Chapter 10
The dark, gloomy orb of Sollust grew enlarged in their view as the cruiser slowed into its approach. Anakin sat in the cockpit, leaning out towards the view screen, staring that the planet covered in thick green continents and dark blue oceans. He could feel a strange energy touching his connection with the Force. He recognized that energy; the Dark Side. This planet was teeming with it, that much was obvious.
The Republican pilot scanned the planet for any forms f civilization, finding only a few small flecks on the radar.
"It's hard to know where to land," he told Anakin and Obi-Wan who were in the cockpit with him.
"Can you scan for traces of recent space travel going to or leaving the areas?"
"If I combine the search with the civilization sectors, perhaps."
Obi-Wan watched as the pilot made his scan through the sectors. Suddenly Obi-Wan felt a strong twinge of the Force as one of the sectors flashed on the screen.
"There," he pointed, "That's where we need to go."
He wasn't quite sure why he knew that, he just did. It was as though the Force was showing him the way. The ship entered Sollust's atmosphere, drifting along the dark green treetops to find a secure landing spot.
The light green mist that hung on the ground spiraled out of the way as the ship landed in a small opening in the vast, dark jungle. As the five Jedi exited the cruiser, they were immediately taken in by the eerie calm which surrounded the thick mass of plant life around them. Strange calls of the hidden wildlife echoed all around them and the thick jungle trees swayed ominously.
R4 whistled as his red dome-top pun around scanning the area. Obi-Wan knelt down to read the translation on his read-out screen.
"R4 can't pick anything up; there are way too many life forms. Not a lot for civilization readings."
"The Force seems very strong with this place though," Anakin voiced.
"Yes, very strong," Ki-Adi Mundi added darkly, "Everyone keep you're senses about you. We'll split up in three directions. I'll go this way," he pointed north, "Kenobi, you and Skywalker go that way, and Master Trebor, you and Aayla go that way. If you find anything suspicious, use the comlinks and wait for the rest of us."
The other four nodded their agreement and went off their separate directions. R4 stayed with the ship along with the pilot.
Obi-Wan and Anakin traipsed through the jungle stealthily. Both wearing their trademark brown Jedi robes, they blended in well into the shadowy scenery. Tall, smooth tree trunks grew in around them, keeping them close. Wide, flat, large leaves of dark green roofed their heads as colourful lizard-like creatures scrambled along the branches.
"Master," Anakin ventured a question as he trailed behind, "What do you think is here?"
Obi-Wan paused a few moments before answering. He felt the air around him, rich with dark powers emanating from the Force. "The Sith."
"Really?" Anakin said, sounding almost excited, "You think they're hiding here?"
"Well, I can't be sure. Perhaps not. But the Sith is present in some form."
Anakin looked questioningly at this answer but didn't respond. He wondered at his teacher's patience sometimes. It had been eight years since Obi-Wan Kenobi faced the Sith, and now that it seemed as though the Jedi were finally closing in on them, he still seemed to remain calm and cool.
"I can sense the danger is growing master."
"I can as well," Obi-Wan replied, staying his course, "Stay alert."
Further away, the large-crested head of Coleman Trebor crouched down among the tall grasses which grew along the tree-line. He peered ahead with the keen eyesight of his species. His blue-skinned apprentice, crouching behind him, waited for his word.
Trebor pointed west, to a hill rising up out of a valley below the hill on which they were currently sitting.
"What is it?" she asked.
"Something moving," he said, "A humanoid figure. Someone walking." He motioned with his hand to continue down the side of the forest-covered hill.
Ki-Adi Mundi searched the jungle alone. He paused as he closed his eyes and attuned himself with the living Force around him. He would one of the high members of the Jedi Council and had spent his entire life learning the ways of the Force. Yet he never believed, until eight years ago, that be would be facing the Sith, the ancient, legendary enemies of the Jedi.
He felt the evil swarming around him. The Sith had a strong presence here, he was sure of it now. He had only to find where they hid. They were close.
Black eyes peered out through the foliage, staring down the two human Jedi trekking through the jungle ahead. Mauher glared menacingly at the two Jedi who had managed to escape his sabotage on Bogden. Rage filled every contour of his face, seeping through his clenched teeth.
Somehow these knights of the light side had found them here on this dark planet. But they would pay for their intrusion, he swore to himself. They would all pay.
Luciva crouched in waiting in the jungle, watching the two Jedi who approached with her green, slitted eyes. One of the Jedi had a long crest, the other was a blue female with two long tendrils coming from the back of her head. She was sure they had seen her so now she concealed herself in the thick, dark-green leaves.
The female Sith worshipper had an evil grimace on her white and black face. Her short, dark red hair stood on end as she covered it over with her black cloaked hood. Her eyes glowed as she held her lightsaber close, ready to use if the two intruders came too close.
Moving swiftly through the jungle, the dark, grey figure made its way through the think bramble to trees. The creature had thick, black tendrils hanging from the sides of its face like a beard of barnacles, with similar stringy tendrils coming out of its arms like shredded wings. Its skin was grey and rough and it wore tight black robes over its torso and body.
It broke out into a clearing in the trees. Ahead was the bulk of a large cave which stood alone in Sollust's massive forest. She saw a thick, humanoid figure standing close. He had dry, scaly skin which looked like hardened clay under a desert sun, making him look like a human jigsaw puzzle. His head was covered in many tiny spikes and his eyes were cold and black. He was also dressed in black robes over his dark green and black skin.
"Crydak," the grey, Gorgon creature said in a raspy female voice, "Where is Luciva?"
"What does it matter?" he replied in a hard, deep, wicked voice, "She will not be the one to rise to the Sith, Else, and nor will you."
"Never mind that now," the Gorgon Else-Ghent waved off his arrogant boasting, "We have problems. The Jedi are here."
Obi-Wan and Anakin came across a large grouping of plant-life so thick that they could hardly see past the first line of trees. Obi-Wan felt the Dark Side emanating from this spot, and he knew what it was.
These dark spots exited all throughout the universe, places devoted entirely to the Dark Side. They could be found anywhere on any system. Obi-Wan's old master Qui-Gon jinn had faced one on Malastare, and Master Yoda had taught him about them when he was a youngling. Obi-wan knew that whatever he found in there would be whatever he took with him.
Something inside of him told him that he had to enter this place. He needed to see what it would show him. But not Anakin; he was not yet ready for such a trial.
"Anakin, I'm going in here," he told his padawan, "Walk the perimeter and meet me on the other side."
"But master-"
"Anakin, just obey."
"Yes master."
Obi-Wan forced his way into the foliage, treading lightly and slowly. Inside there was only silence; even the sounds of the snakes and other jungle creatures moving through the trees were gone. He continued on until the trees began to open further. Gnarled roots crept out of the ground at his feet, and long, dark vines grazed the top of his head.
He could feel the Force growing stronger, and darker. Something was coming near. He felt it first, then saw it out of the corner of his eye; a cloaked figure moving in the trees ahead. Then it appeared before him, silent and still.
The figure was wearing a dark robe. His hands sat still at his sides until he brought them up to remove his hood, revealing a face that Obi-Wan knew too well. It was the red and black face of Darth Maul.
Obi-Wan stepped back. It was the one he killed on Naboo, the one who killed hi mentor. It took a moment to realize that this was only a figment, but Obi-Wan switched on his lightsaber nonetheless. The tattooed, horn-headed Darth Maul ignited his as well, with two red blades coming from either end of his hilt.
Obi-Wan made the first attack, blocked easily by Maul, who attacked with the other end of the saber. Obi-Wan acted fast to parry, though all in all the fight seemed to be going in slow motion. Obi-wan found Darth Maul's reactions slow, but his own slower.
Finally Obi-Wan found his opening. He had already revenged his master, but the image of this Sith lord slaying Qui-Gon was still fresh in his mind. Perhaps this was the test he needed to let his fears and doubts be put to rest. Maul was bringing both blades up over his head, and Obi-Wan did not hesitate to thrust his blue blade into the belly of his black opponent.
Maul dropped his lightsaber and fell to his knees. But as he looked up at Obi-Wan, the paint off his face began to melt away. Underneath the red and black, the true face of this apparition appeared before Obi-Wan Kenobi. And it was the face of Anakin Skywalker.
Obi-Wan looked in horror. He dared not think of what this vision was telling him. It could not be, no. If anyone could prevent this vision, it had to be him. Anakin couldn't turn. He just couldn't.
"No, No," Obi-Wan finally said out loud, backing away from his slain foe, backing deeper into the trees. But he couldn't wrench his eyes away from the face of his padawan plastered on the dead body of Darth Maul. And so, without looking where he was going, he tripped over a large root, and fell backward, crashing through the trees and tumbling deep into a pit far in the earth.
When he finally landed, he realized that darkness had consumed him, other than the faint light coming from the hole above from where he fell. He was in a large pit which smelled disgusting, a foul stench wafting from the further depths. He felt around, find only more vines and cobwebs, and the walls of the pit covered in some unknown, greasy slime.
"I have a bad feeling about this," he said to himself.
Obi-Wan heard a long growl coming from behind him. He turned around, lighting up his lightsaber. It the faint blue glow it gave off he was able to see a creature looming from the darkness, with orange skin, glowing green eyes, horns pointing from its head, and long, gangly arms with sharp claws.
"Great," Obi-Wan groaned, "Gundarks."