Mandalorian Menace

Chapter 16 - Revelations

Author's Note: Aaaand... the truth is coming out! ;)

PS. There is Mando'a in here, and I put all the translations at the end. Let me know if I missed anything! ^-^

~ Amina Gila

Once it's been confirmed that the droid control ship has, in fact, been destroyed, Din turns his attention back to the holoprojector. He taps on the controls for it, splicing in so that they can use a signal tracer to try and determine who Gunray was communicating with. Then, he works to redial the last frequency, not an easy feat when it's clearly a private, encrypted code. But Din has the benefit of knowledge from the future, so he makes it work.

The others stay far away from the transmission field when he finally manages to redial the frequency – no one knows who it belongs to or where it originated from and since there are no recordings of it in the holoprojector, their only solution was to redial the frequency and start up the signal tracing.

There's a pause as it beeps before a connection is finally established, and the hologram of a hooded figure appears in front of Din. "What do – You are not the Trade Federation." There's a dark, sinister note to the voice, and it sends a chill down Din's spine. That voice, he knows that voice. And the way the figure is standing and speaking... and the hood. He knows who it is. But somehow, he needs to push aside his rising panic and horror and keep this conversation going.

"Viceroy Gunray has been defeated," Din informs him casually. "Your plot is at an end."

"... Is that so?" he sounds amused, almost as if he thinks Din is no more than a pesky rodent. Rude. But also, this is the want-to-be Emperor, so who knows what he can do or the extent of his current power and reach?

Din tilts his head. "You tell me." Talking, carrying on conversations... this is not his forte. Panaka gestures to him that the trace is almost complete. It's only necessary as proof now because Din has already figured out everything else. In a moment, he'll ponder how someone could do what Palpatine has done to his own planet.

"I have a proposal for you, Mandalorian," Palpatine says pleasantly.

Something about the way he says it instantly sets Din on edge. "Continue." He's understandably cautious, but he has no reason not to engage in the conversation.

Despite the hood shrouding Palpatine's features, Din thinks he's smiling. Conniving bastard. "Your services in exchange for the lives of the two children who are with you."

Din stills, hands clenching as his anger simmers. "I hardly think you are in a position to negotiate," he snaps. Panaka gestures to him that the trace is complete, and Din reaches out and ends the transmission without waiting for Palpatine to say anything.

"Who is he?" Qui-Gon demands turning on Gunray.

The Viceroy raises his head smugly, but there's fear in his eyes. "You will regret the day you cross him," he gloats.

"It's Palpatine," Din answers, tone even, though he has no doubt that his rage is audible.

His words shock everyone, and most of them turn to him, taken aback. "No, that's impossible," Padme argues, shaking her head. "You're mistaken. Senator Palpatine is a good person. He would never get involved in something like this against his own planet."

"I know Palpatine personally, and you're wrong," Panaka agrees.

"He has nothing to gain from this," Obi-Wan adds.

"It's not Palpatine," Gunray insists, acting as if the mere thought is ludicrous.

And Din... he knows better. He knows the truth because he has seen holograms of the late-Emperor giving speeches. There is no denying that this hologram resembled the ones Din has seen. Perhaps he has to tell them the truth now, about his time travel. Perhaps it's time for him to come out with what he knows and how. But first, he needs answers from Gunray.