Hello everyone, I hope you're all doing well in this time of crisis. Remember to take the necessary precautions, such as social distancing and washing your hands. It may be tedious and obvious, but those little things do help a great deal in combating the spread of diseases such as the coronavirus. Hopefully, we all manage to flatten the curve and will soon be back to our usual routines (mine isn't that different from quarantining really, oh well...)

But hey, since we're all stuck at home, for the time being, I thought it would be the perfect time to upload a new chapter. I know I keep making these 'empty' promises that I will upload more frequently, but it's just that life can be unpredictable for the most part. Even now I have a lot of stuff that keeps me busy even when I can't leave my own house. But I swear, whenever I get enough free time for writing I do try to find ways to improve my skills and develop the narrative in a way that, if things go well, please all of you.

Enough with the whole blah blah blah, you guys have waited for too long. Enjoy the new chapter!

(Review or PM me for any comments, doubts or suggestions!)

Chapter 8 : Memories

Maul stared intensely at the man across from the fire. The walk through the barren wasteland had been exhausting by sunset the two of them were on the brink of collapse. By the start, Kenobi did make a few smart remarks here and there and did it annoy the Zabrak to the bone. However, because of his revelation about his revenge being fulfilled, Maul did say he'd tolerate him. He imagined he would have broken such promise when Kenobi started making his random comments, but they ceased just as fast as he'd come up with them.

At least he understood when to stop. If Maul did learn something in his time crawling back from the shadows and resurfacing to the Galaxy was that silence was a powerful tool to shut someone up.

But it was also one that drew curiosity. Kenobi had always been the talkative type.

"I like your new legs. They make you look taller."

He held a snarl to the memory in his head. Even when the situation seemed dim, the Jedi would always find a way to anger him to his core.

Strangely enough, he'd done nearly none after they began searching for a place to settle, and Maul did wonder what was going on inside Kenobi's mind. He had sensed some discomfort emanate from him at one point.

Then again, he was uncomfortable having to endure his presence, but the odds of them surviving in this place were higher if they worked together, at least for the time being.

But Maul was still curious. As sunset neared they found some dried up vegetation that would be good enough to make a campfire for the night. And immediately after lighting it, Kenobi laid with his back facing Maul and fell asleep, as if the Zabrak wasn't there at all.

In his head, a voice kept repeating "He's vulnerable. Kill him, take your vengeance!"

And Maul was starting to savor the voice's pleadings. His hand twitched near his saber's hilt as he imagined the pain in Kenobi's eyes as he pierces his crimson blade through his chest, the pain fuelling his hatred.

Suddenly though, came a feeling of emptiness, his sense of purpose vanished into nothingness, and Maul realized why.

What would he do after killing Kenobi? He still didn't know where he was, and according to the Jedi, Sidious was dead. He didn't feel like he would get any pride or success in the aftermath, only a feeling of loneliness and emptiness.

And he was afraid of it. Soon enough, his fear turned into anger, and the anger into hate. He gazed at Kenobi again, his eyes glowing yellow with the hatred. He knew what he had to do.

Maul stood up and slowly crept toward the slumbering Jedi, drawing his double-bladed weapon but not yet igniting it. He was now a mere foot away from him, trying to control his breath, thinking of how to do it. Should he awaken him? Give this man a fighting chance before his inevitable demise, or just do it already, and end the torment inside his head?

The hand holding the saber started shaking, and Maul pressed his lips. He wanted to do it, he had to do it, but something kept stopping him from making the final decision whenever he felt he had decided.

Almost involuntarily, he raised his other hand, leaning in close to Kenobi's head but not touching it. Reaching out, he started to feel the pain, the anguish, the suffering.

"Obi-Wan, promise... Promise me you will train the boy...

...You lied to me, how many other lies have I been told by the council!?...

...Remember, my dear Obi-Wan, I've loved you always. I always will...

...Only pain you will find...

...If you're not with me, then you're my enemy...

...Obi-Wan... There... Is good in him...

... I HATE YOU...

...I know there is... Still...

...Now I am the master...

...There is still good in him, Ben...

So many voices. Some he recognized, others he didn't have any idea of whom they belonged to, but they seemed to be in unison like they were describing a series of events.

Then came a voice he knew.

... He... Will... Avenge... Us!"

His own voice. His last words, loud and clear, followed by a wave of regret, sorrow, resentment and stronger than all, sadness.

Maul withdrew his hand, stumbling backward by the overwhelming hit of emotions. He used the Force to stop his fall but kept panting in shock to what he'd witnessed.

Then he noticed a shift in the environment, and looking up he saw that Kenobi staring at him but still lying down.

They stayed like that for a moment, silence filling in the space. The fire was now but a pile of ash and the cold of the night started to slowly make its way in the site.

After what felt like a lifetime of waiting, Obi-Wan spoke:

"We've all had our suffering. How we deal with it defines who we are."

And so Maul put the pieces together. Those voices were from the saddest moments in Kenobi's life, the times when his world crumbled and hope seemed lost.

And among them was that night on Tatooine, when he passed in his rival's arms acknowledging his defeat.

Maul tried to speak, but couldn't find the words to express himself. Obi-Wan simply gave him a sympathetic glance and turned around "Good night, Maul."

And the Zabrak remained speechless on the ground. He saw the saber in his hand immediately tossed it away, immediately wondering why. His head was spinning with confusion and he wanted to scream it out of his system, but again, he couldn't find the strength to do so.

So he laid his head back on the sand, staring at the moonlight and the stars. The vastness of the universe engulfed him and before he knew, he was asleep. Not having nightmares or thoughts of revenge but for the apparent first time, he simply slept in peace.

I know, I know, it's a short chapter, and YES I know I'm taking too long to get to that sweet sweet mess of action that an HvV match in BF2 usually is, but this fic is intended to be more than that. It's a character study, a look at how their stories could have gone. But I'm telling you all who love some physical fighting, there will be plenty of it soon enough.

This was mostly to flesh out what Maul will be struggling with throughout the story, and how he deals with his inner torment. Making him notice Obi-Wan's suffering like it was his own and comparing it to his own seemed like a great way to kickstart this plotline, and I hope you like what I have in store for the Master of Trolling and the Half-Sith.

Now, for the reviews:

TaitanoRules555: For the most part, yes it is. But it won't be just that, think of it too as the ultimate crossover of main SW Canon characters (yes, Canon, I'm sorry Legends fans, but there might be some stuff in here that pleases you as well).

Whowantsout: Thank you very much! I like to see the story has some unpredictability to it ;D

The Jingo: Thank you, sir!

JZ (Guest): I can only hope I manage to keep you interest for the entire run! By two Chosen Ones you mean Anakin and Rey? (I can already see half the Fandom getting pissed, oh boy) I always imagined what it would be if those two ever met, and I think it results in a fun and exciting dynamic!

Thank you all for reading, and remember:

May the Force be with you.

Always.