Jedi Insurgency 328

Around the same time that the news about the Umbaran marriage alliance was traveling the HoloNet, Corvus had released another piece of intelligence amongst those in the know. 

In the ‘DarkNet’ where one could make hits on anyone, post bounties, and engage in all sorts of shady shit, Corvus had used the Black Sun's name to host a Pazaak tournament on Merson. The grand prize? Why, it was none other than the planet itself! 

To get the various petty crime lords, smugglers, and low-lifes onboard, Xizor had already parked his own private fleet in the system, and laid waste to several pirate strongholds. Furthermore, to the first ten groups that had complied, the Falleen Prince had awarded them a million credits each. 

Such a big maneuver generated an incredible amount of buzz, and granted the new leader of the Black Suns some much needed credibility. 

Soon to emerge from Hyperspace, Corvus hailed the reptilian alien. 

The green man appeared to be in the middle of a videogame match, however, Corvus could sense that the ship Xizor controlled was destroying things in reality. Furthermore, the ship he was moving about had a real living, breathing person in the pilot's seat. 

Xizor truly was all sorts of kriffed up.

Not wanting to be rude, Xizor intentionally crashed his vehicle into a wall, and the resulting explosion flashed with a big Game Over across his screen. Slicking back his long black pony tail, he remained seated, and folded his hands, waiting for Corvus to speak. 

Internally sighing, Corvus recalled their first meeting, that they were not friends. And despite the Prince bankrolling more than half of his various armies & their supplies, they were not even business partners. One could claim that their relationship was transactional, and Xizor would certainly claim such to save face…but that wasn't quite the truth either. 

“Immortality has treated you well, Prince Xizor. War threatens to overturn the very foundation from which your prosperity springs…and you are gaming.” Corvus stated in an exceptionally neutral tone, resting his hands on his lap in a non-threatening pose. 

Whilst the content of his words weren't particularly aggravating, they were about as in your face as an angry Tusken Raider. 

Xizor's emotions flared in irritation through the Force, whilst outwardly he appeared as calm as a Wookiee before lunging at his unsuspecting prey. 

The two men stared one another down, before Xizor-begrudgingly-inclined his head. 

“One must find alternative ways to relieve stress somehow. I heard Zeltron is particularly pink this time of year.” Xizor idly commented, hinting that Corvus's false identity hadn't fooled him. “However, if even I can see that, then so too, can my many acquaintances.” 

“What, then, have you done to mitigate this?” Corvus asked, continuing to appear aloof. 

“Rumor is like clay. One person can shape it how they desire, but by the time it passes hands around the room, its shape is nearly indescribable to the originator. I fear your blue adversary must be quite confused why the Jedi guardian of Jay O-Be has been recorded entering in several orgies.” Xizor said with equal parts venom, amusement, and a dash of practiced sorrow. As if fabricating this evidence wasn't as successful as it could've been, that he should've gone even further! 

“Hm. It can be seen that Prince Xizor of Falleen truly has the interests of his master deep in his heart. I am relieved.” Corvus replied, sounding eternally grateful, and incredibly sincere. 

For a moment, Xizor stared at Corvus's hologram, barely able to swallow this humiliation. Corvus, meanwhile, stared into his fate lines through his shadow, and shook his head ever so slightly. 

“Never let it be said that Revan cannot reciprocate these good intentions. Resources for the Republic, leadership of the Black Sun, why narrow our relationship into such narrow channels?” Corvus lightly slapped the console in front of him, and scoffed. 

“I am blinded by your wisdom, Order Master. Please. Enlighten me.” Xizor slowly got out, barely refraining from speaking in a grating or strained tone. 

“Indeed. It is through these eyes that I have divined your future.” Corvus said with a knowing smile. Pressing some buttons, he changed the HoloDisplay-like screen sharing a PC screen with a friend-and showed several planets. “Atollon, Barton IV, Abafar. You have been truly naughty, Prince~” 

Corvus's playful tone was completely ignored by Xizor, as the reptilian blinked for the first time since the start of this call. The man who prided himself on perfect bodily control, the one who became a trillionaire after building himself from the bottom of society, who started his first company & pulled himself up from the boot straps after receiving a small donation of one billion credits from his father…blinked several dozen times. 

If he could sweat, the Falleen Prince would have done so. Instead, he repressed a tremble, and picked up a glass of water to wet his lips, and buy a sliver of time. 

By this point, the mask of Revan was once more expressionlessly staring him down. It was just like the first time they met over eight months ago, back when Xizor had been murdered, and then resurrected. That had been the establishment for their relationship. How Xizor hated it. His reptilian mind churned. 

How did he know. 

“I fear, my friend, if those programs are to continue, it could be detrimental to your health. I would find it most troublesome to find a capable helper to fill your shoes, but if you are determined to follow this path, than I fear I must find another.” Corvus said with a big sigh, and placed his knuckles against his forehead as if this line of thought was truly vexxing. 

In reality, Corvus was channeling his inner Palpatine, as he knew what precisely was going on, on those planets. 

Breeding Ysalamiri-those anti-Force lizard alien things Thrawn used in canon to protect himself from Force Adepts-on an industrial scale, mass producing cortosis weaponry, and constructing a super weapon of his own that focused on an incredibly powerful containment field…it was extremely clear who Xizor wished to capture alive. 

The only reason why Corvus didn't send a hit squad to take this reptile kriffer out, or snap his neck across the HoloCall was because half of what he had just said was a bluff. 

As much as people liked to hate on the 1%, and prop them up as if they were everywhere. In truth, to become the tenth richest man in the galaxy was some impressive work. Ultra evil Space Jeff Bezzos that he was, Xizor got shit done. He was incredibly efficient, and achieved every task given to him. 

Supplying fuel, transport, smuggled goods, Jedi prospects, and a thousand other tedious tasks necessary to supply a warmachine's logistics. His systems, employees, and gangster subordinates were a well oiled machine that nearly always delivered on time. Replacing a resource like that whilst in the midst of a galactic war would be the height of stupidity. 

Ordinarily, Xizor would know that, and would keep playing the game knowing he was being bluffed. However. However, Corvus had just shat on the table, then flipped it over revealing that it was clean. In effect, he had laid all of Xizor's cards out without explicitly stating anything. In short. He was giving the reptile an out! 

The Falleen Prince lightly touched his neck, clearly marveling for a second that he had not met his end. However, that didn't mean he wasn't still nervous. Finishing his water, Xizor gently placed it down, and cleared his throat, trying to get every last second of thought in so he could give a satisfying response. 

Corvus merely remained calm & composed, yet behind his mask, a sinister smile spread across his face. 

‘Oh how I love ruining a villain's plans. The only way to be ahead of the game with these types was to beat them at their own game. The poor bastard only has access to unfathomable riches. And yet, here he is, strung along on the false promise of immortality, and the mystical threats of some guy in a bathrobe lightyears away. How he must hate me.’ 

“I am afraid that the upcoming Life Day gift has been ruined.” Xizor sighed, and closed his eyes, as if he were in deep discomfort that a gift for a loved one was discovered early. 

His inner emotions truly reflected that. At least, that thing known as: regret. 

“Indeed. What a good surprise you were preparing for me.” Corvus said, stone faced like a carving from Easter Island. 

Meanwhile, his inner thoughts were speaking a different tune: ‘All you're doing is handing me more rope…are you certain you can talk your way into salvation?’ 

“Yes, I have been tracking the trajectory of your campaign with great care, Master Revan. More so than anyone else, I am the subordinate who understands you most.” Xizor stated with supreme confidence, a hint of his arrogance began to bleed through into his tone as he truly believed this. 

“I am flattered. Perhaps besides my personal disciples, this may be the case. But why, then, did you choose those of all things to gift me? Surely you see how this could place your life at risk?” Corvus asked, and shook his head as if Xizor was being unreasonable. 

Before he could say another word, the full planetary list, shipping manifests, target objectives, costs, etc for these three projects were sent over in excruciating detail. 

“Please, Order Master. Accept my sincerity. Although I had thought these facilities secure, clearly I am not strong enough to survive on my own. If one such as you is clairvoyant enough to divine this…gift. Then I worry others might as well. To prevent them from falling into the wrong hands, I beseech you to send your trusted subordinates and guardians to protect these places. Only then can your gift be put to good use.” Xizor firmly stated, rose from his seated position behind a luxurious chair, and then took a knee with his face towards the floor. 

Corvus figuratively paused in place for a moment as he processed what was said. The little weasel had gone and sold himself out! Instead of shifting the blame, or cowering in place, he went straight to revealing his resources, and handing control of it immediately…actually, this only proved how resourceful, and dangerous Xizor was. This act served to make Corvus increasingly wary of the man-after all, who could hand over a secret project that must be bank busting with a smile-but also, made him feel that Xizor was even more valuable. 

Despite all their resources & connections, Bail, Mon, Padmé, or Garm were single minded when it came to warfare. Xizor…Xizor was a snake. Cunning, knowing when to advance & retreat, and full of schemes. 

Personally, Corvus felt like everyone else he had just named could perish, yet so long as the Falleen Prince remained, he could contest the galaxy. Money, charisma, a fleet of transports, countless informants, and a sinister modus operandi, he was the perfect tool. No wonder why Palpatine kept him around in the OT, messing with this valuable guy was much too fun! 

Several minutes went by whilst Corvus was deep in thought. Xizor was figuratively sweating it out, and even starting to harbor malicious thoughts again. Upon sensing this attitude, Corvus decided he wouldn't simply forgive this, and before he cut the feed, he decided to do something a little troll-y. 

“Apology accepted, Prince Xizor.” 

Corvus could use the Force across the HoloNet in a live call, just like Vader, and cast [Shadow Mind Trick] just as he hung up. He made Xizor relive the moment that they first met 100 times.