Alternate Start (ARCHIVE)

Chapter Sixty Four: Mand'alor

There were many times in his life that Sparkler was thankful for his HUD. Recording Nebula's toddler making faces at Senator Amidala's twins? Perfect use of helmet cam.

Other perfect uses? Recording Partaylir leaning into his microphone and saying he thinks clones should vote. Oh the chaos that day was simply priceless. Or Burtoni slipping. That was also a good use.

He glanced at the closed curtains, then back at Senator Amidala, who was looking at the kids fondly. She chuckled, looking back at Sparkler. "Babysitting for your brother?"

"Eh, it's the least I can do. Nebula had a situation to handle pretty early, and he'd already promised Astra that he'd watch them. I stopped by on my way in." He gently booped Aurora's nose, getting a giggle out of the one year old.

"What about Boba and Din? I haven't seen them around." Padmé asked, leaning back in her chair.

"Helping Fox with paperwork." Sparkler said as he stood up.

A searing pain shot through his shoulder. Sparkler snatched his helmet off the desk, managing to get it on just as another bolt pinged off his helmet.

"Padmé! Get behind cover!" He snapped, as another bolt pinged off his chest plate. He hurriedly handed Aurora to Padmé. Sparkler yanked the darksaber off his belt, waiting quietly for more shots.

No more shots came. Sparkler crumbled to his knees, shakily pressing a hand to his shoulder. He tipped his head back, and he groaned.

"Thank the stars for beskar."

He grabbed his comm, taking deep breaths, then looked up at Padmé. "You alright? Are the kids okay?"

Padmé nodded, sinking down onto the couch and clutching Luke closer to her chest. Aurora was sitting in Borealis' lap in the corner of the couch. The toddler mimicked Padmé as she checked over Leia, looking his own sister over.

"Are you okay?" She asked.

"I've been shot before, Padmé." He mumbled, clicking his comm. "Clan Roryk, can you spare a medic?"

"Of course Mand'alor. Where are you and what's the damage?"

"The Mandalore office in the senate building. Blaster bolt to the shoulder. Melted my kute to my skin. I've got four ik'aade in here with me and a senator."

"She's on her way, Mand'alor. Sit tight. Get your friend and the ade to safety."

"Way ahead of you. Vor entye." He turned off his comm and opened his channel with Nebula. "Hey Nebs, you got a minute?"

"Yeah, what is it?"

"I need you to come and get Borealis and Aurora. Maybe bring some brothers to escort Senator Amidala home."

"What? Why?"

"Please, Nebs. I'll explain when you get here, okay?"

"Fine. I'll see you when I get there."

Sparkler didn't dare move his helmet, even as he shut off the recording from his HUD and started reviewing the footage. The cameras in the room will have turned on the moment he put his helmet on. He thanked the gods every day for the incredible slicers of Clan Roryk.

Padmé stood up and opened the door when it was knocked on. Nebula was catching his breath. He removed his helmet as he walked in, furrowing his eyebrows as he smelled the burned kute. "I— I came as fast as I could. What happened?"

"Someone shot through the window." Sparkler said, a tone of exhaustion heavy in his voice. "Nearly fucking killed me. Got my helmet on quick enough that a bolt pinged off it..."

"Should I call a medic?" Nebula asked, picking up Borealis and Aurora.

"No, I already called someone. Just, escort the senator and the ade out of here, please."

As Nebula left, escorting Padmé and her soon-to-be Jetiise'ade, the medic arrived. She was an Izegonian in her mid twenties, with a black marbling on her eyes. She had thin fur, and her armor colors were blue and black.

She started cutting out the melted pieces of the body glove. She was focused only on her work, and stayed quiet the whole time, even through Sparkler's winces and grunts of pain. She wrapped bandaging around the bacta patches that would blend in with his kute.

"There you go. Don't get yourself killed, Mand'alor." She scolded gently, closing the door behind her as she left.

"Of course not..."

—
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Two Days Later

"Chancellor, thank you for seeing me about this matter."

Sidious felt unendingly angry about seeing Dral still alive. But he put on a smile and a worried expression nevertheless.

"Of course my boy," he started, "I'll put my best detective on the case."

"If you mean Divo, then I'll have to decline. I had someone else in mind. Detectives Yueki and Semoss." The Mand'alor seemed to almost be challenging him. Could he possibly...? No. No it was impossible that this insignificant worm knew about his plans.

"And may I ask, why those two in particular?"

"Detective Semoss is a Mandalorian herself. Detective Yueki is trusted by our community. I would rather two detectives I trust, than a detective I do not."

He had to put a stop to this. Divo was under his thumb. The Nightsister and the Mandalorian were not. If they found anything connecting him to the assassin then it was the end.

But declining his request for someone he trusted? It would be all to suspicious.

Sidious' hands were tied.

"Of course Mand'alor Sunna." He conceded, "I will send them the details."

"I can handle it, your excellency. This is my issue. Though I do wonder what kind of coward wouldn't face me head on." He remarked as he headed for the door.

A dig perhaps? Sidious felt rage broiling inside him as he smiled once again. "I do wonder indeed."

After a few minutes of sitting silently behind his desk, he locked the door as electricity crackled off his fingertips.

He wanted that damned Mandalorian's head.

And he was going to get it.

•—END OF CHAPTER—•