Hey guys. Sorry it has been a while. A lot has happened and changed, but I'm gonna try to update you guys with some chapters. Have a Happy Holidays!

Last time: Nightmares plagued everyone's dreams.

Now: Maul moves on to the next step of his plan.

Chapter 9- Maul's Attempt

One Day Later…

After the nightmare filled night for Sasha and Obi-Wan, they had spent the next day keeping to simple tasks around the temple as they were both quite tired. Sasha had focused on her studies while Obi-Wan stuck to meditations, training with Anakin, and more Council meetings. However, by the end of the day, Anakin had come by their apartment and asked them to join him at the Senate building the next day. Apparently, Senator Amidala had a rather big speech she was going to be delivering to the Senate that could determine the outcome a particular bill that if passed would only escalate the war, not end it. But according to Anakin, she needed the presence of at least a few Jedi there to help drive her point home. As much as Obi-Wan hated politicians, Sasha knew that her Master would always be there for Padme as they went way back. So they both agreed to join Anakin the next day.

However as that day had come to an end, both Sasha and Obi-Wan noticed that Maul never contacted them about Obi-Wan's decision to surrender or not. But to be fair Obi-Wan also didn't send a message out to the universe that he was going to surrender himself to Maul either. So the day ended and Maul never showed. That wasn't a bad thing, but it also wasn't a great thing. It was strange to think he just made a demand like wanting Obi-Wan to surrender, but didn't follow through with it. It actually was quite unnerving as it meant that Maul probably had something bigger in the works, and that this demand was merely a distraction. Either way, it made both of them very uneasy.

So the next day came and they were on their way to the Senate. Sasha, Obi-Wan, and Anakin rode together over to the Senate via a gunship. Anakin wanted to take speeder so he could drive them over as he loved to fly, but something in the force told her Master that flying exposed like that was a bad idea. Normally, Anakin would have ignored him and insisted they take a speeder anyway resulting in her Master giving in. But Sasha sensed something was off in the force today too and the mere idea of riding in a speeder made her hairs stand on end. She had no issues to flying like Obi-Wan did, but she also couldn't ignore this feeling. So Anakin gave in to riding in the gunship fairly easily.

After a short flight over, the gunship arrived at the Senate building. The three Jedi pilled off the gunship and started walking towards the inside of the Senate building. After a bit of walking, they reached the corridor right outside of Senator Amidala's pod that sat in the main Senate chamber. Padme was out in front of it talking with Senator Organa and Senator Chuchi. She was dressed in a purple dress with a matching head dress. The look in her eyes and her energy in the force told them that she was quite nervous, but determined as ever.

"Master Jedi," Bail greeted with a warm smile as the three of them approached. "It is a great pleasure to see all of you."

"It's good to see you too, Senator Organa," Obi-Wan greeted with a slight bow. He then looked to the other two Senators. "You as well, Senator Chuchi. Senator Amidala."

Chuchi smiled at them as she nodded at his greeting. "Senator Amidala was just informing us that you were going to be here. Your presence here is a great help to our cause."

"Well, anything we can do to help," Anakin said with a smirk.

Sasha noticed Padme smile at that. Sasha could sense Padme's nerves were now fading away.

"And I am grateful for your help," Padme said before gesturing to her pod. "The meeting is about to start here any minute. Please take a seat. I will be right with you."

Obi-Wan and Sasha nodded before entering into the main chamber. Anakin lingered behind to talk with the Senators. Once in the pod, Sasha and Obi-Wan sat on the outer edge along with Captain Typho, who was keeping a close eye on the Senator until they took their seats. Their presence must have assured the Captain that Padme was going to be just fine without him for a few minutes with three Jedi present. Soon, Padme and Anakin joined them in the pod and the Senate session began.

The meeting went on for almost two hours before Padme even gave her speech. The entire time they waited Sasha had zoned out completely to what the other Senators were saying as they would just filibuster and argue with each other over topics that just weren't catching Sasha's attention today. She did, however, tune in when either Senator Organa or Senator Mothma or Senator Chuchi would speak up as they were great public speakers and what they usually had to say was actually interesting. But when the time came for Padme's speech, the pod had flown out into the center of the chamber.

As Padme talked, the Senate was completely silent, allowing her to speak without interruption. During her speech, Sasha felt a strange presence as if someone was watching them. Okay to be fair, thousands of eyes were on their pod at that moment to watch Padme speak. But the presence she was feeling was… different… darker almost. It also seemed to match the bad feeling she had been feeling all day. Sasha looked at Obi-Wan to see if he had noticed it too.

Master? Sasha asked through their bond. Do you sense that?

I do. He replied. Be wary.

Sasha nodded to herself and kept an eye on the presence while the speech continued. Soon the speech came to an end, and what followed was a thunderous applause. Sasha, Obi-Wan, and Anakin applauded her as well even though Sasha hadn't been paying attention to everything she had been saying. Sasha knew the speech was about the war effort and something about the Clones and the Jedi, but that presence had kept her preoccupied the majority of the time that she missed the meat of the speech. She felt bad as she had been invited there for this very reason and missed the majority of it. So she made the mental note to go watch a recording of it later on the Holonet. As the applause faded, Padme's pod returned to its spot along the wall of the Senate Chamber.

"We shall now vote on this bill," Chancellor Palpatine spoke up once the chamber had quieted down.

The following silence was eerie as all the Senators were busy placing their votes for this bill. Once every vote was in, the Chancellor spoke up again.

"The bill has failed," The Chancellor said.

Sasha didn't hear what else he saying as she turned her attention to Padme, who was thrilled that her speech and their presence there had worked out so well. She was practically beaming from her seat as she looked between the Jedi with a thankful nod. The Chancellor then dismissed the Senate and the session was over. Padme stood and turned to the three of them. They stood as well.

"Thank you so much," Padme said with a grin. "Now we are one step closer to peace."

"It was our pleasure, Milady," Anakin said with a bow and a smile.

"This deserves a celebration," Padme said. "Why don't we go have a drink in my office with the others? My treat."

Her eagerness and joy made Obi-Wan smile. "We would be honored, Senator." And just as he said that his commlink beeped at him. Sasha could tell by the look his face now wore that it was Jedi Council summoning him. "But I'm afraid we must return to the Temple for now. Perhaps another time."

"Then how about dinner later tonight?" Padme nodded then continued. "I can make you an old family recipe that will leave your mouth watering for more."

"Dinner sounds lovely," Obi-Wan said after exchanging a nod with Anakin and Sasha. "We would be honored."

"Excellent! Be at my place by 7 this evening," Padme said as she left her pod, grinning from ear to ear.

Anakin chuckled as he watched her go. He then looked at Obi-Wan. "Was that the Council?"

"Yes, I should give them a call back," Obi-Wan said with a nod. "I'll meet the two of you at the gunship in a minute."

Anakin looked like he was going to say something else, but instead just nodded like Sasha did. The two moved from the chamber and back towards the landing platform. When they returned to the gunship, Sasha saw the clones who had journeyed with them were still stationed next to the gunship, waiting for their return. Two of them had been the rookies, KC and Ty from when she had returned to Corsucant a little over a week ago. During their flight there, Sasha had engaged in some small talk with them while her Master and Anakin were talking amongst themselves. Both rookies and the other clones straightened with a salute as they approached.

"At ease," Anakin ordered. "We will be taking off in a few minutes. We are just waiting on General Kenobi."

The clones nodded as they relaxed and prepared the gunship for take-off. A few moments later, Obi-Wan approached.

"So what did the Council want?" Anakin asked as they boarded the gunship.

"They were calling to inform us that there is an emergency war meeting in the Communication Center once we return," Obi-Wan informed them. "They want both of us there."

"What about me?" Sasha asked, speaking up for the first time since they arrived to the senate.

"You as well, Padawan," Obi-Wan said with a nod.

Sasha nodded in response. The gunship then took off from the Senate and back towards the temple.

Maul watched from a roof top nearby the Senate, through a set of electro binoculars, as the gunship carrying Kenobi flew away from the building. With a smirk, Maul set the binoculars down and powered up the speeder he was sitting in with an assassin droid he had hired in the passenger seat. Pulling his hood up as little further around his horned head, Maul took off into the busy skies of Coruscant following that gunship.

As the gunship flew through the bustling skyways, Sasha had noticed that same presence in the force was still there. Still watching her or them. However, it felt like it was following them now. She bit her lip as she tried to figure out this presence, but whoever it was knew how to mask themselves well enough in the force that she couldn't get an exact idea of who it was. Then an unsettling thought passed through her mind as she came to the potential realization as to who it might be. The fact Sasha had sensed this presence most of the day and even when they left the Senate made her twitch at the thought that they were being stalked. Sasha turned her attention to her Master.

"Master," she called over the wind. "Do you sense that?"

Obi-Wan looked at her. His face told her that he was sensing the same thing. But before he could respond, a blast rocked the gunship.

"The hell?" Anakin called. "Who is shooting at us? Pilot?"

"Sir, we are being followed by a speeder," the pilot shouted back. "it looks like there is an assassin droid that is shooting at us from the passenger seat of the speeder."

Another blast rocked the ship causing it shudder. Everyone attempted to keep their balance as the pilot tried to level them out, but also avoid the next blasts that were to come their way.

"Everyone hang on," Obi-Wan ordered. Everyone grabbed a hand grip and held on tight as ordered. "Pilot, get us out here. Somewhere less crowded. We don't need innocent lives to be caught in the cross fire."

"Yes, sir," the pilot responded.

The pilot pulled on the controls of the gunship and maneuvered the ship away from the traffic. He moved the gunship towards a higher lane that was for security use only, which meant that it was a completely empty lane at the moment. As he did that, the speeder followed and continued to lay down fire.

Another blast struck the side of the gunship which caused the gunship to tilt heavily toward the right. Everyone held on as tightly as possible, but a crate on the ship that was not secured down very well knocked into KC which caused him to lose his grip. Before Sasha could react, the clone impacted with her and knocked her own grip loose. Suddenly, Sasha was falling out of the side of the gunship. A yelp erupted from her lips as she tried to grab ahold of the door to the gunship. However, her fingers slipping against the metal and she was quickly sliding backwards.

"Sasha!" Obi-Wan called as he launched forward and grabbed the side of the gunship with his right hand. He then extended a hand out and grabbed her wrist before she was too far out of reach. His grip on her wrist was almost too tight, but in this current situation where she was literally dangling over Coruscant, she wasn't going to complain as she did not want him to let go. However, her other hand did lose its grip of the ship, so Obi-Wan was the only thing keeping her from flying away.

The blasts were still coming as she struggled in his grip. A couple of them were too close for anyone's comfort. One actually buzzed right by Sasha's ear and impact with the door of the ship. That was enough of a sign for her to get back into the gunship. Attempting to grab the ship again, Sasha tried to pull herself in with the aid of Obi-Wan, but the winds were not her aid this situation. Using the force to help her, Sasha tried again to move back to the gunship opening as Obi-Wan pulled. But another blast nearly shot her other hand off which caused her to let go and slammed into the gunship door. Sasha then caught a glimpse of who was shooting at them as she tried to recover. She could see that the one who was shooting was in fact an assassin droid, but the driver was hooded. However, the hood didn't stay on very well as it soon blew off and revealed Maul's face. Sasha gasped. She then looked back towards her Master to see that he had noticed too and he was not pleased.

The gunship finally straightened out as it continued to avoid the shots. This allowed Anakin to come forward and extended his human hand out to her while his other had a steel grip on the hand grip above him.

"Sasha, give me your other hand," Anakin called.

Sasha reached forward with her free hand and met Anakin's part way. Together, the two Jedi pulled Sasha back into the gunship as she used her feet against the door to push herself in. Once back in the ship, Sasha collapsed against Obi-Wan, her body was shaking and her legs were barely holding her up. Obi-Wan arms around her loosened as he straightened up. Sasha looked up at her Master's face to see a fire burning in his eyes.

"Master," Sasha started to say. However, Obi-Wan handed her to Anakin, who instinctively wrapped a protective arm around her waist as she still hadn't regained the strength in her legs.

"Keep an eye on her," Obi-Wan said. His voice was stern and rough. "I'm going after Maul."

"Wait what?" Anakin started to ask as he adjusted Sasha in his arms, so she could stand up straighter.

Obi-Wan then made his way to the back of the gunship and opened the rear hatch. With the hatch open, Maul and the speeder became visible to everyone. Then, like a reckless fool, Obi-Wan leapt off the back of the gunship and towards Maul's speeder.

"OBI-WAN!" Sasha and Anakin yelled.

The strength suddenly back in her legs, the two of them moved toward the back ramp, holding onto the paneling of the gunship. They watched as Obi-Wan had managed to land on the speeder. However, Sasha's vision swirled as she stayed too close to the edge of the ramp. After her near death experience, she was feeling a little queasy right now. She took several steps back until she was gripping onto the handles tightly with both hands. She squeezed her eyes shut to try and get her bearings. Anakin turned toward the pilot.

"Pilot, get behind that speeder," Anakin ordered. "We need to follow, Master Kenobi."

The moment Obi-Wan saw that it was Maul following them, an anger had boiled over in him. Especially since, Maul had nearly blasted Sasha out of the ship. After Obi-Wan and Anakin pulled her back on board, Obi-Wan handed her over to Anakin and then… leapt. He wasn't thinking. He was just doing. He wasn't going to let Maul get away or shoot them out of the sky. So Obi-Wan let the wind and the force carry him backwards. He flew a little ungracefully toward the speeder and landed against the hood with a thud. He grunted as he grabbed a hold of the windshield, attempting to pull himself up.

"Hello again, Kenobi," Maul said with a devilish smile.

The assassin droid pointed it's blaster at Obi-Wan's head as he reached for his lightsaber with one hand and kept his grip on the windshield with the other. Activating his blade, Obi-Wan slashed at the blaster, slicing it in half. With the blaster destroyed, the droid pulled a vibro knife and tried to stab at Obi-Wan's hand that keeping on the moving speeder. Raising his saber hand, Obi-Wan used the force and pushed the droid back. That caused the droid rear back, but still maintain its seat in the speeder.

Obi-Wan then pulled himself up and over the windshield. He pierced through the droid as he got inside the speeder. The droid short circuited and died in the passenger seat. Using the force, he moved the droid remains to the back seat as he hoped into the passenger seat. Obi-Wan then turned his attention to Maul, who was sitting next to him in the driver's seat. Maul snatched the discarded vibro knife from between the seats where the droid had dropped it and attempted to stab Obi-Wan with it as he drove the speeder. Obi-Wan dodged to the side to avoid the tip of the blade. As he did so, he brought his right fist that was now holding his deactivated lightsaber hilt and punched Maul right in the face.

The punch caused the speeder to jerk as Maul reacted to the hit. Both men struggled to hang on as Maul regained the controls and attempted to level them out. By doing that he let go of the blade that was now lodged into the seat then sent a punch at Obi-Wan that connected with his jaw. Obi-Wan reared back clutching his chin as he was sure he bit his tongue in the hit. Tasting blood, he looked back at Maul and attempted to reach for the controls. However, Maul jerked the handles to the side to send Obi-Wan back into his seat. Then he jerked it the other way to almost send him into the blade. He then hit the brakes to send Obi-Wan into the dashboard. Then sped up to cause his head to whip backwards.

With an irritated groan, Obi-Wan activated his lightsaber and stabbed it into the dashboard. The speeder immediately reacted to the saber. Panels and controls started to malfunction and spark. Then the helm controls started to give out.

"Kriff," Maul cursed as he lost control of the speeder.

The speeder then started to lose altitude and head downwards toward the buildings below. Maul didn't bother on pulling on the controls to keep them level as the controls had gone completely lax. Instead, he turned to face Obi-Wan.

"Alright, Kenobi," Maul yelled over the dying speeder. "If you want me to die like this," Maul then raised a hand and used the force to keep Obi-Wan pinned to his seat. "Then you're going with me."

Obi-Wan tried to fight Maul's force grip as he now couldn't move. As they grew closer to the buildings below, Obi-Wan made the realization that he may have acted rashly and that this was not the best idea. Soon they reached the roof top of the building and the speeder impacted with the roof top. As it hit the roof, it started to lean forward as it was about to flip end over end. As it also hit and started to lean, Obi-Wan and Maul were both flung from the speeder and landed just out of its way as it flipped. Maul's grip on him was gone the moment they made impact with the roof top. That caused Obi-Wan, because he hadn't been buckled in and was only being held by the force, to be sent flying and landed near the buildings edge. Maul was sent flying through the windshield and landed in the middle of the rooftop, not far from the speeder wreckage.

Obi-Wan felt his healed ribs break again as well as he head smack against the roof as he rolled from the wreck. When he finally came to a halt, he could tell his body hurt from head to toe. He felt ribs that were broken, his head that was throbbing, and he was pretty sure that he just messed up his right leg as it was going numb with pain. Plus his bruised jaw, bitten tongue, and the jerked muscle in his neck from the whiplash Maul had given him, Obi-Wan wasn't exactly comfortable at the moment. But these injuries were nothing compared to the last time he found himself on a Corsucant rooftop after a speeder crash. So with a grunt, Obi-Wan pushed himself onto his elbows and looked over to where Maul was having difficulty pulling himself to his own feet.

It looked like one of his mechanical legs busted at the knee and he was favoring his left arm. There was also blood running down his face as he had glass cuts all over his bald head. The Sith was glaring at Obi-Wan as he reached for his lightsaber from his belt. As Obi-Wan pulled himself to his feet a little ungracefully, he reached for own saber too that had been knocked from his grip when he hit the roof. It had thankfully landed right next to him.

Before either of them could activate their sabers to attack each other, the gunship landed between them with the clones opening fire on Maul. The Sith used his lightsaber to deflect the blasts then used the force to force push everyone back. Because Obi-Wan was being protected by the gunship, he was unaffected by the push. But he did notice as Maul leap over the buildings ledge and disappear.

"After him," Anakin ordered as he stepped off the gunship towards Obi-Wan.

The clones charged after Maul as Sasha and Anakin rushed to Obi-Wan's side. Suddenly, his bad leg gave out from under him.

"Master," Sasha called, worriedly.

Anakin was by his side in an instant to catch him and lower him carefully to the ground to sit.

"What the hell were you thinking?" Anakin chastised. "You trying to get yourself killed?"

"I'm sorry," Obi-Wan apologized, his head bowed slightly. "I was reckless. I just thought I could stop him."

"Well the next time you decide to jump out of a moving vehicle onto another, at least try not to crash it," Anakin advised.

Obi-Wan snorted. "I'll keep that in mind." He then looked at Sasha. Her face was still pale and her body was still shaking slightly, but she appeared to be doing better. "Are you alright?"

"I'll be fine," Sasha said with a dismissive wave of her hand. "What about you?"

"I'll mend," Obi-Wan said with a shrug followed up a wince.

At that moment, the clones returned.

"Sir," Ty said. "He got away. We lost sight of him. We apologize for failing you, General."

Anakin sighed. "It's fine for now. Have your men put out an APB on Maul and then let's get back to the Temple. Also call someone to clean this up."

"Sir Yes, sir!" Ty said with a salute.

While the clones put the bulletin out, Anakin wrapped an arm around Obi-Wan and carefully hauled him to his feet. His body protested the movement, but Anakin's grip was keeping him up right. Anakin then helped Obi-Wan back to the gunship. Sasha followed closely behind. Once everyone was on board the gunship, the doors slid shut and the gunship took off toward the Jedi Temple. Shortly after it took off, a clean crew arrived to clear away the mess they left behind.

Maul watched the gunship leave from the shadows. He leaned heavily against the wall of the alley he had disappeared down. His body weight was all on his good leg as the kneecap of his left leg was destroyed. He growled as he watched Kenobi flee. Damn those Jedi for interfering. He was so close. But this was just the first act of his plan. He would kill Kenobi soon, but for now, this experience would be enough to rattle the Jedi to his core.

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