Chapter 53 - Echoes of the Past
Author's Note: Just fyi, I posted a bonus chapter for Coming of Dawn from Maul's perspective, which you might want to read before reading this chapter, assuming you haven't already.
Last warning. Go read it first. :)
~ Amina Gila
Anakin Skywalker
The world slowly comes into focus around me, and I quickly realize that I'm on a bed in what looks like the cabin on a ship somewhere. From the very slight vibration I notice next, the ship is probably in hyperspace.
Where am I? Memories of the past couple days slowly trickle back in. Someone captured me again, and it's not Krell. I don't know who it is, but something about the presence feels... familiar.
"Good, you're finally awake." The familiar figure of a red and black Zabrak steps into view beside my bed.
What – This doesn't even make any sense! I'm hardly even sure I'm seeing right. I thought he died, so many years ago back on Mustafar when Dooku, Qui-Gon, and Obi-Wan had come to rescue Aniya and I from the Muun Sith. "Maul?" I utter, trying to sit up, ignoring the aches throughout my body. He catches my shoulder and shoves me back down with a scowl.
"You'll injure yourself further if you don't hold still."
How is he... even still alive? None of this makes any sense, and I'm not entirely convinced I'm not dreaming. "I don't need a Sith fretting over me," I grumble. What does he want with me, anyway? This isn't something done out of common courtesy. Sith don't do that. What if – what if he's planning to take me to his master? To... the Muun? No. I banish the thought as soon as it comes. He seems impossible to find, and if he captured me... I can't dwell on it.
Maul glares at me – a look which would have been a little more intimidating a decade ago, but it hardly is now. I know full-well if he wanted to hurt me, I couldn't well stop him, but I doubt he would do that. He wasn't... he was never overly cruel. "If you don't heal, you'll be of no use to us," he snaps.
How kind, but while we're on the topic... "What do you want with me?" I ask, holding his gaze, trying to hide my fear. I can't let him see weaknesses. I wish we were at least on even ground, but I highly doubt he'll let me up.
The Sith Lord studies me in silence, as if considering his words. "You used to be my apprentice," he says finally.
Is he seriously – "I'm not going to join the Dark Side, if that's what you're hoping," I snap, glaring at him.
"We have a common interest," Maul replies, scrutinizing me. I hate that look. It's making me way too uncomfortable, and... and I hate this position. It makes me feel vulnerable, and it's a glaring reminder of how he does, in fact, have power over me right now.
"Do we?" I ask sardonically, shifting a little. It doesn't matter. Every inch of me is aching and moving only makes it hurt worse. There's not even a comfortable, painless position I can be in. I try not to focus on it, instead using the Force to siphon it away. It's hard when there's a presence so dark right next to me.
"You want to destroy the Sith, do you not?"
"Uh, that includes you." I twist sideways again, using my right arm to push myself up, gasping against the pain that shoots through my ribs. Ugh, I need to get these tended to soon. I need to get back to the Temple, but I have no idea how.
Maul scowls again, not exactly unlike what he's been doing this entire time. "Stop, or I'll chain you to the bed."
I blink. "You have chains?" I shoot back, knowing it's a pathetic attempt to cover my flare of panic. Being captive, at someone's mercy... it's never something I can handle. Being stuck unable to move, completely defenseless except with the Force, would be... I let myself fall back against the bed. It's the preferable option, because at least I can move if I need to. "And if you wanted an answer to your original question, yes, I suppose I do."
"My master betrayed me," Maul continues.
"I have no interest in joining a Sith power struggle." I almost roll my eyes and turn away, looking up at the ceiling way above me. I have no idea what kind of ship this is; it's like nothing I've ever seen before. Even so, it catches my attention. "Do you know where he is?"
"I found a lead, and I am certain we can draw him out."
"So, basically no." Great. I close my eyes for a moment, unsurprised by how worn out I feel. I'm exhausted, and while I really should be resting, I can't sleep like this, not now. I can't trust him.
The doors open and close, and I glance over to see another Zabrak stalking forwards. Savage Opress. Yes, I remember him. "This is your...?"
"He's my brother," Maul tells me. "And now, my apprentice."
I hum noncommittedly. "Your apprentice is your brother? Convenient. Maybe this time you won't try to kill each other the next time you have a chance."
Savage snarls at me from the doorway, and I take it as my cue to shut up. Maul doesn't look particular impressed, either. "My former master is behind the war."
Well. That I figured, but maybe something good actually come of this... situation. "Sidious?" I ask, "Is he..." The one we saw on Mustafar, and the one we ran into again only weeks ago.
"The one you met was Plagueis." Maul obviously knows what I'm referring to without me having to finish the question. "Sidious' master."
Wait – wait – "There were three Sith at once?" I frantically scramble to understand the implications of what he told me. Everyone had always assumed that the Muun was Sidious, even though that never really felt right, but now – "Or... five now?" I add lamely. Plagueis, Sidious, Dooku, Maul, and Savage. What about the Rule of Two?!
Maul's expression darkens again. What did I say to upset him this time? "Sidious never trained me as his apprentice. I was his assassin."
"That's why you want him dead." How petty, but what more could I expect from a Sith?
"Yes." He might be saying more, but it seems to fade out as I struggle against unconsciousness trying to pull me back under. Why couldn't Aniya have been here with me, at least? We could take care of each other. I'm never going to let myself be that vulnerable in front of a Sith, thanks. "Skywalker," he snaps.
"What?" I snap back, opening an eye to look at him again. "It's not my fault I'm not in talking condition right now!"
I feel Maul poke at me with the Force, probably trying to determine my condition. "Who did this?" he asks, sounding mildly threatening.
I'd sigh if it wouldn't hurt. What's wrong with him, anyway? He seems to be flipping between being mad at me for nothing apparent and being... almost protective? "Just Dooku's latest pawn. Krell. I might have lopped off two of his arms, and..." I wave my right hand at myself. Honestly, I don't know what else I was expecting. He had a right to be mad, and he is a Sith.
"We'll kill him, too," Maul promises, and it's far more reassuring than it ought to be.
I make a sound of acknowledgement, closing my eyes again. Force, I'm exhausted. What is it about physical pain that always drains energy?
There's a heartbeat of silence, before I sense him moving closer, reaching towards me. "Perhaps sitting up may be a good idea, after all," he says, dryly.
"What?" I open my eyes again, trying to resist the urge to doze off. I shouldn't even want to sleep right now, but I do. I'm beyond exhausted.
"Show me," he orders.
What the –? "Why?" I yelp.
Maul looks very, very short on patience right now – when isn't he? – and I don't think arguing would be advisable. "Your injuries must be treated."
"And you expect me to let you do it?" I ask, half hysterically.
"Sit," he snaps, and stalks across the room. Fine. I don't bother to pay attention as I navigate to moving upright, trying to remind myself that yes, I did ask for this. This is weird, but he did know me when I was a child, so maybe it's not weird for him. That doesn't mean I don't despise how vulnerable it makes me feel, or how invasive it is.
I don't like it, but I have to grudgingly admit he has a point; my injuries need to be treated, and I don't know when or how the Republic will find me. I stare fixedly at the ceiling after I finish shrugging off my upper robes, with more trouble than I care to think about. Moving jostles my injuries and based on the sharp pain shooting through my body, I'm fairly certain my broken rib is currently dangerously close to touching my lung, which means... yes, I need to be careful.
"Krell just has turning-people-into-punching-bag issues," I grumble, as the Sith returns. I try not to watch as he looks me over, because this is awkward.
He's quiet as he works, and honestly, I think that makes it worse. He's being careful, at least, I have to admit. Only, he's acting more like he's handling a bomb about to blow up than a person, but I keep my complaints to myself.
My mind is moving sluggishly as I fight to stay awake. There's no way I want to sleep with Maul right here, not that I could in this position, anyway. I wish I had something to focus on, because really, this is making my skin crawl. He's not being... hostile, or anything, but he's still a Sith, and I'm not foolish enough to think I can trust him.
"Are you almost done?" I ask finally, when the silence becomes too annoying to handle.
"You are as impatient as I remembered," Maul informs me flatly.
"I don't even know why you're taking time to do this," I mutter. "I thought Sith fed off pain." Because, honestly, this doesn't make sense. I really don't know why he's taking the time to do this. Thanks to literally living in the same two rooms for so long back on Mustafar, I might have more positive emotions towards him then I probably should, but I always doubted the feelings were mutual.
"Do you need me to enumerate your injuries?" he snaps.
"I've dealt with things like this before," I retaliate. "I know how it works and I can do it myself."
"I assure you that's untrue."
I fall silent, letting him keep working, because he won't change his mind about this, clearly. He obviously doesn't care how much I dislike it or how uncomfortable it's making me feel, either. It's not surprising. He is a Sith.
Maul stills, suddenly. For a moment, he hardly breathes. I throw a glance over my shoulder – carefully, of course, because it hurts to move my head, no thanks to Krell – trying to figure out what prompted this, but I can't.
"You got these when you were young," he says, finally. There's a slightly odd note in his voice, that I can't quite understand.
Oh. Honestly, I'd forgotten about those still very visible scars, because they've been there for so long. They have been for as long as I can remember, and... No one's ever asked me before, either because they knew or because it was rude. It's never a conversation I've had before. "Mmhmm," I reply nonchalantly, "What of it?"
"Did your master give them to you?" he asks.
It takes a moment, but only a moment, for his question to catch up with me. "What?!" I yelp, outraged. "No! Obi-Wan would never hurt me. He couldn't. They were from – from before that."
Maul doesn't reply, and the next few minutes are spent in silence. I suddenly can't shake the question of why would he ask that? Somehow, I think I know, but I don't want to think about it. It's – it's likely, though. I wish there was something I could say to him, though I don't know what. There's not much I could say, anyway, and I can't help but think that maybe, maybe I misjudged him in a few places.
**w**
The most unsettling part about having visions is knowing that it's happening, seeing things so vividly.
"We're alone." Alema's voice filters into my consciousness and she settles down on the floor of a darkened room next to Ahsoka. What surprises me is the dullness in her voice. She's never like that. Ahsoka makes a quiet sound of agreement.
The image shifts. Aniya, standing alone somewhere. I can't get a look at the surroundings, but I can see her so clearly. There's a faint golden, orange glow bathing the area. She looks so lost and alone. I shuffle forwards, trying to offer my silent comfort, the way I always try to.
"They're gone," she snaps, looking at me icily.
I flinch back at the sharpness in her voice. She never talks like that, at least not to me. "What?"
"You failed her!"
"Failed who?" I ask.
"Them. All of us!" What? I don't understand. What is she talking about? Who is she talking about? Our padawans?
"Anakin?" I hear Ahsoka calling me, but when I spin around, there's no one there.
The scene promptly fades in front of me, and the next thing I know I can sense a very familiar presence. Actually sense, this time. Not... in a vision, or whatever that was. "Aniya?"
"Anakin!" Her relief is obvious, even if we're just communicating through the Force. "Are you alright?"
"Yes." Not really, but we can get back to that. "What about you?"
"The others were able to find me. I'm back on Coruscant. Where are you?"
"I ran into an old... acquaintance."
"Who?" she asks warily.
"Maul. And Savage."
"What?!"
"Apparently he survived Mustafar. And Savage is his brother."
"Where are you? What do they want with you?"
"I'm on a ship somewhere. I don't know where exactly," I reply, but I know she can track me with the Force once we're out of hyperspace.
"I'll see what I can figure out. Don't worry, Ani, we'll find you," Aniya promises. I feel a surge gratitude, even though I know she will. It's the one thing that keeps me sane when I'm captured. I know the Republic will always come looking. I'm too... valuable to them to let fall into enemy hands.
"Wait, one more thing," I add urgently, "Ahsoka and Alema, are they okay?"
"Yeah, just worried. Why?"
I can't shake the scene from the vision from my mind, and I had to know that at least they were alright for now. I can't lose them too. I won't fail them the way I did Mom. I won't. The vision could have been caused by being so close to two Sith, but there's no way to know that, and after everything, I can't help but be worried, even know after hearing they're currently alright. That doesn't mean it will stay that way. "We can talk about it later. I'll see if I can't find a way out of here."
"Stay safe," she warns, before fading out.
When I wake up again, the first thing I notice is the stillness of the ship. We're out of hyperspace. Good. That will make it much easier for Aniya to track me down with the Force. Hopefully, we can stay put, and I can stall and distract Maul long enough for the others to get here.
Or I could try escaping myself. It's a stupid idea, and I know it, but it's worth a shot. I might not have a lightsaber with me, but I can still use the Force if it comes down to a fight.
I slowly push myself into a sitting position, wincing at the pain that runs through me at the sudden movement. I know I really shouldn't be walking in this state, but I can't do nothing. I might not have another chance. I pull my robes back on over the bandages, because really, if they're not being worked on anymore, I don't need to keep them exposed.
Idly, I note that Maul's presence clings to the walls in the room as though he's spends a lot of time in here. On that note, if this ship is the one where he and his brother live, at least when they're traveling, then they probably don't have any spare rooms, which probably means...
Okay. Umm.
The thought of going back to that bed is suddenly, officially much too weird. Good thing I'm getting out of here now.
Soundlessly, I stand, trying to ignore the ever-growing pain as I (stumble and stagger) walk over to the door. It opens automatically, and I use the Force to silence it as it slides closed behind me.
The room leads directly out into the main hold. There's a viewport directly across from me, and sunlight streams into the otherwise mostly dark room, and I can see grass nearby. We're on a planet, somewhere. Good. That makes everything easier. Most shuttles are standard, even if this is a bit unusual, so it isn't hard to guess which of the doors in the room likely leads to the ramp.
Throwing a final glance around the hold, I head across it for what probably leads to the exit. I'm only half across the room when I suddenly sense and hear someone approaching from the door to the cockpit. It slides open before I have a chance to find somewhere to hide, Savage stepping into the room.
His expression goes comically startled before transforming to anger. "Brother, the Jedi is escaping!" he growls. I throw him back through the door into the cockpit with the Force before he can try to give chase, then run for the exit ramp.
"Skywalker, stop," warns Maul, appearing in the doorway behind me. I throw him backwards into Savage as the two try to run into the main hold before I try to run, again. I only have a second of warning before the Force suddenly tightens around my neck. Instinctively, I try to draw in a breath, struggling against the invisible force crushing my throat, and the sudden strain sends a wave of agonizing pain jarring through my ribs again. My panic swells as I remember Krell had me in a position like this right when he captured me, and –
The world spins in front of me, the thought vaguely registers that it's probably only this bad because of the pain I'm already in, and the next thing I know I'm on my knees on the floor. The grip on my neck finally relaxes, and I struggle to catch my breath, more pain jolting through me at the effort. I need this to stop. He'd given me everything he could, earlier, but when my ribs are this badly broken, I apparently need to hold very still.
I drag myself to my feet, anyway, smothering a scream. I can't let them know how vulnerable I am right now. "Savage, bring me those binders," Maul orders, glowering at me, which somehow manages to make me feel guilty.
His brother disappears through the door.
"Come," the Sith snaps, motioning for me to head back to the room. I take a few steps, trying to ignore how it feels like I'm about to collapse. I'll never be able to escape now. It was stupid to even try.
My vision blacks out, the world sways, and I'm amazed I made it this far. The rush of adrenaline seemed to take out everything else in me.
I try to move forwards, but my legs promptly give out from under me. Maul catches me before I faceplant on the floor. And then he promptly lifts me into his arms, moving into the next room. The sudden grip sends another stab of pain running through me, but it admittedly hurts a lot less than walking would have. And – what? Since when did he –?! Taking care of my injuries is one thing, but this?!
I'm too mind-blown to utter a single word as he deposits me back on the bed, so I opt to remaining silent as Savage re-enters the room, and Maul makes good of his promise to chain me to the bed.
Apparently, he does have the vaguest idea how to be gentle, and I can't remember the last time I've been at such a loss for words. Not that there's anything I could say, anyway. Finally, I give in and decide I badly need a distraction. Besides, I think this is a fair question. "What if I need to get up?"
"You don't," he says flatly.
"But what if I... need to use the 'fresher?"
"Then you'll have to hope I'm around to let you up," he replies as he finishes tying me in place.
Fine. It was still worth a shot. But if he's going to be like this... "You were saying before...?" I say finally. We ought to get back to the important topic.
"You must join me," Maul insists.
"And if I don't?" I retort. He can't seriously think I'm going to agree without a fight.
"Do you really want Sidious to win and destroy us all?" Well...
"If you know so much about him and Plagueis, why not tell the Jedi about it a long time ago?" I ask instead.
He scoffs. "The Jedi are ineffective. They cannot save themselves or the galaxy. You and your sister are the ones who can defeat the Sith. The Jedi would try to imprison us, rather than listening." He does have a point, I have to admit. I know that's exactly what they would do.
"Not unlike what you're doing to me," I shoot back instead. I do not appreciate having this conversation when I can't even move. Even if I did ask for it.
He gives me an unimpressed look. "If you remain like this, it will be by your own choice."
Exhaustion is nagging at me again, but I force myself to stay focused on the conversation. "Look, I might not have a problem... working with you to find the Sith, but I'm not going to become one."
A flash of irritation crosses his face. "You Jedi, always clinging so stubbornly to your Light Side."
"I mean, it's not like you don't do the same with the Dark Side."
"The Dark Side is powerful," he snaps. "It is the only way to destroy them."
"How do you know that?" I counter. Before he has a chance to reply, I sense a sudden shifting in the Force. Aniya's here. I do my best to keep my expression neutral, even at the relief that runs through me.
Maul senses it almost instantly, though. He stops, glancing around with his eyes narrowed, obviously reaching out with the Force. Then he promptly spins on his heel and disappears out the door, Savage hurrying after him. What is he up to now? I can only guess.
Moments later, the ship's engines fire up, and I can feel it taking off the ground. Several laser blasts suddenly ring out, and the ship abruptly lurches violently. It shakes wildly as it seems to be descending again, judging from the feel. We're going down. Good move, Aniya.
The ship hits the ground with a final violent jolt before everything goes still, only for a few moments. I hear the distant sounds of lightsabers activating. Faintly I can make out voices, but I can't hear what anyone is saying. The ship is quite decently soundproof.
The door suddenly slides open, and Ahsoka darts into the room. "Master?!" she calls worriedly, running to my side as she takes in my condition.
"Hey, Snips," I murmur. It's good to see her again – especially after the vision, which keeps springing back to the forefront of my mind. I can't lose her and Alema. Why would that even happen anyway? Is that what would have happened if I'd left my sisters to join Maul? I don't know, and there's no time to reflect on it right now.
Ahsoka ignites her lightsaber, quickly cutting me free. I slip an arm around her shoulder, leaning on her as we make our way out of the ship and down the ramp. Outside, Maul is fighting off Obi-Wan and Alema, while Aniya is fighting off Savage.
We quickly make our way around the fighting pairs to our own ship, and hurry on board. I don't manage to see what happened, but I've just made it to the back seat in the cockpit of the Twilight when Ahsoka blasts off the ground. Moments later the other three hurry into the cockpit, leaving the Sith far behind, with a damaged ship that thankfully can't pursue us.
Aniya appears at my side in an instant, and I know she'd be hugging me if it wouldn't worsen my situation. "Anakin..." she murmurs instead, resting a hand on my shoulder. The unhuman feel of it is jarring. I reach up, my own metal hand intertwining hers. It's unnatural. It shouldn't be like this. She was never supposed to have to go through this like I have. First Alema, and now my own twin. I should have been able to protect them from this.
"What happened to you?" Obi-Wan asks. Leave it to the adults to ask the world's stupidest questions, as usual. Really, what does he think?
"Krell," I tell him flatly. Alema's expression darkens. "Then Maul saved the day and thought I would join him."
"Um, wasn't Maul that first Sith who was killed like ten years ago?" asks Alema dubiously.
"Well, obviously he wasn't dead," Aniya offers.
"You need to get to the medcenter," Obi-Wan tells me flatly.
"First," I object, "I'll tell you what he told me about the Sith."
**w**
Aniya Skywalker
Anakin is sitting up when I slip into the room at the healer's wing of the Temple where he's been recovering the past couple days. "Feeling better?" I inquire as I cross the room, taking a seat on the bed next to him.
The healer is out of the room and isn't going to reenter unnoticed, so we have some privacy for the moment.
"A lot," he answers, giving me a small smile.
"Mm, good." I shift closer, leaning against him. The times we actually get to be twins together are few and far between, especially now.
Anakin wraps an arm around me, pulling me closer, and we sit in silence for a few long moments. My eyes slowly drift down to my hand. It still doesn't feel real, that I'll have to be like this for the rest of forever. Anakin told me a little of how his arm affected him but feeling it firsthand is totally different. It's so jarring, to be unable to feel anything in my hand. And of course, it doesn't respond the same way my human hand would when I try to use it. Force, how did Anakin or Alema function?
"I'm sorry," Anakin's voice is quiet, barely audible.
"Hey," I chide, though there's no heat in my voice, "Don't you dare apologize for something you couldn't have helped. You're the one Krell almost killed." He doesn't reply, and I'm quiet for a moment before continuing. "I didn't realize... how much it would affect the Force." It doesn't change our connection, but the Force doesn't flow the same way through metal as it does through living matter.
"You get used to it eventually," Anakin says quietly, "Even if it's never the same." It's... hard to accept that this is going to be permanent. Part of me that's forever gone. Part of me that's forever... "It doesn't make you any less a person," my brother reminds, the same thing I told him back after Geonosis. But that doesn't mean it doesn't feel that way, especially considering that we're only half human in the first place.
Tears sting my eyes as I briefly run my flesh hand over the foreign metal that's not forever a part of me. "I don't want to live the rest of my life like this," I whisper shakily.
"I know." He pulls me closer, and I shift, wrapping an arm tightly around him in turn.
I hold onto him tightly, like he's my last anchor to reality. In a lot of ways, he is. He's the only one who I know will never leave me, the only one who understands me in a way no one else ever could.
Final Notes: If you want to join our Discord to receive updates or just hang out, here's the invite link, and please delete the spaces! :) discord . gg / nqSxuz2
We also have a tumblr account (and delete the spaces): fanfictasia . tumblr . com
And! We have a YT channel for tributes! Please delete the spaces in the link. :D youtube channel / UC_g1M5rSCxJUzQCRS29B6pA
Finally, if you're interested, you can submit a SW gift fic request via the following form (delete the spaces): forms . gle / rmXWtRomMMaULuPa6