XI
Naboo: a peaceful planet filled with blue sky, shimmering blue water and green fields. Somewhere in the depths lived the Gungans, a type of aquatic humanoid creature; but above in the open lived humans in their lush homes centered in glorious gardens. The city of Theed sat quietly, the Naboo moving about their business, peace amongst them once again. This is where Darth Maul found himself now—he would return to where he left off and trace the steps of his enemy.
Maul wasn't surprised when the blockade surrounding the exterior of the planet was no longer in place, the Trade Federation obviously having lost and left. Neimoidians were a weak species and Maul detested them. He had questioned his master more than once why the powerful Sith chose such a group to help carry out their ultimate plan, but the answer wasn't always straight forward and completely understandable. Yet Maul still did his master's bidding and asked no further questions of his master's plans.
Theed Palace looked peaceful. The usual amount of guards blocked the main entrance, people wondered around the front and inside, but there was no sign of a single Jedi stalking the grounds. Maul frowned and made his way to the building, cloaking himself in the dark side of the Force so he would go unnoticed. There was still no sign of any Jedi, and he was sure by now he might've felt something from the Force if they were indeed there.
He entered through an open window on the side of the palace, finding himself in the bright, marble floored-and-pillared hall that led to the throne room. He figured Queen Amidala was back and safe as could be now, the Neimoidians gone for good.
His search of the palace was quick and easy—with the new found peace there were few guards that he had to slip past wherever he went. But to his misfortune, the Jedi had gone and he'd be forced to continue his search elsewhere.
Maul made his way to the back of the palace where he'd make his departure. He'd rather move around the outside where he could blend in with the crowd, even though the Force kept those with weak minds oblivious to his presence. Though as he did, he thought for several minutes where the Jedi might've gone. The most obvious place was back to the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. He'd most likely learn something valuable there. However, it would be much more difficult to get in than the Theed Palace. There, he'd run into a Jedi around every corner; the Jedi were trained to sense the unusual—and someone close to the dark side would be at the top of that list. He'd have to develop a plan during the trip.
In the meantime, however, he'd have to also consider the likely possibility that his master had learned of his escape from the Padawan and that he was in fact still alive. Maul tried not to think what would happen when his master learned that Maul had kept himself in hiding instead of contacting Sidious of his failure. The punishment would be great and painful, although Maul would bear it without yielding.
The Infiltrator sat where he had left it, its form invisible to wandering eyes via its sophisticated cloaking device. He sat in the pilots chair for several minutes before turning on the engines. He plotted the course to Coruscant, but hesitated for a moment. Jumping into the Jedi Temple was a fool's game. He would most likely be found and hunted down—he could take on two Jedi, perhaps three at a time, but a whole army of them was suicide and he wasn't about to risk it.
The only alternative was to wait outside the temple, no matter how long it'd take, and wait for the Padawan to leave. Once he did he could quickly jump down and take his revenge and be gone before others had a chance to arrive. He'd only have a moment, for the Jedi would discover the presence of the dark side immediately.
Finally Darth Maul started the engines and left Naboo, no one on the planet having any inkling that he had been there a second time. It wouldn't take very long to reach the planet he where he trained himself for the course of his life, but the tension was growing in his chest. He wanted to get this done, even if it would be a glorious moment to fulfill revenge on that particular Jedi.
The sun had set on the side of Coruscant Maul headed towards. It had been only a few hours of travel time at a normal speed, but he felt like he had been trapped in the ship for days. He was careful to avoid the Jedi Temple as he entered the vicinity it sat in, setting the ship down atop a vacant building. He kept the shroud on the ship engaged so no one would go consider checking it out.
Maul walked down the ramp and stepped down on the roof to gaze at the city. The Jedi Temple was dead ahead and he remembered what he and Darth Sidious had been planning for years. They would destroy the Jedi and take over the Republic. He had dreamt of that moment since he could remember and it had been going smoothly until that day on Naboo. The rage inflated inside him and he jumped down to the walkway on the side of the building. He would quickly dispose of the Jedi Padawan and then return to his master, hopefully getting some sort of understanding of the events, but he had still killed his enemy—even if it was several weeks overdue.
Keeping the dark side close, Maul went undercover as a mere tourist, hailing a cab to take him to the edge of the Jedi Temple. The droid that controlled the taxi stared at him briefly, but did as told and brought him to the temple.
Maul stepped onto the grounds where people moved about in every direction. The temple was a large, dome-shaped building, thousands of years old and occupied at one time by every Jedi to ever live. He snarled at the site of one of them as they passed, talking to some strange creature. This Jedi was a Zabrak, like himself, and it disgusted him to know that someone of his own species had taken the Jedi Oath.
Looking around, Maul found a spot next to a tall statue that would serve his purposes for the time being. Its form cast a dark shadow onto the road—it'd be perfect for him to hide in. He stepped in it, looking about to see if the Padawan he searched for was somewhere nearby. Alas the boy wasn't, but he'd have to leave the temple sooner or later. And Maul would wait until he did.
For hours Maul watched people come and go, Jedi and normal aliens alike. His impatience was growing and he wanted nothing more than to jump into that stupid temple and destroy as much as he could before someone struck him down. But he wouldn't and didn't. He'd wait. He told himself that even if Darth Sidious decided it was time for Maul to end his life—which he'd do instantly upon his master's wishes—he did not want to ruin the plan to destroy the Jedi for good.