EPISODE 6
BLACK HOLE (PART 2)
21 BBY Hyperspace
《Caleb. Hey, Caleb!》
Someone was calling him, he didn't want to wake up. The seats on the shuttle were quite uncomfortable, he reached out to stretch, yawning. A hand slapped off his arm and an elbow in the ribs made him jump from the seat
《Wake up, come on!》 Ahsoka's voice was high and slightly shrill. The girl appeared to be a bit annoyed. She glared at him before pinning her thumb and middle finger together and starting snapping her fingers near his left ear.
《I'm awake, I'm awake.》 The boy astened to say, sitting more composed on the seat which had meanwhile hunched back. After yet another snap of the girl's fingers, the young Initiate slapped a hand on his ear who had suffered that auditory torture up to that moment and shoved Ahsoka's hand away. Running a hand over his tired eyes he surveyed the landscape. The lights of hyperspace welcomed him. 《What's going on? Are we in danger?》
Ahsoka shook her head and gestured quickly to the dashboard. 《No. The navicomputer is just informing us that we should be out of hyperspace soon.》
At that point, Caleb settled back in the chair. He wanted to look at the navicomputer on his station, but after repeated simulations done at the Temple he had decided that he would not drive any shuttles himself. He would not have understood anything anyway and therefore also this time his navicomputer on his side of the dashboard was strictly turned off. During his nap he could even have stretched his legs and rested them on the dimly lit screen, but then he had stopped himself, thinking that probably Ahsoka wouldn't have liked that.
《Ah, good!》 Caleb exclaimed as he got up and went into the landing hall to do one last quick check. He had already done it before leaving of course, but the security was never too much.
He had finished checking all the equipment, only the rations left.
《Here we are!》 Ahsoka's voice warned him, the boy took a quick glance at the supplies once he was reassured that they were still in place, confirming that his first three inspections had been carried out correctly he made his way to the cockpit.
The ship had just gone out into hyperspace when...
《Ahsoka? Do you see what I see?》 Caleb put a hand on the back of his seat. It's not possible... But are those coordinates right?
《You mean: what you don't see...》 The Togruta retorted, looking at the navicomputer screen with a terrified gaze. Evidently Caleb's doubts had also caught Ahsoka because the boy was able to understand that the girl was in fact double-checking the coordinates that she had entered a few hours before in the system.
《I'm very confused. Illium is a planet, right?》 Caleb asked, sitting back in his chair but not leaning his back against the seat. He was too confused and nervous to relax in it.
《Of course it's a planet, Caleb! I've been there! It's an icy planet that is exactly at these coordinates where we are now...》 Ahsoka had finished double-checking, the coordinates were correct.
The position of the stars and planets of the system was correct. So where were they? Or rather, where was the planet? Caleb could not understand, in none of the astrophysics textbooks he had studied did any of them mention a similar phenomenon. The planets could not disappear. Yeah, but this one is gone.
《Yes but... there is nothing here.》 The boy continued. Nothing useful came to mind. He felt helpless. After so much study and dedication, after all the time it had taken him to become an expert in this field, right now nothing came to mind. Nothing to say in order to improve the situation.
《I can see it by myself, thanks.》 Ahsoka uttered those words in annoyance without even looking at him. Her blue eyes darted back and forth between outer space and the navicomputer that seemed to be completely alright.
Had it been someone else, Caleb would have thought it was a bad joke. After all, getting lost in deep space was not a pleasant experience. But considering it was Ahsoka, Padawan, former padawan, Caleb corrected himself, of one of the most capable Jedi generals, he had then ruled out that possibility.
《And now what do we do?》 The boy had also approached the computer from the dashboard side of him. He couldn't sit idle. He passed a hand on the screen which came to life after all the time spent inactive and Caleb was flooded with numbers and statistics. He hated this part of the shuttles and spaceships. He would never be a pilot and he knew this well.
Caleb had just begun fumbling with the system screen when Ahsoka's voice cut him off.
《We are going back.》 The girl said resolutely, putting her hand on the systems and starting to make the calculations necessary to enter the coordinates of Coruscant.
《What?!》 Caleb exclaimed, turning abruptly in his chair and giving a bewildered look at Togruta who was still typing numbers and variables on the navicomputer screen.
《Caleb listen, your protection is my responsibility because I am older than you,》 Ahsoka began to say, without looking up from the onboard systems. 《Among Initiates of different ages, as well as between Padawans and even Masters, those who are older have the responsibility to protect those who are younger, less experienced and less powerful,》 the confident girl continued resolutely and then turned to Caleb and gave him a serious look. 《This task now falls on me, so we are going back.》
Caleb lowered his head. Do not distract yoursel, Caleb... For a moment he had forgotten that safety was important. 《I knew that...》 He murmured.
《Did you forget that?》 Ahsoka asked, looking back at the glowing screen.
《Yes... but listen to me, we can't go back!》 Caleb repeated in an even more insistent tone.
《And why?》 The girl asked, arching her eyebrows and tilting her head slightly to the side with a look of superiority.
《It would be seen as a failure on our part. If we don't finish the Gathering we will never be chosen as Padawans!》 Caleb found himself unable to not raise his voice impatiently.
《Whoever fails the Gathering dies, Caleb. If they see us coming back they will understand that something unexpected happened.》 Ahsoka replied, explaining what she had seen with her eyes the first time she had faced the Gathering.
《Oh yes? And what are you going to tell Master Windu? "Sorry but when we got there the planet was gone"?》 Caleb made a bad imitation of himself, lifting his neck and arching his arms forward.
Ahsoka looked at him for a moment, dazed, then decided to ignore what had happened and replied. 《Exactly.》
《No one would ever believe it, Ahsoka. They'd think we ran away!》 Caleb was waving his arms around him in exasperation, almost throwing away the various trinkets placed on the shuttle's control systems.
《But we know it's not like that.》 Replied the girl, crossing her arms across her chest.
《Exactly, we know!》 Exasperated, Caleb gestured with a hand first to Ahsoka and then to himself. He had to make Ahsoka understand that there were rumors in the temple and those spread quickly. If they returned earlier than expected and without crystals, it would be the end of their Jedi career.
Caleb carefully observed the Togruta Initiate, who had put a hand to her chin and subconsciously seemed to be stroking it while she thoughtfully gazed at the sky that could be glimpsed through the windshield of the shuttle.
《Let me think,》 Ahsoka started to say under her breath. 《It is not possible for a planet to disappear into thin air.》
Meanwhile Caleb had begun to think carefully about what had happened, without even realizing he started babbling. 《If the cause had been a black hole, by now we would be dead.》 He began his speech, the boy was obviously lost in thought. 《And also if the planet had exploded for some reason, we would have to be surrounded by debris, even then we would already be dead because even a grain of sand could easily pierce the hull given the inertial motion after a similar explosion...》 said the boy. Even his gaze was lost in the vast panorama.
Ahsoka's voice made him jump, from a first position with his back bent and his head slightly pushed forward the boy took a rigid position with his back against the chair which started to jump slightly up and down in a motion after Caleb had jumped. 《I didn't know you knew so much Caleb!》
Caleb hadn't even realized he had started talking aloud. He had been so caught up in his thoughts that for a moment he had forgotten where he was and who he was talking to. After taking some time to calm down, he turned his head and looked at Ahsoka, saying, 《I am very passionate about the stars and the motion of the planets. I spend a lot of time in the library even though Master Jocasta thinks it's a waste of time to research similar topics.》 He paused for a moment, as if he had remembered something unpleasant, but after a few seconds his gaze lit up again. 《Master Sinube, however, says that this stuff trains the mind.》
Ahsoka, who had begun to observe the boy with a very interested air, moved her head slightly to the side, frowning before answering. 《I don't know Master Sinube, but I agree with him. You do well to keep your mind busy. Knowing such things can also come in handy. Unfortunately I have never been interested in astronomy and similar subjects.》 From the tone of her voice, Caleb had managed to understand that the Togruta was not proud of this detail.
《These things are not fundamental.》 Replied the boy hastily, waving his hands in front of him in a gesture of solidarity. 《Not everyone is suited for it. If you like, sometimes I can explain something interesting to you.》
At this proposal, Ahsoka turned back to the boy, her blue eyes that until a few seconds ago had gone dark were now illuminated with a new light that Caleb had often seen in the gaze of his fellow Initiates during some interesting training classes. The girl was very excited and she replied, 《Oh yes, Caleb, that would be very useful. Thank you.》 Ahsoka gave him a small bow of respect and gratitude, which Caleb promptly returned with a nod.
The two then dwelt more carefully on their systems and tools, trying to find or analyze any information and develop any plausible theory to explain that phenomenon currently called "unmotivated disappearance of an entire planet that could most likely ruin our Jedi careers".
Or rather, Caleb called it that way in his head, but he had the feeling that Ahsoka was no longer so relaxed and confident now. After yet another attempt at data analysis, the annoyed boy slammed a hand on the controls. The continuous orchestra of ticks and beeps, produced whenever the shuttle's systems and navicomputers were used, ceased and Caleb felt slightly disoriented now that that sound, until now so familiar as to pass unnoticed, was not there anymore. 《Ahsoka, I checked the sensors too, I can't detect anything. Not even radiation or magnetic fields which usually indicate the presence of nearby planets...》
《This is a big problem. What do we do?》 Ahsoka had also stopped fumbling with the on-board controls and was now staring at him with lost eyes.
《I don't know, you are the one with the experience here.》 Caleb replied trying to stay calm. How could he know what to do in such a situation? This was the first time he left the Temple and obviously he had never been prepared for an event like this.
《I have never been in a similar situation. You know, planets don't usually disappear...》 Ahsoka retorted annoyed.
Her sarcasm wasn't exactly something ideal at the moment and Caleb was starting to lose his temper. Was she the padawan of the most skilled Jedi General in the republic?
《Instead of sitting idle, we should think about what to do!》
Ahsoka cut him off, however, and with an air of overbearing superiority silenced him by saying,《 That I know. Shut up and let's try to think.》
The two Padawans stubbornlyrefused to look each other in the eye, both had their arms crossed. Part of Caleb's mind was persistently calling him immature, but he had decided to ignore that little voice in his head and continue to remain silent, with his arms crossed over his chest and still avoiding Ahsoka's gaze. But she too had taken the same attitude, so he felt justified in continuing.
Immature...
More time passed, Caleb didn't know how much. Maybe an hour? Maybe two? No, he couldn't know. Whenever he took a quick look at the navicomputer his brain could not register the data written on the monitor. Something was distracting him. Something drew him to your right, just below the seat.
Caleb turned his head, without looking at the girl sitting next to him, but down to the seat of the Togruta. Caleb could feel the side gaze that Ahsoka was giving him in annoyance but he totally ignored her, expanding his perceptions towards the gray bag that was resting on the ground.
Yes, there was something. Something he had to open. He didn't know why, but Caleb felt he had to do it. He felt that that was the way. He decided to make the more mature choice, which Ahsoka didn't seem to want to do, and he concentrated, closing his eyes for a few seconds. He let the anger flow through the Force, regaining the necessary calm and focus and then saying, 《Ahsoka?》
The girl did not answer, her arms remained folded on her chest, she continued undeterred to observe in front of her.
Caleb was really reaching the limit of his patience. He took a deep sigh, trying not to lose his temper as he had done before. They couldn't afford such childish games at the moment, and Caleb knew it. Ahsoka didn't seem to understand it... 《Ahsoka, do you feel it too?》 Caleb kept asking, trying to get the girl's attention and hoping that the anger he could sense from her through the Force would lessen and give way to calm.
Ahsoka turned her head and for the first time Caleb could see the little girl she was. After all Ahsoka was only three years older than him, so it was normal for her to behave this way. But after all, the girl was also more experienced than him, so she should be making the decisions and not him. And instead...
《Hear what?》 Ahsoka's voice was high-pitched and full of anger.
Caleb grimaced when he saw that Ahsoka showed no sign of calming down and helping.
Caleb decided to get straight to the point, feeling he couldn't bear the Togruta's gaze on him for very long. 《Looks like a... what do you have in your bag?》 He decided to ask. He had a feeling that he would not be able to explain fully.
But to the question just posed, there was no answer. Caleb continued to stare at the bag worn out from use leaning next to Ahsoka's seat. Caleb looked up and met Ahsoka's eyes, who had a slightly confused look.
《In the bag...》 Ahsoka whispered, the confused expression seeming to have settled permanently on the Togruta's face. Then the girl seemed to recover and she sat more upright in the seat, clapping her hands on the armrests of the chair in a fit of excitement. 《Oh yes! The holocron! Master Yoda gave it to me before leaving.》 She explained, leaning on one of her armrests and lowering herself to the floor. Towards the bag.
《Why did he give it to you?》 Caleb asked as Ahsoka's hand reached for the bag on the floor and lifted it off the ground. Caleb noticed that Ahsoka was being careful not to make that small backpack bump into the seat arm or the edge of the navicomputer.
《I haven't the faintest idea...》 Ahsoka replied, opening the bag and starting to rummage. Caleb was watching Ahsoka, the girl looked ready to put her own head inside the bag to see where she put her hands.
《But how is it possible that you don't feel it?》 He asked, feeling again a flow that was drawing him towards the pouch. He had to take... that... holocron.
Ahsoka was still trying to grab the holocron which apparently was completely submerged in clothes, water bottles and emergency rations. The bag was relatively small and Caleb was surprised to see that it could hold so much stuff inside.
《Well, it makes sense after all,》 Ahsoka continued with one arm almost completely tucked into the bag. 《Usually the Force wants to tell us something.》
Calen ran a hand through his hair, pausing for a few seconds on the braid that marked his current status as a Jedi student. 《Like your feeling of emptiness that you felt earlier.》 The boy muttered, turning the braid in his fingers thoughtfully.
《That's right, Caleb.》 Ahsoka replied, letting out a squeak as she grabbed the Jedi holocron given to her by Master Yoda and pulled it out of the worn bag, tossing it to the ground carelessly and turning the holocron over in her hands.
《I bet this is it!》 Caleb exclaimed in a moment of excitement and enlightenment. He believed he understood what had happened.
Obviously the girl was not telepathic and in fact she gave him a confused look before asking, 《What do you mean?》
Caleb called his Jedi training to him, he was losing his temper and letting himself be distracted by his emotions. He took a deep breath, finding his center, burying in himself all the other sensations provoked by his excitement and began to explain, hoping that the girl could follow his reasoning. 《You felt a feeling of emptiness and it was neither the equipment nor the food rations. We arrive at the exact coordinates of Illium and the planet is gone.》
Ahsoka's face lit up after a few seconds and she asked, 《Do you think the Force wanted to tell me this?》 Referring to the disappearance of the planet itself.
《Yes.》 Caleb replied, emphasizing what he said with an affirmative nod. 《What else if not this?》
《But a planet cannot disappear like this without even leaving a trace. Maybe the navicomputer is out of order, or you misread the scans.》 Continued the girl, accusing him of what she didn't know, moving her gaze to Caleb's station and analyzing, for what seemed to be the millionth time, the navicomputer. The scans and data obviously remained the same and no errors were found.
《No, Ahsoka.》 Caleb interrupted her, the boy had already thoroughly checked the data and being told that he had misinterpreted it was almost an insult. But he kept his cool. 《I checked before leaving, the navicomputer is not broken. I read the scans well. If you want to come and check for both of us, I'll give you my seat.》
Caleb jumped up from his chair, waiting for Ahsoka to do the same. The girl nodded and took her place in the co-pilot's seat and Caleb sat down on the seat that had belonged to the Togruta just a few seconds ago.
What followed was a continuous clicking of buttons. Caleb craned his neck slightly to see what Ahsoka was doing. He knew he had read the navicomputer analysis right. He was sure of it.
《You're right.》 Ahsoka said and Caleb let out a sigh that he didn't know he was holding back. He knew he was right, that was one of the few things he knew how to do when it came to spaceships, he wasn't wrong. 《There is no malfunction. Maybe the Force is really trying to communicate something to us. I felt a feeling of emptiness before coming here. What do you feel?》
Caleb didn't have to concentrate much. The feeling that had been bothering his brain for a few minutes remained in the background the whole time while he had talked to Ahsoka. Of course now came the hard part, trying to describe what he perceived. 《It's like a whistle. It is hard to explain. I know I must open it.》 Caleb said, eyeing the blue cube that Ahsoka had placed on the dashboard.
The holocron seemed to draw him to itself. Caleb just wanted to pick it up and open it, he felt he had to. Meanwhile Ahsoka had closed her eyes, Caleb could perceive how the girl was expanding her senses, first in a general way around her and then the perception seemed to shrink and concentrate around the holocron in front of Caleb.
《I don't feel anything.》 Ahsoka said opening her eyes and picking up the holocron.
Ahsoka... the Chosen One's padawan sensed nothing. Then... maybe he was wrong? Maybe all the conclusions he had come to were nothing more than fantasies... 《Am I going crazy? First Illium. Now this.》
《No, Caleb. Rest assured, give your perception the opportunity to guide you. If the Force tells you to open the holocron, then I don't see why you shouldn't listen to it.》 Ahsoka's voice made him shiver. He hadn't realized that he had expressed his doubts aloud, but when he turned his gaze to the girl, she was looking at him with a confident expression on her face. Ahsoka had one hand facing him and in it... the holocron.
Caleb took it in his slightly shaking hands and swallowed. 《All right. I'll try.》 He said in a whisper. He had never picked up a holocron. Master Jocasta always said that only members of the Jedi council could access the Holocron Chamber. This was the first time he had seen one and he was holding it in his hands.
《Do or do not. There is no try.》 Ahsoka said seriously. Caleb nearly leapt into the air in fright. The holocron jumped into his hands and the boy grabbed it in midair as he was about to crash to the ground.
《Yeah... Master Yoda repeats it all the time.》 Caleb said, getting up and sitting in a more composed way with his back straight and leaning back. He had his hands resting on his legs and enclosed between his fingers was the holocron that he had managed to recover from the fall. 《Have you ever understood what that means?》
《Of course not.》 Ahsoka replied with a slight shake of her head.
The two Padawans laughed for a few seconds.
《All right. Then I am opening it.》 Caleb glanced quickly at the girl who nodded, then closed his eyes and began to concentrate, trying to calm down every single emotion and feeling. The Force was telling him what to do. It told him what to look for in the Jedi holocron. It was as if the Force had given him the opening key and Caleb let himself be guided by it. A feeling of warmth ran down his spine and at that point he opened his eyes.
《Ahsoka, do you see what I see?》 The boy asked, observing the floating image above the holocron in midair.
《A star map.》 Ahsoka was looking at it with moderate interest, touching her chin and one of her montrals with one hand.
《Now I understand why Yoda gave you this holocron.》 He continued, scanning all the various systems on the floating hologram with his eyes.
Caleb felt he had to keep looking. This was just one piece of the puzzle, but it wasn't complete. He closed his eyes again and let the Force pervade him, banishing any negative emotion. The Force was calling him to a planet, yes. Caleb opened his eyes again, selecting one of the many systems on the hologram. The selected star system opened up expanding and Caleb knew this was where they had to go. 《I feel drawn to this planet.》
Ahsoka walked over to the hologram, selecting the coordinates of the planet Caleb showed her and entered them into the navicomputer for a more accurate reading. 《It's name is... Lothal. Never heard of it.》
Caleb shook his head, releasing his concentration, took a quick glance at the navicomputer and then asked. 《You still don't feel anything Ahsoka?》
Ahsoka lowered her head thoughtfully. 《Unfortunately, no. But maybe we're on the right track. Basically we just need to recover some Kyber crystals.》
《All right. Here are the coordinates.》 Caleb said, pointing to the hologram still open between the two of them.
《I've already plugged them into the navicomputer.》 Ahsoka promptly replied. Caleb during his concentration had not even noticed that the girl had already set the course, but the boy did not waste time, sitting more composed on the seat and turning on his station.
Ahsoka gave him a look between excited and confused.
《We will jump in: 3... 2... 1.》
An excited smile touched the boy's lips and he had the feeling that this time there would be no unexpected events. This time he truly felt his crystal within reach. The Jedi settled firmly on their seats and the shuttle jumped into hyperspace.
48 BBY Mustafar
Maul did not remember falling asleep or leaving his own room. He suspected he was about to be disciplined. He wondered if he hadn't done all his exercises correctly or if he had made some other mistake. Not that it mattered. Sometimes he was disciplined without any explanation at all. He had been learning discipline since he had learned how to walk. One of the first things he learned was not to cry. Crying never made anything better. Crying only made things worse.
Maul slowly pushed himself up from the bench. He felt cool air against his back and suspected there was a vent or a doorway behind him. Looking around the chamber, he noticed five red lights glowing in the darkness of one nearby corner. He recognized the lights as the eyes of the spider-legged droid.
Maul rubbed his right shoulder. He remembered that the droid had struck him in the shoulder earlier, and suspected that the droid had made him fall asleep. He wondered what the droid might do next. Would it kill him?
The droid lurched out of the corner. Maul hit the floor with his bare feel, and began running as fast as his small legs could carry him away from the droid. Staying out of the light that stretched from the windows across the floor, he darted toward an inner wall, heading for the source of the draft he'd felt against his back. His vision adjusted to the darkness and he found a quadrangular doorway. He did not hesitate to run through it, even though he had no idea of what awaited him in the next chamber.
Darkness. A chamber without windows. Then he glimpsed a dim sliver of light ahead. Ignoring the droid's clattering footsteps behind him, he ran toward the light, which emanated from somewhere beyond a curved wall. He knew he couldn't outrun the droid, but he didn't dare stop.
Maul ran around the curved wall and entered a long, narrow corridor. Illuminated by small rectangular lamps embedded in the walls, the corridor was so long that he couldn't see the other end. Maul kept running. He heard the droid's footsteps pause at the corridor's entrance. He hoped the droid was too large to follow him into the corridor.
Risking a backward glance, he saw the droid had already tilted its body sideways so four of its legs tapped against the wall while the remaining two continued to scramble up the floor, propelling its metal body after Maul. Maul gasped as he turned his gaze forward, never breaking his stride.
He heard the droid's footsteps grow louder and knew it was gaining on him. He somehow sensed the droid was about to snare him with a pincer. Desperate and determined to evade the droid, Maul jumped to the side, planting one foot against the wall to his right, then sprang to the opposite wall, keeping his feet moving so that he traveled two steps across the vertical surface in a diagonal descent to the floor. Maul heard the pincer slam into the floor behind him, and he jumped up to make two more quick strides along the right wall before he flung himself back to the floor, still running forward. As he ran, he heard a loud and satisfying crash from behind, and he knew that the droid had tripped over its own legs in its failed effort to keep up with him.
Suspecting that the droid would not only recover but also be very angry with him, Maul ran faster. His heart was pounding as he saw that the corridor terminated at another quadrangular doorway. He exited the corridor fast and arrived in a chamber that was unlike any place he had ever imagined.
Broad tapestries hung from the walls, which were also decorated with strange sculptures. Carved furniture, made from strangely jointed and highly polished bones rested on a wide rug that had once been an animal's hide. At the chamber's center, an enormous orb of transparent greenish blue liquid, nearly two meters in diameter was suspended in the air above a circular dining table. Dozens of small, multicolored aquatic creatures swam within the orb, some so close to the surface that their swishing tails sent ripples around the orb's circumference.
Maul was so amazed by all the wondrous things in the room that he almost forgot that he had stopped running. He just stood there, looking from the swimming creatures to the decorations. But as he studied the carved furniture, he instinctively realized the chamber was a special place. It was a place where someone sat and looked at all the things in the room. It was a place where someone lived. He knew the droid did not require such luxuries. He was certain that this place was the Man's lair.
《Welcome, Maul,》 Rasped a low voice from behind Maul. 《I have been expecting you.》
Maul froze at the sound of the Man's voice. He locked his eyes on the floating orb. He wished he could become invisible.
《I had expected that the droid would lead you here.》 the unseen Man continued. 《The way you ran along the walls to evade the droid was most impressive. But then you always have been a clever boy.》
Maul had heard the Man talk like this before. Compliments were almost always followed by punishments. Maul braced himself as he kept his eyes fixed on the floating orb. As unnerved as he was by the Man's presence, he was more fascinated by the aquatic creatures inside the orb. He wondered if the creatures were edible.
A screech of metal sounded from the doorway that Maul had just entered, and the droid pushed its body out of the narrow corridor to emerge inside the chamber. After the droid righted itself so that all its legs touched the floor, it moved up beside Maul, stopping short of the animal-hide rug. Maul shifted his gaze from the floating orb to the droid and noticed two of its legs were now bent at odd angles. The droid swiveled its mechanical eyes to stare at Maul and said in a droning tone, 《You should not have run away.》
《Leave us.》 the Man snapped at the droid.
The droid tottered away from Maul, moving toward a wide doorway on the other side of the room. Maul wanted to leave with the droid, but instead he looked at the floating orb and remained where he stood.
《You may face me.》 the Man said soothingly.
More than ever, Maul wished he were the free-floating boy who appeared to exist beyond the window in his own room. He tried very hard not to tremble as he slowly turned and looked up to face the Man.
As usual, the Man was wearing his dark robe with the deep hood, but he had pushed the hood back so it was draped behind his head. Maul was surprised to see his exposed face. The Man had blue eyes, fair skin of a singular color, and a head of wavy hair. Maul was also taken aback by how different the Man's head was from his own. The Man didn't even have horns.
The Man lifted his eyebrows as he looked at Maul skeptically. 《You can talk, can't you?》
Maul nodded.
《Yes?》
《Yes.》 Maul replied.
《You will address me as Master Sidious.》
《Yes, Master Sidious.》
Sidious smiled. 《Excellent.》 He stepped past the boy and stopped beside the floating orb. Maul noticed that all the aquatic creatures within the orb swam to the far side, putting distance between themselves and Sidious. Sidious glanced at the creatures as if he found them only mildly interesting. 《Maul, I have something important to tell you. I want you to listen carefully.》
Maul listened.
Speaking slowly, Sidious said, 《You... are... remarkable.》 Looking away from the watery orb, he faced Maul and added. 《Very remarkable.》
Maul did not know why he might be considered remarkable, or how Sidious expected him to respond. He decided to remain silent.
《Our galaxy is home to trillions of life-forms. Some are large, others small. But as diverse as they are, the truth is that most lifeforms are just like these fish.》 Sidious gestured at the fish with a dismissive wave, and the fish appeared to shiver within the orb. 《They seldom stray far from where they were born. They spend their time worrying about their next meal, about how they might avoid pain, and how long they might live. They live in fear of one another. And then, they die. It does not matter if they are an insect, a fish, a man, or... a snake.》
Once again, Maul thought of the snake he had been forced to kill.
《You have already traveled great distances.》 Sidious continued. 《You may have been born on the planet Iridonia, but you came to my attention on another world, Dathomir. There, the females rule and enslave the males. You were just an infant, and yet the most powerful beings on Dathomir were afraid of you. They wanted you dead because you were different.》 Sidious smiled. 《Do you know what makes you so remarkable, Maul? So different from ordinary lifeforms?》
Maul shook his head and answered meekly, 《No.》
Sidious raised his eyebrows slightly and pursed his lips Shaking his head, he said, 《That is not the correct response. The correct response is "No, Master Sidious."》
Maul swallowed hard, then said. 《No, Master Sidious.》
Sidious smiled again. 《You are different because you are stronger. You have powers. You know things in advance. You look at the closed door to your room, and you know it is about to open. You have fast reflexes. Others only dream of anticipating moments as you do, or being able to move so fast. In this way, you and I are alike, Maul, except that my powers are much greater. My powers are greater because I know many things that you have yet to learn, such as how to make your powers work for you. Do you understand?》
《Yes, Master Sidious.》
《Good. Good.》 Sidious walked around the watery orb until it was positioned between him and Maul. From Maul's point of view, the orb distorted Sidious's head and upper body. Sidious said, 《I know you imagine a different life for yourself, Maul. An easier life than you have now.》
Maul remained silent.
《I know you're upset about the snake that bit you.》 Sidious said, continuing around the watery orb until he had a clear view of Maul. 《I know everything about you, Maul. Everything.》 Sidious edged around the orb until he was facing Maul again. 《While you might think that your life is harsh and unpleasant, and that I am sometimes cruel, there is a reason for you to endure such pain. The reason is that you must become strong in every way. You must learn to overcome pain. Someday, you might become stronger than I. You'd like that, wouldn't you? To be stronger than I?》
《Yes, Master Sidious》
Sidious beamed at the boy. 《Good.》
21 BBY Dathomir Outer Rim
《I'm ready, Brother.》 The low, slightly hoarse voice took Maul out of his thoughts. He had stopped to observe his Scimitar, trying to locate other hiding places that could be used against him in his own ship, as did Ventress. He had identified three others so far, including one in the engine room. It wasn't good, he had to seal those spots, Maul didn't want to be back in the situation he'd found himself in with the Dathomirian female.
The Force had helped him locate likely useful hiding places, but Savage's voice had temporarily diverted his attention. Maul opened his eyes, staring at the Scimitar access ramp in front of him, and then turned around.
《I see.》 He whispered, looking at the yellow-skinned Zabrak. Savage had two bags with him, Maul suspected they were made of Rancor skin. He could say little about his species, he knew practically nothing about them, his former Master hadn't bothered to instruct him, but one thing was certain. Nightbrothers were capable and fearsome warriors, despite being subjected to the commend of the Nightsisters clan.
He started to turn to the ship but then remembered something that made him stop there. 《Once on the Scimitar, you can settle in the quarters next to mine.》 The Scimitar was not a large ship, it allowed a crew of up to ten people, although it was also possible to use it with a minimum crew of one person. Just as it had been for the last thirty or so years, both in Sidious's service and solo as for the past decade.
Sidious had never even told him his age. Maul actually never really cared about it. The Old Master had initially, when he healed him, estimated that he was about twenty years old. But then, with the regaining of his sense of self, after being healed also from Sidious's mental block, the Old Master had hired a droid who had been able to estimate his exact age thanks to the analysis of his horns. Maul had also discovered that the horns on his head had multiple functions, one of which was keeping balance.
Sidious had never said anything to him. He had never bothered to educate him on these things. But now Maul was free, he had broken his chains and could get the real power he deserved.
《Very good.》 Savage followed him onto the Scimitar, up the access ramp and down the corridor to an intersection. In front of them was the access to the cockpit. To the left Maul pointed to his personal cabin and then in front of it, to the right of the cockpit entrance, his brother's new quarters.
Maul didn't wait for Savage to step inside, but he spun around. 《I'll see you later.》 And he headed for the exit.
He heard Savage's feeble question, but his ears became overwhelmed by the rustle of the wind. Outside, a storm was approaching, and the trees almost devoid of foliage moved with oscillating movements. 《I have to do something first. I won't be away for long.》 Maul answered and went out, putting the mask on his face.
When he arrived at the temple, Brother Viscus welcomed him with open arms.
《Ah, Brother Maul! How can I help you?》
《Brother Viscus.》 Maul adjusted the hood on his head. 《I need to talk to Mother Talzin.》
《Of course. Go to the temple. She'll be waiting for you.》 Viscus pointed toward the stone-embedded mountain building.
Maul turned and started walking, but then stopped. 《I have a question.》
《Yes. All for Mother Talzin's Champion.》
《What can you tell me about her Magic. Isn't it like the Force?》
Viscus shrugged and gave him a dark look. 《You can manipulate the Force, Maul. Talzin also manipulates the Force. Mother Talzin is not like the other Nightsisters, Brother Maul. She's much more powerful.》 Viscus started in a whisper.
《It doesn't look like...》 Maul held back a grimace.
《The Magic of the Nightsisters is... mysterious. None of us males are allowed to learn it.》 Viscus looked around, then rested his gaze on the Champion.
《And why not?》 Maul asked, lowering his voice too.
Viscus approached the Champion, lowering his horned head slightly. 《These are the customs of Dathomir.》
《I see.》 Maul was watching Viscus up and down, his brother leader of the Nightbrothers clan had started approaching him with his head bowed. His posture indicated submission but also something else. Through the Force he could feel a trickle of fear in his brother.
Viscus then jerked his head up and Maul had to dodge so as not to be pierced in the cheek by one of the Nightbrother's sharp horns. Viscus turned his gaze to the temple, Maul followed his gaze and managed to glimpse a green mist vanishing at the entrance of the stone structure.
《Mother Talzin is waiting for you, Brother Maul.》
《Yes.》 Maul tilted his head and walked inside without looking back.
《My son.》 Mother Talzin welcomed him with open arms.
《Mother...》 Maul paused in front of her, he was out of arm's reach so as not to be touched.
Mother Talzin sighed. 《I perceive that you are perplexed. Is this, by any chance, about what Brother Viscus said?》 She asked, looking him straight in the eyes. The gaze of the leader of the Nightsisters was piercing. Maul could feel a primal Force inside her.
《Partly...》 Maul decided to answer, without explaining further. He let the silence answer for him.
《Our traditions are sacred, my Son.》 Mother Talzin started explaining to her newfound Son. 《Only the Nightsisters possess the ability to harness our magic.》
《I see...》 Maul replied, then paused once more, analyzing what she meant. 《Actually though, I'm not here just for that.》
《Yes. You have more to ask. Ask, my Champion.》
Maul felt that Talzin already knew what he was about to ask. 《Since arriving on Dathomir, I have begun to have clear visions. Sharper than usual.》
Mother Talzin turned toward the entrance of the temple, getting close enough glimpse the reddish sky above. 《You already know that Dathomir is a Force Nexus. Permeated by the dark side.》
《Yes mother. I had guessed it.》 Maul replied impatiently, but trying to contain himself.
Talzin turned her head and her white eyes towards Maul. 《In those visions, what do you see?》
Maul looked back at her with his golden eyes, took a breath and answered. 《A temple. And I hear... a voice.》
Silence. Mother Talzin looked at him with those cold and ancient eyes.
Mother Talzin made no sign of answering or retorting to what the ted Zabrak had revealed her, so he continued. 《I must go to Odessen.》
A few more moments of silence followed, then she replied. 《Visions are often influenced by our emotions, Maul. Maybe you just saw what you wanted to see.》
《No, Mother.》 Maul contradicted her, shaking his head, barely suppressing a growl. 《I have this feeling inside me. I have to find Odessen.》
《I understand.》 She said in a dark voice. She gave Maul a look that he could not interpret. 《If that's what you want...》
He nodded. 《It is.》
《I was hoping you would stay on Dathomir with me.》 Talzin turned away.
Maul was baffled for a moment. He had no idea how to answer that. 《I also... made Savage a promise.》
《Yes, of course. I can only warn you of this, Maul.》 She began, approaching him and putting one hand upon his shoulder. Maul wanted to shake it off. 《Don't go looking for Feral. He is lost to you.》
《A consequence of what has been done to him?》 Maul spit, accusing her, giving her a glacial look. When Mother Talzin didn't answer, he continued. 《I also had a vision of him and Savage. They were different. I've seen Ventress take away a Zabrak with lighter yellow skin than Savage's, just like Feral's.》 He paused, watching, studying Mother Talzin's gaze. It was indecipherable. Talzin shrugged and took her hand off the Zabrak's shoulder. 《At the time, I didn't know it was him, but after what Savage told me... it all adds up.》
《As I have already told you,》 Talzin said, 《Feral is lost to you. Don't go looking for him. You can't do anything.》
《And as I told you before, mother,》 Maul hissed that word out with barely containable anger, 《I made Savage a promise.》
《Very well.》 Talzin said, approaching the temple entrance again.
《Savage is coming with me.》
Talzin nodded without answering.
Maul started to walk away from the temple, but then stopped abruptly, turning around. 《What do you know about Odessen?》
Mother Talzin looked at him, frowning.
《I can feel... you know something Mother. You have to tell me what you know.》
Talzin sighed. 《Odessen is the lost planet of the Outer Rim. Nobody knows exactly where it is. Obviously it is also a Nexus in the Force. Hidden from all eyes, after...》 The leader of the Nightsisters paused, gazing thoughtfully at the sky.
《After what?》 Maul urged her to continue the conversation.
After a few moments of hesitation, Talzin shook her head. 《It is not my place to tell you the story of that planet, my son.》
Maul approached her, positioning himself in front of her and obscuring her view to the outside. 《You have to tell me what you know. I must find Odessen.》
《I can't, my son. But I can give you something that will help you get there.》 With a fluid movement, followed by a greenish mist, a small porcelain bottle appeared in Mother Talzin's hand, decorated with archaic writing unknown to Maul. It didn't even resemble Basic.
《Maul, this is the Elixir of the Soul. Manufactured through the water of the Ti'vuk River, the longest river in Dathomir that crosses the entire planet. It is infused with the magic of the night and gives the drinker knowledge.》
Maul reached out a hand.
But Mother Talzin pulled her away before Maul could take the Elixir and said, 《But, there is a price.》
Maul barely kept himself from rolling his eyes. 《Why am I not surprised? What is it?》
《Once drunk,》 Mother Talzin began with a solemn tone and observing the Zabrak with almost completely white eyes, 《whoever drinks this Elixir falls into a trans state that gradually blocks all vital functions.》 Talzin took a deep breath and continued. 《Starting with the motor muscles, causing paralysis. Then the breathing will be affected and finally the heartbeat.》
Maul's eyes widened, realisation hits him, looking at the seemingly harmless little bottle in her hand. In a whisper he said, 《So the price is...》
《Death.》 Talzin finished for him.
Death... was the price for knowledge. It couldn't... be.
Maul did not notice when Mother Talzin dissolved before his eyes. He made his way back home in a state of confusion, too focused on rethinking the latest revelations and unconsciously letting the Force guide him to the Scimitar.
He regained his bearings from that confused state only when he stepped onto the ship's entrance ramp. With one hand in his pocket, he turned the vial over, feeling it carefully, feeling the grooves in the porcelain with his fingers.
《There you are at last, brother.》 Savage's voice reached him as Maul walked into the hall.
Maul barely turned. 《Savage.》
《Have you talked to Mother Talzin?》
《Yes.》 Maul replied, but then asked point-blank, changing the subject. 《How does the accommodation look?》
《Acceptable. It will be for a short time.》 Savage was leaning against the door frame with his arms crossed. 《As soon as we find Feral, you can join us on Dathomir. Our hut is small, but comfortable, brother.》 Savage continued.
Maul looked at him for a few moments, two pairs of golden eyes met and Maul could not sense any evil intent. No lies. Maul turned to the cockpit, without answering his brother. 《Let's go.》
Savage followed his brother into the Scimitar's cockpit and sat in the co-pilot's seat. He waited for Maul to speak.
《Mother Talzin said that in the past, you too were taken by the Sith.》
《Yes. But I escaped.》 Maul said continuing to tinker with the ship's systems without looking away.
《I thought it was impossible.》 Savage continued, trying to find out more about his brother's past.
《In the beginning it was.》 Maul said with a sigh, his gaze slightly lost in the memories. 《More than ten years ago, there was a battle on another planet. A planet called Naboo.》
《Never heard of it.》 Savage said, shaking his head.
《It is a very active planet in the commercial and political sphere.》
Savage shrugged. 《I have never had a chance to leave Dathomir. Not until you came, taking that assassin with you.》
《How was I supposed to know she was going to kidnap Feral?》 Maul said with a snarl. After the conversation he had with Mother Talzin, he wasn't really in the mood for any more arguments. Maul decided to finally turn on the Scimitar and the noise of the engines returned to the background in the cockpit.
《You arrived at the village shortly after she left.》 Savage replied in an accusatory but at the same time calm tone. 《Since she came with your ship, you should have met her on the way back when she left. Right, or am I mistaken?》 Savage asked as the Scimitar began to soar into the sky.
《You're not wrong. But I didn't recognize Feral.》 Maul retorted, as the Scimutar rose higher and higher. The trees, the mountains and the temple were getting smaller and smaller until they completely disappeared once they reached Dathomir's orbit. 《The Zabrak he had with him was different from the Zabrak I glimpsed in my vision.》
《It is the magic of the Nightsisters. They changed him.》 Savage sighed.
Maul stopped the ship in stationary orbit and asked. 《What can you tell me about their magic?》
《Not much.》 Savage replied. 《It is mostly females who practice it. We males are not allowed to use it.》
This, Maul had already noticed. There seemed to be a matriarchal system on that planet. Maul didn't know if he liked this information or not.
《Can you tell me if it works?》
《Of course it works. Mother Talzin is very powerful.》 Savage replied in an annoyed tone, as if asking such a question was in itself something unthinkable.
Mother Talzin... Maul sensed something... Arcane, Ancient in her. But he had no idea what that meant. She, obviously, had knowledge that went beyond the mere practitioning of the dark side. Knowledge that not even Sidious had. 《And do you know if it is safe?》 Maul asked.
《From what I've seen with Feral... I don't know. He didn't seem to be the same. You should have seen his eyes. They were as if they were dead.》 Maul turned after hearing those words. He sensed through the Force, the pain Savage felt.
Maul concentrated, brushing off any other distracting sensations, then pulled the porcelain vial out of his pocket. 《Savage, Mother Talzin gave me this.》
Savage gave him a quick glance
《I have no idea what that is.》
《She called it: Elixir of the Soul. It could help me find what I want most.》
His brother looked at him with an interested look.
《And what do you want most?》 Savage asked.
Maul knew what Savage wanted, he almost seemed to scream it through his sensations in the Force. But Maul, what did he want. Not much actually. But there was something he couldn't get out of his mind. Something that had tormented him for more than ten long years.
《I want to kill...》 Maul said in a whisper, but at the very thought of Him, his lungs constricted.
《Who do you want to kill?》 Savage had leaned out of his seat, looking at his brother with sharp, golden eyes. They were the eyes of a predator, bright even in the dark. Excellent for night hunting.
Maul took a sigh. 《Sidious.》
《Your Master.》 Savage said. It wasn't a question. But it wasn't even a statement, judging by the tone used. It was nothing but a clarification.
《Former master.》 Maul corrected him immediately. 《And yes. Him.》 Maul nodded.
Savage turned around, sitting better in the seat and trying to position himself so he didn't hurt his ribs against one of the armrests he was sitting against. 《Brother… listen. Mother Talzin's magic always has a price to pay. Didn't she tell you?》 Savage said in a slightly concerned tone.
Maul's thoughts flew to Feral and his transformation. Then the conversation with Mother Talzin came back to him. 《She mentioned...》
《Then what is the price?》 Savage cut him off. He already knew the price.
Maul could feel it through the Force. Savage knew exactly what the price was. After all, he had lived his whole life on Dathomir, surrounded by others like him. His own race. His people. But Maul, no. Until a few years ago, he didn't even know he had two hearts in his chest and not just one. Maul sighed. 《It's death.》
《And would you be willing to lose your life just to know how to kill this Darth Sidious?》 Savage asked, always observing his brother and never looking away from him.
Maul felt his blood run cold. A ferocious rage began to rise, flooding every thought inside his mind. Maul tried to suppress it as best he could. He had to remain lucid. 《I have to think about it… it can't be the only way.》 He continued to think aloud as Savage still watched him with those golden eyes... so much like his. 《An Elixir that gives you the answers you seek but does not allow you to realize your plans because the price to pay is your own life. Then it's useless!》 Almost without realizing it, Savage had managed to get the porcelain vial out of his hand before Maul could accidentally shatter it in his anger. 《I've been wasting my time up until now! This Elixir is useless!》
Savage was turning the vial containing the Elixir donated by Mother Talzin in his hands and asked, 《Do you think there is another way? As far as I know, Mother Talzin's magic is inescapable.》
Maul, who until then had tried to reign over his anger, had managed to calm down and responded. 《I still do not know. I'll see this through to the end. But for now… I'll put it aside.》 And with that he set a new course, the Scimitar entered Hyperspace and moved away from Dathomir at lightspeed.
