Darth Maul

Flame of Passion

By

Christopher Cleveland

Author's Note: Now before I get any ravings about having ruined the character of Darth Maul, I would like to address a couple things. First, I freaking love the character that we see in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. I mean, who doesn't love a guy who needs only a few lines of dialogue and then his actions speak for him if those actions are those of a killer, right? Now, this doesn't take place too close to Episode I because by then his only passion is to kill a Jedi but it's not too distant from it either. That is the second thing I need to address so here's the final point to make: I noticed in Star Wars: The Clone Wars how Savage Opress, brother to Darth Maul, had once been good and then Mother Talzin and the Nightsisters made him evil for his service to Asajj Ventress and Count Dooku. So I decided to experiment with the character of Darth Maul and see if it might be possible to at least give him a chance at good while in no way afflicting with canonical sources of who he is. Besides that, I wish you enjoy this story and would appreciate constructed criticism on any other issues there might be if any. Thank you for your patience.

Prologue

Mile after mile of computer screens and keyboards surrounded the scientist who wore glasses due to being near-sighted. His uniform was the same white coat, white shirt, black tie, black pants, and black shoes of any scientist. The young brown hair was trimmed and combed and his hands were covered by black gloves. He was entranced by his work which was not unusual considering that he was working on the next big thing: creating a gateway into parallel dimensions of the galaxy.

Each computer screen had a document pulled up on it as well as notes that this young man had made during his experiments. His equipment was distributed across the massive room so that any time he typed in new data, the machines could begin working on creating a device immediately. Despite a slightly chubby belly and a thick beard, this scientist was actually quite handsome for his age and considering that he had worked non-stop for the last two months. "Doctor Claudius, do you want us to begin creating the new design for the device?" asked an automated voice from the computer.

"A portable device that creates portals to other dimensions and other times isn't easy. Proceed with the designs as soon as I punch in the last bits of data," answered the doctor. Shortly after, a red light began to blink and a droid alerted him that he was receiving a call. "Send it through, if I know my clients well enough, this will be my highest bidding one," Claudius said to the droid.

"Doctor Draco, it is so good to be able to speak with you again. Have you been busy with the design that I have requested for you?" asked the hologram which was of a man in the robes of a politician. "Ah Chancellor Valorum what a pleasant surprise and yes the bomb is almost ready, I just have to add the outer shells to it and it'll be ready for your use. And please just call me Claudius or Doctor when I'm not in your actual vicinity," Claudius answered.

"Very well Claudius, when can I expect the bomb to be shipped to Coruscant and duplications made?" asked Valorum. "Well, you can expect this first one within the week but I don't know when duplications will begin. This is a very hard weapon to make, Chancellor and materials for another may be hard to come by," Claudius answered. "I understand that and I will provide you the credits for three more like it but that's all I can guarantee at the moment," Valorum said.

"That much money will be all I need, thank you for your support," Claudius said. "This has been a very tricky business but I thank you for your help. Will you be coming to lunch again?" Valorum asked. "No, I have something else I need to start work on when the bomb is finished," Claudius answered before adding it was confidential.

The fool, 'confidential' is enough to throw him off my tail any day thought Claudius to himself. And when Valorum had said goodbye and disconnected, Claudius resumed his work.

Chapter One

Patience was not only the name of a virtue but also a command that Ophelia was used to hearing from her master, a harsh and strict woman named Odette. "Patience my young Padawan, you must learn patience!" she would hear her master say. "Yes master, sorry master," she would answer back. Ophelia had been learning how to use the Force to move certain objects for the better portion of a month now and every time she tried, she would rush it and lose control.

"Rush the Force and it slips beyond your control but let it arise within you slowly and it remains within your limits. Try again and this time, please try to learn patience," Odette said to her after one session. Again, Ophelia cleared her mind of all other thoughts as she concentrated on moving the rocks that surrounded her in a circle. This time, when the rocks began to slowly ascend to level with her face, she felt the excitement and the joy sear into her mind but she kept it under control.

She completed the exercise by making the colored rocks slowly spin around her three times. After that, she carefully set them down where they had been before and brought her mind back with her body. "Well done Ophelia, you are one step closer to becoming a master now than you were before you completed the exercise. You're almost ready for the Trials now, do you feel anything about that?" Odette asked.

"Enthusiasm to please my master in the Trials and confidence in my ability to manipulate my surroundings with my mind," Ophelia answered. "Very good Padawan, that will be all for today," Odette told her. Then Ophelia watched as the wizened Jedi Master walked out of the forest they had practiced in and soon followed her, her brown cloak somewhat cumbersome. But she saw how Odette's caused her no trouble as she glided over rock and tree with ease, her double-bladed lightsaber on the right side of her belt.

Their ship was waiting for them when Ophelia finally caught up to Odette and their pilot was quick to launch their transport off the ground. "How was training today girls?" asked the pilot who was also chewing on a bit of tobacco. "It was the same old routine again except that I actually completed it this time," Ophelia answered. "Nice, you may yet be a Master while I'm alive!" the pilot cheered with zeal.

"Thanks Hal for having believed in me from the first day," Ophelia said. "You kidding me? There was no reason for me not to believe in you," Hal replied. She smiled because that was how Hal normally was towards her although she never could understand why he treated Odette differently.

Was it something that happened a long time ago? Had they had some kind of relationship besides pilot and passenger? Was it something concerning Ophelia herself or perhaps her brother? She never could get any of those questions answered and had given up trying a long time ago.

Her master's response to those sorts of questions had always been designed to tell her she shouldn't ask anyway. Coruscant was reached in an incredibly quick hyperspace trip from the forest moon they enjoyed training on. But it was enough time for Ophelia to think about all that she had been and what she sensed she was becoming. And what's more, she could see how her master was distancing from her with each and every day that passed.

A long time ago, Odette had said that she did that with her last Padawan in case he was destined to die. So when he did, she would not feel too heartbroken and be in violation of the Jedi Order's restrictions on attachment. Luckily though, he had survived and she was quick to rekindle her relationship with him but made sure to keep it strictly professional. That is, if she could help it but she didn't have to worry about that after he decided to leave the Order for personal reasons.

Last anyone heard of him, he had begun a new life as a warrior for justice that worked alone and used the Force to achieve virtuous ends by the standards of his people. He had started a family with a wife and three kids, even teaching all of them in the ways of the Force and creating a group of protectors of justice for his sector. Although his wife wasn't Force-attuned, she found her use in the group as the main computer and technology expert, even making the gadgets that were often used by her husband and their children. She herself had only met him once or twice and each time, he had looked on her as though she were to be his death one day.

Perhaps that was another factor as to why Odette was distancing herself from her. She sensed something dark that Ophelia had yet to learn about herself. "You will learn when the time is appropriate," Odette had once said to her. But when would that time come around?

Would it be soon or would it be in the distant future? Would Master Windu or Master Yoda know about her destiny and actually have a straight face when revealing it to her? How could she even know to ask them about her destiny in the first place? So many questions and not enough answers to even remotely begin a search into what was in store for her.

The good thing was that she was being assigned a new mission that would take her mind off it. According to the Council, Chancellor Valorum would need a Jedi escort in his rendezvous with a scientist by the name of Claudius Draco. Claudius Draco? Draco is my last name, could this be my long-lost brother she asked herself.

"Do not be so optimistic about meeting your brother. He is responsible for the deaths of your parents, aunts, uncles, and cousins back on your homeworld. 'All in the name of science' as he said it," Odette told her with some disgust. "You say not to be vengeful yet here you are being that way about my brother, why when it was our family he killed and not yours?" Ophelia asked.

"I'm not vengeful about that, I'm weary of letting you go meet him for the first time in twelve years. If I know him from when I met him, he has not changed a bit," Odette answered. "But then maybe he has," Ophelia said. After that, neither said any more but went with Valorum anyway.

Meditation was always an escape from the harsh and twisted will of his superior. This was the way Darth Maul had known it since he was a boy. Besides meditation for a greater immersion with the Dark Side, only one passion enthralled him more: the thrill of a good hunt and the promise of an honorable kill. For the past few years, his double-sided lightsaber had only taken the lives of mere pirates and space thieves, the very thought of which making him want to vomit.

Where is the chance for the blood of a Jedi that I was promised? Where master? he would ask himself. And it seemed as though his thoughts had been heard because at that moment, his master, Darth Sidious, entered and assured him of good news. "Your chance at a Jedi kill comes within the next six standard hours," he said.

Lord Maul smiled with zeal since now, a true test of his lightsaber skills would surely be on its way. "Chancellor Finis Valorum will meet with Doctor Claudius Draco in the Town Square. It will be during the less crowded hours of the night so you will already know how to make the best of that," Sidious explained. "What does this have to do with any Jedi, my master?" Maul asked.

"The Chancellor will suspect the meticulous and cunning Claudius of treachery. Therefore, he will bring along two Jedi Knights as an escort to counter any threat from Claudius' Dark Jedi assassin. If possible, I want both the Chancellor and the good Doctor eliminated but if you can bring back the lightsaber of one of his Jedi bodyguards, I shall be content," Sidious assured him. "I will not fail you Master," Maul vowed.

"One more detail: if the Dark Jedi fights, be sure to somehow eliminate him too. It would be better if you can get his death on the hands of the Jedi but if necessary, kill him yourself," Sidious commanded. "And do you know who the Jedi escorting the Chancellor are?" Maul said, only partially taking in his Master's order. "The Master is named Odette, a very powerful female warrior of the same race as yourself.

"She is grizzled and like you, bears a double-sided lightsaber. The other one will be her Padawan and Claudius' sister: Ophelia Draco. I'm interested more in Ophelia than her master though so if you please, try to keep her alive until I find what it is about her that presents conflict to her master and her brother," Sidious answered. "She drives a wedge between her brother and her master?" Maul inquired.

"I'm not sure that's what has them at odds with each other. And the answer to that question is exactly what I'm trying to find out," his master explained. "Then I shall do my best to keep her alive until you can find he answer," Maul said. "Go now my apprentice, the sooner you find a good spot to make your ambush, the better," Sidious said.

And with no more than a bow, Darth Maul of the Sith turned his back to his master and marched to his first confrontation with a Jedi. He called his lightsaber to him through the Force and placed it at his belt when it arrived in his hand. After that, he prepared his ship, the Sith Infiltrator, for yet another trip to the Town Square that Valorum would choose to meet Claudius at. It was a small place that was in the same district as both the Chancellor's office and Darth Maul's hideout here on Coruscant and crowded during the afternoon hours but tamed itself during the night since it was not a place of interest for criminals.

Thankfully, the cloaking device on this ship was too good for even the best scanners the Republic had and he had been able to make many trips to this Square as a result. When he made the landing, he figured that somewhere nearby the port that was always kept open for him would be good so that he could get back to his ship after making the hit. Nobody in the area dared to speak to Lord Maul in case he would break their backs or worse, kill them. So he was allowed to set up his ambush in peace but he was not yet sure if the Jedi would come with their Chancellor to this particular spot but unbeknownst to him, Claudius was making plans of his own for this night.

Claudius had brought along a pistol that he always carried for self-defense whenever he traveled and hit it behind his trench coat. He also took the liberty of hiring a skilled Dark Jedi assassin in case the Chancellor ordered his escort to do anything that wouldn't agree with Claudius' future plans. Knowing Odette and knowing his sister Ophelia, he feared no retaliation from them. His only fear when they were concerned was that they would be ordered to attack him.

"Are you sure I alone would be enough against two Jedi?" asked the assassin. "You were hired for precisely these risks. But of course, if you're not up to them, I can always find someone who is assuming you make it out of this night with your life," Claudius answered in irritation. This assassin had been more of an aggravation than a benefit and the good doctor hoped this was the last time he ever had to deal with him.

If you're going to hire someone who willingly fights and sometimes kills Jedi as part of his or her living, why hire this one? There are more out there who would fight my sister and Odette for half a credit with more experience and are more reliable he told himself. He would never know what luck he was in for at his rendezvous with the Chancellor and his escort of newly appointed bodyguards. "Just remember to go for your lightsaber the moment you see one of them reaching for theirs, okay?" he told the idiot. But no matter, he already knew which one would if it came to that.