The crew saw something different with Maul when he returned, and they were genuinely surprised by it. Before Kanan could explain, they saw Maul uplifted, looking peaceful, and not hunched over his cane as before. He seemed more energetic, not the beaten down man they had seen before, and it caused some confusion from them, until the pair explained the day's events. Ezra was, of course, bummed for missing a "Jedi meeting", which actually got a chuckle from Maul, but the others just shook their heads.
"Well at least you seem happier," Hera pointed out, surprised at her happiness for the man.
"Yes," Maul took a big whiff of air, tasting the cleanliness and clear head he now had, "I feel open, free to move and think without darkness in my mind."
"A bundle of joy," Kanan quipped, getting a smirk from Maul.
"Well, we don't have any missions for some time now." Hera explained. "We are on Chopper Base for a while, and are told to help out where we can."
"Sounds boring," Zeb added, getting an agreement from Ezra.
"Doesn't sound very...rebel-like."
"But It is important." Hera shot back, crossing her arms. "We are rebels, but have to keep our base organized like any group."
"Every campaign starts with a stable platform to jump off," Maul spoke, getting a look of gratitude from Hera.
Ezra replied with a groan, "One wise force wielder was enough."
The others let out chuckles, before separating to go help around the base, ignoring the woes of a young jedi.
"These proton bombs keep getting heavier," a rebel groaned, shifting one to keep it from falling.
"Yea, and it's our job to haul after every supply run," another complained, hating this just as much. "I love the rebellion, but I thought I'd be stealing the Empire blind, freeing planets, not playing storage droid."
"Me and you both," the first one sighed, not noticing he was leaning back. "I just wish we would- AHH!"
The weight of the bomb had leaned him too far back, and he couldn't stop himself from falling, and the bomb rolled out of his arms. Quickly turning, he watched helplessly as it rolled towards others, no doubt about to cause a chain reaction. Yet right before it hit, it froze midair, making him freeze, as a shadow came above him.
Turning, he felt his breath stop as he saw Maul above him. Nervous, he saw his outstretched arm and figure he had stopped the bomb, but worried for himself.
Calmly, Maul lowered the bomb, safely placing it alongside the others, and turned to the rebel on the ground. The man looked terrified, and nearby people watched, ready in case anything happened.
"Are you well?" Maul asked, holding out a hand to help him up.
"I'm fine." The rebel replied, taking the hand and standing up. Taking a deep breath, calming his racing heart, he looked at Maul gratefully, "Thanks for that, I wasn't ready for the weight."
"No harm done." Mail replied, "Just be wary next time, these bombs are sturdy, but can be set off by accident."
"Will do." The rebel nodded, feeling calmed and thankful towards Maul. Nodding at him, Maul walked away, to the awe of onlookers, who were confused who just helped one of their own.
"Higher." Sabine called out, rising up to the underside of a freighter. She was on repairs, currently working on the belly of a stolen freighter, though wished she was working on her explosives and her art. Sighing, she grabbed a wrench and started to work, pushing her dreams aside. It wasn't hard work, tune ups and making sure no delayed trackers are hidden, so it wasn't the hardest challenge.
Tightening a bolt, she let her mind wander away to the mission a couple days ago. Before the alarm went off, she saw Maul out of the corner of her eye, staring into a box. Right when he reached in the alarm went off, and they sprinted out of the room, but she remembered the far away look that came from him She also remembered the feeling she had from it, and the feeling in her gut when he reached in.
She remembered the talk before the mission, Maul and Kanan talking about something in the force relating to her, but she didn't understand at the time. Now, she had pieced together that whatever was in the box pertained to her, but neither of them said anything. She felt like they were hiding it from her, and disliked it but didn't say anything.
Sabine didn't know what to think, but she would find the answer. For she was a Mandalorian warrior, what could stop her?
Meetings were never his specialty, mainly since Kanan never saw use in them. They talked and planned, but it wasn't the same as action and actually fighting the Empire. A part of him kissed the days of just being with the Ghost crew, just them, running and gunning against the Imperials. Not much to worry about then, much simpler life.
"We need some more supplies," a hologram spoke. This meeting had been going on for some time, and Kanan disliked the man on the other side. He was a rebel, but he was easily swayed towards whoever had deeper pockets, and had once sold them out. Of course he swindled his way out of being offed, but Kanan had a deep annoyance for him.
"We are spread thin as it is," Hera reminded, mirroring Kanan's feelings. A diehard for the Rebellion, she scrutinized him easily. She wasn't about to give up supplies to that sleemo.
"I'm sure you could spare a bit more for us," All of them understood it wouldn't go to the group with him.
"We will see what we can do." Sato finished the conversation. The man bowed, and the transmission was cut.
"I don't like him." Kanan immediately said.
"You don't have to," Hera sighed, not denying the mutual feelings. "He gives us solid information."
"And he has for some time now," Sato added, though it was almost forced.
"Yea," Kanan wasn't easily swayed, "And that information costs us a great deal. If the Empire were to get into his pockets, we'd all be sold out for change."
"So what are you saying?" Ahsoka, who had been silent until now, asked.
"We get rid of him," Kanan said, as if it was simple.
"We can't do that, love."
"But he can't be trusted."
"No." Hera agreed, bowing her head. She seemed tired, and a part of Kanan filled with guilt, but his stubborn nature pushed it aside for the moment. "No he can't, but we don't have enough manpower to switch leaders. Not all of who we have are good, but we don't get to pick and choose our supplies. We just work with what we got."
Kanan bowed his head, knowing she was right. They were still small, not galaxy wide, and had to make do. Their supplies aren't new and factory made like the Empire's, and what they've stolen is marked, most of which have been picked from various parts.
"So we just have to pray he won't rat us out?" Kanan hated the idea, knowing it never lasted long. "What if he traces our call, finds out about our planet."
Here Sato laughed, "Do you have so little trust in our abilities, Kanan?"
"What do you mean?"
"We bounce our signal," Hera explained, smirking. "We first send it to a planet, which reroutes it to another, before hitting him. So even if he traces it,"
"He'll be on the wrong planet." Kanan smirked back.
"We are trusting, Captain Jarrus." Sato said, smiling. He may be a tough egg and a military man, but he was also human. "But not reckless."
"How are you this good?" Ezra groaned, almost banging his head against the holochess board.
Maul chuckled, "I have been alive far longer than you have, young Ezra, and I have experienced much more. It helps with games of strategy and of battle."
Ezra lifted his head, "Well whatever you did then, it certainly shows here. You beat me without even thinking!"
"Strategy comes natural to some people," Maul replied. Ezra didn't let it go, and Maul couldn't help but see a part of him in front of him, a younger one. Thinking off his next words, he reached across, placing his hand on one of Ezra's shoulders. "Ezra, strategy and battle wit is something everyone can learn. I just happened to learn it early in life, although against my will, and it led to some points."
"Like what?"
"You must learn to think three steps ahead," Maul explained, "Keep the present in mind, but work a plan for the future. The hard part is balancing them: If you worry only of the future, you leave your present unguarded; If you worry only on the present, you have no future with victory."
Ezra thought over his words, and Maul could see the smoke coming from his ears. He chuckled, "I don't expect you to fully understand that, but keep it in mind."
Ezra sighed, slouching in his seat, "Everything's so complicated these days. Why can't things be simpler."
He sat in his chair, knees up to his chest and head leaning on them. Maul heard a small bit of a joke, but heard more sincerity in the question. Quietly, he switched seats and sat next to Ezra. He himself thought of that in his younger days, before he went through his broken years, often crying for his loss of a past. However it was the look in Ezra's eyes, the ones that he mirrored, that made his heart sink. Silently, he wrapped an arm around Ezra, holding him gently, still a little awkward. He never really comforted anyone, so this was odd for him.
"The galaxy never was simple," Maul finally said, bowing his head. A million flashes of his complex life flashed before his eyes, showing everything he went through. "We just were shown one side of it, protected from the true nature of the galaxy. It isn't all sunshine and lothcats, but it isn't all death and ranchors either. It's up to us to find the good and bad in it, and to decide how we react to it."
It was quiet after that, both of them sitting on the bench, Ezra under Maul's arm. Maul actually was surprised with himself, not fully knowing where those words came from. He was following his gut for that, and the feeling of the Force as well, and he arrived at those words.
"The galaxy used to be a smaller place," Ezra finally mumbled, leaning into Maul. The action surprised the older man, who sighed and merely replied with what he knew.
"The world's still the same, Ezra...We just know more now than we did."
Just a little note: this chapter was a little shorter than usual. Working on next weeks as you read.
Plus: 5 points to anyone who understands what the last line is a reference to.
