Chapter 23

Handing Obi-Wan over to Ahsoka was the hardest thing Anakin had ever done. It tore him in two to entrust his safety to anyone else but neither could he send his Padawan to her death. He knew Ahsoka was not ready to take on Maul alone, let alone the possibility of having to fight him and Ventress together. It amazed him she had even been willing to do that for him. Anakin knew there was no way he could live with himself if he let her die just so he didn't have to part from Obi-Wan. He sent a prayer to Qui-Gon in the Force, asking him to look after Obi-Wan. Whether a possible dead man in the Force could actually do anything, he had no idea but why not?

Maul advanced and he ignited Obi-Wan's lightsaber, which he had discovered on their search of the ship. If he managed to kill the monster in front of him, he would do it with Obi-Wan's lightsaber as Obi-Wan could not do it himself. Although he did give a half smile at the image of Obi-Wan's face if he managed to get his lightsaber destroyed. Maul growled as Ahsoka disappeared around the corner and leapt towards Anakin. He brought the blade up to meet the incoming red one. With a snarl of his own, Anakin shoved him back and thrust right towards his face. His attack was deflected and the two blades rested against each other between them. Gathering his strength, he pushed, forcing the joined blades towards Maul who moved backwards, dancing out of the way. Given he had droid legs, he was surprisingly graceful. Anakin followed, sweeping low. Maul dodged but his lightsaber cut off the front half of the right foot.

"You will die!" Maul spat furiously.

"You first!" He growled back. Anakin used the Force to send him flying backwards, leaping after him and bringing his lightsaber down where Maul landed. Maul managed to roll to the side but was caught, leaving a cut on his arm. He jumped up, struggling to balance on his one and a half feet. Anakin pressed his advantage but Maul managed to block all of his attacks. He needed to end this fight soon and get to the ship, he was struggling to hold back his growing rage. Thankfully, unlike Grievous, Maul didn't seem to travel with any droids. With one last attack blocked, Anakin kicked out, sending Maul flying once again. This time he did not follow, he ran for the hangar. As he arrived, he saw the ship still there and was about to run towards it when he sensed another presence. Looking up, he saw Ventress was watching the scene but making no attempt to stop the ship, or board it. How strange. When she spotted him, she smirked and leapt down, landing between him and the ship. Time was ticking by and Obi-Wan desperately needed medical attention. He spotted Ahsoka in the pilot seat and signalled to her to get going without him. Ventress laughed.

"How noble of you, Skywalker." She didn't seem to care that Obi-Wan and Ahsoka were escaping. This was bizarre. It was almost like she wanted them to get away. Disregarding this, he leapt towards her. She only just raised her lightsaber in time and deflected his attack. In one smooth movement she twisted away and then attacked ferociously. He was forced on the defensive. A sloppy attack from Ventress allowed him to sidestep her lightsaber and bring his own through the hilt. The double lightsabers broke apart, with one chopped in half. She continued to fight with the one lightsaber but she was not as good. He soon regained the upper hand and eventually disarmed her.

As he was about to put her in binders, she glanced behind him and seemed to signal something at him. He dodged sideways as another red blade came slashing down where he had just been standing. Maul had finally rejoined them. It had taken longer than Anakin had expected. He also realised that Ventress could have let him be killed but instead she had warned him. What the kriffing hell is going on? He thought.

Then he was distracted by Maul launching another attack. Taking advantage of his momentary distraction, Ventress summoned her remaining lightsaber back and joined the attack. Now Anakin was hard pressed. Both of his opponents were skilled fighters and it took all of his concentration and power to keep them at bay. A fresh wave of hatred bubbled up inside him as he recalled the image of Obi-Wan in that cell, burned, bleeding and clearly dying. Burning hot rage flooded through him, driving him on. Power washed over him, it strengthened his every move and he also used it to boost his speed. In addition, he had Maul's balance issues and Ventress's single lightsaber to give him an advantage.

After another few minutes of fighting he sent Ventress flying with a solid kick to her stomach and then whirled around in the same movement, bringing his lightsaber through Maul's arm, severing it at the shoulder. Maul howled. Anakin used the Force to force him to the floor. He stood over Maul, breathing hard, and brought Obi-Wan's lightsaber to his heart. Then he summoned Maul's lightsaber to him and destroyed it, smirking down at the monster at his feet. Some part of him wanted to make his death as slow and torturous as he had planned to make Obi-Wan's. His hatred was rising even higher as he pushed the lightsaber close enough to burn. Maul snarled as he tried to push him back with the Force but nothing could touch him now. He was too powerful. Then Ventress slowly got to her feet, eyeing him warily.

There was a long pause as she and Anakin looked at each other. Suddenly he realised that she wasn't going to stop him killing Maul. In fact, she wanted him to. He smirked down once more enjoying how Maul's eyes widened as he seemed to reach the same conclusion. Obi-Wan's lightsaber pressed down a little further, making a slight cut. Some nagging part of his brain reminded him that Maul was an unarmed prisoner but he disregarded this. There was no way he was leaving him alive after what he did. Then he felt a brief flash of panic in the Force. It was coming from Obi-Wan. He must have felt Anakin's rage and been terrified. Anakin felt shame rush through him, bringing ham back to himself and then he turned back to Maul. He took a moment to release his anger to the Force. If he was going to kill for Obi-Wan, he would do it out of love, not anger.

"This is for Obi-Wan." Anakin said, lip curling in disgust. Then he thrust Obi-Wan's lightsaber through Maul's heart. He watched in satisfaction as he writhed for a second and then stilled. Anakin cut his head off just to make sure he was definitely dead and then turned to face Ventress. "Why would you let me kill him? And let the ship escape?"

"Dooku thought he could replace me with that." She glanced at Maul's corpse with a disgusted expression. "He will now find otherwise. You have done me a service, Skywalker so I shall let you walk away and inform Dooku that Maul failed in his mission, dying in the process. I was unable to kill you. Next time I see you, or dear Obi-Wan, I shall destroy you." Anakin scoffed, as if she could have beaten him. Instead of replying, he simply made his way to the closest ship and boarded it. As he settled himself in the pilot seat he saw Ventress watching him. It unsettled him. It felt wrong escaping this easily and he was waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Finally the ship took off and he was flying away. He had made it and Maul was dead. Properly this time. He grinned to himself. Weirdness of Sith politics aside, it had been a successful mission. Obi-Wan was safe and Maul was dead. The Council could stuff their orders where the suns doesn't shine. It angered him that after all Obi-Wan had done for the Jedi, devoting his life to them for over thirty years, they would just give up on him, leaving him to be tortured to death. Even if he hadn't been completely in love with Obi-Wan, he would never leave a Jedi to suffer the fate of death in the hands of Maul. Things like this really made him question the Jedi's philosophy. Yes he sort of understood why attachment was forbidden but if it turned them into this...he wasn't sure he wanted to be part of it. Leaving the Order with Obi-Wan couldn't come soon enough.

The flight seemed to take forever even though it couldn't have been more than an hour. The medical centre finally came into view and suddenly he was nervous. What if everything he had done wasn't enough? What if Obi-Wan was dead? No! He would have felt it if that were true. Even when Obi-Wan had been cut off from the Force, Anakin had still been able to sense him very faintly. He landed the ship and got off immediately. Ahsoka was waiting for him.

"Master!" She called.

"Ahsoka! Where is Obi-Wan?" He demanded.

"This way." Ahsoka replied. "I'll take you. The doctor said he got here in time and should make a full recovery. They have him in a bacta tank right now so he's unconscious. You saved him. Whatever you had in that bloody belt and the stuff you got off that Skarsuk guy saved Master Kenobi's life." Anakin felt a wave of relief so powerful he almost collapsed.

"Ahsoka." He said. She turned to face him. Anakin swallowed hard. "I know I asked something difficult of you and I'm so grateful you did it. I'm incredibly proud of you. I know I owe you an explanation, but I really need to see Obi-Wan first." She looked at him and then leapt forwards, pulling him into a tight hug. He wrapped his arms around her and smiled.

"I'm so glad you're safe." She muttered into his chest. "What happened with Maul and Ventress?" She asked, pulling back.

"Maul is dead." Anakin spat angrily. "Ventress...well that's complicated. Ventress and Maul were competing for the position of Dooku's apprentice so Ventress wanted Maul's mission to fail. She let you and Obi-Wan go, hoping to kill me, I guess, and gain the praise for herself. I killed Maul and she let me go."

"You let her live?" Ahsoka asked, frowning. Anakin shrugged.

"I wanted to get back to you two."

"Oh and we should probably report to the Council." She muttered. "I've been putting it off since I got here."

"Good. No reason you should take the heat for my decision. I'll speak to them."

"We did this together, we'll face them together." Ahsoka said firmly. Anakin smiled.

"Not until I've seen Obi-Wan." They made their way to the room he was in. Anakin bit back a whimper at the sight of the love of his life floating lifelessly in the blue liquid. Thankfully the many monitors nearby proved he was alive. Once he had assured himself the rescue was a success it was time to face the music. They moved to a private room and sent a transmission to the Jedi Council.

"Skywalker." Oh great. Windu just haaad to be the one to answer, Anakin thought to himself.

"Master Windu." Anakin tried for a smile and bowed. Thankfully Yoda then also came into view.

"Find Master Kenobi, you did?" Yoda asked.

"Yes, Master. Maul had him. He was very badly poisoned so we have brought him to the Kaliida Shoals medical centre."

"What of Maul?" Windu asked, a muscle twitching in his cheek.

"Dead. He was killed in the escape." Anakin informed them flatly. There was no need to mention his killing of an unarmed prisoner. They were pissed enough already.

"Well, you have done. But disobey orders, you did." Yoda said with a disapproving frown. Anakin felt a pulse of rage. They were still condemning him even though he had saved a Jedi Master and killed a Sith threat?

"Yes, Master." Anakin sighed.

"Maybe, mature enough to teach, you are not. Perhaps your Padawan, reassigned she should be." Yoda stated. Anakin wanted to protest but the words died in his throat. Maybe Yoda was right, maybe he wasn't cut out to be a teacher. The last thing he wanted was Ahsoka to suffer for being his Padawan. He had never understood why they assigned him a Padawan in the first place but now he didn't know what he would do without her.

"No!" Ahsoka cried, stepping forwards. "I have learned lots from Master Skywalker. I love being his Padawan."

"That's probably not a good thing." Windu frowned down at her disapprovingly.

"On probation, you both will be." Yoda told them. Anakin and Ahsoka bowed their heads.

"Yes, Master." They said in unison.

"Skywalker, you will come with me to Malastare where I can keep an eye on you. Your Padawan will remain with Master Kenobi until he is well enough to return to Coruscant." Anakin was horrified. Not only were they taking him away from Obi-Wan again, he was going on a mission with Mace Windu, who probably wanted to kill him. How hurt would Obi-Wan be if, after Anakin had sent him away despite promising to never leave him, he wasn't even there when he woke up?

"Yes, Master. I will leave immediately." It took all of his effort to keep the bitterness out of his voice.

"Very good." Windu said, sounding as if the words pained him. The transmission ended and Ahsoka looked at him sympathetically. Then her expression darkened.

"It's completely unfair!" She burst out. "On probation for rescuing a Jedi. Do they not even care about their own Council members? I don't want to be reassigned." She admitted.

"I won't let them do that. Nor will Obi-Wan when he wakes up." Anakin assured her. He would just have to behave himself for a little while. Provided Obi-Wan managed to stay out of danger then it should be easy enough. Then he remembered he was going on a mission with Mace Windu. Maybe not that easy. He knew the Master would be looking for any fault he could find as an excuse to strip him of his Padawan and Anakin was determined not to give him a reason. Anakin sighed. They made their way back to Obi-Wan's room but he was still in the tank. Anakin asked Nala Se when he would be woken up and she told him it wouldn't be for another day or so at least. Far longer than he could stay.

"Ahsoka, I need you to give this to Obi-Wan when he wakes up." Anakin handed back Obi-Wan's lightsaber. She took it regretfully. "I killed Maul with it for him, as he couldn't." She smiled.

"I'm sure he'll appreciate that."

"Providing he forgives me for leaving before he wakes up." Anakin muttered.

"I'll be sure to let him know the Council gave you no choice." Ahsoka assured him. He smiled gratefully at her.

"What would I do without you?" He asked lightly.

"Suffer." She smirked. They both laughed, though neither of them really felt like it. Anakin said his goodbyes and gave one last longing look at Obi-Wan's unconscious form before departing for a ship. He was really in need of sleep, he hadn't slept for more than two hours a night for the past six days and none in the last thirty six hours. But he couldn't risk being late to Malastare or Windu would have his hide. Especially as he was much closer and had no reason not to get there first.

The flight was uneventful and while he was at lightspeed, Anakin managed to get a quick nap in. Enough that he was less likely to simply collapse at Windu's feet anyway. Although it could be seen as a sign of respect and gain him brownie points. Unlikely. Nothing would ever gain him brownie points with the Jedi Master. He arrived at the expected point and walked off the ship. Rex was waiting for him.

"Good to see you, Sir."

"Good to see you too, Rex." Anakin smiled at him.

"Heard you rescued General Kenobi." Rex tilted his head. Anakin nodded. "Cody will be pleased. Said he was just getting used to him." Anakin snickered. Rex told him that Windu hadn't arrived yet and he left out a sigh of relief. He met the leader of the Dugs, Doge Urus, and was brought up to date on the plan to use the Republic's latest weapon. The sight of Doge made him think of Sebulba. He frowned and then decided to mediate while waiting for Windu. Finally Mace Windu arrived and met him where Anakin was already watching for the Separatist forces.

"Glad you made it on time." Windu scowled at him. Anakin inclined his head but didn't reply. He didn't trust himself to speak at that moment. He turned back to his binoculars. The weapon was ready and a transmission from the Chancellor appeared behind them. Anakin still wasn't sure how he felt about the man after their last encounter. It also unnerved him that the man was giving him an appraising look and he seemed somehow, pleased by something. Doge stated that he didn't want his people to become slaves to the Separatists. Anakin hid a cringe at the term 'slave'. The Chancellor assured him that wouldn't happen as the Separatists approached. He barely heard as some doctor assured them that the clones and the Dugs wouldn't be affected. Then he heard the doctor say that they had accounted for every probable outcome and had to bite back a groan. That meant that something was going to go wrong that they hadn't foreseen.

"It's the improbable that concerns me." Windu stated, unknowingly agreeing with Anakin. He asked about other options and the Chancellor assured him the bomb was the only way. Anakin frowned. There was always another way, you just had to look hard enough but he held his tongue.

"The droids are coming." Anakin told them. The clones began to engage the droids. After watching the destruction for a few seconds, he instructed the bombers to take off. The lead clones reported they were approaching the position and Anakin reminded them they only had one shot at this. The sooner it was over, the sooner he could get back to Obi-Wan. The bomb was dropped as the resulting wave rippled out. All of the droids dropped and the people on the ridge braced themselves. The Chancellor's transmission cut out but other than that, nothing seemed to happen to them. Seems that the doctor had been right. It had worked. Naturally that was when everything went wrong.

The ground where the bomb had been dropped began to sink. Anakin watched as Rex and his troop only just avoided falling in. Windu and Anakin got a troop count and then went to report to the Chancellor. The Chancellor only seemed to care about getting the treaty signed so they could access the fuel reserves. He gave no indication that he cared at all that many clones or Dugs had died. Doge Urus assured him that he would do his best to get the treaty signed by the council quickly. Rex then reported that they had lost contact with the rescue team.

"One problem always replaces another." Windu complained. Anakin only just stopped himself from rolling his eyes. He didn't need to get himself in more trouble. Anakin, Windu, Doge and some clones boarded a gunship to go and take a look. Once they had landed, Windu instructed him to deal with Doge and the treaty while he located the rescue team. Now Anakin knew that was for punishment. Windu was much more diplomatic than he was but it was common knowledge how much he loathed politics.

"Yes, Master." Anakin nodded, hiding his exasperation. With another mental reminder that he needed to be on his best behaviour, he left the gunship after Doge. Other council members gathered around and he politely asked how long it would take.

"We are waiting for two more council members. Then they will sign the treaty." Doge informed him.

"We appreciate your quick cooperation." Anakin smiled gratefully.

"This is the beginning of a great alliance." Doge nodded to him and then returned to conversation with his fellow Dugs. Then he heard roaring and blaster fire. Anakin quickly made his way to his starfighter. Flying over he heard Windu calling for him.

"I'm here." He said. Then he spotted the large beast moving below him. "What the..?"

"We need your help." Came Windu's voice. The dust was so thick as he flew down, he asked Artoo to turn on the beacon. Just then the beast came into view.

"Never mind." He called, swerving to avoid flying straight into its mouth. "What the heck is it?" He wondered to himself. Thankfully his ship was enough of a distraction that Windu and the clones could board a gunship to escape. Once again he swerved to avoid the beast's mouth but this time he wasn't as lucky and the tail smashed into his ship. He crashed and was thrown forwards, hitting his head. By the time he could refocus, the beast was almost on top of him. He burst out of the ship, grabbed Artoo and dived sideways. Then he jumped towards the beast and slashed with his lightsaber. To his surprise, it bounced off.

"Kriff!" He cursed. Then the foot he was on began rising. "Oh Sithspit." He muttered. He began climbing the beast and once he reached the top, he jumped off and grabbed onto Artoo. His jets carried them up and back to the others. They rolled across the floor and Anakin groaned.

"Where is your starfighter?" Windu asked sharply. Oh yes, I'm fine, don't worry about me. Anakin thought bitterly but he didn't dare say it out loud, if only because he was sure Windu was most certainly not worried about him. In fact, he'd probably prefer it if Anakin got himself eaten.

"The thing ate it." Was all he said out loud.

"That thing is a Zillo beast." Doge said, riding over to them. He explained the history of Zillo beasts and none of it sounded good. Anakin and Windu exchanged glances. The Dugs ordered the heaviest artillery to be brought forwards. Then the Jedi watched as nothing made a dent in the thing. Windu strode towards Doge's tent and Anakin noted that they swept something off the table as they entered. The Dugs were hiding something. Windu asked what they were doing and Doge told them it was an internal matter.

"You're killing a unique lifeform." Windu protested.

"It's a bloodthirsty and dangerous monster." Doge countered. Anakin kinda sided with the Dug. If even a lightsaber couldn't penetrate its hide, it was too dangerous to be left to roam the planet. It was the Dugs who would be killed by it so it should really be their call. "It tried to kill you."

"It was under attack. It has lived under the surface peacefully for many years." Windu argued.

"And you set it free." Doge reminded him angrily. Anakin agreed he had a point there too.

"We dropped the bomb on your request to save your people." Windu reminded him.

"To save our fuel for you to buy." Doge snarled angrily. "If you want us to sign the treaty then you must help us destroy the beast."

"What purpose would it serve to kill it?" Windu asked. Other than saving lives Anakin thought. "If it is the last of its kind…"

"It is our duty." Doge cut him off. "Will you help us or not?"

"We cannot allow the destruction of an innocent life form." Windu told them. Anakin wasn't so convinced on the 'innocent' part of it. Doge had told them it almost wiped out the Dugs before it was believed to be extinct. He understood why they didn't want one back again.

"Then there will be no treaty." Doge declared. Then he left.

"Master Windu…" Anakin began, not really knowing how to argue without his head getting bitten off. "Are you sure this standpoint is worth the treaty? You heard what the Chancellor said and we need the fuel."

"It is the principle. Allowing the Zillo beast to be killed would violate what we stand for as Jedi." Windu told him sternly. Anakin winced but continued anyway.

"If we choose to defend the creature, we will lose all hope of a treaty." He pointed out. The only response he got was a stern expression that told him to stop pushing his luck. Windu then left the tent and he sighed. He really should have known his opinion wouldn't be listened to. The only real way to save it would be to knock it out and let it sleep under the surface again, hoping it would never be reawoken. Unless they could convince the Dugs to allow them to transfer the creature to an uninhabited planet. Although, how they would transport the creature was another matter. One that was hopefully not his problem.

Just then he felt a flicker in the Force that meant Obi-Wan had finally woken up. Their bond was thin and faint given the distance but Anakin tried to send all the reassurance and love he could manage. He got some vague feelings of concern in return. Apparently he might have woken up but Obi-Wan still wasn't quite with it. He felt a pang of sorrow that he wasn't there but hoped Ahsoka could comfort him until Anakin could return.

Windu came back and informed him they needed to report to the Chancellor. Anakin nodded and followed the Jedi Master to the communication tent. The Chancellor was already there looking at a hologram of the Zillo beast.

"Remarkable." He said.

"I recommend we transport it to an uninhabited planet where it can live in peace." Anakin suggested. Windu shot him a look and then nodded in grudging approval.

"What do the Dugs say?" The Chancellor asked.

"They want us to help them destroy it." Windu told him.

"Then by all means, help them. The creature is of no importance." The Chancellor shrugged carelessly. Anakin could almost see Windu inflating with indignation and had to hide a laugh. "We cannot risk alienating the Dugs at this crucial time." He continued.

"It is not the Jedi way to take an innocent life." Windu stated firmly. No, it's just the Jedi way to leave their own to torment and death, Anakin thought angrily. The doctor tried to convince Palpatine that it would be in their best interests to study it. Anakin was about to point out that its scales would make amazing armour if it could be replicated when he realised that by studying it, they would probably want it brought to the Capital. There was no way that taking that thing to Coruscant would end well. He thought about it and realised that if they could convince everybody it was dead, then they could transport it somewhere safe and still have the treaty with the Dugs.

"If we let the Dugs think it is dead, then we could transport it somewhere uninhabited where it could be studied in safety and still have the treaty with the Dugs." He suggested, hoping they would go for it. Windu and Palpatine both stared at him.

"Go on." The Chancellor encouraged.

"I noticed small gaps between the armour and its scales. Maybe a pulse could penetrate there and short circuit its nervous system which would be like putting it in a deep sleep." The doctor agreed that would make it look like it were dead.

"That may be the only way to get this treaty and satisfy Master Windu's conscience." Palpatine said and Anakin detected a slight sneer at the last few words. Windu gave his approval.

Doge was pleased that they had seemingly changed their stance. However he commented that their way of dealing with the beast was already proven to work. They questioned what he meant and suddenly the green fuel was being poured on top of the beast. All this actually did was annoy the beast and cause it to start climbing out of the hole.

"Kriffing hell." Anakin muttered under his breath. Windu tried to demand that Doge stop but he refused. Windu then drew his lightsaber and told him to stop again.

"Or what? We are innocent life forms too." Doge taunted. Anakin stared at Windu in surprise. Using a lightsaber to threaten people? How unlike the Jedi Master. Doge laughed and then the beast finally made it to the top of the hole.

"I suggest moving." Anakin called, jumping back into the tank. Windu was right behind him. "Charge up those rays." Anakin ordered the clones. They began firing but it seemed to have no effect. The beast roamed around causing chaos and destroying many tanks before finally falling asleep. "It worked!" He grinned.

"Are you sure?" Windu asked him sceptically. Anakin sighed.

"Of course I'm sure." He said before climbing out of the tank. Windu followed.

"Now we just need to get him out of here." Windu commented.

"Any planet in mind?"

"Not yet."

With the beast dealt with, the Dugs signed the treaty that joined them with the Republic. Chancellor Palpatine welcomed them and stated that he wished it would be the start of a mutually beneficial alliance. Once the Dugs were gone, Anakin reported that the beast had been loaded ready for transport.

"Have you selected a planet yet?" Windu asked.

"There has been a slight change of plans. The beast will be coming to Coruscant for study." Palpatine informed them. "Master Windu, you and Master Skywalker will ensure the beast is safely transported here."

"No offense, your Excellency, but that's a terrible idea. If that thing gets loose it will kill millions. It can be studied somewhere less populated." Anakin pointed out.

"We do not have anywhere secure enough on an uninhabited planet." Palpatine told him.

"So you want to risk everyone on Coruscant?" He asked incredulously. "What about Dagobah? It's not far from here and mostly uninhabited. We can transport the tanks to keep the beast asleep while it is studied." He suggested. The Chancellor studied him carefully, long enough it made Anakin feel uncomfortable. Then he nodded his agreement.

"Fine. Take the beast to Dagobah. Then return to Coruscant." Palpatine told them. They nodded and then he ordered the doctor to get her team ready to move to Dagobah. The transmission ended.

"Well done, Skywalker." Windu said, looking as if he disliked saying it. Anakin simply nodded and then went to oversee the transport of the Zillo beast, eager to be back on Coruscant.