Chapter 8
Darth Maul, Lord of the Sith, hummed a little tune as he piloted his ship toward the fourth moon of Yavin. The Woman had left him alone for some time now. She was off doing Woman things, somewhere. Fine, let her. As long as she stayed away from him, he was content. He would have to be wary once they were off the ship, however. He would need to monitor her more closely, and therein lay the danger to himself. The power of her desire for him was overwhelming. It rolled off her in hot waves, like the heat of the Tatooine sun. It was far stronger than his own hatred of the Jedi, and he feared he would be consumed by it if she so much as touched him.
Maul was suddenly alert at the sound of footsteps behind him. Oh, gods, she has returned to torment me once more. He turned reluctantly. What--? A female Sith! How is it possible? Darth Maul rose from his seat in horror. Why, she even had red and black tattoos like he did. Was this some nefarious plot of his Master's? Was he to be replaced by a female? Maul's hand crept to his lightsaber.
"Maul, please! This virginal skittishness is so un-Sithly! Must you jump like a bunny whenever I look at you?"
By the power of the Dark Side! It was the Woman. And dressed in his second best robe, too! But, what was that on her face? Not a tattoo, after all. It was--
"What do you think of my new look?" Saché asked flirtatiously. "I did my face with the Queen's 'Ruby Riot' lipstick and a black marker I found in your room. Very time-consuming, but not a bad job, if I do say so myself. Do you like it, Maul? Do you find it attractive?"
Saché moved toward Maul. Maul moved backward. Saché took another step forward. Maul moved back again. He was now pressed against the bulkhead, which allowed him to protect his rear, but gave him nowhere to retreat. Very well, he would fight to the death if he must. What was he saying? This was not an adversary to be feared. She had not even the skills of a Jedi apprentice. She was his captive.
"Maul, we need to talk," Saché said. "We need to discuss our relationship."
"There is nothing to discuss. You are my captive. That is the extent of our relationship."
"Exactly my point. Our relationship is completely one-sided. I'm very open about my feelings for you, but you never open up to me. I can't be in a relationship by myself!"
Maul snarled. "Listen to me, Woman! There is no relationship!"
"I'm attracted to you in a way that horrifies even me." The handmaiden began to pace back and forth in front of the cornered Sith. "How do you think I feel?" she complained. "I became a handmaiden because I thought I'd get to travel and meet a lot of Jedi. Ha! The only man I spend any time with is that pompous, smirking fossil, Chancellor-Elect Palpatine."
Maul's lips twitched. Saché continued, "Now I find myself hopelessly enraptured by a Sith! You're feared and reviled throughout the galaxy. You're right--what future do we have--an orphaned Zabrakian from Iridonia and a 'nice' girl from Naboo? It can never work. Oh! Why do I always fall in love with the wrong guy? The only way it could ever work out between us is if--" Saché paused mid-stride and turned to Maul, who shrank back, unsure of what this new mood swing would bring. The Woman had a feverish look.
"Maul," Saché burst out, "Why don't you rise up and slay your Master and take me as your apprentice?"
Maul blinked, considering. He did not feel quite ready for that task. Still . . . with the Woman's help, it might be possible. On the other hand, the Woman was powerful in ways Darth Maul could not understand or predict. What would happen as her power grew? How long would he remain the Master? No, it was too risky. Once he finally got rid of Sidious, he intended to enjoy a nice, long run as the Master of a more biddable apprentice than the Woman would make. "No," he finally replied.
Saché laughed hoarsely. "A man of few words. You say one word for every fifty that I say, and just the sound of that one word is enough to give me butterflies in my stomach." Saché pressed closer to the Sith, closing her eyes. "Maul--"
Darth Maul vaulted over her head ran for the rear of the ship. Saché clutched at his robe as he flew by, but he was too fast. "Damn it, Maul! This isn't natural!" she shouted after him. "I'm beginning to wonder about you!"
Saché followed Maul down the corridor. She paused in the door to his chamber, scanning the bare little space. With the suddenness of a rattlesnake striking, Darth Maul launched himself from behind a door across the corridor, and with a well-placed kick to her back, propelled Saché into his sleeping chamber. He slammed the door shut, locked it and placed the key in the innermost folds of his robe.
And there she will remain, he thought with great relief and satisfaction. Now, back to Naboo.