Hello lovelies~ lots of exciting stuff happening this chapter. We have someone special coming to the Temple soon lolol. Maul and his perspective is back this chapter (yay) and we finally get the Liquor of the Sands. Super happy to share this all with you! ALSO. space lord of the rings because I said so LOL

Plo walked away from the small bunk where the little Togruta had been laid, a careful last brush to small montrals given as he had laid her down. She had been tuckered out, the excitement of a new place, a new ship, and a new life letting her buzz for longer than she probably should have, but she had nodded off in Plo's lap, so he had brought her to bed in the small ship. It was finally time to go home.

Plo was no longer raw and he had found a new youngling to take back to the Temple.

Plo guided the ship into the necessary hyperspace lane that would take them to Coruscant, shifting to hyperspace with the usual blue blur of stars. He would rest as well, he thought, setting the ship in autopilot, when a sudden hail was made.

Plo stood up, walking over to the holoprojector, and took a moment to realize that the call over the holonet line was from the Jedi Temple. Plo hesitated, before finally accepting it, and realizing as the holograms sprung into being, that he was not the only one in a starship. Master Mace Windu was also visible with the grainy quality caused from two relays, his expression firm.

Plo took them all in for a moment, looking for a sign that something had gone wrong, but outside of Mace's hard gaze, there looked as though nothing had gone wrong. It was a relief.

"Master Plo," Mace stated, "it is good to see you."

"It's good to see you all as well," Plo said.

"Successful, I hope your mission was," Yoda said, his voice warm, and Plo found himself smiling, his eyes wrinkling just so.

"Yes," he said, and he knew by the way Yoda closed his eyes with a small nod, that he knew he was talking about more than the youngling he had found. Even so, "I found a Togruta youngling on Shili. Her name is Ahsoka Tano."

"Good this is," Yaddle smiled, and Plo smiled as well.

"We look forward to meeting her," Ki-Adi stated with a slight bow of his head, and Plo gave another smile.

"She is a very brave, very kind girl," he said. "She will bring us great joy."

"Look forward to it, we do," Yaddle nodded, and there was a brief agreement from the rest of the Council, before their attention slowly shifted towards Mace.

"Successful your mission was?" Yoda asked, turning to the severe Jedi.

Plo felt himself stiffen slightly.

He had heard about what they planned to discover, about Mace's mission to Dathomir to find out what he could about a missing Nightbrother. It had been on the back of his mind ever since the first transmission that they had sent, knowing that they would find out more – one way or the other – about the Blood Slave they had in their midst.

Mace laced his fingers in front of him, his expression grave, and finally, "Maul was stolen from his mother." There was a brief swell of grief in Plo's heart, but before any of them could say a word, Mace continued, leaning further forward, "his mother is Mother Talzin herself."

"Talzin," Saesee breathed.

"The Mother herself?" Eeth asked.

"Yes," Mace answered heavily.

"Then how are we going to proceed?" Plo found himself asking. "If he is her son, would she not want…?" Plo found himself trailing off as Mace shook his head.

"Mother Talzin assured me that Maul…was not a gift to the man who took him," Mace explained slowly, artfully dodging the original question, but his expression, the tone of his voice… "The one who stole Maul sought to learn from the Nightsisters, or so he originally claimed, offering to pay tribute to them in order to get their knowledge. Instead, Maul was stolen from them, a score of Nightsisters slaughtered in his escape with the infant Nightbrother. They didn't have time to clean him, and even his name is one his Master gave him." Mace closed his eyes, letting them take everything in, before quietly, a repetition, "Maul had no name when he was taken."

Plo felt the knife in his chest twist, slowly sitting down on the seat near the holoprojector, breathing through the grief.

"Mother Talzin also wishes for me to inform the Council that while Maul was not a gift to the man who stole him," Mace closed his eyes, leaning further back in his chair, "while Maul was not a gift to the man… Mother Talzin is fully willing to use him as a gift to our Order. She would prefer that we…keep him after we rehabilitate him. That he would be a token of peace between Dathomir and the Jedi Temple."

"She has no right!" Eeth's words were loud and sudden and utterly furious in a way that had not been heard in the Council Room in a very long time. Eeth stood up then, taking a few steps away. "Apologies, Masters," he said finally, quietly.

"It is alright," Depa said softly. "It is not as though it is a reaction that is misplaced."

"Though you should be careful of your Zabrak tendencies," there was a gentle tease in Even's voice, no sting to be had in the words. Eeth laughed quietly, taking a breath, and finally returned to his seat, sinking into it.

"Well," Oppo sighed, shaking his great bearded head, "at least we are not beholden to return him from slavery as a Blood Slave to slavery among the Sisters."

Plo found himself concurring, his eyes closing, a moment of painful relief sweeping through him before he breathed it out.

"Maul is a son," Mace concurred quietly, his expression heavy, "which is precisely the reason why the Mother does not wish to accept him."

There was a pause after that pronouncement before they shook their heads quietly.

"It is a shame that we do not have the power to challenge the Nightsisters over their treatment of the Brothers," Even's voice was quiet but full of a soft sort of sneer.

"Even," Adi challenged softly and Even gave a brief nod.

"You are right of course," he sighed. "I will not invite war. Not after having received such a wonderful gift."

Adi's expression darkened slightly, and she looked down. "It is a disgustingly vile move to use her son like that."

"It would be nothing Maul has not already experienced," Eeth said quietly. "I have a thought that he was perhaps more…expendable than we originally thought."

"Your mission, Eeth," Yoda said then, turning to him, "successful it was?"

"Yes," Eeth nodded. "I have managed to file his horns down, and I did it without injury on either part."

"That is good," Depa said, her voice softly relieved.

Eeth was quiet for a moment.

"More to say have you?" Yaddle asked.

"Maul has been…neglected to a sickening degree," he finally said softly. "Initially he did try and headbutt me, which was a move I was expecting and I…caught his horns in mine. The sensation was so completely unfamiliar he literally fell against me."

There was a quiet pause as this statement slowly registered among the Council Members, Plo finding himself slumping further in his seat.

Eeth was quiet for another moment before, "Dathomirian Zabraks are even more social than Iridionian. Their horns are used primarily for social purposes and for him to react in that way means that he has never once interlocked his horns with another, nor even had them touched outside of filing, perhaps. Maul was…completely unaware of their effect. He did not know until I told him why it had happened."

There was a pause as they took this in before Saesee gave a low rumbling sound and finally, quietly, "I second Qui-Gon's motion for the Mind Healers to see to him," he said. "I have a feeling that there is a great deal more that we can do to help him than we have done."

"Though perhaps we should wait until he recognizes that he needs help," Plo said softly. "From what I understand we have attempted to send them in twice and he has not said a word to them."

"Forgive me Masters," Eeth said suddenly, standing up. "I had forgotten in the wake of my other news; Maul has finally begun speaking again. I will state I do not know if that means he is likely to speak to the Mind Healers, but…well he has been speaking."

"What did he say?" Mace Windu asked.

Eeth's expression shifted, before he smiled, and then looked to Plo. "He asked two questions. He asked where you went," he took a breath, "and he realized that you had likely left as a consequence of his own actions."

Plo was silent for a moment, taking that in, realizing that that meant Maul had… "We will return to the Temple in roughly two days' time. Will you pass on the message for me?"

"I shall," Eeth smiled.

"His other question what was?" Yoda asked.

Eeth's smile shifted, widening, and finally, "He asked where the smaller brat had gone."

There was a brief laugh that spread, a few calls of surprise and wonder, but that was all broken when Eeth finally burst out laughing, covering his mouth, "I'm sorry, Masters," he said again, "I had realized that the smaller brat was Anakin Skywalker, but I had been wondering who the obviously larger brat that Maul was referring to was. I have come to the realization that he meant Obi-Wan Kenobi."

The laugh spread then, and Plo's heart was warm.

There was hope yet, he found, and he carried some with him in the back of the ship, and some within a prison.

It was interesting how hope seemed to appear when least expected.

But Plo was always thankful.

Anakin had not meant to stay away from the prison for as long as he had.

Once he had decided to be a Jedi it had been a nonstop parade of tests, haircuts, fittings, and lessons, and while initially he had struggled with the guilt, he had managed with Obi-Wan's help to fully put away all of that lingering grief. It had been expediated by a talk with his mother who reminded him that the one rule when dealing with Blood Slaves was there was no guilt.

It was a lesson she hadn't thought to tell him, a lesson he would have learned as he was exposed to more, as he was brought into the talks more fully, as he got older. He had to learn fast, and so his mother had talked him through some of the finer details, had reminded him that in the end they must begin to show the Blood Slave that his actions were his own. They had to show him consequence and accountability, that his own actions had weight outside of what his Master told him, and while staying away as long as Anakin had was not something he wanted to do, it was likely something that needed to be done.

Teacher Eeth Koth approaching and telling him that Maul had been asking about him was the thing that finally made Anakin look to Obi-Wan with wide eyes, and the older boy gave an immediate nod, suspending their Aurebesh lesson for the day.

It was what led to Anakin finally bringing along a bowl of soup that he had been waiting for the recipe for.

Anakin held before him the Liquor of the Sands.

Obi-Wan had taken him down to the kitchens, bringing him to meet a few of the Jedi, Padawans, and Initiates that worked there, as well as giving him the ability to talk to the Head Cook for the Carnivorous Jedi, a male Togruta named Dormosh Silon. Silon had looked at Anakin with warm fondness in purple eyes when Anakin had asked him if he could use the kitchen. When the reason it was needed was given Silon had looked to Obi-Wan, and then back to Anakin with that warmth fading slightly to be replaced by something a good deal more…

Determined?

Either way, Silon had smiled and spread his arms, "What is mine is ours," he said, "Would you permit me to help you?"

Anakin had hesitated at the idea of giving this unknown the recipe, but at the realization that he wouldn't be able to make it on his own he had nodded, sworn the man to secrecy, and started working with him and a couple of older Padawans that didn't need to stand on stools to see the counter, and didn't mind that they weren't given the full recipe. Originally Silon had been very against the creation, suggesting that it would create a very bitter flavor, but as Anakin explained softly, that was the entire point. He also promised that it had a secret, and Silon would be allowed to taste it before Anakin brought it to Maul. After a long pause, the Togruta had agreed.

Silon had cut the required meats into squares, seasoning them with the concoction Anakin had prepared and searing them lightly as Anakin worked on mixing the broth. Shmi had told Anakin how to properly prepare it without the necessary herbs that Qui-Gon would be bringing soon.

Anakin was looking forward to Qui-Gon returning.

The kitchens had been enjoyable overall, all of the Padawans and Initiates helping each other, and Anakin when he needed an ingredient he couldn't find. It was the most integrated he had ever felt, as he was able to help them as well and they were able to practice lifting things with the Force and handing them to each other. It had been warm in the kitchens as well, a heat that Anakin had missed since Tatooine.

Anakin rather thought he liked being in the Kitchens.

Finally, Anakin had finished the soup base, giving it to Silon to pour into the pot and heat it, mixing the meats within it. When it was finally finished, the Togruta poured a bit of heated blood into the broth, stirring it until it was crimson.

"Taste it," Anakin smiled.

Silon gave him a slight frown, before finally doing so. Anakin watched as Silon's face scrunched in the same expression he had seen other Blood Slaves make, before smoothing over in shock, and then thoughtful curiosity, looking back at the soup. "I see why you call it a Liquor," he finally said, before looking to Anakin. "There is a significance to the flavor?"

"It always starts out bitter," Anakin answered primly, looking into those purple eyes. "It never starts enjoyable, but the aftertaste is worth the wait."

Silon paused, thinking, looking to the soup before him, before finally giving Anakin a nod and a smile, ladling him a bowl to give to Maul. "We will save the rest and give it to him periodically. How often should it be presented?"

"Once a week," Anakin explained.

"Very well. You have permission to come to the kitchens and make it with me, I will contact your Teachers when we are low."

And so, Anakin had thanked him and now carried the crimson soup into the Sith prison, Obi-Wan walking beside him.

Maul was lying on his back in a way that Anakin had never seen and for a moment he was almost worried. He had never seen Maul as anything other than active, either in stretching or actively practicing his katas, so to see him lying in such a position made something knot in his belly. It was only when he saw the flimsi that Maul was holding above himself that he came to the realization that Maul was reading. It was the oddest position Anakin had ever seen to read, but he wasn't really judging.

Maul finally looked up from his flimsi, taking in both Anakin and Obi-Wan and giving a brief sigh, before rolling upright from his prone position. He looked at the bowl Anakin was holding with interest before also looking to Obi-Wan, who was holding the rest of a meal. Frankly, Obi-Wan was holding an entire meal if Maul decided not to eat the soup. The goal wasn't to starve them, and it often took Blood Slaves a few weeks before they ate the soup entirely, recognizing that it would keep coming.

Anakin expected that, and had told Silon of the fact, which had led to Obi-Wan carrying a tray.

Maul took them both in, frowning at the bowl of soup and then the tray, and Anakin had a moment where he wondered how the food would be getting to him. Anakin had not seen the new prison, and it had taken a few Temple Guards to direct him properly, and now that he was standing before it… Anakin found it undeniably sad.

One of the guards opened a small slot that Anakin saw sent food in along a small channel to the right of the prison itself, and Maul hesitated before walking over to stand before it. Anakin put the food on the floor of that little channel, which closed and blended seamlessly into the wall after it was placed with Obi-Wan's, and then the slot opened for Maul.

Maul took the tray and the bowl, balancing them both with a practiced ease and walked over to where he had been reading and placing them both down to either side, sitting down between them.

Anakin watched as he looked them both over, taking in the soup with its natural blood-red color, and then looked to the tray, before looking up at them. His eyes narrowed at Anakin for a moment, his expression strange, before he finally tilted his head and with usual blunt matter-of-factness, "Your hair looks ridiculous."

Anakin laughed aloud, even as Obi-Wan scolded him for being rude.

"It is different!" Anakin agreed, tugging at the small ponytail that was at the back of his skull and indicating the even smaller padawan braid that Obi-Wan had helped him create. "But I'll grow into it."

"Do you want to?"

Anakin smiled, "More than I can say," he answered.

Maul's nose wrinkled, "shame."

Anakin just smiled wider. He had missed Maul, he realized with a jolt that was almost painful. They hadn't ever really spoken much, and the conversations had been awkward and stilted, but there was a kinship he felt that he couldn't shake. Anakin took a breath and blew it out in a sigh. Anakin finally indicated the soup.

He had a lot of explaining to do.

Maul did not know the feeling that was currently buzzing in his chest.

Maul did not know why he cared.

Maul looked to the smaller brat that he now remembered was named Anakin Skywalker, and found his gaze shifting to the brat that was still nameless. He rather hoped he stayed that way. His attention though was quickly drawn back to the food. The bowl of soup was…strange, the smell an odd tang. He could smell the fresh blood within it, which had been missing in a lot of his meals, but at the same time…

"The Liquor of the Sands," Skywalker said, indicating the soup. "It's from my birth planet. It's from Tatooine."

Maul narrowed his eyes at it, thinking of the rolling dunes and the equally rolling heat. He also found himself looking up to Skywalker with a slight raise of his brows.

Maul had been around Skywalker long enough to know that there was always some sort of ulterior motive for what he was doing. There was some lesson that they wanted to give him. Maul would wait.

Skywalker seemed to recognize that Maul wasn't going to touch it until he revealed his angle, so he took a breath. "It's traditionally prepared for Blood Slaves."

Maul tilted his head, taking this in for a moment. Blood Slaves? If nothing else, it sounded interesting.

"It's…meant for Slaves that were given the duty of getting more blood," Skywalker said, his mouth in a fine line. "Slaves that were told to kill as their only mission. They give blood to their Masters."

Maul remained perfectly still.

It was not a…wrong description of what Maul had done. Maul was an Assassin for his Master… Maul would kill the men and women that his Master pointed to. He would present his Master with blood. It was his job, his…duty. But Maul was not a slave to it. Even so, the similarity had struck. Very well.

So, the Youngling had a point, though he missed the mark.

Maul would try the soup.

Maul picked it up, taking it in for a moment, Anakin watching with wide eyes as he hesitated, took in another breath of that smell, and carefully took the spoon up and took a bite.

Maul's first impression was it was bitter.

The flavor was almost an assault on his senses and while a part of him wanted to spit it back, the rest of him took it as a challenge, swallowing it thickly. It was then that something very…strange happened. What Maul had expected to be a disgusting and unpalatable aftertaste rose as something sweet and light, better than anything he had frankly ever tasted. Maul stared at the bowl with abject confusion, not entirely certain whether or not he wanted to take another bite or not.

Maul looked over to Skywalker, taking in the way he stared at him, almost… Expectant?

Maul did not understand, but the more he thought of it the more he thought it had to be some sort of test. The bitter flavor had been an assault, but it was nothing that he couldn't handle. He didn't understand why they would give it to these 'Blood Slaves' unless it was some sort of test. They had to want them for something, after all. There was no reason they'd spend this much time with someone who dealt with blood if there was nothing to gain.

Surely, they meant to use them in some way to gain more blood. That was their only use.

Maul looked at them, looked back to the soup and decided he was going to eat it. He'd pass their little test.

It didn't matter anyway.

They wouldn't get anything from him.

Maul worked his way through with the single-minded determination that had gotten him through the worst of his training. The pleasant taste at the end, that feeling of satisfaction that followed when he finally scraped it clean and sat there feeling genuinely full was… Perhaps worth it.

He looked over to see Skywalker staring at him in absolute shock. Maul looked at the bowl. Maybe he hadn't been meant to eat it?

"I've never seen anyone finish it the first time they've been given it?" Skywalker said, his eyes still so wide.

Maul would take that as an accomplishment.

"Do you even think you can eat the rest of that?" the brat asked.

Maul hesitated, looking to the tray next to him, before taking the fruit from it as well as the water. The meat he left, taking the tray with the empty bowl to the slot, which was opened for him to return the food, setting it in the slot and stepping back, biting through the sweet flesh of the jogan fruit as it closed and the brat collected the tray. "I wish I could eat this," the brat said. "It feels like a waste…"

"I will take it," one of the Guards said with a brief bow.

"Ah, good! Please enjoy it."

"Thank you, Knight Kenobi."

Maul felt a slight annoyance rise up. Apparently, the brat's name was Kenobi.

Didn't matter.

Maul worked his way through the fruit, not caring about the seeds which were perfectly edible, frankly, and sipped at the water while listening idly to Skywalker talking to the brat quietly, not really paying attention. This was a sort of routine he had noticed, Maul would eat, and they would wait patiently until he had finished, when the talking would start.

Maul's least favorite part was the talking, but he was willing to follow the rules so long as he was able to get the strength to make another escape attempt. Eventually, Maul would get out. He knew that his Master was on Coruscant and he would find him. He had hoped that his escape initially had been enough to bring his Master's attention, but it was possible that the shielding here was too good.

Eventually Maul would try again.

Eventually Maul would be free.

Finally, he had finished the fruit, and the only thing left was the water, which Maul was content to sip at. The brat gave a brief clear of his throat to get Maul's attention, nodding to the flimsi that he had been reading. "What were you reading?"

Maul looked to the frankly strange story he had been reading, his nose wrinkling slightly, before instead of a more vocal answer, he picked it up and threw it with a perfect spin, letting it smack against the transparisteel and flop down in front of the brat, who gave a surprised noise. When it didn't fall backwards, the brat let out a laugh, scooting closer to read it through the two layers of protection.

"'Home is Behind,'" the brat read, before his expression brightened, "oh! This is a wonderful book! I do love this series; did they give you the other two?"

Maul frowned, looking to his stack of flimsi before giving a slight shrug. "Not that I have noticed."

"That's a travesty, I'll find my copies and bring them to you so you can finish," the brat stated with a nod, before looking to Skywalker. "Have you ever read them?"

"No," Skywalker answered.

"Hmm," the brat's expression shifted slightly, thoughtfully, "I have an idea then, we'll work our way through the first one while Maul can read the other two, after he finishes the first of course. Discussing it would likely be fun."

Maul frowned, "why does everyone here wish to discuss fiction?"

"You do not find it inspiring?" the brat asked.

"I find it laughable."

The brat's expression shifted, surprise in his gaze before it changed, softening somehow and… "I'm sorry," he said. "I have never read a more beautiful tale."

Maul sneered at him, "and in what way would you call it 'beautiful'? The characters are unbelievable, the…"

"In what way are they unbelievable?" the brat challenged, looking surprisingly unsettled.

"You cannot expect me to believe that…" Maul reached towards the flimsi, only to hiss when it did not return to him, when the collar burned in warning. Maul stood up deliberately, walking forward and taking the flimsi in his hands, ignoring the way Skywalker and the brat's face both seemed to pinch. Maul flicked through the pages once more, before finally, "you cannot expect me to believe that this… Wiseam would truly be as noble as to sacrifice his own wellbeing, that he would be so devoted to Fordin that he would give so much with absolutely nothing wanted in return? Such a thing does not exist."

"But it does," the brat insisted, and Skywalker was nodding as well, his expression wide-eyed and insistent. "That sort of love and selflessness is shown all over the Galaxy…"

"By the easily misguided and the naïve."

"No! It's…truly, Maul, it's not that unknown."

"My family has freed so many Blood Slaves without any thought of what they can give back to us," Skywalker added, nodding.

"Like you aim to free me," Maul sneered.

"Well…" the brat hesitated, "yes, of course. We don't expect or want anything from you. We merely…we just wish to free you."

Maul felt it rising within him, something that had happened so rarely he was still a little unused to the feeling, but when the loud peals of laughter escaped his chest to ring in the cell around him, causing both the brat and Skywalker to flinch back, the Guards to shift their grip on their saberstaffs… "Truly?" Maul asked when he had gained control, "truly you are going to sit here before me, Kenobi and suggest that your Order has nothing to gain from my 'rehabilitation' that you plan on just…freeing me and leaving me to my own devices."

"Yes," Kenobi stated immediately giving a sharp nod. "Of course."

"And tell me, Kenobi," Maul stood then, looking down at him, his lips curling into a sneer, "if I were to continue with my practice of the Dark Arts, to use the power of the Sith…would you let me leave this Temple?"

The brat, who had stood up to meet his look, to glare down at him…faltered. Maul saw it in the way his eyes darted to the side, the way his head lowered slightly, and Maul gave a soft, "ah," and took another step forward, until his nose was mere centimeters from the transparisteel, looking up slightly into the eyes before him. "There is the crux of your freedom, isn't it, Master Kenobi?" he hissed the words out softly, watching as Kenobi flinched slightly at the tone, the way his eyes darted once more. "So long as I act within the boundaries that you and your Order provide you will call me rehabilitated, you will even set me free… But we both know that your freedom is a lie, is it not? For you offer me no choice."

"But you do not know the Light Side of the Force, you do not know what you are missing," Kenobi protested, and Maul let out another laugh.

"Just as you don't know the Power of the Dark Side, just as you do not know what you have given up in your effort to spurn power. You speak of choice, do you not, but ultimately you will give me none. You will rehabilitate me and bring me within your Order as a Jedi, or I will be released once again gutted of my ability to utilize the Force because otherwise I would be too dangerous."

"No, that's not true, it…"

"Is it not?" Maul interrupted, "tell me then, Jedi, you would allow me to use the Dark Side? You would give me the power of Choice?"

"But is it true choice if you do not know what you are choosing from!" Kenobi finally called out, his voice ringing along the halls. "Is it a choice if you do not know any other way? I do not wish to cage you Maul, no one in this Order does… We…we just wish to give you the ability to learn, to…"

"And tell me," Maul asked, his words deliberately smooth, his tone completely level, "when I learn of your Light Side, when I give up my Sith Arts for however long it takes me to understand… What should happen if I decide I do not wish to give up the Dark? What would happen if I decide I prefer my Sith Arts to your Jedi niceties?"

Kenobi stared at him and there was horror in his gaze, horror and something that was cracked and aching. "I…" he started, and then slowly trailed off.

"And here, then, is where your lies crumble, is it not, Master Kenobi?" Maul sneered. "Here is where it is revealed that the Jedi Order is as full of hypocrisy as it is of lies. You speak of finding this work of fiction beautiful, of the loyalty and sacrifice given without ulterior motive as something that happens here, that will be gifted to me… And yet…" Maul smiled. "And yet all I hear is more lies from a bloated Order, and truths from a Slave boy that has never known anything of worth."

Kenobi froze, staring at him with wide and horrified eyes, darting, and then softly,

"That's not true," Skywalker said then, his voice loud and strong, and Maul turned to look at him.

"Oh, please, tell me how I am mistaken," Maul said, waving a hand, "by all means."

"I do know worth," Skywalker said, looking up at him with his eyes so… "I know what my mom is worth, I know what I am worth," he said, "I have had a number for as long as I can remember, and I know that the love that my mother gave me was worth more than all of the credits in the Galaxy. My mother let me go when she herself was still enslaved. My mother gave me my freedom…"

"And tell me, Skywalker," Maul said softly, "did you have a choice of what you would become? Did you choose to be a Jedi?"

Skywalker was quiet for a moment, "When they first freed me, they didn't tell me that I had a choice. They took me with them and brought me to the Council and… And when I first was asked about being a Jedi I didn't…I didn't know that I had a choice. They didn't give me any options."

Maul watched with smug satisfaction as Kenobi's eyes closed, his expression turning pained.

"But they learned," Skywalker rallied, frowning, stomping his foot. "They came back, and they told me that I do have options. They freed my mom, they freed me, and they will free you. I don't…I don't know what they'll do if you decide you want to return to the Dark Side, but…" Skywalker's nose wrinkled. "I don't think that it's a question they ever thought to ask themselves? I know that a lot of the problems have come from not asking questions. Maybe they should talk about it."

"And when they tell you I am right?" Maul asked softly, "What then?"

Skywalker frowned for a moment, before looking up at him with those sad, sad eyes. "I don't think you're right, but I can't prove you wrong. Give me, give us the opportunity."

Maul's lips curled into a sneer before he gave a slight wave of his hand. "Please," he said.

They left then, leaving Maul with the stirrings of satisfaction in his chest.

After a long moment where he carved their reactions into his skull, Maul left the flimsi where it lay and turned to begin working on his katas.

Maul had no use for something that did not exist.

Obi-Wan was reeling.

The thought of Maul reforming and yet somehow still utilizing the Dark Side had not even occurred to him. He had not even thought that that would be possible, but placed in the framework Maul had… Would it not still be…

Obi-Wan couldn't catch hold of the wayward thoughts they tumbled through his mind so quickly. He was aware of Anakin's presence next to him, the single-minded determination burning in him brightly at the desire to prove Maul wrong, but… Obi-Wan genuinely wasn't sure if he would be able to. Obi-Wan could not see the Council ever allowing the continued use of the Dark Side, but… If they did not, then were they not as bad as the one who had chained Maul to the Dark to begin with? They were merely chaining him to another prison.

Of course, that was assuming that Maul did decide to learn how to follow their arts, did become a Jedi and pass their Trials, and then still decide that he'd rather be a Sith.

Obi-Wan didn't truly see that ever being the case, but that almost didn't matter in the face of the principle of the thing. The principle being that if they trapped Maul in this… Then Maul was right.

They removed Maul's ability to choose, and thus forced the prospect of either foreswearing the Force entirely – which would be a fate worse than death, Obi-Wan knew – or they would force him to become a Jedi he did not wish to be. Either way he was enslaved to their will.

Either way, Maul was still not free. Either way they would place him in just another prison, though one that was meant to be gilded this time.

But a cage was ultimately still a cage.

Obi-Wan led Anakin back into the Temple, shortening his stride after a moment so Anakin could keep up without running. It wasn't fair for the much smaller boy after all, even if he did look a bit like he wanted to start running for the Council room as well.

As they entered the main Atrium, though, Obi-Wan found his step slowing, spotting Mace Windu, Yoda and…

"Chancellor Palpatine?" Obi-Wan whispered.

Chancellor Palpatine himself stood there, his hands perfectly clasped just so in front of him as he smiled at the two Senior-most of the Jedi Order, receiving a warm look in return. They looked as though they were just finishing up a conversation, and that was when the Chancellor turned and saw the both of them.

The warm look he sent their way reminded him of the way Qui-Gon looked at him, full of a subtle pride and a great deal of care. Obi-Wan ducked his head reflexively, seeing Anakin doing much the same, and they both approached.

"Well," the Chancellor said, looking them both over with that warm smile on his face, "do my eyes deceive me or do we have Knight Kenobi and a young Padawan Skywalker."

"Yes, sir," Obi-Wan responded, with a nod and a returning smile. "I passed my Trials recently. Anakin was taken as my old Master's Apprentice, but he is on a mission that we felt was too dangerous for a new Padawan. I am therefore taking over temporary duty as his Teacher."

"Oh, how marvelous," Chancellor Palpatine smiled, clapping his hands, "you must both be very proud of yourselves. I am certain that once Master Jinn returns your teaching will be quite enjoyable. How is Master Kenobi doing at teaching?" he sent a teasingly sly look towards Obi-Wan, before looking back to Anakin, "this is his first Apprenticeship is it not, regardless of how informal?"

"Good," Anakin chirped, smiling back. "It is his first job as a Teacher, but I think he's doing very well."

Obi-Wan had to fight not to duck his head again. "I have had good Teachers," Obi-Wan rallied, "that are willing to help when I ask for it, which…" he paused, looking to Masters Yoda and Windu, trying to think about how to close the topic of current conversation and bring his problem to them. "I actually…I would seek your advice now, Masters," he said with a bow.

"It is good that you call upon older wisdom when your own fails you," the Chancellor said with a smile, "it is why I have my aids, of course. They have been there for much longer than I have…" he trailed off, before quietly, "If I might make an odd request?" There was a pause, the Jedi regarding each other before looking back to the Chancellor, who smiled at them before looking down at Anakin, "I do not wish to talk over you as though you are not here, my dear boy," he said, "but I do believe I need to get approval first." With that small statement he looked up at Obi-Wan and the two Masters. "I had hoped to get some time with Anakin to properly thank him for the saving of my home planet, and to see how well he was fitting in at your Temple."

There was a pause, Obi-Wan looking over to the Masters, who in turn looked to Anakin.

Yoda's gaze was firm as he stared at the Chancellor, "Know we shall, if anything were to occur." His words were soft, but there was duracrete beneath them, and the Chancellor's expression fell into a warm smile.

"Of course," he stated, "I would be quite worried if you did not impose some sort of boundary. Would you permit me to move the conversation to that corner?" he asked, nodding to it. "If, of course," he said then, looking to Anakin, "you do not mind, my boy. It is only that I realized that I had not had a moment to properly converse with you, and I realize that so much has changed it might be nice to get an ear that is… Ah…distant, perhaps, to everything that is happening. It must seem rather overwhelming."

Anakin paused, looking to the others, before looking back at the Chancellor, his expression curious, and… Obi-Wan thought that might be a bit of interest. Well…

Obi-Wan hesitated, looking to both Master Yoda and Master Windu, who after a moment gave a quiet, "I do not see why not," Master Windu said, looking to Anakin, "unless you have any objections?"

"No," Anakin answered, looking back to the Chancellor. "I'm sure I could take him," the grin he gave was bright and amused and the Chancellor laughed aloud.

"I'm rather sure you could as well," he agreed, "walk with me?"

Obi-Wan watched the two of them walk towards the corner that had been indicated, all of them watching carefully, listening as the Chancellor opened in the exact way he had suggested: an inquiry of how Anakin was liking his training. As soon as Obi-Wan was sure they were out of earshot he looked back to Masters Windu and Yoda, who turned their attention to him expectantly.

Obi-Wan took a breath, trying to compartmentalize everything and quietly began speaking, bringing up all of the points that Maul had made, watching as their gazes shuttered, burned, and finally the way they looked at each other.

"Meditate on this, we will," Master Yoda said softly. "Agree we do with Maul's assessment. A difficult choice this is."

"But…" Obi-Wan closed his eyes, "is that not the problem? We are always coming back to this, on potentially throwing him back into uncertainty… We cannot keep doing this, Masters."

"You are right," Master Windu agreed, "and we will not. No matter the answer, Maul will be freed." He closed his eyes, "though I wish to do more research into the Sith before we bring this to the Council."

Obi-Wan nearly fell in relief, "are you sure, Master?"

"Yes," Master Windu stated with a nod. "But it will take time. We will not bring it to the Council until I have more information, I believe," he said, looking to Master Yoda, who gave a nod of agreement. "But the Nightsisters and Brothers are both very aligned with the Dark Side of the Force, and none of them have been a threat to the Galaxy outside of their own World. Maul would be acting according to his nature. Have faith Obi-Wan. We still do not know if that will be his choice."

Obi-Wan's eyes closed and he took this in for a moment before smiling.

He'd be able to prove Maul wrong after all.

Anakin smiled up at the Chancellor as he asked him about his training, how the Jedi were treating him, what he thought about the Temple, answering everything with a feeling of content. The Chancellor smiled, asked follow-up questions, laughed at his jokes, and generally seemed as though he really cared about his answers.

There was a small part of Anakin, the part that still could not believe that a Slave Boy from Tatooine was able to do so much, that part was in awe as the Chancellor listened to that Slave Boy.

"So, tell me, what is your favorite part about being in the Temple?" Chancellor Palpatine asked, "it must be exciting being amongst the Jedi. I could have sworn there was a commotion a couple weeks ago."

"There was, sir," Anakin answered, "but it's alright, we're taking care of him."

"That's very good to hear, Anakin," the Chancellor said with a very wide smile, "I am pleased to hear that you are taking care of it, now, please, what is your favorite part?"

"Well…" Anakin said, smiling, and answered, speaking of the kitchens, which Anakin had enjoyed more than he had thought, and then finally with a smile, the Chancellor wished him well, telling him that he was grateful that Anakin was settling in so well.

"I enjoyed our chat," Chancellor Palpatine said with a smile finally, "we shall have to have another later on, should of course, your Masters deem it acceptable."

"They're not my Masters, sir," Anakin responded with a smile, "they're my Teachers."

Anakin didn't notice the slight flicker in the Chancellor's smile as he turned and headed back to the other three, leading Chancellor Palpatine with him and saying goodbye with the rest of them, bidding him a pleasant morning. Then he looked back to Obi-Wan and the rest, his eyes wide.

"It'll be okay, Anakin," Obi-Wan said with a smile. "Everything will be okay."

Anakin could have cried in relief.