Chapter 68 : The Investigation Hearing - Part 2
The standoff lasts ninety-seven seconds according to chronometer on wall. Feels longer—time dilates when multiple weapons target your position and survival depends on nobody making mistakes.
Anakin's hand drifts toward lightsaber. Bo-Katan's finger tightens on trigger. Republic security advances incrementally. Death Watch warriors tense for combat they're professionally prepared to execute.
"Lower weapons," Obi-Wan repeats with diplomatic calm that's somehow more commanding than shouting. "Republic warrant is valid but enforcement through violence creates political disaster none of us want."
"Then withdraw warrant," Vizsla counters. "Death Watch will not surrender our supplier to Republic jurisdiction. Non-negotiable."
"We cannot withdraw warrant based on your threats. That establishes precedent that armed resistance overrules Republic law."
"Republic law doesn't apply on Mandalore. That's established precedent from thousands of years of Mandalorian sovereignty."
Satine tries intervention: "Gentlemen, perhaps compromise—Varro remains on Mandalore under house arrest while investigation continues? Satisfies Republic's legal requirements without Death Watch viewing it as surrender?"
"Unacceptable," Anakin states flatly. "He's flight risk who'll disappear the moment we're not watching. Custody is necessary."
"Custody is death sentence," Vizsla responds. "Varro knows information about Death Watch operations that Republic would extract through interrogation. Protecting him isn't negotiable position—it's survival necessity."
The legal arguments mask underlying reality: nobody wants this firefight but nobody can back down without losing face or strategic position. Deadlock.
That's when explosion rocks building's exterior.
Everyone's attention snaps toward sound—professional reflexive response to combat stimulus. In that half-second of distraction, the window behind investigation panel shatters inward.
Asajj Ventress enters through opening with Force-enhanced leap that covers fifteen meters from exterior building. She lands between startled investigators, grabs me by armor, and pulls me toward broken window before anyone processes what's happening.
"What—" I start to say before she Force-pushes me through window.
Free fall from second story is brief terror terminated by her catching me mid-air using Force levitation. Death Watch warriors follow through window voluntarily—jetpacks engaging to provide pursuit support. Bo-Katan provides covering fire while transporting us toward extraction point.
Behind us, chaos erupts. Jedi pursue but Ventress is faster—Force abilities plus Death Watch covering fire equals successful extraction despite Republic's numerical advantage. Anakin's frustrated shout carries across distance: "He's escaping! Stop them!"
Republic security fires but Death Watch warriors' beskar armor absorbs shots. Ventress deflects blaster bolts with Force manipulation. We reach Death Watch transport before pursuit organizes effectively.
"Go!" Bo-Katan shouts to pilot. Transport launches immediately, engines screaming toward Mandalore's upper atmosphere. Pursuit craft mobilize but Death Watch has tactical head start that translates to successful escape.
Inside transport's cargo hold, I recover from being carried like cargo. Ventress stands at viewport watching pursuit fall behind, expression satisfied.
"You just kidnapped me from Republic custody," I tell her, indignation competing with relief.
"You're welcome. Consider it repayment for anti-Dooku equipment." She turns, yellow eyes amused. "Also prevents Republic from interrogating you about supply sources. That benefits both of us."
"How did you know about investigation?"
"I monitor situations affecting my interests. You're valuable supplier—protecting you is strategic investment." She moves toward exit ramp. "Besides, rescuing you creates debt I'll collect later. Nothing is free."
Vizsla enters cargo hold as Ventress departs. "She made you even more wanted by Republic. Escaping custody, resisting arrest—those are additional charges beyond original investigation."
"I didn't resist. She kidnapped me."
"Difference is semantic. Republic sees Death Watch extraction of fugitive from their facility. That's act of war from their perspective."
"So situation is worse."
"Significantly worse. Republic will issue galaxy-wide arrest warrant. Jedi have personal vendetta now—Anakin looked furious. You cannot return to Republic space without immediate arrest." Vizsla activates star map. "Good news: you're completely committed to Death Watch now. No other faction will risk harboring Republic's most wanted supplier. Bad news: same reason."
Bo-Katan removes helmet, expression caught between relief and frustration. "You should have fled during recess. Would've avoided this escalation."
"Didn't anticipate Ventress staging rescue mission."
"Which she did because you supplied her assassination equipment. Everything connects back to your business decisions." She's not accusing—just observing. "You're in too deep with too many players. Eventually, conflicting obligations converge catastrophically."
"That's what R4 keeps saying."
"Your droid is correct. How many factions are you juggling now? Death Watch, Shadow Collective, Ventress, Republic clones, miscellaneous clients. Each one has expectations. Each one demands loyalty. You can't serve everyone simultaneously."
"I've managed so far."
"Because situations haven't forced choices yet. Today forced choice—you chose Death Watch by letting us extract you. That means burning bridges with Republic permanently."
The transport exits Mandalore's atmosphere, entering hyperspace toward Concordia. Except Vizsla's navigation shows different destination—remote coordinates far from Mandalore system.
"Where are we going?"
"Relocating. Concordia is compromised. Republic knows your base location. Jedi will return with military force to extract you. Death Watch cannot defend against clone battalions and Jedi strike teams." He projects hologram showing barren asteroid in remote system. "New base. Unknown to Republic, isolated, defensible. We establish operations there until Mandalore situation stabilizes."
"How long?"
"Months minimum. Maybe years. Depends on civil war's trajectory and Republic's persistence in hunting you."
Running again. Different circumstances but same pattern—escalate until situation becomes untenable, flee, rebuild elsewhere. The cycle is exhausting.
R4 projects quiet assessment: "Master's escalation pattern reached logical conclusion: total dependence on single protector. Cannot maintain independence while being galaxy's most wanted supplier. Death Watch is only faction offering protection against Republic manhunt."
"Master's position is actually strengthened," Eight counters. "Death Watch needs master's supplies desperately. That creates mutual dependence ensuring they'll protect master regardless of Republic pressure. Strategic positioning is optimal."
"Master's position is trapped. Optimal for immediate survival, catastrophic for long-term autonomy."
That night, aboard transport traveling through hyperspace toward unknown destination, I review situation systematically. Republic arrest warrant issued—probably galaxy-wide by now. Jedi investigating personally with Anakin Skywalker's vendetta adding personal dimension. Death Watch is only protection remaining. Thirteen million credits means nothing if I can't spend it anywhere without arrest.
Bo-Katan finds me in cargo hold reviewing financial projections. "Worrying about money while being hunted by Republic?"
"Money determines survival duration. Need to budget for extended exile in remote location."
She sits beside me, armor removed, vulnerability she rarely shows. "We're in this together now. You're Death Watch. That means clan provides for you even if credits run out."
"I've never been dependent on others for survival. Always maintained independence."
"Independence is luxury you no longer have. Republic saw to that. Now you're one of us—for better or worse." She takes my hand. "How does that feel?"
Honest answer requires thinking about trajectory from Coruscant to here. Started as desperate merchant in alley with floating blue screens. Became wealthy arms dealer through systematic moral dissolution. Now I'm fugitive completely dependent on warrior faction for survival.
"Feels like inevitable conclusion to choices I made. Each decision seemed reasonable. Collectively they led here."
"Do you regret any of it?"
"Should I? What would've been different if I'd chosen otherwise at any decision point?"
"Maybe you'd be less wealthy but more free. Maybe you'd have fewer capabilities but clearer conscience. Maybe you'd be happy instead of whatever you are now."
"What am I now?"
"I don't know. Successful? Trapped? Both? You tell me."
I don't have answer. Just exhaustion from running, numbness from accumulated moral compromises, and vague sense that somewhere along path I lost something important I can't quite identify.
"I'm alive. Everything else is secondary."
"That's survivor's philosophy. But surviving isn't same as living. You survive excellently. Living..." She trails off. "Living requires things you've systematically abandoned."
"Like what?"
"Like trust. Like vulnerability. Like admitting you need people beyond their utility." She stands. "Think about that during our relocation. Because wherever we end up, you'll need to decide if you're just surviving or actually trying to live."
She leaves me alone with AIs and financial projections that mean less than they should given circumstances.
R4 whispers: "Bo-Katan's observation is accurate. Master survives optimally but lives suboptimally. Existence has become series of threat responses and profit calculations without meaning beyond perpetuation."
"Is meaning necessary for existence?"
"Philosophically uncertain. Psychologically proven. Humans require meaning beyond pure survival or psychological deterioration accelerates. Master's numbness is symptom of meaning deficit."
"Then what's solution?"
"Master must determine meaning independently. This unit cannot provide it. But continued existence without meaning leads to inevitable breakdown."
Three days until reaching new base. Three days traveling through hyperspace while Republic manhunt organizes and future narrows to single path through Death Watch loyalty.
Forward. Because there's nowhere else to go when you've burned every bridge except one.
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