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Chapter 11

Qui-Gon was close, Obi-Wan knew it. He could sense his Master's confusion and worry. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Soon he would see the nubian starship take off and that would complete the first part of his plan. He opened his eyes again and looked out of the view screen of his ship.

"What if he decides to go looking for you?" Ben asked as he too looked out at the vast desert. "He won't. He doesn't know for sure that it was me, he thinks I'm still on Coruscant. So, he will contact the council and they will tell him to complete the mission." Obi-Wan said calmly. He knew there was a chance Qui-Gon would disobey the council's request. He just hoped that the Jedi Master wasn't foolish enough to risk the mission.

The light reflecting off a smooth silver surface in the distance caught Obi-Wan's eye. It was the starship, Qui-Gon was leaving. Obi-Wan breathed a sigh of relief.

Ben watched the ship leave the Atmosphere and then turned to Obi-Wan. "So, what's next?" He asked cheerfully, knowing full well what the answer was.

"Darth Maul"

. . .

Maul watched from a distance as the starship he had been tracking left the atmosphere of Tatooine. Even if he ran back to his own ship and took off immediately it was unlikely that he would be able to catch up with them. He had failed and he knew that he would be punished for it.

Anger filled him. How could they have fixed their ship so quickly?

He tore his eyes from the sky and looked out across the desert. Sand. As far as the eye could see. Hot, dry sand! Maul growled, he had already spent too much time on this planet. He turned to head back to his ship. Darth Sidious would want to hear about his failure.

He had barely taken three steps before he sensed something and stopped. It was a bright beacon of light. The intensity of it sickened him. "Jedi" he spat.

The Jedi wasn't even trying to hide his presence. It was almost like he was daring Maul to come and find him. He laughed menacingly, this lost little Jedi would be no match for him. Even if it was a trap the Sith knew he would prevail. He felt powerful, the anger and hate for failing his mission would give him the strength to win. He could feel the dark side flowing through his veins. Oh, and how he craved to suffocate that pure light that was calling for him, to watch it fade from the Jedi's eyes.

He knew which way to go and soon found the Jedi. Maul hid behind a sand dune and simply observed the Jedi for a moment. He just sat there seemingly talking to someone, but no one was there. Perhaps over a commlink? But that hardly mattered. The curious thing was that this appeared to be an apprentice. He looked so young, even from far away. But if this was an apprentice, then where was his Master?

Maul couldn't see anyone else far and wide. He reached out with his senses but the boy sitting in the sand was the only thing he could sense. Curious.

Perhaps this boy was lost. Perhaps he was hoping that his Master would find him if he made himself obvious enough? The Sith grinned with purest delight. He had hoped for a challenge, hoped to kill a Jedi but this helpless child waiting for his Master to find him would have to do. He would be able to have some fun.

. . .

Obi-Wan had chosen this place in the desert away from the town, so no one else would get hurt and it was far enough from his ship that Maul wouldn't easily find it. He knew that the Sith was just beyond the sand dune in the distance. No doubt he was sizing the Jedi up. Obi-Wan wasn't surprised that Maul had come. He knew that the Sith would be arrogant enough to accept the challenge. All he had to do now was wait and see what the Sith would do.

"Are you nervous?" Ben asked pulling Obi-Wan out of his meditation. "No matter what happens here the Sith will not win." Came the reply. "Ah yes, your marvellous plan B." Ben said sarcastically. "I know it's not ideal but if this doesn't work it's the next best thing." Obi-Wan reasoned. Ben shook his head, "How do you know that alerting the council now won't do the same thing as you knew it would have a year ago? And what makes you think they'll believe you?"

Obi-Wan hesitated. Ben had a point, but they had discussed this before and it was too late to change his mind. If he didn't return to his ship in an hour it would send a message to the Jedi Council. A message that would tell them everything. But that was only a last resort, for the case that he failed, for the case that Maul killed him. He only hoped that he would have changed enough to give the Jedi a chance at stopping the Sith lord, even if he did fail now.

"I don't, but what else can I do?" He finally replied to Ben's question. Ben's reply was cut off when they spotted a dark figure moving towards them in the distance. Obi-Wan stood up to meet the hooded figure. This was it, the moment he had spent a year preparing for. This fight would always have been inevitable but at least now they were meeting on his terms, not the Sith's.

"Are you lost Jedi?" Maul taunted. Obi-Wan didn't react he merely observed the Sith for a moment. He was exactly how Obi-Wan remembered him from his vision, right down to the black tattoos and yellow eyes that were filled with purest hate. Standing so close the young Jedi could feel the dark side swirling around the figure before him. He didn't know where the thought came from but Obi-Wan found himself wondering what had happened to cause such hate and anger in the man standing a few meters away from him. To some extent he even pitied the Sith apprentice.

"I am not lost. I am just enjoying the suns." Obi-Wan said calmly, almost politely.

Maul tilted his head slightly. The Jedi seemed unfazed by him. This was certainly a first for the Sith apprentice. He had expected his mere presence to cause fear or at least distress in the young Jedi, but yet here he was meeting Maul's gaze evenly. Maul suddenly realised what seemed out of place with this Jedi: his eyes. This Jedi looked to be in his early 20s, yet his eyes seemed haunted, as if he had seen more than anyone could possibly comprehend. They were the eyes of an old man, not a boy.

Maul's moment of hesitation didn't last long, for he reminded himself that it didn't matter. His hate for the Jedi, his urge to watch this Jedi suffer and die was stronger than his curiosity.

Darth Maul pulled out his lightsaber but didn't ignite it. He held the long hilt out before him horizontally. Obi-Wan remained standing, completely calm. He didn't even reach for his own lightsaber that still hung at his hip, hidden by his brown cloak. He was waiting for Maul to make his move. Obi-Wan was still a Jedi after all, he wouldn't initiate the fight.

'Curious' Maul found himself thinking again. But now his anger took over, this Jedi was antagonising him, mocking him! He ignited one end of his lightsaber, the blade casting a red glow over his features. He kept the other end deactivated, that way he still had a trick up his sleeve in case this Jedi proved himself more of a match after all. He didn't wait for the Jedi apprentice to draw his own weapon before striking.

Obi-Wan side-stepped and drew his 'saber in one swift movement. He ignited it in time to meet Maul's second strike. Their blades clashed and the duel began.

Obi-Wan kept to simple defensive moves. He was conserving his energy for when Maul decided to reveal his "secret" weapon. He remained almost completely still whilst the Sith danced around him, striking swiftly and viciously. Obi-Wan fought to keep his ground against his opponent's powerful blows.

When he finally caught an opening Obi-Wan sent his opponent flying backwards with a well-timed kick to the chest.

Maul growled with fury. He had expected this fight to be over soon and without much effort. Clearly, he had underestimated the Jedi. He ignited the other end of his double-bladed lightsaber and flipped high over his opponent's head. Landing, he drove one end of his 'saber forwards, forcing the Jedi to jump out of the way to avoid getting impaled.

Darth Maul stood in an offensive stance as he reassessed his opponent, he was expecting the boy to be unnerved by his new disadvantage. Instead, he shrugged off his cloak allowing the brown fabric to fall to the ground as if he too had been fighting with a deliberate hindrance.

Obi-Wan held his deactivated lightsaber loosely by his side. "I offer you the chance to surrender, Darth Maul." He called out in an even tone to show that he was neither tired nor afraid.

Maul was thrown off for a moment by the use of his name. How could this Jedi possibly know who he was? Both his and his Master's identities were supposed to be unknown. The Jedi weren't supposed to know that the Sith still existed. Yet this Jedi apprentice spoke his title with complete calm. If he knew, who else did? The Jedi council? This changed things. He wouldn't be able to simply kill this boy, he would have to torture him until he revealed how he knew and who else knew. "I will never surrender to the Jedi!" Maul spat.

"So be it" Obi-Wan said with a courteous bow. He reignited his 'saber and held it ready for Maul's attack.

Maul jumped at Obi-Wan and the fight continued. His opponent was strong but Obi-Wan manged to hold his ground. His muscles ached but he wouldn't give up.

The Sith brought his blade down in a wide arc. Obi-Wan met the blade with an upwards swipe. Blue clashed against red. Maul pushed his blade downwards forcing Obi-Wan's own blade against him. Obi-Wan could feel the heat of the two blades as they got closer. Sweat trickled down his temples. It took all of his strength to keep the blades away from his face. His muscles burned but he didn't back down, he couldn't, if he did, it would most likely cost him his life.

Maul grinned with satisfaction. Soon the Jedi would tire and the fight would be over. He added extra pressure.

Obi-Wan felt the added pressure and rather than the panicked expression the Sith was expecting, he gave him a half smile which Maul only understood too late. Obi-Wan closed his eyes gathering the Force around himself and then he deactivated his lightsaber.

Darth Maul didn't have time to react. As the force he was pushing against disappeared he lost his balance and toppled forward. With great elegance Obi-Wan twisted sideways, Maul's lightsaber only grazing his left arm. Landing on one knee Obi-Wan held out his lightsaber horizontally and reignited it. Maul couldn't stop his fall, everything had happened so fast. The shocked expression would forever be frozen on his face.

Obi-Wan dropped his lightsaber when a wave of exhaustion hit him. He opened his eyes and glanced to his left where he saw the two halves of the Sith. He reached out to take a pulse.

The battle was over.

"Are you alright?" Ben asked. Obi-Wan shifted his gaze to his singed sleeve. He moved the fabric to reveal the burn Maul's lightsaber had left. It stung but that seemed to be the extent of his injuries. "Nothing too serious" He replied as he got to his feet again. Ben observed Obi-Wan as he struggled to take his eyes off the corps he was leaving behind. "That's not what I meant."

Taking a life would never get easier, no matter whose it was. But Obi-Wan forced himself to tear his gaze away. "I'm fine." He held out his hand bringing both his and the Sith's lightsaber to his hand. It was time to leave Tatooine – for good.