Before Maul could make his way down to the holding cell the ships hull took a massive hit near the hyper drive. It was a precision strike that began a barrage of missile fire, penetrating the hull and rocking the ship to and fro. Any other organics would have been tossed about but Maul's mechanical legs were locked with each stride onto the metal floor below. On the bridge the officers and droids were thrown into useless heaps, save for the few strapped into their crash couches. As they tried to re-organize themselves and attend their battle stations they were strewn about again by another wave of incoming fire. The Clone fleet had honed in on their location with uncanny accuracy and gave no warning before raining artillery down on them. The orderlies that manned the bridge along with the mindless droids had no clue what warranted such a strike. It was unlike the republic forces to strike out of nowhere like this and with such furry. As Maul trekked down to the cell where the two Jedi were held captive, a cruel smile graced his face. He knew what had triggered this attack, and it didn't matter how many died in the progress. Revenge had been worth it. The look on Kenobi's face as his most precious possession was tortured and plundered was delicious to savor. Maul would complete his vengeance by his own hand. Savage was simple minded and easily out-manuvered. Maul was not of the same nature. He would look deep into Kenobi's eyes as he took the life of his best friend before his eyes. He would steal the last flicker of light inside the man before he killed him, himself.

It was puzzling to him how the young Padawan could escape the implant, but it didn't mater to him. She may have been an interesting anomaly but she would die all the same. Her attempt to rescue her Masters would be in vain. Their precious clones would never reach them in time. The hope of escape at the end of this long torturous ordeal would make stealing it away even sweeter. Maul felt like he should be thanking Ahsoka for making the completion of this dance more succulent than he thought possible. Yes, he thought. A chance to trample their hope a second time. A rare and beautiful opportunity... The image of the Jedi's faces falling as he trapped them fueled his dark heart. The force gathered about him like matter towards a gravity well. He trapped the essence around him to be dispensed at his will. There was an electricity surrounding him thick in the air, the pleasant sensation that sang through the dark side of the force was familiar. It was the resonating response to imminent death. Death that would be inflicted by his own hands.

The door to the chamber flew violently off it's rail and into the cell, with such momentum it crumpled against the wall leaving a crater in its' wake as it clattered to the floor. Maul stood at the precipice, a blue saber in each hand with purpose; he would put down these Jedi by their own sabers. He wielded them effortlessly, whirling blue circles of hot light in each hand. Taking a survey of the room he glared grinning, as if there was a joke and only he understood the punchline. Savage was comatose held in binds. Anakin was coiled in the corner. Ahsoka and Kenobi perched in protective stances, held red sabers alight in their grip. Disposing of these weak minded Jedi would be as easy as saber drills. Kenobi for all of his strength and wealth of experience was weakened from starvation and stiff from spending days hanging in the rig. He was no threat. The young padawan? More than easy to rival.

Kenobi launched forward first giving a guttural scream as he twisted in the air, aimed at his opponent. The twin red saber wheeling caught between the two blue blades clashing and sizzling against each other. The lower red beam swiveled in hand, slicing towards Mauls metal frame causing him to recoil and lash out against the man. Furious blue streaks of light moved and clashed, meeting Kenobi's red blade each time. Maul was pleasantly surprised by the fight left in the man but he couldn't afford to play this game now. He needed Anakin to die in front of his Master so is vengeance could be completed. He wanted to hear Obi-wan beg for mercy on his student one last time before he ended it. He did not have interest in drawing out this duel any longer than it needed to be. Each blow dealt was intent to kill and disarm the Jedi, but each move was met like a mirror.

The grin that had once shone ugly decay now reversed into a menacing scowl. Obi-wans force signature was bloodied in the dark side. His hate was fueling each swing of the saber he held. Each move his opponent made he saw in his minds eye before he moved a muscle. The hunger that should have dulled his mind and his senses fed the malice that charged his combative prowess. His eyes glinted gold in the saber light. Influenced by the dark side Obi-wan was a force to be reckoned with. Any other time this irony would have proved more than humorous to Maul but he had not the time or resources to draw this confrontation out. He had to get what was his before the ship was boarded and he no longer had the advantage.

Their sabers continued to clash against one another as Kenobi retreated a few paces avoiding a lunge of metal limb that surged out to kick him off balance. Maul seamlessly met him in a force push that each one of them strained against until both of them were sliding back in repulsion of the opposite forces. The release sent both of them back a few more paces. This was Maul's chance. Both sabers in hand he lashed out at Obi-wan, aiming a disarming blow. Before the sabers could make contact, from the other side of the room came the crumpled up door with great velocity towards the beast. Maul redirected the projectile to knock Obi-wan off his feet with ease. While the Jedi struggled to get back on his feet Maul was already looming over him, both sabers poised at his neck, ready to slash. He smiled down at the man, glowering deeply into his eyes savoring the golden circles that graced the edges of grey-blue.

Suddenly a com-link chirped from the wrist of the dark apprentice. Looking annoyed, he toggled the connection. A hooded figure appeared. Orders were given. Retreat- alone and immediately. The beast snarled at the holographic figure as he closed the connection and extinguished the sabers. "This isn't finished, Kenobi." Maul spoke in a growl as he fled the scene.

With a sigh of relief Obi-wan came to his senses, amber hues draining from his eyes just as quickly. The battle had been a blur of memory he found challenging to remember the specifics of. If Maul was retreating that meant the clones must have arrived. Soon they would leave this wretched ship for good- a prospect that he had not been expecting. Obi-wan turned to his student who was still slumped in the corner. Careful to avoid irritating any of the wounds he lifted him gently and placed him around his shoulders.

"Lets not wait for our rescue party to find us. We need to start moving towards the hangar bay."

"What about the younglings?"

"You found them?" Obi-wans interest was piqued.

"Its hard to explain. They aren't exactly going to understand being rescued. Their minds are gone." Ahsoka said as she motioned to the scar on her temple. Obi-wan noticed with grim implication the feint golden rims on the edge of her eyes.

"We will leave it to the clones. We have to get Anakin medical attention now!"

For a moment Ahsoka felt foolish and nodded in agreement. Of course! Her master needed help still. The whole battle had been a rush. It was so unusual to see her Master showing any weakness he might have had, let alone retreating into a corner for the length of a battle. She wondered what the story behind the saber lanced- bite marks were, or if she would ever come to know it. There was so much about her Masters past that he kept private.

"Follow me I know the layout of the ship." Ahsoka motioned as she ran ahead of Obi-wan, nearly forgetting how the man was weakened and weighed down. She was mindful to keep the pace brisk yet forgiving. So focused on remembering the ship layout she didn't sense the organic turning the corner, and ran right into the figure and fell tumbling backwards.

"Rex!" Instant relief flooded her senses as the rest of the 501st came into view. The battalion rushed into action to help relieve Obi-wan from carrying his tattered student. Ahsoka gave detail on the younglings and the rest of the soldiers headed out to rescue them. A smaller detachment was assigned to escort Ahsoka and her Masters back to the ship. The mission had been a challenging one but the odds were conquered, just as they always were.

It seemed surreal as they departed from the separatist ship, approaching the republic cruiser. It felt like coming home. Her master was in critical condition but she knew he would pull out of it, just like they had escaped now. Anakin's life was nothing but a series of impossible feats, one right after the next. Obi-wan was not so jovial. He knelt at Anakins side as he slept brow furrowed in deep grief, head bowed against his hands where he held the hand of his student. She had never seen her Grand Master so given to emotion as she had since she had found them. What happened to them? She wasn't sure if she wanted to know the answer. She was content to be on the transport back home, safe, with her Masters. And the younglings would be okay, too.