Chapter 136: Troubling News

[Auril Sector, Adega System, Ossus]

(Van:POV)

Sitting in my private study I held a class of Corellian Brandy in my left hand, while I sat in my comfy ass chair in front of my desk.

Waiting for HK-47 to answer my comm request.

Since I was long overdue on having a proper chat with him.

Eventually the assassin droid answered my call.

Though as the holo-form of HK appeared I gave him a deadpan look.

Since he was surrounded by several dead bodies and his chassis looked to be covered in what I am hoping is simply blood or some other kind of bodily fluid, and not something else like a corrosive chemical.

Then again even if it is some sort of corrosive chemical it's not like those kinds of things are really a threat to HK, given his new chassis is crafted almost entirely out of pure Beskar.

Though the design and color scheme have remained the same.

Since HK-47 wouldn't be HK-47 without those two things.

As well as his snark.

No matter how much it annoys me at times.

"Statement: Greetings master. It looks like going off to exterminate meatbags in the Halthor Sector did not lead to you expiring."

"Good to see you to HK." I replied. "So, want to tell me why you are surrounded by dead bodies and covered in what I can only assume is blood?"

"Answer: While working to fulfill the primary objectives you assigned to me not to long ago I found myself needing to carry out one of the secondary objectives you instructed me to fulfill. The elimination of any slavers that I happened to come across." HK spoke.

The situation becoming crystal clear.

The corpses surrounding him belonged to slavers.

Who I instructed HK-47 to eliminate should he ever encounter them. As well as free their prisoners.

Since that is exactly what I would do if I encountered any slavers.

My hatred and disgust towards that particular group of individuals is not small to say the least.

Moving on.

"I see. Understood. So then, status report." I spoke.

Right after I did HK began giving me a detailed report on his activities since I had last seen him in person.

Which was three months ago. Shortly after the Systems Alliance made itself known to the rest of the galaxy but before I left for the Halthor Sector liberation campaign.

The activities HK-47 has been doing are what he is best at.

Assassination and intelligence gathering.

I've let the assassin droid off his leash a bit and have had him taking out key individuals that would help to bring Sidious' New Order to fruition.

A military officer here, a corrupt politician there.

You know, tasks which are normal for HK.

As for the intelligence gathering part I've had him tracking the movements of the Galactic Republic and the future powerhouses of the CIS. Along with several other key people.

Which once again are normal tasks for HK-47.

As I listened to HK's report nothing really jumped out at me.

That is until he reached a certain topic.

"The Jedi meatbags Jorus C'Baoth and Sora Bulq have left the Jedi Order." HK spoke.

When I heard this my mind start creating numerous possibilities. None of them good.

Since in the original timelime both Sora Bulq and Jorus C'Baoth ended up falling to the dark side and beame allies of Sidious in one way or another.

Bulq became one of Dooku's dark acolytes and eventually became their leader.

While C'Baoth was a close friend of Sidious in his Palpatine persona.

And even though Sidious never tried to directly turn C'Baoth to the dark side in the original timeline if he put some effort into it I'm sure he could get the job done with no trouble at all.

Because seriously, C'Baoth is a Sith in all but name.

The fact the Jedi let that man parade around their ranks for years without doing anything about him astounds me.

Anyway.

"This is troubling news." I spoke.

Because if Sidious has managed to turn either Bulq, C'Baoth, or both to the dark-side then it means the galaxy is still likely headed down the same course it was in the original timeline.

Only now with a new puppet under Sidious' control.

A puppet that will not be easy to defeat if Sidious has truly made either Bulq or C'Baoth his new apprentice.

The former is a Jedi weapons master who has well...mastered every form of lightsaber combat both mainstream and obscure. Not to mention Bulq is the one who helped Windu developed the Vapaad variation of form VII. He is also the only living heir to the vast Bulq family fortune.

Basically making Bulq just a non-human version of Dooku.

While the latter C'Baoth is basically the Star Wars universe version of Hitler.

Sure he's not as well respected as other Jedi, but if he starts a galaxy-wide "war" based his view that force-sensitive's are super to non force-sensitive's I think that might be even worse than if either Dooku or Bulq was Sidious' apprentice.

Since at least neither of them believed in such ideals.

"Query: Master do you wish me for me to track down those two Jedi meatbag's?" HK asked.

"No." I immediately replied.

Since if either of them has truly become Sidious' new apprentice and HK begins tracking them that might put the assassin droid on the dark lords radar.

Which I do not want under.

At least until I am ready for it to happen.

So for now I will leave those two alone.

I just hope my decision doesn't come back to bit me.

"Statement: Understood master." HK-47 replied.

We then talked about several more things before ending our communication.

As we did I finished off my glass of brandy.

I then reached into my lower left desk door, pulled out the bottle of Corellian Brandy, popped the top off of it and then began drinking straight from it.

Leaning back in my chair as I did.

Since tonight I can't help but feel the need to get drunk.