Disclaimer: I do not own any of the original Star Wars characters. I do own the OCs, though. I do not make a £ from this.
Warning: a bit of bad language and a bit of politics
Thanks a lot to all the people who took the time to review, fave or put this fic in their alerts. Your appreciation means very much to me, but don't feel shy about providing constructive criticism. I am always willing to improve.
Just excuse my British-isms, if you can. As every immigrant before me, I tend to imitate the language I am more exposed to.
I also wish to warn you in advance that this story will be rated M from next chapter, mostly for violence and dark themes. If you feel you cannot deal with an M-rated fic, PM me and we'll discuss about alternative special arrangements.
Apart from that, flame all you want, I'm fireproof.
When they arrived, Obi-Wan was as ready for them as he could ever be.
Master Fisto had not come alone. At his side, Obi-Wan could sense a patrol of Palace Guards, concerned but determined.
He could feel them advance through the corridors, confident and righteous, convinced that theirs was the only possible way of keeping everyone safe. Obi-Wan admired their resolve and selflessness, but he was equally resolute not to let their plans come to fruition.
He cast a last look at his still-sleeping charge and rose from his seat. He had changed back into his Jedi robes and his lightsaber, recovered from the bottom of the reactor by the maintenance squads, hung from his waist, its weight reassuring and familiar.
He felt worried, scared even, but under the fear, a stony determination had pervaded his being. He knew he was risking much by opposing a Jedi Master, but he ran a far more serious risk by doing nothing, the risk of letting down a person he had grown to care for.
And it was not as if Master Fisto could expel him from the Order on his own. That would require a full meeting of the Council and would probably have to wait until they all were back on Coruscant, and anyway he was not planning to do anything too extreme, like pulling a lightsaber on him.
Master Fisto normally was an easy-going, friendly person, and he knew that he was acting out of the most noble intentions. If he could just talk to him calmly, he was confident that he could make him see reason.
The presences drew closer. It was time to act.
Obi-Wan opened the door and stepped out just in front of the approaching Master Fisto. He crossed his arms and stood as tall and straight as possible just in front of the threshold, blocking the way. The Force enveloped him and he realised that he was doing more or less the same thing a cat or a dog would do to defend their territories, making himself look big and strong both in the material realm and in the Force. Put in that way, it sounded totally ridiculous, but as Master Fisto did the same, Obi-Wan realised it was deadly serious.
Fisto was nearly a foot taller than him, and at least ten years his senior, but as the Nautolan's Force-presence brushed against his, Obi-Wan had the feeling that if he really wanted, he could take on him and win. Their power was reasonably well-matched and he would have the advantage of surprise. He could drop a Force-blast to scatter the soldiers, and then it would be a matter of getting inside the taller man's reach and dealing an incapacitating blow. He wouldn't need to kill him, just to knock him out for a while.
A headbutt to the nose, or a punch to the jaw would do, or even better, a slight pressure on the side of the neck, just above the carotid artery, and no matter how tall, the Nautolan would fold to the ground like a wet sheet.
Obi-Wan immediately recognised where those thoughts were coming from, he was borrowing Maul's combat-readiness and hyperfocus, and pushed them aside with relative ease.
That was the last possible resort, the option that would probably cast him beyond the pale, even if no lasting damage was dealt.
Negotiation first, teras käsi later, if ever.
"Step aside, Padawan Kenobi." Master Fisto ordered, hopefully unaware of his train of thoughts.
"Sorry, Master, but I don't think I will." Obi-Wan replied, trying to soften his words with a goofy smile.
"I don't think you understand the seriousness of the situation, young man." the Nautolan declared, still outwardly calm, but Obi-Wan could feel that his temper was rising. He felt confused and frustrated and most likely didn't understand why Obi-Wan was disobeying a direct order, why he was trying to protect a Darksider as if his welfare was paramount.
If only he could make Master Fisto understand his reasons!
"In fact, I do, Master. - Obi-Wan replied - And if I don't, I hope that at least Grand Master Yoda had understood it, when he gave me the task to oversee the rehabilitation of the prisoner." he added cheekily, confiding in the fact that the mention of superior orders would give Master Fisto some pause.
The Nautolan glared at him. "If ever such a thing can be achieved." he scoffed.
"Master Yoda believes so. And I must say that the results are quite encouraging so far." Obi-Wan insisted, smiling peacefully.
"Yes, if the Sith is not deceiving you on all counts. - Master Fisto insisted - They are masters of deception, Padawan Kenobi. This one might be luring you into thinking that he is changing, but how do you know for sure?" he added.
Obi-Wan shrugged. "I don't. But I have no proof of the contrary either. When one ever does in interpersonal relationships? - he commented airily - I am giving him the benefit of the doubt, for now. It would be counter-productive to do otherwise. Antagonising a potential witness, or even a potential refugee? That's a no-no, as far as I know."
"It is a risk that you might be willing to take, for Grand Master Yoda or for your own personal reasons, - Master Fisto retorted dryly - but I cannot and will not allow you to put others at risk. This is a hospital. Think of all the non-forceful civilians the Sith could be endangering! Think of the doctors who are trying to do their jobs!"
"I bet you are thinking of one doctor in particular..." Obi-Wan thought.
"Doctor Naberrie concurs with me, as you surely know." he said out loud.
That was enough to make the Nautolan darken with emotion.
"Doctor Naberrie is too trusting for her own good. She does not recognise the true magnitude of the risk." he declared, struggling to keep his cool.
"Are you implying that she is not Forceful enough to be trusted to take her own decisions?" Obi-Wan asked, feigning innocence.
That gave him pause. "That's not what I said." he protested, looking rather dismayed.
"That was how it sounded. - Obi-Wan insisted - Doc and I are the only two people involved in delivering medical assistance to Maul..."
"Ah right, you are a close chum of that.. of that Sith, now..." Master Fisto spat, unable to find a worse expletive.
"It is called trying to build a rapport. It is a negotiation technique. - Obi-Wan explained patiently - He can hardly be expected to switch to our side and help us find the Master, if we treat him like an enemy."
"A Sith, switch to the Light? That has never happened before, and will never happen in future. Once you fall, there is no way back." he declared, glaring at him and Obi-Wan realised that Master Fisto was warning him of his own fate, or at least thought he was.
The Padawan took a deep breath and shook his head. "Loads of things never happened before, until they happened. Think of hyperspace travel... - he explained - I've told this to the Elders of the Council once already. Didn't they brief you before they sent you here? This is a special case." he declared, adamant.
"The only special thing here is your willingness to be deceived, Padawan. - Master Fisto objected - What are you trying to prove? That you are better than everyone else? That you can succeed where everyone else has failed throughout history?" he asked, taking a menacing step forward.
"I am not trying to prove anything. - Obi-Wan retorted - I am choosing to hope that people can change. I am trying to help."
"You are being reckless and willful, like a spoiled youngling. - Master Fisto declared - Your desire for certain things to happen doesn't make them more true." he added patronisingly.
Obi-Wan felt a surge of irritation at his words and tried to will it into nothingness, but that gave Master Fisto the time for another jab.
"And we foolishly thought that your permanence in the Agri-Corps had cured you of your hubris..." he commented, dramatically waving a hand in the air.
The Padawan's heart skipped a beat and he could feel the tiny shard of Dark that he carried inside himself bloom in anger.
Damned Fisto, he thought. Why did he have to bring that up now, after more than ten years? Did he think that he could humiliate him into submission? That was so not going to happen.
"Says the guy who is convinced that he already knows everything... - he spat - What is more hubris? Working hard to help a fellow sentient, or denying that help in the name of an old dogma?" he asked, unable to prevent his voice from rising.
"It is not a dogma! It is reality! - Master Fisto shouted back - You can either accept it or not, but you cannot change it!"
Obi-Wan took a deep breath to prevent himself from punching the Nautolan in the jaw and stop his yammering.
"You know what, Master? You are right. I can't change things." he admitted.
Master Fisto looked at him with confusion painted all over his green face. The words he was hearing must sound like victory to him, but he must be realising that his expression didn't match them.
"He can. - Obi-Wan continued, jabbing his pointing to the door at his back over his shoulder - What I can and I will do, is give him the support and the trust he needs to change them. And that includes barring from his door people who are too busy cowering in fear to trust the Force." he added, delivering the final jab with a seraphic smile.
"You are overstepping your bounds, Padawan Kenobi!" Master Fisto threatened, clenching his hands tightly at his sides.
"No, Master. You are overstepping yours. - Obi-Wan retorted decisively, refusing to let himself be intimidated - I had my orders from Grand Master Yoda in person. If you have issues with that, I suggest you discuss the matter with him. Until then, I will carry on my mission as I see best, and I suggest that you do the same. Oh, and by the way, Anakin is participating in a training event this afternoon, in case you were looking for him..." he added with vicious satisfaction, calling him out on his ruse.
Master Fisto became nearly olive-green with anger. His head-tentacles slithered like snakes, which was rather creepy, and, most worryingly, his hand subconsciously dropped towards the hilt of his saber.
Instinctively, Obi-Wan perked up, standing tall and relaxing his shoulders and arms to prepare himself for a fast draw or an even faster surprise attack. Maybe that teras käsi plan B would come in handy after all, he thought.
He held the Nautolan's smouldering solid-black gaze and slowly let his reach expand through the Force, trying to feel his opponent's intentions, trying to detect the moment when shit was going to hit the fan before it did. To complicate matters, the Palace Guards were also getting edgy, and edgy people with weapons were notoriously trigger-happy.
"Oh, what a mess..." Obi-Wan thought, feeling one of the soldiers approaching the end of his tether.
"Soldiers of Naboo! - a female voice shouted, from the end of the corridor - By order of the Queen, stand down!"
The soldiers immediately turned towards the voice and even Obi-Wan risked a glance. One of the Queen's handmaidens was stalking towards them with as much of a commanding attitude as a five-foot-four adolescent could muster.
Her face was partly obscured by the hood of her office robes, but even so, Obi-Wan had the distinct impression that the girl was none other than Queen Amidala herself, under her now-usual disguise.
Doc trailed her, looking quite harried but victorious. Amidala was on their side, then.
Obi-Wan took a deep breath in relief and allowed himself to relax a fraction.
"What is the matter, Handmaiden?" Master Fisto asked, turning towards the two women with evident irritation.
"It has been brought to Her Majesty's attention that you want to place the prisoner under restraints." Padmè said.
The Nautolan nodded. "That is correct." he assented.
"Her Majesty wishes to inform you that, according to the Naboo law, wounded prisoners-of-war can only be placed under restraints if they break their parole." Padmè continued calmly.
"The Sith is a prisoner of the Jedi Order." Master Fisto retorted.
"But you are still operating under Naboo jurisdiction, Master." she objected politely.
"Parole, eh? - Fisto commented with evident sarcasm - What is parole to a Sith, I wonder?"
Padmè ignored his comment. "Has the Sith given you his parole, Padawan Kenobi?" she asked, turning towards him.
"He has." Obi-Wan replied with absolute certainty. Never in so many words, but without any shadow of doubt.
"The case is clear, then. - Padmè declared, nodding to herself - If the prisoner does not resume hostilities, it would be unlawful to place him under restrains, both by Naboo law and by the Glactic Convention on Sentient Rights." she added with finality.
"When the Sith resumes hostilities, it will be too late to restrain him! - the Nautolan fumed - In the interest of safety, he must not be left free to cause harm!" he insisted.
"I am afraid we cannot lawfully allow you to do that." Padmè replied calmly, with a minute shake of her hooded head.
"This is ridiculous! - Master Fisto exclaimed - I request to speak directly to the Queen on this matter."
"I will convey your request to Her Majesty. - Padmè agreed with a sketchy bow - Her staff will let you know in the morrow." she added.
Obi-Wan had to bite the inside of his cheek quite hard to prevent himself from chuckling.
Master Fisto looked like he was totally going to blow a gasket. He looked beyond Padmè, towards Doc, who was standing there stone-faced and silent. They exchanged a long, silent look, then Master Fisto looked away.
"I see..." he murmured sadly then turned and walked away without even a semblance of a by-your-leave, head bowed and shoulders slumped in defeat. All his anger had dissipated, leaving a sad, melancholy feeling in its wake. Obi-Wan turned towards Doc. That feeling had infected her as well, and she watched him walk away with a wistful, almost yearning expression.
"I'll talk to him." she said to Padmè. The young woman nodded and Doc followed Fisto's trail at a brisk pace.
"We apologise for our conduct, Handmaiden. We thought the Jedi Master was acting according to the Queen's wishes." the leader of the Guards declared in the ensuing silence. He looked confused and possibly guilty and Obi-Wan imagined that he would be worrying about his position, as he had, in effect, aided an illegal activity.
Padmè sighed. "I am sure you were acting in good faith, Sergeant." she assented.
"What are our orders, then?" he asked with evident relief.
"You are to return to your usual stations and carry on with your duties." Padmè replied without hesitation.
It was the Sergeant who hesitated instead. "Do you want us to make rounds in this corridor, just in case?" he asked.
"There is no need for that. - she replied - The prisoner has given his parole and Padawan Kenobi is more than enough to restrain him, if need be." she added, casting Obi-Wan a significant look.
"As you wish, Handmaiden. We will be on our way." the Sergeant said, trying to mask his perplexity.
"Company! About-face! March!" he ordered, and the men under his command turned smartly on their heels and marched away, leaving him and Padmè alone in the corridor.
"Thank you, Your Majesty. You got us out of a really tight spot. " Obi-Wan said quietly.
Padmè smiled."How many times do i have to tell you to call me by name, Obi-Wan? - she chided him gently - And it's not me you have to thank, but Aunt Sadé. She was very convincing and vocal in furthering your friend's cause." she added.
This time, Obi-Wan didn't see the point in correcting her and let it be. "Still, it was you who put your credibility on the line. For this, you have my gratitude." he insisted.
"It's not as if I lied. Everything I said is actually true by law." she retorted with a graceful shrug.
"I never imagined the contrary." Obi-Wan said.
Another smile appeared on her face, but he could sense some unease, some tension in the lines of her visage.
"The prisoner... Maul... - she said with some effort - Is he awake?" she asked.
Obi-Wan considered lying to her to let Maul have another afternoon of peace, but looking at the steely expression on Padmè's face, he almost immediately discarded the idea.
"Yes, he is." he replied.
Maul had woken up sometime during his face-off with Master Fisto, roused either by their raised voices or by the aggressive vibes coming from him through the link they were still sharing.
"I need to talk to him." Padmè declared, and what was Obi-Wan supposed to reply to that, after what she had done for him and Maul?
"Alright." he had to concede.
He couldn't stall for time either. The only advance warning he could give Maul to make the experience even slightly less stressful was a mental nudge along the lines of "We got company!".
Maul was wide awake when they got in the room, half-sitting against the raised slope of the bed. He acknowledged Obi-Wan with a look, a nod and a pulse through the link, and then turned an intense gaze towards Padmè.
Obi-Wan forced a smile as the two locked stares in silence, as trying to decipher each other.
"Hi, Maul. - he said cheerfully - Sorry for barging on you like this... This is Handmaiden Padmè." he added, trying to break the ice.
"This is no Handmaiden. This is Queen Amidala." Maul retorted without batting an eye.
Padmè lost her composure, looking first at Maul and then at Obi-Wan with surprise and dismay.
"Did you...?!" she started, quite evidently incensed.
"I did not say a word, I swear!" Obi-Wan tried to exculpate himself. He had even tried not to think much about it, in case Maul could catch the information by chance.
"There was no need for him to tell me anything. - Maul intervened quietly - Some face paint and a change of clothes can fool many people, but I research my hits thoroughly. I can recognise your face beyond your disguise, Your Majesty." he declared.
Padmè pulled her hood down with an irritated gesture and crossed her arms over her chest. "Damn it! - she cursed - So what, would you have killed me, if Master Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan hadn't crossed your path?"
"Not really. I just had to kidnap you." Maul retorted.
"And deliver me to Gunray." Padmè continued.
"Unfortunately." Maul assented, grimacing in disgust.
Padmè let a low, nervous chuckle escape her lips. "So it's not just me. No one actually likes him." she commented.
Maul nodded. "Trade Federation officers are not even worth the effort it takes to kill them." he said.
"You sound like you are speaking out of experience..." Padmè insinuated.
"And what if I do?" Maul retorted, crossing his arms as well.
"Why did your Master ally himself with them, then?" Padmè asked, avoiding his question.
Maul sighed and shook his head. "To make the Republic and the Jedi look like ineffective, weak fools. I thought it was obvious." he replied with a sneer.
"Not that ineffective, after all." she retorted, casting a sharp glance towards him.
Even if it was very hard to tell, Obi-Wan had the impression that Maul had blushed at her words.
"Not at all... - he conceded, briefly looking at Obi-Wan - If you consider specific individuals. But the system... If Valorum hadn't acted outside of normal procedure, the Senate would still be discussing the matter, and you would have been forced to sign that treaty, whether you wanted or not." he added, still unwilling to concede.
"The Senate would have sanctioned such an aggression." Padmè objected.
Maul snorted. "The Senate is corrupt and myopic. There is no unified vision for the future of the Galaxy and most decisions are made to appease one lobby or another. - he retorted - Take the taxation of the trade routes, for example..."
"What about it? - Padmè asked, frowning and crossing her arms - It was meant to support the economic growth of small systems, forcing them to rely less on imports and more on their own productive capabilities."
"Speaking out of experience, eh?" Maul provoked.
Padmè blushed and shot him a dark look. "The plasma fields have brought unprecedented prosperity to Naboo, but they have also induced our economy to be increasingly reliant on those revenues." she clarified.
"And you don't want to end up like the all other systems gorged up on plasma-credits." Maul completed, still with a hint of sneer in his voice.
"Well, would you want that for your people?" Padmè asked.
"I don't actually belong to any people... - Maul objected with a shrug - But, no, I don't think I would." he added, melancholy.
"So now you see why Naboo backed that resolution." Padmè concluded smugly.
"In a perfect world, that would have made sense. - Maul conceded - But in reality... The Trade Federation has its reasons, as much as I dislike them." he argued, even as he grimaced in disgust.
"Reasons?! - Padmè burst out - They are surely rich enough to be able to afford the payment." she retorted.
"You've never been to the Outer Rim much, have you, Your Majesty? - Maul provoked, smirking knowingly - I bet Tattooine has been the farthest you have travelled Rimwards..."
"So what?" Padmè objected, frowning in irritation.
"So you have no idea of what's out there. - Maul jabbed - Why do you think the Federation needs so many capital ships? Because there are sectors in the Rim that are infested by pirates and slavers and raiders of all sorts. Places where the only safe way of travelling is in a convoy, with armed support." he explained, without leaving her the time to reply.
"This must be a gross exaggeration." Padmè said with decision.
Maul rolled his eyes and gestured towards Obi-Wan, encouraging him to partecipate in the discussion.
The Padawan until then had been entirely happy with watching the two of them butt heads, but now, as both the Queen and his charge looked at him expectantly, there was no way that he could exempt himself from contributing.
"Unfortunately, this is quite accurate." he said with a sigh.
Maul turned back towards Padmè with a smug expression.
"The commercial guilds invest a lot of credits in keeping their routes and their cargo relatively safe. - he said - You can imagine how much it must chafe that the central Galactic government is demanding that they pay for something to which it has not contributed."
"That is not true. The Outer Rim Security Force..." Padme started to object, but Maul didn't let her finish.
"...Is understaffed and frankly inadequate. - he cut in - The Galactic government talks and talks, but does nothing. It can do nothing. It does not have an army and has to rely on mercs and the Jedi Order to fix things when they go pear-shaped."
"We are sworn to keep the peace. It is only natural that they turn to us." Obi-Wan intervened, trying to smooth things out.
"And you accept any assignement, without questioning." Maul continued.
"And why do you think this is a bad idea?" Obi-Wan asked, rather confused.
"The Galactic government is corrupt, right?" Maul asked.
Obi-Wan nodded, feeling that he would not like where the conversation was going, but feeling also that he needed to see where it went.
"Ever suspected that they were using you to do their dirty job?" Maul insisted.
Padmè protested, incensed, and Obi-Wan would have liked to deny it as well, but deep down he knew that he could not. Not after what happened on Gallidaraan, not after a Jedi expedition had been sent into a trap against the Bando Gora on Baltizaar.
"And what can we do? We can't oppose the Galactic Senate." Obi-Wan protested.
"And why not? - Maul provoked - The system is rotten, and you people are the best placed to clean up things."
"We are not the Galactic police." Obi-Wan objected, but that excuse sounded weak even to himself.
"No, you are the violent arm of the Galactic law only against small fish." Maul spat.
"We do not seek power for our own. We guarantee the Republican values." Obi-Wan insisted, steadfastly, supported by energetic nodding from Padmè.
"Well, those values are being trampled for the sake of power and credits. And you are standing by and just watch as it happens. - Maul attacked, leaning towards Obi-Wan in the heat of the argument - You have power, whether you want it or not. By not exercising it, you appear too weak to solve anything, or accomplices of the corruption. Sidious used to say that you were the cause of the decadence of the Republic. Now I realise it is not true, but you aren't helping either! You could change everything, but you refuse to do it. That's suicidal!" he concluded, shaking his head.
Obi-Wan wished he could find the words to reply, to deny what Maul had just said, but part of him resonated with those words. The Jedi could make things better, but to act on that possibility...
The seduction of power could prove too enticing, the temptation too strong. And then it would be a short, easy step to believing that the end justifies all sorts of means, all sorts of prevarication, all sorts of repression and cruelty, until they became worse than what they had set out to destroy.
But if there was a way of changing things without falling?
Shouldn't they be trying to find it, instead of pretending that the degeneration of the Republic was not happening?
He, for one, refused to believe that it was beyond salvation and he couldn't be the only one.
Oppressed by doubts and in turmoil, Obi-Wan couldn't speak, could barely think coherently. He could feel Maul's eyes boring into him, he knew that he was waiting for him to reply, and he could feel that the more he waited, the more his charge's eagerness turned into anxiety and guilt. Maul must be already regretting that he had spoken so frankly and Obi-Wan wished he could reassure him, but he was locked in his own internal debate.
It was Padmè who broke the impasse, instead.
"I should have imagined it. - she commented - So the solution is a strong central government with a unified vision? A man of destiny to save us all? I am sure that your Master will be more than happy to play the role of the benevolent dictator..." she said, voice rising as she spoke.
Her fair countenance coloured in indignation and her eyes sparkled, but that didn't make her look like a spoiled adolescent. Now more than ever she looked like a Queen, like a powerful being.
Even Maul hesitated, faced with that outburst.
"I do not know what the solution is anymore. I am not even sure one exists. - he admitted softly, bowing his head in dejection - What I have learned, is that whatever Sidious' plan might be, it doesn't contemplate fixing the Republic or making things better. He doesn't care about it. He doesn't care about anyone but himself. He would not use his power to free, but to enslave, not to fix, but to break. He would make everyone a tool, or a plaything." he added, looking down at his hands, clenched into tight fists on the coverlet.
"Like me..." Obi-Wan heard through the link, and his heart broke a bit at the desolation contained in that thought.
He stepped towards the bed and laid a hand on Maul's shoulder, squeezing it gently in reassurance.
Maul sighed and raised his gaze towards Obi-Wan. "I was doing it again. I should try to get a grip on this..." he said with a wry smile.
"There is no need. I promised you that I would listen to you." Obi-Wan replied.
"Even so. I shouldn't burden you with my Dark Side nonsense." Maul added, laying a hand over Obi-Wan's.
Padmè was looking at them in perplexed fascination, her expression softening by degrees.
"It wasn't nonsense. - she said gently - Many people have concerns of that sort."
Maul looked at her in surprise. "Really?!" he said.
"Yes, really." she confirmed.
"I never... I never dared to doubt before. But now I can't stop..." Maul admitted quietly.
"I can't speak for the Jedi, but regular people do doubt. Welcome to normalcy. You'll get used to it eventually." Padmè commented, deadpan.
Maul gave her a bemused look and shook his head.
"Oh well, Jedi doubt as well, sometimes." Obi-Wan confessed, judging that honesty was more important than perceived authority.
"Not so wise, then?" Maul provoked, but without malice.
"And what is wisdom anyway? Already having all the answers, or asking the appropriate questions and accepting the answers without prejudice?" Obi-Wan retorted.
Maul nodded, now serious, and sent a pulse of gratitude along the link.
"Sorry about lowering the standard of the discussion, guys, but I need to get down to my original business and leave, before my absence is remarked." Padmè chimed in, making them both turn towards her.
"What can I do for you, Your Majesty?" Maul asked, directing one of his inquisitive looks at her.
Padmè didn't baulk. "I need you to give me your parole that you will not initiate acts of hostility towards any Naboo citizen, or any person currently assisting the Naboo government." she declared, straight to the point.
"With the latter you mean the Jedi." Maul observed.
The Queen nodded. "And any official from the Galactic Senate." she added.
"Why would you accept my parole as guarantee? - Maul asked, frowning - Are you not afraid I will lie? I considered myself a Sith after all..." he added quietly, shaking his head.
"You gave your parole to Obi-Wan and he accepted it. So far you haven't broken it." Padmè explained.
"It's not as if I can actually perform any act of hostility, in my situation." Maul had to clarify.
"Would you, if you could?" she asked, leveling an equally penetrating stare at him.
Maul hesistated again, and Obi-Wan could sense the conflict inside him between what Sidious had drilled into him and what he himself saw as right and wrong.
"I would not. - he said finally - You have sheltered me and prevented the Jedi to cause me harm. I won't initiate any hostility, but I reserve the right to defend myself in case of aggression." he proposed.
Padmè nodded. "Of course, but I will ensure that it doesn't come to that. - she conceded - Do I have your word, then?" she insisted.
"You do." Maul replied with a curt nod.
"Let's shake on it." Padmè said, thrusting her right hand towards him.
Maul looked at her hand in confusion, then cast a glance at Obi-Wan, who smiled and shrugged. The Zabrak sighed and grabbed the Queen's hand, making eye contact again, but warily this time.
Padmè pumped his hand decisively. "It's done then." she commented, letting her hand fall to her side.
"Yes..." Maul replied quietly, looking at his own hand in astonishment for a moment before raising his gaze to the Queen.
"I'll leave you two to your own devices, then. I'll see you later." Padmè said, sighing and stretching.
Maul and Obi-Wan watched her leave in weary silence.
"She is a bright one. And brave." Maul commented, flopping against the incline of the bed.
"I knew you would like her." Obi-Wan said, winking playfully at his charge as he let himself fall on the chair next to the bed.
No more than an hour must have passed in total since had risen from that same chair, but he felt as weary as if he had not slept for weeks on end.
"I didn't say I liked her." Maul objected.
"You didn't need to. It was kind of obvious." Obi-Wan replied.
"I was told that non-forcefuls were weak, but she is as strong as durasteel wrapped in silk. Her and Doc both." the Zabrak said, closing his eyes for a moment.
"Even if Doc is more like durasteel wrapped in surgical greens. - Obi-Wan continued, making his charge chuckle - How are you feeling, by the way?"
"Exhausted. - Maul admitted - Apart from that, I don't know how I am feeling. I don't even know what I am supposed to be feeling." he added, grimacing in self-deprecation.
Obi-Wan scratched his chin, noting with chagrin that it was stubbly once more. Maybe he should just give up and grow a beard once and for all.
"I am not sure there is a way people are supposed to be feeling, when in your situation. - he said - Whatever way you feel is fine, I think, as long as you accept it. I am always here, if you want to talk about it." he offered.
A patterned hand came to rest on his and squeezed gently. "I will, but I think I have talked enough for today. - Maul whispered - Thank you, anyway. For this and for putting your career on the line for me." he added, a bit more strongly.
Obi-Wan smiled, and squeezed back, trying to find the right words to say.
"It wasn't as risky as that." he minimised, feeling awkward.
"Still, you shouldn't have. It wasn't worth it. He only wanted to restrain me and I can take that. - Maul insisted - I am better now. It wouldn't have triggered anything." he added, but his haunted expression belied his confident words. He still hadn't managed to rebuild the walls of indifference he had protected himself with until then.
"The fact that you can take something, doesn't necessarily mean that you should. - Obi-Wan retorted - You don't have to demonstrate anything to me. I know you are brave. I know you are strong. And taking risks for someone is par for the course when you care about them." he added, taking another big risk in revealing that last detail.
If Maul was just manipulating him, he had just given him a key weapon to undermine him with, but if he was not, if his behaviour was genuine as he thought it was, he deserved to know that. He deserved to know that someone cared about him.
Maul regarded him in silence for a long moment, caught between hope and disbelief. A tendril of Force hovered at the edge of Obi-Wan's shields, but without actually making contact.
The Padawan latched on to it with his own Force, and drew it in, past his shields, sensing the terrible hope and the terrible fear that emanated from his nemesis.
Fear melted away like snow in spring, leaving something bright and beautiful and warm like the sun, and for a moment Obi-Wan basked shamelessly into it, experiencing a strange and oddly satisfying mixture of deep peace and equally deep, complex passion. It only lasted a moment before Maul withdrew and retreated behind his newly-reformed shields, leaving only a thin link between them.
"What if Fisto is right? - he asked withdrawing his hand as well - What if I let you down in the end?"
"You won't, I am sure of it. - Obi-Wan reassured him, feeling a pang of rejection at the sudden break of contact - I believe in you. I believe that if you can do whatever you set yourself to do, no matter how hard. You will find a way." he added, trying to put all his conviction into his words and thoughts.
"I suppose I am that stubborn..." Maul joked, but he didn't look amused.
He looked deadly serious and Obi-Wan could feel the fire of his Force rise in him, as strong as when he had first met him, but clearer, as if the smoke surrounding it had dispersed.
There were still bits of darkness clinging to it, but he was sure that they would disappear in time.
It was amazing.
"Resolute sounds better." Obi-Wan replied with a smile and this time Maul smiled back and relaxed his control on the link.
"We are both rather resolute, then." he joked, extending his hand in search of contact again.
Obi-Wan took it and nodded. "The Galaxy ain't seen nothing yet..." he declared, hinting at possibilities to come, at adventures, at laughter and companionship, at life as it was supposed to be.
A flash of hope and yearning passed over Maul's eyes and he sat up a bit straighter in the bed. "No, they have not. The best is yet to come." he promised.
