Chance Encounters


Disclaimer : I do not own Darth Maul, Sidious/Palpatine, the Star Wars universe and terminology, George Lucas and his crew do. The various other characters ARE mine, though, seeing as I made them up on my own. No, you will not find them anywhere else.

Note : Chapter 1 takes place before The Phantom Menace, and then the rest is afterwards in an alternate universe of my own creation. I couldn't REALLY leave Maul for dead, now could I?


He entered the tavern alone, pulled back his hood, revealing a crown of horns, and stood facing the guard collecting weapons.

"Please relinquish any sharp, pointy objects, blasters, lightsabres..." the guard's voice trailed off as he looked up at the new customer for the first time, at the red and black facial tattoos, the horns, and the yellow irises.

"I have no weapons," he lied calmly.

"You have no weapons," the guard agreed, hypnotized.

He passed the guard, a little dissatisfied with how easy it was to dissway him. He chose a table in the farthest corner from the door, one dimly lit.

When he was comfortably seated, he scanned the bar area for an appealing waitress, and settled on a slender Cyclopian female. He gave her a mental suggestion to wander over to his table, then waited, watching her approach.

She looked apprehensive, taking her notepad from the front pocket of her apron. "What kin I getcha, Sir?" she asked, her voice quivering.

The waitress did not look at him as he spoke, "Your finest bottle of Chryne."

His request caught her a little off guard, and she found herself replying, "Having a bad day?"

"No," his eyes twinkled with an unexpected amusement. "Why would you say that?"

She averted her eye again. "No reason."

"That's not what you wanted to say," he searched her thoughts for the reason. "Chryne does not intoxicate me," he grinned back.

"Okay, well, I'll be back soon with your order," she hurried away.

He wanted to throw his head back and laugh, but this was not the right place for that.

He glanced at the time piece on the wall, and wondered what the night's entertainment would consist of, but did not seek out an answer. He wanted to be surprised tonight, especially after the past week filled with rigorous training. Tonight was his night off, and he was determined to take advantage of his freedom.

As the waitress approached, he considered persuading her to find them a room in the back where they could be alone for awhile, but decided against it. For the time being, at least.

She set the bottle on the table before him, then a glass. "Is there anything else you need?" she asked him, as she pried off the cork.

"What's your name?"

Her manner changed at this question. She became herself again, independant and indignant. She placed the open bottle of Chryne on the table. "It ain't gonna happen, Bub."

"You don't want to tell me your name?"

"Not even," she turned to leave.

"Have it your way," he paused, probing. "T'Zodia."

She turned, her face pale. "Do I know you?"

He shook his head, an evil grin on his face that sent a shiver down her spine. She turned away, and hurried into the kitchen, where he couldn't see her with his eyes.

He poured himself a glass of the Chryne, sipped it gently, then reluctantly swallowed.

Hours passed, patrons came and went. He would have liked to follow some of the more muscular men outside, and practice what he had been taught by Master Sidious, over the past week especially, but he kept reminding himself that he was relaxing tonight. No fighting tonight. He smiled to himself. They wouldn't have been much of a challenge, anyway.

The band beside the bar finished their set, and moved to one of the tables. The lights dimmed, and music began filtering out of the overhead speakers.

"It's about time," he muttered to himself, finishing his fourth glass of Chryne, as a young female belonging to a race that he didn't recognize took her place on the stage across from him.

A spotlight illuminated above the stage, leaving the female bathed in its light.

She became the personification of the wordless music as she danced in smooth, fluent motions, gliding across the stage.

He watched, fascinated by her. He had seen many dancers in this tavern, spent nights with most of them, but this on was different somehow.

She moved just so, and held his gaze, a slight smile crossed her lips, exactly why, he was uncertain, and left it a mystery.

He sensed the five men enter the tavern, and their mischievous intent, but he ignored them, his full attention on the blue-skinned alien on the stage. He was hypnotized by her movements, and vowed to himself that she would not spend the rest of the night alone.

The tallest of the five men pulled out his blaster, and didn't hesitate to splatter the guard's brains on the wall. He was not fazed by this, however, and neither was the holder of his attention.

The short one shot out the spotlight, the shattered glass showering the dancer. She let out a curt scream, covering her head with her bare, blue arms.

He was infuriated by this action. He got up from his table, and strode over to the group of men, yellow eyes blazing with otherworldly hatred.

The short one was yelling at the bartender for a drink, waving his blaster at the frightened three-eyed alien.

He ignited one end of his double-bladed lightsabre, slicing through the short one's neck. "Get out," he ordered the bartender, as the short one's corpse slid to the floor.

The bartender nodded to the horn-crowned being standing before him, then he disappeared into the kitchen.

Many of the customers were trying to get to their nearest exit, terrified by the thought of death and violence in such a normally peaceful place.

"Hey!" the tall one shouted.

He turned angry eyes on him, observing the raised gun. "Are you going to try to use that, or not?" he demanded.

"Yes."

"Good."

He lunged at the tall one, igniting the other end of his lightsabre in time for it to burn a hole in the tall one's chest.

The other three men looked at each other in surprise, as their leader collapsed, dead, to the floor. The braver one unholstered his blaster, and got off a few shots, as his two companions fled the tavern. The shots were easily deflected, and the glowing red blade was the last thing the braver on saw, as it sliced mercilessly through his skull.

He stood over the corpse, watching the blood spill out of the braver one's head. He hadn't even broken a sweat, or needed to use his combat skills. He was disappointed.

"That was incredible," the female voice said.

He swung around, the glowing blade stopping inches from her throat. She threw up her hands in surrender, and took a comforting step back.

He recognized her as the dancer, and relaxed, retracted both blades. "You should have gotten out," he stated, placing the lightsabre back on his belt clip.

"And missed that?" she motioned to the bodies on the floor. She shook her head. "I'm glad I stayed. My name's Jareena," she extended her hand.

"Maul," he replied noncommittally, shaking her hand.

"Do you plan on finding anymore adventures, Maul?" she inquired, eyebrow arched, not releasing his hand.

"Maybe." Her unspoken suggestion had had nothing to do with him, and that was a first, not to mention a welcome surprise. "What kind of adventure did you have in mind?"

She smiled at him mischievously, leaning closer to him. "Follow me," she whispered in his ear.

He smiled at her, and she switched hands, leading him outside.


* * *


"Wait." Maul grabbed her wrist before she could swipe her keycard.

A devious expression came over Jareena's face. "You wanna stay out here for this? That would be an adventure."

He held her at arm's length, to stop her from kissing him. "No, it's something else."

She watched him, confused, as he examined the access panel. Maul already knew that it had been tampered with and that three men were inside Jareena's apartment waiting for her, but he didn't want her to grow too suspicious of him.

"What's wrong, Maul?" she asked him.

"Someone's been rewiring your panel," he replied, pointing to the loose wires hanging out the side. He sensed her fear as she backed away from the door. "You know who it is."

Her eyes met his, and he could read everything on her face. "Let's get out of here, Maul."

"Yes, let's," he agreed, taking her hand in his, and leading her away. An encounter with Raef Caylon was the last thing he needed, too. Raef knew Sidious, and would surely inform him of the company Maul was keeping, although he didn't doubt that Sidious already knew. Why Sidious had never brought it up, Maul was uncertain, but he would not be the one to do so.

Why Jareena would have made any kind of an ageement with a crime lord like Caylon, Maul could not comprehend. Sure, she had apparently needed the money, but she must have known that she would have to come up with her end of the bargain. Raef Caylon was not the kind of man one crossed.

They had crossed the street, and were turning down the first alley they had reached, when a shot from a blaster plowed into the brick beside Jareena's head.

"Reenie, baby, where are you goin', Honey?"

I can't get involved in this, Maul realized, backing into the shadows.

Jareena stood, rooted to the spot by her paralyzing fear. "Raef, I-"

"Where is it, Reenie? I've given you enough time, now, I want my statue."

"I-I haven't gotten it yet," she stammered.

Maul watched and listened intently from his hiding place in the dark. He knew that Caylon intended to kill Jareena. Now why did he feel obligated to help and protect her?

"Sweetheart, you've had plenty of time."

"I know, I'm sorry, I'll-"

"Now, your time is up," Caylon cut her off, as the other two men whom were with him pulled out their blasters.

It's now or never, Maul decided, leaping from his hiding place to land in front of Jareena.

He deflected both shots with his lightsabre, then waited to see what would develop.

"Darth Maul. To what do I owe the pleasure of your company?" Caylon asked overenthusiastically.

Maul knew Caylon was being insincere, and that he was about to take his blaster out of its holster. "Get out of here, Jareena," Maul growled, not taking his eyes off Caylon's left hand.

"You better not, Reenie," Caylon cut in. "Wouldn't want anything to happen to you new friend, now, would you?"

The instant before Caylon moved to grab his blaster, Maul lunged at him, retracting one of the blades, and driving the hilt into Caylon's chin. Caylon fell back, and lay on the ground, stunned.

The pudgier of the two other men ran at Maul, yelling nonsensical words in another language. Maul spin-kicked him to the ground, before turning on the second man, who was firing at the spot Jareena had chosen to duck behind.

Maul kicked the gun out of his hand, then hit him in the back of his head with the hilt of his lightsabre. The man stumbled forward a few steps, then changed his form. His skin became scales, and he grew five feet taller.

Maul looked up at the shapeshifter's newly acquired form, contemplating where he should stab it.

The creature swung at Maul with a club-ended tail, missed the first couple of times, then managed to knock the lightsabre from his grasp.

Maul back-flipped, as the creature changed shape again, and focussed his mind on one of the blasters. As Maul regained his stance, the blaster glided to his hand. He caught the shapeshifter between the eyes with the first shot, then reached out for his lightsabre, tossing the gun aside.

Content that the other two were still unconscious, Maul returned his lightsabre to his belt as he went over to check on Jareena.

She was leaning against the wall of the building, hugging her knees.

He knew she was alright physically, but he felt it was appropriate to ask her, anyway.

"I've never been shot at before," she answered sullenly.

"You get used to it." He held out his hand to her.

Jareena looked up at him uncertainly. "I don't feel right about-"

"I'm offering, you're not asking."

"I'm sorry, Maul. I thought that if I gave you what you wanted that you'd help me."

"Steal the Statue of Ongrel?"

"Yes. But you should go now. I have to get off-planet as soon as I can." Jareena got up without taking Maul's hand.

"I have to help you. I don't know why, but the Force is willing me to."

"Why? You're not a Jedi, I heard Raef call you Darth. That makes you a Sith. And Sith are not obligated to help anyone. Especially me." She turned away from him, heading back to her apartment.

Maul grabbed her arm. "There's a bomb set in your apartment."

No sooner than he had spoken the words than the silence of the night was shattered by the explosion.

"Come with me, and I promise you will be safe."

"No one's safe from Raef."

"You will be with me," he replied sincerely.

Jareena took one last look at what was left of her home. "We'll see."


* * *


Darth Maul sensed that Raef Caylon was speaking with his master, Darth Sidious, about the previous night's encounter. He opened the door with the Force, aware that his Master was expecting him.

"Darth Maul," Sidious turned on him. "Raef has told me a fascinating tale about last night."

Maul looked Caylon straight in the eye as he said, "I'm sure he has."

"I see," Sidious told Maul telepathicly not to fight back, at the same time he realized that someone was behind him.

Maul did not turn to face the other man from the night before. Instead, he tried to read his Master's mind to discover the reason why he was not to fight back.

He found no answer because Sidious was concealing his thought from his apprentice.

Maul sensed that a metal rod was swinging for his shoulder blades, and he contemplated when to duck, then noticed his Master shaking his head disapprovingly.

So Maul accepted the blow that left him sprawling on the floor, willing the pain away.

"That's for killing Zay'Oo," Caylon informed him.

Maul sensed that Sidious had abandoned him to these thugs. He tried to get up, but again the metal rod came down on him, flattening him against the floor once more.

"What was that one for?" Maul asked indignantly, watching Caylon come out from behind the desk.

"That, my friend, was for knocking me unconscious," he stopped in front of where Maul was still lying on the floor. "Get up."

He knew that this wasn't a trick, but he turned and tripped the other man as he got up, anyway. He glared down at the man, yellow eyes burning.

"Oh, now see, that wasn't very decent of you," Raef hissed. "Especially after what you did to me last night. I lost a lot of money because of you," he paused, then added, "And Reenie."

"I'm sure she feels terrible."

"You're protecting her, Sir Maul. I don't know why, and I don't care. All I want is that Statue."

Maul knew what his next sentence would be. "I will not get it for you," he stated.

The man tightened his grip on the metal rod. Darth Sidious re-entered the room as Maul's hand grabbed for his lightsabre. Caylon gave his accomplice the stand down motion, then turned to face Sidious.

"Have you worked out an agreement then?" he asked, knowing full well that they had not.

"Let's just say that the cards are on the table," Caylon shrugged.

"I'll do the rest," Sidious replied. "Get out now."

Caylon bowed his head slightly, before he and his man exited.

Maul's glare would have burned holes into Caylon's back, if he'd known how to do it.
"You can't," Sidious stated.

Maul shifted his gaze to his Master. "Why did you-"

"I don't owe you any answers," he snapped. "That was a very stupid thing you did, Darth Maul. Very stupid."

He watched his Master uncertainly. Sidious never paced. Not in front of his apprentice, anyway. Maul came to the conclusion that maybe helping Jareena had been a bad idea afterall. "What would you-"

"Do as Raef has requested."

"Petty thievery-"

"Do it, my young apprentice. I cannot afford to lose Raef's trust because of something you did." Sidious glared at Maul unforgivingly.

Maul sought out Caylon's mind to reassure himself that Jareena would be safe until he had a chance to talk to her.

"What is she to you, Darth Maul?"

"I am uncertain, my Master," he conceded, letting go of Caylon's mind, satisfied that Jareena was in no immediate danger.

"I can easily tell him where she is," Darth Sidious hissed.

"There is something about her, my Master. I cannot explain it. I had to help her last night."

Sidious stared at Maul for a long time before muttering, "I see."

Darth Maul watched his Master curiously, before figuring out that no more words were forthcoming. "Right," he muttered to himself, then bowed his head, and left.

"This isn't over," Caylon informed him, before he re-entered Sidious' office.

"No, I don't imagine it is," he mumbled to himself.


"So," Caylon began upon entering Sidious' office. "Where can I find my dear Reenie?"

"Not yet."

"Are you sure he'll do it?"

"Yes."

"Afterwards-"

"We shall see."


* * *


"Jareena," Darth Maul called into his apartment. "I need to talk to you."

"What about?" she inquired, sitting up on the couch.

Maul was well aware of the fact that she had been asleep prior to his entry. "The Statue of Ongrel."

"Why?"

"We are going to get it."

"We are?" she tied the pants-string around her waist. "No, I have to. You don't-"

"My Master has commanded me to help you," Maul replied matter-of-factly.

"That's not a good reason. I'm sorry, Maul. I dragged you into this, hoping that if I...oh, nevermind." Jareena shook her head at herself. "I'm going to leave. I was going to leave before you got back-"

"I know you were."

She gazed at him silently, before continuing. "But I wasn't expecting you, yet."

Maul watched her pace.

"I don't want you to ever think about me again, and especially don't use your Jed-Sith," she corrected herself, "powers to find me."

She opened the door, and Maul followed her out into the hall. She waited quietly, to make sure that no one was in the hall who might follow or recognize her.

"There is no one lurking about," Maul hissed in Jareena's ear.

She turned to face him. "Yes, there is."

Maul smiled, knowing she meant him. "I'm not lurking."

"Get back in there, you're not coming."

"You can't pull this off on your own."

"Of course I can!" she exclaimed, offended. If Maul had had an eyebrow, it would have been arched at her. "I don't want you to get hurt."

At this, Darth Maul laughed. "M'Lady, your concern is much appreciated, however my concern for you spurs me to tag along. We will watch each other's backs, and succeed in our mission."

"My mission."

"Your mission that includes me."

"Apparently so," she admitted defeat. "Do you have a plan?"

"Follow me."


* * *


"Let me get this straight." Jareena put her hand on Maul's shoulder, and he stopped walking. "You want me to go after Ongrel, while you try to steal something else in hopes the guards will focus on you, and leave me alone."

"I don't hope."

"You are going to get killed." Jareena crossed her arms across her chest. "That is not acceptable."

"No one will know you are there, I will cloud their minds. I can hold my own, don't worry about it."

"Well, if you can 'cloud their minds', why don't I just walk in there, take the Statue, and walk out?" she arched her eyebrow at him, suspicious of his intentions.

Maul had thought of that, but he wanted a work out if he wasn't going to get any training in today.

The easiest way is sometimes the best way. Maul heard Sidious' voice in his head.

"I will go in alone, then," Maul said.
"Maul, my mission. I will go in alone. You will stay out here, and cloud some minds so that I don't get killed. And don't argue with me," Jareena told him.

"I wouldn't dream of it," he grinned at her.

Jareena took a deep breath, and reassured herself that Maul knew what he was doing.

"You've never done this sort of thing before, have you?"

"Just do that clouding thing, would you?"

Maul was seated cross-legged before she had finished talking. As he concentrated, he sensed another Force-strong presence: Sidious. He smiled to no one in particular, thankful that he wasn't trying to pull this off completely on his own. "Alright, go."

Jareena entered the small art gallery. Maul had been correct when he had figured she'd never stolen anything before-nothing like this-and she was afraid of the consequences. She stopped, and contemplated going back, but something urged her on.

She observed everyone she saw cautiously, expecting them to ask her if they could see her hand-stamp to make sure she had paid to get in, but not one person turned to observe her back. It was as if she didn't exist to them.

Jareena did not understand it, but somehow she knew exactly what room the Statue of Ongrel was located in. She went in a direct path to her prize, and took it from its perch in the spotlight. No alarms or funny looks followed the action, and she did not wait for any kind of delayed reaction.

"I got it," she told Maul.

"I know," he opened his eyes. "Head back to my apartment, and I'll catch up to you."

"What are you going to do?"

"Watch your back," he replied, getting up stiffly. He wrapped his cloak around her shoulders so that she could conceal the stolen Statue.

"Be careful," she told him, certain that he was going to involve himself in some form of physical violence.

Maul grinned at her. "Always. Now get as far away from here as you can."

Jareena gave in to the urge to kiss Maul on the cheek, before heading back to his apartment.

Maul waited until she was far enough away from the art gallery not to seem suspicious, before he went into the gallery himself.


* * *


Jareena sat on the couch in Darth Maul's apartment staring at the Statue of Ongrel that sat on the coffee table in front of her.

"Did I miss it doing tricks?" Maul asked upon his entry.

"Nope. If you move real slow, you may be able to catch it in the act of playing dead. Just don't scare it," Jareena didn't take her eyes off the Statue. "What's so great about this piece of junk, anyway? It doesn't even deserve its name; it's a pyramid, not really what I consider a 'statue'. I wouldn't have even known that this was what I was looking for if you hadn't helped me."

Darth Maul was caught by surprise by her last statement; he had not helped her, however he decided that it was best that she did not know that it had been his Master instead.

Jareena watched Maul, trying to figure out what he was thinking about behind those red and black tattoos. "It was you, wasn't it?"

Maul nodded, picking up the Statue of Ongrel. "It isn't what I picture as being a 'statue', either," he shook his head at it. "And it is boring," he grumbled, turnind the completely gray pyramid over in his hands. It had no markings on its surface whatsoever.

"Well, whatever. Let's just give it to Caylon and get it over with," Jareena stood up, and headed toward the door.

Maul deliberated over telling her that Caylon intended to kill her, but she was already opening the door. "Jareena, no!" he yelled at her, using the Force to hide the statue in the next room.

Long, slender fingers closed around Jareena's neck, and her cry was cut off. She felt herself being lifted off the floor.

"Hello, Reenie," Caylon grinned up at her, standing beside the creature that was holding her. "Where's my Statue?"

"We don't have it, yet," Maul lied, using the power of his mind to possess the alien that held Jareena firmly in its grasp.

The alien growled in its native tongue, and Caylon laughed. Maul picked up quickly on the reason for their laughter, and chose to ignite his lightsabre. "Don't make me ask," he growled menacingly, eyeing Caylon's new friend.

"I wouldn't dream of it, my Sith friend. Let her down, D'Nu," Caylon told the alien.

D'Nu released Jareena, and she dropped to the floor coughing and sucking in air to fill her oxygen deprived lungs. D'Nu rumbled something, and Caylon shrugged nonchalantly in response.

Maul used the Force to lift Jareena off the floor and plop her down on the couch to his left.

"That was neat, Maul. One day, under different circumstances, I'd like to see that trick again," Caylon grinned deviously, entering the apartment.

"Strange. I thought vampires had to be invited in," Maul hissed, not taking his eyes off of Caylon.

"Touché. A Sith with a wit. Who would have thought."

"Who indeed."

Caylon sighed. "Oh, Maul. Let us stop this hostility. My men will remain outside, and you," he motioned nonsensically with his hand. "Put that thing away."

Maul read his thoughts, and found that Caylon meant what he had suggested. At the same time as he extinguished his lightsabre, Maul used the Force to close the door.

"Fantabulous." Caylon went to sit on the couch beside Jareena.

"Not there," Maul told him.

"As you wish." Caylon moved to the armchair across from the couch. "Your living quarters are surprisingly welcoming, Darth Maul," he paused, a look of mischief on his face. "You must be slipping."

Maul ignored the comment as he sat beside Jareena. She shifted farther away from him, mostly to give Caylon the impression that she didn't approve of Maul's helping her.

Caylon smiled briefly. He knew her better than that. Jareena was a snitch and a thief, and if Maul had fallen for her innocent victim act, then he deserved whatever double-cross she had planned for him. He is slipping.

"Maul, I know that you were lying when you said that you did not have my Statue of Ongrel. I was standing beside Sidious when he helped you two steal it. Despite this feeling of betrayal," he placed his hand over his heart for emphasis. "I am willing to give you another chance to hand it over to me." Maul glared back at him in silence. "Need I remind you that I am the one with back-up?"

"You call them back-up?"

Caylon flat out scowled at him. "Where is it, Maul? This is Reenie's last chance."

"Just give him the damned thing," Jareena piped up finally.

Maul focussed his powers on the Statue, lying in wait in the other room. The gray pyramid glided through the air, then waited for Caylon to take it.

"Thank you," Caylon rose from the couch as he plucked the Statue out of the air. "We shall she each other again." And with that, he left Darth Maul's apartment.

"He meant you," Maul told Jareena, as she got up from the couch, after the door had closed behind Caylon.

"You don't think I know that?" she barked back. "Thank you for your help, Darth Maul. I'll be de-tangling myself from your hair-er, horns, now."

Maul watched her curiously, not wanting her to leave. "Are you sure that is wise?"

"Do I look wise to you?" she almost yelled. She rolled her eyes at the smirk on his face. "Obviously, if I got involved with Raef Caylon, I'm not. That's what you essentially said before-well, hinted at. Anyways-"

"What did you do that has made him want to kill you?" Maul inquired.

"What-you mean you're not going to use your Sith powers to read my mind?"

Maul shook his head. "I would rather hear you tell me."

Jareena stared at him for a few seconds, trying to read his expression. "Why?"

"Because it will keep you here longer," he allowed himself to smile at her.

"Nice try. You know, I almost-almost," she shook her head at him. "I'm not what you think I am."

"Jareena," he got up from the couch following her to the door.

"Goodbye, Maul," she kissed him softly, then smiled at him.

He already felt himself losing consciousness. "What have you..." his eyes rolled back in his head, and he flopped to the floor as the darkness enveloped him.

"I don't want you to follow me," Jareena replied, laying him down on the couch. "You'll be fine." She closed the door behind her, and headed home, hoping this other place was still standing.


* * *


Darth Maul awoke with a start as a bolt of lightning zapped him.

"Where is she?" Sidious roared.

Clearly his Master was furious, but Maul's head was still swimming in its dizziness. "Who?"

"The girl, Maul, the girl!"

"Wha..." bits and pieces were starting to come back to him. "Jareena." Maul sat bolt upright as everything snapped into place.

"Good. Now I have a name," Sidious muttered, not really pleased at all. "Where is she?"

"She is no longer my concern," Maul grumbled, and instantly regretted it, sensing his Master's intensifying rage.

The lamp beside Maul shattered, and pieces of glass flew at him, smaller ones cutting his cheek and larger ones lodging into his right forearm and the back of his hand.

"Where did she go?" Sidious demanded.

The hanging lamp in the center of the room began to vibrate. Maul quickly came to the conclusion that a full story was warranted. "We went to the Gallery, as you ordered me, and stole the Statue. We brought it back here, and Raef Caylon arrived shortly thereafter." He began picking pieces of glass out of his arm.

"I know this already." The light continued to vibrate. "And I know that she left you lying on the couch, unconscious, after a brief game of tonsil hockey. I don't care about any of that."

"I do not know what happened to her after that, Master. She left," he replied stupidly, frowning at his own words after he had spoken them.

"Find her! There will be no more training until you do! Am I making myself clear?" Sidious yelled at him.

Maul heard the overhead light cracking. He searched his Master's mind for an explanation for this uncontrolled outburst. "If you can't find her, then how can I?"

Sidious' expression went blank, and the light stopped jerking back and forth on its chain. He closed his eyes in concentration, using the Force to locate Jareena.

Maul ignored his Master, pulling up his sleeve to remove the last piece of the lamp from his forearm.

"I sense that she will not cross our paths again for some time," Sidious concluded gravely.

Maul met his Master's icy stare.

"Looks like you still get your training afterall." A mirthless smile crept across Sidious' face.