Chapter 7

Garen had descended the ramp and disappeared out of sight by the time Qui-Gon and Xanatos reached Obi-Wan and Bruck.

"Okay, this is the plan," Xanatos began. "We'll split into Master-padawan teams and each take on a Sith. Garen will go check out the third presence that was among the Sith."

"Where is Garen, by the way?" Qui-Gon asked Obi-Wan.

"I don't know; he said he had to take care of something and left before you got here," Obi-Wan replied.

Qui-Gon's eyes narrowed in suspicion, "We'll have to worry about him later, the Sith will be here soon."

They descended the ramp and stood on either side. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan stood beside the right side of the ramp while Xanatos and Bruck stood beside the left side of the ramp.

They had not been standing there long when the two Sith appeared at the entrance of the hangar bay.

"Well, well, well. Isn't this a pleasure that we meet again," Sidious drawled sarcastically.

Qui-Gon didn't answer as they came closer.

Maul gave a small grunt in his throat, "You Jedi are going to pay."

Bruck eyed Maul. "Sorry, I don't have any currency."

Maul sneered, threw off his robe, ignited his double-bladed lightsaber and charged at Xanatos and Bruck in a fiery rage.

Sidious kept his eyes focused on Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan as he ignited his lightsaber. "Which shall I kill first today?" He purred.

Obi-Wan's eyes narrowed. "How about none?" He offered coldly as he ignited his lightsaber and charged Sidious.

"Obi-Wan wait!" Qui-Gon shouted as Obi-Wan ran forward.

Sidious smirked and leapt into the air, then, twirling around, he sliced at Obi-Wan's back.

Obi-Wan pivoted about on his heel and blocked the blow with ease. The lightsabers sparked and crackled with electricity as they pressed against each other. Using the Force Obi-Wan applied more pressure to his opponent's blade and then leapt into the air.

Sidious recovered from the sudden loss of pressure and whipped around as Obi-Wan landed behind him. Sidious blocked Obi-Wan's blow aimed for his side and soon found himself on the defensive as Obi-Wan launched a flurry of moves.

Xanatos and Bruck ignited their lightsabers and blocked Maul's oncoming blows.

/You didn't need to provoke him, Padawan./

/Sorry, Master, I just couldn't resist doing that./

/You must learn to control yourself./

/Yes, Master./

The sound of lightsabers clashing echoed in the hangar as the combatants fought, inches from death from every strike from the deadly blades.

Maul let himself be driven through the hangar and with ease led the Jedi unknowingly to a place he wanted to fight.

Soon they were in a huge power station with a multitude of catwalks. Maul gave a savage grin and bounded up to another catwalk. The Jedi followed; the older one landed in the front while the younger landed behind him. Maul blocked both blows and did a cartwheel off the catwalk. Bruck jumped after him but was kicked hard in the chin and fell down to another catwalk.

Xanatos instead leapt into the air and did a forward roll, avoiding Maul's lightsaber that was Force thrown at him, while Maul gripped the edge of the catwalk and back-flipped back up.

Bruck did a cartwheel and a forward roll just at he landed on the catwalk below. He stood up and looked up to see his Master fighting Maul alone. This is not good.

/Hey, Bruck./

/Hey, Garen what's going on? You do realize that I am a little busy right now/

/Yeah, don't worry I'll be quick. I took care of Anakin's memory of me and just distorted what I looked like, however I won't be able to do that with Maul. So I need you and your Master to get rid of him./

Bruck leapt back up to the catwalk his Master was on and began a dead run to his Master and Maul.

/I don't think that'll be a problem, Garen, but I've sort of been left behind./

Garen felt Bruck's unease through their new bond. /Bruck---/ Garen stopped as he felt fear radiating from Bruck. For a moment he saw through Bruck's eyes what was happening: Bruck was trapped between two laser beams and just ahead Xanatos and Maul were fighting near a melting pit.

By the Force, don't let Bruck's Master be killed as mine was…for Bruck's sake. Garen sent waves of assurance and calm to Bruck before he broke the connection.

Sidious and Obi-Wan broke away, stepped backed a bit and began to circle each other. At that moment Qui-Gon took action and attacked Sidious at the side.

Sidious turned his face to look at Qui-Gon and at the same time blocked the blow.

Obi-Wan watched as his Master fought the Sith and knelt down for a quick meditation trance. He found his center and drew the Force to him.

A dark figure stood in the shadows of the hangar, his hood over his face. His face was cold and grim as he watched the combatants. It's almost time; soon this mission will begin. Anakin will not be succumbed by the darkness; that I will not allow. He promised himself firmly.

Anakin will not be able to recognize me now, since I distorted my image in his mind. It had been so easy; Anakin's shields were weak and his mind in such turmoil that he had not even noticed the intrusion in his mind.

/Obi-Wan./

Obi-Wan came out of his trance as soon as he had heard Garen's voice in his mind. /Yes, Garen/

/I took care of Anakin's memory of what I look like. I'm going to contact Bruck soon, then after that I will begin my plan here./

/That sounds good./

/Will you be ready/

/Yes, I will./

/Good, then I'll be there soon./

Obi-Wan stood back up with his lightsaber ignited and waited for an opening where he could trade places with his Master.

Qui-Gon leapt backwards and watched as Obi-Wan attacked Sidious. A thin sheet of sweat sparkled on his forehead. Sidious is in pretty good condition, considering that he's older then me. I think. He wiped the sweat off of his forehead with his hand. Somehow that doesn't sound right, he said to himself as he disengaged his lightsaber and began a quick meditation trance that his padawan had done not too long before that.

"Clever, young Jedi." Sidious remarked as he Force pushed Obi-Wan to where his Master knelt in a trance. "Now why don't you both fight me!"

Obi-Wan quickly stood back up and approached Sidious again. "Perhaps we will…" he paused for a few seconds, "after we have worn you down." He finished with a small smirk.

Sidious hissed and swung his lightsaber at Obi-Wan's shoulder. Obi-Wan blocked the blow and the duel continued.

Anakin stared out of the window and looked at the sky. "Do you know what's it like to wake up one day to find your whole life turned upside down? The pain of loss of the one who took care of you?" A small tear managed to escape his eye and run down his cheek.

Amidala stood up and walked up behind him and placed a hand on his shoulder. "I may not know the answer to your first question, Anakin, but I do know how it feels to lose someone."

Anakin turned around to look at her, "Then you understand why I want to train as a Sith?"

She gave a gentle sigh, "I may not be able to change your mind Ani, but I can tell you what I think about your decision and the consequences they may have."

He shrugged her hand off of his shoulder and walked away from the window. "You could, but that doesn't change anything."

Amidala went back to where she was sitting before and sat down. "Do you have any friends?" she asked, changing the subject.

Anakin sat back into the chair he was originally sitting in, inwardly glad of the change of subject. "Kitster, Wald, Seek, Amee, Dorn and Pala." He smiled a bit as he thought of the adventures he had had with them. "Kitster is one of the best and closest friends I have ever had."

Amidala smiled gently, "It is good that you have friends. I'm sure they miss you."

Anakin shrugged his shoulders and his cheery mood darkened again. "They'll probably think I'm dead or was sold. It happens all the time."

"You could contact them and let them know that you're okay and weren't sold." Amidala responded.

He shook his head bitterly, "They're slaves, like I was. Their Masters will not permit them to receive any communications off the planet."

"Well, how about I be your friend?" Amidala asked in hopes of helping him feel better.

Anakin gave a small smile but just as soon as it appeared it disappeared in suspicion. "Why?"

"You look like you need one and it is nice to make new friends." She told Anakin.

He smiled again, "I would like to be your friend, too."

"Would you like a snack." She asked.

"Sure…" he stopped, as it seemed funny for him to say "Queen Amidala" or "Your Highness'" to someone who is now your friend.

Amidala noticed his look. "You can call me Padme, if you'd like."

"Sure Padme, a snack sounds nice." He replied. Warmth filled him as he watched Padme go to one of her handmaidens outside to tell her to bring in a snack for them. His dreary day was clearing up, and for the first time since his mother's death, he felt happy again.

Garen cloaked his presence as he crept to where the combatants fought. He stayed as much as possible within the shadows and crept under the Jedi's ship.

Qui-Gon had joined the duel with Obi-Wan while he had contacted Bruck. Now was the time to join in. Throwing off his cloak he ignited his lightsaber at the exact time as the three lightsabers clashed together, muffling the sound. Garen began to draw on the Dark Side and let it fill him. The darkness felt suffocating and cold, yet he let himself embrace it. His lightsaber color began to swirl and became a bloody red. Garen grinned, revealed his presence and rushed to where the duel was.

Obi-Wan felt Garen's presence coming toward them and, at that moment, Force pushed Sidious a few feet away.

Garen, in turn, Force pushed Qui-Gon in the opposite way.

Obi-Wan began to draw the Dark Side toward him. He shivered as the icy tendrils went through his body and filled him with power that he feared. His confidence began to wane at the thought of betraying his Master and the Jedi by joining the Sith just to rescue the Chosen One. Taking a deep breath, he engulfed himself with the Dark Side of the Force. His lightsaber color began to shimmer and become a pure red. Garen and Obi-Wan walked up to Sidious who had gotten back up and bowed to him then pivoting on their heels they approached a startled Qui-Gon.

Sidious had been so startled by the new Dark Side presence that he wasn't prepared for the Force push. Growling, he picked himself off the floor and was shocked again as the Jedi apprentice began to draw on the Dark Side. What is this? Could those two be the ones we were sent to retrieve? His thoughts were confirmed when the two apprentices came toward him and bowed to him.

Qui-Gon had felt Garen's presence approach them, as well as the Dark Side within the young man. I hadn't sensed anything amiss in him.

Then almost instantly, things became a blur as he and Sidious were Force pushed away from each other. That was when he felt it; still lying on the hangar floor he felt his own padawan draw on the Dark Side. Betrayal pierced through his heart as he watched Obi-Wan and Garen bow to Sidious then approach him with their lightsabers pointed at him. He reached out to his training bond with his padawan, but was blocked by a hard wall. His padawan's shields were up and his eyes no longer contained a sparkle. His heart felt like it was torn in two as Obi-Wan severely broke their training bond.

Obi-Wan's face remained impassive as he broke the bond with his Master and sliced off his padawan braid. He banished the guilt to the deepest corner of his mind as he did the deed.

"Why, padawan?" Qui-Gon asked in an anguished voice as Obi-Wan threw his severed padawan braid on the floor in front of Qui-Gon.

"I am your padawan no longer. You may address me as Darth Redav," Obi-Wan replied coldly.

Sidious chuckled from behind them. "It seems the Jedi can't keep their padawans from the Dark Side, can they?" he mocked.

Qui-Gon's emotions were in a state of turmoil at this sudden betrayal from his own padawan. "Padawan," he tried again in vain.

Obi-Wan snarled, "I am not/b your padawan anymore. I am Darth Redav and you will address me as such!"

Qui-Gon's heart wrenched with anguish and disbelief. No Padawan, don't do this! Why? Why are you doing this?

Garen turned to Darth Sidious. "We will finish up here and meet you at your ship as soon as we're done."

Sidious studied them for a few seconds, then nodded his head in agreement. "Good," he stated and walked out of the hangar to go pick up Anakin.

Garen turned back to Qui-Gon who was still on the floor. "Don't try to follow us Qui-Gon. You will be better off by going back to where you belong."

Obi-Wan walked away and went into the ship. He picked up a few items to take with him, then went to the cockpit and rigged the ship to self-destruct.

"To make sure you don't try to go too early, your ship is rigged to explode," Garen explained. With a twisted smile Garen picked up Qui-Gon's lightsaber, which had automatically disengaged, with the Force and whacked Qui-Gon in the back of his head, full force. Qui-Gon slumped the rest of the way to the floor unconscious.

Garen looked at his still activated lightsaber and let it sizzle next to Qui-Gon's side while, at the same time, he used the Dark Side to keep Qui-Gon unconscious.

Obi-Wan came out of the ship and was startled to see what Garen was doing. "Garen!"

Garen turned to look at Obi-Wan. "We have to make it seem real."

"Yes, but not to a great extent," Obi-Wan admonished. Pain tore through his heart as he watched. I'm sorry for betraying you, Master. If I ever return, please forgive me. Guilt raked his mind and heart. iMy path has been set, I must follow it. Don't let my betrayal keep you from taking another padawan. You didn't fail me. As he watched he ached to ease Qui-Gon's pain in hope to ease his own pain and guilt.

"Look, I don't want to see anyone hurt but we don't have much of a choice. Now did you find out when Master Dooku will get here?" Garen asked as he continued what he was doing.

Obi-Wan grimaced at the sight of the wound Garen was creating. "He should be here in fifteen minutes and the ship will explode in twenty-five minutes."

Garen disengaged his lightsaber and hooked it onto his belt. "Well then, we'd better get a move on," he said as he threw his already severed padawan braid to the floor.

"Just a minute, we have to wait for Bruck," Obi-Wan reminded his friend.

Garen groaned at the delay and reached out across his and Bruck's bond. /Bruck, we're done here; where are you/ All that he got in return was an immense amount of anger and anguish. Garen shook his head and looked at Obi-Wan. "We'll go on ahead of him. He knows where the Sith's ship is."

"Whatever you say," Obi-Wan replied as they headed out of the hanger.

Bruck stood in the middle of the two laser beams and watched his Master fight Maul, spinning, leaping, blocking, and slashing in a deadly dance. Come on, these laser beams have to deactivate some time, he thought impatiently.

Xanatos felt Bruck's frustration through their bond and sent calming tendrils of the Force through their bond. He sidestepped the incoming blade and leapt into the air, missing Maul's blade by a centimeter. Back and forth they fought, defending and attacking.

Bruck stood hopelessly where he was, his heart pounding rapidly as he watched. He had confidence in his Master but unease still filled him, making him even more frustrated.

Maul hissed through his teeth and attacked faster and harder then before, causing Xanatos to go on the defensive, blocking blow after blow. Maul backed up and jumped on top of the overhang. Xanatos jumped up onto the overhang and the duel continued. Parrying and slashing Xanatos went from defense to attack. Maul suddenly spun around and knocked Xanatos' lightsaber out of his hands. The Sith gave a twisted, evil smile as he heard the lightsaber clang off the edge of the melting pit and fall to the depths below.

Bruck gasped as he saw his Master lose his lightsaber. Desperately he tried to grab it with the Force, but to no avail.

Maul took advantage and lashed out at Xanatos to the side. Xanatos dodged but fell off the overhang. He grabbed the edge of the melting pit with his hands and catapulted back up only to have Maul's lightsaber slice at his right leg. Maul jumped off the overhang and landed near Xanatos. He went over to Xanatos, grabbed his hair and bent the Jedi's head back so he could look into Xanatos eyes. "Goodbye Jedi." He hissed and spat in his face. He used the Force to bring his deactivated lightsaber back to his hand and gave an evil smirk. He kicked the dark-haired man hard in the side, breaking a few ribs and watched as his adversary fell into the pit.

"NOOOO!" Bruck screamed in outrage.

Maul cackled softly and looked at the anguished stricken padawan. "One down, one more to go. Prepare to die, Jedi, and follow your Master."

Bruck clenched and unclenched his left hand in attempt to calm himself. He blinked away the tears that were threatening to fall. As soon as the laser beams deactivated he had ignited his lightsaber and charged at Maul in an almost uncontrollable fury.

Maul jumped over Bruck and spun around to meet his blade. Bruck Force pushed Maul and managed to slice Maul's lightsaber in half. Maul threw the damaged part away and used the still working half.

"Now we're even." Bruck gruffly stated as he blocked Maul's oncoming blows.

Bruck let his anger take control of him as he fought. He didn't even notice when his lightsaber color began to swirl and become a dark red. Maul however noticed and paused for just a second, clearly startled. Bruck took the advantage and swiped his foot under Maul's leg causing Maul to trip.

Maul kept on fighting from the floor as he searched for an opening where he could stand up. Seeing none, Maul Force pushed Bruck and rolled away. He stood up, seething with rage, thinking that it had been some kind of trick Bruck somehow pulled to distract him.

Again their blades clashed together and the deadly dance began once again. Maul swung at Bruck's side and was easily blocked as Bruck brought his lightsaber down. Maul began to tire as he continued his attack, but persisted to draw on the Dark Side for support.

Bruck saw Maul's fatigue and stayed on the defensive, knowing that it would make Maul tire quicker. He blocked Maul's attacks as he waited for an opening; then he saw it. Swinging at Maul's right leg he jumped up and kicked Maul in the face. Dazed, Maul stumbled backwards up to the edge of the pit. Bruck ran at Maul and, before the Sith could recover, impaled Maul with his lightsaber.

Maul gave Bruck a look of disbelief before tumbling into the melting pit. It was then that Bruck noticed the color change of his lightsaber. He took his lightsaber and cut off his padawan braid. Placing his lightsaber back on his belt he took his severed padawan braid and laid it next to the pit.

Tears managed to escape his eyes but he angrily brushed them away with his hand. "Why did it have to be you? It should have been me." There is no death, there is the Force. "I will do my best to complete the mission I am going on with Garen and Obi-Wan. I will remember you and your teachings always, Master." With that said he left the pit and proceeded back to the hangar. A dark cloud of anguish, mixed with anger, bitterness, and pain hovered over him as he left.