muffling any sound.
He reached the underside of the ship, opened the beacon case, and carefully adhered the device to the ventral sensor array.
It blinked once. Then vanished from sight.
[ Tracker Planted – Objective Complete ]Secondary Objective: Access Peripheral Storage Compartment (Optional – Reward Increased)
Kael blinked. That wasn't part of the original plan.
But now that the option was there…
He scanned the hull again. Toward the rear of the starboard engine, a small storage hatch shimmered — locked, sealed, but accessible via a bypass spike.
Kael inserted the digital spike, held his breath, and watched as the lights flickered green.
[ Access Granted – Peripheral Storage Unlocked ]
Inside was a compact case bearing the Sith emblem, its edges lined with dark alloy. Kael pulled it out slowly and closed the hatch behind him.
A sudden chill ran down his spine.
The Force twisted.
A presence flared behind him — cold, sharp, and hateful.
"You again."
The voice was low, guttural, unmistakably Maul.
Kael turned slowly, the case still in one hand.
Maul stood ten meters away, lightsaber unignited but in hand, cloak blowing around him. His yellow eyes burned beneath his hood, gaze fixed on Kael like a predator who had found its prey.
Kael didn't reach for his weapon. "Leaving without saying goodbye?"
Maul took one slow step forward. "You interfere. Again."
"Better get used to it," Kael replied.
Maul didn't ignite his saber — not yet. "You're no Jedi. Not Sith. What are you?"
Kael smirked. "Someone you'll learn to regret ignoring."
[ Veiled Aura – Active | Mind Wall – Active | Presence Suppression Successful ]
Maul frowned, as if trying to pierce through fog. He could sense Kael… but not read him. Not clearly.
And that, Kael realized, was the advantage.
"I could kill you," Maul growled.
Kael tilted his head. "You could try."
They stared each other down for five long seconds.
Then Maul turned away.
"I have no time for insects."
He entered the Scimitar, the ramp rising silently behind him.
Kael waited until the ship lifted off and vanished into the sky before exhaling.
[ Quest Complete – Phantom Departure ]Rewards Unlocked:• Unique Tier II Armor Mod: Sith Resonance Weave (Enhances resistance to Force-based attacks)• XP Gained: +1,500• Sith Tech Blueprint: Cloaking Emitter Core• Reputation: +10 (MercNet Internal Ops)
Ghost reappeared at his side.
"You survived."
"Barely," Kael muttered. "He's strong. Not just in the Force — in presence. He's a monster built for precision and rage."
"But you walked away," Ghost said.
Kael looked down at the Sith-marked case in his hand.
"And I didn't come away empty-handed."
Back at the hangar, Kael placed the case on the table and opened it.
Inside were two items:
A red kyber crystal — cracked, but still pulsing faintly with dark energy.
A black datacard labeled in ancient Sith script.
[ Item Acquired: Cracked Kyber Crystal – Can be repurposed with purification or corruption pathways ][ Item Acquired: Sith Archive Card – Requires Translation Skill or Ancient Language Decryption Module ]
Kael picked up the crystal, turning it slowly in the light.
"I could turn this into a weapon," he murmured. "Or something else."
Ghost said nothing.
Kael glanced toward the starfield visible through the hangar's open gates.
Anakin was gone.
Padmé was gone.
The Jedi had left.
And Darth Maul had just taken Kael seriously for the first time.
[ Summon Token Cooldown – 9 Days Remaining ][ Reputation: Tier II (Unlocked) – Title: "Shadow Operative" ][ MercNet Shop: New Inventory Unlocked – Tier II Weapons and Armor ][ New Quest Unlocked: Locate Hidden Republic Listening Post (Jundland Wastes) – Reward: Base Expansion Module ]
Kael stretched, pulled off his outer robe, and reached for a clean datapad.
He had plans to make.
Enemies to track.
And a galaxy to prepare.