End Game Read Online Free

I have information of that sort?”
    “Do you or don’t you?”
    She narrowed her eyes in understanding and showed him a fleeting, tight-lipped smile. “I knew the Neimoidians couldn’t have pulled off something like this on their own. How long have you been working with the Trade Federation?”
    Maul glowered. “The Gungan cities.”
    “I’m afraid you’ve come all this way for nothing.” Seeing the fire in Maul’s yellow eyes, she quickly added: “Now, hold on a moment. Just because I don’t know the coordinates, doesn’t mean I don’t know someone who does.”
    “Who?” Maul snapped.
    She sat down on the couch. “First things first. Just how much do you know about me—or think you know?”
    Maul stood over her. “Your name is Magneta. You were chief of security for the former King.” She forced a short exhale. “I’d ask your name, but I’m sure it wouldn’t mean anything to me.” Maul went on. “Before the election of Queen Amidala, the King was planning to tap additional plasma reservoirs in the Gungan areas. He contracted with an offworld mining company to do the surveys, and was prepared to go to war with the Gungans if they resisted. He abdicated the throne before putting the plan into action.”
    “Abdicated,” Magneta said, drawing out the word. “A curious way to put it. Do you know how King Veruna died?”
    Maul fought to control his impatience. “I don’t know and I don’t care.” She studied his face. “Odd. When you rode up, I immediately figured you for the assassin we could never locate.”
    Maul snorted. “You figured wrong. Who knows the location of the underwater cities?” Magneta sighed. “All right, have it your way. You’ll want to talk to a Bothan named Leika. He’s chief surveyor for the company King Veruna hired. But I’m not sure where he can be found. I’ve tried to keep an ear to the ground, but from here there’s only so much I’m able to learn. Leika was preparing to leave Naboo when the Neimoidians sprang their surprise blockade. He tried to reason with them, but as with many other offworlders, he wasn’t permitted to leave. No ships in or out, no exceptions. He was in Moenia when the invasion occurred, and no doubt he was caught up in it. So the first place I’d look would be in the closest detention camps.” Maul turned and headed for the door. He was about to go through it when Magneta said: “Be sure to give my regards to the Muun.”
    Maul stopped and swung slowly around. “What Muun?”
    “Hego Damask.”
    He shook his head. “I don’t know the name.”

    Magneta tipped her head to one side in suspicion. “I find that very unlikely, since I’m certain that Hego Damask and his puppet—Naboo’s illustrious Senator Palpatine—have their arms to the elbows in this invasion and occupation.”
    Maul betrayed no surprise, even at the mention of his Master’s alias. “Who is Hego Damask?”
    “Who is …?” Magneta ran her eyes over his mask of a face. “You actually don’t know?
    Damask is a mobster masquerading as a banker. It was Damask who brokered the original deal to have Naboo’s plasma mined and shipped by the Trade Federation. I suspect he’s also the one behind Palpatine’s campaign for the chancellorship. They’ve been in collusion for over two decades.” Maul was secretly stunned. He knew the names of some of Palpatine’s cohorts—Sate Pestage, Kinman Doriana, and others—but the name Hego Damask was new to him, as was Magneta’s assertion that the Muun was in some way controlling Palpatine. Was it possible that Darth Sidious himself had a clandestine Master? The idea was too far-fetched to contemplate, let alone accept.
    “Ah, so I have touched on something,” Magneta said, watching him closely. “Then you might as well know the rest: There’s good reason to believe that Damask and Palpatine were the ones responsible for King Veruna’s death. They needed to install pretty little Amidala on the throne so they