Disclaimer: None of the characters in this story are mine. Really, NONE of them. I am not making any profit out of this except, except for self-satisfaction. If you wish, post a review here or e-mail me at DarthKottaram@yahoo.com. Thanks!

Joke of Fate: Chapter Eight

Battle of Naboo. Silver Cardinal. Hyperspace.

"Get to your stations, we'll drop put of Hyperspace in three minutes." Luke announced over the ship's comm.

Aurra was already sitting next to him at the co-pilot's station. "What kind of plan is this? Attacking a Federation Control Cruiser, in a luxury yacht? Have you lost your mind?" she asked.

"I feel the Force's assurance of our victory today. Besides, you don't know about any of the special modifications I've done to this ship."

"Look, you have a pretty ship; but a yacht is yacht, no matter how you look at it. The Incom Ion Cannons are nice, just not useful against a capital ship."

"Ah, but you don't know about the Sienar Turbolasers that I've replaced those Ion Cannons with. Nor about the Corelian Engineering Heavy Rocket System. And I doubt you realize that I've installed a Kuati Shield and Drive System."

"What?" Aurra asked, shocked. "How can you afford that? All that's got to be worth over 300 million credits. The entire planet of Naboo isn't worth that much."

"I got a discount, since I have some ... powerful friends. Cost me only three hundred thousand."

Aurra gaped for a few minutes, staring at Luke in shock. Eventually, she managed to recover, "Your friends must be powerful indeed."

"Yes, they are. Would you like to meet them? It could be quite profitable."

"Profitable huh? How much are we talking about, exactly?"

"Ten million credits, perhaps even more. And power like you have never experienced before."

Luke was interrupted by the 15-second warning buzzer of the HyperDrive. "Here we go." said Luke over the comm. "Stay sharp."

The Silver Cardinal dropped out of Hyperspace, and slowed down within three kilometers of the Federation Control Cruiser. Almost immediately, hundreds of DroidFighters flew out of their hangars and headed straight at the Silver Cardinal. "Fire at will." commanded Luke to his gunners, Padmé , Anakin, Obi-Wan, and Qui-Gon.

The Silver Cardinal's Turbolasers tore through four and five of the unshielded DroidFighters at a time, decimating the Federation Starfighter Corps in less than three minutes. As the Silver Cardinal approached the Control Cruiser, the DroidTrooper gunners began to fire the ship's Ion Cannons. The Ion Blasts bounced harmlessly off the yacht's shields, allowing no damage to the hull. Luke spun-dive towards the ship, while his gunners destroyed towers and turrets on the Cruiser's hull. Heading straight for the Control Tower, Aurra fired the Heavy Rockets. destroying the Cruiser's bridge, and sending it drifting towards a Federation Battleship, which was now dead in space. The Silver Cardinal entered the Nubian Atmosphere, just as the Cruiser and Battleship collided, destroying all Droids and Beings aboard both ships.

Luke piloted the yacht towards one of the secret entrances he had installed in Theed Palace. He dropped his passengers off, after giving them some last minute instructions. "Padmé , Obi-Wan, Cordé , and Aurra will make up the team that will hold the Viceroy hostage. Qui-Gon, Sabé , Shmi, and Dormé will be the decoy team. Ani, stay close to Qui-Gon. I will handle the Sith Lord, now go." Luke commanded.

He piloted the Silver Cardinal to the entrance of Theed. Luke reached out with the Force, and took control of all the weapons systems. He began to fly down the Central Avenue of Theed at a snail's pace, firing rapidly at the DroidTroopers and DriodTanks. After eliminating the Droids in the Plaza, Luke landed his craft outside the steps of Theed Palace. He raced inside, and headed towards the rendezvous point in the hangar.

At the same time, the Jade Eagle, touched down in the Plaza. "All Jedi will enter the Palace. I want the "A" team to attempt and destroy the Droid Control Center. The "B" team will focus on eliminating Droid resistance and preventing any aid to come to the Droids in the Palace. I will handle the Sith Lords." instructed Mara, as the seventy Jedi exited the ship, and entered the Palace.

Upon meeting his counterparts, Luke began giving out directions. "I want the decoys to head upstairs to throne room, using the main corridor. Padmé , you will accompany me through the servant's pathways, up to the Royal Court Chambers. Let's go." commanded Luke, as he walked towards the main exit.

The door opened, revealing a hooded figure in black robes waiting for them. "Go through the councilor's corridors instead. I will handle this." said as he walked towards the rival Sith Lord. The Sith dropped their external robes, and ignited their lightsabers. Luke wore a completely black tunic, as well as black pants and boots. Maul wore similar clothes, only with a kimono style outer tunic. The Sith circled each other in the now empty hangar, waiting for the other to strike.

"How's you leg Skywalker? Hope you didn't have to get a prosthetic. They are quite unattractive and unpleasant. But I suppose you already know that." Maul sneered.

"Unfortunately, I did lose the leg. And by the way, I am no longer known as Luke Skywalker." stated the Dark Lord, as he slashed at Maul's torso. "Lord Sidious gave me the title of Darth Marattok." he informed, laughing internally at Maul's shock.

Marattok began to attack Maul using speed and power. Viciously he cut at Maul, not bothering to hold back. The older Sith dodged Marattok's hacks and slashes, and attempted to attack. The young Dark Lord merely brought his ebony blade down upon the scarlet one, and back-handed his opponent across the face. Maul retreated from the new Dark Lord, trying to find some advantage. He back-flipped away from the ebony blade and opened another door using some scrap metal. Maul turned and ran down the corridor, with Marattok on his heels.

Mara felt the presences of two Sith Lords in the hangar, and ran towards it, slashing through any DroidTroopers she met on her way. Hearing the sounds of lightsaber blades clashing, Mara was confused. /The Sith are fighting each other? I sense one of them is Luke./ She discretely probed his spirit, disturbed by the deep levels of darkness she sensed. /I knew only evil could come of this./ she thought, remembering Aurra's attempted execution. Mara followed the sounds of battle out of the hangar, and into the corridors.

Maul leapt over a computer console, activating the Power Station at full output, and then slashed through it, not allowing Marattok to reset it. The young Dark Lord stopped before his rival, only the console separating them. He waited for Maul to strike, but was forced back by the strength in the older man's sudden attack. Marattok tumbled backwards, and back onto his feet, not allowing the other Sith to gain the advantage. He lashed out with White Lightning at Maul, who was pushed back onto a catwalk behind him. Luke leapt over to the catwalk, and stabbed downwards at Maul. The older Sith rolled out of the way, and kicked Marattok in the chest, sending him stumbling backwards. Maul leapt up, and did a hurricane kick into his rival's chest, sending him off the catwalk, and onto a catwalk two levels down.

A dropkick to Maul's back, sent him flying down a level. Mara jumped down as well, and attempted to slice Maul into two at the torso. He brought up one blade of his saber, and blocked the attack. He leapt up, and attacked the Master Jedi with another of his blades. The Sith relentlessly attacked the Jedi Master, pushing her back.

Marattok had recovered by this time, and Force-leapt up a level to the catwalk which his breathtaking former master and rival Sith Lord battled. Cloaking himself with the Force, Marattok crept toward Maul. Taking advantage of the older Sith's inattention, he slashed at Maul's back, who barely blocked the life-ending slash. The Two attacked Maul, giving him no chance to pause. He was tiring, now, and leapt over Mara, running towards an Exhaust Melting Pit. He ran through the cycling Laser Shields, and onto the other side, where he could rest.

Mara ran off to fight Maul, but was stayed by Marattok's grip on her arm. "We should attack him together, my Master." he advised.

"You've made significant progress on strategy in the past year." complemented Mara.

"Thank you." Luke murmured, blushing slightly. The sound of her voice, along with her close and overwhelming presence sent him soaring, and he could barely keep a grip on the Dark Side. The Two ran side by side towards the melting pit.

******************************

Councilor's Corridors.

Obi-Wan and Aurra deflected the laserfire from the Droidekas in the corridor, while Padmé and Cordé shot at the unshielded DroidTroopers. Thirty more Droidekas rolled in however, and the four liberators were soon greatly outnumbered.

"We cannot stay here for long." said Padmé .

"Hide yourselves behind the columns, we will handle the droids." commanded Obi-Wan. He reached out through the Force, and touched Aurra's spirit. She grabbed onto to his spirit, and the two combined their powers. The Jedi rolled up to the Droidekas and began slashing through them, dodging laserfire, and deflecting them back at the same targets. They destroyed the Droidekas systematically. In a few minutes the corridor was full of droid parts scattered about.

"All clear." announced Aurra. The liberators got onto the lift that would take them to the Throne Room's level.

*******************************

Main Corridor

Qui-Gon sliced his way through the DroidTroopers. Encountering a large group of Droidekas, the women threw the thermal detonators Luke had supplied them with. Each dropped their blaster pistols, and loaded the concussion rifles Luke had acquired. While Qui-Gon deflected laserfire, the three women blasted the hundred or so Droidekas they saw, into oblivion.

"Impressive, where did you girls learn to shoot like that? I thought Naboo was a peaceful planet. And you had no access to weapons as a slave." said Qui-Gon.

"Your Padawan was ..uh.. personally instructing us on Coruscant and in hyperspace." giggled Sabé .

/I've got to talk to Obi-Wan about hitting on the kiddies./ thought Qui-Gon.

The decoys ran down the corridor, and up the marble staircase, destroying the little resistance left.

*****************************

Droid Control Center.

Forty Jedi Masters and Knights rolled through countless Droidekas and DroidTroopers, slashing their way towards the Control Console in the center of the building. Suddenly, as they were meters from the Control Center, laser shields dropped down and surrounded them.

"Quite impressive." came the gravelly voice of Darth Sidious from a Droideka. "Unfortunate that so many powerful Jedi will die today. This will be a day long remembered in Sith History." he cackled as the laser shield began to slowly constrict around the Jedi Masters.

*****************************

Theed Royal Plaza.

Thirty Jedi Masters and Knights guarded the only known entrance to the Palace. They destroyed the Droidekas and DroidTroopers that attempted to aid he overwhelmed Droids inside. The Droids has stopped coming and the plaza was eerily quiet.

"Where do you think the rest of the Droids are?" asked Master Koon.

"I cannot guess. I sense that the 'A' team has not succeeded as of yet. It is not logical for the Droids to stop their attack at this point." answered Master Rancisis.

Suddenly, the Jedi scrambled for cover as a rain of turbolaser fire fell upon the square from above. The Jedi had no choice but to stand back and watch as the shielded Droidekas went through the bombardment and entered the Palace.

***********************************

Orbit Around Naboo.

Lott Dodd, commander of the recently arrived Federation Control Cruiser grinned broadly. While that fool, Viceroy Gunray, was being besieged In Theed Palace; he would get the glory. Who cared if the moron died? Lord Sidious would most likely be pleased if could gain control of the Naboo system. Bombarding Theed into rubble would achieve that goal. None would dare defy the Federation again.

Dodd was brought out of his reverie by the frantic voice of a Droid Controller. "What is it?" the impatient Senator asked.

"Sir, twelve Republic Cruisers have dropped out of hyperspace and are deploying Starfighters." said the Controller in a panicked voice.

"Republic Cruisers? I suppose the Chancellor has gotten his wish." sneered Dodd. "We outnumber them 3 to 1. Destroy them." commanded the Senator.

The Droid Control Cruiser and Battleships moved to a 'Hammerhead' formation, and left orbit to destroy the seemingly weak resistance. However, as the Federation Ships got within firing range of the Republic Cruisers, twenty-four, 200 meter long, wedge-shaped Republic Star Destroyers came out of Hyperspace.

Aboard the Glory of the Republic, Chancellor Palpatine commanded the bridge. "Launch all Starfighters, I do not want anything to leave this system." he instructed.

"Your Excellency, the Turbolasers are online." said the ship's weapon's officer.

"Good. Fire at will, concentrate on the Control Cruiser and it's battleship escorts." Palpatine commanded.

Aboard the Federation Control Cruiser, Lott Dodd was shrieking quite loudly. "Get us out of here. Hyperspace out of the system, now! Forget about the other ships, just go!" cried Dodd, as the ship rocked from Turbolaser fire. Z-91 Headhunters and R-39 Starchasers zipped past the bridge, firing their laser cannons at the few DroidFighters left.

"Sir, our drive system has been damaged, and our engines are failing. We are dead in space." said an Controller, before further blasts from the Glory of the Republic ripped the ship apart, as well as it's escorts.

The Republic Star Destroyers now turned their attention to the thirty remaining Federation ships, left dead in space. Each was destroyed, as all Cruisers and Destroyers turned their fire on one ship at a time, methodically wiping them out. Not a single Federation craft remained after the space battle ended.

*******************************

Theed Royal Plaza

The Jedi took advantage of the cease of turbolaser fire, and entered the Palace. They had watched helplessly as hundreds of Droidekas rolled into the Palace. Now the Jedi struck back, and attacked the Droidekas from behind. The Droidekas spun around and fired rapidly, as they backed up the Corridor. The Jedi united their power and a wall of Force Energy erected itself around the Droidekas. The laserfire was deflected right back at the droids. They heat began to melt them, as they fired even faster, mindlessly attempting to break through the invisible barrier that surrounded them. Within a few minutes, the Droidekas were nothing but a pool of hot metal on the marble floors of the Palace. The Jedi split up, and began to search the Palace for more Droid forces.

******************************

Royal Throne Room.

Viceroy Gunray quaked visibly in his seat, as he watched the destruction of his fleet and his Army over the HoloTransmitter. However, the day was not completely lost. If he could get the Queen to sign the Treaty, technically his mission was a success. The Queen would undoubtedly attack here, at the Throne Room, but Gunray was ready. Four Hundred Droidekas patrolled the area outside the doorways leading into the Room. Each door was sealed from the inside, and none but Gunray knew the code. Thinking of this, the Viceroy calmed down quite a bit, and began to enjoy his tea.

However, his relaxation was interrupted by the drop of two Jedi from the vents above, and the flotation of two young girls down to the floor.

"Greetings Viceroy." said Padmé , as she pointed her blaster pistol at Gunray's quivering head,

"You Highness, it's a pleasure to see you. How are you yesterday?" said Gunray, putting the code in his speech.

"What?" asked Padmé , confounded by the Viceroy's apparent idiocy.

The two doors opened, allowing the hundreds of Droidekas to be seen.

"Drop you weapons." commanded Gunray, knowing that two Jedi could not handle even that many Droidekas.

"We have no choice." said Obi-Wan, as he smiled slightly and threw his lightsaber down. Noticing this, the girls dropped their weapons as well.

"Haha. Your little insurrection is at an end, Your Highness. Time for you to sign the treaty, and end this pointless struggle."

The roar of Concussion Rifles could be heard coming down two corridors, and all turned their attention to it. Thermal Detonators landed in the midst of the Droidekas, destroying many when they exploded seconds later. The decoys blasted their way into the Throne Room, and once inside, the other four liberators sealed the doors, by destroying all the controls.

Padmé kicked Gunray in the shin, sending the Viceroy to his knees. "Now it is time to discuss a new treaty." she sneered, pushing the blaster pistol into his ear-hole.

****************************

Melting Pit. Theed Power Station.

The Two stood side by side, waiting for the laser shield in front of them to cycle through again. Maul had gotten a chance to rest, and rejuvenate himself in the Dark Side, and now waited for his opponents. Marattok and Mara however, were not rejuvenated, as neither could fully connect themselves to their own side of the Force.

"So, what have you been doing for the past year?" asked Mara, trying to center herself through the Force.

"Well, I did some mercenary work for the first four months after I left. Nothing illegal, I assure you. Then the Queen offered me the job of Chief of Security here on Naboo. It's a pretty boring job, but I took the time to work on the royal yacht." replied Luke, trying to arouse some anger.

"Yes, I saw it in action as I dropped out of Hyperspace. What did you name it?" inquired Mara.

"The Silver Cardinal. It looks kind of like a bird, like the Jade Eagle." answered Luke.

"Mhm. I noticed. You flew it quite well. That stunt you pulled outside on Central Avenue was most impressive." complimented Mara.

"Thank you, Master Mara." said Luke, as he blushed slightly.

Trying to liven up the conversation, "I hear that the Queen is quite beautiful. You two...?" Mara asked.

"No. She's pretty but..." Luke responded

"But?" asked Mara.

"She's not nearly as beautiful as you. Nothing is." answered Luke.

'"Luke, that's not healthy. You cannot hope for a relationship with me." said Mara, as she tried to discourage the young man.

"Why not?" asked Luke, startled by the turn the conversation had taken without his notice.

"Well, for starters, I am almost like your Mother. I raised you, changed when you were an infant, comforted you as a child, trained you into a Jedi Knight. That's not withstanding the fact that I am some fifteen years older than you." she answered.

"Can't you feel the bond we have? The connection that we have? Can't you feel that we are meant to be together?" Luke asked, trying to keep his hopes alive.

"Luke, I do feel our bond, and it's the bond of a mother to her child. We cannot be 'together' as you wish. Even if the Order allowed it, I would not." Mara admonished. "You're fourteen for Sith's sake, no offense, but that kind of relationship is illegal in the Republic."

Luke did not reply, but Mara could feel the anger and sadness in him. The Dark Side filled the young man, and began to engulf him completely. "Is that what you do now? Simply let the Darkness flow through you? Haven't I taught you better than that, Luke?" asked Mara, annoyed by the teen's behavior.

"I am no longer 'Luke'." said the young man, avoiding Mara's question. "I am Darth Marattok, Dark Lord of the Sith."

"Oh? You look like Luke to me. Aside from the leg, you're just as I remember you. Still whiny and stubborn as well." Mara replied.

Marattok's anger rose, and the Dark Side surged within him. "I am nothing like you remember." he spit out, barely restraining himself. "The weak child you knew as Luke, is completely gone from my soul. Only the Darkness remains now."

"Oh? Then what was that little talk we had about relationships we had a few moments ago? Looks like parts of Luke are still around." said Mara, as she finally regained control of herself and the Light Side flowed through her.

The argument could go no further, as the laser shield finally cycled through. The Two ran with Force-Speed through the shields and ignited their lightsabers. The Two leapt out at Maul, who had waited for them at the melting pit. The ebony and ivory blades met Maul's crimson ones, and pushed the older Sith back. Marattok lashed out with White Lightning bolts, which hit Maul in the chest, sending him across the pit and onto the floor.

As he tried to stand up, Mara leapt behind him, and kicked the Sith in the head. Maul, rolled away from his opponents, and shakily stood up. Allowing the pain to flow through him, Maul went back on the offensive. He leapt behind Marattok, and slashed at his legs. The Dark Lord jumped over the crimson blades, and back-flipped away. He then leapt back at Maul, lightsaber aimed at his opponent's throat. Maul tumbled out of the way, and slashed at Mara who was now above him. The Master Jedi parried the Sith's clumsy attack, and took the opportunity to cut at Maul's right arm, causing a howl of pain.

The Sith rolled away from Mara's ivory blade, as it stabbed into the space where he had been. Maul, stood up and hacked at Marattok. The Dark Lord parried, and rolled backwards towards Mara. The Two rushed forwards to attack the Sith together, working perfectly in unison, not allowing their respective sides of the Force to clash. The Two did not allow Maul to rest for even a moment of rest, as they viciously attacked. The Jedi Master punched Maul in the gut, while her former padawan brought his own fist down upon the Sith's horned head. Mara stabbed at Maul's stomach, and as he parried, Marattok brought his own blade down upon the older Sith's lightsaber, slashing it in two. Mara jumped towards a wall, bounced off it feet first, and turned in mid-air. With the added momentum she kicked Maul in the head, sending him falling into the abyss.

With one arm, Maul grabbed onto the edge of the pit. Marattok stood above him, and crushed the Sith's fingers under his boot. With his free leg, the Dark Lord viciously kicked Maul in the face, not allowing the Sith to fall. "Luke, what has gotten into you?." rebuked Mara. Marattok turned to face his former Master, and inadvertently let the Sith free.

Maul used the chance to Force-leap out of the abyss, using the edge as leverage. He ignited what remained of his lightsaber. The single scarlet blade was soon met by Marattok's ebony one. The Dark Lord back-handed the older Sith while the Jedi Master cut at her opponent's back with her blade.

Marattok hit Maul in the nose with the butt of his lightsaber, sending him reeling. Mara elbowed Maul in the ribs, and tumbled out of the way as Marattok slashed from above, and cut Maul into two. The dying Sith stared incredulously at Marattok, who sneered back, and kicked Maul into the melting pit as he called his opponent's lightsaber to his hand. The Two watched as Maul fell apart as his body tumbled down the pit, one calmly resigned to it and the other feeding off of the death.

**********************************

Droid Control Room.

The laser walls were now centimeters away from the group Jedi, huddled close together in the center. However, as Maul's corpse dropped into the fuel tube, and closed off the flow, the power levels dropped in the eastern side of Theed. Fortunately, for the Jedi, this was the part of Theed which the Droid Control Center was located in. The laser walls deactivated, as well as all the lights in the Center.

"What just happened?" asked Master Koth, as each Jedi ignited their lightsaber to illuminate the dark Center.

"I believe we just had a blackout." answered Master Windu.

"Well, let's get away from this laser enclosed area, just in case if the power comes back on." suggested Master Nejaa Halcyon.

"Yeah, we probably ought to go wild on these computers and consoles as well." said Master Ranik Solusar.

At this, the Jedi began slashing all the machinery they could see, leaving not a single computer undamaged. When the power finally came back on, as Maul's corpse was dissolved by the acidic fuel. The entire Center was destroyed.

"Well, I think that's pretty much it. Ya wanna go golfing? I hear Naboo has some nice courses." suggested Master Halcyon. The Jedi agreed, and filed out of the Center.

*************************************

Theed Royal Palace.

The Jedi inside were happy to see that the Droidekas were now standing by idly, unable to do anything.

"I guess the 'A' team succeeded." said Master Koon.

"Hey, Nejaa said that their team's gong golfing. Want to join'em?" asked Master Ur Manka.

The Jedi agreed, and left the Palace, headed for the golf courses.

************************************

Theed Power Station.

The Two silently walked out of the melting pit, and down the catwalk outside. Neither of them said anything about the defeat of Maul, nor looked at each other as they continued their stroll.

Having enough of the awkward silence, "Luke, you must come with me to Coruscant." Mara commanded.

"Ah, so you wish to execute me as well? I'm fairly certain I killed no Jedi, perhaps I maimed a few in my rescue, but killed none." said Marattok, unapologetically.

"Luke, I am sorry about the Council's behavior. Executing Aurra was most definitely not the answer. But neither was bombing a crowded skyhook, and endangering the lives of billions." scolded Mara.

"I foresaw that you would intervene. There was no risk. And if a few Black Sun members got hurt, big deal. They got what was coming to them." replied Marattok defiantly.

"What have you turned into Luke? You are nothing like sweet boy I knew." said Mara, appalled by Marattok's apathy.

"Like I told you, I've erased his presence completely. Only Darth Marattok remains, not that fool boy." said Luke.

"It's too bad, I loved that boy quite a bit." Mara responded. Heartened by the conflict in Marattok, she pressed onwards, "I would love to have him by my side again, a team again."

Marattok struggled to remain in the Darkness, as Mara's words cut right into him like a lightsaber blade. He then reminded himself of her admonishment and scorn of his feelings towards her. Enraged once again, "It is most unfortunate then. I suppose you will have to deal with the loss, again." Marattok spat out.

"You will come with me to Jedi Temple. I cannot allow the Sith to gain a warrior as powerful as you." Mara said.

"You'll drag my crippled body back to the Jedi, before I ever come back there willingly." Marattok responded, igniting his ebony saber.

"I do not wish to fight you, my child." said Mara, trying to diffuse the tension between them.

"I am not a child!" screamed Marattok, as he attacked Mara. The Jedi Master was forced to ignite her own ivory blade, and parry the Dark Lord's hack. She kicked the young man in the chest, and then followed it with a hurricane kick to the head, which sent Marattok tumbling down a few more levels to another catwalk.

Mara jumped down and landed beside him. Marattok got to his feet, and leapt over his former master, dodging her blade. Mara turned and nicked his chest. The Two began to battle once again, however, Mara was still the stronger. The Jedi Master easily parried the slashes and cuts Marattok sent at her, barely moving her body. The Dark Lord was enraged by the invulnerability of his opponent. Marattok gathered the Dark Side around him, and took hold of a larger amount then he had ever wielded before. Bolts of Red Lightning shot out from the Dark Lord's fingertips. Mara easily absorbed her former Padawan's attack, and sent it towards the energy pit below. "You are but a Learner Luke, I am still the Master." she stated.

Marattok again gathered the Dark Side energy about him, and instead put it into the strength of his attacks. Igniting Maul's scarlet blade, he slashed at Mara relentlessly, but this time he allowed the Dark Side to take him where it willed. The Master Jedi was now putting more energy into her defense and was forced to give ground. However, as he pressed his attack, Mara gathered the Light, and was invigorated by the life flowing through her. Mara once again easily parried The Dark Lord's cuts. The Master Jedi then moved to the offensive, slashing at Marattok, nicking and scraping his body with lightsaber cuts. The Dark Lord was now just parrying the attacks Mara was sending at him with all his energy. Examining his former Master, Marattok found that she was holding back, not even using her complete abilities.

The Dark Lord was tiring now, his parries sloppy, and his few attacks half-hearted. Mara could only be seen as a blur of motion to the eyes of a non-Force user. Marattok's body ached, and he could barely bring his lightsabers around to defend against his Master's attacks. While he parried one of his former Master's attacks, Mara punched him on his left arm, breaking the bone, causing him to drop Maul's saber. A stab to the Dark Lord's natural leg brought him to his knees in pain. The Master Jedi kicked into Marattok's chest, laying him out on the floor, unable to stand.

"You will be coming with me to the Jedi Temple." Mara said, in much pain at the sight of her crippled former Padawan.

The young man began to push himself away with his mechanical hand and leg. "I will never return with you. Never!" Marattok shouted at her. He moved to side of the catwalk, all the while watching the Master Jedi warily.

Realizing what the Dark Lord was doing, Mara reached out and grabbed hold of his natural and crippled leg. However, it was too late, as Marattok had already sent himself off into the abyss of energy. Mara was left with a human leg that extended from the foot to the mid-thigh, and could only stare into the pit dumbly, shocked to the core.

*******************************************

Two Days Later. Cathedral of Light. Theed.

The assembled Jedi stood around burning funeral pyre. Thousands of Nubians filled the pews. Luke's leg lay in the center of the circular pyre, surrounded by his clothes, and his few personal effects. Only a Holo of him and Mara was not destroyed, and Mara held that close to her heart, as what remained of Luke was reduced to ashes.

"What will happen to me now?" asked the small boy next to her, as tears rolled down his face.

Forcing herself to become calm, "Anakin, you will become my Padawan. I foresee that the resulting exodus of Jedi from the Order, from the revelation of the Council's actions, will be devastating. The fact that the Sith have apparently grown in great numbers is also a matter of concern. We will need all the Jedi we can find in the years to come." Mara answered Anakin.

"No threat of Sith, there is." said Master Yoda, who had recovered enough to join the Jedi on Naboo. "Only two there are, one Master, one Apprentice. Slain, both of them have been."

"I have to disagree." stated Count Dooku, as he walked over to Mara, Yoda, and Anakin stood. "I have studied the Sith teachings much. The Sith prophecies are quite clear. 'When a Dark Lord can stab into the heart of Light, the Sith shall rise again under his guidance. He shall forge the Sith anew with his own hand, and shall subjugate the Light to his malignant rule.' There are more Sith, I am certain." the former Jedi Master stated.

"I sense the Darkness has not dissipated. It has only grown stronger with Luke's death. There can be no doubt that the Sith have returned, at full might. We must be vigilant." Mara decided.

Nearby, Obi-Wan stood with qui-Gon, mourning for their friend. "Master, I cannot stay in the Order any longer. The Council has grown too wild, too strong. They have become arrogant with power. I feel Mara may help things, but I will not follow their commands any longer. I will be leaving Naboo with Aurra." Obi-Wan decided.

"I was discussing this with Luke before he died. I agree, I have decided to retire from the Order." said Qui-Gon.

"Where will you go, my Master?" asked Obi-Wan.

"Luke offered me the castle they have here in the lake country before he died. I suppose I will be staying there, with Shmi."

"With Shmi? Have you decided to settle down, my Master?" smirked Obi-Wan.

"Well, she needs a place to stay, and some company now that Anakin is leaving. She accepted my invitation to reside at the castle." answered Qui-Gon, as he watched Shmi out of the corner of his eye.

"Good Decision, my Master." Obi-Wan responded

Aurra stood with her former Master, the Dark Woman, off to the side, away from the other Jedi. "So you have left the Order as well, my Mistress?" asked Aurra incredulously.

"The Order no longer had a place for me. They've become nothing but drones now." the Dark Woman replied.

Aurra lay her head upon her Mistress' shoulders, as the flames began to die down. "Do you remember that offer that Luke made to you?" the Dark Woman asked.

"Yes... How do you know about that?" asked Aurra, now suspicious of her Mistress.

The Dark Woman smiled at her, and whispered "I can fulfill that offer, if you are interested." she proposed.

"Very well. I accept." decided Aurra, her curiosity piqued.

A few meters away, Chancellor Palpatine cackled internally at the unaware Jedi. Only Master Jade could have detected him, and she was too deep in mourning to be fully alert. He heard Dooku's words, and marveled at their truth. /Kenobi and Sing would be joining the Sith shortly. Hundreds of Jedi will abandon the Order, Marattok has even foreseen nine hundred in total leaving the Jedi within the next year. In a little over two years, over one thousand Jedi will forsake the Order. Not even the Great Schism of many millennia before could compare to this in sheer numbers. Nothing can stop me now, absolutely nothing./ thought the arrogant Sith Master.

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