Abattoir/Part 17

Three weeks later

"Will it work, Lord Latra?" Darth Saleej asked.

The Gossam bobbed his head. "Mmm, yes, very much yes. How we'll get it there, mmmm, I don't know.  But if we do…"

He drew a finger across his ludicrously thin neck, grinned, and said, "Krrrrrrrrrrrrrkk!"

Darth Saleej nodded. "Good." He looked over the other Sith Lords. "And now, my lords, I would hear these plans you've asked so much time to decide."

Targere wondered if Darth Shakelli would be fool enough to volunteer one of his trademark frontal assaults; it would fail in terrific fashion, but it might be a useful diversion. Targere saw Darth Hokhtan giving the younger man a pointed look, though, and Shakelli remained silent, though he was clearly unhappy about it.

"No volunteers?" Darth Saleej asked. Click-clack.

"I continue to believe an infiltrator is our best approach, master," Lord Rhutizh said.

"One who could be sensed easily by the Jedi," Asegred rebutted.

"Our intelligence specialists have experienced success in arming their spies' minds against Jedi mind probes," Rhutizh continued implacably. "The right one could get past the Jedi."

"And out again?" Saleej asked.

Rhutizh hesitated, and Hokhtan said, "An infiltrator can be compelled to kill himself rather than surrender, and he can be shielded from a Jedi's thoughts, but I haven't yet seen one whose mind can survive both conditionings. Certainly not intact enough to execute the mission."

"Can it be done, Lord Rhutizh?"

"It never has," Rhutizh conceded, "but with time to try—"

"Time we don't have."

"My lord," Targere spoke up, waiting until all eyes were on him. "I don't mean to diminish Lord Latra's efforts, but if we have no way to use his creation, we must consider other approaches. I have an idea—"

He stopped as one of Darth Saleej's normally immobile bodyguards stepped away from the door and leaned down to the Kaleesh's side to whisper in his ear. Saleej listened, and Targere watched the glow of his yellow eyes narrowing through his death's head mask. He waved a clawed hand, and the sentry stepped back as Saleej turned to face the door.

Targere cleared his throat. "Anyway, my lord, as I was…"

Saleej raised a hand and Targere fell obediently silent, giving the bodyguard a resentful glare. Here was his moment, and it had been stolen away. Admittedly his approach wouldn't have the visceral pleasure of Kai Latra's, but the mission was what mattered. If he could only give that voice…

The door opened, and Darth Alecto walked in.

Her clothes were new and unfamiliar, of alien design. She wore a vibroblade on her hip opposite her lightsaber. She had a new tattoo on her right cheek—a series of symmetrical segments making a coil down toward her chin. Her red hair had been cut brutally short, and Targere smirked. "I love what you've done with your hair, Alecto."

She glanced at him, and Targere frowned. He had become accustomed to her anger, but this was different. She looked at him as if he was something she had just managed to avoid stepping in, and the glance lasted only a second at that. Then she crossed the room and took Vandak's chair at Darth Hokhtan's side.

Several Sith stiffened, and eyes turned from Alecto to Darth Saleej. The Kaleesh's eyes narrowed again, but then darted over Alecto's shoulder. Targere turned that way as two gray-garbed Anzati came in behind Alecto, quiet as shadows. One was a woman who raked the assembly with cold, analyzing eyes; the other was a male, thin and sharp as a blade. They both came up behind Alecto and stood on either side of her, arms crossed.

In attendance upon their master.

Darth Saleej studied the situation while Lord Rhutizh stared and Darth Hokhtan smiled faintly. Then the Sith Overlord nodded. "Welcome home, Darth Alecto."

"Thank you, Master."

"And welcome to you. I'm pleased to see the Brotherhood of Shadows with us once more."

"We honor your skill and power, Darth Saleej," the female Anzat said, "but we serve Darth Alecto."

Targere tensed, and he was not alone, but Saleej merely nodded. "As you say." He looked away from them without another word. "Darth Alecto, we were just discussing how Lord Latra's creation might be put to use. My other Sith Lords see no viable way to introduce it to the target.  Perhaps you have clearer vision?"

Alecto leaned forward on her elbows, looking down the table at the other Sith. She held Targere's gaze and smiled, a coiled, evil little insult on her lips. Then she looked back at Saleej. "I think my brethren and I can be of use, my lord. The Chancellor's as good as dead."